1. Madam, Please Introduce Yourself To Our Readers
Greetings to everyone reading this at the moment. Firstly, I would like to thank Law Corner for giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts and experiences on their platform. I hope everyone is doing well and safe during these testing times.
My name is Auroshikha Deka, I am an alumnus of the Queen Mary University of London. I hold a Masters Degree in Commercial and Corporate Law. I have pursued my BBA.LLB (Hons.) from School of Law, KIIT University. Presently, I am working at Jindal Global Law School as an Assistant Lecturer. My primary areas of interest are copyright law and trademark law. I have published my articles in peer-reviewed journals nationally and internationally. My aim is to further continue my research in the field of copyright law with regard to its competency in the digital era.
2. Do You Reckon Any Incident That Motivated You To Choose Law As A Career?
I am from a commerce background. Initially, I wanted to go for a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and then, eventually pursue an MBA. Along the way when I started learning more about law and legal studies mostly through articles on the internet, I did sense a change in my interest. I started to understand how legal education is so important in our society. The need for law and regulations is to promote discipline and harmony around us. The thrive to learn more about it is what motivated me to ultimately choose law.
Every student should understand what it is that they want to learn about. If you choose something that does not interest you, it might cost your future. It is very important for the parents as well to let their children study their choice of subject. I personally believe that I would not have been able to make it this far if I wasn’t genuinely interested in taking up law as my discipline. It has been a wonderful journey so far and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
3. Tell Us A Bit About Your Study Time During College Life
The subjects we study during our undergraduate programs are huge in number. Sometimes they are difficult as well. One thing that has always helped me personally when I used to study was writing. Making notes is very important to me. Even today when I am preparing myself for a lecture in class, I make sure I have my notes. When students write what they are studying, it comparatively makes it easier for them to understand the concept more clearly and therefore, helps the mind to retain the same. The habit of making notes should always be encouraged. It forces the person to interpret the information in front of them which not only helps in comprehension but also, improves their ability to encapsulate the information provided. I believe the reason behind this is because our minds tend to be more present in grasping the concepts when we are writing.
On the other hand, a student must know how to research for their assignments and case studies. Time management is very important during your years in law school. There is so much to do and lack of time management might end up hampering your results. We have a variety of information available at the click of a button nowadays and if our work is still not up to the mark, it means we are lacking in our research. A student of law should always be in the habit of reading. This is something that is usually told to us on the first day of our law school. The more a student reads, the better he/she is in gathering resources and effectively producing them in their assignments or co-curricular activities like paper publications, internships, etc. One small piece of advice I would like to give to the budding lawyers of tomorrow – “No matter how small, do not Google the topic you are working on. Instead, Google the sources that are going to provide the best substance for your topic.”
4. Can You Tell Us About The Postgraduate Course From The Queen Mary University of London And Its Advantages?
One should go for a Postgraduate study in law only when they sincerely believe that they are ready for it. There are so many professionals who want to work and gain some field experience before pursuing their masters and I personally believe that is a great approach. However, I was ready to pursue my LLM right after my 5 years integrated LLB. I always knew that I wanted to become an academician so I wanted to pursue my specialization right away. I pursued my LLM in Commercial and Corporate Law. Amongst several other universities, I was very impressed with Queen Mary’s wide range of courses. The number of subjects they offer will definitely help you in building those specific areas of interest that you are aspiring to gain from a Master’s program. I chose my subjects in a way that I am able to balance my specialization in International Commercial Law and Intellectual Property. I have had a long relationship with Intellectual Property since my Undergraduate days and continued to maintain the same for my Masters as well. The modules I chose to study ultimately helped me not just in successfully completing my dissertation, but also developing a further interest for it on a professional level. At Queen Mary, one may choose a particular line of specialization and still be able to find more specificities within the very ambit of their specialization. The flexibility provided to every student is what makes Queen Mary University of London a prodigious institution of eminence.
5. Do You Think That Mooting, Publications And Internships Are Important In The Life Of A Law Student?
Yes, I completely agree that mooting, paper publications and internships do play a very important role. It is indeed very crucial for a student to indulge themselves in these kinds of co-curricular activities. The time one invests in law school is a three to five year-long commitment and simply attending classes and scoring grades is never enough for any professional course. An insight to what is waiting in the real world is what we are able to gain from these co-curricular activities. I personally believe that theoretical knowledge does not count for everything. There are students who may not know how to frame a good answer to score an A+ but are excelling in mooting, debating and have a good number of paper publications in their hands.
Employers do not just seek good grades anymore. They seek for people who are all-rounders. They seek for the ones who are able to apply their knowledge effectively and efficiently. I am not saying that a student should impose the need to win or highly excel in these areas. Sometimes the very taste of these experiences can build you for life. That is what should be kept in our minds. Even professors who are guiding their students regarding these aspects should make sure that their students are working hard not to win but to build a better and more professional version of themselves.
6. Did You Ever Have An Internship Experience During Your College? How Important Are These Internships For A Law Student?
During my time at law school, I have had ten successful internships which include organizations like NGOs, Public Sector Undertakings, media houses and also the Supreme Court of India.
Indeed all these experiences have given me the opportunity to understand how the legal departments of different organizations function. I got to learn how to draft certain official documents that weren’t exactly taught to us during our undergraduate years. Also, I feel sometimes just being present and observant in a professional environment helps you to prep yourself for what’s to come after you graduate.
I don’t think I would call myself as successful yet. I still have a long way to go but I am grateful for all the experiences and opportunities that have brought me where I am today. I personally feel that my LLM experience from a university abroad has to be my best so far. Not only did I get to pursue my masters in one of the leading universities in the world but the entire experience of being a student in a foreign country definitely did help me gain a lot of perspectives. The teaching methodology followed here is very different from what we see here usually. The kinds of assignments that we got involved a lot of research, analysis and hard work. Every time someone comes to me for advice regarding pursuing an LLM, I always make it a point to tell them that it is a commitment one needs to cater to full time. So, it is important to introspect and understand why one wants to pursue it in the first place.
There is no straight-jacket formula for success. It is tailor-made for every individual. The only ‘mantras’ I can pass on to our young readers would be:
First and foremost, always give your best in whatever you do. It does not matter if you are preparing for a ten marker assessment or a national moot court competition. One must always dedicate time and give their best efforts. Results are going to follow you in its own time.
Secondly, never hesitate to ask questions. In the words of Robert Kiyosaki – “Successful people ask questions. They seek new teachers. They are always learning.”
8. What Prompted You To Choose Teaching As A Career?
I remember being a student who wanted to work as an associate in a big law firm or an in-house counselor for a big company. But along the years, I realized my love for research and I started to incline towards pursuing the field of academics as a viable career option. Ultimately, today I am working in one of the top universities in the country which has given me the chance to excel not only as a professor in law but also, provided me with a huge platform for research opportunities.
9. Could You Give Our Young Readers Certain Tips On Excelling In Academics?
As a professor, I am going to tell them the same things I tell my students in class every day.
- Always be attentive and active in classes.
- Never hesitate to ask questions even if it challenges the teacher.
- Do your assignments honestly. Do not seek shortcuts. Take your examinations as a challenge for your mind, not a gateway to score the highest.
You are in college to develop your skills and enhance your knowledge. Grades will follow on their own.
10. Finally, What Is Your Message For Our Readers Most Of Whom Are College Students?
Law school is a long journey. Subjects may be difficult and tedious but do not forget to enjoy your college life. You are to cherish the memories and friendships as your life goes along. Make them count.
Also Read: An Interview with Dr. Samrat Datta (HOD & Asst. Prof. of Law at ICFAI University, H.P.)
