Shloka is a graduate of National Law University Jodhpur and has recently attained her Master of Laws degree from Columbia University. Previously, she served as a law clerk in the Supreme Court of India, rendering research assistance on cases concerning significant questions of constitutional law, including capital punishment, personal liberty and affirmative action. On her return to India, she plans to litigate. We spoke with her to know more about her journey, the experience of studying at Columbia, and more.

What drew you to the field of law? 

I chose to go to Law school because I didn’t know what else to do post grade 12. Most careers in Science were out because I was seriously inept at Physics. So, I arrived at the decision of taking the Common Law Admission Test by a process of elimination.

It was only much later, after graduating, when I clerked in the Supreme Court of India, that I realized the importance of what I had studied, especially constitutional law. In an important constitutional bench (decided by five or more judges) case, I saw diverse interest groups put forth radically different arguments to uphold or strike down amendments to the law. But this time, unlike studying a case in law school, I didn’t ‘know’ the ‘right’ answer. I saw such decision-making unfold in real time where initial drafts of the judgment varied drastically right before the judgment was pronounced. And in the days following it, when the judgment was dissected by different media outlets, I became cognizant of the Constitution’s immense power to alter the course of millions of lives, and a judge’s ability to wield such power through their opinions.

I decided to explore my newfound fascination for constitutional law by studying it further in a Master’s programme. I was fortunate to get accepted into Columbia, our Constitution framer’s (Baba Saheb Ambedkar) alma mater.

What was your experience at Columbia like?

I always knew that I would return to India upon the completion of my course. Since my area of interest is constitutional law, I took subjects primarily catering to that, such as civil rights, sexuality, First Amendment (free speech) and comparative constitutional law. The faculty teaching these courses were excellent. I was exposed to the Socratic method, wherein you are expected to read the prescribed material before class, and engage in a discussion with your peers. The professor occasionally selected a student at random to answer questions related to that week’s assigned reading, and I’ll admit that the shame of not knowing the answer motivated me to do my readings more than any quest for knowledge ever could. What I enjoyed most about classes was the freedom to voice disagreement. If your opinion was contrary to the prevailing one, you were welcome to critically engage without fear of censure or coming across as impolite.

The libraries at Columbia are amazing. I saw an entire section devoted to Indian law treatises on all major topics, that too, the latest editions. In the unlikely event that a book was not available, the library would place an order and you’d have a copy within a few days. One also had access to incredible online databases. All this translated into students working very hard to excel. The competition was fierce. I was introduced to being graded ‘on a curve’ where performance on tests was evaluated relative to others, and the highest grades were reserved for a select few. I personally enjoyed such an environment, but I’m convinced that had I been competing for placements, the stress would’ve gotten the better of me.

This year was different from a typical Master’s experience due to campus protests about the Israel-Palestine conflict. My greatest take-away from the year was, that the belief that highly educated people are reasonable and prefer to solve differences by logically thinking things through, is sorely misguided. In the land of the free, I saw students being doxed, faculty being threatened, and recent graduates having their job offers revoked for their personal beliefs. I witnessed my university break tradition, put in place since the disastrous handling of the Vietnam War protests, by inviting police on campus to clear out student demonstrations. I treat such failure by those in positions of responsibility as a lesson in what ‘not’ to do, which is sometimes the more important one to learn.   

I immensely enjoyed the city - the true embodiment of diversity. A quick look around in your subway compartment confirms the presence of people from all over the world. I took advantage of my student status to claim discounts at museums, plays, musicals, ballet performances . Of course, the things I took for granted back home, like eating at a restaurant, taking a cab or getting a haircut, seemed like luxuries on a student budget in this frightfully expensive city. And if you struggle with overthinking like me, the feeling of being an outsider, an immigrant, amplified by an accent that sounded jarringly different, can resonate the occasional feelings of alienation. But the antidote to that, as I was fortunate to discover, was turning a group of extraordinarily kind and smart batchmates into friends.

I made sure not to miss out on some quintessential experiences with my new friends, like enjoying the fall season, experiencing my first Christmas snowfall, and indulging in the madness of Spring Break.

What advice would you give to those looking to pursue their Master’s abroad?

I would say, instead of making getting into your target school your end goal, first think about what you want to post the degree especially since the course is only for 9 months .

This will help you research various opportunities such as research positions, that require applications months in advance. For those considering applying for a PhD. immediately after the Master’s, this period is crucial for pitching your potential thesis ideas to professors who may serve on your panel. Therefore, having clarity about the future helps maximize the year better.

I would also advise timely financial planning. Universities are not very generous with funding, and the job market is mercurial, therefore, solely relying on future employment to pay off any loan may turn out to be a precarious decision. While universities in the U.S. do not bar you from attending classes and sitting for end term examinations for non-payment of fees, they can withhold your degree till all dues are cleared. That’s a very difficult position to be in. Please also account for reasonable living expenses and be prepared for unforeseen ones.  

As far as the application process itself is concerned, the form may look deceptively simple, but the Admissions Committee is trying to understand you through it, therefore give yourself enough time to draft (and re-draft!) your responses. Have a fresh pair of eyes go through your answers. While there is no set ‘formula’ for a successful application, in my opinion if you can establish what holds your interest, and what you have done in the past and aim to do in the future (equipped with your Master’s degree), you’re on the right track. There are several ways to demonstrate this – some have publications, participated in competitions, and others volunteered for interesting organizations.

One final point. You don’t need an impressive recommender to second your application. Most universities mandate a former professor to attest to your abilities. Your recommender should know you well – this should come out in their recommendation as well – so give them ample time to submit a well-drafted recommendation. 

What are your plans for the future?  

Currently, I’m enjoying a short break. But I’ll start applying to chambers soon – I’m looking forward to litigating in the courts of Mumbai. I’m deeply concerned about the abysmal pay meted out to junior lawyers in litigation, paired with exceedingly stressful (and sometimes toxic) work places. I can only hope that I luck out and manage to find someplace decent.  

My hope for my future is that I get to be a part of interesting matters that shape our jurisprudence meaningfully – whether that’s as a lawyer, on the judiciary or in leading a public life, is yet to be seen. The possibilities are exciting!