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Transcript of How to Fool Foreign Universities Into Giving You Money to Study With Them
HOW TO FOOL FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES INTO LETTING YOU DO AN LLM WITH THEM ARJYA B. MAJUMDAR
1
HOW TO FOOL FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES INTO LETTING YOU DO
AN LLM WITH THEM~ AN ALGORITHM
Arjya B. Majumdar
At the outset, let me tell you that this is not a sure fire way to get into a foreign
university. There can be a million things that can go wrong at all times and each one
leading to certain failure. The overall requirements for a successful application, generally,
are patience and attention to detail. The rest will take care of itself.
When I was applying for my LLMs and doing all the post-application work, I was
going through a lot of shit and this you probably know about. I was also at Hyderabad,
Assam, Calcutta, Mumbai, Bhubaneshwar and New Delhi over a period of three months
and having to co-ordinate mails from Tulane being sent all over India. Why am I telling
you this? Because I want you to know that no matter what the difficulty, no matter what
the odds, it will happen as long as you want it to happen. But you have to really want it
bad enough. It may seem crazy sometimes, but as long as the job gets done- its fine. For
instance, I had to send a commitment deposit to Tulane. I was at Hyderabad at that time.
The papers from Tulane had arrived in Calcutta. I had someone send them over, used a
credit card of someone who stays in Hyderabad. The credit card billing address was in
Delhi and the returning mail address for the deposit was in Assam. It must have driven
the Tulane people mad. But the job got done and that�s what counts!
So here is a step-by-step break down of what you need to do to get into an LLM
program abroad. This algorithm is aimed primarily at the UK and the US and may not
apply to other countries but the general principles will remain the same. If anything here
is out of date or is incorrect, stuff it and live with it. I didn�t have any guidance
whatsoever. So feel lucky that you�re actually reading this.
There are three primary barriers between you and admission to an LLM program-
- The offer of admission
- The funding
- The visa
HOW TO FOOL FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES INTO LETTING YOU DO AN LLM WITH THEM ARJYA B. MAJUMDAR
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Each is tackled separately and at different points of time and can be further broken down
into the following sections:
1. Why do an LLM? a. Access and accreditation to foreign firms (this means that you can work in
Linklaters without having a gold medal from NLS and having to wait in a
sweatshop called AMSS, for five years)
b. Specialization in a particular area of law (like Human Rights, IP,
Securities, etc)- note: if you�re looking for an LLM in Corporate Law,
forget it. Don�t go so broad- the more specialized the course, the better
chances you have- try something like Infrastructure Finance.
c. Getting into academia- here a general LLM is fine, just ensure its from a
fantastic law school. If you�re not going to Harvard, don�t go at all.
d. Your father is loaded- need I say more?
2. Which subject? Once you�ve decided why you want to do an LLM, you�ll probably know in what
you want to do the LLM. If you�re still unsure as to which subject to take, rethink
as to why you want to do an LLM. Most of the time, it�s an interest in the subject,
that is, point #2, which was the case for me. Try taking something that interests
you- that way you won�t get bored. And you�ll never feel forced into it. Also, you
could try taking something unusual- that way you�ll create demand for your self
later.
3. Research Deciding which law school to apply to can be difficult in the best of cases.
Remember, each application takes up about a week to complete, plus has to be
sent and an application fee is usually asked for. For US universities, the
application fee can be anywhere from $20 to $70. That�s a total of about Rs 4000
per application. UK universities generally don�t charge an application fee but you
still have to send the damn application form- more on that later.
HOW TO FOOL FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES INTO LETTING YOU DO AN LLM WITH THEM ARJYA B. MAJUMDAR
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Most of the research is generally done over the Internet. Some good starting
points are www.llm-guide.com and www.hero.ac.uk (for UK universities only).
But the best way to find out about which universities offer your course is by
asking your seniors, especially ones who have applied to the same course in the
past. At this point of time, collect as many brochures/ application packs as you
can. You can order the brochures online from the university websites, they send it
for free and they make for nice bedtime reading. Plus, you get a better idea about
the school as opposed to from a website.
4. Setting Parameters
Now that you know which law schools offer your course, you need to figure
which ones to apply to. As a thumb rule, don�t apply to more than five. I say this
because I figure that if you�re not getting into your first five, you probably won�t
be offered a place in the 6th. Also, if you get through two or three, there�s no point
in applying to a 6th anyway. So, which are the parameters you need to look into?
a. Rating- how well a law school compares to its peers. Check US law
school listings on the Net. Check this website for the ratings-
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/rankings/law/brief/lawrank_brie
f.php. The best schools are generally the Ivy League ones like Harvard,
Yale, Georgetown, Columbia, etc. But don�t disregard the lesser schools
that may have fantastic departments which offer your specialization- like
Texas, U Penn and of course, Tulane.
For the UK, the BCL brings out a �Guide to UK Education� every year. Its
generally kept in the Education@UK section of the library. The NUJS
library also has a copy. Check whether it�s current or not. In the UK,
universities and departments within them are rated from 3 to 5* on
something called the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). Never apply
to anything less than a 5*. The least acceptable rating for you is 5 and no
less.
Remember- if nobody has heard of it, it�s not worth going to.
HOW TO FOOL FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES INTO LETTING YOU DO AN LLM WITH THEM ARJYA B. MAJUMDAR
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b. Cost- the major factor. US universities are generally more expensive than
the UK ones. Cost of living is also much higher. Apart from the usual
tuition, accommodation and food also include entertainment, books, travel,
passage, a laptop, etc
c. Scholarship- usually US universities have a tuition waiver. More on this
later
d. Faculty- if the rating is good, the faculty would be well, good too
e. Law school- industry interface- this is important if you want to work
after the LLM and not go into academia
f. Location- New Orleans might be an amazing place but there�s too much
partying and not enough studying. Boston is too cold. So are Oxford and
Cambridge. On the other hand, Singapore is closer to home. You get the
drift, don�t you?
Like I said before, don�t apply to more than 5 after considering all these
points. If you still cant make up your mind, drop the one you are least likely to
go to. You may consider this to be a drop in your chances, but it just doesn�t
make any sense applying to too many universities. However, if the cost of
application is not an issue, then this rule does not apply.
5. The Application Now you�ve narrowed your choice to 5, ask for those brochures again. Especially
if quite some time has passed and the application procedure might have changed.
Never hurts to ask for something for free.
Begin working on the annexures to your application. While different law schools
may ask for copies of different documents, some typical documents include:
a. Transcripts (this means mark sheets) You could also put in a list of
subjects taken and a graph showing your academic performance over the
years (attached at the back)
b. Recommendation/Reference letters- a question may arise here as to who
should one approach for reference letters. When you�ve studied the LLM
subject before, usually it�s a good idea to get that subject teacher to write
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you one. But, if you know any hotshot prof well, that would do too. Also,
the longer the tail of the referee, the better it is. But one of the referees
should be the subject teacher. For example, one of my referees was Bindu,
the others were Pinky Anand, Mohanty and Patanik. Don�t be surprised if
the prof himself asks you to write it out. While this may be a good idea, be
extremely careful. The people who will read that letter are very good at
picking out false ones. A few sample letters have been attached at the
back.
If the prof writes it himself, there�s a question of secrecy and objectivity.
You don�t want the LLM school people to know that you had anything to
do with writing those letters. Have the prof sign across the envelope flap
and have them sealed without you seeing them. But if the prof. Wants to
write the letter without you seeing it, always ask for one extra. For
instance, if you�re applying to 5 places, ask for six. That way, you open
one and see if its good enough to be sent.
If a law school wants two reference letters, ask three people to write. That
way, if one isn�t good enough, you could always send the third.
c. Certificates of Leadership/ Co-curricular/ Extra- curricular activities-
no, they are not looking for only swots and muggu kiras�
d. Essay/ Statement of Purpose- an extremely important document- one
that you will have to make up yourself. This is your advertisement- one
that should sell you without sounding boastful or presumptuous It should
ideally contain the following information in the following order:
i. What do you want to do
ii. What have you done about it so far
iii. How will it help you
iv. How will an LLM at that law school help
Trust me, it�s not as easy as it looks. You need to have a fucking good
reason why you are applying to them. Set aside at least a month for the
final draft to be prepared. Mine took about three months and is attached at
the back.
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e. List of internships, especially those that pertain to your area of proposed
study (attached at the back)
f. List of Research Papers/Projects/Articles that you may have written
and/or published in connection with the area of study (attached at the
back). You may want to include a copy of an article published, but ensure
that it has to do with the course you are seeking admission to.
g. An English Language Test Score- this is usually the TOEFL or the
IELTS. TOEFL is easier but check if the UK university will accept it. The
testing service itself will send the score directly to the university
concerned.
h. Any other info that you may think important
Don�t overload them with too much info about yourself. No one wants to know
whether your father is in the Government Service or whether your mother is a
lawyer at the Supreme Court. Remember- what they look for is either academic
excellence, or wholehearted focus/ dedication. Even if you have neither, try to
persuade that you have the second. It worked for me.
Sometimes the application form may ask for �sensitive� information. Like they
most likely will ask which other schools are you applying to and in which order of
priority. Simple- be honest with this. It just makes good sense as these admissions
offices may check with each other. No one likes a brown noser!!!
You should have finished collecting all these documents, photocopying them and
having them notarized or attested (by the Registrar or a Gazetted Officer) by the
end of October. Keep a set extra.
6. Sending Applications Fill out the forms carefully. If necessary, first fill them out in pencil and then in
pen. The annexures must be in the same order as mentioned/required in the
application form. Make a covering letter and a list of annexures. Number the
annexures accordingly.
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Don�t seal the packages/ envelopes. The courier company will want to have a look
inside. Go with DHL- they have a special University Application Service. And
they reach whatever destination in 3 days or less.
Send the applications as soon as the law school starts accepting them. For
example, if the law school begins accepting applications from 1st November, your
application should reach them on the 2nd. This will make your application eligible
for an early decision, which usually goes in favor of the applicant. As time passes,
the admissions office will make lesser offers. So hurry. Once you�ve sent the
applications, forget about them- as if you never sent them. Go have a look what
the sky looks like and whether the sun is still shining because soon after, you
wont have time to do even that.
7. Funding (Part I)
There are points of time when you will have to spend substantial sums of money.
Ensure that these funds are available to you. These are as follows:
a. At the time of application- the application fee (upto $ 70) and the courier
money (upto Rs 1000) per application
b. If you get called for a scholarship interview outside your city- depends
upon where you are and where you have to go
c. Commitment deposit after getting an offer of admission- depends upon the
university
d. Visa application fees- as much as Rs 20000
e. Passage (India to UK/US)
f. Pre departure spending- clothes, supplies, maybe a laptop, etc
Set aside about Rs 100,000 for all of this. Yes, that�s how much it�ll cost you even
before you set foot in the university of your choice.
If your father is rich enough, you can skip this. Otherwise, this section may as
well be as important as the application. Funding can be sought in either one of the
following ways and should be looked at the same time as the applications:
a. External Scholarships- A number of institutions offer scholarships or
grants. Most of them are highly prestigious and sought after, so expect a
HOW TO FOOL FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES INTO LETTING YOU DO AN LLM WITH THEM ARJYA B. MAJUMDAR
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lot of competition. Some of the well known ones are Rhodes, Felix (only
for Oxford, SOAS and Cambridge), INLAKS, Commonwealth
Scholarships (for the UK only), Paul Foundation, Birla Foundation.
Prepare for these along with the college applications and apply for them as
soon as they open. Be prepared for a tough interview, if you make it, that
is.
b. University Scholarships- Slightly less prestigious, these are granted by
the university on a merit basis and usually do not cover the entire amount.
You�ll have to mention whether you require financial assistance when you
apply.
c. Fellowships- Works the same way as a scholarship. However, you get to
assist a professor in research and in return they waive the entire fees.
Sometimes, the waiver includes the living expenses as well and a stipend.
Cushy, but be prepared for a lot of expectations and hard work.
d. Tuition waivers- Sometimes the university may reduce the tuition fees on
a need basis making it easier to attend
e. Loans- Banks offer educational loans up to Rs 15 lakhs against security.
Don�t go by what the websites say. Go to the banks and find out for
yourself. If you have someone who works at a bank- this is the time to
contact him. Try nationalized banks first- they are the most likely to give
you a loan.
One of the main things you need to take care of is whether the interest is
serviceable during the course period. In other words, whether you will
have to pay the interest on the loan while you are studying. This may turn
out to be a hefty sum, especially if the principle runs into over ten lakhs.
And you don�t want to have your parents paying such a huge sum every
month, do you? Allahabad Bank is one such that allows repayment after
the course period.
The securities that banks accept are as follows:
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i. Real Estate- ensure that the property is in ownership and not on
lease or rent (esp for Saltlake residents). Value of the security is
calculated by a bank appointed valuer.
ii. Life Insurance Policies- the policy needs to be assigned to the
bank. This means that if the life assured dies (God forbid!) the
bank gets the money. Value of the security is the surrender value at
that time. Ensure that these policies are fully paid up- saves a lot of
trouble.
iii. Government Issued Securities/Bonds- Kisan Vikas Patra. Indira
Vikas Patra, National Savings Certificate. Value of the security is
the bought/invested value and not the Maturity Value
iv. Mediclaim Policies- Value of the security is again the surrender
value
In all the cases the security needs to be assigned. Usually the bank will do
it, but you�ll have to do a lot of running around. The policies will be
assigned by the respective insurance company, the govt bonds will be
assigned by the Post Office (they have a special form for this) and the
property is assigned by a mortgage deed. Personally, I wouldn�t mortgage
house property- hurts the ego.
Ask for the lowest interest rate possible. Usually it�s at the PLR, but if
you�re nice to them and the Bank Branch Manager likes you, he may
lower it a little. For example, I got a deal which has an interest rate of 2%
lower than the PLR. Trust me, that makes a huge difference.
There will be a lot of paperwork and a lot of running around. Set aside
about two months for the entire process. If friends or relatives ask, �What
can I do to help?� get them to help you on this. Its mind numbing,
repetitive work with loads of paperwork.
8. The Offer Letter One of my favorite events, the law school tells you that you are good enough to
study with them. Now the offer may be either absolute or conditional. If it�s
HOW TO FOOL FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES INTO LETTING YOU DO AN LLM WITH THEM ARJYA B. MAJUMDAR
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absolute, then there�s nothing to worry about. If it�s conditional, it�ll probably be
based on your marks or the English Language Requirement. Nothing to worry
about, really.
Often, the university will ask for a commitment deposit, especially if the offer is
absolute. Think long and hard about this. The commitment deposit is non-
refundable and usually runs into tens of thousands of rupees. If you�re serious
about the university, don�t fuck around and pay it. You could ask for an extension
for the time within which you have to pay the deposit. This will let you wait for
other universities to respond.
At this point of time, universities still haven�t made up their minds on the
scholarships. They decide who gets what and how much only after the
commitment deposits are in and people are confirmed of their attendance.
9. Faculty Contact
So, you have the admission offer but need to commit and you cant do the course
without scholarships and are skeptical of sending so much money. You need to
convince the faculty that you really need that fellowship or scholarship. So send a
mail to the professors who will be teaching you along with your CV and
Statement of Purpose and ask them about your chances of getting one. If they
reply in the affirmative, its as good as the scholarship offer, send the deposit right
away and inform them of doing so. Also, keep in touch with them- this will build
a rapport that will come in handy when you start classes.
10. Scholarship Offer
Soon after you send the deposit, the scholarship letter will arrive.
Congratulations! Check whether it�s full or part. If it�s full, check whether it�s
only for tuition or does it cover living expenses as well. Usually by this time, you
know where you stand with the external scholarships, so you�ll have a pretty good
idea of where the money is coming from. From here on I�m going to assume that
you�ve got part scholarship and have decided to attend, paying part of the costs. If
you�ve got full scholarship (tuition, living expenses, the works�.) skip the next
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section and go directly to Section 12. If you haven�t got a scholarship, tough luck-
but then there�s always AMSS!
11. Funding II So now you have the college admission and the scholarship, but you still need to
show them that you will have enough to suffice for your education. It�s called a
Statement Of Adequate Funding, which will have to be sent for your visa to be
processed. In this you could show the following-
a. Any scholarship that you�ve already received
b. Personal Bank Account
c. Loan from banks
d. Letters of comfort- this applies only when you have a relative staying in
the same country as the University. This benevolent relative does not
actually have to give you the money, just to show that it will be available
for you. This is just for the visa purposes. Once you get there, you could
work your way through the course. More about work later. The relative
could send the letter to the university directly- that way its faster.
Don�t forget to attach copies of all the sources of funds, whether it�s a loan
agreement, or a bank statement. And don�t forget to put in a covering letter.
12. Visa Issues
One word- tough.
Since the WTC and London Underground attack, getting visas to the US and the
UK has become very difficult. Current student visas issued are about 50% of the
total applied for. Remember that this is the last barrier between you and the
course of your dreams. So don�t screw up.
The university will send you some documentation saying that you have been
admitted there and that you have shown proof of enough funds. In the US it�s
called an I-20 form. This is your ticket to the visa office. Get online and check for
the required documentation that you will have to fill out. There will be a visa
application fee as well which will have to be paid in advance.
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Don�t freak out before the visa. Relax, watch TV, generally chill. The visa
interview will in all probability be the scariest thing you�ve ever done. Months of
planning and execution essentially revolve around those few minutes spent with
the visa officer. So there will be some amount of pressure. Just keep telling
yourself that there is no turning back and that all your energy, effort and time has
culminated into this moment of the visa interview and that it can�t all go to waste.
Take all documents (even if remotely necessary) with you in a semi transparent
plastic folder. Take someone with you whom you can rely upon. You will not be
allowed to enter with a cell phone, nor with a bag.
The visa officer will essentially want to know two things- one, that you have
enough money for your stay there and two, that you will return after your course.
So you need to show proof of funds again- use the same stuff as you did in the
Statement of Funding and you need to show enough family ties and reason to
return to India.
A word of caution- if your proof of funds is a relative, that shows a strong
possibility that you may stay back there. If the visa officer asks, it�s not a relative
but a family. This works best if the relative does not have the same surname. If
he/she does, you need to offset that by more reason to come back to India.
Please note- the visa officer is not a person. It is a cold, emotionless robot that
often loses its power of reason as well. So don�t be smart alecky and don�t
provide more information than what is required. They�re always on the look out
for anything that they might use to deny you a visa.
If you don�t get the visa, try again after a few days (I think the minimum gap is 3
days). Figure out where you went wrong and correct yourself. If you do get the
visa, the following three things should happen:
a. PARTY!!!
b. Resign from wherever you were working
c. Give me a treat
13. Working on Campus
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A good way to support yourself while studying is by working part time. Possible
jobs include research, teaching or library assistantships, on campus stores, coffee
shops, banks, etc. Remember the dignity of labor- no job is too lowly.
If you�re going to the US, start looking for a job on campus even before you get
there. You need a job even if you have enough money to pay for yourself. You�ll
be an international student and hence not eligible to work outside campus. You
can only work on campus and that too a maximum of 20 hours a week. And guess
what, you aren�t given a Social Security Number either. And no SSN means no
credit, no cell phone, no driver�s license, essentially you don�t exist. This is a real
bummer. The only way you can get an SSN is by getting employment on campus.
It�ll get you some extra money, you�ll get your hands dirty and know what it�s
like to be a waiter/janitor!!!
14. Pre- Departure
So, all barriers have come tumbling down and you have a passport with a shiny
new visa stamped on it as well as the tickets. Cool!
Take clothing suitable to the climate. Most Indians haven�t seen snow, much less
a blizzard. Trust me, it can get really cold. Everything is more expensive there
than in India, so you might consider taking a lot of supplies like toiletries,
cosmetics, underwear, socks, etc.
Take some cooking utensils- yes, it is better to cook than eat out everyday. A
saucepan, a ladle (or khunti) some microwaveable bowls, forks, spoons, knives,
plate, glass, coffee mug, etc.
Get used to toilet paper. If that�s too much, buy a couple of mugs/lotas (!) from
India. They don�t have that concept here. For bedding, take bed linen only-
pillows and quilts you can buy here. We don�t want you to overshoot the weight
limit.
Where you go, your information should follow. Take everything you every
downloaded and cut, copied and pasted while doing time at law school. Leave
nothing. You never know when it might come in handy. Possible exceptions could
HOW TO FOOL FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES INTO LETTING YOU DO AN LLM WITH THEM ARJYA B. MAJUMDAR
14
be chitting paper and the sorry excuses for NUJS modules. But keep an eye on the
weight limit too.
Lastly, spend as much time with family and friends as you possibly can. You
never know when you�ll see them again. And once you leave, the first few months
are really painful- you will miss them. Don�t leave any unresolved fights and if
you liked somebody/ had a crush, this is the time to tell him/her.
Like I said, this might not get you into a law school of your choice but it will give
you a perspective on the various things involved and all the running around you will have
to do. It is a tough process and involves a lot of effort, time and money. But hey, if I
could do it, so can you. I�m no Avirup Bose, nor Shubhankar Dam, not even Saloni
Chaturvedi (who went to Manchester University). But that does not mean that I can�t live
my dream. And if I, with my CGPA of 3 can make it, so can you.
So, go live your dream�
HOW TO FOOL FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES INTO LETTING YOU DO AN LLM WITH THEM ARJYA B. MAJUMDAR
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Timeline
This is the time frame I had followed. It might not be the same for you but will
give you some indication of what takes the most and/or least amounts of time.
Year Month To do
2004Oct Started researching Courses
Nov
Dec
2005Jan Asked for brochures
Feb
Mar
Apr
May Started collecting Documents and
Jun started on the essay
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct Applications ready
Nov Sent applications
Dec
2006Jan Admission letters came in
Feb
Mar
Made faculty contact+ paid
commitment deposit
Apr Scholarship offer
May Bank Loan
Jun Visa
Jul
Aug Left for US
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LIST OF SUBJECTS STUDIED AT THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF JURIDICAL
SCIENCES, KOLKATA IN PURSUANCE OF A COURSE LEADING TO A B.SC./
B.A. L.L.B. (HONS.) DEGREE
Semester Subject Grade Grade Point
Grade Point
Average
10th Clinical Legal Education- III Currently taken
Law and Teaching* Currently taken
International Commercial Arbitration* Currently taken
International Sale of Goods* Currently taken
Securities Law* Currently taken
9th Insurance Law * Pending
Alternative Dispute Resolution * Pending
Advanced Intellectual Property Law * Pending
Professional Ethics Pending
Indirect Taxation Pending
8th Clinical Legal Education- II A 5
Direct Taxation B 3
Banking Law and Negotiable Instruments A+ 6 5.4
Conflict of Laws * E 7
International Trade Law * A+ 6
7th Clinical Legal Education- I A 5
Corporate Insolvency * A 5
Water Law * A+ 6 5.4
Law relating to Valuation of Assets * A+ 6
Marine and Shipping Law * A 5
6th Law and Economics * A 5
Intellectual Property Law B+ 4
Corporate Law- II B 3 3.4
HOW TO FOOL FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES INTO LETTING YOU DO AN LLM WITH THEM ARJYA B. MAJUMDAR
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Agricultural Law C+ 2
Jurisprudence B 3
5th Labour Law B 3
Environmental Law B 3
Property Law B 3 2.2
Corporate Law- I C 1
Administrative Law C 1
4th Science, Technology and Law C 1
Criminal Procedure Code C+ 2
Constitutional Law- II C 1 1.8
Law of Evidence C+ 2
Civil Procedure Code B 3
3rd Contracts- II C 1
Family Law- II C 1
Criminal Law B 3 1.4
Public International Law C 1
Constitutional Law- I C 1
2nd Contract- I C 1
Family Law- I C+ 2
Sociology- II C 1 1.4
Economics- II C+ 2
Political Science C 1
1st Legal Method A 5
History A 5
Torts C+ 2 3
Economics- I C 1
Sociology- I C+ 2
Note: * denotes optional seminar papers
HOW TO FOOL FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES INTO LETTING YOU DO AN LLM WITH THEM ARJYA B. MAJUMDAR
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GPA over Years
2.21.7
2.8
5.4
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
1 2 3 4Years
GPA
GRADING SYSTEM
Grade Numerical Grade Percentage Remarks
E 7 75% and above Excellent
A+ 6 70-75 Distinction
A 5 65-70 Very Good
B+ 4 60-65 Good
B 3 55-60 Fair
C+ 2 50-55 Average
C 1 40-50 Pass
F 0 Below 40% Fail
Year GPA
1 2.2
2 1.7
3 2.8
4 5.4
HOW TO FOOL FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES INTO LETTING YOU DO AN LLM WITH THEM ARJYA B. MAJUMDAR
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To Whom It May Concern:
Arjya Bir Majumdar has been a law student at the National University of
Juridical Sciences, Kolkata for the last five years, during which time I have taught him in
compulsory courses on Contract Law and Corporate Law and a seminar course on Marine
and Shipping Law. He is currently pursuing a course on Law and Teaching in Corporate
Law under my direct supervision.
Arjya has shown a keen interest in Maritime Law and this is evident in his
course work and his choice of internships. As mentioned earlier, he had taken up a course
on Marine and Shipping Law where he was given a basic familiarity of this highly
specialised area of law.
To back his theoretical knowledge with practical experience, he undertook
an internship with Mr. Venkiteshwaran- the leading name in maritime litigation in India
as of now. He also interned on two separate occasions with M/s Mulla and Mulla and
Craigie, Blunt and Caroe- a Mumbai law firm specialising in Maritime Law under Mr
Shardul Thacker. I understand that he wishes to carry on this focus into the Post Graduate
level outside India and to this effect, has applied to certain universities in the UK.
In this respect, what I find most commendable is his disciplined approach
to the subject. I believe that it is his ambition to teach Maritime Law in India. To this
purpose, I believe that Arjya would benefit greatly having more than a basic
understanding of the field- a familiarity that can be sought only at a Master�s Degree
course and at other higher levels of education.
Arjya Bir Majumdar would be an obvious choice for any post-graduate
course on Maritime Law. In addition to his determined approach to Maritime Law, I find
him to be a hard-working and dedicated student who would have much to offer any
institution that he may be admitted to. I expect that he will significantly improve his
familiarity of the subject matter if given the opportunity to and will eventually go on to
teach the same. I wish him all the best for his future.
Bindu Ronald
Co-ordinator, School of Economic and Business Laws
HOW TO FOOL FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES INTO LETTING YOU DO AN LLM WITH THEM ARJYA B. MAJUMDAR
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To Whom It May Concern:
I have known Arjya Bir Majumdar for the last two years as a law student
at the National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata.
I have had the pleasure of teaching Arjya in seminar and compulsory
courses on Corporate Insolvency, Insurance Law and Banking Law. During these
courses, I observed that he possesses an inquisitive and questioning nature, which reflects
itself in his work. While he would take note of what the law is, he would also try to find
out the rational behind the law- to find out what the law is. I particularly appreciated his
research paper on Corporate Insolvency where he placed certain suggestions on why
India should adopt the UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross Border Insolvency.
His performance- as a student and as a researcher has been exemplary in
my courses and his work also shows that he has an ability to �think out of the box�- a
quality that stands him in good stead in comparison to others. Moreover, I find him to be
a hardworking and sincere student. This, coupled with his warm, easygoing personality
makes him a valuable addition to any course.
It is my understanding that Arjya wishes to specialise in Maritime Law
and is applying to your university for this purpose. In this respect, I find that his focus on
the discipline has been no less than admirable. Not only has he taken up subjects relating
to the field, he has also tried to link up Maritime Law to other subjects wherever possible.
For example, in a course on Insurance Law, taught by me, he prepared a research paper
on how customary practices of marine cargo insurance have been given the sanction of
the law over time. I believe that he has undertaken a number of other research papers and
internships that deal with the subject matter of Maritime Law. His perseverance and
enthusiasm to the speciality is most remarkable and his understanding of the subject
matter is excellent.
It is my heartfelt belief that Arjya would be one of the most appropriate
candidates to be admitted into a Master�s Degree Course in Maritime Law and would like
to place my recommendation for the same.
Vaneeta Patnaik
Lecturer-in-Law
HOW TO FOOL FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES INTO LETTING YOU DO AN LLM WITH THEM ARJYA B. MAJUMDAR
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To Whom It May Concern:
I have known Arjya Bir Majumdar for the last year and a half as a law
student at one of India�s premier law schools. I understand that he is applying to the LLM
program with a specialisation in Maritime Law at your school and would like to
recommend his admission.
Arjya interned under me for a period of eight weeks during March-April
2004. As a senior advocate at the Supreme Court of India, I deal with matters regarding
constitutional law and arbitration, amongst others. Needless to say, these issues are
extremely complex and intricate and I found Arjya to be more than able to the task. His
responsibilities as a trainee extended from legal research and drafting to counselling the
Ministry of Agriculture- one of my clients in an arbitration appeal. A major case he
worked on was a Habeas Corpus petition, which has now been decided in our favour. In
addition to assisting me in preparing for court hearings, he also prepared lectures on
Judicial Activism and another matter regarding women�s permanent resident status in
Kashmir.
Arjya is a student of many qualities out of which one of the most
endearing is his work culture. During his tenure with me, he often had fourteen-hour
workdays and stayed back at my office well past midnight just in order to complete a
given task. He works with enthusiasm, which I find extremely invigorating. He is an
extremely bright, alert and understanding trainee and his grasp and understanding of the
law is superb. However, he does have his weaknesses, which include overconfidence. But
I am sure that he will be able to overcome that defect.
In my career of over 24 years, I found Arjya to be one of the best and
outstanding trainees and would like to unequivocally state my strong recommendation for
him. If you have any questions or need more information, I will be happy to talk to you.
Please call me at the telephone number printed on this letterhead or email me at the
address mentioned above.
Pinky Anand
Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India
HOW TO FOOL FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES INTO LETTING YOU DO AN LLM WITH THEM ARJYA B. MAJUMDAR
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ESSAY/STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
I have always been interested in the sea. I come from a family of seafarers
and it has held me in its grasp from a very tender age - the stories my father and uncles
told me only served to increase that allure. While I never did think of �running away to
sea� my fascination with the sea has never diminished. I guess that would explain why I
chose to enrol for an optional course in Marine & Shipping Law as part of my LLB
course in my 4th year of study. I immersed myself in a variety of subjects in Maritime
Law; my interests increasing apace with my awareness of the subject and a growing
appreciation of its subtleties. I could relate to the concepts in practical terms, which made
it easy to absorb, but I did not anticipate the pleasure I would get in pursuing this avenue
of law.
On a more practical note, the figures of the Indian maritime industry sharply bring
to focus the need for maritime lawyers in India today. This large and thriving industry is
not matched by a proportionate numerical strength of lawyers specialising in Maritime
Law, of whom there are only a handful. This is in spite of Maritime Law being an
extremely lucrative field both financially and in terms of fulfilment.
I have tried to increase my awareness and understanding of maritime law by
undertaking extensive coursework in this area, and complemented the rigor of
coursework with practical exposure through suitable internships.
The academic coursework I emphasized on during my fourth year had a
significant bias towards maritime law. As part of the course on Marine and Shipping
Law, I traced the implementation and effects of �Civil Liability Conventions for Oil
Pollution Damage�. In, a specialized course on Insurance Law, I wrote a paper titled
�Marine Cargo Insurance� - this paper highlights some of the customs involved Marine
Insurance, such as Institute Clauses, Lloyds, etc. which are not really law but are given
the same sanction. The dichotomy of the treatment of maritime liens in common and civil
law countries was analysed in �Conflict of Laws in Maritime Liens� as part of a course
on Private International Law. Negotiations on Maritime Transport services at the WTO
have come to a standstill and needs revival. A paper titled �Marine Transport Services
under GATS� as part of a course on International Trade Law investigates this issue.
HOW TO FOOL FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES INTO LETTING YOU DO AN LLM WITH THEM ARJYA B. MAJUMDAR
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Finally, dispute resolution in the maritime industry usually takes the form of arbitration. I
explore this aspect in a paper titled �Maritime Arbitration� as part of a course on
Alternative Dispute Resolution.
I chose to augment my grasp of Maritime Law through more practical exposure to
the field. To that end, I interned with two of the most reputed maritime law offices in
India. These internships have given me precious insights into the workings of maritime
law and I consider them to be most invaluable in my understanding of the field. I had the
opportunity to work with Mr S. Venkiteshwaran, a seasoned litigator and senior advocate
at the Bombay High Court who is widely renowned to be the best maritime lawyer in the
country for maritime litigation. Under his guidance, I appreciated the nuances of marine
insurance, arbitration and maritime litigation; on occasion I accompanied him to court
and arbitration hearings. I also focussed on improving my awareness of non-contentious
maritime law. I explored the non-litigational side of maritime law, such as ship finance
and sale of goods on the High Seas while working for Mr Shardul J. Thacker. Mr Thacker
- renowned to be one of the best lawyers for non-contentious maritime law matters in
India - is a partner at Mulla and Mulla and Craigie, Blunt and Caroe, one of the largest
law firms in the country.
I believe that my academic training and practical exposure through internships
will stand me in good stead. I have also tried to stretch myself through extra-curricular
activities - I am an avid mountaineer, a lead singer and guitarist in a rock band, and an
occasional contributor to newspapers and websites as an adventure travel freelancer. I
have formal training in mountaineering from the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in
Darjeeling and have developed my leadership skills through leading small excursions of
budding mountaineers. It has also instilled in me a quiet confidence in my teaching and
communication abilities.
I strongly believe that an LLM at the Tulane Law School- widely acknowledged
to have one of the best courses in Maritime Law and located at a major US port- will help
further my ambition of joining academia specializing in maritime law. I envision India
becoming a major location for international maritime arbitration; I personally would like
to contribute in enabling the transition to a future where the Indian maritime industry is
supported by a vibrant practice of maritime law in India. I feel I have much to contribute
HOW TO FOOL FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES INTO LETTING YOU DO AN LLM WITH THEM ARJYA B. MAJUMDAR
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as a student and a future professional in this field. I would be very grateful if you would
present me with the opportunity to follow my passion by admitting me into this
prestigious and highly sought-after program of study.
Arjya Bir Majumdar
HOW TO FOOL FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES INTO LETTING YOU DO AN LLM WITH THEM ARJYA B. MAJUMDAR
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LIST OF INTERNSHIPS UNDERTAKEN
• April- May 2005- Intern/trainee at Mulla and Mulla and Craigie, Blunt and
Caroe, Mumbai, under Mr. Shardul Thacker. Specialised in Ship Finance,
Maritime and Admiralty Law, Foreign Direct Investment, Business Process
Outsourcing and Issue of FCCBs.
• March- April 2005- Intern/trainee at the chambers of Mr S. Venkiteshwaran,
Mumbai under Mr. V. Subramanian- Advocate, Mumbai High Court. Specialised
in Maritime and Admiralty Law, particularly Marine Insurance and Commercial
Arbitration
• February- March 2004- Intern/ trainee at the Supreme Court of India and the High
Court of Delhi at the chambers of Ms Pinky Anand �Senior Advocate, Supreme
Court of India. Specialised in arbitration, land acquisition and constitutional
matters at the Supreme Court
• March- April 2003- Intern/ trainee at the High Court at Calcutta under Singhania
and Co. (Advocates). Specialised in matters regarding company law, negotiable
instruments, trade marks, incidental matters and civil conveyance.
• April- May 2002- Intern/ researcher at the World Wildlife Fund for Nature-
India, West Bengal State Office, Kolkata. Researched on the illegal wildlife trade
in Kolkata and deforestation practices in the Singalila National Park, West
Bengal, India.
HOW TO FOOL FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES INTO LETTING YOU DO AN LLM WITH THEM ARJYA B. MAJUMDAR
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LIST OF MARITIME LAW- RELATED RESEARCH PAPERS UNDERTAKEN AS
PART OF THE CURRICULUM AT THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF JURIDICAL
SCIENCES.
• �Marine Arbitration�, in a course on Alternative Dispute Resolution-
this paper discusses the applicability of Arbitration as an alternative to
litigation and why a large number of maritime disputes are resolved by
arbitration
• �Marine Cargo Insurance�, in a course on Insurance Law- there are a
number of customary practices that do not have the endorsement of law,
either through legislation or through judicial pronouncement. This paper
analysed such practices and hypothesised that such practices would
eventually become part of the lex maritima.
• �Maritime Transport Services under the General Agreement on
Trade in Services� in a course on International Trade Law- Maritime
Transport Services are a part of the GATS text and there have been
significant negotiations on the same. This paper traces the history of such
negotiations and submits certain suggestions on India�s stand at the same.
• �Conflict of Laws in Maritime Liens�, in a course on Private
International Law- Maritime liens form an important part of maritime law
as such. Although the maritime industry shows a certain international
character, the manner in which liens are dealt with differ from nation to
nation. This paper discusses how this poses a problem and how it may be
resolved.
• �Civil Liability in Case of Oil Pollution�, in a course on Marine and
Shipping Law- The Civil Liability Conventions were signed as reactions
to major oil spill disasters. This paper traces the development of the civil
liability regime for tanker oil spills and analyses the implementation and
success of the same.