We asked the Class of 2019 to nominate their peers — whether inspirational leaders in the classroom or a student group,  activists or artists around New York City, or simply great friends and pizza companions — to share what they’ve learned over the course of their LL.M. year. The result, Lessons from the LL.M.

In Shikha’s nomination, she was described as “calm, collected” and “having an experience worth listening to.” Here’s what Shikha has to share:

 

 

Name: Shikha Rawal

 

Hometown: Mumbai, India

 

Pre-LL.M.: 

Associate in the mergers and acquisitions practice group at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co., Mumbai, India.

 

What’s next?

A short trip to North Carolina and then New York Bar prep!

 

Three things you learned during your LL.M. Year: 

1) The job market in New York is not easy to break through. Persistence and constructive networking go a long way.

2) Balance is key – While it is important to take the right courses, it is equally essential to make lasting memories with your fellow LLM/JD friends.

3) Learning about a different country and meeting important dignitaries connected to the Israel-Palestine conflict was a life changing experience for me. If you get a chance, please use your spring break to either go for CLS itrek or do some pro-bono caravan work.  

 

New York Moment:

Well it’s difficult to name one moment, taking the Big Apple helicopter tour with my boyfriend is something that stands out for me. The aerial view of New York makes you fall in love with the city all over again!

 

Favorite Class:

Law and Economics by Professor Eric Talley and Professor Kristen Underhill (Highly recommended course!)

My reasons for liking this course are two: (a) the course was structured very systematically and allowed you to gain a thorough understanding of the basics; and (b) every two weeks, professors from various universities would present their papers providing us an opportunity to question, critically analyze and discuss the papers. The topics were centered around different aspects of economics and its effects on different areas including financial markets and consumer behavior as well as crime, giving you a multi-faceted understanding of economic implications in different fields.

 

Best Coffee Spot: Joe’s Coffee next to Alfred Lerner Hall

 

Best Place to Study: Butler Library (I have not seen a better library than Butler)

 

LL.M. Protip:

Best tip would be planning your year in advance. Columbia offers a wide array of courses, and if you have to crunch all of that in one year, you need some planning! Be sure you understand what the Law School is offering and make the most of the year in terms of the courses, faculty, etc.

GLS does a phenomenal job at guiding students through each step (prior to joining Columbia and while we are at Columbia). I don’t think there is anything I missed before starting my LLM year (as yet!).

 

Would you change anything? 

Maybe drink less coffee (but I recommend checking out the New York Coffee Festival!!)