Ms. Jyoti Singh graduated from the University of Delhi in 2008 and went on to establish an illustrious academic career in International Law. Having delivered lectures at the University of Delhi, Indian Society of International Law and some law schools, she has been dealing with the digitisation of India’s treaties through a treaty database and also handling arbitration and court cases pertaining to MLAT, extradition, the law of the sea, UNCITRAL amongst others. Here are a few excerpts of her conversation with Desi Kaanoon-
Q1 How was life as a law student at Delhi University?
A1 First of all, greetings to everyone, who have taken their time out to read this interview. Coming back to the life I had as a law student in Campus Law Centre, Delhi University, I would describe those days as the best days of my life. During LL.B., I was taught by great academicians, like Prof. B.B.Pandey. Prof. Parmanand Singh, Prof S. N. Singh, Prof B.T. Kaul etc. To surmise, I can easily say that the kind of intellectuality one gets in the surroundings of Campus Law centre is unmatchable. My LL.M. was all about being exposed to quality research and presentations, apart from attending seminars of the likes of Prof. Upendra Baxi and M.C.Mehta. Overall, the Faculty of Law is a great institution to be part of and this is evident from its glorious list of alumni.
Q2 What difference do you think does it make while pursuing LL.M. from a government or a private university?
A2 In contemporary times, doing LL.M.is important, whether it is from a government university or a private one. Masters in law gives students a platform to hone up their research skills on a different level. I feel both oratory and research skills get far more boosted if one pursues a master’s programme from any University. The trend also nowadays is of doing LL.M. from abroad.
Q3 Tell us something about your internships and how did you learn from them.
A3 I did not do many internships, as when I finished my LL.B., it was not much of a hype and necessity to expand the list of internships by students. Having said that, I would add that among the few internships I did, the one with National Commission for Women was quite a learning experience for me. I was part of a project on trafficking since my research interest lied in refugees and migrants, I got to learn many practical aspects while working in the project and was exposed to the learning of Immoral Trafficking Act,1956 and how people from different ages and gender are trafficked in India and other parts of the world.
Q4 Having qualified UGC-NET examinations, how would you suggest prospective candidates prepare for it?
A4 One benefit, I feel the students giving UGC-NET nowadays is the new pattern of the exam. I cleared my NET in 2011, immediately after my LL.M. At that time it was a mix of both objective and subjective papers. Now the pattern has changed. It consists of only objective questions. There is no negative marking in NET now. So, all the students appearing for this exam should attempt all the questions without any stress of their marks getting deducted. They should read an elementary book on reasoning and mental ability as that constitutes one paper of the NET exam. For law, they should be focussing on their basic understanding of the subject. Objective questions are more about the elimination of the wrong answers to select the correct answer.
Q5 You have had significant teaching experience in International Law. What are your thoughts on careers in the field of International Law and how should students approach each one of them?
A5 International Law has emerged in the last couple of years as one of the most fascinating areas in the field of law. It’s a subject that focuses on the study of law in a global context. Whether you have to join an international organisation, like UN or AALCO or UNHCR etc or go for practice, specialisation in International Law can take you to places, especially in the current scenario, with so many developments happening around. I would say that studying international law allows students to develop insights into the global legal system and its influence on both national and international policies.
Q6 You have been a part of the International Commercial Arbitration dispute cases between the Government of India and Vodafone and Khaitan and Antrix vs. Deva’s cases. How has the experience been and what were your professional takeaways?
A6 Both Vodafone and Khaitan cases were International Commercial Arbitration disputes and were brought up under the Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) that India has with other countries. Attending the anti-arbitration injunction hearings in the Hon’ble High court of Delhi and coordinating with the Permanent Court of Arbitration was a great learning experience for me. I learnt the nuances of International Commercial Arbitration, which included rules of UNCITRAL, New York Convention, the principle of Kompetenz-Kompetenz etc. I also got to learn about the Woking of the Permanent Court of Arbitration and under which circumstances the parties can approach the Court?
Q7 Describe your role as a Consultant in the Legal & Treaties Division of the Ministry of External Affairs. What were your challenges?
A7 The experience I got while working in MEA is unparalleled. The legal & Treaties Division is the nodal point for all the international law-related issues of Govt. of India. Given a chance, students must strive to do an internship with MEA. It will be a great prospect for them. MEA and the legal & Treaties Division can provide a podium in the field of international law, which no other institution or organization can vouch for. Whether it’s extradition, asylum, mutual legal assistance, humanitarian law, the law of the sea or International commercial Arbitration, students may get a dash of all the species of international law, while being part of the Division and the Ministry.
Q8 You have taken classes for IFS probationers in FSI. Can you provide us with a brief understanding of how they are trained during probation and what activities constitute a part of their training?
A8 IFS officers are selected through the UPSC exam and get their three and a half-month’s of foundation course training in LBSNAA, Mussoorie. The Foundation Course makes them familiar with political, social, economic and administrative issues. The latter part of their training is conducted in Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service Delhi. They are given quality training in the institute by way of essential knowledge and diplomatic skills. IFS officer trainees have a module on International Law as part of their training This gives them an insight into many aspects of international law including treaty-making formalities, investment, immunity of diplomats, arbitration, cybersecurity etc, which they may require to be familiar with during their stint as an IFS officer.