Ms. Divyanshi Dwivedi has completed her B.A.LL.B. (Hons.) from Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, India. She has done her LL.M. in International Legal Studies from NYU Law. Presently she is working as a Legal Consultant at Children’s Health Defense, New York.
- According to you when is the right time to do an LL.M.? Please answer keeping in mind the employment opportunities in the US market.
I would say anytime could be the right time, but the best time is after you have worked for at least two years and gained some experience to know your area of specialization better. Although I started my LL.M. straight after law school, I always felt that I could’ve taken better decisions if I had a first-hand experience of working in the field. But I’d say, if you feel ready, go for it!
- Any tips on the LL.M. application process for NYU? How should one approach the Statement of Purpose?
This is one piece of advice that you would hear from everyone – apply early and do your research. Make your SOP as personalized as possible. Tailor it to the course structure at NYU or whichever other university you are applying to. Do some research on the Professors and the kind of courses you want to take and try to draw parallels with your past work experiences. If you are changing your track, be ready to creatively justify your reason. And please, do not copy-paste texts from google- be original.
- Did you receive any scholarship for your LL.M.? What are some of the most memorable aspects of your LL.M. journey?
I did not receive any scholarship for my LL.M. at NYU. But I picked NYU because of all the exposure this wonderful city has to offer. Our batch was so diverse and I learned so much from all my friends from all over the world. It is hard for me to pick one memorable aspect because the whole journey was just amazing- from forming study groups and sharing outlines to bar review parties every Thursday. Unfortunately, we graduated in 2020 (also referred to as ‘the class of COVID’), which took away 3 months of our LLM. Dealing with that crisis in itself was a part of our experience and made me come closer to a lot of my friends.
- You have interned at Draper & Draper LLC, New York. How did you bag that opportunity? How was the experience?
There is just one magical word, “NETWORKING”. I was looking at arbitration law firms in New York and came across Draper & Draper LLC. One of my LinkedIn connections used to work there as well. So I simply sent the partner a cold email, asking for a virtual coffee and to get to know his work better. He was not hiring at that moment, but he helped me strategize my job search. I stayed in touch with him for the next few weeks. Later on, he wanted a helping hand for a project, and he reached out to me. I am working on an International Construction arbitration case and so far, I have had a wonderful learning experience while working at Draper LLC.
- Congratulations on bagging the Legal Consultant position at Children’s Health Defense (CHD). How did you bag this opportunity? Also, please explain to our readers your work and responsibilities as a Legal Consultant at CHD.
Good things come to you in most random ways. When we first went into shutdown due to COVID in March, I was about to finish my LLM and was looking for jobs. I came across this Pro-bono job posting at the NYU docket, wherein a former NYU Law professor, who is now the General counsel at CHD, wanted to research Human rights violations due to COVID shutdowns across the globe. Because we have to work 50 hours pro bono to qualify for the Bar (this was waived off later due to covid) and also find a job or internship within 90 days or lose your OPT visa status, I applied and got the position. Over the next few months, I worked pro bono, a couple of hours each week. Once the project was over, I reached out to my professor (now my boss) and asked her if she could introduce me to a lawyer who would potentially be looking to hire someone who matches my profile. CHD had a lot of legal work going on, and a small legal team. Therefore, they agreed to hire me as an intern for 20 hours a week. I worked for the next 5 months as an intern. I then asked my boss again if there is a possibility that I could work full time, and she agreed. They also agreed to sponsor my visa. Although my area of interest is International Arbitration, I took this job because I felt it is an important stepping-stone in my career. Getting a big law job is very hard, but if you have a starting point, you can achieve whatever you want easily, even with baby steps.
The bottom line is- don’t hesitate to ASK! Opportunities will not come to you on their own, you will have to run and grab them. Although a lot of people lost jobs due to COVID, fortunately, I found mine due to COVID.
About CHD- it is a non-profit founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., that works for Children’s health and safety, especially with regards to Vaccines. I assist the General counsel in all the legal work and handling of CHD’s litigations. My responsibilities include legal research, drafting complaints, motions, legal notices/ Cease and desist letters, filing FOIA requests, etc.
- Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
I am a person who sets short-term goals instead of long-term and unrealistic ones, but at the same time have an idea about where I am going.
But if I have to answer this question, I’d say I’d be an associate in one of the International law firms, working in the International Commercial Arbitration/ Litigation group and traveling across countries for the hearings, in a COVID-free world, of course! I also aspire to be in the 30 under 30 list.