Ms. Akshita Tiwary has pursued an LL.M. degree in International Law at the Geneva Graduate Institute.
Why did you choose the Geneva Graduate Institute for your LL.M.?
Applying for an LL.M. can be an arduous process. But what becomes even more challenging is choosing from among various great schools afterwards. I was fortunate enough to exercise this option, having received offers from excellent schools like NYU, Georgetown, Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, Fletcher’s, and of course, the Geneva Graduate Institute itself. But what made me narrow down on the Graduate Institute was a combination of different factors – the locational advantages of Geneva, the scope of opportunities available after the LL.M., as well as financial considerations. Not only is Geneva the hub for several international organisations like the UN, UNHCR, ILO, IOM, WHO, WTO, WEF, ITC, GAVI, etc, but it is also one of the main epicenters for international human rights law which is my core area of interest. Hence, I decided to attend the Geneva Graduate Institute in the hopes that I would get more practical exposure in this field.
Another factor which influenced my choice is the LL.M. curriculum at the Graduate Institute, which really interested me. In terms of the courses available, the programme is well-rounded, which gave me a good grounding in international law. The LL.M. programme at the Institute is divided into three specialisations – Protection of the Individual in International Law, International Economic Law and International Environmental Law. Students of all three specialisations study the foundational courses together, and then have classes separately for their own specialization courses. I was in the Protection of the Individual in International Law stream, wherein I studied courses on International Human Rights Law, International Criminal Law, International Humanitarian Law, International Refugee Law and Transitional Justice. Apart from this, all the LL.M. students together attended classes on foundational courses such as the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, International Law Making, International Dispute Settlement, State Jurisdiction, and Law of the Seas, among several others. Altogether, these subjects really served to polish my understanding of general as well as specialized areas of international law. Furthermore, the LL.M. Legal Clinic gave us the opportunity to collaborate with an international NGO and work on one of their projects, which helped us learn about the practical application of international law. All of these factors attracted me towards the LL.M. at the Geneva Graduate Institute, and I am very happy I chose it!
This last one year in Geneva has professionally been very fulfilling. The mere proximity to all the major international organisations like the UN makes a huge difference! I was easily able to attend sessions of the Human Rights Council, the Human Rights Committee and the International Law Commission. I even got the opportunity to intern with one of the Members of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women! None of this would have been possible had I not been in Geneva. The Geneva Graduate Institute is highly recommended for its programmes, and is one of the best-known universities in Europe. Students from the Institute gain superb practical exposure at the UN, and thus, all of these were factors which made me decide to go for this LL.M.
Walk us through a typical day at the Geneva Graduate Institute.
As is well-known, the life of an LL.M. student is tough. While most programmes at the Institute are for two years, the LL.M. is one of the only two programmes at the Institute which is one-year long (the second one being the MIDS). So we had classes almost everyday, for at least 2-3 hours. The good thing is that Geneva is quite small, and the student residences, the Graduate Institute and the UN are all barely 5 mins away from each other. So, it was never inconvenient to go for classes or go to work at the UN (though it was a bit of a challenge during the cold Winter months :P).
I remember that during the first semester, I had to go for classes everyday. Once the classes finished, I would go to the beautiful library of the Graduate Institute to get some readings done. Meanwhile, I also made it a point to take advantage of being in Geneva, and so, I would register online to attend the various sessions going on at the UN. I went for seminars and panel discussions also, where I met a lot of interesting people working in the field of international law. Networking is generally big in Geneva, and you often meet some of the ‘greats’ in the field at such events. Again, the Graduate Institute often hosts a lot of these events, so being a student at the Institute has quite a few perks!
Most students at the Institute also end up interning at the UN. During my second semester, I would finish my classes at the Institute and then go to work at the UN. In between, I would also try to attend some of the events and panel discussions happening at the Institute. The two-year programmes also have a lot of their own student committees and initiatives which are quite active, and LL.M. students can participate in their activities as well. Overall, life as a student at the Institute can get quite busy (but in all the right ways)!
What are some of the most memorable aspects of your LL.M. journey?
On the professional side, one of the most striking things for me was to learn about international law from some of the bests in the field. I had always been an enthusiast of international law, and unfortunately did not get to study about it much during my undergraduate. Whatever I learnt about it was on my own. But coming to Geneva, and then studying international law from some of the experts in the field was surreal! Our lectures were taken by amazing professors like Andrew Clapham, Fuad Zarbiyev, Vincent Chetail, Paola Gaeta, Anne Saab, Yuval Shany, Andrea Bianchi, Patricia Galvão Teles, Nico Krisch, and Philippa Webb, among others. The best part about all these professors (and also one of the factors which helped me choose this LL.M.) is that all of them are practitioners in the field of international law, along with being academics. This made a huge difference during the LL.M., and helped me learn especially about the realistic implementation of a complex subject like international law (which is often contested). Hence, studying the theoretical aspects alongside being given a glimpse into how this theory is implemented in practice proved to be very insightful during my LL.M. journey.
Another memorable aspect is my participation in the Geneva Debate. The Geneva Debate is the annual flagship debate hosted at the Graduate Institute, whereby students of the Institute debate on a current topic of global development and public law and policy which has relevance in International Geneva. I participated in the 2024 edition of the Debate, where we argued the advantages v/s the disadvantages of the EU’s new pact on migration and asylum. This Debate was an amazing learning experience for me – both personally and professionally. I worked in a team of three people, and we prepared rigorously for the Debate. Eventually, our team won the 2024 Geneva Debate, and I also won the ‘Best Speaker’ award. But these victories were only the cherry on top of the cake; the real cake had been the entire experience of preparing for the Debate, which taught us all a lot of lessons. The biggest lesson that I learnt through this experience was to always enjoy the process, without getting attached to the outcome (a life lesson which I believe is going to be very important for me in the coming years, especially if I intend to work in this field)!
In July 2024, I also got the golden opportunity to participate in the 58th edition of the International Law Seminar (ILS). The ILS happens every year at the United Nations Office in Geneva, in conjunction with the annual sessions of the International Law Commission (ILC). The ILS is designed for postgraduate students in international law, young scholars, government officials as well as young lawyers in the field of international law, to widen their knowledge of both the work of the International Law Commission and of the codification and progressive development of international law. It also provides an opportunity for lawyers coming from different legal systems and cultures to exchange views regarding items on the agenda of the ILC. The Seminar is a very prestigious event, and previous participants of the ILS have gone on to become members of the International Law Commission in the future. Naturally, selection process for the ILS is very competitive, and I was fortunate enough to be chosen as the only participant from India this year! The entire Seminar was a wonderful experience, where I got the opportunity to learn not only from the Members of the ILC, but also from my own colleagues at the ILS, many of whom were diplomats and other government officials working for their respective state governments before the UN in New York and other places. As part of the ILS, we received lectures from ILC members on the current work of the ILC, and we also attended networking events at the WTO, the UK embassy, and other places in Geneva. Once again, I got to know of the Seminar due to my presence in Geneva, and I am very grateful to have gotten the chance to participate in it!
On the personal side, I would say that one of the most memorable aspects of my LL.M. journey has been the people I met along the way. Moving abroad, away from your friends and family, can be quite difficult. Nonetheless, what makes it easier are the people you meet along the way, who kind of become your family away from home. I vividly remember that during one of the very first LL.M. meetups, I was so happy and excited to be finally surrounded by a bunch of people who shared that same love for international law that I always had! I am lucky to have met some wonderful people in Geneva, some of whom even became my mentors. It has been extremely insightful to get to know about their professional journeys as well, and at times (especially when you are in that stressful period of applying for jobs), their advice and moral support has worked wonders! I will always be grateful for these people in my life. Lastly, as someone who has always enjoyed being in multicultural environments, it has been a pleasure to be in Geneva which has a great international vibe (and the perks of being in Europe and to be able to travel freely definitely didn’t hurt as well!).
How was your experience interning at the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women? Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
One of my experiences in Geneva for which I am really thankful is my internship at the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). I assisted one of the Members of the CEDAW with conducting periodic reviews of states parties’ obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, and this was one of the very first experiences which helped me learn more about the practical application of international law. It was surreal to attend the CEDAW sessions at the UN Office in Geneva, and to observe how states uphold their commitments under the international treaties that they have signed and ratified. Needless to say, I learnt a lot during this internship, which also helped me reflect upon the drawbacks of international law and contemplate ways in which they can potentially be rectified. I attended meetings with domestic NGOs, which helped me realize the importance of a vibrant civil society. My interactions with my Member and with the other Members of the CEDAW were also very enriching, and I am likely to remember those for a long time to come! Meeting some other interns from different parts of the world was another added benefit. Altogether, I had an amazing time at the CEDAW, where I polished my legal, professional and diplomatic skills.
For the next few years of my life, I would like to work either with the UN or with other international NGOs to learn more about the implementation of international law in reality. During this period, I hope to be able to go into fieldwork as well. Working on the ground is an unparalleled experience (from what I have learned here in Geneva). Eventually, after 5 years, I hope to be able to do my Ph.D. from a good university. However, for now, I am in for the thrilling (yet unpredictable) ride that is international law, and see where I land in the next few years!
Any advice for law students/lawyers who want to pursue their LL.M. from the Geneva Graduate Institute?
Most law students that approach me for tips on how to go for an LL.M. – I always advise them to be clear about their motives and what they want from the LL.M. afterwards. Having this clarity really helps in choosing between which schools to apply to, and which school to finally attend. An LL.M. is a huge investment (personally, financially and professionally), so I would request everyone to do their own due diligence during the process. Reach out to people who have attended different schools, and ask them about their experience. More often than not, people would be very happy to help. So never hesitate to ask!
As for the Geneva Graduate Institute, I would highly recommend it to law students and lawyers who have a passionate interest in international law and affairs, and wish to learn more about their working in reality. International Geneva has quite a lot of opportunities available (which you should take advantage of), and pursuing your LL.M. at the Institute makes you a desirable candidate to be able to access those opportunities. While I am available for more tailored advice and happy to have a chat with potential candidates hoping to do their LL.M. at the Institute, generally I would say that pursuing your LL.M. at the Geneva Graduate Institute is definitely worth it!