Vivek B Siddalingaiah

Where are you from?

I was an international student whilst studying at City, and am from India.

What motivated you to pursue the LLM?

In 2010, I qualified as a Lawyer and was called to the Bar in India. I was very keen on pursuing further studies so that I could excel in my field of interest, and also to start practicing/ working so that I could identify which field of law I would be interested in.

Also, in 2010-11 the legal profession was blooming in India and it was more mandatory to have a postgraduate qualification to stand out in the job market. I was very keen on shaping my career and getting an LLM was the first step towards that.

I applied to The City Law School in 2011 and was offered a place on LLM Criminal Litigation. I was not sure if Criminal Law was my calling at that time – so I had to decline the offer.

Nevertheless, in 2014, having practiced for over four years, I realised that Civil litigation and Arbitration were my fields of interest. That is when I decided to re-apply to City and was offered a place in LLM Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution. I also tried to continue my academic interest by applying for a PhD but I could not continue due to personal reasons.

What were you doing before studying the LLM?

I graduated with my LLB from Bangalore University, India in 2010. In October of the same year, I qualified as a lawyer in India and was called to the Bar. I started practicing litigation at High Courts and Tribunals.

I used to represent public sector insurance companies, banking institutions, and corporate companies in litigation proceedings.

I worked as an in-house counsel for a start-up company. I was responsible for running the litigation team of the company. I was also leading a small litigation team in a boutique law firm where my practice expanded to Arbitration including Domestic & International.

This opened a new world of interest and opportunity which I could have made use of only by having an LLM.

How did The City Law School prepare you for your current role?

The course structure was designed in such a way that it was suitable for students from any background.

Classroom discussions about our native legal systems, the way they derived from or compared with the UK legal system, individual activities like presentations on the topic of our interests, and visits to Courts and Inns of Court further enabled me to understand the profession in a wider sense.

I remember there was a pro-bono clinic that was first started in 2015 called 'Roof over London' where we were allowed to advise the public on housing issues.

These types of programs and opportunities enriched the academic and practical knowledge required for my profession.

What knowledge and skills did the LLM help you develop? Which one has been the most useful since you graduated and why?

The LLM helped me gain in-depth knowledge of Dispute Resolution, which I was interested in. I was able to develop not only theoretical knowledge but also practical skills. The course structure enabled me to not only read the prescribed books but also to keep myself updated with the latest developments in the field of law.

The LLM also gave me the opportunity to network with legal professionals, helping me during my job search. I would say the most the course helped me develop was putting my theoretical knowledge into practice in a suitable way. This further motivated me to qualify as a Barrister in England & Wales.

How did you find studying in the UK or in London?

Studying in the UK was always my first choice and London was always my preferred city. It was like the icing on a cake that I got to apply and study at the university and city of my choice. Being from a Commonwealth nation, the British played a very significant role in the development of law in India.

This was one of the main reasons that I was keen on studying in the UK, especially in London. My decision to study and my parents' support enabled me to realise this has been one of the best moments in my life so far.

The staff and professors at The City Law School were very welcoming from day one. Even though the education pattern was widely different from that of my previous one, I was able to adapt to it very quickly.

It is so true that one cannot get tired of London! It was a dream come true when I moved to London. 2014-15 my time as a student in London was one of the best years that I will cherish and remember forever!

Being a student has many perks like student discounts, and I made sure I make use of them.

I was also able to travel around Europe and use my University ID to get discounts, free entry to tourist sites etc. I never knew that being a student in the UK would change my personal and professional life. And now I can say for sure that it has!

How did you fund your studies – did you secure any financial support?

My parents helped me secure an educational loan from a bank. As an international student, it was difficult to get financial assistance in the UK.

As a minimum requirement to get a student visa, I was expected to show my financial capabilities. I was not eligible for any other UK or EU student loan or funding.

At that time, I knew that the Inns of Court offered scholarships for LLM BVS and not LLM. Due to this I was not able to apply for any financial assistance from the Inns.

I did apply for the LLM Full Scholarship offered by The City Law School but was not able to secure it. I remember in 2014-15 there was only one full scholarship offered by The City Law School and it was very competitive.

I funded my LLM course and my personal expenses by way of an education loan from a bank.

Why did you choose The City Law School for your postgraduate studies?

The City Law School was my first choice as it was located in the city of London. Personally, City was my choice as it was well known for producing some of the best jurists, barristers, and Legal professionals in the world.

Mahatma Gandhi, India's father of the nation did his Bar course back in the 1900s and was called to the Bar at Inner Temple. Being an Indian, I had an intense emotional attachment towards The City Law School!

Furthermore, The City Law School was offering the course that I wanted to pursue - LLM in Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution.

This was more like a tailor-made course for me and so I didn’t have to look at any other university in the UK.