In Conversation with Moses Raj G. S. of St. Joseph's College Of Law

Moses Raj is an Assistant Professor at St Joseph's College Of Law, Bengaluru. Prior to his career in academia, Moses Raj worked for the Human Rights Law Network.

In this edited interview to Bar and Bench he talks about his reasons for making the shift to academia, what he loves about his law teaching assignment and what it would take for students to pursue a successful career in academia.

What made you shift, from being a litigator at the Human Rights Law Network to teaching law at St Joseph's College Of Law?

After pursuing a journalism degree from St. Joseph’s Evening College, I studied law at JSS Law College and also worked as a copywriter. While this formative training allowed me to critically analyse law and paved the way for my interest in the area of human rights law, it was only when working at the Indian Supreme Court under Dr. Colin Gonsalves’ supervision that I realised my real strength lay in research work. Academia then was a natural career progression.

Was making the shift from a litigating career to the academia difficult to adjust to?

A master of law degree from the South Asian University, New Delhi played a crucial role in giving me the right platform to understand the various approaches to law teaching. The university culture of encouraging debates amongst students challenged me to further broaden my outlook and always focus on the big picture. All of this made the transition to becoming an instructor much easier than I had anticipated.

What qualifications are needed for students interested in pursuing a career in academia? Does having a few years' professional experience like yours, help students and young professionals excel in a teaching career?

While a master’s degree is essential for law teaching, it is equally important for instructors to have a critical bent of mind and be good researchers. It is always advisable for persons to gain some professional experience to help build self-confidence and simultaneously publish articles in some key journals. This will help with acquiring good writing and presentation skills. Also having an interdisciplinary expertise is always a bonus, so students would do well to focus excelling at another subject in addition to law.

Please tell us at the things that you enjoy most about your career in academia?

Academia is a great way to see the classroom function as a laboratory for testing legal ideas. Besides, students challenge you to think in new and diverse manners. Academia also gives you the freedom to pursue research in any area of law, and pursue many interdisciplinary interests. This in turn helps one to develop meaningful collaborations with many scholars. However, the most intriguing fact remains that as an academician one has the power to transform the thoughts of students without compromising their passion or potential for learning.

Your concluding advice and and tips to students interested in pursuing the future legal minds of India.

Whether you are a first generation lawyer or not, have faith in the subject and the profession. Law is an adventure and all the terrains must be traversed at its own pace. As new cases continue to challenge us everyday, the growth and learning possibilities in the area of law only go on to become unlimited.

This interview is conducted by Campus Ambassador Rithvik Balanagraj