In Conversation with Aaditya Vikram Sharma, Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies

Aaditya Vikram Sharma is an Assistant Professor at Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, New Delhi. In this interview conducted by Campus Ambassador Jagriti Vij, the professor talks about his reasons to pursue academia, the LL.M. at South Asian University, and a whole lot more. .What inspired you to pursue academia?While pursuing B.A., LL.B. (H.) course from Amity Law School, Delhi, I was fascinated by Corporate Laws and International Law. I focused on these two fields for my career. However, it was not clear how I could enter the field only on the basis of International law. Moreover, it was during the final semester that I received a pre-placement job offer from a law firm wherein I was doing my internship. Even after I joined, I kept looking for avenues to move into International Law. In furtherance of the same, I applied to the South Asian University, Delhi (SAU) for the LL.M. course. The dilemma came full circle when I got through SAU. After a discussion with my parents, former faculty members and even colleagues, I went ahead and took admission in SAU. The teaching and research skills that I experienced made me re-think my career path as a new and fantastic field of academia was revealed to me. Thus, I decided to get into academics..Why did you choose International law as your area of expertise?As discussed earlier, I was always fascinated with International Law. Since my school days, I have been interested in history and political science. Coincidentally (and on a tangent), International Law is a formal blend of these two aspects of social sciences. Further, International Law to me has always appeared to be a prominent pillar on which the Indian judiciary time and again relied upon. I also felt that in the present-day era of globalization it has become imperative for every law student to be aware of the legal developments taking place internationally..Since you’ve adjudged various moots, including the Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot, what is it that you look for in a winning team?In moot court competitions, a team can only win when they work with mutual co-operation. Team spirit and rapport amongst the team members gets reflected in their work. Further, a team with thorough knowledge of the subject matter of the moot needs to know the subject at hand in and out and not just the issues specifically demarcated within the moot problem. Often moot participants treat oral rounds as uninterrupted speeches. Such teams, however, do not meet the expectations of the judges because judges do not have pre-decided questions in mind and frame questions on the basis of the flow of the argument. Interruptions and questions thus break the flow of the arguments contrary to the wishes of the participant who do not know the law under question in and out..Please tell us a little about your experience at the South Asian University.The University is an international institution that is open for students belonging to the eight member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation. The classrooms at SAU are different from that of other Universities because the exchange of ideas results in the creation of a pool of knowledge applicable at the regional level. Further, the University reminded me that the sub-continent has shared cultural values as well as historical background thus uniting the citizens to work together in resolving the hindrances in front of their economic and social development..If you were to give one piece of advice to a 1st year law student and one to a final year, what would those be?A first year law student should consider law school to be an upcoming life-changing experience. Law students undergo rigorous professional training for the span of five years which makes them ready to face the professional world. There are tons of opportunities available for students in the form of moot courts, internships etc. which should be utilised to their fullest extent. The competition which the other law students will offer you in terms of career growth should always be remembered during this crucial phase of life. A final year law student should analyse his or her strengths and weaknesses and should choose a career path accordingly. It shall always be remembered that the direction you choose after completing your degree will shape your life to come.