Utkarsha Nikam | Statement of Purpose

Queen Mary University of London

As someone having no family background in the field of law, I was unsure of the opportunities
I would come across when I decided to pursue a career in the said area. However, I never
imagined myself in a courtroom wearing a black robe, but buried under books in a huge law
library. After spending 5 years of my undergraduate law course of reading diverse books on
law, I ask myself ‘What next?’ A little research prompts to me the answer as ‘Queen Mary
University of London’. A post graduation degree at Queen Mary University of London would
provide me the opportunity to pursue advanced study in my desired field with the opportunity
to gain knowledge through the wide range of research programs and other law clinics organized
on and off campus.
I hail from an educated family and from a small town, Nasik in the state of Maharashtra. Both
of my parents are well-qualified and maintain a refined deportment. Despite my comfortable
upbringing, my parents always made sure I was independent enough to take vital decisions of
my life on my own which inculcated in me, a strong sense of curiosity and eagerness to
understand people and mechanism of the world around me. They have also inspired me to scale
newer heights of academic successful to become a useful member of the society.
My desire to gain in-depth knowledge of law resulted in me making the life-altering move to
Mumbai, where I joined the esteemed Government Law College (GLC), post my High School
studies. GLC offers, amongst other courses, a rigorous 5-year B.L.S. LL.B. degree (Under the
University of Mumbai) wherein I have scored an aggregate of 59%. This can be attributed to
my innate desire to acquire knowledge for being a consummate human being rather than just
score good marks in milestone exams. I have also completed Diploma in Cyber Law which is
administered by Government Law College and Asian School of Cyber Laws. The large number
of subjects toughened my mindset and transformed me into a person who can withstand all
kinds of pressures. Those undergraduate years awarded unforgettable learning experiences in
the form of workshops, seminars and opportunities to interact and work with industry
professionals.
The leadership and organisational skills in me became apparent when I was selected as the
General Secretary of Legal Aid Committee at Government Law College, Mumbai. On personal
front, I am a person who is extremely hard working and determined to the core. I meticulously
planned all the projects, events, seminars and workshops along with my team in all respects
i.e. budgeting, timeline, milestone setting, strategic decision making, resource mobilization,
documentation, coordination etc. wherein I took charge, assuming the majority of the work and
responsibility, ensuring that everything was completed in a timely manner and to extremely
high standards. Team work is my forte as evident from my successful project works. This
success infused in me the confidence to take on major challenges in future by strengthening
my project management skills.
Being recognized as a person with good leadership qualities, I have distinguished myself by
participating in prestigious Moot Court Competitions, MUNs, Lok Sabha’s namely Jindal
Moot Court Competition in 2018 at Jindal Global University, Sonipat. 17th Henry Dunant
Moot Court Competition, 2017 at ISIL, Delhi (International Humanitarian Law), 7th Ranka
 Utkarsha Nikam | Statement of Purpose
Queen Mary University of London

National Moot Court Competition, Jaipur,2017 (Criminal Law), Participated in 7th Dr. Paras
Diwan Memorial International ‘Energy law’ Moot Court Competition, 2017, University of
Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradhun (International Law), Participated in 5th Mahamana
Malaviya National Moot Court Competition, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 2017
(Information Technology Amendment Act, 2010), Delegate of Maharashtra MUN Conference,
2017 organized by Dharma Bharati Mission as a delegate of Loksabha on the topic, ‘Corruption
and the ways to combat it in daily life.’ and in the Jitendra Chauhan College of Law, Fest Law
Tryst on the topic “Current Affairs in India, 2017.” One of the most satisfying experiences in
life is succeeding in a competitive environment and proving yourself competent to overcome
any challenge which comes your way. For as long as I have known, I have always strived for
excellence through hard work, perseverance and dedication.
My willingness to contribute in the society made me participate actively in street plays for
spreading awareness on social issues like Domestic Violence, Women Empowerment, Right to
safety etc. in slum areas wherein I received an outstanding opportunity to volunteer for a NGO,
Each One Teach One’s Village Awareness Campaign in the academic year 2016- 2017.
Speaking about achievements, a paper adjudged best and presented in Jus Dicere Seminar, Goa
on Basics of International Humanitarian Law deserves special mention. On top of my
impressive Academic excellence, I have been awarded with a Certificate of Excellence in
Sports by Government Law College, Mumbai for representing and winning competitions on
various platforms including National Sports Authority of India in Volleyball and Football.
Apart from academics, I have kept myself professionally engaged to be more productive and
discerning. I believe that practical experience is quintessential to supplement theoretical
knowledge. Accordingly, throughout my law school tenure, I interned in multifarious law firms
dealing in various areas of law such as Labour Law, Real Estate Law, Civil Law and Intellectual
Property Law. I constantly felt the need to upgrade myself with respect to the nuances of law.
Consequently, after graduating from law school, I received an offer letter from Kanga &
Company, one of the premier law firms in India specializing in Real Estate. Working in a highly
professional and competitive environment is a life-changing experience and makes a significant
impact on your personality. I believe that over the course of time, I have been able to gain
significant proficiency in Real Estate which will be beneficial in the long-run to prosper
anywhere on the global platform.
The English Court System is respected throughout the world and English Law is also the first
choice for international business, governing many large commercial arrangements between
developed and developing countries. Therefore, a LL.M in United Kingdom will definitely be
valuable from the perspective of widening my horizons, interacting with different people and
building up worldwide networks that would help me years later in an increasingly global
environment.
The unique ability to adapt to new environments and outstanding communication skills make
me an ideal candidate for higher studies in foreign countries. In order to sufficiently support
the financial requirements of my post graduation I will be applying for an education loan. The
 Utkarsha Nikam | Statement of Purpose
Queen Mary University of London

amount will be more than enough to help me meet all the expenses such as the tuitions fee,
accommodation, travel and all other expenditures that may be incurred during the course of my
stay in United Kingdom
The LLM Commercial and Corporate Law course offered at Queen Mary University of London
(QMUL), has been designed with a broad range of commercially focused areas to cover the
latest impact of globalisation on corporate world and to address the role law and lawyer can
play as and when required. With wealth of modules, the course provides insights into
international trade, financial transactions, treaties, media, merger, acquisition and related areas.
These learning potentials mirror my target that I aim to acquire from my chosen specialist
discipline Commercial and Corporate Law from the postgraduate study.
The QMUL School of Law is one of the top 10 law schools in the UK and a pioneer law school
among the prestigious Russell Group Universities. The teaching is provided by internationally
recognised academics who are connected with national and international governments, industry
and NGOs. Learning law under this academic set-up will distinguish me from others. The high
rate of employment prospects of QMUL graduates will add excellent value to my career goal.
Moreover, as a globally recognized centre for learning, Queen Mary University of London
promises to prepare me well for service of the society through knowledge empowerment and
is ideally suited for my purpose. I ultimately intend to share the experience and knowledge
acquired at your University with law students in India and at Global level to help create a
generation of lawyers sensitive to the aspects of commercial and corporate law through my
teaching and publications. If selected, I intend to put my best foot forward and contribute to
the legal fraternity in the best possible way.
- Utkarsha Nikam
Associate, Kanga &
Co. Mumbai.