Worldbuilding 101: Ruchika’s Insights on a Global Legal Career

Building Skills and Credibility

Looking back on the first steps that she took in her early career, Ruchika reflects that law school isn’t just about the textbooks and the lectures – there’s an entire realm of learning opportunities beyond academics.

For Ruchika, that meant fully immersing herself in everything that Monash Law had to offer: the Law Ambassador Program, competitions, industry panels, networking nights, and clinical placements. It also meant sharpening her skills outside of law school, through her work as a legal assistant at a migration law firm.

Ruchika’s advice is simple: say yes, and “seize the day”. At the same time, she cautions against chasing experiences purely for appearances: “It’s easy to fall into the trap of doing things just because they look good on a CV. But the moment you choose something that genuinely excites you, your energy shifts – and people notice.”

She also speaks candidly about how her current experience at HSF Kramer has shaped her. “As a junior, it can be hard to notice how different things are. But when you're working across jurisdictions, you're not just looking inward. You’re learning how to disseminate complex information, to research what’s happening in other parts of the world, and to leverage global trends. It broadens your legal mind.” Her role now often includes thinking beyond Australia, engaging with varying legal systems, comparing frameworks, and drawing connections that only emerge with global literacy.

Determining a Path

At this point in our interview with Ruchika, we asked one of the most popular questions we hear in law school: ‘How do you choose a practice area?’ Ruchika responded that while it may be a big epiphany for some of us, it won’t be as simple for the larger majority. Ruchikanotes, however, that even some of her peers at the graduate level are still unsettled. For better or for worse, uncertainty is prevalent in all levels of the legal profession – figuring out your own path therefore demands curiosity and introspection.

Law school gives you “breadth” – an opportunity to try your hand in varying areas of law, both commercial and non-commercial. Beyond that, it provides you with a network of peers and professionals. In Ruchika’s experience: “What helped me most was going to clinics, speaking to tutors about their paths, and showing up at networking events. Sometimes just hearing a lawyer talk about their day gives you a better sense of the subject than any textbook”.

She stresses that students should let go of the pressure to decide everything now. Your direction unfolds. You try something. You learn. You redirect.

So when it comes to exploring interests while staying open, her message is clear: follow the interest, not the expectation. You have to set aside the fear of, ‘What will they think if I choose [this area of law]?’ Forget that. Ask: ‘What excites me? What do I want to understand more deeply?’

Advice for Students: Choose What Sparks You

Ruchika advises to pick electives that interest you. She expanded by saying that her favourite was Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, and that she loved it not because it looked good, but because it challenged and sharpened her. A genuine engagement in your units is what will sustain you long-term.

She encourages students to design their degree with curiosity, not comparison. Don’t build a transcript for someone else. Build it for you. Take units that develop transferable skills such as negotiation, advocacy, and research, which will serve you across a career in any area, including international work.

Most importantly, she advocates for practical exposure: volunteering, competitions, placements, shadowing. Law is learned through people and practice. You don’t need to have it all figured out – just keep moving forward and learning from each moment.

An ‘International’ Career

Diversity of backgrounds, as Ruchika attests, can shape workplace culture in a positive way. To “see the world beyond Australia” can come up in unexpected ways; for her, it was anexchange in Indonesia that helped foster a cultural sensitivity that Ruchika believes to be essential in pro bono work.

While she acknowledges that she is still early in her career, international experience has already proven to be of value to Ruchika in more ways than one. Working at an international law firm has opened Ruchika’s perspective to what lawyering can be. She highlights the tangible advantages: the ability to reach out to professionals in other offices, collaborate on cross-jurisdictional matters and even pursue international secondments.

Long-term Preparation

Ruchika is frank about how she processes rejection and missed opportunities. She believes suppression is never the answer, and feelings must be given time to be processed. “Life has unexpected ways; nothing is ever permanent” she says. In the meantime, Ruchika encourages relying on your networks. Support from family and friends – whether in emotional problems or career advice – can help prepare for whatever comes next.

If she could restart her career, Ruchika offers a few words of advice. Firstly, the people are the most important: take time to truly get to know those you wish to network with. Say yes to what brings you discomfort as experience is the best teacher. And lastly, go on exchange!

When asked what she wishes she’d done differently as a student, Ruchika said “watch your lectures!”. It is easy to take life for granted, but Ruchika believes that law school, like anything in life, should be approached with appreciation.

Written by Ananya Goswami and Adelheid Ye

Edited by Luigi Yanto and Ai-Vy Nguyen