Nandini Bulchandani, Law Clerk, Constitutional Court of South Africa

Nandini Bulchandani (LLM International Law, 2025) was nominated by UCL Laws for the highly competitive Constitutional Court of South Africa Clerkship and was successful in securing a place. This experience has given her the opportunity to observe first-hand how the law is examined and developed at the highest constitutional level.

What motivated you to study the LLM International Law at UCL Laws? 

Studying the LLM International Law at UCL Laws appealed to me for how the modules are designed to critically confront and engage with the power imbalances that are embedded within, and perpetuated by, the structures of international law.

I was especially drawn to UCL Laws’ emphasis on interdisciplinarity. Of particular appeal to me was the ‘Decolonising Law’ module, which examined international legal doctrines and their normative and historical underpinnings through the lens of post-colonial theory and critical race theory.

Such an approach was attractive to me for its holistic and inclusive approach to a discipline that has historically been reserved for the purview of the West, despite being applied (more) extensively to the Rest.   

Were there any particular professors, modules or extracurricular activities that influenced your personal or professional development?

I found ‘Foreign Relations Law’ to be a particularly influential module. Amongst other things, it examined how the UK legal system enables and impedes legal challenges to the government’s conduct of international relations.

The unique combination of public and private domestic and international law involved in this module illuminated to me how ostensibly separate legal areas can interact with one another in complex and innovative ways. The comparative perspectives offered by the module, whereby the UK legal position on certain issues was contrasted with that of other common-law jurisdictions, provided further enrichment and cause for reflection. Finally, in comprising a body of UK case law that, for certain topics, spanned almost half a millennium, this module illustrated to me how legal doctrines evolve over time (and how they do not).

Thus, this module cultivated a sensitive appreciation of how the legal doctrines in this important area operate in practice. 

Can you share a memorable moment or experience from your time at UCL Laws that has had a lasting impact on you?

Participating in the Jessup competition has certainly had a lasting impact on me, not least in the form of teammates who are now very good friends!

A particularly memorable moment from this experience is the moment when our team won the quarter finals of the national competition, thus guaranteeing our advancement to the international rounds in Washington D.C. Seeing months of hard work, dedication, and teamwork culminate in this very special achievement was incredibly rewarding!   

How has your career path evolved since finishing the LLM, and how did UCL Laws prepare you for this?

Since completing my LLM, I have started working as a law clerk at the Constitutional Court of South Africa. As part of this role, I research the legal issues on appeal before the Court, produce written memoranda on applications for permission to appeal, and assist in drafting and editing judgments. I also regularly critically discuss the legal issues on appeal with my Judge and my co-clerks.

UCL Laws was instrumental in preparing me for this role. Through the spirited seminar discussions, inquisitive approach to learning, and frequent high-level engagement with areas of law that I had not encountered before, my LLM equipped me with the research, writing, and verbal expression skills required to thrive in this position.

Can you explain how the Constitutional Court of South Africa Clerkship opportunity came about? What does the Clerkship entail?

Seeing this opportunity advertised on the UCL Laws careers bulletin, I knew immediately that I wanted to apply. After a written application and an interview with a three-member panel, UCL Laws nominated me as one of their candidates for the clerkship. Before submitting to the Court, UCL Laws helped me refine my written application.

I am about halfway through the clerkship – so far, it has been utterly fantastic! It entails a lot of research, critical thinking, and discussion in relation to a variety of legal concepts across a wide range of subject areas. While some of these concepts are specific to the South African legal system, many of them exist in some form or another across most legal systems.

I am enjoying the process of encountering new legal concepts and engaging with them in-depth. Perhaps what I’m enjoying even more is (re-)encountering familiar concepts but in different contexts and with new perspectives, as this forces me to interrogate my pre-existing thoughts on the matter and engage with the subject anew. Such a process is rigorous and revelatory.  

What would you say has been the highlight of your career so far, or had the biggest impact on you?

I would say the clerkship at the Constitutional Court of South Africa is definitely the highlight of my career so far. Participating in conversations with my peers and my Judge about how a case should be decided provides an illuminating insight into the potential (and limitations) of law as an instrument for providing justice, engendering social change, and ensuring good governance. To be able to observe how the law is carefully considered and developed at the Court is a complete privilege, for which I am immensely grateful.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking of doing the LLM at UCL Laws?

Absolutely do it!

What careers advice or guidance would you give to current students or recent graduates who are just starting out?

I must admit, I’m not sure I am best placed to offer advice on the matter, as I am also very much at the early stages of my career!

So, I can only repeat what I have received as advice from those who are, in my view, better placed to offer it (and from whose words I’ve derived great comfort when I’ve needed it).

Focus on one thing at a time. Plan ahead in your career, but not so far that you forget where you are right now. And try to enjoy each step as it comes!