Alumni profile - Prerna Deep

Prerna Deep, LLM Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, 2020

Tell us a little bit about your life before Edinburgh Law School

My name is Prerna Deep, and I hail from the capital city of India, New Delhi. I did not grow up dreaming of becoming a lawyer, but law found its way to me. After school, I studied English Literature at the best college in India - Miranda House, University of Delhi and graduated first class. My academic coursework included ‘The Merchant of Venice’ by William Shakespeare, ‘The Trial’ by Franz Kafka, and ‘Crime and Punishment’ by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, to name a few, which fortified my profound conviction to study law. I also studied Sociology as a minor subject, where the analysis of Emile Durkheim’s ‘Suicide’ and its interconnection with crime nudged me towards gaining a deeper understanding of Criminal Law.

During my LLB days at Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi, I came to understand how the law could be an awe-inspiring interdisciplinary and normative tool capable of promoting positive social changes and enriching lives. This understanding led me to pursue LLM at the University of Edinburgh. I am also the recipient of the British Council GREAT Scholarship.

What did you study at Edinburgh Law School and why did you choose the programme?

I pursued LLM in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice at Edinburgh Law School. Criminal law, for me, is an eclectic, multidisciplinary subject to seek and tackle an issue embracing all its angles. Being one of the world's most elite law schools, the way Edinburgh Law School offers a blend of multidisciplinary traditions, coursework, and jurisdictions, I knew it would aid me in practising law across the globe. Today I perceive law as a multifarious landscape that enables us as a society to coexist in harmony. Edinburgh Law School's visions and strategies such as to build "world-class scholars" by a blend of academia and global institutions, creating "transformative impact", and bridging gap between "academic and the civic" system aligned with my visions and I had hoped it would allow me to enhance my judicial capacities with the stimulating academic environment and valuable guidance of the esteemed faculty.

What do you think is unique to the Edinburgh Law School experience and what are some of your favourite memories?

The law seminars and the interactive tutorial-based comparative academic approach is a unique teaching method that fascinated me about Edinburgh Law School. The exuberant and diverse background of students that the University caters to and the lecturers and speakers of international repute further allowed me to gain a distinct outlook and put forth my analysis.

I tried to make the most of my master's student life at the University of Edinburgh. I participated in many societies and activities. I loved my challenging roles, such as Chief Copy editor at the Edinburgh Student Law Review and Chair of Alumni and Community Relations at the Postgraduate Law Society. I absolutely adored my time dancing at the Edinburgh University Tango Society and participating in various workshops.

I also thoroughly enjoyed my dissertation time at the Law School. It was the first time I was creating a 10,000 words research piece. With the support of my Supervisor, I made a special request to the University of Edinburgh Law School to incorporate empirical research in my dissertation which is usually not allowed at LLM level but after some training my request was accepted. It made my dissertation really interesting and allowed me to speak with legal professionals and academicians from the world who were kind enough to give interviews and contribute to my research topic 'A Comparative Analysis of Independent Legal Representation for Complainers of Sexual Offences'.

What have you been up to since graduating?

Since completing my LLM in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice as a British Council GREAT Scholar at the University of Edinburgh, my post-graduation journey has been a blend of academic inquiry, judicial exposure, and research engagement. Following my return to India, I also qualified for the Indian Bar Examination and am now a registered advocate licensed to practice in the Indian jurisdiction. While law school offered me a solid grounding in legal theory and doctrinal analysis, I was eager to gain insight into the practical functioning of the judiciary, particularly from the perspective of a judge, who plays a pivotal role in shaping the law. That aspiration materialised into a highly formative opportunity: working as a Law Clerk-cum-Research Associate to Hon’ble Mr. Justice Aniruddha Bose at the Supreme Court of India. This experience deepened my understanding of constitutional and criminal jurisprudence, honed my legal research and drafting skills, and offered a unique vantage point into the adjudicatory process at the apex court. 

Currently, I serve as an Academic Fellow at the National Law University Delhi, and also hold the position of Associate Coordinator at the Centre for Criminology and Victimology at NLU Delhi. These roles allow me to actively contribute to academic research, policy development, and student mentorship in areas such as victimology, criminal justice reforms, and empirical legal studies.

In addition to my academic and institutional responsibilities, I have been deeply involved in legal publishing. I previously served as a peer reviewer and editorial board member for several national and international journals and institutions, including the Editor-in-Chief for The Corporate Law Journal (London, UK), BLACC International Yearbook on Business Law and Dispute Resolution (Kathmandu School of Law), Edinburgh Student Law Review (Edinburgh, UK), Leviathan – University of Edinburgh Journal of Politics and International Relations (Edinburgh, UK), and the Global Research Network (London, UK).

My academic writings have appeared in a range of national and international publications. Notable among these are: ‘Exploring the Intersection: Women’s Bodies, Warfare, and International Law’ (SCC OnLine Times & Practical Lawyer, EBC Publications, India), ‘Legal Dilemma: Regulatory Offences Finding its Position in Criminal Law’ (King’s College Student Law Review, UK), ‘Examining the Immunities of a Former Head of State in International Criminal Law’ (Edinburgh Napier Student Law Review, UK), and ‘Diminishing the Spotlight of Trial: The Scope of Plea Bargaining in Criminal Justice System’ (Durham Law Review, UK).

Altogether, these diverse roles have enabled me to meaningfully integrate legal research, policy engagement, and academic mentorship in pursuit of advancing justice and scholarship in the criminal law domain.

What advice would you give current Edinburgh Law School students?

Edinburgh is a beautiful city, and Edinburgh law school is one of the most magnificent structures I've ever laid my eyes on. I would advise law students to make the most of it. There's so much to do and so little time, especially with an intense one-year LLM Programme; immerse yourself in the process, and you will love it. Manage your time well; schedule everything, including the fun times and long strolls around the lovely city.

Find out more about the LLM in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice programme