As academics, we receive many queries relating to admission to PhD and Masters by Research programs. Most academics are time poor and receive dozens – if not hundreds – of emails each day.  Graduate programs are highly competitive: at Melbourne Law School, only around 15 applicants are accepted each year. At an institution like Melbourne Law School, it is not necessary to have a supervisor on board before applying, but it can be useful to have early correspondence with a potential supervisor about a research proposal.  So how can you make sure you stand out, especially if you don’t already know a potential supervisor?  A potential supervisor is trying to assess whether…