Super Lawyer

Author: Aashish Ahuja

  • Bhoomika Choudhury, Founding Partner, Svadhā Legal, on her time in Symbiosis, the future for start-ups and the importance of pro bono work

    Bhoomika Choudhury, Founding Partner, Svadhā Legal, on her time in Symbiosis, the future for start-ups and the importance of pro bono work

    Bhoomika Choudhury is a graduate in law from Symbiosis International University, batch of 2012. Thereafter, she has gone on to practise with leading firms like Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A. Shroff & Co., Mumbai (now Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas) and boutique tax firm Vaish Associates Advocates, New Delhi. She has also worked as a junior in the Chambers of Dr. Rajeev Dhavan, one of the leading senior counsels in the Supreme Court of India. She has experience handling administrative, civil, criminal, service, bail, intellectual property, tax and water disputes matters. She also has experience in briefing and assisting senior counsels. In 2016, she founded her own legal firm, Svadhā Legal, which offers representation in corporate, commercial, tax, civil and criminal litigation and arbitration matters.

    In this interview, we speak to her about:

    • On being a Chartered Accountant alongside with being a lawyer
    • On the future of “Make in India”, “Start-up in India” and “Skill India”
    • The importance of holistic development as a person in order to be a sentient lawyer
    • On her diverse experience and eventually going independent

     

    How would you introduce yourself, given that most of our readers are young law students and young lawyers?

    I would introduce myself as a sincere lawyer who has become what she is today solely through her single-minded devotion to be a sensitive and responsible person. If anything other than my work defines my persona, it is the fact that I value and respect relationships, both at the personal and professional level, and feel concerned about developments in our society. Like my name suggests, I have different roles to play during my lifetime and my endeavour will always be to do them to the best of my abilities. I am a daughter, sister, friend and a girlfriend along with being a dutiful lawyer.

    What were the factors which drove you to join law school? Did you ever consider exploring any other fields?

    My father being a college teacher in English, I grew up surrounded by a whole lot of literary classics, and endless discussions on literary topics, and together they had a powerful influence on me. Reading literary classics thrilled me to no end and I realized my career options must be narrowed down to a vocation that must include a lifelong engagement with the humanities. The second most important consideration behind my choosing a law career was my concern for social issues and my pursuit for a vocation that provided fodder to my curious mind. I was greatly influenced by Einstein when I was young and this quote caught on to me greatly:

    “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile. I have no special gift. I am only passionately curious. I want to know God’s thoughts… all the rest are details. Joy in looking and comprehending is nature’s most beautiful gift. It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”

    A career in Law seemed to be the ideal choice for me as it combines my literary and social interests along with vocational needs.

     

    You graduated in law from Symbiosis Law School, Pune. How did the law college prepare you for practice in law?

    To say that Symbiosis Law School is a great place of learning will be an understatement. It takes meticulous preparation to understand the law both in theory and in practice.  This institution gives its students the right portion of both. I was particularly lucky to learn a lot more by way of extracurricular activities as I was selected as the President of Human Rights Cell. As part of the cell, some of the projects we worked on gave us ground level exposure to areas like rights of commercial sex workers in the red light district of Pune, disability rights, an after school educational program for underprivileged children, etc. But we had to go through our own share of trials. My father had accompanied me to Pune for the admissions and I remember him looking a little worried as he came to know the city’s liberal and indulgent way of life. But he had very lovingly only once asked me to shun all the negative influences around the college and the city. I promised him as much and I am happy that I never betrayed his trust.

    How important are internships for a law student? Tell us about your internship experiences while in college.

    It is an important part of a student’s academic life in the sense that it gives real life exposure to the kind of work one will be called upon to shoulder in future. Considering that there are varied kinds of jobs that are available to a law student upon graduation, internships give an opportunity to get a taste of everything and decide on one or two areas on which he/she could focus. It also gives a chance to leave your mark in an office where you would later like to bag a pre-placement offer. Even though your first few internships may appear highly challenging as you are yet to fully learn theoretical aspects of the law, you will gather a great deal of knowledge after working with these offices.

    I tried to keep my basket of internships diverse by picking from NGOs, independent litigating offices, in-house legal team of corporate houses and law firms. I distinctly remember, my social issues have been very dear to me from my early school/ college days, and this interest took me to an NGO called ‘Solidarity for Developing Communities’ and a State Human Rights Commission during the first two internships in my 1st  year of Law School. My experience in these two offices further heightened my interest in human rights issues, so much so that it has become an integral part of me today. By this time I had fully realized the benefits of internships. So when I went for internship assignments to the Essar Group, Mulla & Mulla, Craigie Blunt and Caroe, and the senior advocate of Jharkhand High Court, Mr. Anil Kumar, I was determined to make the most of it. The nature of the legal issues I encountered during my internship was diverse, as were their benefits. My internship stints ended with Amarchand Mangaldas and Phoenix Legal.

     

    Do you think that Moot Courts are an essential component for the overall development of a law student? Tell us about your experience.

    It is an elaborate rehearsal a law student undertakes, as it accurately reflects the rest of their lives as lawyers and litigators. The very fact that these involve facing rival teams and competitors, both at the national and international level, serves as motivation for every student to put their best foot forward. Ultimately each of these extracurricular activities i.e. participating in moot court competitions, writing research papers, internships, etc. go a long way in shaping you as a lawyer, pushing your name a few notches up during placements and enhancing your chances in getting admission in top law schools.

    One must remember that applications received by law offices, corporate houses or top law schools are filled with students who have managed decent grades in their respective universities. Participation in extracurricular activities makes all the difference in getting your dream job!

    These competitions gave me the opportunity to work with my fellow participants, prepare our case to the best of our abilities, and compete with some of the brightest minds from the legal fraternity. The crowning glory was getting to attend the William C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court competition in Vienna in my 4th year of law school. The whole experience was a turning point in my life as a student of law. Getting the opportunity to participate in such a prestigious affair was a very uplifting moment.

    Do you feel that academic excellence is essential to be successful in life?

    The question is too general in nature to beg a straightforward, universal answer. If we are to understand the meaning of ‘success’ in a knowledge economy, as identified with the successes of only the reasonably, moderately educated people, not to speak of the highly educated, talented people with high academic credentials, the importance of education or academic excellence can never be underestimated. The contemporary economic and social conditions acknowledge and respect academically bright people. However, we also know of innumerable successful people who have failed miserably in their initial years of work. The list is endless with celebrated names like Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Van Gogh, J.K. Rowling, Oprah Winfrey and the like. However one thing common to all of them is that they were persistent. It is not a shortcoming on their part, it is the world that takes time to identify geniuses.

     

    You have taken ACCA examinations at the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, United Kingdom. Tell us about your experience.

    Midway through graduation, it struck me that a course in accounting will be very useful to me in future, especially given my interest in tax law. It was this simple reason that drove me to take up this ACCA course, and I must say that I enjoyed studying and appearing in the examinations, though it was sometimes tough on me to take out time from my regular studies. What helped me greatly is the flexibility that ACCA examinations allow its students. Moreover, the ACCA follows the International Financial Reporting Standards and is globally recognized too.

     

    It is generally seen that law students and law graduates tend to shy away from taking up pro bono cases. Is this advisable?

    It is advisable that law students and law graduates of our country do not shy away from taking up pro bono cases. In a country such as ours where the majority are poor and cannot afford legal help, it is inhuman on the part of the legal fraternity not to devote some of their time and energy to come to their rescue. This assumes greater importance for law students and law graduates as they themselves will be richer in their learning experience as well as in their moral responsibility towards society. In fact, it ought to be considered a great opportunity for young lawyers.

     

    You have worked in the Chamber of Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajiv Shakdher as a Law Researcher- cum- Clerk. Can you tell us about the experience?

    Working with Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajiv Shakdher was an opportunity I still thank my stars for. I can never thank him enough for the encouragement and the guidance he always gave me whenever I needed. HMJ Shakdher is an extremely well-read, honest and hard working judge who worked very meticulously on each case, and he expected the same qualities from his law interns, assistants, researchers, and clerks. I gained much confidence, learnt such a great deal during the one year time I worked with him, that it helped me in many ways to build my image as a trustworthy lawyer. Whatever I am today is because of his influence on my career. I must say that at the very mention of his name, my head bows down in obeisance and a prayer goes out from my lips for his long, happy life.

     

    You had previously worked with Vaish Associates and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas. Tell us about your experience at these firms.

    My time at both these firms was a very productive experience. At this point of my career I wanted to work with taxation related firms to gain more knowledge on this subject or area. The realization was dawning on me that I must at least learn a good deal more than the fundamentals of some areas of legal practice, and I made the best of my time there by learning about taxation, arbitration, corporate tax, and taxation related litigation. Fortunately both my seniors and colleagues at these two firms were very helpful and supportive in my handling of assignments, and the experience has enriched my knowledge of these areas vastly. I owe my special gratitude to Ms. Kavita Jha of Vaish Associates who was extremely helpful and supportive of my work, and always went the extra mile to assign me other litigation cases too. Ms. Jha being one of the division heads at the Supreme Court and High Court, I learnt a great deal during my time at Vaish Associates. My relationship with her and other colleagues will always be very special. The year I worked with Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas too was extremely enriching and fulfilling as I happened to work on some of the very high-profile, well-known cases.

     

    At Vaish Associates and  Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, you were concentrating mainly on tax litigation and arbitration, but later you decided to go for litigation practice. What motivated this shift?

    The reason I changed my focus away from taxation-related areas for sometime is the necessity of learning other areas of litigation. With an expertise in one technical area of law, I was veering towards the view that I must learn a great deal on other aspects of legal practice, before I am able to enter into litigation practice on my own. For any lawyer with some aspirations in life, I suppose this is a very modest decision one has to take at the earliest possible time.

     

    You have assisted eminent lawyer, Senior Advocate Dr. Rajeev Dhavan. Tell us about your experience.

    I consider it my good fortune that Dr. Rajeev Dhavan accepted me as a junior to assist him in his office. I knew it would be a daunting task to meet his high standards, but I was looking forward to it nonetheless. He is a legal luminary and a legend of our times, and his scholarly pursuits, the huge number of books and articles he has written, all of this weighed heavily in my mind as I immediately sat down to work for him. The knowledge and experience I gathered at Dr. Dhavan’s office was immense. I knew I was working for one of the finest legal minds of our time. It was difficult to hold your own and not be intimidated. However the unimaginably rich experience I gathered with Dr. Dhavan has vastly improved my level of confidence, the honesty and integrity of the manner in which I ought to work in future, and more importantly, the realization that I have a long way to go in my further higher studies, in order to pay my little tribute to my godfather. His encyclopaedic knowledge, and his unmatched wit and sense of humour will continue to inspire me throughout my life. It is not for nothing that his academic stature, his unmatched courage, and the unconventional, radical stand he often took in his appearances in the Supreme Court has become made him a legend of our time.

    Earlier this year, you founded Svadhā Legal. What were the challenges you faced in setting up the firm? Could you give us a brief description of the firm and the activities  it performs?

    Svadhā Legal is a dream fulfilled. Legal matters as varied as human rights, taxation, arbitration, corporate law, civil cases, etc. have all been of interest to me, and I thought setting up a law firm will be the best way to handle the wide variety of cases that I expected to come my way. A law firm run as a professional entity will be a good way of attracting prospective clients as well as engaging junior, younger colleagues for those cases.

    Svadhā Legal will also be a great intermediary for pro bono cases that are dear to me, in the sense that considering the large number of cases that are awaiting justice on pro bono basis, the firm will be able to engage or delegate some of the cases to younger professionals looking for such avenues. These were some of the reasons that prompted me to set up Svadhā Legal, and I am happy that quite a number of my friends, colleagues, and juniors have joined me as associates in the firm.

    There were challenges in setting up this firm, considering the fact that I am a first generation lawyer, but I was determined to overcome any such disadvantage coming my way. It is my firm conviction that serious pursuit of a dream will admit no hindrance on the way, and this conviction gives me enough patience and tolerance to pursue my goal. Another challenge was facing rampant sexism in the professional sphere. But here too, I am determined to prove that gender can never be a disadvantage for anyone in any respect, though one will be forced to walk the extra mile to prove that.

    It is a heartening feature of this enterprise that my considerable network of friends and lawyers across the country are helping and encouraging me in my endeavour.

     

    As a partner at Svadhā Legal, what is an average day at work like? Our readers would love to hear about the day-to-day responsibilities which need to be handled by someone in your position.

    My average work life normally starts early in the morning when I sit down to work at home for at least 4-5 hours before I head to the Courts for my appearances or hearings, and other related work. I find the early morning hours to be the best time of the day for work. Then after a short lunch break it’s time for me to interact with clients, discuss cases, and then devote some time for business development and public relation exercises. Normally I always make a mental plan of work for the day, and it makes it easier for me to complete all my work in time. And then it’s time to head home and may be after a brief rest, it’s back to work and other personal studies.

     

    A number of campaigns such as “Make in India”, “Start-up India” and “Skill India” have been launched by the Govt. of India. Your views on these campaigns?

    The aim behind the “Make in India”, “Start-up India”, “Skill India”, and “Digital India” schemes is to leapfrog this country into that of an advanced and economically sound country in the shortest possible time.

    The “Make in India” initiative was developed to establish India as an efficient manufacturing unit and lure global markets to consider the subcontinent as a viable investment.  The government promises all kinds of support to the new investors, including the promise of quick clearances and approvals through a channel called Single Window clearance in order to avoid delays and red-tapes. The initiative has already started bearing results in the form of many international automobile, aerospace, software, military hardware, and other manufacturing majors considering setting up manufacturing plants in the country. If the campaign is to achieve its full potential and desired results, what the government must do is to not slow down the momentum and see to it that it is followed in a rigorous manner.

    A similar but a very innovative campaign has been launched by the central government in the form of “Start-up India” in order to help unconventional business plans take flight. There are innumerable success stories of new start-ups having generated remarkable revenue levels owing to their out-of-the-box strategies. There is little doubt that our economy in future is going to be dominated by more and more of these start-up enterprises, most of them in the service sector, and contributing hugely to the economy.

    The central government’s other initiative called “Skill India” too is another campaign that has been launched in order to impart vocational training to the unskilled workforce of our country. Uneducated, semi-educated, and under-employed labourers can learn skills of their choice to aspire for better employment opportunities. The success of the first two campaigns will, to a large extent, depend upon the success of this campaign. It should be implemented in a very urgent basis, without any let-up or loss of momentum.

    These specially, carefully selected campaigns have been launched to make this country a global hub of manufacturing, a great place for young, talented people with innovative ideas to realize their dreams of setting up new enterprises or start-ups and create the best possible infrastructure for the development of the required skill for our millions of young students who will be capable of handling the needs and demands of the new age technological, industrial enterprises. Since we are living in these times, we must make optimum use of these opportunities and participate fully to make our country the most powerful nation on earth.

     

    Tell us about your experience of working with start ups.

    It all started because of my large network of friends, many of them happening to be young engineering graduates, and quite a few of them deciding to quit their jobs and starting their own start-ups. They are a very talented lot, with new and innovative ideas of developing new technological tools and models for a wide spectrum of use by industries, business enterprises and a host of other organizations. My association with some of these Start-ups began because of their need for legal assistance in preparing regulatory formalities and agreements. It was a great learning experience for me and I was in a way encouraged a great deal by their dreams, motivations, and infectious energy. What’s more, my modest accounting background proved to be of great help in my work.

     

    Name a few of your hobbies, and how have they proved to be an advantage to you?

    The things that have drawn my continuous interest are literature, painting, gardening, cooking and sports. Some of these interests have grown with me over the years since my childhood, and it would be wrong to say that I am not seriously pursuing or devoting time on a regular basis to all of these areas of my interest. My love of nature has in a way taken the shape of gardening, and I love planting, watering, and taking care of my little collection of indoor plants at my home. I am an inveterate traveller, and I love going places, both popular tourist haunts and less frequented, quaint spots. I love meeting new people on the way and getting to know them.

    These are the areas of my interest and together they constitute my life. I am hopeful that these interests will go a long way in my realization of myself in the future. The journey of self-discovery is still on. A few of my hobbies or interests such as reading literature, humanities studies, and social issues may have proved beneficial to my professional life. But in a broader sense, all the other hobbies have equally contributed to my evolution as a decent human being. In my view I should be a decent human being first, and a good lawyer after that. The two complement each other, and you cannot be the latter without being the former.

     

    What is your advice for fresh graduates who wish to enter law firms as associates? How should they prepare themselves to cope with the challenges they will face?

    Working for someone, be it an individual or an organization, one has to come to terms with the fact that times are difficult. Considering the nature of the profession one has to look at all the inconveniences as normal and as part of the learning process, and with patience and dedication. Law firms expect from law associates a lot of hard work and the willingness to put in extra hours of work whenever needed. But it is during this time that one learns the most.

    What would be your parting message for our readers?

    Life is too precious a gift to be wasted. We should realize that it is not only what we do, but how we do it that also matters a lot. Ultimately, what matters is not how much money or wealth we have earned, but how decent a life we have lived, how much use we have been to others. There will be hundreds of voices that will discourage you, but just listen to that one voice within; it always knows what is best for you. Dream as much as you wish and realize them all, but remember that a life lived for others is far more fulfilling.

     

  • Samar Inam Khan, Matrimonial lawyer, Divorce Mediator and Arbitrator, on establishing Legal Experts India

    Samar Inam Khan, Matrimonial lawyer, Divorce Mediator and Arbitrator, on establishing Legal Experts India

    Samar Inam Khan graduated from Jamia Millia Islamia in 2003. At present, he is a Matrimonial Lawyer, divorce mediator, Arbitrator and a Criminal and Civil Lawyer as well. He is also a chairman of his own founded Law Firm which is still Sole Proprietorship Firm namely Legal Experts India.

     

    In this interview he talks to us about:

    • His law school experience.
    • Why he chose matrimonial matters.
    • His own law firm- Legal Experts India.
    • Most challenging part of being a chairman at his own founded law firm.

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    I am a Matrimonial Lawyer, divorce mediator, Arbitrator and having Criminal and Civil Lawyer as well, touched almost all spheres of law including IPR, thoroughly saw how law manipulated by lawyers and also saw how judges do injustice in many cases.

    Judges sometimes do not recognize law and misses or try to miss the citations and give relief to the party who do not deserve to get such relief, these things usually happens in lower courts and when the other person goes for higher court by way of appeal or revision, they get actually justice.

    In many cases party lose faith in judicial system which in my own opinion, citizen of India believe in.

    What motivated you to gravitate towards law? If not law, what other options would you have considered for your career?

    Law is always my first choice and I never been gravitated because it is such a procedure in which I believe citizen will actually get justice.

    If I was not a Lawyer I chose to be a real Journalist.

     

    Tell us about your law school experience. Share some highlights from your college days that shaped you as a lawyer.

    I graduated Law from Jamia Millia Islamia, the experience was wonderful but what I saw or experienced was there was a split; politics was something attracted by many students because of faculty, the senior faculty member were not into any split hence there was three major splits, one and other against each other and the third one was neutral.

    These things made students more mature so that as and when they entered into practice, they knew they will face similar approach within the court between the lawyers, and exactly the same happened, many of pass outs after few years left and joined some corporates as their representatives, only few left who had patience. Patience is the most important tool to get into practice.

     

    Why did you choose matrimonial matters? What motivated you to choose that?

    Marriages are broken, love birds get married and after love and affection in three- four months, expectations increases, the result of which one or the other partner gets frustrated, which causes disturbances, fights between families starts, It is the emotional and the physical needs of a man and a woman that bring them into a relationship which then culminates in a marriage. In days gone by, couples were more tolerant of each other and let go many matters to save their marriage because it was unacceptable for a marriage to breakup.

    Physical and/or mental abuse: This is one of the major factors which finally bring about a breakup of a marriage. This is caused by the sadistic attitude of one of the partners which was kept covered up before a marriage. The spouse who gets the brunt of it, is kept under control, and is intimidated and manipulated. There is less chance for such a relationship to continue for long.

    Attraction towards another of the opposite gender: This happens because of one spouse does not give time enough for his/her partner. Communication gap, in words or physically, may develop between the two which, as it widens, paves the way for attraction of one spouse/partner towards another person of the opposite gender.

    Cheating and Infidelity: When a spouse begins to get attracted towards an unmarried person or one who is married, intimate relationships between the two develop and deepen and if the developing intimacy is not noticed by any one, it may end up in infidelity. This may go one for a long time till it is discovered causing devastation to the marriage/s and breakups.

    Constant humiliation before others: One spouse/partner may be less empathetic than the other; they have no inhibitions in speaking ill of their partner/spouse before other people. The targeted spouse is always made to feel that s/he is ‘good for nothing’; there is no regard for his/her dignity and sentiments. This is because of the selfish attitude of the targeting spouse who shows off to people that life of the two together would never be as good as it is at present without her/him. The suffering partner is invariably made to feel inferior. S/he may even have to undergo humiliation by his/her spouse before others about his/her inability to bear children.

    Constant nagging: This is again an attitude of a partner/spouse to keep the other at his/her beck-and-call. The targeted partner has to bear up with the other partner’s constant fault-finding, complaints, scolding, criticisms and frequent sarcastic remarks. There is no concern for the feelings or the respect of the partner. The tendency to nag is more common with women than with men. This is done in an effort to adjust their partner to their standards of living. When the targeted partner does things to please his/her partner, s/he comes up with new ‘points of improvements’. The suffering partner may tolerate it for a long or a short time but the breakup is inevitable.

    Repeated comparison of one’s partner with another man or woman: One partner may constantly compare his/her spouse/partner with others simply belittling them, trying to tell them that their lifestyle is not of a calibre which s/he desires. The targeted spouse/partner generally ends up developing an inferiority complex; s/he tries to match up to the standards of their partner to maintain peace and keep the relationship/marriage intact but it is of little use and it ends up in a breakup.

    These things causes break-up between the couple, as and when any family intrude in a matrimonial life, things will go away, and causes number of litigations, fake allegations which actually crafted and drafted by a lawyer, many of lawyers only works for their greed to earn more fee/income.

    I first try to resolve the issues between the couple, if fails, try to let the couple go for pre-litigation before trained mediator, if that fails, only then I try to get things go as it should.

    There are number of fake cases registered under section 498-A, wives try to conceal their income in PWDV Act and 125 Cr.P.C cases, such things actually motivated me to be a matrimonial expert to get the truth before the Court.

     

    What skills and qualities do you think have helped you achieve your current position and stature?

    Hard work, Patience, mediation, preparing cases at my own/self-drafting, being a good listener, Sharp memory, making arguments at my own, self-reliant, self-dependent, creating like-minded team and team work.

     

    Please tell us something about your own law firm- Legal Experts India.

    Legal Experts India was started by me as Sole-Proprietor in 2004, where I was alone in the said year, I took the risk of not getting any penny, thereafter I connected with few corporates for Arbitration, I myself designated as Sole- Arbitrator, and then the firm started working, now we have litigants, Arbitrators, IPR specialists lawyers at different parts of the country on Panel basis, at New Delhi itself we have Six Associates and we have base at Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand as well.

    Legal Experts India is at glooming stage and now we are expanding at faster pace.

     

    What falls within the scope of your responsibility? Tell us about a typical work day.

    I as Chairman of the firm designate my associates what matters he/she should engaged into, I myself argue in the cases, be it any case, I try to boost up my interns and new associates, I try to gauge their mind-set what they actually wants to do, I let my juniors be free of any stress and call them associate only, I never let them call me Sir, I ask them to call me by my name only, so to feel easy.

    My typical work day is to reach court directly, ask associates whether they are prepared for the case, if not I myself appear before the court because I usually get myself prepared a night before, guide them what to do, then in chamber I starts drafting and checking out citations, same I direct to my associates to do, in the end of day I check all files, get prepared myself for other day and then tell my associates in which case and court they are required to appear.

    I do not try my associates to have so much stress; we at Legal Experts India leave office by 5 Pm so my associates also have social life as well.

     

    What is the most challenging or stressful part of being a chairman at your own founded law firm?

    The most challenging one was the start-up, I started it without having too much knowledge of all the spheres of law, I stood against few very senior lawyers those days, but courage and patience wins the game.

    Thereafter choosing the right associates was another challenge and I chose only few, but those days were as stressful as I was apprehended if I chose the right ones or not.

     

    What do law firms in India look for in potential candidates? What must a law student do to get hired in a top-tier law firm?

    Be it top-tier or mediocre, to get into a law firm students need to read about the law firm a day or two before, what they actually wants, and be just on topics,  student should show curiosity to join and work without any time boundations, students should also know whether their work will be admired, they must not expect too much salary in start.

    At the time of interview be just and proper, wear formal cloths, and never show from which background they are, at the time of interview they should have eye to eye contact, and never approach indirectly.

    What should be your parting message to our readers?

    Struggle is not just word, it speaks and its sounds louder, a Legal Practitioner practicing for more than 5 years and not earning too much, never underestimate him, he is having much more knowledge to gauge and perform.

    As and when he starts earning good the people around who underestimated him will only watch, and he will not turn back to them.

    In short never underestimate a practicing lawyer.

     

     

  • Rahul Phukan, Legal Director/Head Director of Legal-Real Estate, on his achievements and experiences from a graduate to director

    Rahul Phukan, Legal Director/Head Director of Legal-Real Estate, on his achievements and experiences from a graduate to director

    Rahul Phukan graduated from University Law College, Bangalore University (2000-2005). At present, he is leading legal real estate (Legal Director/Head of Legal-Real Estate) and expanding stores across in India and other countries in South Asia and managing a team of experienced lawyers based on regional offices in India for the purpose of procuring, development, opening and operation of stores in India.

     

    In this interview he talks to us about:

    • His experience at internships.
    • His career graph.
    • Qualities that helped him to become the head of legal-real estate.
    • Changes in life after becoming the head of legal-real estate.

     

    How did you choose law? Did you always know that this was what you wanted to do?

    I made up my mind to pursue law pretty early in life- may be around standard eight in school. There were certainly influences in my formative years from the family. The tales of my great grandfather being a pioneer in the field of law and one of the first Indian district court judge in north-east of India (Larger Assam State including East Bengal under British). There were lawyers in the next generation who were also academicians and experts. The generation after had my uncle who was a Supreme Court judge with whom I had spent quite a bit of time- I think enough time to get influenced and convinced! I remember, the family house in Jorhat, Assam, had a library- though I didn’t read much from there but just glancing through the books perhaps also left a mark and fascinated me. Having said that, no one in the family ever told me that I should pursue law, I think the influences were strong enough to shape my decision which my parents definitely appreciated and supported.

    Adding to that, though I knew I would do law for sure, but what would I specialise in was something I was not sure of. But I still pursued it with an intention that I will explore and find my area of interest.

     

    Tell us something about your college life. Which activities did you participate in? How did you go about developing expertise and knowledge in your areas of interest?

    I am a proud alumni of University Law College,Bangalore. At college we had the liberty to participate in various moot court competitions which I thought was a great way to develop research and analytical skills. I also made it a point that I interned with various lawyers and law firms. I started my internship right from the second year in college. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to spend time with a leading national law firm after college each day. When I look back I realise that the internships which I did gave me a very practical overview of the legal field and by working on various subjects, I could actually test the water and decide what I wanted to do on a long term basis. Besides this, I also made it a point to visit courts every now and then and witness the working of the judiciary. I feel this is important no matter which field of law one chooses -at least to have some knowledge of the courts! As a student, one gets  extremely inclined to certain subjects like IPR, Corporate Laws, Human Rights, etc. but it is the practical experience which helps one to decide where one’s interest lies and sometimes also to discover that the interest is actually on a totally different subject.

    Apart from the extra- curricular activities, interaction with my teachers in class, discussion with peers and seniors in college were something which really helped me understand the legal field better and understand the practicalities. Academically, as a student I was one of the top five rank holders in the University.

    While it is important to enhance expertise and knowledge, it is equally important to have a life beyond college, internships and extra-curricular activities. I continued doing what I always enjoyed doing i.e. play tennis and cricket, read books and listen to music and attend various concerts and events. The idea was to have the right balance of academics and life in general- making both enjoyable!

     

    Many lawyers say that the first year after graduation is the most difficult year for young lawyers. How was your first year after graduation?

    Yes, I agree for many the first year after graduation is a difficult year. There are numerous colleges in India where in the final year there is no campus placement if one has to opt to work for the corporate world or a renowned law firm.

    For me there was a period of dilemma right around the time I was about to complete my law graduation and few months after. I was unsure on the course of action I should take, though I was certain that I had to work for a corporate eventually. I quickly learnt that to excel in any role I take up, it was important to understand and acquire practical knowledge in the field I like- so as to become an expert in that field. This is when I started applying for law firms as I thought that to learn or experience all verticals of law there is no better place than a law firm. I am glad I was retained by Fox Mandal & Associates as a trainee and for the exposure I got to various aspects of laws – which most certainly helped me shape my career!

     

    What kind of internships did you do while you were a student? Any remarkable experiences during your internships that shaped your career choices later?

    I must tell you that internships are as important as academics. The more internships or time you spend observing the legal fraternity, the easier it is to make career choices. It is like a discovery trip!

    Right from the second year of college, I made it a point to do formal internships or just spend time every day with law firms or at an advocate’s chamber. My internships were mainly on corporate law practices including FDI, corporate compliance-labour laws and IPR. It involved civil litigation and real estate transactions. While interning with a law firm in Bangalore, I got the first taste of working on the real estate domain which I started to enjoy. What was fascinating for me was that the domain had variety of challenges on a day-to-day level. The number of legislations one is going through for any real estate transaction could vary with the location, ownership, etc. and each real estate project had its own uniqueness and set of challenges- I was intrigued!

     

    You have a lot of work experience, from working at a vast array of places. Can you tell us a little about your career graph up to this point?

    After college in 2005, I started as a Trainee at Fox Mandal & Associates in Bangalore. Fox Mandal as you may be aware is a full service law firm and hence as a trainee I was fortunate to work on the job with all verticals in the firm which was very intense and a great learning experience. During this time, I interacted a lot with various partners and industry experts to learn more and more about each work-stream practically.

    I continued as an Associate at Fox Mandal Bangalore and joined the real estate and infrastructure team. In the year 2009, I was promoted as a Senior Associate and subsequently, in the year 2010, I was escalated as the Group Head of the Real Estate and Infrastructure Wing at Fox Mandal & Associates, Bangalore. During the course of my retainer-ship with Fox Mandal, I was handling matters relating to real estate and property and had worked with various developers, Indian and international corporate/companies, financial institutions, property management groups/consultants, foreign state government/bodies. The matters mostly involved entry level strategy planning, due diligence, joint ventures, M&A, joint development, project construction and development, facility/built-to-suit campus development, pre/post lease/purchase/sale compliance & documentation(residential & commercial properties) and of course litigation and corporate law support.

    Thereafter, in 2012, I joined Goldman Sachs in Bangalore as Legal Associate for the Corporate Real Estate Legal (CREL) and Commercial and Corporate Contract– Asia Pacific except Japan. My role in Goldman Sachs involved providing legal support to conduct real estate matters, e.g., real estate transactions including investments, capital projects, building operations, critical systems and infrastructure and was also responsible for periodic regulatory, corporate entity reporting and corporate matters related to real estate entities. Further, I did review and draft a wide variety of corporate services and other contracts including: events, travel, technology, consultant, tax & audit engagement letters, market data, subscription, employment, training, procurement and vendor contract and related matters and advised on matters, in collaboration with divisional and other specialist lawyers. Not to forget, my work also involved management of internal corporate authorizations and procedural matters and legal issues as they arise in day-to-day activities.

    In December 2014, I joined Decathlon Sports India Limited as Real Estate Legal Advisor for the South Zone and later in September 2015, I took over as the Head of Legal/Legal Director- Real Estate.

     

    You are the head of legal-real estate. What qualities helped you to achieve this status?

    To start with, the most important quality is the passion for the field of Real Estate Law.  The passion does drive me to learn each day and come back greedier to work for more. Of course, one has to be hard working and dedicated to ensure that each work stream is done with 100% commitment and integrity. There is no short-cut to gain practical experience, so the more one efficiently works on various fields with an open mind, the bigger the gain is in terms of experience. I also enjoy interacting with people and in that sense I am quite observant as a person too- this helps me a lot in business relationships and negotiations.

    Right from my days at the law firm, I was leading a team- hence leadership and managerial qualities was a key quality as well. Today I lead a team of extremely able and competent lawyers at Decathlon. Also, the nature of work I do involves lot of decision making- hence I would say managerial courage is important too.

     

    Tell us about the nature of work you are entrusted with at Decathlon Sports India Private Limited.

    Decathlon Sports  is one of the biggest sports retailers and is rapidly growing in India. I lead the legal real estate team at Decathlon. The team is primarily involved with the business and development team right from sourcing of projects to opening of stores in India. There is a variety of legal issues one has to go through including but not limited to property laws for any given projects and as you may be aware that real estate is a complex subject with laws varying from state to state.

    I am also helping certain other regions in Asia for legal matter and store openings, has been one of my expertise.

     

    What changes came into your life after becoming the legal director / Head of legal-real estate? How do you manage to strike a balance between your professional and personal life?

    For me the change is not drastic- I still continue to enjoy the work I do like I always did. Of course, there is a lot more to handle now, but when one organises work based on the priority and business requirement with the support of an extremely efficient, competent and motivated team, the work flow can be channelized. Since, there is a variety of projects across regions; I do travel now quite a bit now.

    As a young lawyer, it was difficult to manage the work and life balance as we all want to learn and excel quickly. As one grows older- and with experience it is easier to find that balance between work and life to sustain the career growth and to continue and keep the hunger to learn without risking a burn out. Therefore, dedicating time for the family and friends who are my support system especially on the weekends, doing things I like, playing sports when I can is something which really brings that balance. I am also a foodie who likes to eat and cook and I love travelling or going out for drives- I find these things really relaxing and refreshing. Without this facet of life, one cannot get the best out at the workplace- home is where the heart is as they say!

     

    What are your plans for the future?

    I plan to continue working as a real estate lawyer for sure. Perhaps, I would also like to stretch my wings to the other regions out of Asia- which I really enjoy. What would be also interesting is, apart from being a transactional and business lawyer, to go beyond legal aspects and contribute more to the organisation I am associated with. Definitely, the lawyer in me helps me to be that business partner and the risk manager!

     

    What would be your message to our readers who are budding lawyers and law students?

    From my experience, I would say that while it is very important to excel academically, it is even more important to experience the legal field from practical point of view. At the beginning, one has to be patient and must only concentrate on the learning and experience. While job tile and remuneration is important but it is not bigger than knowledge- so if a young lawyer is open to learning and only concentrates on harnessing his/her legal skills at the beginning of the career- I can assure you that job title and remuneration shall all fall into place on the long run. Efficiency in work, practical knowledge, transactional experience, managerial and decision making skills are few things no law school can teach!

    Not to forget, while we are all focussed on our career goals- never stop doing things you like doing apart from work or studies or internships. The balance between hard work and life will make the journey complete and enjoyable.

    My good wishes to all budding lawyers- the legal profession is seeing immense change and the younger generation is clearly blending in well and pushing the standards higher.

    All the best and thank you for having me!

     

     

     

  • Suhasini Rao, Co-Founder, CubeRoute Advisory Private Limited, on being a Chief Product Officer at CubeRoute Advisory Private Limited

    Suhasini Rao, Co-Founder, CubeRoute Advisory Private Limited, on being a Chief Product Officer at CubeRoute Advisory Private Limited

    Suhasini Rao graduated from University of Pune, India in 2006. She is an attorney with over a decade of diverse, post-qualification experience including chamber practice, corporate consultancy, international academics and the development sector. Areas of academic interest include public law (domestic as well as international), environmental law, developmental and infrastructural issues and public safety such as anti-harassment, anti-corruption and protection from heinous crimes.

    At present, she is the Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder of CubeRoute Advisory Private Limited.

    In this interview she talks to us about:

    • Importance of higher studies.
    • Cuberoute Advisory Private Limited.
    • Services provided by Cuberoute.
    • Her publications and importance of those publications.

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    I am a lawyer but my work is better described as research, application and innovation in law. A large part of what I do involves trying to find easier and effective solutions to everyday problems faced by all sorts of entities while trying to comply with the law.

     

    What inclined you towards legal education?

    Environmental matters, especially the co-relation between the environment and crime, is a subject that has interested me for as long as I can recall. I chose to study law and to try and specialize in environmental law, as a result of interactions with environmentalists and naturalists during my school years. Subsequently, while my current area of work and practice is detached from everyday environmentalism, I try to stay in touch with the subject through research and allied projects.

     

    What were your areas of interest while you were in law school? How did you go about developing expertise and knowledge in these areas?

    I have a keen interest in Public international law, environmental law and criminal law since law school. From the very first year, I knew I wanted to compete in the Stetson University International Environment Law Moot Court competition, which I did in my third year. Our team went on to win the National Qualifiers and then represented India at the International Rounds. Internships too, played a roll in the learning process. Working with Mr. M.C. Mehta’s office through an internship was a fantastic learning experience. Since I am the first in my family to study law, I chose to intern with as many varied areas of law as I could, in order to better understand my capabilities and limitations and my likes and dislikes. In this process, I was lucky enough to intern in chambers of lawyers practicing at courts of first instance (civil and criminal) as well as appellate courts, and then garner some corporate and consultancy experience as well. The process of elimination is under-rated and it is important to note that unless one experiences a variety of circumstances and career realities, it is usually an incomplete picture on which crucial career choices are made.

    Share your experience at University of Torino, Italy.

    The United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Centre (UNICRI) is one of the only institutes in the world to offer an LL.M. program in International Criminal Law. The degree is offered in conjunction with the University of Torino, Italy. Since I knew this is the subject I wished to study and that this was the only place I could do so, I chose to apply there. There have been many positive changes in the program since my time there but one of the most interesting and enduring qualities of the course is the diversity of students enrolled therein. In a class of 40 students, we had over 20 nationalities and about 15 different academic/ professional backgrounds. To this day, some of my closest friends and colleagues are those that I met at the program.

    Also, the program invites internationally acknowledged experts, justices of international courts and practicing attorneys of various international justice fora as faculty. Interaction therefore, is always academically sound and intellectually stimulating.

     

    How important is it for a lawyer to go for higher studies? What motivated you to pursue your LL.M. in International Criminal Law?

    A primary degree in law, such as an LLB in India or a JD in the US, is supposed to enable a graduate to practice law. So, unlike medicine or architecture or any other professional qualification, a Master’s Degree such as an LL.M. does not usually aim to enhance legal professional skills,but provides an in-depth perspective in the chosen subject as well as a chance to study a wider scope of application of such topics.

    Today, International Criminal Law is of more relevance than ever. It is that body of law that governs crimes committed across borders and across different identities of nationalities, ethnicities, and geographies. Money laundering, terrorist financing, human trafficking, piracy on the high seas, genocide, war crimes and a host of other criminal acts are increasingly prohibited and punished by all nations. This body of law, therefore, is vital to ensuring peace and justice across our world. I have always had an inclination to study investigation, international crime and cross-border matters and this program offered a good combination of the subjects. In fact, my thesis was on the subject of environmental crimes in the context of armed conflict.

     

    What advice would you give to people who are trying to decide which area of law to specialize in?

    There are two schools of thought to be considered while investing time, finances and resources in a second degree after a graduation in law. The first one advocates specialization in a subject closely allied to one’s chosen area of practice, if one chooses to work as a lawyer. This has obvious advantages of enabling better career opportunities, especially outside of India and also, a more comprehensive understanding of industry-related subjects. LL.M. in subjects such as project financing, international arbitration, and corporate governance can be categorized as such. On the other hand, if one is passionate about a particular area of law but which is not necessarily one that lends itself to professional practice, one can choose to earn an LL.M. in such a subject. For instance, LL.M. in human rights law, or even international criminal law are subjects that inspire academic study but are not widely practiced in India.

    Most importantly, an LL.M. is a degree that requires dedication and focus as it is a choice and not a compulsion. Hence, one should choose to earn this degree only if one is motivated to allocate sufficient time and resources to intensive study.

     

    Tell us something about CubeRoute Advisory Private Limited.

    Jaideep Chowdhary and I started CubeRoute over a year ago to focus on creating customized compliance solutions for our clients. Compliance with the law is an aspect that is troublesome for corporate, quasi-government and non-government actors, not because of a lack of willingness but because of a paucity of good training and awareness solutions. Legal professionals provide answers to legal queries but often miss out on accounting for business realities. Similarly, business strategies usually view legal compliance and awareness as an encumbrance. We, at CubeRoute, bridge the gap between these extremes. Our team therefore, comprises of professionals with a background in law, finance, management, marketing and business strategy, training and psychology, amongst others, to develop client-specific solutions.

     

    What are the services provided by the CubeRoute?

    Our services enable our clients to achieve efficient and accurate compliance with various legal mandates, in keeping with the letter as well as the spirit of the law. We provide consultancy services, business strategizing in envisaging new business models and revenue streams, content development services, corporate training and awareness workshops. We also work with child-focused entities to enable enhanced child protection mechanisms. Currently we offer services in subjects such as anti-corruption compliance, positive employment practices, child protection mechanisms and anti-competition laws. We also collaborate with various central and state government agencies in capacity building projects.

    Tell us about your publications and importance of those publications.

    Between 2014 and 2015, the Bangalore Mirror ran a weekly column – Within the Law – to highlight important legal concepts and legislation that affect the public. In this series, I wrote about the right to education, right to maintenance, marriage laws and similar issues. In 2015, I presented a paper on Women and Child Security under new legislation at the Xth Annual Conference, Centre for Public Policy, IIM – Bangalore. The publication explored the theme of bias and implementation difficulties in the anti-sexual harassment law as well as the law on sexual offences against children. Subsequently, I have authored articles for LexWitness, India’s leading magazine dedicated to legal matters, on anti-sexual harassment legislation and juvenile justice laws. I also write regularly for various online entities on subjects such as public infrastructure and property laws, family laws and security measures.

     

    What are your future plans?

    Individually, I would like to focus on bettering my understanding of public laws, focusing on food security, public infrastructure and anti-corruption and anti-money laundering. As a team, at CubeRoute we look forward to adding a greater suite of services, both offline and online, to our service menu and enhancing our team’s skills in serving our clients.

     

    What would be your message to our readers?

    Never be afraid to experiment. There is much more that can be done with a degree in law than practicing before a court. Make intelligent choices based on accurate information, but do not ignore your gut instinct. Most importantly, teach yourself the skill of how to learn – this is the one and only skill that will bring you survival and success throughout your career.

     

     

  • Nidhishree Venugopal, Independent Practitioner, on building a career in litigation

    Nidhishree Venugopal, Independent Practitioner, on building a career in litigation

    Nidhishree Venugopal graduated from the University Law College, Bengaluru in the year 2005 and has been practicing as an Advocate before the Trial Courts, High Court of Karnataka and various other forums within and outside the State, ever since. She is a gold medalist and rank holder of the batch of 2005 across Bangalore University. Additionally, she has a post graduate diploma in Intellectual Property laws from the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru and a post graduate diploma in Media Laws from the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research, Hyderabad.

    She has an independent law practice that focuses mainly on civil, constitutional and commercial cases. These include matters relating to constitutional law, civil law, company law, arbitration, intellectual property, contracts & tenders, employment law, succession, etc. She is on the panel of the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, High Court of Karnataka and a visiting faculty at COMMITS Institute of Journalism & Mass Communication teaching post graduate students Constitution and Media Law.

     

    In this interview she talks to us about:

    • What should a law student do to shape up his profile for litigation?
    • Necessity of a mentor or guide to handhold a young lawyer.
    • Her experience when she appeared in the court for the first time.
    • Difficulties faced in the early days of practice.

     

    What prompted you to think of law as a career?

    As I finished school, I gravitated towards writing and journalism. I contributed regularly to the youth pages of the Indian Express and the Times of India. I was a reporter for a couple of years at a local fortnightly magazine called ‘Nagar Life’. I applied and got accepted to the Communicative English graduate program in Mount Carmel College. Just a three year ‘B.A.’ did not seem like a strong enough degree to hold its own and I settled on law as a ‘safe’ option, with a 5 year ‘B.A.L., LL.B’, which sounded more robust to me, at that time. I also thought I could do a masters in journalism and switch streams, at a later point, if need be. So, law happened as a safety measure!

     

    How were your years in college? Did your study prepare you in any way for real life practice in courts?

    My batch was the last batch of ULC that had its campus in the heart of Gandhinagar, Bengaluru. Attendance was not too stringent and I made the most of it. I worked part-time with my drama teacher from school, going to various schools in the city, teaching them drama techniques. I was part of a student organization AIESEC, which is an international student exchange programme run exclusively by students. I mooted right from the first year to my final year. I did only two internships in college and both lasted a year. I interned with Poovayya & Co. in my fourth year and with Mr. Aditya Sondhi, Advocate (as he was then), in my final year. These internships were quasi-jobs, travelling beyond research and Court visits. I guess, it helped that I stayed on beyond a month (as is the regular tenure of an internship), making it easier for both to entrust me with more than piece-meal work.

    The syllabus that one studies does not exactly prepare one for practice in Courts. This was the case then, I suspect it is the case even now. We had practical subjects such as client counseling, moot court and court visit in our fourth and final year, which was not sufficient exposure, in my opinion. But then, Court is a different beast. No amount of theory/ academic inputs can prepare one for actual practice. Every day is different.

    How did you decide to pursue litigation? Were you considering any other opportunities?

    In college, I briefly thought of getting into corporate law. Both my internships were litigation internships. A month before my final year exams, I decided to stop interning, to study. On the last day of my internship, I asked Mr. Sondhi if he would consider offering me a position in his chambers. He said yes, my decision to litigate was made. Whether this decision was something I would stick by, was not clear to me, at that point.

    I told myself that I would give litigation a year and move to the corporate side if it did not agree with me. The first two years of litigation were overwhelming and exhausting. The long hours and the pressures of Court took a while to adapt to. It was not easy drawing a modest salary, when one’s corporate peers were earning 5 times that. The fact that your actions could determine the outcome of cases was also daunting.

    As I settled into the rhythm of litigation, practice was fun. The work varied from day to day and the excitement was unfailing. I enjoyed interacting with clients, meeting people from different strata of society and the thrill of appearing in Courts. My favourite analogy for litigation is a medical doctor’s practice- a patient comes to you with a problem, you diagnose the illness, you treat the illness, you cannot always guarantee that the same treatment would work for all patients- it works for some and it doesn’t for others, and you accordingly alter the course of treatment- the goal is to treat your patient successfully, within accepted professional parameters.

    It has been a little over 11 years and litigation still holds my interest.

     

    What should a law student do in your opinion to shape up his profile for litigation?

    Choose litigation internships. Moot. Read extensively. Having said that, I know of good practicing Counsel who have not interned or mooted during their student days but who are stellar at their work now. It is like learning to swim, the baby pool / floaters will only get you so far. You can only swim when you are in the deep end. Litigation internships may tailor your aptitude for the real thing.

    How important do you think mooting and academic writing are for a law student aspiring to become an advocate?

    Mooting may give a student a glimpse into Court, in that it involves preparing memorials, formulating points of law, formulating arguments and finally ‘presenting’ this before ‘judges’. Academic writing may equip the student with research and analysis skills, in examining a point of law thoroughly.

    However, in Courts it is very rare that the Advocate gets an uninterrupted period of time to present her case and questions posed by the Bench may not be part of one’s brief and are not in sequence. Also, unlike in a moot, in practice, the interest of your client will weigh heavily on your strategy and approach. Further, pleadings in a case are to be concise and to the point, with verbosity being its death knell. It is important to recognize the difference in actual practice. As an aside, if your peers and seniors at the Bar and Bench label your submissions as ‘Moot-court’ style of submissions, it would be a left-handed compliment, which you would quickly want to lose!

    Many students aspire to practice at the Supreme Court and High Courts. Should a student first practice at the trial court to learn the nuances, or is it fine to start at a High Court itself?

    I earned my stripes in the Trial Courts, right from drafting of pleadings to the conduct of full-fledged trials to final arguments. This has helped me tremendously now in my own practice. No matter where one starts her practice, it would be extremely useful to know how original trial jurisdiction works.

     

    How necessary is it to have a mentor or guide to handhold a young lawyer while still in the formative years of the profession? Did you have one?

    Since I joined Mr. Sondhi’s chambers when he had just started out independently, I had the accidental opportunity of being involved in building a practice, file by file. A lot of my values and beliefs have been shaped in the time I worked with him and he continues to be my mentor and friend, to this day. The profession is fulfilling and honourable, but at times, can prove to be treacherous. So it is important to have the right moral compass instilled to navigate it. There have also been several senior members of the Bar and colleagues who have in some way or the other helped me in my initial years and continue to guide me. You will find mentors and friends in the unlikeliest of unlikely places. I have found that members of the Bar are ready to help, if you approach them. One just has to break the ice.

     

    Describe your experience when you appeared in the court for the first time?

    I was given a service matter in the High Court, where all I had to submit was that my client was a formal party and no relief could be granted against my client. The case was called out. I entered appearance for my client. The Counsel for the Petitioner argued. The Counsel for the contesting Respondent argued. The Judge proceeded to allow the petition, granting reliefs against my client as well. I remained standing, and mute. Much to my horror, a month later, the Petitioner filed a contempt petition against both my client and the contesting Respondent and I had to face the ignominy of cowering behind my Senior, while he extricated the client from the pickle I had put it in.

    What were the difficulties you faced in the early days of your practice?

    Practice is challenging. Independent practice, moreso. An independent practitioner is a Counsel, an entrepreneur, an office manager, an HR executive, an accountant all rolled into one. I don’t think these challenges go away. With time, you just learn to adapt to these challenges, better and better. On my first day of independent practice, the Judge asked me to bring my ‘senior’ for arguments, when I stood up to argue a case. It is a different matter that even when I was attached to my Senior’s chambers, he was confident enough to entrust the conduct of the entire case to me! Just a few days ago, a client who came to meet me for the first time candidly said, ‘I expected you to be a lot older.’ I have had a few experiences where prospective clients have been hesitant to entrust their matters to me, as I am a woman. However, these instances have been few and far between and I have been fortunate enough to have clients who have looked at my abilities, rather than my age or gender. It is not that the profession is stacked against women or young lawyers, but it is that there has been a status quo-ist state of affairs, for decades now. More women are coming in. More young lawyers are striking out on their own. Slowly, things are changing. We are learning to adapt.

     

    What would be your parting advice to our readers?

    While I understand that litigation is not the only career option for a law graduate these days, I also find it saddening that an increasing number of students are opting out of practice, a tad too hastily. Litigation is hard, yes. But if our medical students said studying medicine takes too long, practicing medicine is hard and the pay is too meager, we would have no doctors. Litigate and engage with the judicial system.

  • Ramanand Mundkur, Managing Partner, Mundkur Law Partners, on building his career in corporate law

    Ramanand Mundkur, Managing Partner, Mundkur Law Partners, on building his career in corporate law

    Ramanand Mundkur graduated from National Law School of India University (1989-1994). He is the managing partner of Mundkur Law Partners, and heads its corporate, M&A and life science practices. He has over twenty years of international work experience, having previously worked with the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC, the United Nations in Geneva, and Arthur Andersen in India before setting up MLP in 2007.

    Ramanand won multiple academic gold medals when graduating from India’s leading National Law School, and also holds a master’s degree from Harvard Law School, where he was a Langdon E. Gammon fellow and a Myer and Etta Dana scholar. He is qualified to practice law in India and New York.

     

    In this interview he talks to us about:

    • His areas of interest in law.
    • His experience at International Monetary Fund in Washington DC.
    • How his experience at Harvard prepared him for a life of academic prestige and professional success.
    • What he looks for in a typical cover letter and CV.

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    I’m a corporate and transactional lawyer, based out of Bangalore.

     

    What led you to choose legal profession?

    I entered law school entirely by accident. A friend suggested me to appear for the NLSIU entrance exam and I got in. But after the first class at NLSIU (which I still remember vividly, with Dr. Menon repeatedly asking us “What is law?” and no answer being complete or satisfactory), I was hooked. I can’t think of any other subject or profession that provides the intellectual fulfillment that law does.

    So while I might have chosen law school by accident, I chose the law as a profession very deliberately. I suppose we were incredibly lucky to have been around when NLSIU was just set up, and to have that fantastic group of teachers who kindled our passion for the law.

     

    What were your areas of interest in the law? Did you engage in extracurricular activities while in college?

    One of my greatest difficulties has been identifying one or two “areas of interest” in the law—I found them all fascinating. I probably chose corporate law and public international law because they offered economic stability fairly early in my career and because the other areas of law e.g., constitutional law, criminal law, property, evidence, etc. didn’t appeal to me.

    Being part of the first few batches of NLSIU, I was lucky enough to be able to participate in pretty much all the extracurricular activities on offer: mooting, debating, quizzes, theatre, music (a bunch of us euphemistically called ourselves a band), cricket, football and whatever else was available to us.

     

    You have worked with the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC. Please share your experience.

    The Fund is a fantastic place to work at and I miss both the people there and the work I did. As a lawyer, I initially worked on the legal aspects of Fund relations with member countries (both borrowing countries as well as other Fund members). Over time, the scope of work widened to cover issues such as the Fund’s internal governance rules (including quotas, voting rights, criteria for recognition of new sates and representation) and technical assistance to certain member countries.

     

    As a Managing Partner of the firm, what is an average day at work like?

    It’s not as attractive as I hoped it would be. A large part of each day is spent on purely administrative issues. Moreover, because we’re a boutique firm, one has to wear many hats—advising clients, bringing in new work, ensuring we stay current with changes in the law, dealing with HR issues, managing firm finances, dealing with firm IT issues, all the way through to being “chief bottle washer” whenever required.

     

    How well did your experience at Harvard prepare you for a life of academic prestige and professional success?

    Harvard is probably the finest example of an enabling environment. As a student there, you’re surrounded by extremely bright, self-motivated individuals and achievers, with infrastructure and resources that are the best in the world. The faculty is outstanding and their areas of work and research are invariably cutting edge or path breaking. At times I felt one could learn and grow just by being there.

     

    What do you want to say to the next generation lawyers? Which are the growing areas of law where a new law student or young lawyer can focus and distinguish himself?

    Questions like that tend to be a little depressing (and ageist)—I’m definitely in no position to take on the role of an avuncular eminence grise—advising “the next generation” of lawyers. One bit of experience I would share with law students, though, is to not chase “growing” areas of the law or the next big thing. Instead, and this is pretty obvious: if you do what you enjoy, you’ll find that you enjoy doing what you do!

     

    Do you take interns? What do you look for in a typical cover letter and CV? How can interns manage to get positive feedback in the limited time they have?

    Yes, we do have an active internship program that works directly with certain law schools. The law schools that we work with in this regard send us CVs of suggested candidates from their senior batches, and we offer internship slots to those candidates through the law schools. As a result, we often find we don’t have slots available for individual applicants, who haven’t applied through their law schools. We encourage law schools to sign on to this program, and the schools’ placement officers can write to us at careers@mundkur.com for this purpose.

    With regard to cover letters and CVs, we look for candidates who have a consistent and reasonably strong academic, and who demonstrate that they’ve spent some time thinking about why they want to apply to our firm, and why our firm might benefit from hiring them.

     

    What would be your advice to our budding lawyers?

    I think this question has been answered. And it also reminds me of one other piece of advice I got early in my career and I’m happy to share with budding lawyers: it’s very important for a lawyer to know when to stop speaking.

  • Shatarupa Mishra, Indian Revenue Service Officer, on preparing and cracking Civil Service Examination

    Shatarupa Mishra, Indian Revenue Service Officer, on preparing and cracking Civil Service Examination

    Shatarupa Mishra graduated from Symbiosis Law School in 2013. She is a lawyer by interest, civil servant by profession and dancer by passion. Currently, she is training as an INDIAN REVENUE SERVICE OFFICER-Income Tax in National Academy of Direct Taxes, Nagpur after clearing Civil Service Examination 2014.

     

    In this interview she talks to us about:

    • How she developed interest in reading and writing.
    • What inspired her to appear for civil service exam?
    • When should a person ideally start preparation for the civil services exam?
    • Easiest and toughest part for preparation.
    • Aspects that a civil service aspirant must focus on and start preparing for in advance.

     

    Please introduce yourself to the readers. Please tell us a little bit about your childhood and your background.

    Hello friends! I am Shatarupa Mishra, lawyer by interest, civil servant by profession and dancer by passion. Currently I am training as an INDIAN REVENUE SERVICE OFFICER-Income Tax in National Academy of Direct Taxes, Nagpur after clearing Civil Service Examination 2014.

    My schooling has been in De Paul School in a small town Berhampur and subsequently in St. Joseph’s High School, Bhubaneshwar, the capital. I was extremely active in extracurricular activities like writing, dancing and singing. Both me and my elder sister started training in Odissi, the classical dance of Odisha  and other dance forms.

    Infact I started performing in stage shows and dance festivals from a very young age of 4 years and those childhood memories of dancing remain the most cherished. I was also the house captain in my school.

     

    What impressed upon you the idea to study law?

    Frankly speaking, I wanted to pursue law when I realized after two years of science in intermediate level, I did not want to pursue Engineering or Medicine, the two most preferred options at that time. Browsing through the law syllabus in my +2 2nd years, my interest was piqued and I thought graduation in law would bode well for me. My choice was very instinctive and it worked out well.

     

    How was your experience at Symbiosis Law School, Pune. What activities were you involved in apart from the regular academic curriculum?

    My five years in Symbiosis Law School was very enjoyable and memorable. Right from academics to internships to pro-bono activities to extracurricular activities, Symbiosis gives you a wide platform for everything.  From my 1st year itself, I took an active part in extracurricular activities like dancing and participated in many college fests. Timings of law school were such that we could pursue our other hobbies and interests in the later part of the day. Second year onwards, I started mooting and was fortunate enough to be a part of our college team in Jessups. Mooting piqued my interest in legal research and I subsequently wrote many legal essays in pre-final and final year. Being a part of the very active Human Rights Cell of our college for all five years, I loved teaching young kids from underprivileged background and spending time with them on weekends.

    I loved learning law for the sake of itself and was extremely diligent about my studies and projects. The cherry on the cake was when I was awarded a scholarship for academic excellence in my fourth year and the Chancellors Gold medal for topping my batch in BA LLB course.

     

    How did you develop your interest in reading and writing?

    Reading was my favourite pastime since childhood. If I was not dancing, I was reading. Both my parents, grandparents are voracious readers and encouraged me to develop reading habit. At home there was already a huge library to pick books from.   I have many pleasant memories of visiting book shops and exhibitions with my father and buying loads of books, all non-academic of course. If there was a book club in my city, I was a member in it. In school also, my favorite subject was English literature. My reading habit almost borders on obsession, my family tells me, ha-ha! In childhood, I started writing poems and subsequently, articles. My mother also writes poems in Odia language and she has been a major motivation behind my writing.  Law School and preparation for civil service examinations only enhanced my interest and skills in writing articles.

     

    When and what inspired you to appear for Civil Service Exam?

    I believe it was a very conscious choice to appear for Civil Service Exam. I belong to a family of state and central civil servants, so somewhere the inspiration to be one myself was right at home. My biggest inspiration has been my father who is respected by all as an honest, upright and efficient officer in the State Government. Dinner table conversations have many a times, been about development, administration and issues therein.  Secondly, I was keen to be in a profession which offered me a wide platform to work in law, policy and implementation. My legal training actually strengthened my resolve to sit for this examination. Thirdly the syllabus of the civil services exam piqued my interest, particularly the general studies papers.  Keeping all these factors in mind, I eliminated other career options in law in fifth year of law school so that I would never regret the decision of appearing for this examination. I was fortunate that I got a mentor in Pune, Shri Aashay Abhyankar, who along with his family, has played a stellar role in my success.

     

    When did you start preparing for the exam? When should a person ideally start preparation for the civil services exam?

    I started preparing for this examination immediately after graduating from law school in 2013.  I really wanted to clear the examination in my first attempt itself and join the services at a young age so I wanted to give it my full focus the first time around.

    As regards the second part of your question, I believe once the person is sure that this is what he wants to achieve, then that time automatically becomes the most ideal for preparation. Hence, to each his own.

     

    How many hours did you put in for your preparations every day? Is having a fixed schedule or weekly targets important according to you?

    I used to fix daily targets and accordingly work to complete them, so there was no fixed number of hours. On an average, it ranged from 6-8 hours daily.  Rest of the time was spent in reading newspapers, surfing the net or carrying out other hobbies.

    Yes having a fixed schedule and weekly targets is important as I have personally benefited from such meticulous planning.

     

    Which were the easiest and toughest parts of your preparation?

    The easiest part was reading newspapers and making notes from them and studying the general studies papers which are exhaustive but highly interesting as well. History,  culture, polity, foreign affairs are topics that I loved to read and analyze.  The toughest part for was staying away from my family, and friends as I was preparing in Pune while my family stays in Bhubaneshwar.

     

    What are the aspects that a civil service aspirant must focus on and start preparing for in advance?

    A civil service aspirant should first know how to read the newspaper for this examination. Then preparation becomes very easy and interesting as one can interlink concepts with current affairs, analyze and present  in a unbiased manner. My preparation for civil services was very newspaper-oriented and it held me in good stead throughout all three levels.

     

    What were the attributes of your legal education and background which helped you in succeeding in the civil service exam?

    I would attribute my success in first attempt to legal education in a lot of ways. As law students, we are used to processing copious amounts of information and presenting them in answers. Secondly writing subjective answers in limited time, a skill acquired during law school, is an asset while writing the Civil Services (Main) Examinations. In all my mock tests and the mains examination I never faced the issue of time management. Thirdly, integrated law course already gives you an insight into general humanities subjects in the initial years like political science, history, sociology, etc which is somewhat registered in your mind. The only catch here is to keep legalese and biased viewpoints out of your preparation and remembers that this examination wants administrators and not lawyers at the end of the day and moulds yourself accordingly.

     

    What is the importance of CGPA for law students especially for Civil Service exam aspirant? Does it make any difference during the interview?

    More than CGPA, it is the grasp over syllabus and overall analytical skills that matter most for law students in civil service examination. Having said that, I believe a decent CGPA would always be an asset to the law student, be it in this examination, or legal jobs or pursuing higher studies, etc.

    I can answer the second question only from my own experience. As I was the batch topper with a high CGPA, I was apprehensive that they could ask me a lot of law-related questions expecting accurate answers. And this is what happened I was asked factual questions spanning multiple law subjects. However, the interview experience is very subjective and nothing is a precedent.

     

    Tell us about your interview? What kinds of questions were asked by the interview board?

    My interview was on the afternoon session on 15th May, 2015. It was chaired by Prof. David Sylimlieh. As discussed above, mostly factual and legal questions were asked which I could answer racking law notes in my mind at that very instant.

     

    What would be your message for law students who are preparing or planning to prepare to appear for the Civil Service exam?

    I personally feel that with the hard work, perseverance and right guidance, it is not difficult for a law student to clear these Examinations. Civil Services involve law interpretation and implementation, public administration and management, which law students imbibe in their five-year long erudition. So they should approach this examination with full focus and determination, if they choose to appear for it. Success shall definitely follow.

     

    Lastly, what would be your message for the readers who want to pursue career in Civil Services?

    Readers wanting to pursue a career should first be clear about why they want to pursue it. Once they have decided, they should just focus and plunge into the syllabus with full determination.  Enjoy the process of learning and studying for this examination and before you realize, success shall be yours! God Bless.

     

     

     

  • V V S N Raju, Corporate Lawyer, on establishing Juris Prime Law Services

    V V S N Raju, Corporate Lawyer, on establishing Juris Prime Law Services

    V V S N Raju graduated from Osmania Universtity (1990-1993). He is a Corporate Lawyer and has over 22 years of Experience as in-house counsel and external counsel for Corporates and Financial Institutions/Banks.
    His specialties include Banking, Corporate, Documentation, Real Estate, Recovery, Litigation, Arbitration, Project Finance, Restructuring, Securitization, Mergers and Acquisitions, government liaison and Employment Laws.

     

    In this interview he talks to us about:

    • Inception and basic motive behind establishing Juris Prime Law Services (Law Firm).
    • Challenges faced in the initial days of establishment.
    • Services provided by the firm.
    • Uniqueness of services provided by the law firm.

     

    Please share with us the inception and basic motive behind establishing Juris Prime Law Services.

    During 2005 (re-launched in 2015), there were not much law firms in Hyderabad to cater the Banking, real estate and Corporate needs of local clients. So I felt it was a good time to establish a law firm which would provide best legal solutions with a practical approach to cater the needs of the clients in and around Hyderabad.

      

    What challenges did you face in the initial days of establishment and how did you overcome that?

    Main challenge that we faced during the initial years was getting right kind of clients and recruiting right kind of human resources. In fact, these are the challenges which are faced by all the companies at all time.

    I sort of tried a trial method and recruited fresher’s and trained them so that they can provide legal services according to the standard and quality promised by our firm to our clients.

     

    What are the services provided by the firm and how it caters the need of clients in Hyderabad and elsewhere?

    Juris Prime Law Services is a full service law firm. We provide legal services in following fields:

    • Arbitration & Dispute Resolution
    • Banking & Finance
    • Company Incorporation
    • Corporate & Commercial Law
    • Employment & Labour Law
    • Foreign Investment
    • Intellectual Property Rights
    • Mergers & Acquisition
    • Litigation
    • Private Equity & Venture Capital
    • Project & Corporate Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Technology, Media & Telecom

    Being a full service law firm, we are capable of providing solution to all kinds of legal complexities faced by the clients under one umbrella. We structurize client’s transaction and provide practical solutions in a legal way.

     

    Please share with us the uniqueness of services provided by your law firm.

    We give problem oriented solutions. We believe in specialized rather than generalized solution which makes us different from our competitors.

     

    What milestones have you achieved till now?

    Our growth rate has been good and satisfactory. Since our inceptions there is no time for looking back as day by day we are progressing. Over the years we have been associated and empanelled with lot of Banks and large Corporates.

     

    Where do you see the firm in the long run?

    There is no road map as such because I believe in working hard which is a key to success. In coming 2 years we are hoping to see our revenue increasing by manifolds with a significant increase in no. of client and we from a firm of 11 headcount hope to become a team of 20 by March 2017.

     

     

     

  • Ritesh Maity, Litigation lawyer, on practising in the field of Labour and Industrial Law

    Ritesh Maity, Litigation lawyer, on practising in the field of Labour and Industrial Law

    Ritesh Maity graduated from University of Calcutta (2002-2007). He is practicing as a labour law advocate in Kolkata jurisdiction. He is specialized in dealing with various labour matters/ industrial disputes before the Learned Labour Courts, Industrial Tribunals, Employees’ Compensation Courts, Employees’ Insurance Court, and Payment of Wages Court etc. He has also represented clients before various controlling authorities dealing with payment of gratuity, wages and conciliation procedures.

     

    In this interview he talks to us about:

    • His life at University of Calcutta.
    • The co-curricular activities he participated in.
    • Why he focused primarily on industrial disputes along with consumer forum matter.
    • Advise for law students who start to prepare for their career while in Law College.

     

    What would be a brief introduction of yourself? 

    I am 33 years old, born and brought up in Kolkata. Apart from being a lawyer, a son and a husband, I love being a traveller, trekker, music lover and a hardcore movie watcher.

     

    Was it a childhood dream to take up law? What motivated you to pick this field? 

    I only thought of joining law school after my 10th. A cousin heavily influenced me to join law and guided me but surprising he never pursued career in law in spite of studying law.

     

    How was your life at University of Calcutta? Did you find that your law school education prepared you for your current life? 

    Life at the university was as usual. The initial interest (in the first year) was huge but I was dying to complete the course in the final year (fifth year). It is too boring to study law for five years with the same classmates. Calcutta University does not provide you much in terms of practical experience. If you want to become a litigating lawyer, you have to start from zero once you join the court. Frankly speaking, the university from where you have studied law does not matter in practical sense unless you want to bag a lucrative corporate job.

     

    What were the activities you were a part of at your college? 

    I participated in few moot courts, practical training in the court (but this was useless as you cannot understand or learn by visiting court for just a week) and participated in few legal awareness camps around rural Bengal.

     

    What made you get into the legal practice? 

    After completion of law, I did not want to join any firm or company. I wanted freedom and thus started practicing (although under a very able senior counsel) and I could not stop myself from continuing it.

     

    What made you focus primarily on industrial disputes along with consumer forum matter? 

    I was always interested in Human Resource and Industrial relations and somehow I got the opportunity to practice in this field of labour law and industrial law and the things just clicked. With due respect practising at consumer forum is slightly easier I believe. Once a client of mine whom I was assisting in the industrial disputes matter asked me to help him in a consumer related matter. I agreed to help and since then it is a history.

     

    What falls within your scope of responsibility? 

    Since I am a litigating lawyer, I have to handle the client as well as handle the Learned Judge. Entire responsibility is on me; how to convince and satisfy a client; how to draft, appear, plead, argue before the Judge; A to Z is done by me but yes there are clerks to help too.

     

    How competitive would you say the legal profession was when you entered it has it changed since then? 

    Legal profession is vast. You cannot really compare a corporate lawyer with a litigating lawyer or someone who does only registration of sale deeds or to a solicitor. Whether you are practising independently or drawing huge salary from a corporate house or engaged with a reputed law firm, every situation has its pros and cons. You have to decide what you want out of your profession (as well as your life). Competition in the field of law is huge, but fortunately there is lack of efficient competitors.

     

    How do you balance your professional life with your personal life given the heavily demanding working hours of the profession you have chosen? 

    Since I do not have any fixed working schedule, I may remain free or less busy during weekdays but I can be overburdened during weekends when family members expect me. This is a very tricky situation and you have to handle very carefully and smartly. Since I work from home office, at least I am able to remain in the house with my family members in spite of being busy.

     

    How would you advice a law student if one has to start on to preparing for a career while in college? 

    First decide why you want to study law. If you want to join a corporate job or want to earn high end salary then you have to join top law schools in India. If you want to be a litigating lawyer then remember that you have to work really hard for initial 10-15 years in order to be somewhere at least.

     

    Please share with us your journey so far. 

    So far so good both my learning as well as earning is in the upward curve. And being a litigating lawyer, I can make plans for travel and treks easily as I approve leave to myself.

     

    What would be your parting message to our readers?

    Be in this profession (or any profession) only if you love it.

  • Smita Reddy, Legal Consultant, Lexstart, on assisting other start-ups from their incorporation to being their in-house counsel

    Smita Reddy, Legal Consultant, Lexstart, on assisting other start-ups from their incorporation to being their in-house counsel

    Smita Reddy graduated from Gujarat National Law University in 2011. At present she is working at LexStart. LexStart is a start-up which primarily caters to other start-ups assisting right from their incorporation to being their in-house counsel.

     

    In this interview she talks to us about:

    • Importance of CGPA.
    • How her appointment at LexStart took place.
    • Difference in working at LexStart from Amarchand & Mangaldas.
    • Strategy to deal with errors and mistakes.

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    My name is Smita Reddy. I graduated from Gujarat National Law University in 2011 and I am currently working at LexStart. LexStart is a start-up which primarily caters to other start-ups assisting right from their incorporation to being their in-house counsel!

     

    How important is a CGPA for recruiters to assess students?

    CGPA being extremely important for campus placements is a given. It helps recruiters understand that you are willing to give it your all, which is always a good thing. Since they don’t really have your work experience to grill you on, your CGPA is reflective of your attitude towards work.

    Having said that, I know of some brilliant lawyers who weren’t great students to begin with. So yes, while having a good CGPA is crucial, it is also imperative that you intern before you start working. I cannot begin to stress enough on how important internships are in shaping you as a lawyer. I see so many law students wasting their internships and so many wasted opportunities. What law students need to understand is that these internships also help you in networking, plus if you’ve done a good job, you’re sure to be called back or given a pre-placement offer.

     

    Did you face difficulties in the beginning of your work at Amarchand & Mangaldas?

    Yes and no, because the difficulties I faced were more to do with not knowing how to go about things. I was a little lost, but since I joined with 15 other people from my law school, the process may have been a lot smoother for me than it was for other people. It was quite overwhelming in that sense, but once I got the hang of things, knew what was required of me, it became easier.

    It also helps if you know and understand that no one expects you to know everything at this stage. This is exactly what I tell fresher’s. You only need to start worrying if you’re still lost at 3 years of working!

     

    When did the transformation from a law student to a lawyer take place?

    I think the transformation takes place from the moment you have to take charge of something. I remember the first major assignment (where I was solely responsible for things) I was given at AMSS was helping in filing Form FC TRS. Though it would have been simpler for my senior to do it, she assigned it to me because she thought it would help me understand how things work better. And it did!

    The moment you are responsible for something, you somehow take greater care, than you would if you had a senior reviewing your work. I was blessed that way, because I was always part of teams which weren’t too big to begin with, so good assignments would end up coming to the juniors in the team.   

    Do you believe that drafting legal documents is an essential skill that most law schools in India omit to teach their students?

    Yes! While, to be fair, we did have a legal drafting course in GNLU, a couple of months of a course do not help you in drafting legal documents. What is surprising is that drafting constitutes around 60% of your work as a lawyer, irrespective of the field you are in. It is a skill set which I believe is extremely important to have as a lawyer. Plus, if you have a course on drafting in law school, you are not just suddenly thrown into drafting a share purchase agreement, without knowing the basics.

    I have had interns who didn’t know how to do basic drafting, which is quite alarming,  which is why I think the current curriculum needs to undergo changes, maybe limit learning the theoretical aspect of law to the first couple of years, and focus more on developing you practically as a lawyer.

     

    How did your appointment at “LexStart” take place?

    It actually happened very quickly and at the right time, I must add. I live in Tirupati, I love the place but it isn’t exactly bustling with corporate lawyers. I had reached a point of my sabbatical where it was no longer fun to be doing nothing; I was getting antsy and had to start doing something.

    My first round of interview was with Anisha Patnaik, one of my co-founders. It happened thanks to this friend of mine who had reached out to me informing me that his senior wanted a legal consultant, and that it would even be okay if I wanted to work from home. That literally sealed the deal for me, because I wasn’t keen on moving out of Tirupati. Imagine you can reach from Point A to Point B in ten minutes!

    Anyway, I am digressing, once I heard that I could work from home, I immediately asked him to send me all the necessary details. The next day Anisha reached out to me and I just wasn’t prepared even though I had gone over my CV a million times before that. After my interview with Anisha, I spoke to my other co-founder, Karthik Chandrasekar. Post this I started working in a days’ time!

     

    How was the job interview? Do you remember any of the questions asked to you?

    It went rather well, given that I had absolutely lost touch with law in that one year of sabbatical! Also, my founders who took my interview made me feel at ease, being fully aware that I hadn’t worked in a while and may need some time to get back to the grind. They also encouraged me to ask them questions, which I thought was a pleasant change from the usual interviews that one is used to.

    I was asked questions around VC investments primarily; I was able to answer most questions, except for one. I remember it distinctly because the moment I answered the question, I knew I was wrong, the question was on liquidation preference and what does it mean for an investor.

     

    How is working at LexStart any different from working at Amarchand &  Mangaldas?

    I will always maintain I loved working at AMSS, Mumbai and Delhi and will always attribute my growth as a corporate lawyer to it.

    LexStart has been a different experience from AMSS, since you act as legal counsels to companies that are growing with you. What starts with helping in the incorporation of a new company also leads to acting as their lawyers in their Series D round of funding. What this has also done is given me a fair sense of what founders in start-ups expect their lawyers to do. Since I was one of the first few people to be recruited at LexStart, I had my hands full with transactions which I was to lead, which was wonderful, since this immediately gives you a sense of work ownership. Plus, there is so much happening in the start-up space, that there is never a dull moment at work!

     

    What has been your strategy to deal with errors and mistakes? How would you suggest a young associate to deal with them?

    In the past, whenever I have made a mistake, I have made it a point to inform my senior. What this ends up doing if helping you learn how to handle mistakes.

    My only advise to young associates would be to always reach out to your immediate supervisor or a senior on the particular transaction and let them know. DO NOT try and hide it and hope no one would notice, because someone will, or even fix it yourself. They will do the necessary damage control. Most importantly, learn from your mistakes, check things twice or even three times before sending them out.

    Having said that, please remember you are human, and you are bound to make mistakes now and then. Move on, don’t be too hard on yourself, because that will just make things worse.

     

    What is your message to young law students?

    Relax and breathe!

    There is a lot of worrying about targets and deadlines coming your way once you graduate law school, but please do take internships seriously. Try gaining experience across all fields, whether it is litigation, NGO or corporate internships. It is good to know what you want from your first year in law school, but overtime you evolve as a person, and may not enjoy the fat-cheque-paying-corporate job you once dreamed of getting. Know that these varied experiences help you understand what you would actually enjoy doing and make an informed decision when its time.