Super Lawyer

Author: Donnie Ashok

  • Kanad Bagchi, LL.M. candidate, Europa-Institut Universität Des Saarlandes, on being a DAAD scholar and plans for the future

    Kanad Bagchi, LL.M. candidate, Europa-Institut Universität Des Saarlandes, on being a DAAD scholar and plans for the future

    Kanad BagchiKanad Bagchi graduated from KIIT, Bhubaneswar, in 2013. He has earned the Founders’ Gold Medal for this same reason. He won the Students’ Achiever Award also for raising the issue of the right to self-identification of third-gender with Mr. Navin Chawla, the Chief Election Commissioner at that time, along with a few of his colleagues at KIIT. He is also a DAAD Scholar and is currently studying LL.M. at Europa-Institut Universität Des Saarlandes.

    In this interview we speak to him about:

    • Securing internships at top-notch law firms
    • Studying at Europa-Institut Universität Des Saarlandes and recruitment opportunities there
    • Details for application to the DAAD Scholarship

     

    What was your motivation behind pursuing law?

    I was a very estranged student during my school life and I couldn’t quite fit myself anywhere. I had a background in science but could never get myself to study it. Instead, I loved to read newspapers and write poems. I remember myself to be an avid debater in school. My teachers fondly used to tell me that I should be a lawyer. Little did I know then, that I would unknowingly get into something, I would grow to love so much.

    So I could not make it to any of the entrance exams for engineering and I did not want to drop a year. KIIT Law School was the next best option (I could not make it through CLAT either) and I decided to give it a shot, thinking that I would appear again for the entrance exams next year. However, by the time it was next year, I was so engrossed into the law, that, this seemed like a conclusion rather than an experiment. At that time there was pressure from home that I re-appear for CLAT. Nonetheless, I was convinced that a new institution like KIIT law school would provide me an opportunity to grow along with it and to contribute in a much larger capacity. In retrospect, I believe it was one of the finest decisions that I ever made.

     

    What kind of internships did you pursue as a student?

    All kinds! I think it is important, at least for someone who is not absolutely certain as regards which field and area of law he/she would want to pursue, to do as many different kinds of internships as one possibly can. Five years is a long time for one to explore and I think this time should be made use of. So I tried my hands at litigation (Dr. Rajeev Dhavan & Rajshekhar Sir), corporate (AMSS), Shipping &Maritime law (George Rebello), Think Tanks (Observer Research Foundation & PILSARC), NGOs (HRLN & PUCL) etc. In the hindsight, all my internships were fascinating in different ways. Clearly, one month is not enough for you to know all about the area and the work, but you definitely get a feel of the environment. There is always something you can contribute to and take home with you.

    Remarkable experiences have been many and more often than not, first time experiences. However, I think what has been truly remarkable for me is that; instead of mere one or two month’s periodic internships, I have built relations with my seniors and colleagues, which I continue to nurture. Some of them are very senior and established in their own fields and it is overwhelming to know that you have their unrelenting support and advice even after you leave.

     

    How does one secure Tier I firm internships?

    (Kanad has interned with formidable names such as Amarchand and Chambers of George Robello.)

    I completely understand and identify with this concern. Back then KIIT Law School was in its formative years, and hence there was a lack of institutional backing from the University. We did not have a placement or an internship committee either, nor did we have the national law school tag. However, that certainly did not stop any of us.  In fact, I would like to think that it made us more headstrong and determined. Although I would admit that we all had our own phases of despair and desperation, nonetheless, we were constantly on the lookout, for every little opportunity that we could get our hands on. Getting your first internship is always the most difficult one and it is advisable that you don’t aim only for the top tier I firms and put all your eggs in the same basket. Also, we began streamlining our internships according to our inclinations in law school. Post third year, we sent out applications with a lot more thought, purpose and planning. I started small and worked myself up the ladder. One thing that I learnt is that, once you are in and you perform well (not doing so was not an option for me), you will be recognized. People are more than willing to hire somebody who knows his stuff and is eager to work hard. So do not lose hope and do not be afraid to apply!

    Rest everything remains the same. You apply early, follow up (read pester) with them, see to it that you explore all connections established from the previous internships. There is nothing like networking coupled with determined efforts, both during an application and the concerned internship.

     

    Tell us something about the preparation that went into winning the Founder’s Gold Medal for outstanding all round and academic performance.

    Frankly, I did not envisage it happening and neither did I consciously work towards it. Recognition is just a matter of time and will come, sooner or later, if you continue to work hard. It is not the starting point and neither is it an end in itself. At some level it is important to remember that you just do not work for yourself but also for people around you. Try and take them along with you. See if you can help your juniors, assist your teachers and participate in the institutional building of your university. In retrospect, I do not think I did anything extraordinary than to do things (sometimes over -did it) that a student is ideally supposed to do. Study! Study hard and study everything. Every lecture and every class discussion, howsoever insignificant it may seem to you, is important. I think the idea is to win the trust of your teachers and colleagues. For me law and legal studies has never really been a subject, but a living object. I live it every day and I look forward to it every day, to learn something new, to read a funny case law or share a little quip from a great biography.

     

    You have also won Student’s Achiever Award for raising the issue of the right to self-identification of third-gender. How did you start working for such a novel cause?

    The work on this issue began when I was in my first year trying to grapple with issues of constitutional law while working on a moot, along with my colleagues Alimpan Chatterjee and Prerna Dhoop. The central issue, I remember, was on the constitutional validity of Section 377 of the IPC. While delving deeper into the problem, we learnt that the ‘transgender’ were one such community who were severely affected by the above provision. That apart, our research indicated that there were various facets of life and society from which they were excluded. For instance, we learnt that they had to compulsorily register themselves as either ‘male’ or ‘female’ while availing voter-identity cards, passports etc, which was direct attack on the self-identity of their community, which considers itself as neither male or female. Therefore we raised the issue with the then Chief Election Commissioner, Mr. Navin Chawla, while he was on an official visit to our university. We later met him in his office in Delhi and he assured us that he will look into the matter. And well he did!! After a couple of months we got the news that the election commission, in a far reaching move has allowed the transgender and Eunuchs to register themselves as “others” in their voter id card. Whenever I recollect that evening, it fills me in with a sense of purpose and real achievement. However, this journey would not have been possible had it not been for the support of my colleagues and also our founding Director Prof. Faizan Mustafa, who stood by us all throughout. I think this incident also goes a long way to show that, some, if not all our civil servants are rather sensitive about issues around them and are determined to make a difference and improve lives.

    It is heartening to see that finally good sense has prevailed on the government and they have extended a similar provision for passports as well (http://infochangeindia.org/human-rights/news/third-sex-finds-a-place-on-indian-passport-forms.html). Recently, as you all may know, the Supreme Court has also rendered a decision recognizing the transgender as “third gender” with consequential benefits.

     

    What are the challenges you faced while working for the Right of Identification of the Third Gender?

    One major problem, at least till a couple of years ago was the stigma that was attached with such issues. People around you are not very forthcoming when it comes to discussion or debate on this topic. Even amongst the educated lot, I have noticed a sense of disdain for the LGBT community. However, that is changing in a positive way. There is more and more research that is coming up on LGBT issues which is very encouraging to see.

     

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    What was your motivation behind doing an LL.M. abroad?

    I have built a tremendous passion for the law over the years. I have practically dreamt of doing nothing else but the law. Path-breaking works of academia have always inspired and motivated me. For instance, during my studies on jurisprudence, I read with great interest the works of Newcomb Hohfeld, Matthew Kramer, Martha Nussbaum, Ronald Dworkin and the likes. I imagined an opportunity to work under them at some point, to write and research and teach, to build and to create. At some point, I started feeling a little distant from the way legal education is imparted in the country. I am certainly not saying that it is not good or not upto the mark (there are many honorable exceptions), but there is definitely a sense of vision which is lacking. Original research output in the legal field has remained almost stagnant. From my various interactions with professors and lecturers from different universities, I could gather a very grim impression of the world of academia, where you never graduate from being a teacher to a scholar. I see a very big difference between the two. A teacher is confined to imparting education in a classroom, whereas a scholar does not teach, he professes. His audience is much beyond the students in the classroom. He does not simply distribute information, but builds ideas. That’s why probably they say that good law schools teach you the law, but great law schools simply teach you to think. I could not find an environment back in law school, which could satisfy my hunger and passion for research and critical thinking. I wanted to experience a world where academics is a very serious affair and attracts the best minds in the profession.  The above reasons essentially motivated me to apply for an LL.M. abroad.

    Of course the immediate first instinct is to go for the big brands that exist out there. But to my mind, that is not a very appropriate approach. I looked at the program, the length, the number of years it has been in existence and the reputation of the same. I looked into the faculty profile, profile of current students and the alumni. I shot out emails to the administration and the faculty members asking for their opinion. I also looked at the industry support and connections that the university has built, the conferences they organize and the kind of contribution they have made to legal academia.

     

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    How did an LL.M. at Europa-Institut Universität Des Saarlandes happen?

    Contrary to convention, for me, the University happened because of the Scholarship (DAAD). The DAAD scholarship allows you to choose amongst three universities. The Europa-Institut, Saarland University, the Europa-Kolleg Hamburg and Freie Universität Berlin. Since I was more inclined towards the study of EU law, Europa-Institut was an easy choice. However, the dilemma then was that I had been offered admission in two other Universities. I was offered a full fellowship at the Central European University, Budapest for an LL.M. in Comparative Constitutional Law. I was also offered a place at NYU. I declined the offer at CEU because I was more inclined towards accepting a named scholarship like the DAAD rather than a departmental fellowship from a University. Also by then, I had numerous interactions with previous DAAD scholars, which only added more firmness to my thought. I had to reluctantly let go of NYU as it would have been a huge financial burden on my shoulders. No scholarships were on offer there.

     

    Tell us about the application procedure for the DAAD Scholarship.

    The idea of pursuing an LL.M. grew to be more concrete since my fourth year at law school. I was actively on the lookout for scholarships as I was not very keen on funding it all by myself. The start was rather staggering, because I did not have the slightest clue as to where to begin. It’s a process and I must say it can get rather exhausting. I did not have seniors who had been through the process before, other than Mr. Alipak Banerjee, from whose experience I benefited greatly. Nonetheless, I was fortunate to have colleagues like Mr. Jitendra Soni (Jeet) and Rudrani Banerjee (Rudrani) who were constantly with me throughout the process, from its initiation till its end.

    The DAAD scholarship application is a two-step application process. First stage is the submission of documents consisting of your grade transcripts, CV, statement of motivation (SOM) and recommendation letters. The most important is of course the SOM. It can take days together to write a good SOM. It helps if you have a clear idea as to what you wish to study, where and why. I remember having numerous discussions with both Jeet and Rudrani regarding the questions that I should address in the SOM and their possible responses, which added much clarity to my thought. Further, it is very important to be precise and clear in your drafting. There should be a logical link flowing through every line that you write. Every comma and every full stop matters! I had the benefit of running several drafts through both of them before I finally sent it out. The second stage is the interview rounds. You are grilled by a panel of three or four judges, comprising of both German and Indian professors and members from the DAAD. They would mostly be interested in your research proposal and how you plan to go about with it. Also, make sure that you know your CV in and out. Different things work for different people. What worked for me was that the German judges were quite impressed with my knowledge of the German legal system and especially German constitutional law, which I had studied in detail under Prof. Kartikeya in this course on Comparative Constitutional law.

    What I had initially imagined of the scholarship was completely different from how it turned out to be in reality, in a very positive way. From the website, one only gets to know the details regarding the waiver of tuition fee or stipend and the like. It is only when I arrived here that I could really appreciate the prestige and stature of the scholarship. For LL.M. students it is not so much the DAAD scholarship but it’s the Dr. Angela Merkel Scholarship which makes all the difference. I had the blessed opportunity to have received an invitation from the Chancery building to meet with the foreign security advisor of Ms. Merkel. I have also interacted with a number of MPs from the Bundestag (German Parliament). Moreover, DAAD organizes an annual scholar’s meet where other DAAD scholars pursuing different streams are brought together under one roof for various events. It is fascinating to meet so many different scholars from different fields across different continents and to talk to them (not to mention all the arrangements are made by DAAD). Further, I would like to mention that the DAAD team responsible for India is simply superb. They take care of everything, from your visas to your safe arrival, accommodation and German language training for the first two months, help you out with settling down, getting your residence permit, practically everything and anything that you may need. DAAD is a very well know organization in Germany and is extremely resourceful. So even in an alien land, you are in safe hands. Lastly, the stipend that they pay out is quite generous.

     

    What is the recruitment for overseas students like?

    I would say that the recruitment prospects for overseas students is challenging. The biggest barrier for an overseas student in Europe is language. Recruiters, invariably look for English along with a high degree of proficiency in German, Spanish, Italian or French. However, the good thing is that the DAAD scholarship offers you two months introductory course in German language which you can further work upon throughout the year in your respective university. If you really take the language issue seriously and work towards it, you have a good chance.

    Having said that, I have different plans and I am not looking for a job in Germany at the moment.

     

    How was your experience at Europa-Institut?

    Simply Splendid! Europa-Institut has its own special place in the context of European Integration. It attracts scholars from all across Europe and is considered to be a center of excellence in EU law. As a matter of fact this year it received the prestigious Jean Monnet Chair for European Law and is now being headed by our current director Prof. Thomas Giegerich. We have faculty members drawn from all over the world and that provides a stimulating environment inside the class. We have a very nice mix of both practitioners and academicians, which really completes your learning. Some of our Faculty members like Prof. Martin Selmayroccupy very high positions in the European Commission and it is interesting to study the practicalities of policy making in Europe from an expert hand. I must also state that most of our faculty members are very passionate about their subjects and some of it actually gets rubbed onto you. I am here, in an alien jurisdiction, studying European law and I have never been more fascinated. The advantage of having lecturers from such institutions is that you can objectively seek to know things that you will never find in your books. The administration at the Institut is very friendly, helpful and remarkably organized. Europa-Institut makes it a point to augment your classroom readings with real life exposure. Drawing from its vast pool of faculty connections, it regularly organizes conferences and workshops at different forums like the European Court of Justice, the European Court of Human rights, the European Commission, the European central Bank, the WTO and the likes. For instance, just last week, I was in Paris presenting a paper on Arbitration at the International Chambers of Commerce. I also made an embarrassing attempt at skiing for the first time in my life, while I was in Italy for a conference organized by the Europa-Institut. Further, I was selected to represent the University at Eurosim, 2014 held in Netherlands. It was a wonderful experience to simulate the work and practice of European Institutions.

    I simply love the library here. It is big enough for someone to literally get lost in it. It contains a huge variety of collections and is not just limited to the law. I was presently surprised to see an extensive collection of Indian Constitutional law in one of the sections. The Master’s and PhD thesis section containing research papers by different scholars for over four decades really allows you to see the evolution of EU and International law from the perspective of students and researchers. Further, we have subscriptions to practically all online databases that one can think of and you can access them personally even from your home by using your login id and password.

    The highlight, however, I would say is the diversity of my batch. I have colleagues from thirty eight different countries and all continents being represented. It really brings in an array of divergent opinion and thoughts while mentioning matters inside or outside the classroom. You have students from law, political science, international relations, economics, social sciences and engineering. Everybody brings in something unique onto the table and you can go back home, more aware and more educated. Even amidst this diversity, I have felt togetherness. On a lighter note, I had never imagined that I would be able to enjoy an India-Pakistan cricket match on TV with a Pakistani student from Karachi, Ambreenor for that matter an Israeli and Palestine student sharing rooms together. Such experiences make you realize that problems among nations are always at a different level and are never really personal.

    In essence, I wish I could do this one year all over again.

     

    How was the academic schedule?

    Quite hectic! Most of the days we have classes from 9 AM to 5 PM. Then you most certainly have to go the library to prepare for the next day’s lecture. You are invariably flooded with assignments, presentations, seminar papers, case studies and exams. So yes, there is lot of work to be done on a daily basis. I think it’s good, because it keeps you on your toes all day long.

     

    What were the subjects you chose?

    I am doing an LL.M. in European and International Law with a heavy concentration on European Institutional law, EU competition, banking and monetary law. I had always been fascinated by how Europe has keep twenty eight nations together under the same roof, in pursuit of similar aims and in the face of conflicting interests. The European Integration project as it stands today is not just a legal, political and economic union, but a union of destinies. So therefore it was interesting for me to study this mammoth creation, while living in the heart of Europe. I studied monetary law, primarily because of my inclination towards economics. I was excited to delve deeper into the issues relating to the Sovereign debt crisis in Europe. To my mind, there was no better prospect of studying about the EU Debt crisis, at a time, when it was in its full swing, happening in a region where you are living and taking lectures from people who have literally been at the centre of things during the crisis. It was a strategic decision to study EU competition law because as you might already know, competition practice in India has been greatly influenced by the rules and regulations in EU and USA.

     

    How’s the Indian fraternity over there?

    Yes, Germany hosts a large number of Indians, spread out quite evenly throughout the country. I have two Indians in my LL.M. program and lot many more in the University. The Indian community at the University regularly organizes dinners and cultural nights. Therefore, I don’t as much miss my daal bhaat. They also organize trips to various places in and around Europe.

     

    What are your future plans?

    Although, having spent almost a year here at the Europa-Institut, studying a whole range of subjects, I still find myself, in an indecisive position. One thing that I can safely say is that, the appetite in me to study further has only grown. I am ever more fascinated towards European Studies and I remain excited to explore further and dig deeper. Notwithstanding the fact that I am still relatively untrained to the idea of European Integration, the lectures here at the Institute, was a throwback to similar structures, issues and solutions. I could see myself applying the concepts and mechanism that I had learnt back in law school. Also, my training in the common law traditions has been huge advantage. For now, I am working towards the completion of my course and hopefully by then, I will be a little more certain about my future goals.

     

    What would be your advice to law student interested in going for higher studies from India?

    First and foremost, be sure of the fact that you want to pursue an LL.M. after your graduation. An LL.M. is a huge investment in terms of time, effort and also money (if not on scholarship). Ask yourself the question as to why do an LL.M.? What is it that you are trying to achieve out of this? How would it benefit your case? You career and your personality? The first step in an LL.M. application is to convince yourself that you would want to pursue it. Talk to your seniors, your teachers, your colleagues. Think hard, think deep and introspect. Once you have crossed that stage, it is important for you to think about which area of law would you like to specialize in and why? Deeply analyze your key areas of interest and to shortlist courses/universities on the basis of the same. Every college would require you to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the field you are interested to pursue. Moreover, you have to be clear whether you want to practice law or enter academics. Choice should also be influenced by the country you want to study, or (if possible) work in and the value of that country’s LL.M. programme in India, in case you intend to return.

    Once you have a definitive course and list of universities you are applying, then you need to focus on two things simultaneously, the procedural part (deadlines, required documentation, payment of application fee, etc.) and substantial part (SOP and Reference Letters). Statement of Purpose (popularly known as SOP, SOM, etc.) is the most essential document of all, which would determine the strength of your application. It is a very popular and lucrative approach to make your statement of purpose a replica of your resume. However, it is advisable that you refrain yourself from doing that. Rather than focusing on ‘what’ you have ‘done’, spend some thought on penning down ‘how much’ and ‘what’ have you ‘learned’. Try and build a link between your past, present and future.

     

    What’s your take on work- life balance? How do you go about it?

    I am not the best person to answer that question. I think a big chunk of my life is my work and voluntarily so.

  • Anubhab Sarkar, KIIT, on his research experience with Prof. Martin Hunter, and internship at Freshfields

    Anubhab Sarkar, KIIT, on his research experience with Prof. Martin Hunter, and internship at Freshfields

    Anubhab Sarkar is a student of KIIT, Bhubaneswar, batch of 2015.  Anubhab had the rare opportunity to work with Prof. Martin Hunter at Essex Court Chamber in London. He had also interned with Freshfields Bruckhaus Derringer. He keeps a keen interest in International Law and has also served as the president of the International Law Society at his university.

    In this interview we speak to him about:

    • Procedure for internship application to top law firms
    • His research experience with Prof. Martin Hunter
    • The difference between a UK based law firm and an Indian firm

     

    Why did you decide to study Law?

    I was introduced to law pretty early in my life as my mother is a lawyer, as clichéd as it might sound; though I never liked the idea behind this profession as an adolescent as it kept my mother away from me for long hours. While pursuing my secondary education I was firm that I had no other option of career other than being an engineer. I owe a lot to Mr. Rajneesh Singh who was instrumental in making me believe that law would be the perfect career option for me, he is undoubtedly the first pillar of my legal career. My parents were instrumental in making me gather the courage to take up law. My father used to visit NUJS to get an idea about how a modern day law school functions. I started taking a ‘crash course’ at IMS where I figured that this could something might be able to do; by that time I had seen enough documentaries of Mr. Jinnah, Mr. Gopal Subramaniam (his love for T.S Eliot, Shakespeare and how he creates a nexus between law and literature often excited me), Mr. Nariman and other great legal luminaries and was fascinated by their oratory skills, I was almost convinced that it was something I would like to do for a living. I have always been ardent public speaking enthusiast and thought it would be wonderful if I could put it to use in my daily life. The nail in the coffin was when I found a movie called Paper Chase and happened to watch it; I then realized why an institution imparting legal knowledge is called a law school and not a college. Use of logic and oratory to persuade people, bring a change, however small it might be and of course wearing suits (that never hurts!).

     

    Tell us something about being President of the International Law Students Association chapter at KIIT.

    I have been inclined to International Law since the very first year at law school; I of course owe it to a couple of seniors of mine. This prompted me to join the International Law Society (affiliated to ILSA Washington DC) which was student run society in law school. The basic idea behind this was to enhance the aura of International Law, increase quality research, impart proper mooting training, host lectures and events of such sort. When I was elected as the President for the term 2013- 2014, I decided to bring a certain change.

    The first event I organized (of course with the help of my committee members) was the 1st KIIT International Law Quiz Competition. The main reason behind this is to make sure there was proper awareness in the sense of general sensibility, quizzing is a passion and what better way to carry out an event to confirm and analyze the awareness. I was quite amazed to see out of all the teams that participated, the winner was not from a law school, rather two engineering students.

    We also have future events coming up like the 1st Ian Brownlie Moot Court Competition (which will be on the mooting schedule soon), a conference which will include speakers from each of the continent thus giving us a quality panel debate as to the status quo of the present situation in each of the continents regards to the beginning of a ‘World Court of Human Rights’. The ideology of quality research has also not been forgotten, we keep hosting lectures and our first news letter is due to release soon. It is just a passion which I am trying to carry forward as long as I can. The KCIA (KIIT Center for International Arbitration is a thought child of my senior, who when confided in me the ideas made me more than intrigued. I am sure it will be a great success.

     

    Tell us about your experience in legal editing and publishing?

    (Anubhab has been the Honourary Editor of the Sancalp Journal and co-researched and edited a book of international arbitration in addition to presenting some papers as well.)

    I believe that a law student grows mentally every day. It was a pleasure being the editor of the Sancalp Journal, it was quite an arduous task to determine and differentiate quality of research and argumentation of papers. I thoroughly enjoyed that experience. Judging others research skills meant that I had to be well read on the themes myself. I took a month just to be well versed with the themes, recent case laws and other scholarly writings so that I can appreciate the analysis of the research of the author. Editing of a book is almost a similar task but its more ‘status quo’ oriented i.e the present status regarding a doctrine, what are the case laws in relation to that doctrine, whether the case law has been over ruled and such other specifications had to be kept in mind.

    The degree of challenge was more in this regard as there was no room for error. These activities in a nutshell gives you the quality of thinking critically (quite critically I must say). You can analyze argumentations and put forth the best, you realize what is exactly required of you in a research contention, and you grow a normal understanding of comparing ideologies and then analyzing them as per your rational thinking.

     

    How important is mooting, really?

    I must say this has always been a sensitive issue, mooting has always been a passion for me since my first year at law school. According to me mooting cumulates the holistic growth of a law student, the amount of research and reading a participant has to put in enormous. It makes you think critically on your feet, teaches you how to answer judges, duck questions. Suppose you have four arguments for contention, it makes you decide your strongest argumentations as there are word limitation (in a memorandum) and time limitation (in oral rounds). It is very hard to judge your own work and this is the biggest challenge you face in a moot.

    I have done several moots and placed in few of them, one thing one must keep in mind while mooting is that research is of course the key but one of the most important aspects of mooting is confidence, you just cannot argue with your temperament down, you have to be up for it and make sure you will give it your best. One advice I would like to give aspiring moot enthusiasts (speakers) is that don’t get too worked up about speaking in front of judge as daunting as it might look, the whole idea is to analyze the judge and respond to him accordingly. You have to understand that the judge will not everything, you will have to know your strengths and play them accordingly.

    A very good advice I had received before my first moot was that a speaker should not try taking the burden on him (figuratively) but one should try and have a ‘formal learned conversation’ with judge in order to convince him/her. The judges will try everything to shake your confidence, it is mandatory to keep yourself calm and composed during the whole process. These traits are mandatory for a lawyer and thus mooting according to me way more than a CV addition.

    I have seen in foreign universities, how much importance mooting is given. The amount of resources available, coaches and research facilities are unbelievable. For example a Vis Team in University ‘X’ is selected and mentored since their first year and then they compete in the competition in their 3rd year. It is phenomenal the amount of training they get. I have seen in that the major London law schools also get moot court training from the top city law firms. Some of these law firms also host the mock Vis hearings before the actual rounds in Vienna, Austria.

    Tell us about your internship experience.

    (Anubhab has interned at PUCL, Fox & Mandal, Amarchand Mangaldas and with the Additional Solictor General in India.)

    It would be improper to rank these internships as each of these internships have been pivotal in my career, each of these internships are organizations carrying out very different activities. At PUCL, it was a dream as a first year law student having read so many landmark judgments this organization has been a part of, Fox Mandal gave me an idea as to the working of a top tier law firm. It was a challenge to prepare research notes perfectly so that the Associate would add your research to the memorandum.

    The internship with the Additional Solicitor General was a different experience altogether, this internship made me aware of the glamour present in the profession. Entering the Supreme Court with a legal legend in a Mercedes or BMW, researching on top notch celebrated cases, attending arbitration hearings at fancy hotels; it was a dream and it also told what you can achieve if you have proper and just dedication towards the profession.

    Whereas, Amarchand (which is arguably the best law firm in India) was almost living the life of a transactional lawyer. You knew you had to enter office by 9 AM but you did not have any clue regarding when you would leave for home. It was a different challenge, you had more than one task in your hand at a given time and it was mandatory to maintain deadlines. It was a fascinating experience for you’re almost treated as an employee when it comes to work. All these internships have been progressive to my development to whatever I am.  I have always been very selective towards my internships and one things that I have learnt is that it is the quality of the internships that matter, not the quantity.

     

    How did you apply for internship at the ASG’s office? What is the procedure?

    The application for an Internship at the ASG’s office is a very simple one but the selection is very limited. You will have to try and play your cards to your advantage. The normal application consists of a cover letter and your CV to the person in charge, but this does not ensure your selection. I had called him up personally and introduced myself and my zeal to work with him. I made sure I called his personal assistant once every week and kept my name around in loop. I was lucky that one evening I got a call from the ASG himself and he stated that he had come to Orissa High Court for a matter and if I wanted I could go and meet him at his hotel. You have to be persistent if you want something, it counts. Dedication and persistence has no replacement.

     

    How was your internship experience in London different from the ones here?

    (Anubhab has interned at the Essex Court Chambers, London, and at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, London.)

    Essex Court Chambers and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer both belong to the elite league of chambers and law firms, called the ‘magic circles’. Working at Essex Court Chamber can be compared to an amateur actor working with the Oceans 13 cast. It was a dream; I was working under the tutelage of Prof. Martin Hunter. My work usually consisted of researching on note points, assisting in research papers, participating in the Kings College London lectures, arranging modules and assisting him. The most amazing part of Essex Court was sharing elevators with luminaries like Malcolm Shaw, Toby Landau and other such greats, leaving aside working with Prof. Hunter himself. Freshfields was undoubtedly one of the best experiences I have ever had, arguably the best law firm in the world. The exposure an intern gets in a firm or chamber like this is unparalleled, an intern is made to be a part of client meetings, and there are separate sessions for interns enlightening them about social responsibility in a law firm. Pro bono work on a Friday was a must (also Fridays were dress down days, such that you could wear informal clothes to work, which was amazing); it consisted of assisting the homeless in London with  legal matters and other such activities. Socials were a frequent occurrence, where we could interact with any and everyone in the firm at a personal and professional level over drinks.

    The mentors were to take the interns out for lunch once a week to a nearby restaurant. These little things gives a different perspective to interns in regards to the working of a law firm and getting to know your mentor well adds to the understanding. I remember I was asked to draft a part of a memorandum along with a ‘summer associate’ from the New York office of Freshfields. You do enjoy the amount responsibility and the exposure was impeccable, managing time differences and sharing research and getting the work done. It was satisfying.

     

    What was the procedure you followed for your applications to the big shot law firms?

    Application to top shot law firms require a lot of patience, sending a mail with your CV is of course not enough. You will have to know how to sell your strengths and eclipse your weaknesses. While applying to Indian top tier firms I have often called the relevant HR first and tried to sell my strength in relation to a possibility regarding an internship in that firm. The HR will get annoyed if you push too much, you will have to be very confident and brief in what you say, once you do that, if you have done marginally well in convincing her she will ask you to send your CV. Once you do that you can place reliance on your CV for the rest to work out. In reality a HR in a top tier law firm gets almost 100 applications a day during the internship period. That conversation will surely create a mark and for the rest you can rely on your credentials. It has worked for me, the key I believe is patience and persistence, what is very important is that you have to know the limit so that it doesn’t work against you.

    Foreign Law firms on the hand have a very open process. You can apply only at a certain period and the application procedure consists of certain questions analyzing your career and character. These questions have a very critical word limit. For example, I once had faced a question which read such, ‘Mention all your achievements in school and law school, academically and co-curriculars’  the word limit was 250 words, you might think it is impossible to answer this question within 250 words but there lies the challenge of being precise and using simple English and sticking to the word limit. These simple things amount to qualification to the next round which is generally a logical reasoning test followed by an interview. Firms like Allen and Ovary, Herbert Smith and Clifford Chance has provisions for Indian students to work with them, more Indian students should avail these opportunity, even if you don’t qualify, the application procedure to these law firms teach you a lot of things. It’s quite a daunting task and an enriching experience.

     

    How important are grades?

    I believe CGPA does play an important role but only to a certain extent, one should maintain a CGPA of above 70 percent and then he/she can rely on his/her credentials to pull them through the rest. It is understood that a law school curriculum demands a lot of attention to many different things i.e. mooting, research papers, internships. It’s mandatory that you have a decent CV so that you can pull through the rest on the credibility of your CV. Everyone must be aware that Indian scenario of internship often depends on contacts but it is not that it can’t be done without contacts.

    I have believed in a simple model such that the networking you do in your first internship should open the gateway to your second and subsequently it will go on. Networking is an art, an art of dealing and mixing with people so it is essentially your work that ends up bearing results.

     

    Was your typical workday during your internships in India any different from your workday abroad?

    My normal work day in London would start with a fifteen minute walk by Chancery Lane to 64, Fleet Street (heard of legal London). At Freshfields, all the interns were supposed to meet for coffee at 9 AM the office café (Café 65) discussing our practice as we belonged to separate teams (some in arbitration, some in anti-trust etc.) . Our mentors came and picked us up and we were briefed about that days routine on our way from Café 65 to Whitefriars, the day would consist of general research work, briefing our mentor and other such activities like attending social drinks, team lunches/dinners, mentor lunches etc. The best part about interns and employees there is if your work gets over at 4 pm, you leave at 4 pm you don’t have to stay back to impress anyone for that doesn’t impress anyone. In India, though I have thoroughly enjoying working here an intern is bound to certain restrictions, an intern naturally can’t work into the office of a partner. I have noticed abroad there is no such guideline; anyone can walk in anywhere with a valid query or even for a casual chat if the person is free. There are some ideological differences but I think that doesn’t hamper the quality of work here.

     

    What were the prime difficulties you encountered interning abroad?

    To be frank there weren’t any difficulties as such (England being a common law country, there is lot of similarity with our system), in the beginning you were often unaware the standard of work/research you were expected to deliver, but my colleagues were more than welcoming and helpful. Though there were certain things which I wouldn’t call ‘difficulties’, for example my English colleagues over lunch would often humorously discuss various English Judges (like we would do, for example regarding Justice Singhvi’s Section 377 judgement) and deep threaded ‘English political occurrences’ which is not general knowledge to an Indian. I essentially had to keep track of legal developments in England and such other happenings as this a part of work environment ethos but there is no such significant ‘difficulty’.

     

    How are law firms abroad different from the ones at home?

    As I mentioned before, there is a lot more liberty for the interns in a law firm abroad. I think this is because of their intensive application procedure the holistic quality of the interns is above average, hence the exposure and responsibility given to interns is way more than that is given in Indian law firms. There is no hierarchical treatment there, you’re considered to be ‘worth it’ of you are working there. The level of responsibility is very satiating.

     

    How has your experience been working closely with such a legal luminary like Prof. Martin Hunter?

    It was living a dream to be working with a person like him. Who other than being a legal great is also a great human being. His approach to mentoring is not the traditional way, it was more like a mid way between practical and theoretical approach, it would make you think on different perspectives. One would realize along with law you learned a lot more, you learned about life. It was indeed an enriching experience, something I will remember all my life.

     

    anubhab-sarkar3Lastly, what are your plans for the future?

    I plan to do my LL.M. from Stanford University as it has been a dream; the professors and the course structures are unbelievable. The course on legal philosophy can be taken with the International Arbitration module, I have been working steady towards it hoping it will realize. I won’t be shocked if I squeeze in a couple of years of work post my graduation in order to neutralize some of the fees towards my LLM, in case of unavailability of additional funding.

    Internships are very important, it gives you a practical aspect of what you want to do in the future. Choose your internships very carefully it helps a great deal in analyzing your future chart. I have been very selective about my internships, of course this approach doesn’t often help because the place you want to work in might not have a vacancy, for such reasons it is mandatory to have a strong sense of determination. Even if you come 50% closer to your dreams, trust me it is a good run.

    Never be afraid dreaming, dreams shape us. Be optimistic, there is no replacement for hard work but that doesn’t mean you don’t have your share of fun. Don’t be a part of the rat race; keep an eye on the rat race from far away. You will get to know what you ‘don’t’ need to do. Moreover, always remember it is the noblest profession that you are in, as the greatness of a man depends on the number of people you serve, not the number of people who serve you (Something which I had picked up during my brilliant twelve years at St. Xavier’s Collegiate School). Lastly keep close to your friends; they are one of your greatest supports, I am glad to have a fantastic set of friends who I have grown up with in school. They help you channel yourself for the best!

  • Faisal Sherwani, Senior Associate, Parekh & Co., on breaking the NLU myth, studying in the US, and his work experience

    Faisal Sherwani, Senior Associate, Parekh & Co., on breaking the NLU myth, studying in the US, and his work experience

    Faisal Sherwani graduated from the Faculty of Law, Aligarh Muslim University, in 2009. Thereafter he received the prestigious Thomas Buergenthal scholarship and completed his LL.M. from George Washington University Law School, USA. Since then, he has served as Counsel in the chambers of Mr. Rakesh Dwivedi, Senior Advocate. He is currently working as a Senior Associate at Parekh & Co.

    In this interview we speak to him about:

    • Graduating from a non-NLU
    • Studying in America
    • His experience at Parekh & Co.

     

    What motivated you to pursue law?

    Part of my early schooling was in Blackburn, England, where my father worked as a doctor. Thereafter, my family moved back to my hometown in Aligarh and I completed my schooling there. After my basic schooling, I developed an instant fascination  for Political Thought, History, and Economics. I was drawn towards writings which advocated freedom of speech, religion, thought and life of the individual. Before I knew it, I was drawn towards law. Though not my immediate family, but a large part of my extended family was in the legal profession. Many of such family members mentored me into going to law school and taking up law as a career.

     

    Tell us something about your life at Aligarh Muslim University.

    I have fond memories of my university. It was an extremely lively place to study law in and it helped me and grow up into a young man. I remember it to be one of the most multicultural and diverse places. We had students from troubled parts of the country as well as those who were from abroad. Such students, often did not necessarily agree with your point of view, your beliefs or the policies of our Governments. It is here that I became an ardent advocate of freedom of speech and of the individual (this often landed me up in trouble with more popular and conventional groups). Probably the best thing that I learnt there apart from law, is that even as friends, we can disagree. During my time as a law student at AMU, I interned at the National Minorities Commission, at Fox Mandal & Little, Advocates & Solicitors, and at the Chambers of Mr. Rakesh Dwivedi, Senior Advocate.

     

    Would studying in a National Law University have helped you in any way?

    Not at all. In fact, if asked, I would do it all over again. My strongest inclination was always to practice law and the Faculty of Law, at Aligarh, provided the perfect platform. We had the opportunity of meeting judges from the Allahabad and Lucknow Benches of the High Court, law officers serving in the Government and young aspirants of the Judicial Services. The University, gave me an opportunity of addressing and speaking to large groups of students (who I remember would give you a hard time, for reasons of divergent views, different ideals or just out of plain boredom) this removed any stage fright which I might have ever had. I also participated in various moot court competitions and would often meet students from the National Law Schools at such events. They were bright and often better organised than us, but that apart I realised we were all the same lot of law students.

     

    What was your motivation behind doing an LL.M.?

    In the final years of my studies at the Faculty of Law at Aligarh, I realised that I was not done with my academic pursuits. By this time, I had developed an interest in foreign legal systems and a taste for Property and Corporate Law. I had the opportunity of meeting the Dean and Associate Dean from the George Washington University Law School, Washington DC, who were travelling to India at the time. I invited them to visit the Faculty of Law at Aligarh. They instantly showed an interest in me. I had applied to several other foreign Universities by this time but then, I applied to GWU too. I remember receiving an acceptance letter from my Dean with a personal note, which I cherish to this day and before I knew it, I was packing my bags for Washington, D.C.

     

    How should one go about choosing a university for their masters?

    I had applied to various other law schools throughout the USA and UK. The idea really should be to ask yourself what you want to study rather than pick a college which has a great name for itself, but does not necessarily match your requirements in terms of modules you would like to study or credits you would want to earn from them. It is common knowledge that some law schools are just better for some specific subjects while that might not be the case for subjects that one might want to concentrate on.

     

    faisal-sherwani1Tell us about your experience in George Washington University.

    The experience at GWU was a once in a lifetime kind. The faculty was warm and just as interested in the diverse experiences of its foreign LL.M students as we were in what the law school and its faculty had to offer. The best thing about studying at GWU is the fact that it sits in the Nation’s Capital and all important Government establishments are just around the bend. One can attend hearings at the Federal Circuit and speak to Ambassadors from different countries, lawyers and important functionaries who visited the law school for talks with the students. The faculty was great at what it did, courses were taught by professors who were noted academicians in their field, one by a sitting judge and another by the former Register of copyrights for the United States.

    I lived just ten minutes walking off-campus at Massachusetts Avenue in a rented apartment. It provided for a healthy walk every morning, walking past the White House, IMF Building and World Bank.

     

    Anything memorable that is stuck in your mind?

    The most memorable moment has to be a few days before I was scheduled to leave DC and be back in India. I got a call from my Dean asking me jokingly, “When would you get the hell out of his country and go do some good in the courts in India?” I then met him, shook hands and promised to stay in touch. It was an emotional moment.

     

    How was the academic schedule?

    It was a rigorous course schedule and I remember we were required to complete 28 credits in order to graduate. Course sessions were interactive, loaded with food for thought and always challenging. Though there was a lot of course work, organisation and belief in yourself ensures that one sails through.

     

    What did you study?

    As stated earlier, by the time I had decided to go abroad for further studies, I had developed an interest in Property Law and Corporations. Though I had studied a lot of the conventional property law back home in India, including the statutory and codified aspects of the same, I wanted to study Intellectual Property. This interest had been garnered by earlier internships where I had had the opportunity to work on such subjects. I also studied Corporations and Legislation, which amounted to extra credits for me. Apart from these courses, which I officially studied, I would often attend course sessions such as Government Contracts, International Business Law etc.

     

    How’s the Indian fraternity over there?

    My batch of LL.M students had quite a few Indians. They are the same old lively lot, we celebrated festivals like Diwali together and talked about the affairs back in the home country.

     

     

    Are there any scholarships available specifically for Indian Students?

    I had applied for and was awarded the Thomas Buergenthal Scholarship. This covered my tuition fees. There are various scholarships available for foreign LL.M aspirants at the law school, though not specifically for Indian students.

     

    What would be your advice to law students who plan to go for higher studies?

    Pin point your interests and ask yourself why you want to study a particular specialisation and then go about short listing your desired Law School.

     

    How do you expect this experience to influence your career?

    I have always believed that any experience is better than none. GWU was a rich experience and the interactive sessions which I was exposed to there have helped me till date to better analyse, understand and help real life clients which I entertain today as a lawyer.

     

    faisal-sherwani2 What does a regular workday at Parekh & Co. entail?

    Parekh & Co. has been the perfect platform to practice hardcore law. We handle complex and high stake litigation for major business houses, consortia and even for Government Institutions. I had been working in the Supreme Court for about couple of years and I would often meet the Partners at the firm in Court. They have been generous enough to make a place for me here. A normal day starts with a drive to the Bengali Market Office, which is just ten minutes from the Supreme Court. We have a 9:30 AM meeting in order to ensure who is handling what and who is going to attend early morning court hearings. This is rather essential, I believe, as a litigation office can often prove to be a frantic place, with court room items swiftly passing by and often boards collapsing. Thereafter, depending upon schedules, I usually find myself entertaining clients during the early part of the afternoon. The late evenings are reserved for conferences with Senior Advocates and briefings for matters scheduled for the coming morning.

     

    Do you accept interns at Parekh & Co?

    We most certainly do accept interns. It wouldn’t be the same without them! I am sure I speak for all the Associates at Parekh & Co. that working with interns is the most refreshing part of a hectic day and it takes us back to our early days. All applications can be sent to parekhco@parekhco.com. We are interested in interns who have an urge for learning and who can bring their own experiences to the firm.

     

    Based on your interaction with the law students, what do you think they should do in order to excel in their internships?

    The greatest favour that a young law student can do for oneself is to have an urge to learn from the experiences of others who are on the job. One should always feel free to ask questions. We appreciate it when interns concentrate their thoughts and take the initiative. After all, that is how we all started.

     

    What would be your parting message for our readers?

    Believe in yourself and your capabilities. Work hard and everything else will follow.

  • Shreyas Tirunagari, Legal Consultant, Sriram Associates, on interning at the United Nations, being a judicial clerk, and plans for the future

    Shreyas Tirunagari, Legal Consultant, Sriram Associates, on interning at the United Nations, being a judicial clerk, and plans for the future

    Shreyas Tirunagari is a graduate from NUJS, batch of 2011. During his undergraduate years, he interned with the United NAtions, Since then, he has worked under Ministry of Finance, Government of India, as Associate and later as Consultant. He was also a judicial clerk to Justice Dipak Mishra, Supreme Court of India. Following his stint at the Supreme Court, he joined the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) on the Black Money Report commissioned by the Ministry of Finance in 2011.
    He is currently Legal Consultant at Sriram Associates, where he provides legal advice on various sectors including infrastructure, finance, real-estate and energy.

    In this interview we speak to him about:

    • His time at NUJS
    • Being a judicial clerk, the process of application and the responsibilities it entails
    • Plans for the future

     

    Why did you decide to study law?

    I did not really decide to study law as a career choice. Barring a few options such as Liberal Arts, in the Indian educational set-up students are required to make a choice of professional career at a rather young age. Most colleges are professionally exclusionary and do not permit students to transit from engineering to life sciences and then to law. Well, that being said, I was inclined to understand what bound a society together and so, law was a natural choice. As for how it came to be NUJS, it was a choice of city – Calcutta being steeped in history, culture and as a symbol of liberal development was quite an attraction. If you ask me about it now, I’d say I was mistaken – attending NUJS can and should be a compelling choice. It is a top-3 law school, it has a culture that embodies innovation and enterprise, and it provides a great platform from which to build a career.

     

    shreyas-t3Tell us about life in NUJS.

    One’s time in college is perhaps the most receptive phase of life—after early childhood—to the process of habit-formation in the human life. As such, the habits I formed at NUJS continue to occupy a sweet spot in my everyday life. For one, the library was the only room with an air-conditioning facility and it became habitual to spend time reading there. Since then, reading has become a habit and I continue to devote some time to reading despite moving across very different environments.

    That apart, NUJS has a very collegiate atmosphere that provides many opportunities to explore avenues within and outside of the law. During my time, I was also fortunate to have a very inspiring set of faculty members who drove students to understand, introspect and challenge the norm.

    Recently, we had a batch Reunion in Delhi where I caught up with some old friends and it led me to reflect on one critical aspect of the growth process–diversity. We had a very diverse student body with students from Punjab, Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Shillong, Gujarat, Bihar, M.P. – pretty much all states were covered as were all income, social and cultural classes. This diversity set up a great recipe for embracing new cultures, taking up new initiatives and learning a lot in the process.

    Moreover, Calcutta is a city soaked in culture and arts. There are film festivals, book festivals, football games, quaint neighborhoods, some amazing culinary options and a relatively safe and indigenous nightlife. In comparison with the other NLUs, I feel that NUJS is a first among equals in the ‘uniqueness’ of the experience.

     

    Which one has been your most memorable internship?

    My most memorable internship was at a United Nations Agency, the World Intellectual Property Organization in New York during the summer before final year. I interned alongside 350 other people from over 50 different countries. In a nutshell, that is why it ranks as the best internship I’ve done during college.
    The wide variety of perspectives that were available provided an opportunity to learn from different cultures and critically evaluate the role of one nation vis-à-vis 192 others. Moreover, this was in the summer of 2010 – at a time when the Football World Cup was in full swing. For the first time, I had witnessed the enormity of a platform that was divisive and unifying while being friendly ! Watching a Nigerian Finance Minister and a Belgian Trade Representative let their hair down at the Vienna Cafe, the UN Lounge where all games were being screened, was a sight to behold, indeed!

    Beyond the global dimension to this internship, working at the UN was quite professionally challenging. I was assigned the task of covering ongoing negotiations and meetings at different segments of the UN ecosystem – in the morning I would be at the ECOSOC only to be told to rush to the Sixth Committee meeting by the afternoon, following which I would prepare reports, participate in meetings and draft memos to be sent to other UN offices. The nuances of diplomacy are deeply entrenched in cultural, social and professional engagements. As such, observing and participating in diplomatic interactions on the plank of intellectual property led me to see the ‘bigger’ picture within which economics works alongside politics which works alongside law which works alongside business and so on.

    Before this internship, I had worked in the securities division of Crawford Bayley, the office of Senior Counsel P.P. Rao, and the legal department of TCS. All of them were strictly legal internships that focused on handling legal transactions – both, corporate and litigation, and so in comparison, this was a truly unique experience. So while I cannot say that this was the best internship, it was the most interesting.

     

    How do internships help in the evolution of a legal profession?

    As I mentioned right above, internships are great avenues to evaluate what you read in the classroom in the real world. For example, most of the assigned case-readings for class are primarily Supreme Court judgments. And for a diligent student, it is likely that they will have a reasonable grasp over the case-law of the subject. However, if one were to go practice in the lower courts, it is more often than not other aspects of the law such as legislative instruments and local regulations that will assist one’s arguments. Internships help in understanding how theory fits into the dynamics of the world. It is also an eye-opener.

    To analogize in cricketing terms, internships are T20s – fun, short and exciting. Your career is the Test Match – strategically engaging, long and detailed.

     

    You were engaged as a judicial clerk in Supreme Court after your graduation. Why did you make this choice?

    Firstly, it is the Supreme Court of India and a place that, especially in these politically and economically volatile times, wields enormous influence in shaping the direction of the country. Even now, the Supreme Court’s recent judgments on 2G, Subrato Roy, the Novartis case and Section 377 have led the charge on financial propriety, global intellectual property and the individual-societal conflict of identity.

    In my fourth year of law school, I undertook a policy research project on the pharmaceutical industry, and found that the idea of government policy and processes fascinated me. The fact that millions of people can be impacted by a change in the script of one or two documents is something I that I found incredible. One government order here, one new court decision there, and all of a sudden interest rates are changing, investments are soaring/crashing, crores of rupees are released in pension schemes.

    The Supreme Court is one of those places that makes decisions on subjects that affect us daily in our lives – it’s like one of the control rooms in a big ship, and so when I got a chance to be in that room, I just did.
    Moreover, let’s not forget that as law students, most of our readings and studying had to do with Supreme Court judgments – it was but a natural progression to understand the judicial process and explore career options thereafter.

     

    Is it difficult to get a judicial clerkship with a Supreme Court judge?

    The difficulty of a clerkship I think is two-fold; the first rung of screening is perhaps a preliminary screening for eligibility. Most of the judicial clerks are selected from a handful of law schools such as the NLUs and a couple of others such as ILS and Symbiosis with the rest of the law schools out of the running. This makes the process numerically difficult. If one were to attend a lower-ranked state school, it is probably harder to get a clerkship. That being said, the NLU graduates compete internally with the graduates of similar schools for the clerkship positions. This makes up the second rung of competition.

    Within the application process, the first stage is to send in a completed application form along with a CV. After the court receives all applications, the Court conducts a preliminary screening. Following this process, the Court invites applicants for an interview conducted by a panel of three Supreme Court judges. A few weeks after the interview, the Court makes decisions and informs applicants.

    While I can’t definitively point out what contributed to my selection, I can only presume it is a combination of one’s academic performance, work experience, as well as the interview. At the time that we interviewed for the clerkship, a few of my classmates with higher grades didn’t make the cut while some with lower grades than me were selected. I think the Court seeks out candidates who they can find a workable fit with – it is very important that the clerk understand the Judge’s methods of working and adapt quickly to fill that role.

     

    What kind of tasks were you given as a judicial clerk?

    My day-to-day duties would be flexible depending on the cases, the work for that day, conferences/seminars etc.

    There are of course, some tasks that almost all judicial clerks will do, and one of them is handling SLPs.
    The way Special Leave Petitions work is that the Supreme Court allows SLPs to be introduced on Mondays and Fridays, and invariably 30-40 such petitions always show up in every Judge’s office. As a clerk, you’re required to review these briefs, and prepare short summaries of facts, arguments and point of issue.

    This is a cyclical process – the Friday filings come into office by Tuesday, and the Monday filings come in by Thursday. That gives you two to three days to go through each set, and this cycle is essentially the first pillar of work schedule for most law clerks.

    In addition to SLP briefings, there are cases that are being argued at the court and when they move into stages of final arguments, there is a heavy focus on case-briefing, research and preparation for that case. This is the second pillar of work.

    Another pointer here is that unlike a law firm/lawyer who is free to hire many juniors, a judge is assisted primarily by his law clerks. And judges usually hire just two clerks. This limitation creates a situation where the clerks have to be flexible in their duties, and the workload keeps fluctuating depending on how many cases are being argued in court. Just as lawyers prepare briefs for filing in Court, judges must prepare judgments and pronounce them. This brings us to the third significant task and perhaps the most exciting one–helping the Judges in researching, editing and drafting judgments. In my case, I did get a chance to work on one constitutional case, and to me, that’s the holy grail – to be a part of cases that will later go into law textbooks.

     

    How do you think the experience of being a clerk is now helping your career?

    As I mentioned earlier, the Supreme Court more often than not adjudicates issues that have national significance. Given the nature of the work at the Court, a clerkship is one of the pathways to exploring the depth of an idea, broadening one’s perspective and learning to see ‘the bigger picture’. Other than that, let us remind ourselves that the Judges of the Supreme Court possess a staggering intellectual and strategic strength that is built over years of adjudicating complex issues. I believe in the idea that the people are shaped and influenced to some degree by their surroundings–in this regard, a clerkship is an amazing surrounding to be influenced and shaped by.

    Anyone with these goals in mind should pursue a clerkship. This is not to say that a clerkship is useful only for an open-ended exploratory mind; even a fixed and defined career path can benefit immensely from the process of understanding judicial process, understanding a broader context and building an essential skill set. Specifically, as a judicial clerk, you end up constantly reading briefs and so, finding the main point and evaluating it’s strength slowly becomes habitual. And that, I believe is a skill that can be useful both within and outside the courtroom.

     

    You also worked with the Government on financial policy and black money. What was the nature of your work and what is a day’s work like?

    It was a unique experience and one that I cherish. For most lawyers, including me, working in a corporate or litigation practice means that the work is focused, defined and there are clear pathways to get to solutions. This project was the exact opposite.

    Understanding illicit finance and the black money market means that you have to navigate a lot of uncertainty and dense materials. Let me give you an example – we all know that there’s a lot of corruption, that money gets distributed during elections, that money laundering happens, and so on. Now how do you find out how much money travels to the wrong pockets, and how does it get there? That was my job and my favorite part of my work there was in digging things out from layers and layers of dust.

    My team also made my work memorable because it was very flavorful – senior bureaucrats, policymakers, economists, lawyers and statisticians. I had never worked with such a diverse and multidisciplinary team before! All in all, that sort of work led to developing new skill sets, understanding and integrating multiple perspectives. In a nutshell, a day’s work involved lots of researching policies and briefs, discussions, meetings, and a lot of ‘figuring things out’.

     

    Do they take interns? How can one apply?

    Yes, they do take interns but a lot of it depends on the requirements of the current projects. If I had to guess, it would be that interns with backgrounds in economics, law and politics are preferred. When they are on the lookout for lawyers though, I am sure the national law schools are on their radar.

     

    What career goals have you set for yourself?

    I plan to work on developing an entity that integrates business with policy and thus, participate in the rapid global changes that are taking place. For now, that’s the most I have; as for the achievement bit, I believe in keeping my eyes and ears open, work hard and build opportunity where it arises. I picked up the habit after reading this book. Who moved my cheese? It’s a compact book with lots of wisdom.

    Sniff and scurry all the time, and things will figure out a way of falling into place! It is a formula that has worked in the past for me, and I am confident it will work in the future.

     

    What would be your parting message to our readers?

    The world is changing and the future will bring exciting developments at a pace and in ways that were previously unimaginable. For example, we have recently developed the ability to understand, modify and change genetic structures. Such developments will fundamentally alter our world. Let’s be a part of the story.

  • Om Agarwal, Founder, EazyCoach, on being an entrepreneur, the startup climate in India, and juggling law with business

    Om Agarwal, Founder, EazyCoach, on being an entrepreneur, the startup climate in India, and juggling law with business

    Om Agarwal is a student of WBNUJS, Kolkata, batch of 2016. He embarked upon his entrepreneurial venture, AimCLAT along with a few of his batchmates in the beginning of law school. He later developed EazyCoach, an online mentorship portal that helps students discover colleges globally, get admission help from college seniors and alumni, enabling them to pursue their dream. They are a portfolio company of NASSCOM and have been sponsored by tech heavyweights like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and IBM. He is currently travelling to the US on an all expenses paid trip.

    In this interview we speak to him about:

    • Taking the entrepreneurial plunge
    • Managing law with business
    • Travelling to the US on an all expenses paid trip

    How will you introduce yourself to them?

    Crudely stated, I am an entrepreneur studying law. I love to discuss and experiment with new ideas, no matter how crazy it seems.

     

    Given your love for tech startups, why law? Why not engineering?

    From Google to Facebook to Snapchat, our lives have been deeply influenced by tech startups. I love using them and am working on creating new ones.  However, you do not have to write lines and lines of code to pursue your love for them. All you need is a great team, determined to work towards a problem worth solving. I love interacting with people and prefer to spend my time knowing what excites them. I know how to build a great team and keep them motivated.

    Law, centered around people and research skills, has helped me with all aspects of my startups: searching for a co-founder, doing market research for my idea, attracting good talent and preparing business plans, which make sense.

     

    You have been a part of many initiatives. Would you please give us some insight on them?

    Right from AimCLAT, an online portal for law aspirants, to DesignTurks, an organization helping college students create their own digital impression, I have always wanted to solve the problems, faced by students like myself. Aspiring to take this to the next level, I am working round-the-clock on my upcoming startup, EazyCoach.

     

    So, what is Eazy Coach?

    Simply put, Eazy Coach is a P2P guidance platform for college entrances. It would help students aspiring to get into the top colleges in the world, by getting them personally coached from students already studying the same.

     

    And what has been the progress till date?

    We have been included in the Microsoft BizSpark programme, entitling us to receive lots of free perks. We even went up to the finals of the business plan competition of IIM Ahmedabad. Right now, a prospective investor of Eazy Coach has sponsored my way to USA to learn the startup ecosystem and network with like-minded entrepreneurs in the West.

     

    Getting an all expenses paid trip to USA is just awesome! How do you feel about it?

    Well. I am presently in the States and I am loving it. Interacting with people much better than you, is a great experience in itself. Plus, the trips to places like Niagara Falls and Times Square provides the ‘fun’ element. Today (18/05/14), I am going on a weeklong trip to Wharton, Harvard and MIT. Thrilled, is the word.

     

    So what do you expect to learn from this trip? How would it be beneficial for the EazyCoach project?

    I am taking numerous courses on growth hacking, hiring talent, building revenue models, raising funds, etc. These would definitely help me towards my current and future startups. Apart from this, I am trying to attend as many networking events as possible. New York is turning into one of the most startup friendly state in the world and entrepreneurs are swarming in from all around the world to showcase their awesomeness. It is great to network with such people.

     

    When are you expecting it to launch?

    Right now, we are on our way to complete the web version of the platform and are busy fixing bugs. We are expecting it to be online in a few weeks. However, you can sign up to get early access by logging on to Eazy Coach.

     

    How did you find the time to do so many things? What motivates you to keep going?

    Law school is hectic, but we always find time for the things we love. Building a product from scratch, getting it to the market and improvising it every now and then, is an amazing experience. Customer appreciation provides those added cookies.

     

    How has your entrepreneurial experiences changed your life? Are there any anecdotes on this?

    The one major thing I learnt was to never take yourself lightly. I always felt that being a student, I am somehow at a lower position compared to those people, with years of experience. One thing I learned from Eazy Coach is that age and past experiences do not matter in the startup world. All that matters is your passion and your hard work.

    After a business plan competition last year, I got the first investment offer for Eazy Coach. However, the investor primarily seemed to discount my startup’s valuation due to the fact that I was a student. One side of me wanted the money (which student doesn’t). However, I decided to go with my guts and I rejected the offer. It paid off well and Eazy Coach is currently valued double the offer, even before launch!

     

    Does law school in any way facilitate or impede your ventures?

    A law school, with its tight deadlines isn’t very supportive of start-ups. There were times, when project submissions were a day away, and I had to complete my pitch deck for a competition. However, it is the love and passion for startups which has kept me afloat till now (and I hope it does for the next two years).

     

    Will you ever do an MBA?

    Yes. I surely plan to pursue an MBA after law school, provided I can sponsor the same with own initiatives. The entrepreneurship environment of B-Schools interest me more than the classroom teaching. The thought of studying at a place where people are as motivated to bring about a change, as you are, gets me excited. Wish me luck for that.

     

    What would be your message for wannabe entrepreneurs and law students?

    I can just say one thing from experience. Start-ups always have a J-curve. It is easy to get discouraged if one does not get a viral opening like Facebook; and couple it with the demanding law school life, we decide to quit. But only if we stick through the initial slump of the “J”, can we be eligible for the sharp growth coming our way.

     

  • Sandipan De, NALSAR, on commercial law, his diverse internship experience, and bagging a Training Contract with Allen & Overy

    Sandipan De, NALSAR, on commercial law, his diverse internship experience, and bagging a Training Contract with Allen & Overy

    Sandipan De is a student of NALSAR, Hyderabad, batch of 2015.  He has earned three gold medals through his years of B.A. LL.B. He has secured internships with the likes of PwC, Khaitan & Co., CNBC TV 18, Argus Partners (formerly Udwadia Udeshi & Argus Partners), Talwar Thakore & Associates (Indian 'best friend' firm of Linklaters LLP)Talwar Thakore & Associates, and AZB & Partners. He also received  the opportunity of signing a Training Contract with Allen & Overy, London. In this interview he talks about:

    • Taking up varied internships and developing specific interest
    • Securing a contract with Allen & Overy
    • A typical workday at a Magic Circle law firm

     

    Why did you decide to study Law? What inspired you to do so?

    I was interested in commerce and business from a very early age. I remember I used to read the Economist, BusinessWeek and preferred the Economic Times over a normal daily. I think that built up my interest in the commercial world. The choice was between doing something finance related or commercial law. I had a flair for the language and logical reasoning. I thought law would best marry both my interests. Thus, law school happened.

     

    What do you have to say about mooting at law school and legal writing for journals?

    I have done only one moot- Vis. I think I might not be best suited to air my views about mooting but I genuinely feel that mooting as an activity is over hyped in Indian law schools. During my exchange semester at Santa Clara I figured that Indian law schools seem to privilege mooting over other activities but the sort of help, coaching and resources in foreign law schools is unmatched here in India. You should definitely try your hand at mooting but it isn’t the be all and end all of law school. The experience and learning is great but it isn’t something you can’t do without. I think legal writing and editorial positions are possibly very important. The sort of skills you develop there are extremely relevant and the reason why I tried my hand more at legal writing was because it let me delve into any area I wanted- topics that interest me as opposed to the confines of a set problem.

     

    Tell us about your internship in the chamber of Senior Advocate, Saha & Ray Associates & IMS Learning Resources.

    Well a bit of both to be honest. I wanted to try out the experience of litigation and see how a small law firm worked. I liked the experience and helped me decide that I did not see myself in litigation. Transactional practice was what I wanted. I have been teaching at IMS since my second year of law school. I really like this, as it keeps me in touch with the law aspirants and I enjoy teaching really bright students and try to advise them in making informed decisions.

     

    Coal India Limited & CNBC TV 18 are unconventional internship choices. What went behind making those decisions?

    I have to admit that by this time I was sure that I wanted to be in commercial law and had a sort of idea of what I wanted to do. I planned to see commercial law in action from every different facet possible. Commercial litigation, a behemoth PSU, etc. I interned with the only show that dealt with corporate law in India, while at CNBC, and that possibly was one of the best experiences during internships because of its unconventional nature.

     

    What kind of exposure did you gain with PwC?

    I worked with the in-house counsel’s team which was in the risk management vertical. Working with a Big Four was a different cultural experience and the risk management team was a whole new experience- it was about one client and trying to ensure best practices and the best risk management policies. I am not at liberty to divulge the sort of work I did but it was really interesting, tested your mettle and understanding of the business and involved coming up with best practice policies to guard against present and future liabilities.

     

    What is a typical day like working at law firms?

    AZB is still freshly etched in my memory. It was brilliant work. The work hours were exceptionally long but I enjoyed the thrill of working on India’s biggest transactions. It involved everything from simple research work to even trying your hand at drafting documents. I have to accept that the work I got from seniors was top-notch, they relied on you, gave you responsibility, expected you to put in the long hours but appreciated you for it. UU Argus was a relatively smaller environment and I really enjoyed the personal touch and the individual attention I got. Possibly, this is where I had completely made up my mind on transactional practice.

     

    You were selected in the Winter Vacation Scheme of Allen & Overy. Our readers are very keen to know how the entire application process works and what they look for in a student when making selections?

    After you get selected for the vacation scheme A&O is the only firm which gives Indian students the option of going for a winter scheme as opposed to the conventional summer scheme. The Magic Circle and Silver Circle firms come down to a select few law schools in India and interview the candidates for their vacation schemes (which are akin to an internship) after having shortlisted students on the basis of the application form which is released in July of fourth year through the RCC.  Some law firms have more rounds after the application form including but not limited to critical reasoning and verbal reasoning tests. The interviews are usually sometime in September.

     

    How was your experience in the UK working at Allen & Overy? How did you manage the finances and accommodation?

    Finances and accommodation including travel are paid for by the firm. On top of that the firm pays you a weekly stipend. London is not just a great city but a financial, cultural and political capital. It is a thrilling experience to be working in the City of London (which is the financial district) and enjoying the thriving cultural life that London offers which is truly unparalleled. You are working in the world’s greatest financial centre on the biggest and best of deals- transactions that are FT headlines. A&O is a great place- possibly the friendliest of the Magic Circle firms, offers great quality work, exposure and training. Possibly, that is true for all of the MC firms but what really sets A&O apart is that they treat you as an individual, really care about you as a person, your career, future and training and the work atmosphere is collegiate. I never felt like ‘just an intern’. It was the best experience I had had and I was sure that if I was offered the TC A&O and London is where I wanted to be.

     

    Tell us about your typical working day and the sort of work you were expected to do? How were your fellow co-interns?

    I am presuming that you are asking about the A&O work during the vacation scheme. A standard day involved a commute on the famous London tube to work and reach ingoffice by 8:30 a.m. Put in half an hour of personal work (glancing through the FT, reading up on the topic for the client pitch exercise, mailing a couple of people to benefit from their expertise on a particular area, etc.). I would then carry out the tasks delegated to me by my Trainer, possibly meet my fellow vac schemers for coffee at eleven on the rooftop restaurant which gives you possibly one of the best views of the City and catch up on where we are with our client pitch exercise. Go back to my desk and continue with my allocated tasks. Usually there would be a networking lunch with different people drawn from diverse practices of the firm to know more about the practice areas and the firm in general. We would typically have a couple of talks scheduled by the HR, Partners, etc. during the afternoon which we would need to attend. Following that there would be that surprise drinks counter at the inhouse bar called Lavanda where you would grab a couple of drinks with your fellow vac schemers and catch up on the latest, know more about each other’s work in different departments and then head off to your accommodation unless you had a dinner or social event to attend. The dinners are usually at top-end restaurants and the social event would be really exciting stuff like ice skating at the Tower of London where you would be accompanied by your Trainer buddy and other young trainees at the firm with whom you can informally interact and they would give you informal advice and buy you a couple of drinks after a hard days’ work. You then get back to your accommodation and prepare for your interview or research for your group exercises and then try to catch some sleep to prepare for another exciting day ahead.

     

    You are joining Allen & Overy after graduation. How did this work out? What would be your advice to those law students who want to secure such a contract?

    After the vacation scheme you fill up a form for the Training Contract application and appear for an interview with a Recruitment Partner on your last day. Once you get back to India the HR will let you know the outcome within a week’s time. Be yourself. There is no one sort of personality that they are looking for. Technical competence is a given. The HR can look through if you are feigning interest and thus I would suggest that you venture down this road if you are really interested in commercial law and you know that this is your calling. Try your hand at everything in law school but keep yourself focussed. Be commercially aware. Very very aware. Do you apps very well so that your real personality is communicated through it. At the interview stage do not try to be a person you are not. I remember that a few people mentioned two so-called ‘tests’ that you need to pass- one is the client test and the other is ‘can we work with you test’. The latter is self explanatory and the former essentially points to whether the firm can put you in front of a client and can you hold your own. The other difference I have to highlight is that the foreign firms value a more holistic approach rather than just technical knowledge. As I said, technical competence is a given, client context and permeating a legal solution through a commercially viable idea is what is expected.

     

    Any tips for an intern who wants to get noticed at work by dint of her performance?

    Again, be yourself. Don’t try to be someone you are not. Work hard and network with people. Talk to people. Never be afraid to walk through someone’s door and ask for work. The worst that can happen is that person telling you that there is no work at present to delegate and you should ask someone else. Lawyers are a very intelligent crowd. Be a person whom people can work with. I would say know your politics, current affairs, music, etc. At the end of the day you need to be a person with whom everyone enjoys working with. You can spew all the jargon you want but hitting up a conversation with a person on a topic he is keenly interested in would cast a far deeper impression than knowing a particular SEBI regulation. Of course that too is important. (Remember the ‘can we work with you test’)

     

    How well do you think your education at law school prepared you for real world practice? What do you feel about 5th year in the B.A. LL.B course at NLUs? Is it sufficiently utilized or needs a huge revamp?

    I think the new academic model at NALSAR and the practical and industry oriented courses have really gone a long way in helping us prepare for the real world of practice. I have to thank the seniors and the informal mechanisms at NALSAR which are a sine qua non. I think all that forms a part of the legal education package. I like the idea of fifth year. Lot of partying to look forward to. I can’t speak for all NLU’s but the new model at NALSAR with single credit optionals on such varied subjects along with interesting opportunities like Teaching Assistantships are really exciting and I look forward to the last year of law school. I am TA-ing for Contracts and can’t wait to get back to college.

     

    You were part of the RCC at your college. What prompted you to volunteer for it?

    I am part of the RCC which is a peer-elected body as the placement process at NALSAR is completely student run. I wanted to run for the RCC because securing your job is important but if you can play a small part in facilitating your batchmates’ jobs- people whom you have literally lived with for the four years in law school- there is no satisfaction like that. The work involves negotiations with organisations, facilitating on-campus interviews, working in a team and trying to secure jobs for all. Involves drafting documents, making pitches, interacting with industry honchos, strategising and not so glorious tasks like running around getting tea, arranging desks and chairs, moving beds to arrange for interviews, etc. The experience is definitely worth it. I work with a great team of people in the RCC. I think the excellent Day Zero figures from NALSAR are a testament to that. I am proud to have a batch where everyone is behind the RCC and don’t just retire into their rooms and let the RCC do all the work. Plus, we have an extremely proactive and excellent administration who always have your back. My sincere hope is to see all my classmates placed as soon as possible.

     

    Does being from one of the top three NLUs really come with additional perks?

    Well, this might be controversial but I do believe that the top NLUs do have it better for their students. I think it is about getting an edge over others. However, it is not something that one can’t make up.

     

    How important are grades in securing a job?

    It is definitely important. It does get your foot in through the door but CGPA isn’t the only thing. At the end of the day once you are inside that interview room or in that internship it is your competence that matters and not just your gradesheet.

     

    Any advice you would like to give to law students aspiring for a job at top law firms?

    Go for it only if you really like commercial law. Try to understand the business and commercial angle to things. That makes it really interesting. Try to learn as much as you can. Contrary to the popular gyan on the topic no task is unimportant- even if you are doing a proofread you are getting the chance to see a document which you would have otherwise never seen. I would say put your mind to it try to understand the transaction, the clauses, ask questions. No one will mind if you are interested and ask questions about the work that they are doing. I think you should rather prepare from your first two years. Try to figure out early in the day where your interests lie. Whether it be commercial law, policy work, social justice or opening a restaurant- figure out early and work towards it from the beginning.

     

    Lastly, what would be your message to our readers?

    I had a great time at NALSAR over the past four years and made friends for a lifetime, had seniors that I would look up to forever, some of the greatest professors to whom I would be indebted to forever. Don’t lose yourself over CGPA and the proverbial ‘CV building’. Surely that is important but do enjoy law school. It is a unique experience. Very few careers in India offer you the sort of opportunities that law school does. Pay homage to the Old Monk, be intensely loyal to your university, make great friends, and have the time of your life.

  • Nimisha Mund, GNLU, on securing a PPO, her diverse internship experience, and the importance of extracurricular engagements

    Nimisha Mund, GNLU, on securing a PPO, her diverse internship experience, and the importance of extracurricular engagements

    Nimisha Mund is a student of GNLU, batch of 2015.  She has interned with the likes of O.P. Khaitan & Co., Solicitors & Advocates, Phoenix Legal, and Trilegal. During her time as an undergraduate she has also participated in the Herbert Smith Freehills NUJS Moot Court Competition, 2013, 15th DM Harish International Moot Court Competition, 2014 (on Public International Law), has been a member of the Legislative Drafting Clinic for the “Trade Secret Bill” under the guidance of Ms. Kalpana Reddy, First Secretary for Intellectual Property, Embassy of the United States of America, India and Mr. Hitesh Barot, Senior Intellectual Property Counsel & Vice President, Technology Policy, GE India. Her other accomplishments include being Student Research Assistant in the Microsoft Research Chair, established in GNLU and being the Elected Female Representative of GNLU, batch 2010-15.

    Nimisha has secured a pre-placement offer from Trilegal an astounding one year and seven months prior to the completion of her degree.

    In this interview we speak to her about:

    • Importance of extra-curricular activities
    • Securing top-notch law firm internships
    • And working at a top law firm and getting a PPO

    Tell us a bit about your life before college; did you have lawyers in your family?

    Well, my pre-college life did not feature anyone from the legal fraternity in it. What it did feature, however were inspiring individuals who allowed me to imbibe the qualities, which, I’d like to believe make me a good lawyer. Pre-college life otherwise was fun, much more relaxed. I played a lot of sports, and read a lot through school but inherently was the same- I approached everything with the tenacity of a bloodhound!

    Why did you decide to study Law? What inspired you to do so?

    In the beginning it was quite by accident. I had intended on concentrating on preparation for other entrances and the course I took for a month offered an hour of law coaching for four Saturdays. Once I saw the extent of analysis involved in the legal education, I, frankly, was hooked. Thereafter I decided there was no other vocational calling for me. And then of course, there’s the brass tacks!

    How important is it to have publications to your name?

    The gold stars on the CV have been identified as such because of what they show about the lawyer and not the other way round. I believe there is no better way to exhibit your legal acumen and yes, to add to your CV. Though this I feel is contingent on your manner of writing. Its about taking a stance and not just assimilating and disseminating the jurisprudence on the topic.

    How was this novel experience of working with Ms. Kalpana Reddy?

    A very rewarding experience. Learning the nuances of drafting a legislation, choosing the best from foreign legislations, interviewing the stakeholders and learning how to plug loopholes in the law is something, the gains of which I shall carry throughout my life as a lawyer. And the best part is still to come…that is when you look at that piece of legislation once it gets passed and say, Hey! I helped draft that!

    How important are extracurricular engagements?

    Extremely important. And I cannot stress on this enough. It’s a run of the mill answer but that does not take away from the truth of it- that it gives you the skill of being a good team worker bracketed by the ability to hold your own as a leader. More specifically to sports, the way you learn to push your boundaries is amazing.

    Our readers would be quite curious to know how you went about securing your internships.

    Some were on merit, while some were not. I had my heart set on Trilegal –especially after a talk we had from a Partner at Trilegal in our college, and each internship was undertaken to enable myself to deliver well at Trilegal and secure a placement. I planned to do this in the fourth year, but when our college called for internships in the third year, I decided I was prepared. One other important thing I did was, that rather than get more ‘names’ on my CV, I interned at the same place again, because that allowed me to get better work, and learn a lot more, as then they trust your capabilities.

    Did you stagger your internships throughout law school as part of a deliberate plan or did it all just happen by chance?

    Very much deliberate. Some things in corporate law really impressed me. Taking the common example of securitization for instance—such ‘man-made processes’ (for want of a better word)—the fact that people thought of such efficient systems really intrigued me. I continued with corporate law in most internships and that held me in good stead.

    While there is nothing better than hands-on-experience, one shouldn’t undermine the education you get in a classroom. Citing a simple example, while you’re at your internship, its much easier to navigate your way through laws when you are given a proposition, if you’ve studied the law beforehand.

    What kind of work did you have to do during your internships?

    Well everyone gets menial work once in a while, I did too. Take everything positively. Getting a document to proofread is still an opportunity to dissect the agreement, find out what are the boiler-plate clauses (the must haves). Few are wise enough to avail of such opportunities.  Besides that I’ve been  lucky to be given some fantastic work as well. I’m a total sucker for an innovative argument, so any proposition that had me look totally out of the box, and I loved it.

    How must one go about organising their internships?

    Well, one must start out with a litigation internship in my opinion. If you intern at a firm in the early years, it won’t really be a mutually beneficial experience, that is to say that the firm might not really gain from your contribution, but it is indisputable that you will. It might even give you an edge over others. But keep in mind that there is a high attrition rate from firms so if one day you wish to leave that field and start litigation, you should have some experience to fall back upon.

    What do you think an intern should accomplish in the course of their internship to get a “callback”?

    Diligence as well as intelligence. Deliver work on time and once you’re done you should be able to go and brief the person who allocated the work to you in the best manner. Soft Skills are important. To perform better, I’d say there’s nothing like a good dose of curiosity! Don’t shy away from asking the lawyer the background that they want the research in, it’ll give you a deeper understanding of the way things work. A simple example being, that what you might have thought was a simple research point on contingent contracts might actually be to build an argument for option contracts and the lawyer was too busy to tell you that. So ask away.

     

    Did you have to undergo an interview before securing your PPO?

    Yes, I had an interview with barely an hour’s notice! Thankfully I was abreast with the latest developments in the corporate world. The most important factor is knowing all the work in your CV in and out. Not just that but all the latest developments and anything ancillary to that. Confidence in an interview is extremely important. My advice to all reading this is that there’s one thing you constantly need  to question- “why me”. Why should they pick you out of the hordes of applicants. Everybody can have an answer, it’s hardly the holy grail and it not only increases your confidence but will shine through to your interviewer. Yet more important is that you know your audience, gauge your interviewer’s style, you need to know when you have to have the tact to swallow back an acerbic retort, as it’ll be frowned upon and when it will be appreciated.

    How important are good grades in securing a job?

    I’d say its extremely important. I’m not a topper. But it’s not the end of the world if you don’t have a great CGPA. It’s just that you have to compensate by performing much, much better.

    What should one law student aspiring for a job at top law firms do?

    I know it’s a cliché but there is no substitute for hard work. Couple that with smart work, i.e. knowing the right websites to keep you updated etc. and I think everyone will have the right concoction.

    Lastly, what would be your message to our readers?

    I’d say that we’re lucky to be in a profession where our job need not be just a means to an end. We don’t have to be just chanting “TGIF” and plod doggedly through the week but actually enjoy our work, its dynamic and analytical nature. So keep that in mind, enjoy your work, be opinionated and on a more serious note, if you pick a niche area in your work, pick it wisely.

  • Roshni Manuel, Associate, Veritae Legal, on studying in Nottingham, maritime law, and plans for the future

    Roshni Manuel, Associate, Veritae Legal, on studying in Nottingham, maritime law, and plans for the future

    Roshni Manuel graduated in law from ILS Law College, Pune, in 2010. She then went on to pursue her Master’s degree from the University of Nottingham, specializing in Maritime Law. She is currently Retainer Associate-Corporate, at Veritae Legal, where her role and responsibilities include General Corporate Practice, Trademark Registrations, and Corporate Agreements.

    In this interview, we speak to her about:

    • Maritime Law as a career and its scope.
    • Life at ILS and University of Nottingham.
    • Important requirements for application to a university in UK.

     

    Given that most of our readers are law students and lawyers, how would you introduce yourself to them?

    I am only a beginner in this big arena with just a year’s experience. I am thankful to the whole team for choosing to take my interview. And I’d like to introduce myself as an aspirant of law.

     

    What motivated you to pursue law?

    I was always interested in the humanities and hence, law. Another explanation would be, I wanted to be on the other side of the crowd who knows exactly how policies in this country are drafted and what its legal implications are. I must say I have not reached that level of analysing law and policy but I do keep a track of it whenever I get time.

     

    roshni-manuelHow about your college life at ILS—do you miss it?

    Life at ILS, Pune was very colourful and competitive like any top 10 law schools. My college has got a very heritage look and it is a very peaceful place with acres of timbre and wild birds. So, whenever I think of my college all I think of is the peaceful Campus, my friends and dear professors and of course, the famous library. Something about grad school is you wont miss it until you pass out; it could be because at some point you may think five years is a little too much to tolerate;  I never thought I will miss it so much until I joined LL.M. at Notts.

     

    What kind of internships did you do while in law school that helped you in shaping your career choices later?

    In my case it was my first internship which helped me choose my stream of interest. It was in a Maritime Law Firm at my hometown. I have tried my hands in different areas of law but I find Maritime a very interesting and a suitable field for my caliber.
    I guess rather than going for the popular one or the one with better scope, one should always choose the field which matches their caliber and interest.

     

    What made you go for higher studies so early in your career?

    I planned for LL.M. when I was in 4th year law. I don’t have a specific explanation for taking it up early but at some point during ILS days i thought i should be more focused on my field of interest and that could be one reason for opting LL.M soon after graduation.

     

    How did you develop an interest in a field as niche as maritime law?

    I hail from a port city, Cochin, and my parents are also in the shipping industry but not lawyers. Them being in the same industry surely opened the gates but I think it was my first internship which planted the interest for the subject in me.

     

    Why University of Nottingham? What other universities did you apply to?

    As you know I was keen on Maritime law since my time as an undergraduate and hence applied only to universities which had maritime law as a specialized field. Other universities I applied to include University of Southampton, Swansea, and UCL. I chose Nottingham for its ranking and for the faculty, especially Prof. Bennett (Marine Insurance maestro).

     

    Would you tell our readers about the application procedure and other requirements?

    Firstly you should be sure about the subject to specialize; you must make your own list of universities and should never take advice from any education abroad consultancy in this matter. Every university has different criteria for selection. I have applied to only UK universities so the procedure below is just for UK

    1. IELTS score above 7
    2. Aggregate marks should be 60% or more
    3. 2 references
    4. Statement of Purpose

    Visa requirements keep changing so please check the UK consulate website for details.

     

    Tell us something about your LL.M. years.

    I would say LL.M. abroad widened my perspective. It is totally different when it comes to studies there. I found their method of teaching very interesting. It is basically seminars; the student is expected to prepare for every seminar and participate in the discussion. I was part of the LL.M society and Indian Society. I got the opportunity to organize events and interact with well established lawyers. Apart from the regular activities, if you are lucky, by using the university contacts you could snatch a summer internship in Europe as well.

     

    Currently, you are member of Maritime Law Association of India. Tell us something about your role over there.

    The partners of the firm United Maritime Law Chambers are part of the governing council. And me as their associate got the opportunity to interact with aspirants in maritime field, judges and International Lawyers. And I did get an opportunity to publish one of my articles.

     

    You work as an Associate with United Maritime Law Chambers. What kind of work are you involved in over there?

    I am entrusted with maritime case research, case follow-ups, drafting, contract review, marine insurance matters, etc. and occasional corporate work for shipping companies.

     

    How is Maritime law different from other areas of law?

    Maritime law includes norms of national law, referring to various branches (civil, administrative, criminal, etc.) and norms of international public and private law. Commercial maritime law which includes carriage contracts is basically law of contracts and the maritime aspect in it makes it different.

     

    What would be your advice to students interested in Maritime law?

    You should be studying subjects like Maritime law, Carriage of goods by sea, law of the sea, International sale of goods, Marine insurance and should have a very strong base in law of Contracts. It is a very interesting and popular field. The opportunities are many if you are really keen; like shipping companies, law firms, P & I clubs, etc.

     

    Last but not the least, your advice to future lawyers and current law students?

    Dream high and make as many contacts as you can. Make merry with your classmates as those connections will help you in future and would be something you can trust and rely on.

  • Divya Swamy on mooting, internship and Judicial Clerkship

    Divya Swamy on mooting, internship and Judicial Clerkship

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    Divya Swamy a student of 2014 batch of RMLNLU talks about mooting, internships and Judicial Clerkship. She elaborates on the details of doing a judicial clerkship and it’s importance for those who aspire to do an LL.M. from a foreign university.

    Key takeaways:

    • Mooting and its importance
    • Law firm internships
    • Judicial Clerkship

     

    Why did you decide to study Law? What inspired you to do so?

    Law is a field that ensures an over-all development of an individual. It makes us aware about our society so much more than any other field. As a student, just out of school, it seemed like the most rigorous form of personality building exercise to me, and this motivated me to study law.

     

    Which stream did you study at School? Was that beneficial in preparing for CLAT?

    I was a Commerce student at school. I wouldn’t say that it helped me much in preparing for CLAT but it left me with more options. In my opinion, the curriculum for CLAT is such that it requires only a couple of months of dedicated study in the right direction. There is no section in the CLAT paper that would make it more favorable for any stream. It tests only what ordinarily can be expected from any student who has passed Class 12.

     

    Do you have any lawyers in your family? Do you think having family members with a legal background help in this profession?

    No. I am a first-generation lawyer.

    Yes of course, having some guidance from the family always helps. In fact, it makes it easier to make decisions as regards internships, moots and even about the future after law school. Also, it is easier to break through. But, surviving in the legal industry is only subject to merit. There are innumerable examples of people who have excelled in the field without having any law-oriented family background. The beginning may be tough but what matters is how you use your 5 years in law school. I think that developing a skill set is the key to surviving in the fraternity.

     

    What are the extracurricular activities you took part at RML NLU?

    I participated in Moots and debates. Besides participating as a Debater, I was also actively involved in adjudicating Debates. I engaged in free-lance researching and also assisting a Professor in research in the last 2 years of law school.

     

    You have taken part in a lot of Moot Court Competitions in college, can you share a few mooting experiences?

    My favourite mooting experience has been at Surana & Surana Trial Advocacy because I will be practicing law soon and the exposure in this format of mooting is immense. The structure of the moot is different from other Moot Court Competitions and here, one is supposed to train witnesses, solve legal issues and conduct a proper trial. It fascinated me and gave me an experience as close to real Court as possible, in a simulated environment. It was because we enjoyed it so much that our team went on to win the tournament.

     

    Do you think mooting is beneficial for Law students or is it just to make your CV look fancy?

    I think that mooting adds more value than just decorating your CV. In fact that is the area where it least contributes. The exposure that one receives in a Moot is unparalleled. It is a learning experience in terms of helping you with developing research skills and speaking skills. It grooms one for the real competition. In fact personally I think that the subjects that I learnt while mooting, are the areas that I am most confident about and this is because you learn the law in the most practical way possible.

     

    What are the law firms and other places where you interned? Which internships will you consider to be right at the top and why?

    Well, since I am a first generation lawyer, I preferred to intern at the most varied places so as to choose my area of interest.  I interned at firms like Parekh & Co. in the corporate and litigation departments, with reputed Senior Advocates like Dr. M.N. Krishnamani and various other internships in the Supreme Court, Delhi and Calcutta High Courts and District Courts.

    The most noteworthy experiences have been while I interned with Mr. Subhiksh Vasudev, Advocate at the Delhi High Court since I learnt the Court procedure. I learnt how to draft legal documents and most important, I attended Court proceedings. Also, my internship with Hon’ble Ms. Justice Hima Kohli as a Law Researcher has been the most enriching experience because I researched on fresh cases and had the opportunity to work on many briefs at a time while also becoming comfortable with the procedure.

     

    What was the procedure you followed to apply for these law firm internships?

    I applied about 3 months in advance by sending in my CV. It is very important to follow up by sending e-mails and making phone calls after applying at any place.

     

    What was the kind of work was allotted to you during your internships?

    There was research work on various points of law, preparation of legal documents, preparing briefs and so on based on the place I was interning at.

     

    What do you plan to do for the next 1 year?

    I will be doing a Clerkship at the Delhi High Court.

     

    Why did you choose to do a Judicial Clerkship? What is the daily schedule of an Intern at a Judicial Clerkship?

    I chose to do a Clerkship because it is the most convenient and efficient way of learning the Court procedure. In fact, for those who believe in learning by observing, working as a Law Researcher at High Court is a very good option. Further, the interaction with Judges is unparalleled since it they teach you how to look at the law from a different perspective. In fact, I think that the nature of work is apt for a fresh law graduate who wants to learn the law.

    The nature of work for an intern working as a Law Researcher is different depending on the Court and the Judge. Generally one must reach Court by 10 a.m. and make all necessary corrections and proof read the orders that had been dictated the previous day. Then, attend all fresh matters for the briefs you prepared the previous day. You must then do all the necessary research as required and prepare briefs for the next day at Court. Besides this, research needs to be done on reserved judgments. Ordinarily the day ends at about 8 p.m.

     

    Did you learn any skills while interning at the Court? What are these skills and how did you acquire them?

    I observed that the nature of work for an Intern is the same as that of an Associate at a Law firm or a Law Researcher in Court. If one goes with an open mind and desire to learn, there is a lot to gain from internships. I think all skills of drafting and researching are best learnt at internships. In my opinion, while working as an intern, networking is also a necessity for any law student.

     

    How did you obtain the Judicial Clerkship? What is the standard procedure to do so?

    I had worked as an intern twice. This is when my application to work full-time got accepted. Generally, one must either intern with a judge or apply to the Registrar in the respective Courts. Annually, during this time of the year, posts are offered by High Courts and the Supreme Court. Interested students must keep checking the respective websites for the vacancies. There is an interview in the Supreme Court for the shortlisted candidates.

    To secure a clerkship with a judge, there are 2 ways:

    One applies to the Registrar in the High Court or Supreme Court, as the case may be, requesting for an opportunity by filling in the requisite form that is available on the website or you should have interned with a Judge, who MAY if impressed, permit you to work as a Law Clerk after graduation.

    To secure an internship with a judge, one should:

    Apply to the Registrar in the High Court or Supreme Court, as the case may be, requesting for an internship with a judge or apply to the office of the concerned judge, where you intend to intern.

    Even if one secures the internship by applying to the office of the concerned judge, the final approval is by the Registrar.

     

    How is it beneficial for further studies?

    Generally, besides the skill development, the Recommendations of Hon’ble Judges is held in high regard by foreign Universities. However, one does not get a recommendation letter as a matter of right. It is based on the quality of work during the clerkship and the sincerity shown in the work.

     

    What do you plan to do when the term of your clerkship expires?

    I plan to pursue a Masters in Law.

     

    Your advice to the law students aspiring to do an LL.M.?  What do they need to do, how should they prepare in the last 3 years of law school?

    For those who want to do a Masters abroad, immediately after law school, must start applying by their 4th year. For Indian Universities, one must prepare for the entrance examinations based on the format followed in the precious years. But irrespective of what one wants to do after Law school, it is most essential to love the law. So, read the law as much as possible because it helps you identify what you would want to do for the next 50 years of your life.

  • Anumita Sarkar on litigation in income tax and being an associate at Lexplosion

    Anumita Sarkar on litigation in income tax and being an associate at Lexplosion

     

    Anumita is currently Legal Associate – Tax compliance, Regulatory Research & Risk Management at Lexplosion. Let’s talk to her about being fluent in tax and her career trajectory.

     

    Hello Anumita! First of all, we’d like to thank you for agreeing to talk to us. Most of our subscribers hail from law schools in India and abroad. How will you introduce yourself to them?

    I am a lawyer, expertise in the area of Income Tax Litigation.

     

    You graduated from Miranda House, University of Delhi with B.A. (Hons) in Sociology and then went on to get a post-graduate diploma in Mass Communication from Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan, New Delhi simultaneously managing to completean LL.B. from Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi. That’s like a lot of studying! Tell us about your experiences at each of these places.

    Studying in Miranda House was a dream-come-true. Those 3 years were simply unforgettable, more so because I was a resident of Miranda House Hostel. After completing my grads, I successfully cracked two entrances (M.A. Sociology at JNU and Delhi University Law Faculty). Although, it was a tough call, but my ambition was always to join the league of legal professionals. Hence, CLC, DU.

    I have always been very energetic and firmly believe in multi-tasking. My very good friend in college inspired me to pursue Mass Communication from BVB, New Delhi. She is an Assistant producer now with CNN-IBN. Pursuing law and journalism required lot of studying, but it was worth it! I successfully completed my LL.B. and journalism and felt confident with both the degrees. I was into dual profession (practicing as a lawyer as well as a content/ copy writer with a travel agency). I was never afraid to venture out new career opportunities.

     

    anumita-sarkarOkay, coming to the very clichéd question- Why Law?

    The subject Law always fascinated me extensively. As I grew up, I realized that law is something which intrigued me deeply. The constitutional changes, legal developments in law brought in the society, etc. It was all over the newspaper daily. I was a voracious reader of various types of magazines and editorials in newspaper (The Hindu). I realized that, I am at my best when I’m challenged and nothing could convince me, until it satisfied me with logic and reasons. Law is something where I relish the opportunity of lateral thinking. There’s nothing better than learning from the supreme master, as in the case of Eklavya!

     

    You took up a course on Intellectual Property from World Intellectual Property Organization. How was the experience?

    It was a fairly good experience. The course covers all the general IP concepts. One can study and read the modules at one’s own pace and time.

     

    I’m sure you were a brilliant student – it won’t be out of place to mention that you have numerous publications and internships! How was the practical aspect of law?

    Internship as a law student and an experience as an Advocate are completely different. My main area of practice was Income Tax Law. I practiced for 3 years before various statutory authorities and income tax appellate tribunal in Kolkata. I have handled independently several types of income tax appeal cases and I feel good to share that I have successfully disposed off many cases (reported judgments). My publications are about my experience in tax litigation. My publications are my in-depth legal research in the study of income tax law and practice.

     

    In India, despite all the hue and cry about female equality, there are numerous families that don’t support female education. How supportive has your family been?

    My parents have been extremely encouraging and ambitious with me and my sisters. My elder sister is a Doctorate from J.N.U and an Assistant professor in Miranda House, Delhi University and my younger sister is a fresh law graduate from N.U.J.S., now pursuing her Judicial Clerkship under a Supreme Court Judge. We have been raised with the best of education and I am proud that my parents are encouraging and extremely supportive. They are liberal and forward looking. They feel proud in our every little success.

     

    You’ve worked as a content writer for a holiday tour company, as a practicing lawyer, and are currently working as a legal associate at Lexplosion Solutions Private Limited. How has the whole journey been like? What were the major hurdles that you faced in your journey so far?

    The legal profession is very challenging and full of struggle, especially when one does not have a god father to support. My interest for litigation put me into professional struggle after passing out from law school. But I was confident that I would succeed in anything that I loved to do. At this time my dad, once being the officer in the Revenue Department, supported and encouraged me to specialize in one of the areas of law. It was not a very difficult decision; Tax was in my blood and it was one of my subject interests of study. I joined a Chartered Accountant firm and I started tax litigation in full swing. Here my competition/ colleagues were mostly Chartered Accountants. Hailing from a non-accountancy background, I initially suffered a low confidence and found it extremely difficult in understanding the jugglery of accounts in income tax practice, especially at the times of scrutiny assessments. But with the help of my boss (F.C.A.) and supportive colleagues/ accountants, tax practice gradually turned out to be smooth. I researched more and more and with the help of itatonline.org and taxmann, I always kept myself updated with the latest changes in income tax law/ litigation. The only thing I did continuously for 3 years was tax litigation and I loved it and I was good at it.

    Lexplosion happened by chance. I felt it was the time for me to explore something more challenging and diversified. I grasped the opportunity to work for Lexplosion, the moment I got selected. Lexplosion Solutions Pvt. Ltd. is a statutory compliance management firm providing compliance solutions to various corporate sectors. My areas of work comprises of providing tax/fiscal compliance solutions to the corporate clients.

     

    You don’t only have a lot of degrees and work hard- in addition, you blog and also volunteer for causes like teaching under privileged children, helping needy children, raising funds for a cancer research institute! You truly are an inspiration to many of us. Tell us something about your volunteering experiences.

    I have been volunteering since I was in school. I was very active when it came to support a social cause, hence I volunteered as a fund raiser for Help Care Society and Cancer Center Welfare home and research institute. While pursuing graduation from Miranda House, I was an active member of MH NSS society. I volunteered as a teacher and taught the under-privileged students.

     

    In addition, you have completed a 4 year course in Art from Sarbabharatiya Sangeet, recognized by the West Bengal State Academy of Dance Drama, Music and Fine Art. Do you still pursue your hobbies and interests? How do you manage your time?

    No, I don’t pursue Art anymore. I regret that I couldn’t complete my diploma in Art. Study took away most of the time. Now, my interest is to blog and providing solutions to the readers as and when I receive any query in my mailbox.

     

    Finally, what would you like to say to our law school students and graduates? Your words will surely inspire to be not just a good lawyer, but a good human being as well.

    Best motivation is self-motivation. Always follow your head and never give up the struggle in the profession. You never know what’s knocking at your door.