Super Lawyer

Author: Donnie Ashok

  • Dinesh Bhasin, on Bhasad- The quirky day planner that aims to make working professional’s 9-to-5 less busy and more productive

    Dinesh Bhasin, on Bhasad- The quirky day planner that aims to make working professional’s 9-to-5 less busy and more productive

    Dinesh Bhasin, a seasoned advertising professional, started as a confused Indian graduate. An early stage entrepreneur tasted a failed start-up at the age of 21. His career spanned from working at Unilever in India to TBWA Worldwide in Africa’s and advertising took him further to Netherlands and Hong Kong. Since knew nothing but advertising and the entrepreneurial bug was in his veins, “Bread n Butter”, an ad agency came into inception with an old table and chair in 2011. It now handles the creative mandate for industry biggies, and the other vertical “Butterly Yours” specializes in product design & development, they also carry outCSR activities under the name “Iccha- The Desire” that works for slum kids’ education.

    In this interview Dinesh Bhasin talks about his start up Bhasad that aims to make lives of professionals just a little bit simpler. He specifically talks about:

    1. His inspiration and ideas behind the product.
    2. The needs felt by professionals for this product.
    3. His plans for expansion in the future.

     

    How did you come up with such an idea?

    bhasad-planner-1The planner was inspired by the frustration and the duality of corporate and working professionals’ lives. On one side we are sophisticated white collar professionals surrounded by people who follow and abide by the decorum of the work place- but deep down we are still the Indian “desi” men and women  who would not miss a chance to hurl slangs when we are hanging out with our best buddies. We wanted to bring that desi and original version of a professional on to his work-desk in the form of a high utility product.

    The idea behind the quirkiness is obvious to many but we wanted to make a product that solves a real pain point. And while we were looking for a real problem waiting to be solved, we realised that the biggest problem with working professionals (especially management) is the constant tussle between deadlines that cannot shift and the procrastinating workforce that is not organised.

     

    How did we go from an Idea to a product?

    bhasad-planner-2Initially we just created a few samples of the version 1.0 of the product and gave it away to specific people in my circle who would find it useful.

    The feedback we got was very positive which inspired me to turn it into a full-fledged product. Based on the feedback, we created version 2.0 of the product.

     

    Who would you say is it most useful for?

    It’s the go to product for any working professional who has a to-do list with deadlines that cannot be shifted. This comes with the option of customization with the receiver’s name, and makes for a unique and useful gift!  One of our customers, Mr. Manik Kapoor a corporate professional  ordered 2 pieces to gift both of his kids (both post teens).

    What are you doing to market it? Where can I find it if I want to buy one?

    We are on crowdfunding platform desiredwings.com. And we are offering it at exclusive early bird prices to our initial backers for a limited period of time. It can also be ordered from our website butterlyyours.com.

     

    How is it going and what is next?

    Every single professional who has seen this product is positive about it and that’s a real motivation. To date, we have sold a total of 468 units in orders and it’s only a matter of time before we can effectively reach and communicate our message to the right target market for such a product.

    Once the planner is available to the public, we plan to launch similar products that solve real pain points but in a funny way, that too once every quarter. We have a few other products are in the pipeline.

     

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    SuperLawyer then spoke to Siddharth who is a regular user of the Bhasad Day Planner. Siddharth is a busy legal professional and in this interview he talks about:

    1. His hectic work schedule and;
    2. The usefulness of the product in his life

     

    Please tell us a bit about yourself.

    I started my career with the Lucknow Bench of the Hon’ble Allahabad High Court whence I worked with the chambers of the noted and famous advocates, namely, Mr. Sanjay Bhasin and Mr. Prashant Chandra, where I was fortunate enough to have the firsthand experience of the practice both representing the State and private individuals in litigation.

    Subsequent to that, I had the opportunity to work with Singhania and Partners and Fox Mandal Little for a substantial period.

    With years of rich experience through varied nature of cases and the snippets of wisdom of luminaries I had the good fortune to work with, combined with the knowledge and experience of my Partners, I, and others at PAMASIS Law Chambers, are determined to carry the legacy and ethics of the profession ahead by providing quality services to our clients.

    We specialise in litigation pertaining to civil, corporate, taxation and competition law apart from advisories and drafting legal documents for the clients.

     

    How did you come to know about the ‘Bhasad Day Planner’?

    On a mundane Friday morning, I got a gift from Dinesh a packet which contained a rather casual looking ‘diary’. I was impressed but when I flipped it open, I was pleasantly surprised! It was the now famous Bhasad Planner.

     

    What was your reaction to the name? Do you think professional lawyers like yourself would use it?

    The name sounds quite quirky and unlikely to be seen on a thorough professional’s desk, given its name and the content therein. But a ‘professional’, surely, does not imply a person who is devoid of his or her funny side and the Planner caters to that while sitting on my office desk.

     

    Quirkiness is fine, but do you see a practical utility in the product?

    siddharth-jain-2On a practical note, the way in which the Planner is designed, it gives a new dimension to managing my appointments and to-do’s. Given the four creatively designed categories, I can divide my schedule according to their urgency and importance and prioritize my time effectively.

     

    Would you go for it again?

    I have been using the Planner on a daily basis with quiet smile and would be glad to go for it again. I have gone as far as to get 80 pieces customised for my lawyers alumni meet.

  • Ramanuj Gopalan, General Counsel, SAIF Partners on being one of the youngest GC in India and work experience

    Ramanuj Gopalan, General Counsel, SAIF Partners on being one of the youngest GC in India and work experience

    Ramanuj Gopalan graduated in the year 2007 from the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences. He got a Pre-Placement offer from Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co, Delhi, and was part of the M&A and Corporate Advisory Teams. He was made Principal Associate in 2013, after working there for six years. During his career, he has also published articles relating to FDI in major publications. Currently, he is one of the youngest General Counsels in India, at SAIF Partners. SAIF Partners is a venture and growth capital fund invested in helping Asia’s exceptional companies grow from concept to IPO.

    In this interview he discusses:

    • His time at AMSS and his perception of the field
    • The reasons behind his success at AMSS
    • His shift from AMSS to SAIF, India
    • The scope and nature of his responsibilities as General Counsel

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    I am a commercial lawyer presently working as general counsel with SAIF in India. In terms of background, I was born and brought up in Kolkata. I did my schooling in Don Bosco School, Park Circus and did my law from WBNUJS, Kolkata. I received a pre-placement offer from Amarchand, Delhi and joined its M&A and General Corporate Advisory team in 2007, worked there for 8 years and then joined my current position.

     

    What motivated you to pursue this field? Are there any lawyers in your family?

    I am a completely first generation lawyer. No one in my family is a lawyer.

    My introduction to law was mainly from American novels, movies and serials which both my sister and I used to like. Lawyers such as Atticus Finch and the ones in Grisham’s novels fascinated me. I was a science student in school, and while engineering and medicine were popular choices in my region, I was not too interested to pursue these as a career. In fact I had taken the form for JEE but did not give the exam. The plan to study law however, was not fixed till my last year of school. This was when WBNUJS had just opened in Kolkata under Dr. Madhava Menon. While I was not very sure of my chances as I had not prepared very hard or taken any coaching for the exams, I was very happy when I got through as it gave me an opportunity to stay in the city and be with my family.

     

    Tell us about your experience at NUJS, Kolkata.

    College and staying in a hostel were life changing experiences for me. There was good exposure and guidance in core academic and co-curricular areas such as publications, mooting etc. The experience of staying independently away from home and interacting with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures in college and hostel was also invaluable.

    We had a very vibrant student body at least in our first few years when Dr. Menon was there as Vice Chancellor and Professor Shiju as warden. In the last couple of years, because of the pressure of placement and recruitments this tapered off a bit.

    Since I was from Kolkata, I used to stay in the hostel and go home during weekends or holidays, so in that sense I had the best of both worlds. Of course it was easier for me compared to students from other cities who may have found it difficult initially away from home. Our college is located very centrally and it is very easy to go around the city. Apart from academics I was part of the Recruitment and Placement Committees and also the Constitutional Law Society.

     

    What advice do you have for law students on maintaining a good academic profile?

    I find students today to be a lot more focussed and clear about their career goals so not sure I am the best person to be giving advice on this! In terms of academics I was never the type to study a lot. However, what I found helpful was to listen attentively in class and take notes as that helped in absorbing what the teachers said and was also helpful to study before the exams.

     

    You have published many articles in the field of business laws. What advice do you have to give students on how to go about writing publishable articles?

    ramanuj-gopalan-2There are several publications today that are looking for good articles on topical issues. For business related articles the key is the topic selection. It must be relevant and preferably bring some new perspective on the issue. The other important area is that it has to be comprehensive but still concise. The difference with pure academic articles is that the article must be presented in a reader friendly format and not become too technical or legalistic as your audience would lose interest.

     

    How did you decide on this particular field of expertise? Did your internships help in shaping your current career trajectory?

    Yes, to an extent. The other big factor was career certainty. In my view at least till a certain level a law firm (and a corporate job) is certainly more merit based and democratic than private practise. While private practise also interests me, I feel it is very difficult to find your feet in litigation practise initially and there is very less financial security. So for someone from a middle class background and without any family connections in law like me, a law firm or corporate job was ideal. Corporate law also has its own nuances and constantly challenges you so it is not difficult to remain motivated.

     

    Tell us about your time at AMSS, Delhi. Did your perception of the industry change in the eight years you spent with them?

    I had a very good time in Amarchand and worked with Mr. Shardul Shroff and some great team members during my time there. I was fortunate to have worked on a lot of interesting and headline deals which gave me great exposure to different areas of law and sectors. One advantage with working in a firm like Amarchand is that you work on larger and more complex deals involving issues from different areas of law, including other practise groups such as IP, Competition, Tax etc. The corporate team, by project managing the deal, has a 360 degree view of the issues involved. Another big advantage is of course the network effect in working with leading lawyers in the country. Systems, infrastructure, training and knowledge management within the firm was much organised. It helps in building a strong base.

    On the second question, yes of course. A large part of what we do develops with practise and experience. When we are new graduates, while there is enthusiasm and energy there still exists a big learning gap which only gets overcome through experience. With increasing liberalisation of the economy the legal field as well as perception of lawyers has also changed for the better over the years.

     

    What are the secrets to your outstanding performance while you were at AMSS, Delhi? What must one keep in mind before joining such an organisation, especially immediately after graduating?

    Well I guess the first question is subjective but I performed to the best of my abilities and the firm was kind enough to recognise and appreciate my efforts. I feel what is critical in practising commercial law is not just spotting issues but to also find solutions to those issues. One must be keenly aware of what the business requirements are. In general terms, like in any field, there is a lot of hard work and commitment required. Since law firms are in the service industry there must be absolute dedication to the client who is paying a premium for your service. Be eager to learn and committed and have good attitude is what I would advise young lawyers before joining.

     

    What falls within your scope of responsibility as a General Counsel?

    All legal matters essentially from beginning to end and during the life of the investments. These include fund structuring, investments and exits in companies, litigation and disputes, review of ongoing legal issues, advising portfolio companies, advising directors, sectoral review, coordinating with and managing external counsel and advisors.

     

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    What prompted your shift to from handling headliner deals at AMSS, Delhi to becoming General Counsel at SAIF India? How different is the nature of work and the challenges you face?

    While I had very good growth in Amarchand, SAIF presented a fantastic opportunity so it was in a sense moving because of the role. Working as a General Counsel for a fund like SAIF gives me an exposure which would have been difficult in Amarchand at the position I was in.

    The nature of work is very interesting. Handling transactions not just from start to finish but also during the life of companies gives a very unique perspective. It is in a sense putting theory into practise. The people both within my organisation as well as outside I deal with are very dynamic since that is the nature of the fund and the investments. I have to work alongside the deal team and business teams on the transaction, keeping in mind what is required for the transaction/business. Except for the requirement of business development, my work is as challenging (if not more) as was in Amarchand.

    In terms of challenges nothing specific per se but of course the level of support that one has in a large firm both in terms of peer group support, legal infrastructure and databases, domain knowledge is not something that can be found in-house.

     

    You were with AMSS, Delhi for Eight years. Was it difficult to handle a change after such a long time? What helped make the transition smoother?

    Moving out was really difficult as in a sense you are moving from the really close relationships you have built in the firm over time. Then I had to shift from Delhi to Gurgaon so there was the whole shifting process and adjustment process which my wife and I had to handle. In terms of work there was some learning curve to adjust to the documents, thinking and existing advisor relationships of SAIF. The SAIF team was very helpful so the shift was smooth in that sense.

     

    Given that you are one of the youngest General Counsels in India, is age a factor, either positive or negative?

    In the venture capital space I would say age is a definite positive as the thinking is very dynamic and hands on and the overall team is also young. It is also easier to learn and adjust at a younger age. In more traditional sectors as well as litigation practise being older would probably be a positive.

     

    What do recruiters look for in the current crop of law graduates?

    I would say good attitude and commitment are very important. The law school one belongs to, CGPA and co-curricular activities also matter, especially early on and help in getting interview/PPO opportunities. One must be confident and articulate with good communication skills.

     

    What would be your advice to our budding lawyers?

    Be good in what you are and you will definitely get results. A lot of opportunities are there for lawyers and the legal market in India is also maturing. Keep abreast of technology as I feel legal practise both on the corporate side as well as litigation will increasingly embrace technology in the next few years.

  • Sandhya Gorthi, Founder, Sanctum, on being an entrepreneur and pursuing diverse careers

    Sandhya Gorthi, Founder, Sanctum, on being an entrepreneur and pursuing diverse careers

    Sandhya Gorthi is an alumna of NLSIU, Bangalore. She graduated in 1998 and over the course of her career has worked as a radio jockey, a freelance writer,  a soft skills trainer, a Manager of Operations, had a stint with India’s first online art auction website and at present runs Sanctum, a start-up she founded. In addition to her creative arts proclivities, she is a rescue diver, a dancer and has studied Vedanta philosophy for thirteen years now.

    In this interview she talks to us about:

    • Sanctum – the inspiration behind it and its driving principles.
    • The various roles she played in different organizations and with different kinds of work.
    • Career versatility, work ethic and travelling extensively on the job.

     

    What was the inspiration behind Sanctum? What work do you primarily focus on now?

    I had retail and operations experience and found I was very interested in furniture. I found a gap in the market for well priced natural wood furniture and home accessories with a vintage and international feel, and I started Sanctum. It’s my full time job and I oversee all aspects of the business although I do have a talented and empowered team.

     

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    What are the driving principles you believe anyone should have to start their own company?

    I’d have to say Number 1 is boundless passion. I don’t feel the need to take a ‘break’ from SANCTUM ever. That doesn’t mean it isn’t important for me to spend time away from the daily routine. It’s vital to get inspired, to keep learning, to meet new people, share ideas…

    Next would be access to some resources – entrepreneurship is risky and all companies have
    ups and downs, so planning for resources and income flow is important. Having said that, I feel having access to endless resources works negatively – then there is no hunger. Often, the most creative ideas are born of necessity and frugal resources. Contacts in the industry, industry knowledge, a mentor, are also valuable resources.

     

    Where do you see Sanctum headed?

    My vision has always been to create a model that is scalable to create a national and international footprint. We are country with a rich heritage of design, natural resources and talented craftsmen, surely we can produce a unique and international brand with this mix!

     

    What plans do you envision for yourself career-wise?

    Career wise I think I’ve come full circle. The skills I’ve picked up in law school and in my various professions have all come together for me in entrepreneurship. I hope to carry these skills forward in this line and eventually in public service as well. I owe a lot.

     

    What was your role in The Shop?

    I partnered with the family that owned the brand and was responsible for bringing the brand to Mumbai – from location search, refreshing the old branding, to curation and entire set up – interiors, compliances, staffing.

     

    Tell us how you got into soft skills training and your time as the trainer at Prana Worldwide. What would you consider most important in your lessons on soft skills?

    I found, in many of my jobs where I lead teams, that I would spend time training them on professional conduct, email etiquette, customer service and other aspects of corporate culture. That, plus my background in theatre, really helped shape the modules that I developed at Prana. I also worked with modules that had been already created and it was fun working across different professions – pharma, investment banking, hospitality…

    Prana happened right after I had my two kids (now aged 13 and 11) – so it was part time work – but I did find it a little hard to clock a full day or three full days in a row while my two highly accident prone boys unleashed themselves onto the world!

    sandhya-gorthi-3Soft skills are invaluable in creating the right impression, presenting a professional front and help in being diplomatic yet firm in multiple scenarios, whether we’re dealing with customers, vendors, government officials, industry peers or investors.

    I think the most important aspect for me has been customer feedback on how amazing the team at SANCTUM is, and how warm and welcome they feel in the store. That sets us apart for sure and has done more for the brand than any other brand building exercise we have undertaken.

     

    How did you get engaged as a freelance writer for the Hindustan Times? How do you choose what issues to write on?

    Actually I wrote for several publications. I’ve always loved writing in school and college and learning how to research issues in NLS made it so much easier to present well rounded articles. I’ve done a writing course, been an editor for LexSite.com, Easybuymusic.com and Planetsaffron.com/Saffronart.com. As a freelancer I’ve written on subjects that are important or of interest to me – health, spirituality (I’ve been studying Vedanta philosophy for 13 years) parenting, pets (I contributed regularly to Delhi based pet magazine), art, child sexual abuse and its legal framework, travel…

    Once I got into retail there was so much writing to do…newsletters, blog posts, product descriptions,, website, design stories, press releases, business plans…I also regularly give content relating to home decoration and home care to journalists that they use in their articles. Now, even with a larger team, I always chip in with the writing whenever I can.

     

    What prompted your stint as a radio jockey? What is the greatest experience you take away from your time as an RJ on Radio Mirchi?

    Like most people I love music, but also music trivia and performing. I first became a professional radio jockey on AIR FM which was the only FM station in the city. I moonlighted as the evening host while I was working at LexSite.com – it was wonderful to connect to so many people, to play music I loved, and to access AIR’s treasure trove of old rock and pop LPs.

    My second stint came with the entry of private FM into the city in 1999. I auditioned with thousands and got selected as evening drive time host of Radio Mirchi, a hectic job that I enjoyed thoroughly even through a tiring pregnancy and after the channel switched to an all Hindi format.

    I also produced other shows, trained tech and talent, and did short stints on other time slots in addition to my 4-5 hours of drive time.

    For me, the greatest lesson was how we can connect with people of different backgrounds despite cultural and language barriers. I didn’t grow up in a typical Indian home nor did I speak very good Hindi at the time, but homemakers, taxi drivers even some Bollywood celebrities would call in and chat with me because they felt I was a friend. This sounds trite but it was really humbling and a valuable life lesson for me that I practice to date.

     

     You also worked as a Manager of Operations with Planetsaffron. What work did you focus on?

    Planetsaffron was a wonderful experience too. At the time there were three sites – Saffronart, of course, Saffronsoul – which was about holistic healing and Saffronstyle – which was high end fashion. I came on board as head of content and technology – at Saffronart we worked on creating the first online art auction module, for Saffronsoul I was helping two Ayurvedic doctors write a book, and for Saffronstyle we had Mehr Jessia and Tina Tahiliani curating style shoots. It was a lot of work but fun!

    Soon however, I moved more into operations – overseeing the teams, heading the team that took exhibitions of Indian contemporary art all over the world. It was challenging but there was so much learning, so much that we were doing new, so stimulating!

     

    You were able to travel extensively for the work you did with Planetsaffron. What do you think are the perks and drawbacks of having a job that requires a lot of travelling and how should one deal with it?

    I did. We had exhibitions in New York, LA (9/11 happened during that trip), Hong Kong, London was to follow…the perks are many – you get to see places you might otherwise not have had the opportunity to visit, you get to work with people from different cultures, handle international clients, learn the ins and outs of the logistics, customs, negotiating cross border contracts and generally see how business is done internationally.

    The flip side was that I was just never home. I often worked late into the night or all night, I’d rush home with an hour to spare before my flight and the travel itself was tiring because you’d just hit the ground running when you got back. I don’t think I balanced my work and personal life very well those days. If I had to do it over I would probably have prioritised the latter more. I’ve learnt that no one is indispensible in an organization.

    I travel a lot for work now too, but I do it more sensibly…most of the time (old habits).

     

    How did you get a job with India’s first online art auction website? How transformative was that experience in your life.

    I was introduced to Dinesh and Minal Vazirani and my profile matched what they were looking for at the time. My legal background helped me research and create the broad framework for the auction – in terms of rules and functionality. My background in writing, and editing meant that I could work with art school graduates to write artist profiles and artwork descriptions. And my technology background meant that I could explain concepts and functionality to the tech team and understand what the technology of the time could or could not do. My theatre and radio background helped me interact with art patrons I suppose (wink)!

    It was a huge learning, I made a lot of mistakes, but it also showed me what a good team leader ought to be and how organizations should be run.

     

    What was your first job? How has that experience impacted you work ethic thereafter?

    My first job was actually in the theatre and media. I did plays, voice overs for ads in 6 languages, hosted a few shows on TV and sang in the musical Evita. Not just in the media, but from changing jobs so many times, I began to realize the things I valued above all else…integrity, a strong vision that everyone was aligned towards, respect for all team members, a culture of learning and growing, and the importance of a space that allowed the sharing of ideas and for lots of laughter. When I started my own venture I was determined, and I think have been quite successful in, implementing these values.

     

    How did your tryst with creative arts begin?

    I was a born performer! I used to rally the kids in the neighbourhood to perform plays, dances, songs, dress up…no matter how unwilling they were. I wrote, danced, elocuted, sang, acted and even painted in school. Even today I make sure I’m learning something creative always and my kids and I sing, dance and have these weird (and scary) dress up sessions together.

     

    What would you say is your greatest strength and how would you say that has served you in terms of career versatility.

    I think the ability to keep an open mind – I believe that ageing is only rigidity of the mind – I have friends who are in their 80s and in their teens and of different ethnicities and backgrounds. I feel I learn from all of them and we share ideas and laughter freely. I tell myself the minute I start wanting things MY way or a particular way and no other, that’s growing old, that’s the beginning of a slow death.

    There are also some values you know are universal and you have to stand up for them and fight for them for yourself and for others who are not able to speak up for themselves. I have made myself quite unpopular on several occasions because of this but I’ve never had a moment’s regret.

     

    Did you always plan on trying out so many creative outlets or was each change a spontaneous change?

    Good God no! I’m a middle class south Indian girl! But I think you have to be true to yourself. Find your calling. Some of us have more than one…in the end it all comes together. The changes weren’t impulsive. I’ve responded to a strong calling, and have had compelling reasons to change. Maybe things come your way if you’re sending out the correct signals.

     

    As for trying new things, what would be your suggestions for our readers?

    JUST DO IT! There’s no point telling yourself you’ll try it when the time is right, or once you’ve reached a particular place. If you have a goal or passion, do the research, and jump right in. You have to be prepared to put in the sweat and it won’t always be fun. But keep your goal in sight always and work towards it.

    But I would add a rider that it’s important to first analyse your personality carefully. See if this is really a calling or if it just seems attractive because it’s different from what you’re currently doing. Know if you have the nerves and acumen for the dream you want to fulfil. Some things can always be fun dreams or hobbies too… but you’ll never know for sure if you never even get your feet wet.

  • Shriya Jain, Associate, Wadia Ghandy & Co., Ahmedabad on work experience in real estate at a top tier law firm

    Shriya Jain, Associate, Wadia Ghandy & Co., Ahmedabad on work experience in real estate at a top tier law firm

    Shriya Jain, a 2013 graduate of Institute of Law, Nirma University, Ahmedabad is currently working as an Associate at Wadia Ghandy & Co. She works in their Property Team, in the real estate department and handles the drafting of transactional documents relating to real estate and also makes title certificates. In this interview she tells us about:

    • The passion for indulging in extra/co-curricular activities;
    • The importance of drafting as a skill;
    • The interesting path of choosing to do different things;
    • The importance of breaking barriers.

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    I am a part of the 2013 graduating batch of Institute of Law, Nirma University, Ahmedabad. I started my practice with Wadia Ghandy & Co., Ahmedabad in their Property Team and have recently completed three years with the Firm. Coming from a non-legal background, my journey till here has been very interesting and surely a roller coaster ride.

     

    What would you like to share with our readers about your experience at ILNU, Ahmedabad?

    In one word – Enlightening! We were the second batch of the Institute; hence, we as an Institute were exploring and learning a lot of new arenas of a Law School, like moot courts, debates, seminars, MUNs and such. These were very raw and new for us. Particularly, because of this reason, the initial batches had an added advantage. Further, the best thing about ILNU is that it focuses on various modes of teaching law, starting from classroom lectures to seminars, guest lectures from practicing lawyers, innumerable extra-curricular and co-curricular activities, mandatory internship for 9 semesters, setting up a legal aid clinic and giving students firsthand experience at an early stage to gain these experiences. I have tried my level best to absorb something from each of the above activities.

     

    What were your areas of interest in the law?

    This question has been rightly put up as what ‘were’ my areas of interests in law, as my interest has taken a drastic turn… by chance. During my days in law school, I was really interested in Corporate Law and wanted to pursue it further. At the time of campus placements, I was offered a position in the property team of Wadia Ghandy & Co. and I thought I should give it a shot! It would have been something new for me and I would have learnt about a field I had not much heard of. And to be honest, I have never looked back since then.

     

    During your time at ILNU, what, if any, extra-curricular or co-curricular activities did you take up? How did the same affect your learning experience and prepare you for the legal sector?

    ILNU has given me various opportunities to explore and enhance my potential. I am someone who cannot rely only on academics. My focus has always been on overall development. Since my school days, I was clear on one aspect – I would participate in extra-curricular activities. It builds your personality, enhances your creative side, gives you an opportunity to meet several people and learn from them, develops a competitive spirit and gives you an edge. I carried this pattern of my life to college as well, ensuring from the first semester itself that I am involved in the extra-curricular and co-curricular activities of college, and I did this till my tenth semester there. I was very inclined towards debating during my school days and, in college, I was introduced to Parliamentary Debates and the concept of adjudication.

    shriya-jain-2In my first semester I was given an opportunity to represent the Institute as an adjudicator at the NLS Debate hosted by NLSIU, Bengaluru. After this experience, I don’t remember any year of my college where I didn’t participate in a debate competition and have since adjudicated Semi Finals and Final Rounds of various National Level Parliamentary Debate Competitions. In my final year, I was made the Chairperson of the Debating Committee of ILNU and along with my wonderful team, we organized the 1st ILNU National Parliamentary Debate Competition. Oh what an experience that was!

    Apart from this I was a part of the team which qualified for the Asian Regional Rounds of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition, 2012; presented a paper on the topic of “Emergence of Refugees in Non-International Armed Conflict : Its Implications on the Host State and the Role of UN” at the International Law Students Association Annual Summer Conference, 2010 at Istanbul, Turkey, a topic which is co-incidentally very relevant today. Participating in these activities (you may choose whichever activity holds your interest, but make sure you are doing something apart from sitting in classrooms) gave me an opportunity to interact with law students from all over the world and it has been a wonderful experience throughout.

    I was also involved in cultural activities like fashion shows organized by ILNU, where I was spotted by a creative agency and starred in videos pertaining to ‘Awakening of Youth’ by the Government of Gujarat and in another video for ‘Save the Girl Child’ campaign.

     

    Having been working with one of the best law firms in India, what can you tell our readers about what law firms look for in potential candidates?

    Your basics of law should be clear. As a firm or any recruiter for that matter, we understand that a fresher may not have an advanced knowledge of law and may not be able to respond correctly to every question. Therefore, we would want to see how clear your basics are. Further, being curious and having the zeal to learn at every step, good drafting skills etc. are looked forward to.

     

    What led you to gravitate towards Real Estate practice?

    My earlier response to areas of interests covers how I started with real estate practice. The scope of work in this field is not known to many, including how the laws are different in each State. It is not taught in law schools and is very different from other areas of practice. Also, there are few women lawyers in this field. In my 3 years of practice, apart from the lawyers in my team, I would have interacted with not more than 3 female lawyers who are practicing in real estate. And because of this fact, clients (from real estate) are not used to having female lawyers. In our field, our clients are mostly builders, farmers etc. where female presence is generally very less. Therefore – and I don’t blame them – they are a little shocked to see a female lawyer involved in the matter. My initial 10 minutes of every client interaction is invested in building confidence of the clients. It is good to break barriers!

     

    How important do you consider drafting as a skill, especially for those who are interested in transactional practice?

    Your document is the end product of your knowledge. Hence, it is extremely important to have good drafting skills to portray the understanding of clients and your knowledge in the best possible way. As a transactional lawyer, 75% of your time is invested in drafting agreements. I would say, if you want to be a transactional lawyer, focus on enhancing your drafting skills. It is all about how you bring out the understanding on paper. Do not confuse it with using fancy language and Latin terms. Be simple, precise and coherent.

     

    What would you like to share with our readers about the general rigorous and demanding nature of a corporate sector job?

    If you enjoy what you are doing, you will not find it to be rigorous or time consuming. Yes, you have to put in hard work and lot of hours, but that is an investment at the end of the day.

     

    Finally, what parting message would you like to give to our readers?

    I shall put this in a precise manner:

    1. Read a lot. From course books to articles, essays, fiction, non-fiction, history etc. As a lawyer, you should not restrict yourself to course books or specific laws. Enhance your knowledge, there is no limit. Like my Father says, “College is there to only provide you guidance, it is your responsibility to learn and shape your career”. Another advice which I have taken from ILNU is from one of our lecturers, Mr. Divya Tyagi, “You speak what you read”. Hence, read quality books;
    2. Participate in Co-curricular/Extra-Curricular activities;
    3. Work with a lawyer after college hours. This will give you an experience as to how the law is applied in reality;
    4. Socialize with your peers from other law schools, lawyers and lecturers. The knowledge and exposure that you will get from interacting with them is invaluable and shall be with you for life; and
    5. Enjoy your time at law school. It is a wonderful experience!

     

     

  • Shayak Chakraborty, Advocate on Record, Calcutta High Court on starting up with an independent litigation practice right after graduation

    Shayak Chakraborty, Advocate on Record, Calcutta High Court on starting up with an independent litigation practice right after graduation

    Shayak Chakraborty is an alumnus of Gujarat National Law University who graduated in 2013. During his school and college days he was very active in debating and started the Debating League at GNLU. He worked at the Calcutta Sessions Court under the aegis of the Chief Public Prosecutor before assuming a practice at the Calcutta High Court as an Advocate-on-Record. He is a certified mediator and focuses his litigation practice on civil, commercial and corporate, criminal and constitutional law. At present he has an independent practice. In this interview he talks to us about:

    • The required skills and the importance of mentors in litigation
    • The scope of ADR in the Indian judicial system
    • His experience working in the Calcutta Sessions and Calcutta High Court.

     

    What would be a brief introduction of yourself?

    I graduated from Gujarat National Law University in the year 2013, and I am currently practicing law in the High Court of Judicature at Calcutta. I used to practice criminal law in the lower courts here in Kolkata before making the shift to the High Court last year.

     

    Were there any activities you participated in that honed your skills as a litigator? How are they relevant now?

    I’d say the activity that helped me the most in litigation was debating. I used to be an active debater during my school days in La Martiniere for Boys, and continued that during my college days, where I founded the GNLU Debating Society in my 2nd year. Debating was a passion for me, although I wasn’t the best debater in my school (which had a fiercely competitive intra-school debating league), I was always an ace in extempore debates, where the skill of thinking on your feet and out of the box is all-important. Looking back, this is what honed my skills the most, because while every lawyer should be able research the law and frame the argument well, how one responds to arguments in Court with little preparation and dodges tough questions from the judge is what separates a good lawyer from the rest. So definitely debating was the most important activity which helped me in becoming a litigator, as it not only improved my speaking skills immensely (I was a very shy kid, and would find it difficult to talk to people before I started debating) but also prepared me to frame convincing arguments quickly.

     

    Was there anyone who particularly influenced you while deciding on litigation?

    Growing up, two of my father’s close friends encouraged me to take up law –  the late Justice Barin Ghosh, who retired as Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court before passing away last year, and senior solicitor Debasis Law. Right from a young age, they told me I had what it takes to be a good lawyer, and thus, right from my school days I always wanted to be a litigating lawyer, having never even heard of transactional practice before I started preparing for law entrance exams. I was very sure that Court practice is what I wanted to do, and so I never wavered in my decision to enter litigation despite being a first generation lawyer.

     

     

    Being a certified mediator and an active litigator, what do you feel is the scope of ADR in the judicial system?

    shayak-chakraborty-1As I have been trained in mediation, I am hopeful about its prospects in India. With the tremendous backlog of cases in our courts and the lack of adequate number of judges for a population like ours, more and more people are unwilling to resort to litigation to resolve their disputes. The ever-growing number of arbitrations in our country bear witness to this effect, as today a standard commercial contract will inevitably contain an arbitration clause. However, the real problem comes from land disputes, succession disputes and family matters since those aren’t usually covered by an arbitration agreement. In such cases, mediation can be a very effective way to bring about a resolution without resorting to the court process, and it is increasingly being recognized as such.

     

    How did you prepare for the bar in a span of a few months?

    The Bar Exam is easy enough to pass, provided you have actually done a reasonable job of studying for your LL.B. degree. It is kind of a refresher exam for your law syllabus, and if you have indeed studied decently for your law exams in college, the Bar Exam won’t give you much trouble.

     

    What was it like assisting the Chief Public Prosecutor in the Sessions Court?

    Mr. Tamal Kanti Mukherjee, Chief Public Prosecutor of City Sessions Court Kolkata, is a tremendously successful lawyer and a gem of a human being. When I started working in his office, I had no idea about Court practice and had no clue as to how to go about things. While I had done internships during college days, the month or so that one spends on an internship barely gives you even a glimpse as to what Court practice is all about.

    Tamal sir encouraged me a great deal, and helped me gain confidence in my abilities as a lawyer. He would encourage me to read every brief and prep every case for him, and had blind faith in my abilities even when I had no faith in them! With his encouragement and guidance, I learned a great deal about how trial works, and how criminal cases progress. Working for the Chief PP also meant that I interacted with police officers a great deal, and I learned a lot from my interactions with them too. However, I am tremendously grateful to Tamal sir for the constant encouragement he gave me when I was a nervous rookie lawyer. Such was the confidence he gave me that I was appearing on my own merely four months after enrollment!

    shayak-chakraborty-2I was briefed to argue for a de-facto complainant in a massive fraud case, where the value of the fraud was more than Rs 20 crore, and I was to argue against bail of two persons arrested on the very day I was briefed! I was tremendously nervous and excited at the same time, and when I walked into the Magistrate’s courtroom, I saw six lawyers appearing for the two accused! The lawyers argued strongly for bail, the Police Prosecutor opposed the bail in the normal fashion, when I asked for permission to make submissions for the de-facto complainant,  the defence lawyers started shouting that I had no right to make submissions when the Prosecutor was there. Now, Tamal sir never liked to raise his voice, but would never be afraid of shouting down an opponent who was being too aggressive. I shouted back at the defence that I was seeking permission of the Court and I didn’t need their permission. Possibly impressed by my confidence, the Magistrate gave me two minutes to make my argument. I summed up our position on the matter, to which the Magistrate nodded, and sent the accused to police custody for 14 days (the maximum possible time), something completely unexpected for me, as some other juniors had told me not to expect more than 7-8 days of police custody! It was at that moment I knew I could make it as a litigating lawyer if I continued to work hard and persisted with Court practice.

     

    What was the transition like, moving from work in a Session Court to the High Court? Did you prepare yourself for this change in any way?

    I always wanted to practice at Calcutta High Court, but I could not manage to find a senior’s chamber to join when I returned from GNLU. Now,  my father knew Tamal sir quite well, and when he mentioned to him that I was very confused as to where to start my career and thus had been doing nothing since returning from Gujarat, Tamal sir suggested that I join him for a few days to start with, to get an idea of the lower courts before joining a senior in the High Court.

    After working in the Chief Public Prosecutor’s office for a while, I wasn’t any closer to figuring out a chamber to join in the High Court, so I decided to carry on working in the City Sessions Court, where I was already used to the surroundings and already knew most of the people.

    However, my dream of going to the High Court never changed, and on several occasions I found myself wishing I could do more than just practice criminal law in the lower courts. I was granted a sudden opportunity when a corporate client of mine had a case dismissed in the trial court. They called me in to advise them about their options, and I recommended that they file a revision petition in the High Court. They asked me whether I would take care of the matter in the High Court for them, and I readily agreed! Mind you, I had absolutely zero experience in the High Court at the time, but I was confident enough that I’d be able to figure it out. I managed to find a clerk in the High Court who files matters in the Appellate Side, and took his help in filing that matter. When the case finally appeared in the cause list, I got a major thrill seeing my name alongside it as Advocate for the petitioner. I argued the matter, and it was admitted, and since then I’ve been going to the High Court!

     

    What are the challenges of being an advocate in the Calcutta High Court? Why did you choose an independent practice as a litigator and not work in a law firm?

    It wasn’t much of a choice, it simply worked out that way! If my client hadn’t entrusted me with the matter, I would probably still be in the Sessions Court looking out for another opportunity to make the shift. I didn’t consider working in a law firm because that entails having absolutely no freedom when it comes to the kind of matters you take up and the manner in which you go about a case, both of which are very important to me. However, it is tremendously tough to work on your own, especially when it comes to getting your own cases. I’ve been blessed by the fact that there are lawyers who have supported me and encouraged me a great deal…I definitely wouldn’t have made it so far without them.

     

    What are the main types of cases you focus on? How did you choose an area of specialty?

    I actually do all kinds of cases nowadays. While I started out as a criminal lawyer, I was never satisfied doing only criminal cases, although they are very interesting. I started working on civil and commercial matters, including suits, arbitrations and company matters as I went on in the High Court. Soon enough, there were some writ matters that came my way and I loved handling those cases as Constitutional Law has always been my favourite subject. So, I don’t really have a speciality as I have been doing extremely varied matters. I have even done transactional work such as drafting contracts. While there are many lawyers who specialize in their areas of practice, there are several others who do all sorts of matters.

     

    What is the most challenging case you have ever faced? Is there any case that changed your perspective on the judicial system?

    The most challenging case I have ever worked on is a suit matter currently pending in the High Court, in which I’m the juniormost counsel and I’m assisting reputed Senior Advocates of Calcutta High Court. It’s a Testamentary Suit involving immovable property worth several crores, and even though my role has been negligible in this matter, the sheer complexity of the facts and the stakes involved make me thank my stars that I’ve had the opportunity of working on it. It is also challenging because of the way system works. To even ensure the numerous old and dusty Court records of this suit (filed in 1994!) are available for reference during the trial is a massive task in itself!

    As for a case that changed my perspective on the judicial system, it is an arbitration matter (challenging the award of an arbitrator and a related petition seeking interim measures) long-pending in the Court. Here,  again, I am assisting heavyweight Senior Advocates, and this matter has been kept long pending purely because the State Government, which was the losing side in the arbitration, had adopted delaying tactics in order to avoid paying the massive award passed in the arbitration. I learned through this case how slow the wheels of justice can turn in our system, and how frustrating it can be for a litigant. Even though the arbitration had been resorted to in order to avoid the extremely slow progress of Court, the way our justice system works has ensured that the matter continues to drag on without any sight of coming to an end!

     

    You are an Advocate-on-Record for matters on the original side at the Calcutta High Court. How did that come about?

    As per the Original Side Rules of the Calcutta High Court, you have to register yourself as an Advocate-on-record with the Registrar of the Original Side in order to file matters and accept vakalatnama from clients in matters on the Original Side. There are certain conditions you have to fulfill in order to register yourself, including having an office within the boundaries set out in Chapter One of the Rules. I never knew about this till I started working at the High Court. A couple of years ago, I had met a senior solicitor, Mr Sarajit Mitra, who had encouraged me a great deal and had taken my advice on criminal matters on a few occasions. I drop in to his office whenever I’m free, as he is filled with excellent stories about the practice of law, and I have learned a great deal about the profession from him. Sarajit sir has also placed great confidence in me and the biggest cases I’ve worked on in the High Court have been the ones in which he has briefed me as junior counsel. When I found out about the fact that not every lawyer can file matters on the Original Side, I asked Mr Mitra about it. Sarajit sir took out an old leather bound volume of the Original Side Rules, and told me to read them. I found that I fulfilled the criteria for registering, and asked what should I do to register myself. Sarajit sir again pointed me to the Rules, and told me to apply in the manner given in the Rules. I did so, and since then, I’ve learned a great deal about the functions and responsibilities of an Advocate-on-record from Mr. Sarajit Mitra, which has helped me to work as an effective Advocate-on-record.

     

    Are there any suggestions you would like to give our readers especially aspiring litigators?

    Always observe your seniors carefully and learn whatever you can from them. Conduct yourself well, and people will help you out wherever they can. It can be very depressing and frustrating to be a junior lawyer, but you have to faith in yourself and your abilities, and you must have the patience to persist with the profession. Focus on the work, and always seek to learn as much as you can.

  • Aditya Swarup, Assistant Professor, Jindal Global Law School on being a Rhodes Scholar, and pursuing BCL & M.Phil from Oxford

    Aditya Swarup, Assistant Professor, Jindal Global Law School on being a Rhodes Scholar, and pursuing BCL & M.Phil from Oxford

    Aditya Swarup graduated in law from the  National Academy of Legal Studies and Research University in 2010. He was also awarded the Rhodes’ Scholarship the same year, after which, he obtained his Bachelor of Civil Laws degree from the University of Oxford in 2011. He then went on to do his Masters’ degree in Philosophy from University of Oxford in 2012. During his time at Oxford, he focused on various courses such as Restitution, Civil Procedure and Comparative Public Law.

    After practicing law for a few years, he took a break to focus on his research and teaching. He is currently working as an Assistant Professor at the prestigious Jindal Global Law School and is serving as the Assistant Director of the International Institute of Higher Education and Capacity Building.

    In this interview, Aditya talks about: –

    • What made him pursue a legal career;
    • His interests and areas of focus;
    • His journey towards becoming a Rhodes’ Scholar;
    • His views on the Indian Judicial System; and
    • What a student must have, aside from academics in order to have a successful legal career.

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    I am Aditya Swarup, currently an Associate Professor at Jindal Global Law School. Before joining academia, I used to work as an associate at a solicitor’s firm in Mumbai, practising primarily in the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court.

    What led you to enter the legal profession?

    During my 12th standard, I cleared the UPSC-NDA exam and SSB interview and was slated to join National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla with the prospect of joining the Indian Airforce thereafter. However, after a lot of thinking, I decided not to join the Airforce. At the same time, given that I had secured only 59.8% in my class 12 exams, I was denied admission by most of the good colleges. Law happened to be one of the disciplines where your 12th standard marks didn’t matter and all one had to do was to clear an entrance exam. Accordingly, I took a year off and prepared for the law entrance exams for various law colleges (we didn’t have CLAT then) and got through NALSAR.

     

    Would you like to share with the readers any particular instances during your time spent at NALSAR, which helped shape your views about the law?

    aditya-swarup-3In or around November, 2008, I had the good fortune of interning with Mr. Tehmtan Andhyarujina, former Solicitor General of India. At the time, he was arguing Selvi v. State, a case concerning the constitutionality of narco analysis before the Supreme Court of India. He had only one junior and involved me extensively in the case. I think preparing for the final arguments in that matter, that went on for two whole weeks, has been one of the best experiences in my life. At the end of my internship, Mr. Andhyarujina gave me the most inspirational talk about litigation and Jamshedji Kanga’s chamber and presented me with a copy of Prashant Bhushan’s book “The case that shook India”, a factual account of Indira Gandhi v. Raj Narain. The book also had a transcript of the Keshavananda Bharti review. It is then that I decided to pursue a career in litigation and Mr. Andhyarujina has helped me ever since.

     

    What are your primary interests in the legal profession? Why?

    During my formative years at law school and immediately after, I used to be quite interested in human rights advocacy. To this end, I used to pursue a lot of work in Chattisgarh and other conflicted regions. After my B.C.L, I took a keen interest in commercial law. I was intrigued by common law decisions on contracts, restitution and civil procedure and the manner in which each statement by a Judge in his judgment impacts the law. I have pursued an interest in commercial law ever since.

     

    During your time at NALSAR, what extra–curricular and co–curricular activities, if any, did you participate in? How do you think these activities affected your take away from law school?

    Unlike most students during their time at law school, I did not participate in many moots while at NALSAR. In fact, I participated in just one moot, i.e. the Raj Anand Intellectual Property Moot and incidentally, won the best speaker award there. I also debated just once, that too in my final year. However, I spent most of my time writing papers and in research. I feel this interest allowed me to attempt to critique the law beyond what is given in the text book. In fact, the publications have also immensely helped me with my scholarship and post graduate courses.

     

    You wrote your M.Phil dissertation on “Interim Injunctions and Judicial Delays in India”, discussing injunction hearings taking the role of mini – trials in India. Can you tell us something about it?

    aditya-swarup-1One of the most significant and engaging aspects of a civil suit is the granting of an interlocutory injunction pending the final decision in the matter. The grant of such an injunction is, in theory, purely provisional in nature, with the objective of maintaining status quo, and in the hope that a party doesn’t suffer from irreparable harm. However, in most circumstances, such injunctions are maintained for the entire length of the suit, the length of the suit then itself being a critical issue. A final determination of a civil suit in India can take anyway upwards of 7 years. This poses a peculiar predicament to the Indian legal system in the sense that though an interim measure is merely meant to be provisional, since it lasts the length of the suit, it achieves a sort of finality- an unintended and inevitable consequence. Considering the predicament that currently plagues the Indian judicial system, i.e., an insurmountable backlog of over 300,000 cases, interim injunctions, instead of serving its purpose now merely serve as a clog in the judicial system.

    In light of the above, I studied the relationship between judicial backlog and interim injunctions, culminating in a phenomenon that has acquired the term ‘mini-trials’- where the court conducts a thorough examination of the merits of the case at the interim stage so as to dispose the matter. A similar situation existed in England in the 1960’s and 70s, and I sought to examine the lessons learnt from that experience and  the viability and desirability of mini trials in tackling judicial backlog in India. As part of my research, I studied every reported case on interim injunctions in India.  

     

    What is your opinion of the current proposals to reduce judicial backlog? From which country/countries should India draw inspiration to solve this issue? Why?

    I believe that the solution to reducing case pendency is not to merely increase the number of judges but to bring about structural changes in the system. Unfortunately, most authorities, including the Law Commission, and lawyers stress on increasing the number of courts and judges to reduce case pendency.

    We should be mindful and borrow from the American experience. A series of suggestions were made in 1959 in the United States to address the increasing case load. The reforms that made their way out of these suggestions were primarily aimed at increasing the number of courts and judicial officers. The result however, was contrary to what was expected. The records showed that the caseload actually increased subsequent to the implementation of the reforms. This consequence has been explained by the renowned American Judge Richard Posner who rightly argued in a landmark paper that “reforms” increasing the number of judges and courts would only have an ad hoc effect. While being initially effective, in the long run, realising the efficacy of the legal system, it would merely result in more litigation. To buttress his argument – he drew upon a rather unusual analogy – while initially a new highway would serve the purpose of easing out traffic, road conditions would in fact induce people who had previously used other modes of transportation, to switch to driving. This would only result in leading to greater congestion. In this light, merely increasing the number of judges or courts is not going to be enough to tackle the predicament plaguing India’s judicial system – one must also address institutional changes and the culture of litigation prevalent in the country.

    The measures to reduce judicial backlog should also include the introduction of information and communication technology (ICT) support systems, developing online procedures for the filing of documents, notification of court dates, periodic reminders for submission of documents, service of documents via email and the like with an aim to have time bound litigation. A judge ought to decide cases and not allot dates. It is also important that we implement the procedure of costs following the event as provided in the CPC.

     

    In the year 2010, you were awarded the “Rhodes Scholarship”. How much does one have to achieve in order to be awarded such an esteemed scholarship? How did the scholarship benefit your professional career?

    The Rhodes Scholarship, unlike other scholarships, looks at the all round achievements of the individual based on criteria of academics, co-curriculars, leadership, social services and sports. In this sense, I believe that the Rhodes Scholarship is not just a scholarship to study in Oxford but a process and an experience. A process, in the sense that the very process of applying for the scholarship and meeting the various criteria helps one reflect on their life and achievements. An experience, because once you join Oxford, you are amidst a community of highly qualified achievers and even interacting with them is inspirational. I made some great friends amongst the other scholars. As regards my professional career, very few people in India and more particularly, the Bombay High Court were aware that I got the Rhodes so it didn’t matter.

     

    What is the primary purpose of the site, Something About the Law?

    (Aditya is currently the owner and author of the website, Something About the Law)

    Something About the Law was a blog that was started by my classmate Arun Mohan and myself while at law school. We used to write on various public policy and social issues from time to time. The idea of the blog was not merely to spread awareness about certain legal issues but also to individually hone our respective writing skills. To this end, I think the blog greatly helped me critically analyse various legal issues. During our penultimate year at law school, we started the Socio-Legal debates – the idea being that we would get distinguished speakers to fly down to NALSAR and debate with each other on issues with the entire debate being streamed online. We secured sponsors for the events and enjoyed packed audiences.

     

    Many a people in the legal practice are awestruck when they look at your long list of publications. Do you have any advice for any of our readers who might be interested in having their research papers and articles published?

    Haha. I am quite perturbed by the fact that students rarely read full cases or books now a days. If any research needs to be done, one instantly looks at online databases rather than open an authority on the subject and read the entire chapter. In fact, I myself used to do this while at law school till I was told by senior lawyers and well-wishers to read full cases (not just paragraphs or head notes). The utility of opening a book and reading all that is written about an issue, including its theoretical underpinnings also acts as a revision and strengthens the foundations of the reader. On the other hand, merely searching for a point of law online lacks these aspects.

    I believe this practice continues to help me in my research and understanding of the law and I would advise the readers to develop this habit, irrespective of whether they are interested in research and publications.

     

    You have recently taken a break from practicing law to teach and pursue research. What made you take this break? What are you currently focusing your research on? What are your views on the topic?

    I’ve taken a break primarily to strengthen my own foundations in commercial law, primarily contracts and commercial remedies. I am currently researching on the area of commercial remedies, i.e. injunctions, damages for breach of contracts, specific performance and trust based remedies (a largely ignored subject in India). One of the projects I’ve undertaken is to chart out a theory of damages in India. I’ve also taken a “break” to see if academia is my calling.

     

    Would you like to share any views on the state of legal education in India?

    There are a few disturbing aspects about the state of legal education and the profession in the country. Each of these stem from the fact that the legal profession in India is largely unorganised.

    First, it is quite tragic that even though we have only about 15 National Law Schools and about 5 other good legal institutions (20 in total), we cannot get adequate faculty to teach in these law schools. I was quite disturbed to read online that students at HNLU Raipur and NLU Assam were constrained to protest because they didn’t have adequate faculty or facilities. What was even more disturbing is the report that students at NLU Ranchi were asked to write their end-semester exams without being taught the subject. This points to an alarming trend in legal education.

    Second, and on a related note, not much is being done to attract talent into academia. A lot of students from national law schools are now pursuing LLMs, M.Phils and Ph.Ds. In fact, as of today, about 35 people from my batch of NALSAR itself have completed their Masters from reputable institutions. However, there is hardly any incentive, monetary or otherwise, for many of these students/alumni to get into academia. If one spends lakhs on their Masters, it is likely that they would need a job that can help pay off the loan. It should not then be expected that such person will join an institution that pays little.

    Third, despite graduating from most of these law schools, it is hard for the students to get jobs. This stems from the fact that the legal sector in India is largely unorganised and it is still hard to make it within the system if you don’t have any support/backing. Any organisation only exists in the law firms where one can be said (though some believe it exists here too) to be recruited on the basis of their competence. However, the supply of graduates from the national law schools and other reputable institutions largely overshadows the demand at the law firms.

    I believe that one of the advantages of a law degree is that there are many career options available to a lawyer after graduation. One may consider a career in litigation, law firms, corporates, human rights, the NGO sector, public policy, UPSC, the UN, journalism and the like. Legal institutions must capitalise on these advantages and help students diversify their career options after law school. At the same time, institutions like the Bar Council of India must strive to organise the profession in such a way that one isn’t disadvantaged because he or she doesn’t have a mentor or any backing in the profession.

     

    Finally, what is your message for our readers, most of whom are college students?

    The law school curriculum is structured in a way that exposes the student to many facets of the law. However, one notices that the moment a student joins law school, he or she is focused on joining a corporate firm, UPSC or the like. While it is good to be ambitious and have a plan, the student must not shut out his or her options. It is beneficial to be exposed to different areas of the law and then make a decision on what line to pursue. Students must also pursue research.

  • Ankita Ray, Senior Associate, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, on building a career in Corporate Law

    Ankita Ray, Senior Associate, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, on building a career in Corporate Law

    Ankita Ray graduated from Symbiosis Law School in 2010. With excellent legal and soft skills, a profound love for the written word and a series of successful internships, after graduating she pursued a corporate law practice for a few years with J. Sagar Associates. She is now a Senior Associate in Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas.

    In this interview, she shares her insights on:

    • Interests and gravitating towards law and university life.
    • Decisions in college – extra-curricular activities and maintaining a good academic record.
    • Interning – how she chose her internships and the differential internship experiences in India and in Singapore.
    • Working at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas and the changes that being a senior associate brings.

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    I am a senior associate with Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, working out of their Mumbai office. I was in the Bangalore offices of Amarchand Mangaldas Suresh A. Shroff & Co. for a period of 2 years, before relocating to Mumbai. I started my professional life with JSA, Bangalore, after graduating from Symbiosis Law School in 2010.

     

    Tell us about your life before you joined college. Where did your interests lie as school student?

    My father’s transferable job took me across various cities and towns in India, and through 8 schools! This meant recreating a new social circle and inculcating aspects of new cultures every few years, if not months. I have always been interested in the written word and would probably have studied literature, if law had not happened. While in school, debating and mock parliaments were my favourite extra-curricular activities and I bagged a few laurels representing my school in various competitions. It is a plus that both these interests come in handy as a professional lawyer.

     

    What made you gravitate towards law?

    What made me gravitate towards law – this is an interesting one! I had the opportunity to be a part of the Indian contingent to the International Schools Olympiad held in Karachi, Pakistan, in 2004. Organised by The Telegraph in Schools, our journey to Karachi was much more than a competition, and was dubbed a peace mission: ‘Bonding Beyond Borders’. While I cannot say enough about the exhilarating experience that it was at various levels, this was the first time I had exposure to interesting discussions on various legal issues across borders, especially on international law. This piqued my interest in the legal field. Later that year, while deciding on which field to select for my graduate studies, I knew that I wanted to study law.

     

    What extra-curricular activities did you participate in while in university? What do you think is the importance of moot competitions, mediation competitions and debates in aiding the overall development of a law student?

    ankita-ray-4My approach towards engaging in any form of extra/co-curricular activity is geared towards expanding my limits and gaining new experiences. Given that, personally, I do not think one kind of activity can be more important than the other. However, it is best to take a shot at every possible opportunity before deciding what you would like to be regular at. Moots etc. are definitely helpful in getting your research and speaking skills in place or to evaluate yourself in those areas. While it is important to move out of your comfort zone, it is also important to try to understand what you identify with.

    The first couple of years in college, I was into debating (and won the best team in debating in Mood Indigo and a Rotary Club debate). Thereafter, having interned in law firms by then, I realised the importance of having adequate drafting skills. Further, I realised I enjoyed the entire process of researching and putting it down on paper in the form of an article. I won the national first prize for an essay on cyber crimes, in a competition organised by Competition Success Review, in 2013 and a couple of articles also got published in Manupatra.

     

    How important is a CGPA for recruiters to assess students? How did you maintain a balance between a good academic record at university and your extracurricular activities?

    Let’s put it this way: for the purposes of campus recruitment, CGPA is one way for recruiters to shortlist from a large number of students. Also, if one intends to pursue a Masters degree, academic scores will be relevant. Any which way, it never hurts to keep your academic records in good shape.

    It was not very difficult to maintain a balance between a good academic record and extracurricular activities! During our time at Symbiosis Law School, we did not have the concept of weekly assignments and exams (which have been introduced now), which made it a bit easier. However, like in everything, time management is essential – usually keeping a fixed time (even if it is half an hour a day) to devote to your extracurricular activities works well.

     

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    Tell us about your internship experiences. How did you choose your internships? How early did you apply? Are there any things that an applicant must keep in mind?

    Initially, I wanted to test out as many avenues of the legal profession as possible, in order to make an informed decision on which one I would want to follow. Therefore, I interned with an NGO, a senior counsel in the Kolkata High Court, in the legal departments of Vodafone India and ICICI Bank and law firms, in that order. Post my first internship in a law firm (Khaitan & Co., Kolkata) I realised that I would like to work in a law firm environment. Hence, all my internships thereafter were in law firms.

    I applied anywhere between 6 – 9 months in advance. Very often, during an internship, my reporting/mentoring lawyers were kind enough to either get me a follow on internship or refer me to other firms for internships, when requested. Similarly, seniors from college were a great help when it came to getting internships.

    A couple of things that an applicant for internships must be careful about, even before actually joining an internship, is their application email (which should be without any grammatical or spelling errors and customised) and their resume (which should not be very long). Following up after sending an email requesting for an internship opportunity is another important matter.

     

    You interned at reputed firms in India as well as a firm in Singapore. How was the internship experience different? What did you gain from the experience?

    I was lucky to get an opportunity to experience the workings of a foreign law firm during my stint at Drew & Napier in Singapore, which added another dimension to the entire internship experience. The chance to examine the laws and experience the workings of the judicial process of a different jurisdiction was a fruitful experience. Meeting lawyers and co-interns from Singapore and other countries like Australia, France etc., having discussions on comparative aspects of laws from our respective countries was truly enriching.

     

    You joined JSA after graduation. Tell us about your experience at the firm and the work profile you were entrusted with.

    Like all firsts, my tenure at the Bangalore offices of JSA (where I began my career from), is memorable in many ways. I got an interesting mix of work there, ranging from technology law (this was in 2011, when the privacy rules were enforced) to transactional matters.

    Since I hear a lot of complaints from juniors about doing due diligences, one thing I would specifically like to mention here is that in my first year of work, I also did a lot of due diligence exercises. Contrary to popular belief, due diligence exercises were a great learning experience since they exposed me to the entire gamut of laws that may be applicable and a range of different sectors.

     

    You have now been made senior associate. How different is the work from being an associate and what challenges have you had to deal with since?

    ankita-ray-2At the Senior Associate level, you need to be thorough with your field of law. You are expected to have ready answers which are legally sound and which can be implemented in practice. It is also essential to develop skills (both, legal and soft skills) to handle clients on your own and maintain an ongoing relationship with them.

    In terms of work, there is a shift from taking the first crack at a document to reviewing a first draft worked upon by a junior. In this regard, there is also a role of mentorship that you play in your own small way.

    Additionally, you are increasingly aware of the business side of law practice – invoicing and revenue generation, networking to generate more work etc.

     

    Apart from corporate/commercial matters, you now handle a lot of labour and employment matters. Could you give our readers a glimpse into what the area deals with for those interested and the type of matters one may expect to deal with?

    Previously, employment and labour laws were pertinent more from the perspective of protection of blue-collared workers. However, with increasing interest in India as a destination for foreign investment, finer issues in this field of law have arisen. Hence, employment law practice has now assumed greater significance, with many law firms recognising it as a separate, albeit upcoming practice area.

    In terms of work, there are primarily four buckets one may consider: The first being employment advisory which covers complex issues of trade union strategy, high profile terminations, large scale downsizing and retrenchments in all sectors, sexual harassment complaints, as well as routine matters such as employee handbooks, appointment letters etc.

    The second bucket of work is transactional – conducting human resources due diligence, employee movement, transfer of employee benefits, recognising employment related risks in different types of transactions, whether business transfer or share acquisitions.

    The third bucket of work is contentious matters such as wrongful terminations, internal investigations, disciplinary procedures, sexual harassment complaints and includes representations before the labour commissioner.

    The fourth bucket is compliance – where we conduct employment health checks for companies and assist in identifying risks and advice on best practices.

    The practice of employment laws is interesting and challenging given the human element involved in every situation – no two people react in the same way and often each situation we advise on throws up different issues, which are often time sensitive and have to be dealt with. Therefore, it involves thinking on your feet, where you have to complement your legal knowledge with a practical approach towards the issue at hand. With regard to the kind of work one can expect, there are no two days which are similar! And that is what makes this practice area invigorating!

     

    Finally, what advice would you have for our readers, most of whom are college going students?

    While at law school, try to participate in as many activities as you can, be it moots, debates, mock parliaments. Also, I would emphasise doing as many internships as possible, because there is no alternative to gaining practical experience. However, do enjoy the college days!

     

  • Vishavjeet Chaudhary, Assistant Professor, Jindal Global Law School and Barrister (Inner Temple) on LL.M from Cambridge and academic research

    Vishavjeet Chaudhary, Assistant Professor, Jindal Global Law School and Barrister (Inner Temple) on LL.M from Cambridge and academic research

    Vishavjeet Chaudhary graduated in law from University of Kent, Canterbury in 2011 and was called to the Bar in 2012. He went on to complete his Masters’ degree from University of Cambridge in 2013. During his time there, he pursued Criminal Justice, Philosophy of Criminal Law, History of Civil and Criminal Law, and Jurisprudence. Aside from his legal career, he is interested in Human Rights and their protection, poverty alleviation, Social Services, and Economic Empowerment.

    He is a Barrister (Inner Temple) and is currently working as an Assistant Professor at O.P. Jindal Global University’s Jindal Global Law School where he is also the Assistant Director of the Centre for Penology, Criminal Justice and Police Studies.

    In this interview, Vishavjeet talks about: –

    • What made him pursue a legal career;
    • His experience while studying in the UK;
    • His focus on pro-bono and Human Rights related work;
    • The importance of Public Speaking; and
    • The difference between the UK and India with respect to legal systems.

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    I am a Barrister, currently working as an Assistant Professor. My areas of interest are criminal law, constitutional law and human rights. I am also a very keen traveller, horse rider and agriculturist!

     

     

    What made you get into the legal practice?

    I knew that I wanted to be a lawyer when I was five years old! It partly ran in the family but my decision was not influenced by that in the slightest.  Other than the odd (I have been into full time agriculture for some time!), this resolve has been unwavering. I think one can make a genuine difference in this profession as law is something that touches everyone’s life in one way or the other. Second, this profession allows me to pursue my interests- intellectual endeavours, public speaking and interacting with a wide variety of people. Third, the independence of this area really attracted me.

     

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    What inspired you to pursue your LL.M at University of Cambridge?

    I chose my undergraduate university based on how liberal it was. The university allowed for tremendously wide multidisciplinary studies. A lot of my tutors there very kindly encouraged me to pursue Masters in Cambridge to gain deeper understanding of the law. Most of my courses were either in jurisprudence, history or crime.

    What made you focus primarily on Criminal Law?

    I find criminal law fascinating- this is an area where all facets of human social interaction are at play. It is also an area that studies the depths of human emotions- passions, insecurities (no pun), deceit and weakness. Human Rights play a pivotal role as well. As I was interested in all these areas, I focused on criminal law.

     

    While at University, what co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, if any, did you partake in?

    I gave everything a shot – from debating and mooting to Polo and American Football!

     

    How did they benefit your performance at University, academic or otherwise?

    Intellectual activities like debating helped me in organising my thoughts, developing public speaking skills and communicating my point in a clear and persuasive manner. Sports and other activities helped me in relaxing and letting off steam. Both were also great ways to socialise and get a well-rounded education.

     

    What does your work for the Centre for Penology, Criminal Justice and Police Studies entail? What purpose does this Centre serve?

    (Vishavjeet is currently serving as the Assistant Director of the Centre for Penology, Criminal Justice and Police Studies at the prestigious Jindal Global Law School)

    The CPCJPS offers cutting edge inter-disciplinary research in the areas such as victim protection, reparation, juvenile justice, police reforms, technically sound training in human rights complaint law enforcement and investigation. Our aim is to encourage dialogue between different players of the criminal justice system to contribute to this area.

     

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    What made you get interested in Human RIghts? What is the importance of pro-bono work?

    (Vishavjeet has shown keen interest in protection of Human Rights, Social Services and pro-bono work since his University days)

    I feel a big part of human life is to help. I do not say there is anything heroic about that- someone has to do it! I also find it intensely satisfying and enriching to be able to make a difference. There are few things half as rewarding as putting your knowledge to good use for betterment, no matter how small the change!

     

    How is the role of a Barrister any different from that of an advocate in Indian Courts?

    I was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple. England and Wales have a dual system- a distinction between Barristers and Solicitors. To crudely put it and to crunch centuries of history – Barristers do more advocacy and solicitors do more paper-work, conveyancing, etc.

     

    What inspirations can the Indian justice system draw from that followed in UK?

    vishavjeet-chaudhary-3Our Justice System is excellent considering everyday challenges. We do however need to urgently address issues like delays, transparency and the occasional malpractice if the system is to enjoy legitimacy and authority. All sections- judges, lawyers, the civil society- all of us need to put our heads together and work out solutions that are sustainable.

     

    How important are activities like Public Speaking and Debating for a law student?

    (During his time at Kent, Vishavjeet was the Vice – President and the Co- Founder of the Kent Debating Society. Further, he was a member of the Speakers’ Committee at Cambridge and has always stressed on the importance of public speaking)

    Exceptionally important I think. The perception is that if you do not want to get into litigation, you do not necessarily need to train as a public speaker. Public speaking regardless helps in developing wit, confidence, succinctness, persuasive knack and the ability to think on your feet. I feel that these are essential skills for a lawyer, irrespective of the area of practice. There certainly are other ways to develop these, but public speaking is definitely one of the best!

     

    What got you interested in interdisciplinary studies with respect to law? How do you intend on connecting the various disciplines?

    (One of Vishavjeet’s primary interests is appreciating law as an interdisciplinary subject by relating it to other disciplines like Philosphy, Literature and History)

    I feel we should not approach law as an overly technical subject. Borrowing from other areas  like literature and philosophy helps tremendously in broadening horizons and innovating. It is great to break the drudgery sometimes as well!

     

    From your experience of teaching, what would you like to say about the newer generations of law students? How would you say their education and way of life differs from yours as a student?

    The similarities are striking! Students today have more access (and more distractions) depending on how you use the internet, ‘applications’ and the like. I also feel they make more calculated and informed choices now.

     

    Finally, what would be your message to our readers?

    Please ensure you are making the best of each day right from day one. Time flies in college! Do talk to as many people as you possibly can, try as many new things as you can and have fun! Learn the basics of law and principles behind it to create strong foundations. Some degree of stress is inevitable, but do not overly stress and remember to enjoy college life! Good luck!

  • Utsav Gandhi, Associate, Fox Mandal, on 1st year at a law firm and graduating from Nirma University

    Utsav Gandhi, Associate, Fox Mandal, on 1st year at a law firm and graduating from Nirma University

    Utsav Gandhi graduated from the Institute of Law, Nirma University in 2014. He has participated in many reputed International and National Law Moots and has headed various committees. During his time in college he made sure to get his hands on everything college had to offer. He is currently working in the corporate and real estate law team  at Fox Mandal, Ahmedabad and wishes to keep exploring the field and continue the cycle of learning.

    In this interview he talks to us about:

    • His decision of choosing ILNU and the college’s contribution in his career.
    • His views on Moots and other activities in augmenting a CV.
    • His work and experience at Fox Mandal.
    • His views and suggestions on starting a successful legal career.

     

    How would you like to be known to our readers, most of whom are the law aspirants?

    I am a corporate lawyer based in Ahmedabad and a graduate of the 2014 batch of Institute of Law, Nirma University. Also, I am a first generation lawyer in my family. Initially I thought of studying engineering, but when I started going for the engineering coaching classes the subjects did not capture my interest. While looking at other options I came across law and I immediately took a liking to subjects such as tort law, civil law and criminal law, that I came across while studying for the law entrance exam.

     

    What specific goals, other than those related to your current line of business, have you established for yourself for the upcoming years?

    None of my plans are set in stone. However, in the coming years I would like to grow as a legal professional and tackle new challenges over time. Further, I would also like to assume a position of leadership and develop expertise in a particular area of law. On a personal front, I was an avid trekker in school and that is something that I would like to proactively pursue as a hobby in the near future.

     

    What led you choose your college or university?

    When I joined ILNU it was relatively new, with the first batch students still in their 5th year. However, Nirma had a very good reputation for having excellent faculty with amazing infrastructure. In fact the Nirma University campus has to be one of the best in India. Also, when I went through the prospectus, it immediately piqued my interest since the course structure was unique, wherein a student could pursue a specialisation (Hons.) in either Criminal, Corporate, Constitutional or IPR Law. Thus, I believed that joining ILNU would help me immensely in building my career as a legal professional.

    How do you see your university and education and experience it imparted as being helpful in preparing you for a corporate career?

    I would credit the teachers at ILNU for being extremely diligent and focused on teaching the students about the basics of law. Further, I was also given the opportunity to explore many extra-curricular activities such as debating, MUNing and of course, mooting.

    Further the curriculum at ILNU was quite rigorous, with term assignments and exams always keeping me on my toes. This helped me greatly in improving my time management skills and also helped me to work under pressure, s so ILNU through 5 years of college, prepared me for the corporate life.

     

    Tell us about the activities you participated in while at university that helped boosting your progress?

    I participated in everything that I could get my hands on. I have participated in many international moot courts which have greatly improved my research and communication skills. In fact, mooting was the best thing about college as it also taught me how to work in a team. Further, I also tried my hand at debating and MUNing which helped me in public speaking. Apart from this, I have been part of the ILNU’s Campus Recruitment Committee and Literary Committee, which imbibed in me, the leadership skills, which are invaluable for any lawyer and something that every lawyer should possess.

    Also, I have presented papers at various international as well as national conferences and have got some of them published as well. This gave me the opportunity to extensively research on upcoming areas of law and have now helped me in my career. For example, I presented a paper on Corporate Social Responsibility, which back then was only an evolving concept and there was no legislation on the same. However, my research encompassed various jurisdictions and consequently, set up a strong base for me in that subject. Now, CSR has become a major area of interest/concern in the industry, and it has become extremely easy for me to advise the clients on the same.

    With regard to the internships, I kept an open mind before deciding on a particular area of law. I had not decided to choose corporate law as a career since the beginning. The various internship experiences I did helped me choose a definite career path. Thus, during my early years at ILNU I decided to intern with Nanavati Associates (District Court, Gujarat), Adv. Devang Nanavati (High Court of Gujarat) and Krishna and Saurastri Associates (IPR). Finally, it was when I interned at Phoenix Legal and Trilegal that I decided pursue a career in corporate law.

    Further, I have also completed various courses such as the Thomson Reuters’ Legal Advancement Programme (in my second year) and a diploma course on Entrepreneurship Administration & Business Laws jointly offered by NUJS and iPleaders. These courses helped me improve my knowledge base and have also played a major role in helping me to ace my interview with Fox & Mandal.

     

    Share with us your working experience as an Associate at Fox Mandal, India’s oldest law firm.

    I have been working on corporate and real estate law matters at the Ahmedabad office of Fox & Mandal for the past 2 years. My work profile mainly comprises of transactional and advisory work in the area of general commercial laws and drafting due diligence reports and advisory opinions on real estate law.

    Fox & Mandal is a huge law firm with over 200 lawyers across India and all the offices regularly connect with the each other. Therefore, I have had the opportunity to interact and work with some of the brightest minds and experts in their fields of law. Further, since the Ahmedabad office is relatively new I have also had the opportunity to network with potential clients across various industries in Gujarat. I believe that no other big law firm would have provided me with this opportunity and I am sincerely grateful to Fox & Mandal, as I believe that this will always be of an immense help to me.

     

    Would you like to share with us any of your accomplishments before or after joining the Law School or even after your placements?

    The first moot that I went to was the GNLU International Moot Court Competition, where our team won the 2nd Best Memorial Award. Later on, we were the first team from ILNU to get selected for the prestigious D.M. Harish Memorial International Moot Court Competition through the Memorial Round. I was also awarded a gold medal by ILNU in recognition for my moot court achievements.

    Further, I have also won an essay competition which was then consequently published in a book titled “Right to Development – Views and Issues”. I also pursued an online internship with Alexis Society (an organisation dealing with issues relating to youth empowerment), where I was adjudged the Best Intern and I had primarily worked on the research topic of Global internet freedom.

    At present, I am also closely working with Adhrit Foundation as an Editor and an Internship Coordinator. My priority tasks with Adhrit include Editorial Work, Content Development and Talent Development. This role has provided me with the opportunity to mentor many law students who have just begun their law school journey.

     

    Having seen the dynamic evolution in various facets of law, how did you manage to seize any opportunity that knocked your door?

    One has to really be on their toes and it is very important to keep a lookout for any new opportunity. The best resource for this is of course the internet, which is a multitude of vast information. However, in order to stand apart from my peers, I always chose to do something new and take risks and I give a  100% to whatever I am doing.

    Also, I always keep myself updated with the latest developments in the legal field and immediately prepare concise notes for the clients on the upcoming areas of law which are going to have a big impact on the industry. After joining Fox & Mandal, I have also assisted in organising various conferences and workshops with the latest one being a Workshop on Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace. Further, I have also delivered a lecture at Apollo Hospital, Ahmedabad on the medico-legal issues that healthcare professionals face. This has helped me in understanding the industry issues and consequently, helped me in addressing their various concerns too.

     

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

    I believe that a law student should focus on his academics to ensure that the basic concepts are clear since that is the first thing that the recruiters will look at while short listing a candidate. However, one does not need to be a topper to get a good job. The important thing is that the CV should be well-rounded. Also, I would advise the current crop of law students to moot extensively, irrespective of whether they’re choosing litigation or a corporate law career. Mooting develops ones research and communication abilities to a great extent. Further, other extracurricular activities such as debating and presenting papers at various conferences also helps in developing presentation and research skills.

     

    In the end, what would you like to communicate to the fresh graduates who are ready to set foot in the law firm?

    Keep an open mind and work on as many areas of law as possible and always interact with everyone across the board, be it an Associate or the senior management. Further, the field of law is dynamic and ever changing, hence, one has to stay abreast with the latest developments and preferably conduct a thorough research on topics which may have a huge impact in the future. Also, ones aim during the first couple of years at a law firm should be to accumulate knowledge on all the aspects of law and not confine themselves to a particular area from the beginning.

     

    This interview was taken by: Kadambari Tripathi, Student at Institute of Law, Nirma University, Ahmedabad

  • Manas Agarwal, Scale-1 Officer, Karnataka Bank on cracking the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) and the interview rounds

    Manas Agarwal, Scale-1 Officer, Karnataka Bank on cracking the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) and the interview rounds

    Manas Agarwal graduated in the year 2014 from School of Law, Christ University, Bangalore. Immediately upon graduation, he joined Accenture Pvt. Ltd. as a Contract Associate, before appearing for the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) and being selected as a Scale-1 Officer (Law) for Karnataka Bank.

    He holds a Diploma in Business and Legal Studies, apart from having completed a general course on IPR laws conducted by WIPO. He has to his credit many awards ranging from debating to moot courts. In this interview he discusses:

    • The benefit he accrued from studying in a private university with many departments.
    • The IBPS examination and how he cleared it
    • His tips to ace the interview rounds after a selection process
    • The importance of a helpful mentor in a lawyer’s formative years.

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    Hey! This is Manas Agarwal. I prefer to introduce myself as a lawyer falling under the ‘Non-Nerd’ category. I graduated from School of Law, Christ University, Bangalore. I am currently working as Scale-1 Officer (Law) for Karnataka Bank.

    Was studying law your dream career? What motivated you to take up this field?

    In all honesty, it was a dream career which I started dreaming of after class 10th. I remember that day when I was sitting on the stairs of my boarding school (Wynberg-Allen School, Mussoorie), staring at the lush green hills under the monsoon clouds and thinking aboutwhat to do with my life. That is when I asked Mr. Tindale (the Principal) who was standing next to me– “Is it a cool thing to be a lawyer?” His ‘Whoa! Attaboy’ expressions followed by a detailed explanation motivated me to take up this field with the never ending support of my parents.

     

    Tell us a little about your time at School of Law, Christ University, Bangalore. What extra-curricular activities did you participate in and how did it enrich your law school experience?

    Christ University was a good platform for me not only to grow as a budding lawyer but also to grow as an individual as I was being exposed to different multicultural and departmental benefits which a deemed private university could offer. I was an average student academically. I was that guy who enters the class with a basketball in his hand in the morning. Every class has that one guy. I was mostly active outside the classroom being immensely involved in the extra-curricular and co-curricular activities such Client Consultation Competitions, Negotiation Competitions, Moot Court Competitions etc. I was a part of the college’s basketball team and a ‘C’ cert. NCC cadet. I used to have basketball team practice before the class hours and NCC drills on Saturdays post classes. I made a lot of good friends who are not just restricted to the legal industry but belong to different departments such as management, computers, engineering, commerce, arts etc. which again is one of the perks of a private university having different departments under one roof.

     

    You have won many moots, debates, client counselling and negotiation events during your years at law school. What do you have to say about excelling at such events?

    manas-agarwal-2As we prepare for a competition, we spend hours researching about the problem/topic in the process of preparing the contentions/agenda. In this process of intensive research, many a times, students get deeply engrossed in the problem and reach the advanced level of the research but forget to prepare on the basic or elementary knowledge of the problem in hand which is mostly questioned by the judges in any competition. My advice to students who wish to excel at such competitions would be to start from scratch. Try to understand the problem first and then ask yourself- Did you understand the subject matter? Can you narrate the problem to your friend without looking at it? If not read again. Before turning into an insomniac and shifting to the advanced research levels reached through spending late nights at the library, a student should work on the root questions. If a student is thorough with the basics, half the battle is won.

     

    You hold a diploma in business laws and have also completed a certificate course on IPR laws offered by WIPO. What is the value addition of such external courses?

    As a student of law, when I took up these courses the thought which hit me first, as it mostly does for the students of that age, was it’ll reflect good on my CV. What I have realised after completing these courses was that more than the CV, the knowledge delivered by these courses which helps in the long run. A decorated CV can only get you an interview call but the knowledge you gained will help you jump rest of the hurdles, both before and after joining.

     

    You have been selected as Scale-1 Officer (law officer) at Karnataka Bank conducted by IBPS. Would you like to tell our readers a bit about the examination and the process of preparing for it?

    Sure! So IBPS conducted this exam for Karnataka Bank. Firstly, the candidates were shortlisted based on the exam, which was conducted online similar to other bank PO exams. The exam was a 200 mark multiple choice question paper with 5 options. The paper was divided into 5 sections including Quant Aptitude Test (Mathematics, which was the biggest challenge for me being away from the subject for quite a time). There was 1/4th negative marking allotted for each wrong answer. Result of the test was communicated after a few days on the official website of the bank. The selected candidates were given the interview call letters and were accordingly called for the interview at the bank’s head office located in Mangaluru. This year they have selected 73 candidates in total including all categories – General Probationary Officer (PO), Agriculture Science and Law.

     

    What advice would you give to the candidates short listed for the interview?

    My advice to the aspirants is just to be real. Do not try to fake it or make up stuff. Respect the expertise which the panel possesses. They will easily catch you if you happen to make up stuff. Prepare well and if you do not know a thing then tell them clearly. Remember they want a genuine and honest employee.

     

    What are the responsibilities of a Law Officer in a bank?

    A Law Officer in a bank deals with the cases related to the bank and acts as an advisor to the bank whenever a question of law is involved. The statutes which a law officer deals with are Acts such as the SARFAESI Act, Indian Contract Act, Banking Regulation Act and various other statues related to the banking industry.

     

    You worked at Accenture Pvt. Ltd.  prior to this. How was your experience as a contract Associate?

    Accenture was a great place to work. I really enjoyed working there. Starting your career with an MNC such as Accenture teaches you a lot of things, professionalism being top on of that list. It helped me grow as a team player under the guidance of highly qualified managers who were always ready to connect and help me during and post work hours.

     

    You have interned at different places having different lines of business including Holla and Holla, Bangalore and ICIC Lombard, Bangalore. What were the greatest takeaways from these?

    As a law student, I had planned to design my CV in the most diversified way possible. Where Holla and Holla taught me the research work on property laws, ICICI Lombard extended my knowledge on the applicability of the motor vehicle insurance laws. When a law student enters a law firm or a legal department of a company in his initial years, he expects it to be like the TV series Suits. However,  right after the initial week, he gets his reality check. That’s when he is ready to adopt the new culture of the firm/company and tries to learn their way. This is the time when he actually needs some additional support from the lawyer he is working under or the supervisor. I was fortunate enough to have wonderful leaderships in both of these places which helped me learn the importance of management.

     

    What would be your message to law students and your fellow colleagues?

    Law school is a wonderful phase of your life. Make the most of it in all possible way. Once you are out of the law school you’ll find yourself in a swimwear on a beach. You’ll be desperate to enter the sea in order to beat the heat but you’ll be wondering from where to enter.  I have gone a bit philosophical on this one but I am sure you’ll relate to it one day. Stop worrying about the packages and CTCs. That should be your last concern (trust me!). It’s the knowledge and experience which matters the most in long run. Don’t forget you are a lawyer now. Do what interests you the most. Always remember what my elder brother (Manav) always told me- ‘First job picks you whereas you pick the second one.’ Don’t panic, you have time. Just focus on the direction you are in and not how much you are earning at the moment. ‘You don’t get a second chance and all’ is utter nonsense. Life never stops giving you chances provided you work and ask for them. Most importantly never ever stop enjoying (chilling- as we like to call it) no matter what you do or how busy you are. We are born to live and not just to work. Good Luck!