Super Lawyer

Category: Associates, In-House Counsels and Advocates

  • Namrata Chatterjee, Associate, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, on leaving law firm for FIFA masters, studying law at NLU Jodhpur and cracking job interview

    Namrata Chatterjee, Associate, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, on leaving law firm for FIFA masters, studying law at NLU Jodhpur and cracking job interview

    Namrata Chatterjee is a graduate from National Law University, Jodhpur (2013 batch). She worked with Amarchand Mangaldas & Suresh Shroff & Co, Delhi (now Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas) for around two years and has just left the organization to pursue the FIFA Master Program; a masters in humanities, management and law of sports, on a full tuition fee waiver. We asked her to share her law school and work experiences, and reasons for leaving one of the best jobs in the country.

    In this interview, she talks about:

    • Law school experience at NLU Jodhpur and all about balancing Academics with co-curricular
    • Cracking AMSS interview, work experience at AMSS and the first year of graduation
    • Applying for the FIFA Masters programmer and qualifying for full tuition waiver

     

    How would you introduce yourself? Could you please share a little bit of what motivated you to pursue law as a career?

    Hi, I am Namrata Chatterjee, a graduate of the 2013 batch of National Law University, Jodhpur. I worked with Amarchand Mangaldas & Suresh Shroff & Co, Delhi (now Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas) for around two years and have just left the organisation to pursue the FIFA Master Program; a master in humanities, management and law of sports, on a full scholarship (full tuition fee waiver).

    To be honest, Law was never my first choice career option. I had taken up the science stream and was preparing for the engineering entrance exams during my XIth and XIIth standard. Though a lack of passion in the subjects I was pursuing made me realize it would be a mistake to keep continuing down a path which wouldn’t give me work satisfaction. Hence, I then decided to pursue law. The fact that my father, who is in the Civil Services also has a law degree and my mother is also a lawyer, though she left practice a long while back had me interested in the legal profession. Though ultimately, the decision to take up law came after my elder sister, Amrita Chatterjee commenced her legal studies at NUJS, Kolkata. Therefore, while giving CLAT, my first choice was NUJS so that I could study in the same college as my sister, after studying in the same school, D.P.S R.K. Puram together.

    However, as luck would have it, I did not get through NUJS and made it to NLU, Jodhpur instead. Initially I was unhappy about the same, but in hindsight I feel it was a great thing to have happened to me as studying in a different college than my sister gave me a lot of different exposure and surely made me much more independent in life.

     

    How did you make the initial shift from a science background to law? Would you say it was difficult settling in?

    I had taken up the science stream as that was the most encouraged field to be taken up after securing over 90% in my class Xth Board exams. Though once I did take up science, I began to realize that a career in engineering wasn’t my real calling. Though when I made the shift to law, there again I got the option of taking up B.A/B.BA/B.SC (LL.B) in NLU, Jodhpur. However, this time around I decided to go with the pure social sciences and opted for B.A LL.B (Hons). Though there was one thing about the science stream that helped me in my legal studies and that was the enhanced logical reasoning skills and the propensity to question. So, I would say, it was never difficult for me to settle into legal studies.

     

    Tell us about your college life at NLUJ. What all activities did you partake in?

    In a sentence, College life at NLU, Jodhpur has given me memories of a lifetime. Though, I took a little time to settle down in Jodhpur initially having lived in Delhi for most part of my life. However, soon I became used to the quaint environment of Jodhpur. NLU, Jodhpur not only stressed on academics, wherein we had continuous assessments throughout the semester along with presentations and compulsory court room exercises in the law subjects, it also gave ample opportunities for interested students to take up mooting, debates, MUN’s, cultural activities and sports among other things. In fact, if likeminded students got together, they had the independence to start a lot of interesting activities etc. I participated in MUN’s and paper presentations and that helped us to travel along with getting a good exposure.

     

    Please tell us about the manner in which you approached academics while in college. Please share some highlights from your college days that shaped you as a lawyer.

    I always took academics seriously. I maintained a good CGPA throughout the five years. Though I’ll be honest, I did not pay attention to everything that was taught in class always and rarely ever took notes. Rather, only subjects of my interest and especially the classes taught by some of the teachers who made the classes rather engaging caught my full attention. However, to prepare for the continuous tests and exams, I always studied in groups and studied from the notes taken by my friends and generally always fared well in the exams. I would not have specific highlights that shaped me as a lawyer, but it was more of a gradual process, being aware of your rights and trying to reason with the teachers and administration to convince them, debates and discussions with my friends and finding evidence to back my points amongst other things shaped me as a lawyer.

     

    A lot of law students in their first and second year of law school plan to change the legal regime of India. Many of them promise themselves to work pro-bono on social issues, curb menaces and threats to the society. Have you ever felt that kind of thought crossing you?

    Yes, I wouldn’t deny these thoughts having crossed my mind at several occasions. Not just during college but even when I worked at Amarchand. Sometimes a cab driver while dropping me to the High Court would seek my legal advice or my house maid would approach me with a legal dispute and at those moments, I kept feeling the need to give back to the society and help the under-privileged with whatever legal knowledge I have. However, to be able to do some pro-bono work, firstly I think it is important to gain more knowledge, work experience and the resources to truly be in a position to help others and yes, if possible someday if not full time, I would hope to assist in some way in taking up pro-bono matters in whatever field I am pursuing.

     

    How did you fare in your academics at NLUJ? Would you say a great CGPA is a necessity to kickstart a good career in the legal profession?

    I maintained a consistent CGPA in college and stood within the top ten percent of my batch. A good CGPA is not the only measure to secure a good career in the legal profession. Interest in what you pursue and working hard in internships and other extra-curricular activities help as well. However, as the recruitment scenario of the big law firms go, if you have a good CGPA, it helps you to get shortlisted for the interview comparatively easily. Though maintaining a good CGPA is hard work in itself. However, that gives you the leeway from the stress of securing a PPO through the internships. Further, moot courts, publications and such activities does help in building a good CV, but as I can say from my own example, these things are not necessary to secure a good job. I only participated in one moot late into my 4th year that too since it was a moot in IPR, a subject of my interest and I did not have any publications during law school. So, it is not necessary to participate in a lot of moots etc. However, if you are interested in them, taking them up would be an added benefit. However, a good CGPA and a good interview helped me to secure a job at Amarchand.

     

    Which subjects did you enjoy during your qualifying degree? How did you go about developing expertise and knowledge in these areas?

    I particularly enjoyed the Intellectual Property Rights and related law subjects the most in law school. I even took up IPR as my specialisation or honours subject. Though, even more than IPR, I was passionate about sports law. From my childhood, I have loved sports and this field of sports law gave me a chance to explore the interplay of sports and law. However, sports law as a subject was not taught in my college. Therefore, to pursue my interest in the field, I constantly kept reading websites like lawinsport and pursued internships in the field. I even mentored some of my juniors in sports law under the academic mentorship program initiated by some of the students in my college. In furtherance of this interest, I even took up sports law as my seminar paper in my final semester. Even in IPR, I was more interested in copyright and trademarks as opposed to patents and I constantly kept reading, writing and researching on the congruence of IPR and sports law. Even for the research paper/projects we had to develop in most of the subjects taught in college, I would try to write them on sports related topics.

     

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    How did you plan your internships? How relevant did you find your law school education with the kind of work you were required to do at law firms?

    I actively planned to take up at least one internship in a year. I never over burdened myself with internships as I always wanted to keep some time off to spend with my family and friends at home. However, I pursued internships keeping my interests in mind. In my first year, I interned at NHRC, subsequently I pursued litigation internships with advocates and law firms like Luthra & Luthra and Parekh & Co. Though from my third year onwards, I started streamlining my internships even further to explore and gain experience in areas I was most interested in, being IPR and sports law. Therefore, I interned at Law Offices of Nandan Kamath, a boutique sports law firm in Bangalore and Copyright Integrity International. I even interned with Retd. Justice Mukul Mudgal and gained firsthand experience of interesting work in sports law.

    Law school education is the foundation to develop how you interpret the laws and the approach towards legal thinking. Though from experience, I would say that we learn more on the job than we learn in law school.

     

    Did you find that your law school education had prepared you sufficiently for the many tasks you were required to execute during your internships and later at your job?

    As I just said, law school education helps you to develop a legal thinking and good researching skills. Further, the subjects that one takes interest in law school, those subjects and certain landmark cases therein stays with us always. However, we learn most subjects and topics on the job when we are faced with a practical situation regarding the same. In a way, the curriculum at NLU, Jodhpur and the continuous tests, mid-terms, vivas, projects, presentations, moots throughout the semester prepared us to work late into the night when required and meet deadlines in any manner and these things surely help us to be prepared with the work life and expectations at your job.

     

    Soon after graduation, you joined AMSS as an Associate. How did your appointment take place? What worked for you in securing the job?

    I got placed at AMSS at day zero of our placements that year. I had never interned at AMSS before so did not know what to really expect there. However, I was shortlisted for the interview based on my CV and my good CGPA I believe. I think my interview happened very comfortably and I was confident throughout the interview and that helped me secure the job. As also, as I have previously mentioned, a good CGPA, some varied and good internship experiences and participation in paper presentations and such activities helped my case.

     

    How was the job interview? Do you remember any of the questions asked to you? Please give our readers some tips to nail a law firm interview.

    The first round of my job interview was the group discussion round and we got to discuss and debate on the Indian Premier League, since I am very passionate about sports, the topic put me at complete ease. Post the GD, we had a personal interview round which was a mix of HR and technical questions. Though, I would really like to mention that staying calm and comfortable in an interview really helps. Even if you are unsure about a particular question, put it across to them that this is what you think and tell them that on this particular point you may not be completely sure. However, the subjects you are interested in and things mentioned in your CV about projects or internships, those things one should be aware of while preparing for the interview. Know your CV well and what you tell them you are interested in and at least show that you have taken some steps towards your interest. Further, for the HR questions don’t make up answers or take long to think and answer rather use your wit and give appropriate answers, it would surely help.

     

    How was your first year after graduation? What do you think were the biggest hurdles and challenges in the early days of your career? How did you deal with them?

    The first year, more so the first six months in your job are the most difficult. If one can mentally survive through the challenges that come up in the initial phase of your job, it becomes easier to handle pressure further. Since, in AMSS they had a policy of rotation for the fresh graduates who joined them; I was placed in a corporate team for the first phase post joining AMSS before being ultimately placed in the litigation/dispute resolution department. However, since I was always interested in pursuing litigation in AMSS and having never really interned in a corporate law team in any of my previous internships, I was not very comfortable in starting my career doing corporate law. Therefore, initially I took time to settle down, took more time to complete assignments, though some of the seniors understanding my position really guided me well. So, it is very important to get good seniors to guide you initially and one should not hesitate to ask questions and soon one figures out the expectations of their seniors and how to handle timelines without compromising quality.

     

    What kind of work and responsibilities does an Associate at AMSS deal with?

    In the first year of my time at AMSS, being in the corporate department, my work responsibilities included research, assisting in drafting responses and opinions and assisting in drafting due diligence reports, though once I shifted to the litigation department, my work responsibilities increased due to shorter deadlines before court hearings. Most of my work responsibilities included research, drafting the first draft of some of the pleadings and counsel briefing notes as well as providing assistance in counsel briefings and court hearings. Also, we are expected to know the files well and be adept at paper management in briefings and hearings to aptly assist our seniors. Due to large number of matters across various judicial forums, in a lot of matters I got the chance to go to courts by myself for filing as well as minor appearances.

     

    Tell us about a case that you are particularly proud of. What steps do you take to prepare for a difficult case?

    There have been one or two high profile cases I have been involved in and due to the high stakes of those matters, it has been very interesting to work in them. The biggest advantage I felt of working in Amarchand was the diversity of matters and especially the big matters that we got involved in. These matters involved various complex questions of law and gave us a chance to closely work with senior counsels and adopt their good practices as well.

    Difficult cases require extensive research and thinking out of the box. One should always keep thinking of innovative arguments and put forth their views to their seniors.

     

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    What has been your strategy to deal with errors and mistakes?

    It is only human to err. Even I have made some errors and mistakes in my time at the firm, but dealing with them and finding quick fixes is one more thing this job has taught me. In fact, I would say along with work experience, this job has taught me more of life experiences. In terms of mistakes, I can give an example, say, if at all I would forget to bring copies of an important case law to the court, I would go to the court library and secure copies of the same before the damage is done. Therefore, it is important to reach for conferences and court a little before time and know your bags and papers well, so that these kinds of errors can be fixed within time. However, if you have made mistakes which you cannot easily fix, always bring it to the notice of your seniors so that they can use their experience for crisis management rather than hiding it from your seniors.

     

    How do you keep yourself abreast with latest industry news and trends?

    It is indeed important to be abreast with latest news in our profession. Reading the newspaper daily helps in this regard. So many times while researching for a case, I can remember reading about similar cases in the newspaper and then that helps with finding relevant and recent cases. It is also important to keep reading articles and SCC Online etc for the latest cases especially the landmark ones that come up. It is also very important to check the current position of law regarding every proposition one has to argue for their case.

     

    There is a considerable attrition rate at the top law firms, what do you think contributes to this? What has been your personal experience?

    The attrition rate is considerably high at the top law firms because the work pressure is surely a lot. Also, it more so depends on the reason one enters the law firm. Some people come to gain some good work experience before proceeding for their masters, which is somewhat my own case as well. While some people cannot deal with the daily demands and stringent deadlines, some people after joining realize this is not their interest area and move towards what they are really interested in. However, this is true that if one wants a less hectic life and most of their weekends free and finds it difficult to maintain the quality of work in extremely short deadlines, then it is difficult to continue in a big law firm.

    Personally also, after working here for around two years, I am now moving on to pursue my masters in a field which I have always been keenly interested in, i.e sports law. I applied to colleges and courses specifically providing for masters in IPR or sports law and applied and secured admission to University of Zurich, ISDE Madrid, George Washington University and the FIFA Master program and even secured a scholarship everywhere. So once I received the full scholarship (full tuition fee waiver) at the FIFA Master program, I knew it was time for me to pursue a field I am more interested in and the experience at Amarchand would definitely help me everywhere ahead. So, my reason for leaving the organisation was that though I was doing good litigation work, it did not involve a lot of sports related disputes and I wanted to always pursue my masters post getting a couple of years work experience.

     

    Life for lawfirmites can be very hectic at times. What is your take on work-life balance? How do you unwind?

    Yes, life at a law firm is hectic but during court vacations, things are less hectic and most people take their leaves at that time. I feel it is very important to have a work life balance; otherwise one tends to lose interest in their work and is busy dealing with deadlines and stress rather than enjoying what they do. So, as much as possible one should relax as well as go out with their family and friends on the weekends and try and avoid getting work back home, unless the situation really demands for it. Even in office, one should take small breaks to interact with their friends and walk around a bit to avoid sitting at their desk at a stretch for long hours.

     

    How did you decide to leave a cushy law firm job for the FIFA Masters programme? Please tell us about the programme and how you got gravitated towards it.

    I agree, it isn`t an easy decision to make when it comes to leaving a secured and well paying job for an uncertain path. However, I did what I feel will give me the right platform to pursue my field of interest.

    I have been a sports buff since my childhood. My father always found a partner in me to watch matches with him and then engage in endless discussions about various players and game strategies! Therefore, once I took law, it was only natural that sports law caught my attention the most. Now, to try and succeed in a sports related field, it is important that I obtain the right exposure and specialised knowledge. In that regard, the FIFA master fit my requirements perfectly.

    The FIFA master program is an international M.A teaching three different aspects which form the core of working in a sports related field, being humanities of sports, management of sports and law in sports.

    The first module is the humanities module which takes place in DeMontfort University, Leicester and covers aspects relating to the history and development of sports and sports organizations. The second module is the management module and is held at SDA Bocconi school of Management, Milan and the last module of the 10 months program is the law module dealing with the legal aspects of sports, dispute resolution, ethical issues in sports etc, to be held at University of Neuchatel, Switzerland. The final degree is awarded by all the three partner universities in association with CIES and FIFA.

    Along with the classroom teaching and guest lectures, the program also includes field visits to various sports clubs and organizations like FIFA, UEFA etc in order to learn about their fuctioning, marketing, governing regulations etc from the relevant experts.

    I have decided to undertake this program as along with sports law, this also widens my arena to cover management of sports which are upcoming fields in India and post completion of this masters, hopefully I would be able to contribute to further developments in these fields.

     

    How did you manage to get a full tuition fee waiver? Could you please detail the procedure in details?

    The option to apply for the scholarship is present in the main application itself and the selection procedure for the course takes place in two stages. If one is shortlisted based on the application, they then have to give an interview to be finally selected. So, during my interview I was told that they generally do not give the full tuition fee waiver scholarship to one person rather look towards dividing it amongst a few students. However, post the interview which wasn`t really a technical one, when I was finally informed of my selection, I was also informed that I have been awarded the full tuition fee waiver. The scholarship is given on the basis of need as well as merit.

     

    The question that whether one should specialise in a particular area of law or be more of a general lawyer often comes up before law students. What is your opinion on the same?

    I am going to pursue the FIFA Master program which in itself is a very specialised and unique course. This is a program organised by CIES and FIFA and taught by three partner universities being De Montfort University, SDA Bocconi School of Management and University of Neuchatel across England, Italy and Switzerland respectively. This program teaches the most relevant inter-disciplinary fields related to sports-humanities, management and law of sports. This program would surely enhance my knowledge and interest of sports law and along with it would also open the ambit of sports management if I choose to pursue the same. I agree, leaving a secure job and going to do something so niche might be a bit of a risk. However, I believe one should at least try to pursue what they love rather than keep regrets in life. So, particularly I feel if one has figured that they are interested in a specific field over the others and performs their best while dealing with work in that area then they would always enjoy what they do and get appropriate outcomes too. Working on laws that one does not find interesting, like I never enjoyed corporate laws doesn’t help in one’s growth and development as a lawyer. So, it is important to start as a general lawyer but if you feel there are some areas you enjoy more than the others, I would suggest and encourage one to pursue them further.

     

    What would be your parting message to law students?

    Work hard, enjoy what you do and don’t be afraid to take risks and explore options.

     

  • Roshan Gopalakrishna, Chief Legal Counsel, Copyright Integrity International, on work in sports and entertainment law and law school experience at NLSIU, Bangalore

    Roshan Gopalakrishna, Chief Legal Counsel, Copyright Integrity International, on work in sports and entertainment law and law school experience at NLSIU, Bangalore

    Roshan Gopalakrishna graduated from NLSIU, Bangalore in 2008 with a keen interest in sports and entertainment law. He is currently the Chief Legal Counsel at Copyright Integrity International and Senior Associate at the Law Offices of Nandan Kamath. He has advised the International Cricket Council on rights protection and is also a member of the Taskforce set up by the Karnataka Knowledge Commission to draft a comprehensive Sports Policy for the State. In this interview he talks about:

    • Pursuing sports and entertainment law.
    • Representing India at the Australia-India Youth Dialogue 2015.
    • Working at CII and the Law Offices of Nandan Kamath.

     

    Our readers consist of law aspirants, law students and young lawyers. How will you introduce yourself to them?

    Hello everyone. I’m a sports and entertainment lawyer with 7 years of experience in advising various stakeholders in sport. I graduated from the National Law School of India University in 2008. A large part of my life revolves around sport, and I hope it continues to stay that way!

     

    Tell us a bit about your childhood and pre-college life as well as educational background. Do you have lawyers in your family?

    I was born in the coastal town of Karwar, Karnataka. Apart from being a place of great natural beauty, (the Western Ghats, the Kali river and the Arabian Sea all meet here) Karwar is famous for two things (i) Project Seabird – which will develop into the largest naval base east of the Suez Canal (ii) inspiring Rabindranath Tagore to pen Prakritir Pratishodha (Nature’s Revenge). Tagore’s brother Satyendranath was a district judge in Karwar in the 1880s. In Tagore’s words – “The sea beach of Karwar is certainly a fit place in which to realize that the beauty of Nature is not a mirage of the imagination, but reflects the joy of the Infinite and thus draws us to lose ourselves in it. Where the universe is expressing itself in the magic of its laws it may not be strange if we miss its infinitude; but where the heart gets into immediate touch with immensity in the beauty of the meanest of things, is any room left for argument?”

    I was born into a family of doctors on my mother’s side and civil servants on my father’s side. There were absolutely NO lawyers on either side of the immediate family. As my father was a civil servant, we were able to experience life in many districts across Karnataka. As a devout follower of the state syllabus, I completed the SSLC from Sri Ramakrishna Vidyashala Mysore, one of Karnataka’s best residential schools for boys, and II PUC (Science Stream) from the Government PU College, Chikkamagalur.

     

    In India there is bit of resistance towards legal education even now. What motivated you to choose law as a career?

    I think I realised early on (around 8th standard – I was an early thinker!) that I did not have the aptitude required for a career in medicine or engineering. The larger issue was that it took an additional 2-3 years for me to figure out what exactly it was that I wanted to do. At boarding school in Mysore, the correspondent Rev. Sw. Muktidanandaji and the warden Rev. Sw. Atmashraddhanandaji suggested that a career in law and specifically at NLSIU would be a good option given my inherent qualities.

    My parents were extremely supportive of my decision and it helped that my father was aware of NLSIU’s reputation from his time as the Registrar of Bangalore University in the 90s. After that it was a matter of focussing on the NLSIU entrance and hoping for some divine intervention.

     

    How did you get through to NLSIU?

    Ah, after two years of trying!

    I attempted the NLSIU entrance exam in 2001 for the first time, and ended up with a rank in the top 100 or so, but missed the cut-off of 115 by about 4-5 marks. It was particularly devastating as I had no back-up option and I knew that some of the haste that I showed in the last 15 minutes of the test had proved to be my undoing. So while my father was posted in Chikkamagalur district, I basically just spent a whole year reading, playing cricket and badminton, and ‘preparing’.

    Wiser, I attempted the NUJS and NLSIU entrance tests in 2002. The result of the NUJS entrance test was shocking to say the least. I ranked second overall! While I was undoubtedly pleased as punch, unfortunately, it also brought out one of my worst qualities – hubris, and I just assumed that I’d waltz through the NLSIU entrance as well. The NLSIU entrance test of 2002 was probably the toughest in the history of the institution. The topper scored 99/200! Yours truly was ranked 62, basically bottom of the waiting list.

    The academic term at NUJS started a month in advance of the term at NLSIU.  As I had already paid the fees, I joined NUJS in June 2002 (Kolkata during the 2002 FIFA World Cup that Brazil won, beat that!). As fate would have, an opening at NLSIU in mid-July meant that I was able to join NLSIU at last, by the skin of my teeth no less.

     

    Tell us about the places you have interned at. Did you plan your internships throughout law school?

    At NLSIU, the 2-month break internships are largely structured as follows – first year and second year: usually NGOs or non-legal, third year: trial courts, fourth year: appellate courts and fifth year: usually with a law firm or a company.

    I followed this roadmap for the large part. More so since at NLSIU the trial court + appellate court + fifth year internship count towards a grade. Once I realised that my interests were in the sports ecosystem, I pro-actively sought opportunities to work at sports management companies, leading to internships with Mahesh Bhupathi’s Globosport, the Organising Committee of the Sony Ericsson International Bangalore 2007 (a WTA tier 3 tournament) and with Mr. Vinod Naidu – Sachin Tendulkar’s manager. Further, I was also able to convince members of the faculty at NLSIU to include sports related topics in the list of project topics allotted to students (IPR, ADR, Business Contracts, etc.). I guess this was a fun way of getting the most out of your passion and your profession.

     

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    Currently, you are working at two boutique firms CII and The Law Offices of Nandan Kamath that are now widely regarded as the best firms for IPR protection and sports law in India. Please walk us through your work profile in both of these organizations.

    I joined CII and LawNK on June 1, 2009. On graduation from NLSIU in 2008, I headed to Melbourne to work with a law firm. Changes to the requirements for Indian lawyers to qualify locally in the state of Victoria (studying 11 Australian law subject to qualify, as opposed to 3-4 in 2007-08) meant that I headed back to familiar shores earlier than I had planned. I also managed to gain 2-3 months of experience consulting for an advisory company engaged in the Australia-India space.

    At LawNK, I was the firm’s first associate. At CII I was given the opportunity to build the company’s trademark monitoring practice. The clinching factors were (i) the opportunity to work in Indian sport (ii) a chance to work with Mr. Nandan Kamath, India’s premier sports law practitioner.

    Both choices have been equally rewarding! I currently occupy the role of Chief Legal Counsel at CII and Senior Associate at LawNK. In addition, I also provide pro bono legal assistance to the GoSports Foundation. CII is now one of the world’s premier rights protection agencies, and LawNK has been ranked amongst the 50 best boutique law firms in Asia, the 50 best IP law firms in India and was officially appointed to provide legal advice to the ICC on commercial matters during the CWC 2011.

     

    You have advised ICC [International Cricket Council] on anti-piracy and rights protection its flagship events (CWC, Champions Trophy, World T20). What has your experience been?

    CII has been the ICC’s Rights Protection Partner since the ICC World Twenty20 2009. Our mandate is simple. We work with the ICC’s legal team in protecting the legal sanctity of the ICC’s 3 major revenue streams – ticketing, broadcast and sponsorship.

    Typically for an event such as the CWC, our work starts about 4-5 months in advance of the event. We dedicate teams of between 2-8 individuals for specific online, off-line and on-ground monitoring roles – monitoring live broadcast, highlight videos, trademark infringement, etc. and look to resolve infringements without the need for litigation. A large part of our efforts are focussed on educating the public on the permissible and impermissible use of the ICC’s IPR. Towards this end, we issue various public advisory documents and articles in newspapers. Personally, I have been able to lead the on-ground efforts at stadia in Bangalore (CWC 2011) and Chittagong (WT20 2014).

     

    Tell us about your experience, being a part of the Taskforce set up by the Karnataka Knowledge Commission to draft a comprehensive Sports Policy for the state.

    Well, for one, this has made my parents, in-laws and wife (in no particular order!) extremely proud!

    The Karnataka Knowledge Commission is a high powered commission constituted in September 2008 under the Chairmanship of Dr. Kasturirangan with an overarching aim of transforming Karnataka into a vibrant knowledge society. Each state in India now realises the importance of sport, and the taskforce is certainly the first concerted attempt by the GoK to address the lack of a comprehensive policy on the subject. The focus of the policy is to enable citizens to start, stay and succeed in sport, at various levels and support excellence, while using certain parts of Karnataka’s proven strengths (IT, BT, ITes, higher education) to create a strong system to administer and develop sport in the state. We hope to release the sports policy in a few months.

     

    What contributed to your selection as an Indian delegate for the Australia India Youth Dialogue 2015?

    The AIYD is the pre-eminent track two dialogue between young leaders from Australia and India. It was set up in 2009, around the time that Indian students were falling victim to attacks in Australia, with a view to get young leaders in both countries to interact and, in the long term, to increase cultural exchange and awareness. Each year AIYD brings together 15 Australian and 15 Indian young leaders who are experts in their fields of business, arts, academia, diplomacy, government, science and sport to discuss opportunities and challenges significant to the Australia-India relationship.

    As sport is one of the focus areas for the AIYD, and we have a lot of blue-chip sports clients based in Australia, I was able to indicate consistent engagement in the Australia-India space, and an ability to contribute to mutual co-operation (Australia has released a Sports Diplomacy Strategy 2015-18 which presents huge opportunities to develop sport at various levels in India). My Australian counterpart (on the sport side) was Lisa Sthalekar, arguably the greatest female cricketer of all time!

     

    You are a regular contributor to SportzLaw Monthly and lawinsport.com on issues relating to law and sport. How do you keep yourself updated of the recent developments in the field of Sports law and Intellectual Property Rights?

    Just to clarify, these are not research papers or academic articles! The articles that the team at LawNK has published are an attempt to capture the present position on the inter-play between Indian law and sport on various issues, and to explain the position in a manner that is easy to read for students, marketers, etc. We’re happy that our articles go some way in bridging the knowledge gap when it comes to law and sport in the Indian context. For those interested, the articles are available at – https://lawnk.wordpress.com.

    Twitter is my favourite source for information on sport, law and business.

     

    As a concluding message, what would be your suggestions to law students/younger corporate lawyers?

    Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I hope your readers find it informative. The sports, media and entertainment industries in India need good, motivated, knowledgeable and commercially savvy lawyers. To end, I’d like to quote Wayne Gretzky – “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”. So got out there, and take your shot!

     

  • Prem Jumani, Associate, Banking & Finance, ALMT Legal on being a Company Secretary and Lawyer and on law school experience at GLC Bombay

    Prem Jumani, Associate, Banking & Finance, ALMT Legal on being a Company Secretary and Lawyer and on law school experience at GLC Bombay

    Prem Jumani graduated with B.Com. degree from Mumbai University before joining GLC, Mumbai in 2008. Meanwhile he also managed to pursue CS degree. While pursuing law, he worked at Shree Ram Urban Infrastructure Limited as an Assistant Company Secretary.Soon after graduation, he started working at Batliboi Ltd as an Executive – Legal & Secretarial. Thereafter, he also worked at Kamal & Co. Advocates, Solicitors & Notary and Solomon & Co. Advocates & Solicitors. In 2014, he joined ALMT Legal as an Associate in their Banking & Finance and General Corporate team. In the same year, he was awarded with  the title of Rising Star of the 2014 Corporate Intl Magazine Global Award as ‘Corporate Compliance Lawyer of the Year in India’.

     

    Why did you decide to study Law? What inspired you to do so? How did you get through to GLC, Mumbai?

    My dad was a biggest inspiration for me, who made choose law as my career. Initially I took up law as a supportive degree to Company Secretary (CS). A law with CS is a very good combination for a corporate lawyer. Luckily my score on the board after my commerce graduation in 2008 was good enough to make my place in the merit list of GLC. Since GLC is the oldest law school of Mumbai and holds a huge reputation of building good lawyers it was my first preference in Mumbai.

     

    What were your areas of interest during your graduation? How did you go about developing expertise and knowledge in these areas?

    My interest was always corporate and commercial laws as I was pursuing CS during my graduation. I was interning with one of the leading infrastructure listed company which gave me a good base of corporate secretarial and capital market practice. Later on, as and when I moved ahead the attitude of ‘never say never’ helped me to get opportunities to do good amount of matters like private equity, acquisitions, banking finance and litigation.

     

    What do you feel about the perception that students of certain ‘elite’ NLU’s have a much easier time in kick-starting their career as compared to law students from other colleges? Is this true at all?

    Yes, it matters quite alot from which college one has done a graduation, but at the same time it may not possible for everyone to get into NLSIU or NLU. For getting a good start it is preferable that law students must do internships from second year onwards or even sign solicitors, if they wish to do so.

     

    After graduation, you joined Batliboi Ltd. as an Executive – Legal & Secretarial and later switched to assist Mr. Bulchandani – Counsel at High Court. What was the nature of your work at both these places? How would you describe your work experience as?

    My role at Batliboi Limited was more of corporate secretarial than legal. I felt that a job of company secretary was more of monotonous than a challenging work, I always enjoyed the legal assignments I use to get, but the scope of work was very limited in Batliboi for me. It was then a point of realisation for me that I want be a lawyer and take up the challenging assignments.

    Thus the hunt for finding a place in a law firm law started for me, but it was never easy for me to get in the law firms initially. I had never interned with any of the law firms earlier. After getting rejected by almost all the top tier law firms, I got a chance to assist Mr. Bulchandani in litigation matters at Hon’ble High Court of Mumbai and that’s how I did litigation.

    At the chambers of Mr. Bulchandani my work profile was to support him in each and every matter that was handled by him. I was given an opportunity to work on various matters with a wide scope. I generally use to assist him for High Court and Arbitration matters or even SEBI matter. At times I was pushed for appearing independently in small matters and I was developing a confidence in handling matters at trial courts. The work experience was undoubtedly fantastic with Mr. Bulchandani, but a pinch of moving from a handsome salary of Batliboi to a stipend was really big for me.

     

    You also had the opportunity to work as an Associate- Corporate Lawyer at Solomon & Co. Advocates & Solicitors. What kind of work you were entrusted with at Solomon and Co.?

    The work profile at Solomon & Co. was again very enormous for me. I had an opportunity to do vide range of matters like acquisitions, Indian Entry, corporate compliance, litigation, capital markets, private equity, etc. Above all Mr. Aaron Solomon is a very sharp lawyer and gem person to work with and I really admire him as a lawyer.

     

    Currently you work as an Associate in the General Corporate and Banking Finance team of ALMT Legal, Mumbai. How did you appointment take place? What do they look for in their prospective employees?

    My appointment in ALMT was by way of a chance, there was a panel of 4 partners who interviewed me and subsequently within a week I got selected and was asked to join the firm.  ALMT is a good growing law firm and gives a chance to lot of young lawyers a good platform to build their base. One needs to be honest, sincere and hard working for a good future and ALMT expects the same from its associates.

     

    What kind of work and responsibilities generally an associate at ALMT Legal deals with? What is a typical workday like?

    We generally deal with end to end responsibility in a transaction so right from a stage one to the closing of transaction everything is been handled by an associate. As far as what work a associate handles depends upon his or her expertise and interest.

    At times it’s hectic and we don’t even get a breathing space as any other law firm, but sometimes when we are light on work we make lots of news flash and update ourselves.

     

    What is the current scenario of studying corporate law as a career option in India? What are the key qualities one should posses for becoming a corporate lawyer?

    Corporate law has a very scope and includes various verticals of practice like private equity, capital markets, M&A, banking finance, corporate secretarial, tax practice, etc. In order to be a corporate lawyer one needs to have an interest and willingness of doing this subjects and it is better to have an additional qualification of a CA or CS or even MBL (Masters of Business Laws) which can give a good base.

     

    What have been the highlights of your job so far? What does it take to be a good corporate lawyer?

    I believe the diversity of matters is the major highlight of my career so far, as I have worked as a litigator, company secretary, private equity lawyer, capital markets lawyer and at time banking lawyer.

    Corporate law is not a rocket science but it takes smart and hard work plus a handy knowledge of subjects like contact law, CPC, companies act, SEBI, banking laws, etc. to be a good corporate lawyer.

     

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

    Errors and mistakes are the part and parcels of your life, you can’t avoid them and that’s the only way to gain experience. The strategy is to overcome the mistakes by analysing and understanding them and not running away from a situation.

     

    How do you think a CS degree can prove to be useful in a lawyer’s career in the current as well as future market?

    Undoubtedly, CS qualifications help alot in understanding and dealing the situation.

    CS syllabus helps you to learn subjects of capital market and general corporate in-depth plus a qualification which gives you some accounting and finance knowledge. Though we lawyers do not concentrate on figures much, it helps me to understand better in client meetings at times.

     

    How do you manage to strike a balance between your personal and professional life?

    Its quiet simple for me because me and my wife both are in the same field and understand each other quiet well. We generally spend good weekends together which help us to manage our personal life better.

     

    What do you feel makes an intern stand out and is very important for him to do to have a chance of getting a call back or even a PPO?

    Internship in ALMT depends upon the requirements from time to time. A hard work is very important, one needs to ask alot of questions and analyse each and everything in the manner to understand why the things are done in particular way.

     

    Given a chance to turn back the clock would you have done anything differently from what you’ve done?

    I realised lot of things late in my life. I wasted lots of initial days, which I feel could have turned around my career a bit.

     

    What would be your message to a law student who is yet to decide his/her career?

    Internships and hard work are the key to success for future.

     

  • Amrapali Satpathy on studying LL.M from Cornell University, being a Summer Associate at Clifford Chance and experience in litigation

    Amrapali Satpathy on studying LL.M from Cornell University, being a Summer Associate at Clifford Chance and experience in litigation

    Amrapali Satpathy graduated from Delhi University with an LL.B degree before practising at the Supreme Court. She was awarded with the “Scroll of Honour” for “Promising New Advocate of the Year” by the Hon’ble President of India at the International Conference of Jurists. She then worked at United Lex, Gurgaon, followed by the Law Offices of Ireneo A Reus, Los Angeles and Clifford Chance LLP, New York. She is currently studying for her LL.M from Cornell University.

    In this interview she talks about:

    • Studying law at Delhi University.
    • Being a Senior Associate at CPA Global.
    • LL.M from Cornell University.

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself? Tell us a bit about your childhood and pre-college life as well as educational background.

    I am a simple girl who believes in traditional values while possessing a modern outlook. I am from Cuttack, Odisha. As a child I travelled quite a bit, and got to visit a lot of countries since my father is a Merchant Navy Captain. Travelling all over the world from such an early age helped me to develop a very wide and tolerant perspective about life and people in general.

    During the course of such travels I also made many friends globally and understood different cultures and way of life. At the same time my values as imparted by my parents, helped me to be very grounded and from a very early age I learnt to take deep pride in the diversity and magnitude of our Indian culture and traditions while respecting every other culture in the world. Part of my primary schooling was in Singapore from the Siglap Education Centre. When I was seven, we shifted back to Bhubaneswar, Odisha where I completed my higher secondary studies and was the state topper.

    Later my family shifted to Delhi. My inherent love for English made me complete my higher studies in English Literature with Honors and distinction and my childhood desire to be a lawyer made me study LL.B, which I passed with good grades and high merit. Currently I am completing my Masters in Laws (LL.M) from Cornell University in New York, USA.

     

    How did your interest gravitate towards law?

    My family has always encouraged me to be a lawyer. Two of my uncles are lawyers, and so was my grandfather. Books have always been my greatest influence after my parents. The subject of law and imparting justice has always fascinated me through my readings of various books on the subject. As a child I was absolutely caught up with Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, and Perry Mason while as a teenager I enjoyed reading Catherine Barnard’s ‘What About Law’ and Amartya Sen’s ‘The Idea of Justice’. Back then I perceived the law as an indestructible, infallible weapon which had the power of liberating the society from all kinds of misdeeds. Although as a teenager I did get a little cynical about the judicial system, nevertheless I always had this belief, which was strengthened as an adult, that no matter what, the law when used by the right people in the right manner has tremendous potential to bring forth the right result and guide society in the right direction. I could join my father’s business, I could be an astronaut, an actress, a model, an engineer etc. In short I could do anything and be anybody. But if there was any profession which allowed me to be in control of my life and at the same time possess the power to help people and society, it was the legal profession. As a lawyer I could have the freedom of interpreting the law in the manner I wanted and then implement it for the betterment of society. And that’s the very reason why I chose this profession.

     

    You have completed your law graduation from Delhi University. Tell us about your law school experience and the co-curricular activities you took part in?

    Studying law at Delhi University was one of the best and most memorable experiences of my life. More than anything else, it brought me in contact with people from extremely diverse ages, economic backgrounds and social beliefs. One of my classmates at the Faculty of Law was a 69 year old gentleman who was a doctor by profession, but wanted to study and understand the Indian law since he was going through some property dispute with his brothers. Then there was this lady who was a teacher at a primary school but wanted to study law so as to get a better paying job as a lawyer in order to support her family, who were entirely dependent on her. My educational experience at Delhi University was truly an eye opener for me, in the sense that I got to see and understand different people, all belonging to the Indian society yet each was so different from the other.  Their differences added colour and variety to the atmosphere at Delhi University, which I don’t think can be found at any other educational campus. I was the convenor for the legal aid society and also headed the dramatic club. Both these roles were extremely enriching. As the convenor of the legal aid society I arranged legal aid camps for the slum dwellers at Yamuna Pushta and as the head of the dramatic society I arranged street plays addressing sensitive, yet less talked about issues in our society like female infanticide, domestic violence and incest. I love debating and was in charge of the debating society for some time where I participated in and arranged college and inter-college debate competitions.

     

    What skills did you get to hone as the Secretary of the Student’s Debating Association and Dramatic Society and also as a   Convener of the Legal Aid Society?

    More than anything else my involvement in these societies made me a people’s person and a team player. Today these are the two skills which have helped me forge lasting friendships and be a good listener while being able to work effectively as a lawyer amongst different kinds of people.

     

    After your graduation, you worked in the Supreme Court. What has been your perspective of litigation in India? Have you found in overrated in any way?

    Sadly the field of litigation in India is quite gender biased and dynasty based. Gender biased in the sense that even today while the courts give judgments for empowering women, yet the very same lawyers at these courts look down on practising female advocates and belittle their talent and knowledge. Unless you are a woman belonging to a very reputed legal based family, it is almost extremely difficult to make a decent entry into the field of litigation. Which reminds me of the admiration, adulation and work opportunities which are bestowed on some freshers, only because of their connection to such reputed legal families, while there are lawyers who slog away their entire life finding clients willing to pay them a decent amount in exchange for their services. Still, I don’t think litigation is an overrated career option. There are always exceptions to the rule and I also firmly believe in hard work paying off sooner or later. Like I said earlier that no matter what, the law when used by the right people in the right manner has the tremendous potential to bring forth the right result and guide society in the right direction. What matters is that the right people should not give up.

     

    Please tell us about your experience with regard to your first few sessions in court. Has it become more difficult for a fresher to achieve success?

    There is an immense sense of responsibility, pride and self satisfaction when you are standing in front of a judge to a packed courtroom and fighting for your client’s rights. In the current scenario, yes it is definitely becoming more and more difficult for freshers to achieve immediate success in this field, unless you are extremely well connected. However, hard work, patience and perseverance coupled with ambition always bears fruition in the long run, if not immediately.

     

    What was the role of a mentor in your case? How important do you think a mentor is in the field of litigation?

    Frankly, I had no mentor, except my parents who have always been my greatest source of motivation and support. Since I had no mentor, I personally cannot speak about it, since I personally don’t know about it. But yes, speaking pragmatically, a good word of recommendation always helps in advancing your career in any field and the field of litigation is no exception to this rule. But then again, if you are talented, ambitious and hard working you can still make a mark without any mentor.

     

    What motivated you to leave your litigation practice and join United Lex an LPO?

    Although my family is extremely well connected both politically and many of my family members hold reputed positions in the legal field, yet my parents were absolutely clear from the day I joined the legal profession, that no matter what, they would never ask any of their connections for any professional assistance for my career. I agreed with my parents and respected them for this decision. At the same time it was extremely difficult for me to get interesting cases in order to further my career, because without having anybody to vouch for my credentials it was extremely difficult to get important cases. Also, truthfully speaking I was getting bored with the simple quality of the cases I was asked to deal with, while my seniors took charge of the more challenging ones. It was at this point that I got an offer from United Lex asking me to join their corporate department and provide legal services to their overseas client British Telecom. Apart from being extremely interesting, the job profile was something which I had not done before. Hence I took the bait and joined United Lex as Associate for Contract Management.

     

    You have worked for one year at United Lex. What had contributed towards this appointment? Tell us about your work profile at United Lex.

    LPOs have a very tight budget which depends entirely on their international/national clients. Depending on this budget LPOs determine the salaries of their employees. That’s one of the reasons why LPOs rank number one in hiring freshers because then they do not have to pay these freshers higher salaries. Since I was in the litigation field and had no corporate experience, I was treated as a fresher by United Lex and my remuneration was paid according to the industry standards of a fresher. At the same time I had the knowledge and confidence required for this role and that contributed towards my appointment.

    Working at United Lex was a very good experience. As an Associate of Contract Management, my responsibilities encompassed handling the entire contract lifecycle management process which included reviewing of complex agreements, and drafting and negotiating a wide variety of agreements ranging from NDAs, MSAs, Procurement Agreements, Framework Agreements, Software License Agreements, etc. each of which were unique in their structure and level of complexity. The work experience at United Lex was very dynamic and interesting.

     

    After United Lex, you went on to the University of California, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.)  as a  Visiting Scholar. How did you get appointed at University of California as a visiting scholar? What was your role and what are the responsibilities you were entrusted as a visiting scholar?

    As a legal counsel for my father’s business venture, I had to travel a lot to Los Angeles where one of our clients had their offices. While there, one of my relatives told me about UCLA’s course for visiting scholars. Since I had to be there for many months at a time, I decided to look this up online and later visited the campus. The course was fast paced and quite interesting. It would add value to my Resume apart from increasing my knowledge. There were no formal certifications as such, except a transcript of all the subjects which I studied there. Since I was not getting any formal certification, yet I was taking classes with the LL.M and JD students and I was also giving the exams, my designation was that of a Visiting Scholar. UCLA comes up with these exchange programmes and summer courses which are really good because you get to learn about international law without getting hassled about degrees and certificates. Since I was in Los Angeles primarily as legal counsel for my father’s organization, I really didn’t have too much time to take on added responsibilities at UCLA. It was mostly work, study and seeing the lovely places in Los Angeles. It was a cool experience and Los Angeles was a beautiful place.

     

    amrapali-sathpathy-3

    You have also worked at the Law Offices of Ireneo A Reus (Los Angeles, USA) as a paralegal for four months. How did you apply? What did your work profile consist of?

    While at Los Angeles, I thought it would be a good idea to work for an international law firm and get an idea how the legal process works in the US. I looked up for any vacancies at law firms in Los Angeles through online U.S. employment portals and came across this opportunity at the Law Offices of Ireneo A Reus. I applied online and was selected after being interviewed. My work profile involved mostly researching on core  legal issues and assisting the senior attorneys with drafting and vetting of complex legal contracts, conducting comparison, risk analysis, and due diligence of complex contracts.

     

    What does being a Paralegal mean? How different is it from being an Associate at a law firm?

    Paralegals are not allowed to offer legal services directly to the public on their own and must perform their legal work under the supervision of a senior associate. Usually lawyers who work in a foreign country are initially hired as paralegals because they do not have the requisite knowledge and understanding of that country’s law and legal process. Hence they are not permitted to give legal counselling or take up cases in courts for the clients. Where an associate is expected to deal with the entire legal process at an organization, from counselling clients, to going to courts and drafting contracts and negotiating, a paralegal’s work is only limited to giving assistance to the associates on various legal issues.

     

    Thereafter, you have also worked as a Summer Associate at Clifford Chance LLP (New York, USA). What does Summer Associate mean? How is this position valuable to a law student?

    A summer associate is just another synonym for an intern in the US. As a designation, a summer associate of course sounds cooler than an intern. Summer associates are current law students who are interning at a law firm or organization for the summer. Summer associates have not passed the bar exam and are not lawyers. This position holds the same value as that of an intern. It’s not a job guarantee but if you are interning at a reputed law firm or organization, the brand name looks great on the Resume and can attract prospective employers into calling you for an interview. Also if you have worked really diligently you can even get hired by the same firm for which you interned, provided of course there is a current vacancy, which is usually rare because the attrition rate at such reputed firms is very low.

     

    Also, please brief us about your work profile as a Summer Associate at Clifford Chance LLP.

    My job profile as a Summer Associate with Clifford Chance LLP involved assisting the senior attorneys on structured debt including CLOs, securitization, small balance commercial mortgages, RMBS and covered bonds.

     

    Meanwhile, you were also associated with Amrapali Exports Pvt. Ltd. [your father’s startup venture], as a Legal Counsel. What does Amrapali Exports do? Tell us about the nature of work you were entrusted with therein.

    Amrapali Exports provides legal solutions to a Singapore based corporation. My responsibilities included managing multiple client environments and various accounts as Legal Counsel for my father’s startup venture. I dealt with prospective clients by interacting with the key sponsors in various multinational companies and drafted corporate and commercial agreements. I also extensively advised on post execution enforcement issues, exit options under joint venture agreements, compliances under the companies’ law and FDI regulations.

     

    After serving at your father’s startup venture, you have joined CPA Global as a Senior Associate. Please walk us through your appointment procedure and interviews. Also, tell us about your work profile at CPA Global.

    The HR Manager at CPA Global contacted me after going through my work profile on a leading online Indian employment portal. They briefed me about the job description which involved giving legal solutions to a leading overseas metal and mining corporation. The work was challenging and interesting. Also since my father’s startup venture was doing really good, I was interested in seeking further challenging opportunities with global organizations so as to further increase and enhance my knowledge. I was selected after the requisite number of interview rounds. My responsibilities included contract drafting and database maintenance, contract review and redlining, contract template creation and revision, contract negotiation and approval support.

     

    Were you doubtful before joining Cornell University? Why did you prefer Masters over your job?

    I have been interested in a Master’s degree in Law ever since I was studying for my LL.B degree at Delhi University. It has been on my mind for the longest possible time but somehow the time was never right. I didn’t simply want an LL.M degree to adorn my already quite impressive repertoire. My desire for pursuing an LL.M degree was to further complement my existing knowledge with an understanding of how to implement my knowledge on an international platform. For that, I obviously needed to gain practical work experience as a lawyer. That was the reason I waited for a few years and got the necessary experience before venturing out to get the much coveted LL.M degree. A Master’s degree in Law, from a reputed university can do wonders to your career prospects, provided you know how to use the knowledge you have gained in order to further your career by putting yourself at par with other globally acclaimed lawyers at an international level.

     

    How did you choose Cornell University over others? How did you go about choosing a university?

    Cornell University is an Ivy League University which is one of a kind just as Harvard, Colombia, Upenn, Princeton and Brown Universities. My criteria for choosing which universities to apply at was primarily based on the institution’s intrinsic reputation, online reviews and from what my seniors who had completed their LL.M abroad, told me. I was selected at the London School of Economics, the National University of Singapore, both Colombia University and University of Pensylvania. However, I chose Cornell because of its reputation for conducting an extremely limited, unbiased and exclusive selection process based entirely on a student’s merit and intelligence. I was also quite keen to study at Cornell, because of its reputation of offering interesting legal courses coupled with the freedom to choose the subjects depending on a student’s individual interests. Cornell also has some of the world’s best teachers in the field of law. Luckily due to my incessant hoping, the blessings of my parents and God’s grace, Cornell selected me and I was offered a place in its prestigious LL.M degree.

     

    How did you go about writing your SOP? Are there any key factors which one should keep in mind before writing the SOP?

    While writing my SOP, I stayed clear of artificiality and repetitiveness. I was honest to myself and tried to convey my career goals and my interests as lucidly as I could. SOP is giving the other person an insight into your career goals, your interests and motivations and most importantly an insight into the kind of person you are. It’s important to be true to yourself and your goals while writing an SOP. The same should be conveyed in a simple yet dynamic choice of vocabulary. Simplicity of language is one of the key factors while writing an SOP.

     

    How about recommendation letters? Who all recommended you to pursue LL.M?

    Recommendation letters are an essential requirement while applying to universities abroad. My teachers at Delhi University very kindly recommended me for my application to the LL.M degree course abroad.

     

    What is your topic of research for LL.M? Why did you choose that subject for research?

    I chose two major topics for my research dissertation while studying for my LL.M degree. Both were original research papers for which I was awarded High Honors and was applauded by my teachers at Cornell University. My first topic of research was on the ‘Global Financial Crisis of 2008 and its effect on Legal Process Outsourcing.’ Though a lot of research has been conducted on the reasons behind the financial crisis of 2008 and its aftermath, yet I found that there was no satisfactory research which explained the connection between the financial crisis and the growth of the LPO industry. My second topic of research was ‘Seeking A Permanent Solution to the Rohingya Crisis.’ The Rohingya are a stateless population belonging to the Northern Rakhine State (formerly Arakan State), who are amongst Burma’s ethnic, linguistic and religious minority groups. The Burmese government has consistently denied this community citizenship status. Their exceptionally harsh treatment by the Burmese authorities and their condition as a persecuted minority has been a topic of international discussion. What amazed me was the fact that this issue had been so prolonged and without any solution still. I gradually conducted a lot of individual research on this issue. Apart from helping out with various non-profit organizations working for these refugees, I also ensured that I took active interest in letting the general public know about this problem. My inherent interest in international law and human rights has ensured my continuing interest in this cause.

     

    Please tell us a little about your academic schedule and the general experience of studying abroad? How different do you think it is from the pedagogy that Indian Universities follow?

    The academic schedule at Cornell University is very well charted out, giving the students enough time to conduct self study and participate in various scholastic as well as extra-curricular activities. Depending on what subjects you take your classes can start as early as 8:45 in the morning and end at 10 in the night. Since students are not encouraged to take more than 13 credits per semester, most students have an easy schedule. I personally had 18 credits for one semester, but due to the amazingly co-ordinated manner in which the classes were scheduled, I found that I still had ample time on my hands to do as I pleased. Indian Universities put a lot of value on study by rote method, which is not the case at Cornell. At Cornell rather than remembering cases and citing important legal judgments, we were expected to give our own personal opinion on whatever we studied. That opened up a lot of opportunity for thinking as a lawyer while still preparing as a student. Also before each class, we had assigned readings to do so that we would be able to get what the teachers are saying in class. The teachers, as a rule do not teach from the book. Rather, they have a Socratic manner of imparting education, whereby each student is called and asked for an opinion on the topic assigned for that particular day.

     

    Does Cornell University provide students with scholarships? Are there any other institutions, which provide scholarships?

    Cornell University does provide financial aid to deserving candidates. I am not so sure about scholarships though. Usually educational institutes abroad do not provide scholarships, but there may be exceptions. Instead, they give financial aid as and if required by an applicant. For this the applicant needs to show proof of requirement for the financial aid.

     

    You are about to finish your LL.M from Cornell University this year. So, what next?

    I am planning to take the New York State Bar exam soon. In the mean while, I do have a few job offers, two of which are from reputed software companies in India for the position of Legal Counsel, one is from a leading law firm in Singapore, and two are from real estate companies in the US. I also have a job offer from a newspaper publication in the UK, but for that I need to take a few exams in order to be eligible to practise law in the UK, and I am not too keen on that. And yes, I have an offer from Google but the position is based out of Tel Aviv, Israel. Depending on the circumstances and the remuneration offered, I shall make a decision soon.

     

    What led to your academic and professional achievements?

    (Amrapali was awarded “Scroll of Honor” for “Promising New Advocate of the Year” by the Hon’ble President of India, at the International Conference of Jurists while pursuing her graduation from Delhi University. She was also awarded High Honors for writing original research papers on “Global Financial Crisis of 2008 and its effect on Legal Process Outsourcing” and “Seeking A Permanent Solution to the Rohingya Crisis” at Cornell University.)

    My academic and professional records have been flawless. I have always been an exceptionally bright student scoring good marks throughout my academic career. As a lawyer I have always given my best to all my legal assignments. During the course of my education at Delhi University and my then ongoing internship at the Supreme Court of India, my name was recommended for the “Scroll of Honor” by my teachers at Delhi University and my seniors at the Supreme Court of India. As for being awarded High Honors for my research papers at Cornell, both my papers were original in their subject matter and analysis, apart from discussing issues of international relevance.

     

    Could you enlighten us, in brief, about your role at Arakan Project  and  Samarpan Foundation as a part of your Volunteering activity beside your  professional life.

    As a volunteer for the Arakan Project, I mostly worked towards ensuring that the Rohingya refugees in India were being given a decent lifestyle with access to health and education facilities. While volunteering at the Samarpan Foundation, I worked towards giving proper legal aid to the erstwhile refugees at Yamuna Pushta.

     

    Where do you see yourself five years from now?

    Five years from now I see myself having started my own law firm or legal consultancy. That’s a dream which I hope I can achieve. Let’s see.

     

    Lastly, what would be your parting message for our readers?

    No matter which ever profession you are or choose to be in, make sure you enjoy what you do. If you love your work, 60% of the battle is won. The rest 40% depends on your hard work, patience and passion. And of course as in everything in life, 1% depends on God’s grace or luck, but this 1% can actually go towards making or breaking your career. You will see the signs. If in spite of giving all your hard work and dedication, you are still not reaching that desired point in your career then maybe it’s time to do some serious thinking and perhaps make a career switch. It’s never too late for that. On another note you will meet a lot of people. People will try to pull you down and there will also be people who will encourage you. My advice is to greet all kinds of people with a smile on your face and to always be cordial to everybody. Be dignified at all times and never ever compromise on your ideals. Keep your calm in the face of all odds and don’t let failure touch your heart or success go to your head. All the best.

  • George Pothan, Legal Consultant, Ministry of External Affairs, on work experience, LL.M from King’s College and studying law at JSS, Mysore

    George Pothan, Legal Consultant, Ministry of External Affairs, on work experience, LL.M from King’s College and studying law at JSS, Mysore

    George Pothan Poothicote graduated from Christ College, Bangalore with a B.Com degree before going on to complete his LL.B from JSS Law College, Mysore by 2010. While in law school he interned at several places including Ernst & Young and High Court of Kerala. He pursued an LL.M from King’s College, London and finished his masters by 2012. Immediately after completing his LL.M he came back to India and was appointed as Legal Consultant to Legal and Treaties Division, Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India, New Delhi and he is currently working there.

    In this interview he talks about:

    • Law school experience at Mysore University.
    • LL.M from King’s College, London.
    • Internships, recruitment and work at Ministry of External Affairs

     

    How would you introduce yourself? Tell us a bit about your pre law-college years. What motivated you to study law?

    Born in Mysore, I spent my early childhood dividing time between Mysore and Wayanad, and thereafter left to board at Montfort School, situated in Yercaud, a hill station in Tamil Nadu. I went on to do my B.Com at Christ College, Bangalore, LL.B at JSS Law College, Mysore and LL.M at King’s College, London.

    Hailing from a family of lawyers, I grew up imbibing into my very system the lawyers’ lingo and vernacular, and naturally felt drawn to the profession. Therefore, it was a firm and solid choice to become a lawyer myself.

     

    How would you describe your time at Mysore University? Tell us about the academic environment and faculty at the law department of the University.

    The experience was intense and extremely enriching. The student body was intellectually dynamic, with representatives from around the country and even abroad. The faculty included both full time academics and professional practitioners. They were very approachable, and inspired hope, ignited imagination and instilled a love of learning in their students.

     

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    Did you take part in activities apart from your regular curriculum? What all did you do as a law student?

    I participated in practical applications of what I learned, and textbooks gradually came to be of secondary importance to me. In conference settings, at moot courts and in practical classes, I had the opportunity to observe stellar lawyers and law students and noted how effective they were as participants, not only because they possessed superior knowledge, but also because they seemed to instinctively know how to handle a variety of difficult scenarios. Every evening of my final year, I visited the chambers of a senior advocate in Mysore. Also, every Saturday that year, I travelled to a village 35 kilometers from the city to provide free legal aid services and out-of-court settlements, as well as to spread legal awareness.

    My participation in National and International moot court competitions ignited my passion for the field of international law and also enabled me to interact with students and faculty from around the world. I assisted in research work for the scion of the Mysore royal family in the dispute over assets of the royal family and the abolition of the Privy Purse. Later, I helped to draft an anti-ragging bill which was presented to the then Governor of Karnataka. I also represented the college in various seminars and conferences.

    While being good in academics was the most important function during my days at law school, engaging in extracurricular pursuits was a close second. I did indulge in sports and had the privilege of representing my class and college teams in cricket and volleyball.

    My objective during my LLB days was to do my best whilst maintaining a healthy balance and letting other things beyond my control take care of themselves.

     

    Do you believe that excellent CGPA is absolutely necessary for success?

    An excellent CGPA, or any other measure of academic record, can assist in furthering academic pursuits and optimizing the initial recruiting process. That said, the microcosm of university and the world at large are as different as chalk and cheese. In universities one learns the theoretical aspects of law, but for success in the practical applications of the work environment, top grades are not a prerequisite.

     

    What were your areas of interest during your graduation (LL.M)? How did you go about developing expertise and knowledge in these areas?

    Constitution, Criminal Law, Arbitration and International Law were some of the subjects that interested me during my LL.B days. The experience I gained through moot courts, assignments and conferences, as well as my interactions with a number of inspiring people, led me to develop a particular fascination for International Law, both private and public.

    I had long been keen on pursuing an LL.M in International Law, but participated in a variety of modules before finalizing my subjects. My subjects were a combination of Public and Private International Law and International Commercial and Business Law, which may appear to be quite a broad spectrum for the course level. However, the subjects were not as disparate they seem. They included Terrorism and State Violence, World Trade Law, Use of Force, Commercial and Investment Arbitration, and Negotiation. What is especially interesting is the intimate relationship between International Law and Diplomacy. My curriculum combined both.

     

    Please tell us about your internships during your graduation.

    Internships and building work experience had been a consistent part of my academic pursuits during my years as a law student. At the end of my first year in law school, I was able to reinforce my tax related knowledge through an internship with Ernst & Young in their Global Tax Analysis service department in Bangalore. At the end of my second year of law school, I gained invaluable court experience with Honourable Justice R. Basant, a Senior Judge at the High Court of Kerala. I shadowed him closely and was privy to the procedures of the chambers of a High Court Judge, which gave me access to the judge’s files, notes and discussions. I felt particularly privileged as this was a rare opportunity for a student.

    During my final year, I visited the chamber of Advocate KL Sugandhi, a senior advocate in Mysore, which involved interacting with clients, learning procedures and even contributing to work on the cases.

     

    Do you believe branding of college is something that’s very relevant/ important at any stage in a law student’s career?

    Branding seems to have become as inevitable in the field of education as in business. That said, it should be taken with a bucket of salt. Power on the professional battlefield is determined by hard work and dedication above all.

     

    When and how did you decide to pursue Masters? Was it a professional requirement or an endeavour out of academic interests?

    From the beginning of my law education, I had entertained the idea of pursuing an LL.M degree. That said, I never viewed it as a professional requirement, as I had initially been keen on a career in litigation, for which an LL.B would suffice. Over the course of my LLB, I pondered over the subjects I would like to pursue, and shortlisted the Universities that seemed best suited to my interests.  The LL.M was a great adventure that enabled me to set sail to shores more magnificent than I had ever imagined.

     

    You have done your LL.M. from Kings College London. Please share your experience. Any other university which offers a similar combination of modules?

    It was simply amazing. I was taught and inspired by some of the best professionals in their respective fields: Professors. Martin Hunter, Salim Moollan, Samuel Wordsworth, Dr. Federico Ortino and Dr. Piet Eechout, to name a few. I still am in touch with most of them both at personal and professional levels. Whenever I felt the need for an expert opinion or guidance, these professors were most helpful. The course combined theory with practical applications. The whole system was different from what I was familiar with at the LL.B level. In addition to textbook learning, there were group discussions, debates and lots of interactive sessions, with an emphasis on research. We were encouraged to write papers and discuss them.

    I still have fond memories of a workshop conducted by Prof. Martin Hunter, visits to his chambers at Essex Court Chambers and a Friday clinic he used to organise. Another unforgettable experience is the time I spent at the WTO, where I was able to interact with key people of the WTO Secretariat and Country representatives, and gain valuable insight into the incredible operations of such a hallowed institution.

    There are other Universities that offer such modules, but I am not in a position to recommend them.

     

    How will you compare the pedagogy at Mysore University with that of King’s College, London?

    Comparing the pedagogy at Mysore University and King’s College is tricky because I attended them at two completely different levels. The LL.B is a basic degree in law, structured primarily to meet the general requirements of practitioners in the field. An LL.M is an additional qualification that involves specialization, and as such the structure of the LL.M diverges from that of the LL.B.  During my LLB, most of my professors were full time faculty, whereas during my LL.M, the majority of lecturers were practitioners in their respective fields, and their experience and expertise did make a difference.  A good teacher always brings out the best in his/her students. I consider myself lucky to have been mentored by the right kind of teachers.

    Diversity was perhaps the most significant difference between the two programs. At King’s College, the faculty and the University at large catered to a crowd from across the globe. The student community at Mysore University was primarily Indian.

     

    Looking back, how significant do you think that your legal education was? When did you happen to experience the learning curve?

    I believe that my education in its entirety has made me who I am today. My legal education in particular has been significant in shaping my career, and my analytical view of the world.

    As I see it, the learning curve starts from the earliest stages of life. Every single day has presented learning opportunities. I think, therefore I am; I live, therefore I learn. The slope of my learning curve in the legal field took a surge towards the latter part of my LL.M program, and continued to steepen when I entered the Ministry of External Affairs, where I have interacted with some of the best legal minds in the country and around the world. The Senior Official Meetings, Ministerial Meetings and Summits of which I have been a part were incredible experiences. One particular case that gave impetus to my learning curve was a brief I received from Mr. Gourab Banerji, the then Additional Solicitor General of India, during my early days at the Ministry. It was my first significant case, and it was an exciting challenge. More recently, I have had the privilege of being involved with the Law Commission of India in its work on investment treaties, which has been quite insightful.

    I look forward to the continuing intellectual stimulation of my work. Learning is an integral part of the profession, as it shifts like the sands of time.

     

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    You joined Ministry of External Affairs as a Legal Consultant; what worked for you in getting appointed?

    I assume that my academic pursuits and passion for the profession, in addition to the support I received from the then External Affairs Minister, Mr. Salman Khurshid, who had faith in my ability and trusted me with such great responsibility, led to my appointment.

     

    What are the career opportunities at MEA like?

    The MEA provides excellent opportunities for those interested in the international dimensions of law. We deal with treaty negotiations and international law disputes. Diplomacy is integral to the mix. That said, our work is not exclusively on an international level, as we do examine domestic law issues on occasion.

     

    Are Legal Consultants allowed foreign postings? How does their work interact with that of the Indian Foreign Service?

    Foreign postings are certainly available to those belonging to the Legal Cadre of the MEA. The Hague headquarters the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration. Geneva and New York City are bases for numerous international organisations.

    The responsibilities of international law and diplomacy require a great amount of interaction with foreign service officers and other government representatives.

     

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    Would you say that there exists a difference in the working environment of a law firm and legal department of the govt. offices?

    Most certainly, although I am not in a position to comment in depth on private law firms, as I have never worked in one. In the Government, everyone works for the Government of the day, and the work is not limited to legal issues. The tasks at hand are quite complex: they involve participating in drafting legislation, policy making, negotiating treaties and a variety of other roles. Most importantly, working for the Government means representing the Country and promoting collective rather than individual interests.

     

    What is the procedure to apply for an internship and recruitment at MEA? What are the qualities which they look for in their prospective employees?

    It starts with sending the completed form in the requisite format, along with references, to the Ministry to the Administrative Division (or any other Division that interests a prospective intern). From there, the applications are considered on merit. It is generally difficult to accommodate all applicants considering the huge volume of applications usually received. Details on applying for an internship at the MEA are enumerated on the website of the MEA.

     

    Have you ever considered starting up on your own?

    Starting my own practice has always been at the back of my mind. If I start my private chamber practice, I would focus on litigation before the Supreme Court, High Courts and Tribunals.  Considering my LL.M specialization and current work, I would be keen to pursue an active practice in investment arbitration, as well as international and domestic commercial arbitration.

    I firmly believe that there is potential everywhere, and it is about looking out through the window of opportunity. Talent finds its happiness in execution. Simply follow your heart, make the right choices and be dedicated.

     

    Please tell us about the requisite soft skills which are essential for a young lawyer to build a successful career?

    Communication skills, which are essential in any profession, are particularly valuable for a young lawyer. An open line of communication with colleagues assists in efficiency and securing solid relationships. Clarity, charisma and discretion must be kept in mind when dealing with clients.

    Commitment is important, given the heavy workload of young lawyers, and the established standards of excellence.

    Creativity is an immense asset, as innovation and thinking outside the box aid in problem solving and negotiation.

     

    What are your views on the future of Indian legal education? How would you suggest that a law student manages to stay ahead?

    I would like our institutions to compete with the best in the world. There is no dearth of resources in India, but we have to make optimal use of them. I hope to live to see the day our institutions are ranked among the best in the world, and pray that it is not far away. We need to support academicians in their pursuit. I personally am of the view that institutions should create a platform to bring in greater interaction between practitioners and students. The greatest asset of any educational institution is the character of its teachers. We need to encourage research and avoid spoon feeding. Classrooms should be about imparting knowledge and not forcing one’s views on the others. Students should be prepared to face the world outside beyond the realms of the microcosm of universities. I would suggest encouraging research and more practical classes and workshops. They are the need of the hour. The legal fraternity has to come together and support our institutions with a clear roadmap for the way ahead.

     

    What are the three things you consider law students should do in their careers?

    To me, goals should be set individually, and not based on what someone else has achieved. Be yourself, as they say. The markers of success vary, but generally, I would say that it can be achieved by staying focused, working smart and being organized. Professional mileage can be optimized with perseverance, perspiration and a stroke of luck.

     

    What would be your parting message to young lawyers?

    Here I would like to borrow from Mr. Fali Nariman, who lists the following in his autobiography “Before Memory Fades”:

    • A lawyer’s opinion should be honest and responsible,
    • A good lawyer should acquaint oneself with relevant law, including case law on the subject at hand,
    • One should be clear and precise, not confused,
    • One should keep oneself informed and up to date with all the reported judgments and decisions of the Supreme Court and High Courts,
    • A lawyer should be well prepared for his case.

    A lawyer must never stop learning, for intellect demands clarity and certainty. That said, circumstances render uncertainty inevitable and fascinating. In an ever changing world, progress is proportional to the capacity to endure uncertainty.

    One’s name is a prized possession in this mortal world, which through our acts, deeds and achievements can be immortalized and etched in the minds of generations to come.

     

  • Bijetri Roy, Associate, Banking and Finance, Orbit Law Services, on LL.M from Queen Mary and studying law at Calcutta University

    Bijetri Roy, Associate, Banking and Finance, Orbit Law Services, on LL.M from Queen Mary and studying law at Calcutta University

    Bijetri Roy graduated from Department of Law, Calcutta University with B.A. LL.B (Hons.) in 2013. During her law school days, she wrote more than eight research papers. After graduation, she pursued an LL.M from Queen Mary, University of London, where she was also a member of the Editorial Board of the Queen Mary Law Journal. She currently specializes in banking and finance laws among others at Orbit Law Services, Mumbai. In this interview he talks about:

    • Studying at Department of Law, Calcutta University with B.A. LL.B (Hons.).
    • Application, SOP and Recommendation Letter for Queen Mary, University of London.
    • Recruitment and work at Orbit Law Services, Mumbai.

     

    Given that most of our readers are law students and young lawyers, how will you introduce yourself to them? What motivated you to choose law as a career?

    I am Bijetri Roy, a Bengali by birth, brought up in the royal Awadh city of Nawabs, Lucknow. My father has a transferable job and I have had the opportunity of staying at many beautiful places (most of them being famous for their food and culture!). London became my home away from home in just a year. I currently live with my parents in Mumbai and I am working as a Banking and Finance Lawyer at Orbit Law Services.

    I am the first lawyer in my family, belonging to a household of a banker and economist father and an English teacher mother. I started reading Perry Mason at the age of 12 and the sleuth-attorney influenced my young mind to take up law. Law became my first choice and my parents encouraged me to take it up seriously. I completed my ISC in 2008 and took the Calcutta University entrance examination in May 2008, secured a good rank and enrolled at the Department of Law.

     

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

    Though a lot of people warned me against studying law at a traditional university instead of an “elite NLU”, I decided to take my call on the matter, and it was the best decision of my life to enrol at a simple law school. I agree we didn’t have the “right” infrastructure, no placement cell and too many people cramped in each batch (we were 200 people in the 2008-13 batch), but despite these issues, the five years at the law school gave me the some of the best days of my life. Classes were irregular at times, but interesting and regular lectures by Prof. S.S. Chatterji (IPC, Contracts) and Dr. J.K. Das (Constitutional Law, Human Rights Law) made me forget the drawbacks of the college. The high point of my law school days was getting selected for Honours after 2nd year (my average of 3rd to 5th year shot up to a good first class). The selection was purely on merit basis and there were only 50 seats for honours in a batch of 200. Getting to study a wide variety of subjects ranging from Law and Child, Criminology and Gender Justice to Law and Public Servants and Legislative Drafting was an enriching experience for me.

     

    What do you feel about the perception that students of certain ‘elite’ NLU’s have a much easier time in kick-starting their career as compared to law students from other colleges? Is this true at all?

    I would not like to comment much on this because it is quite a subjective perception. Though a certain “class” of students easily get internships and jobs at the top firms and organisations (as per hearsay – I don’t know many people from the NLUs so I am not sure about it), it is ultimately merit, basic foundation and most importantly, interest in that area of practice that matters. But yes, if one goes by the current market trends, top tier firms and big companies prefer to hire the “elite” ones! But then again, trends are never constant, right?

     

    Are you still involved in research and writing papers? Which are the latest ones you have submitted and where?

    Till now, the count is over 12. Last month I submitted a research paper titled “Financial Inclusion in India: Policy Framework for Inclusive Growth” for a forthcoming conference at IIM-Bangalore. This month I submitted an abstract for my research paper titled “Corporate Governance and Investor Protection – Importance of Legal Audit” for the India Finance Conference to be held at IIM-Calcutta.

    I have presented more than 8 papers during my BA-LLB days including at conferences at the top NLUs like NLIU Bhopal and NALSAR Hyderabad. Recently, I presented 2 papers, one at ILS Pune at the National Conference on Revisiting Freedom of Religion and Personal Laws from Liberty and Equality Perspectives and the other one at the International Conference of Jurists and Writers which was held in Mumbai.

     

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    What was your motivation behind pursuing LL.M. right after your under-grad? How did you finally decide that you need to do masters?

    During my 3rd year, I decided I wanted to do my masters in law immediately after my undergrad. I took this decision because I did not want to have any gap in my academics and once you take up a job, it is very tough to take a break and pursue higher studies.

     

    How did you choose Queen Mary, University of London over others? How did you go about choosing a university?

    I applied to Queen Mary, University of London based on its rank in UK for law (when I went there in 2013, it was among the top 10, currently it is ranked number 3 in UK right after Cambridge and Oxford, and number 1 in London – The Guardian 2014-15, 2015-16 rankings for law). I had decided from day 1 that if I study in UK, it has to be in London University. By the time my 4th year results were out, I had offers from Queen Mary, Westminster University, Birkbeck School of Law under London University and Brunel University (these were the only places I had applied to – I was lucky enough to bag offers, including an unconditional offer from Westminster University even before getting my final BA-LLB result!). I had my dream come true moment when I got an unconditional offer from the place of my choice – Queen Mary.

     

    How did you go about writing your SOP? Are there any key factors which one should keep in mind before writing the SOP?

    SOP (Statement of Purpose) is nothing but an essay about yourself. I used the first paragraph to talk about myself in general, then moved on to my academic achievements and extra-curricular activities. Next I laid emphasis on why I wished to study LLM, why UK, why London and why Queen Mary. I used the last paragraph to talk about my career goals (try to be as honest as possible; do not inflate your goals while writing the SOP).

     

    Please tell us about your recommendation letters.

    While most colleges ask for 2 recommendation letters, Queen Mary is flexible with it. I was able to manage only 1 letter during my application process and that did not hinder my offer from Queen Mary in any way. A professor wrote my recommendation letter.

     

    Tell us about your LL.M year at Queen Mary, London. How did this influence your career?

    My experience at QMUL was the best I could have ever dreamt of. Professors are very approachable because they do not follow the age old notion of differentiating teacher from students.  During my study, I had the opportunity of regular interaction with world class professors like Dr. Rafael Leal Arcas,  Dr. Alexandros Ntovas, Dr. Gomula (a visiting professor from Cambridge), Prof.Spyros,  Prof. Anne Flanagan to name a few.

    My specialisation was public international law. Queen Mary offers a wide range of modules to choose from. I took up modules which mainly belonged to other specialisations. I studied International Economic Law, International Law of the Sea and Climate Change Law and Policy. Apart from academics, a lot of emphasis was laid on overall development; I was suddenly all over the place, working as a Media and Communications Coordinator for the QMUL School of Law, attending meetings and sharing ideas (and pizzas!) with the academic and non-academic staff as a member of the Student-Staff Liaison Committee, as a postgrad member of the QM Law Journal to name a few.

    Classes were 2 hours thrice a week, so I got the opportunity of exploring the beautiful city of London and places around London. When I wasn’t exploring places (and trying out different cuisines!), I spent my time at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (IALS) Library and the QMUL Mile End campus.

     

    What was your topic of research for LL.M? Why did you choose that subject for research?

    I did my dissertation on the topic “Trade Liberalization and the Poor – a policy framework with special emphasis on India”. I chose this topic because it gave me the chance of researching beyond the syllabus of WTO in the Economic Law module. I had the opportunity of doing my dissertation under Professor (QC) Geraldine Van Bueren. . I scored pretty well in it too!

     

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    How difficult was studying abroad in terms of finding accommodation, finances and settling in?

    I was lucky enough to get a food inclusive accommodation at the London University intercollegiate halls (Hughes Parry) just a few blocks away from Kings Cross station. I am not very fond of shopping so I saved almost all the money I had taken with me (the only things I spent on were text books, boots, eating out and for my trips to places within and outside London).

     

    How was your experience as a member of the Editorial Board of the Queen Mary Law Journal?

    As a member of the Editorial Board of the Queen Mary Law Journal, I was able to get a clear idea of how papers are peer reviewed and selected. I had the opportunity of reading some of the best research papers and articles by masters and PhD level students from different countries and various universities.

     

    After returning to India, you started working at Orbit Law Services as an Associate. How did you go about bagging this job?

    I was looking for boutique law firms specialising in banking and finance and came across the website of Orbit Law Services. I applied by sending a cover email and my CV, and I got a call from the partner within 3 days (this was like an indication from Lord Ganesha that I was almost in there!). I was called for an interview which was conducted by 4 partners, and after a day I was informed about my selection. The selection process is very transparent. The firm prefers to give opportunity to graduates from traditional universities over NLUs.

     

    Tell us about your current work profile and why did you choose to work with Orbit Law Services?

    I am an Associate at Orbit Law Services, Mumbai. I always wanted to join a boutique law firm which specialises in Banking and Finance laws, and for me this is the best place to start and grow professionally.

     

    What are your main practice areas?

    My main practice areas are Banking laws, Project Finance, Infrastructure,Power projects, Energy projects, Corporate and legal due diligence (I recently conducted a 3-days legal audit at an asset reconstruction company in Mumbai on behalf of my law firm).

     

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    How is your experience so far? What is your workday like? Are there new challenges every day or did work fall into a predictable pattern?

    The best thing about Orbit is the fact that Partners personally guide me. All 5 partners have decades of experience and have been associated with well-known banks and big corporate houses.

    Apart from the usual “lawyer” work, I am involved in business development and knowledge enhancement work as well. So along with learning the core work areas, I am also learning overall entrepreneurial management. Due to the encouragement of the partners, I have been able to whet my research and writing skills further (I regularly write articles for our firm’s internal news circulation and discussions with everyone during lunch time).

    Every day is a new day in terms of work; I get the opportunity of learning new things on a daily basis, whether through core legal matters and assignments which come my way from clients (mostly big banks, NBFCs and authorities etc.) or through research suggestions by partners for my personal development.

     

    What are your future plans? Where do you see your career in the next 5 years?

    I plan to continue here at Orbit for the next 4-5 years. I see myself as an expert (and maybe a Senior Associate by then!) in Banking and Finance laws by the time I am 30!

     

    Lastly, any suggestions for aspiring first generation lawyers like yourself?

    Take up law only if you want to, not because your peers or seniors have taken up law! Law is a vast ocean, and whatever is taught during undergrads is merely a few drops! Choose your law school wisely. During your undergrads, attend at least 2 to 3 conferences and present papers, the claps that you get from the audience comprising professors and stalwarts will be like a boost for your confidence. Even for your postgrads, choose the course, institution and country (in case you wish to study abroad) wisely, don’t hurry with your selection.

    All the best to all the readers, and thank you Super Lawyer!

  • Kirthi Srinivas, Associate, HSB Partners, on law school experience at ILS Pune and first year of graduation

    Kirthi Srinivas, Associate, HSB Partners, on law school experience at ILS Pune and first year of graduation

    Kirthi Srinivas holds a degree in B.SL, LL.B. from ILS Law College, Pune, he graduated in 2013. He has participated in various co-curricular activities and has multiple publications to his name. He was also the Convener of Corporate Law Cell at ILS which he had co-founded in his second year of law school and was also associated with ILS Law Journal. While in law school, he also managed to pursue Advanced Course in Copyright and Related Rights (DL – 201) from WIPO and Certificate Course in Competition Law & IPR from FICCI. Soon after graduation, he joined Indiabulls as a Management Trainee/Legal Office. Currently he works as an Associate at HSB Partners.

    In this interview, he talks about: –

    • His law school experience;
    • The importance of academics as well as co-curricular activities at law school; and
    • His experience at India Bulls and HSB Partners.

     

    Legal studies are still only a backup option for quite a lot of students. What motivated you to choose law as a career? How did you get through to ILS Law College, Pune?

    That is a correct understanding of the psyche,as a lot of students in India end up choosing technical/science or commerce stream after Grade 12primarily because of the career avenues it opens up.However, the trend is changing as a lot more students in India now understand that a legal degree offers anequally wide array of career options beyond court rooms.They recognize that the skills you pick up during law school and during initial years of practicecentres around skills like people management and added to that a lawyer’s ability to communicate effectively helps and these are skills which are at the heart of management skills andthus opens up an array of career option in other fields. Therefore, I agree with the statement in a historical context however, I believe that a career in law is now fast emerging as the primary option for a lot of youngsters in India for the aforesaid reasons.

    In my case, I had taken up science stream after Grade 10, and since, I do not have any lawyers in my immediate family I wasn’t aware of what it means to have a career in the legal profession, but my drift from science stream to legal profession was initiated by my interactions with my cousin who had just graduated from law school at that point in time and had started practising indirect taxation with Lakhsmikumaran and Sridaran at Delhi.Hearing stories abouthis experiences at work were quite interesting and sparked my interest in the legal profession.After some further research on my own I realized that legal profession had a lot to offer than the traditional clichés it is known for. Application to ILS, happened as a conscious effort as I had heard about the college from a school senior and it seemed a good place to study law. Apart from that the college is located in Pune which is known to be a college town.

     

    How did you fare in your academics at ILS? Would you say a great CGPA is a necessity to kickstart a good career in the legal profession?

    I believe that I had a balanced academic career at ILS, spread between academics and other extra-curricular activities which included being part of the editorial committee of the college law review, taking part in moot courts and being the convenor of the corporate law cellwhich I co-founded during my second year at ILS. I believe that maintaining a decent percentage or CGPA is desirable, but anything below that is not an end of the world scenario. I think percentages apart, a fresher needs to have skills such as willingness to learn in order to kickstart a good career in law as most of what you learn at law school are very theoretical in nature and will be unlearnt to accommodate for practical learnings which cannot be taught at law school.

     

    Did you have any such experience during an internship which helped you decide your career choice?

    Since ILS has a more traditional approach to testing and evaluation of the students, there was no concept of chapter-wise tests or projects or compulsory presentations etc., therefore theemphasis were on the semester exams. We had a 3 week preparatory leave prior to the semester exams and that took care of the preparation for the semester exams. So, the emphasis was always to score well in the semester exams in order to maintain a healthy aggregate percentage. Apart from that, as an addition to regular classroom academics I had enrolled myself in certain diplomas/certificate programmes thathelped me a lot.

    All my internships were with law firms and with a tax portal which included Mulla&Mulla& Craigie Blunt &Caroe, Crawford Bayley & Co, ALMT Legal, Taxsutra and Juris Corp and revolved around general corporate, mergers and acquisition, banking andcompetition/anti-trust areas of practice. Certain assignments which I carried out during my internship helped me develop interest in my current areas of practice. I feel that each internship taught me something new, but I am biased towards my internship at Crawford Bayley and Juris Corp for certain assignments which I was part of and which I thoroughly enjoyed and revolved my current areas of practice.

     

    What all activities did you participate in?  How important do you think that extra-curricular activities are to a law student?

    I participated in moot courts actively in the first 4 years of college and later took up drafting moot problems/case studies.As my time at college progressed my interest gravitated towards organising events at college. In second year of college, I co-founded the corporate law cell, a cell whose aim was to have an informal discussion among the student body on the latest news in the world of corporate laws et al. Apart from the aforesaid, I have been part of the editorial board of the college law review.

    Answering the second part of your query, I feel extra-curricular activities were important in shaping me and believe were an integral part of my learning experience, I believe that there is no “one size fits all” concept when it comes to how a student goes about structuring their time at law school. Therefore, it is best left to the discretion of the students.

     

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    What were your areas of interest during your graduation? How did you go about developing expertise and knowledge in these areas?

    My initial interest in law school revolved around international law, contracts, constitutional law as these were the initial law subjects taught to us and were quite interesting. However, over the course of my interactions with certainseniors and exposure I received during internship,my interest shiftedtowards corporate laws especially investment laws, mergers and acquisition and competition law. Developing interest is easy but sustaining it is the tough part. Writing research papers, articles, presenting at conferences are some of the options I explored. I think reading about these subjects both from a legal and a commercial perspective also helped.

     

    After graduation, you joined Indiabulls as a Management Trainee /Officer – Legal. What had contributed towards this appointment? What did you take away from your experience at Indiabulls?

    I was always interested working in-house for a while, but was reserving such an assignment after spending my initial years after graduation with a firm. The move to Indiabulls, therefore was as a matter of coincidence and happened as part of the placements facilitated by the college. The assignment revolved around dealing with compliances of a mortgages company. Since, my experiences prior to Indiabulls had been in the form of internships at law firms exclusively, working in-house at Indiabulls was unique. However, when I reflect on what it has taught me I would have to say working in-house lends perspective now more than ever as I can relate to being on the other side and can relate better to a client and thus I am equipped to provide appropriate solutions.

     

    After having worked at Indiabulls for 8 months, how did the shift to HSB Partners take place? How did you go about bagging this job? Please tell us about the recruitment process atHSB Partners?

    I had always wanted to start my career at a firm and then shift to an in-house legal department, but the reverse was true in my case. Therefore, I was on the lookout for an opportunity and heard that the firm was on the lookout for a fresher with about 1 year PQE at that point in time, added to that I wanted to focus on my areas of interest and the firm is known for its transaction and advisory capabilities in venture capital/private equity, m&aetc. and the firm has a strong clientele in South India which prompted me to make the jump. The recruitment process is quite simple and hassle free, and the firm gets in touch with prospective candidatesbased on the applications received and sets up an interview with a partner, it comprised of two rounds of interview in my case (both of which were technical in nature).The interview is based on the resume and latest developments in corporate law/regulations.

     

    Please give our readers some tips to perform well at a law firm interview.

    I think a law firm interview at a fresher level is designed to test your basic understanding of law, commercial awareness and common sense. First and foremost tip is to keep your resume short and relevant to the kind of opportunity you are targeting, therefore if you are interested in being a transaction lawyer your resume should be tailored to your internship experience relevant to that in case if you are a fresher. Second, you are expected to be well versed with every little detail in your resume e.g. If you have carried out a research during a past internship and the same is listed in your resume, you are required to know the position of law with respect to the same both from its historical and current standpoint.

     

    How tough were the first six months at your workplace?What are your day-to-day responsibilities? How is the experience so far?

    I wouldn’t say my first six months at HSB were tough. It was interesting from the standpoint of the kind of work/assignment I was exposed to. Work at HSB, generally happens as a product of debate between team mates and senior colleagues are helpful in shaping the discussion towards a productive outcome. The day-to-day responsibilities revolves around tracking various stages in which assignments are and responding accordingly. It involves reviews of opinions/documents, drafting a suite of documents based on the kind of assignment we are engaged in, client meetings and strategies in relation to the aforesaid. So, far my experience has been good. I think most of it is contributed by the variety of work we do and the clients we interact with.

     

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    How do you keep yourself abreast with latest industry news and trends?

    I think it is very  important to stay well versed with the constant changes to laws/regulations in order to advice client’s effectively, so the obvious answer would be to proactively track certain government websites such as MCA, RBI, SEBI etc., apart from certain blogs to keep abreast with latest changes to policy etc. However, even if one does not proactively stays in sync with the latest updates, it happens as part of work when one has to read various policies/laws/regulations and changes to them while preparing opinions and drafting documentation.

     

    What are the primary professional ethics you follow while at work? What has been your strategy to deal with errors and mistakes?

    The thumb rule in professional ethics which all lawyers follow is to keep our client’s work confidential. As a young lawyer, I have had my fair share of doubts but my strategy has always been “when in doubt consult your senior”. In my view, it is a better option to minimise errors/mistakes by holding back on the work/responding in haste especially if you are unsure or have a persisting doubt thus you can avoid a faulty decision from translating into an error/mistake.

     

    Does HSB Partners take interns? What do you feel makes an intern stand out and is very important for him to do to have a chance of getting a call back or even a PPO?

    HSB takes interns throughout the year. Interested applicant’s are required to send a short e-mail with their desired period of internship and attaching their resume, the relevant team in-charges subsequently get back on the availability of a slot for an internship. In general, if an intern has an open mind and willingness to learn coupled with the ability to work intelligently then their chances of getting a call back/ PPO increases dramatically.

     

    The question that whether one should specialise in a particular area of law or be more of a general lawyer often comes up before law students. What is your opinion on the same?

    I think there are no generalist in law, there are several lawyers who tend to advise on variety of subjects but they too have their specialities through which they are recognized. Being a super specialist right from the start is not advisable because it is very difficult for a lawyer to be sure of their interest right from Day 1 of practice, as the profession is quite dynamic in nature and the scope of work keeps changing, in course of time it would be highly likely that everyone dabbles with multiple practice areas, therefore it would rather be desirable to have a handful of linked subjects/ areas of practice which one has interest towards and see what interests you better in the longer run and focus on those.

     

    Many lawyers would say that the actual learning takes place in the years of practice. How far would you say it is true? What was the case in your situation?

    I think that is very true. Most of what one learns at law school is oriented towards theory and is vital in laying a strong foundation towards principles that make up the subject. However, law as a subject is constantly evolving therefore it is in a state of constant flux and by that token a lawyer needs to constantly unlearn and learn new things to be able to stay relevant.

     

    Lastly, what would be your parting message for our readers?

    For freshers specially and those who are thinking of taking up legal profession, the profession as such is slow in terms of growth as compared to investment banking, finance etc., so you will be required to have patience in order to succeed. Second, the other key principle to success in this profession is to work intelligently as opposed to working hard. Thus, it would be wiser to develop the proficiency in order to work faster to deliver with better/faster turn arounds for your clients without compromising on the quality of deliverables.

     

  • Varun Pathak, Manager, DSK Legal, on Law School experience at GGSIU & LSE, and varied work experience at Law firms and Litigation

    Varun Pathak, Manager, DSK Legal, on Law School experience at GGSIU & LSE, and varied work experience at Law firms and Litigation

    Varun Pathak graduated from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University in 2007. Thereafter he went to pursue Masters in Corporate Commercial Laws from London School of Economics and Political Science. Soon after returning to India, he joined Krishnamurthy & Co. as an Associate and later switched to the office of Amarjit Singh Chandhiok. He has also worked at Paras Kuhad and Associates as an Associate before joining DSK Legal as a Senior Associate in March 2011. Currently he works as a Manager there.

    In this interview he talks about

    • Law school experience at GGSIU and LSE
    • Work experience in litigation and law firm
    • Journey from Senior Associate to Manager at DSK

     

    Could you please introduce yourself, professionally and academically, to our readers, who are mostly law students and young lawyers?

    I am a Litigator and am happy to be one. I started off being a corporate lawyer but soon realised that my heart lay elsewhere. I loved the hustle and bustle of litigation which I had experienced during my internships. The thrill of arguing in courts regularly is what drives me every day and I love what I am doing. I am presently retained by DSK Legal, Delhi. The majority of work that I am presently handling deals with regulatory and court matters in the infrastructure sector, commercial contractual disputes, arbitration and some constitutional matters.

    I read law at Amity Law School, GGSIPU and thereafter completed my Master of Laws from London School of Economics and Political Science. Academically I have been a merit student and had a 2:1 grade both in my undergrad and graduate degree. I have participated in my share of moot courts, sports and other extra-curricular activities in my student career. They are all important but the most important aspect, which I realised after starting practice, was the importance of reading law regularly. There is no replacement for hard work. Other than legal reading one should also read material from other areas, whatever stimulates one’s brain. A good reading portfolio is an advantage to any aspiring lawyer. Developing reading skills is one of the most (if not the most) important attribute for a Litigator.

     

    What motivated you to gravitate towards law, as a discipline and a career? Tell us about your induction in GGSIU?

    My foray into the legal field was actually a combination of some serendipitous circumstances and some deductive reasoning. I was very clear in my mind what I did not want to do. So I eliminated what I did not want to do and then narrowed down my choices to a few fields which I thought I would enjoy. So law was one of the options that I foresaw along with a few other career options and as destiny would have it, the cogs feel in place and I joined Amity Law School, GGSIPU. I wanted to be in Delhi so GGSIPU was an obvious choice and arguably Amity Law School was the better institute amongst the constituents and therefore, I chose Amity Law School.

     

    How was your experience during your five years at GGSIU?

    My time at Amity Law School was a learning experience. Most of my class mates were very competent and there was a sense of positive competition which was very inspiring. Actually we were the fourth batch and had good seniors who used to guide and mentor us regularly. Most of my seniors and batch mates are doing well for themselves and are making a name in the profession. One of the most important experiences in my five years was the sense of camaraderie with my colleagues and batch mates which we all have carried into our professional careers.

     

    Soon after completing graduation, you went to pursue Masters in Corporate Commercial Laws from London School of Economics and Political Science. How did you decide to go for higher studies?

    Many of our seniors had pursued masters abroad, so their experiences were definitely a factor. I decided to pursue my masters because I wanted global academic exposure and wanted to interact and learn new approaches to dealing with complex issues. My participation in the Stetson International Moot Court at Florida had given me a flavour of the western approach so I decided to enhance my skills by pursuing masters at LSE.

     

    What should one do differently in college if he wants to pursue higher studies after graduation? Would you suggest having a brief work experience before applying for LL.M?

    In hindsight I would say that there are many things which can be done to improve your chances of pursuing masters at a premier institute. Firstly, one should start preparing for the application from the first year itself by building a varied repertoire of skills. Mooting and internships definitely help however, it is important to be focussed in your approach and it is better to apply to a handful of institutes after narrowing down your areas of interest than making frantic mass applications at the end of the fourth year. Further, please choose the professors of your intended course and do some research before you make that final application.

    With respect to prior work experience it is actually a personal decision for the individual concerned. Some institutes prefer work experience and definitely some work experience will provide you with some good perspective. However, I wanted to be done with my studies before I started practice so went for my masters immediately after my LLB.

     

    Please tell us about your time at LSE. Please share with our readers, the details about the academic pressure, faculty and campus life.

    LSE was a very good experience. The approach to academics was very different than what we are brought up on. The focus is on analysis and individual application of mind and reasoning. The faculty was some of the best in the world and professors were international authorities in their respective fields. My course in corporate commercial law was one of the best in the world. It was a very intense course with a lot of reading material. Being from a common law country it was not very difficult to adapt to the UK education system however, there were many things that I had to unlearn which I had picked up in our education system.

    My time at LSE was fun and I was part of the students’ body for our LL.M class. I also represented LSE in Willem C. Vis Arbitration Moot at Vienna. In fact, I also used to write for one of the students’ newspaper at LSE.

    All in all LSE was a great experience and taught me many things about myself.It helped me grow both as an individual and also as lawyer.

     

    What kind of responsibilities you were entrusted with at your workplaces after coming to India? How did you prefer litigation over law firm?

    (After coming back to India, Varun joined Krishnamurthy & Co as an Associate and later switched to Offices of Amarjit Singh Chandhiok as a Junior Associate.)

    I joined Klaw’s Mumbai office and started my practice under the watchful guidance of Naina Krishnamurthy and Shwetambari Rao. Both of them were great leaders in their own light and taught me a lot. However, my true love was litigation and therefore, I moved back to Delhi and started with Mr. Amarjit Singh Chandhiok. Mr. Chandhiok is an institution in himself and at his office I learnt my basics which haveheld me in good stead till date.

    At Klaw, I was reporting to Naina directly. Naina was the Managing Partner. The Mumbai office had just been started so I was responsible for dealing with clients and execution of work under Naina’s and Shweta’s guidance.

    At Mr. Chandhiok’s office I was responsible for assisting him in arguing briefs, preparation of notes, research, et cetera.

    Both the roles were completely different. At Klaw I was a corporate attorney whereas with Mr. Chandhiok I was a Junior Counsel. Since Mr. Chandhiok was a designated Senior Counsel and subsequently Additional Solicitor General of India my job was to assist him in arguing matters in the Court.

     

    Later you switched to Paras Kuhad & Associates, Advocates and worked there as an Associate for one year. What led to this shift?

    Paras Kuhad & Associates was where I started working as an Associate in a litigation team. I was reporting to Mr. Ravi Prakash there. I moved to DSK Legal along with Mr. Ravi Prakash in 2011.

    The overall experience was good and under Mr. Prakash’s guidance I started handling matters independently and started arguing regularly in various forums.

     

    Thereafter you joined DSK Legal as a Senior Associate and currently work as a Manager there? How did your appointment take place? How did the promotion happen?

    I had moved with Mr. Prakash in 2011 to DSK Legal. I have been with DSK Legal for more than four years and with Mr. Prakash for more than five years. I have grown as a lawyer and am happy where I am at currently. The designation of Manager was more a consequence than anything else. It was recognition of the fact that I was handling matters independently.

     

    What does a Manager at a Law Firm like DSK Legal do? What falls within the scope of your responsibility? Tell us about a typical work day.

    The role and responsibility of a Manager is to handle matters independently and assist the Partner whenever required. The role also involves some amount of mentoring and supervising the work of senior associates and associates.

    My typical work day involves going to Court and arguing a matter, meeting clients, drafting, reviewing the work of my juniors and sometimes briefing senior counsels.

     

    What is the most challenging or stressful part of being a Manager at one of the most successful law firms in the country?

    The stressful part is management part where administratively things have to be taken care off. However, in a firm structure certain things are necessary and have to be followed.

    As a Litigator one has to work very hard because the gestation period is longer. I enjoy what I do and am able to make time for the things that are necessary and important.

     

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    What kind of effort should a young associate put in to work to get it appreciated?

    For me the willingness to work hard is very important.

     

    How important would you say are business development skills at such higher roles in a corporate law firm?

    Business development skills are obviously important. We are a service industry and therefore, client satisfaction is of paramount importance. Business development is a necessary evil, one which must be nurtured and developed for continued existence.

     

    What do you feel makes an intern stand out and is very important for him to do to have a chance of getting a call back or even a PPO?

    Interns should try and shoulder more responsibility and try and execute assignments in the same manner like an Associate. Hard work and perseverance definitely get noticed.

     

    Do you feel that higher education helps a person to have a successful legal career?

    Higher studies provide you with a good perspective. It may or may not result in a successful career. That depends on your drive and motivation. My advice would be that study only if you want to and not because everyone else if doing it. The same is applicable with anything else.

     

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

    Work hard and remember that genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. There is no substitute for hard work. Tiredness is only a state of mind.

    Also please read the bare provisions of the relevant law every single time you work on a matter. Please apply yourself independently and do not follow people blindly, even if that person is your superior. After all the right to make a mistake and be stupid is everyone’s prerogative and Article 14 applies there as well.

  • Rishab Kumar, Junior Associate, David Polk & Wardell, NY, on experience at GLC, Mumbai, the cost of an LL.M from Columbia University and International Law Firms

    Rishab Kumar, Junior Associate, David Polk & Wardell, NY, on experience at GLC, Mumbai, the cost of an LL.M from Columbia University and International Law Firms

    Rishab Kumar is working as a Junior Associate at David Polk & Wardwell LLP. He had graduated from Government Law College, Mumbai in 2009. While in college, he interned as a law clerk with Justice Cyriac Joseph and worked at diverse places such as Reserve Bank of India and Majumdar and Partners. Later, he went on to join the chambers of Mr. Darius Khambata (Additional Solicitor General of India at the time) as a Junior Attorney. After working for a year, he entered into a two year training contract with Linklaters. Thereafter, he went to pursue an LL.M from Columbia University where at the end of his course, he was offered a job at David Polk & Wardwell. This interview brings out the journey of a law student to become a corporate lawyer working in one of the leading law firms in the world.

    In this interview, he talks about:

    • His experience at GLC, Mumbai – being a founder member of GLC, Debating Society and conceiving GLC Policy Debate;
    • His internship experience with Justice Cyriac Joseph, Reserve Bank of India and Majumdar & Partners;
    • Linklaters and his training contract with them;
    • Doing LL.M from Columbia and then joining David Polk LLP.
    • His experience as an expert in Merger and Acquisition between India and China.
    • The merits and demerits of both corporate lawyer and a litigating lawyer.

     

    How will you introduce yourself to our readers? What motivated you to choose law as a career?

    To introduce myself, I would start by saying that I was born and raised in Bombay (as it was then called) and I went to school and college there. I took to law because it was a field that gathered within itself two possibilities: intellectual stimulation and a rewarding professional career (and also because I wasn’t any good at mathematics). I always enjoyed debating, model UNs and was drawn to the humanities subjects generally, so it seemed like the right choice to me.

     

    What activities were you involved in as a student? Looking back, is there anything you wish you had done differently?

    Given the way the five year law course at GLC is organized, I always saw it as an opportunity to explore various aspects of the legal profession. Being in Mumbai, I was able to intern at law firms, with senior counsel, at the RBI and law clinics, all with the aim of getting a broader perspective on the industry.

    In college, I spent my time mooting, debating, writing articles and serving as a student editor on the GLC Law Review. All these activities really help developing the skills required to be a good lawyer.

    Looking back, I wish I had better grades through law school, because that’s something you’re always answerable for in black and white. But, it’s not an insurmountable obstacle. I devoted time to co-curricular activities and I don’t regret that – it’s important for everyone to find their own balance.

     

    What motivated you to start a debating society and why did you decide to organize the ‘GLC Policy Debate’?

    (Rishab was one of the founders of the GLC Debating Society, and also conceived and organized the ‘GLC Policy Debate’.)

    GLC already had a very vibrant community of intellectually curious students who were keen to debate everything from Plato to Pluto. The debating society was meant to be a structured outlet for these discussions and to provide students a platform to express their views. It instils public speaking confidence in those who lacked it. It was a particularly rewarding process because GLC, as a government college, has students from a wide range of backgrounds and this led to a remarkable diversity of opinion.

    The GLC Policy Debate was formed along the lines of the Oxford Union policy debate which used to be framed as “This House has No Confidence in Her Majesty’s Government”. We adapted this to the Indian context and invited noted bureaucrats, academics and journalists to defend and oppose the government’s policies. The debate was conducted on the steps of the Asiatic Society Library, for its symbolic significance as the former Town Hall of Mumbai. This was a unique event in India in that it was a fair and frank assessment of the government’s policies by an intelligent audience, with students voting at the end.

    The most challenging part of organizing this was obtaining the infinite government permits and approvals required to hold this event in a public space – particularly given the controversial topic.

     

    Please describe your internship experiences for our readers.

    (During Rishab’s time at law school, he interned with Justice Cyriac Joseph, Supreme Court of India, as a Law Clerk; Reserve Bank of India as a Research Intern and Majmudar & Partners as a Trainee.)

    With its early morning classes, the five-year course at GLC allows students to spend time working as an apprentice during the afternoons and gain a very real initiation in the practice of law. Students can either choose to be at one firm/organization for the duration or do a variety of different things. Both paths have their merits, but I chose the latter. The range of experience I gained offered me a unique perspective in that it allowed me to read and research a wide variety of subjects and learn how they were applied in practice. I was also able to meet some extremely inspiring people at these organizations, some of whom remain mentors till today. Most importantly perhaps, this variety in experience was useful to me when I applied to foreign law firms and LL.Ms.

    Clerking in the Supreme Court was a fantastic experience because I was able to witness some of the great lawyers of our time arguing the most significant legal issues of the day. Working as a research intern at the RBI, I learnt to value the role of a central bank in the economy and caught a small glimpse of how policies are formed at such institutions. At Majmudar & Partners, I gained my first experience working at a corporate law firm and interacting with clients. All these experiences gave me a solid foundation and held me in good stead going forward.

     

    Please tell us about your experience working with Mr. Darius Khambata.

    (After graduation, Rishab joined the Chambers of Mr. Darius Khambata (Additional Solicitor General of India at the time) as a junior attorney and worked there for 1 year before leaving to start a training contract at Linklaters.)

    By the time I joined the Chambers of Mr. Khambata, I knew that I would be leaving in 8-10 months to start a training contract at Linklaters in London. Mr. Khambata was kind enough to let me follow him around during this time. He is a towering figure at the bar and an inspiring human being. Working in his chambers was an extremely rewarding experience.

    My general duties were to research and assist Mr. Khambata in court. Mr. Khambata was the Additional Solicitor General of India at the time, so I was able to research and follow matters that involved constitutional law issues, administrative law issues, international and trade law issues – a variety of interesting subjects. This was really a dream assignment, because as a junior lawyer you typically don’t get to write research memos and spend hours reading Supreme Court cases to formulate and test arguments on such fundamental matters. But this was what I did during my time in chambers and it was a tremendous learning experience. I also enjoyed the camaraderie and tradition of working on the original side of the Bombay High Court.

     

    When did you start thinking to opt for a training contract from a foreign law firm?

    I started first with the idea of doing an internship abroad, because I thought it would be a valuable experience and good for my CV. At one point, I might have written emails to over 50 firms all over the UK. I didn’t get a single positive response. That’s when I learnt about the Linklaters India Internship program. I had missed the deadline for that year, so I decided to apply the next year. The application process for the internship was quite detailed. I spent a considerable amount of timing drafting and finalizing my application.

    I was thrilled to be offered the internship, which turned out to be more fun than I had expected. Living in London and being wined and dined every other evening was really an enjoyable experience. You also get to do some real work and get a glimpse of what life as a trainee is like. At the end of the internship, you’re invited to interview for a training contract. When I was offered the training contract, I thought that if I was going to practice corporate law, what better place to start than Linklaters in London – the work is exciting, the training is excellent and the compensation is very attractive.

     

    International Law Firms stress on commercial awareness. What sources, materials, books, newspapers or blogs did you read to crack commercial awareness?

    International firms do stress about this. But, reading the business newspapers and perhaps the Economist should hold you in good stead. You’re not expected to know the closing share price of Infosys the day before – just a general awareness of what’s going on in the world with a particular emphasis on things that would affect the practice of a global law firm.

     

    Describe your experience applying to Linklaters. Is there any specific point to keep in mind while writing the application process?

    The application process for the internship was quite detailed. Several essays, two rounds of interviews and an aptitude test. My advice to anyone applying is to take the application seriously. Spend time to read it, re-read and then proof-read it. I remember the recruiting department used to say, if an application contains more than three obvious typos, that’s probably a straight cut.

     

    How did you prepare for the Aptitude Tests in connection with your application? Do you recommend to undergo proper training for this?

    I’m quite certain that the Aptitude Tests don’t require any specific preparation – and that’s part of the objective. It’s probably useful to sample a few IQ tests and maybe the Watson Glazer critical thinking test, but only to get a sense for what to expect. It’s not a test that you’re expected to prepare for. The only thing that can hurt you on this test is to stress about it.

     

    Could you briefly describe the interview process for us?

    The interview is typically a casual conversation about your past, what you have done with your time and why you’re interested in the firm. Always have a story and explanation for every item on your CV because, if it’s on your CV, an interviewer is entitled to ask you about it. You’ll rarely be tested on a point of law, and even if you are, if you reason your answer correctly, not knowing the actual provision of law is completely acceptable. Research the firm and the interviewer – it’ll help you understand what they’re looking for. Ultimately, it’s just about making intelligent conversation and showing that culturally, you will be the right fit.

     

    Describe your time at Linklaters during your Training Contract. Also, briefly describe your work experience in various practice areas while undergoing Training Contract at Linklaters in London.

    The training contract is a 2 year contract where you rotate through four different practice areas. I chose to work in Capital Markets, Litigation, Banking and Corporate (M&A). The work you do in each practice area depends on the people you work with and the nature of the transaction/case. In most circumstances, you will play the role of a junior lawyer on the transaction/case, which may involve some tedious work (due-diligence, document review etc.), but you’ll also get asked to do interesting research and even get the opportunity to interact with clients. The people you work with are extremely intelligent and inspiring and the quality of training is really excellent. It’s also exciting to work on the most high-profile cases that you read about the next day in the newspapers. At the end of the training contract, trainees are expected to choose a practice area to ‘qualify’ into and this is a question of preference and a person’s area of interest.

    I enjoyed my time most in the Corporate (M&A) department because out of the various corporate groups, it seemed to me, the most tangible and relatable – a company buying or merging with another company. Every task that you perform is in furtherance of this objective and that simple context makes your work understandable and rewarding.

     

    What motivated you to leave Linklaters and pursue LL.M. at that point of time?

    (After completing Rishab’s Training Contract, he went on to pursue LL.M. from Columbia University School of Law, New York.)

    I had always wanted to do an LL.M. simply because I wanted to study further. There were a lot of subjects that I wanted to learn more about and to immerse myself in an academic environment. I knew that this would not be possible while working at a corporate law firm. The end of the training contract is a clean break and gave me the opportunity to get away and study for one last time.

     

    How did you go about writing your SOP for Columbia? Are there any key factors which one should keep in mind before writing the SOP?

    Writing an SOP is a deeply meaningful and personal exercise and one should treat it as such. It’s a process that cannot be rushed – I remember when I applied to Columbia, I had probably started writing my essay in June for a November deadline. I think the most important thing to do with an SOP, is to read the question. Each university has a different format and rather than viewing them all as the same essay, it’s better to look at the specific question and answer the question.

     

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    Tell us about the cost of an LL.M. at Columbia Law School? Did you receive any scholarship? Does Columbia Law School provide students with scholarships?

    The cost of an LL.M. at Columbia Law School is approximately US$80,000 (including tuition, rent and reasonable living expenditure). I know that Columbia Law School offers a number of scholarships, but I wasn’t offered any that year and I financed my LL.M. through a student loan. There are several educational trusts in India that will offer scholarships to students, but many of them are in the form of an interest free loan. If a scholarship is not forthcoming or feasible, the cost of an LL.M. is a factor that one should consider thoroughly. It is not easy to find a job after an LL.M. that will pay a salary which allows you to pay off that amount of money fast.

     

    After completing your LL.M., did you face any obstacles towards finding a job in the US? What is your opinion on LL.M. recruitment vis a vis  J.D. recruitment?

    Whether it is difficult to find a job in the US is often a function of market conditions which cannot be predicted. In 2013 when I graduated, market conditions were not great and there were few jobs for international lawyers.

    However, the key obstacle is the recruitment cycle. The JD program is a three year course. Students interview for summer associate positions during their first and second year and at the end of their second year, law students will intern at a law firm over the summer. Law firms usually finish their first year recruiting from this cohort of summer associates and by the time LL.M. students arrive in the fall, all law firms have completed their recruitment for the following year. This means that unless a specific position opens up, it is very difficult for LL.M. students to find jobs at US law firms.

    That said, if market conditions are favourable and if you are diligent with your search, it is possible to break in; especially for someone who is able to demonstrate a substantial amount of relevant work experience.

     

    After the LL.M., you joined Davis Polk & Wardwell as an Associate. This is one of the most prestigious and sought-after law firms in the US- how did you come to be offered this position?

    Davis Polk & Wardwell is one of the few firms with a strong India practice and the firm was looking for someone with my profile to do US and Asia cross-border M&A work. At the time, their India practice, as part of the broader Asia practice, was operated mainly out of the Hong Kong office and so I was hired for that position. The firm was a top choice for me and I was extremely fortunate to be offered the position.

     

    After starting in the New York office, you shifted to the Hong Kong office of Davis Polk. What led to this shift?

    I started in the New York office as any US associate, I worked on a few transactions and went through the introductory training program before moving to the Hong Kong office as always planned. The cross-border India, Asia M&A practice in Hong Kong was the right fit for me at the time and so, I moved to the Hong Kong office.

     

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    Your core practice area is Cross-border M&A and PE/VC investments. How did you come to choose this practice area? What skills does one require to be a lawyer in this field?

    I had always been interested in international and cross-border work. But my focus in M&A was developed during the course of my LL.M. The US jurisprudence (Delaware in particular) around corporate M&A transactions is extremely sophisticated and I was drawn to it. Several of my classes were in this field and I enjoyed the nuanced discussion on fiduciary duties, business judgment and shareholder value. I was particularly attracted to the idea that this academic discussion was directly related to the practice of M&A at a US law firm and was constantly evolving.

    Moreover, no two M&A transactions are the same and there is no cookie-cutter method to a transaction. You start with a clean slate each time and tailor your work to the specific context and the client’s objectives. This makes each transaction intellectually stimulating.

    In practice, the role of an M&A lawyer is often to play quarterback to various specialty groups. In any given transaction, there may be labour/employment law issues, tax issues, IP issues, environmental law issues, anti-trust/competition law issues etc. The corporate lawyers have to coordinate and synthesize the advice from such specialist teams and reflect it in the terms of the main transaction documents.

    Ultimately, as an M&A lawyer clients look to you to find solutions. So, thinking on your feet and problem-solving are two crucial skills that a lawyer must possess.

     

    At Davis Polk, you are working on some challenging and highly complex M&A transactions, especially in relation to India & China. Can you tell us about this experience?

    Working at a firm like Davis Polk is a privilege. You work with extremely intelligent people on cutting-edge transactions. Much of my practice today is representing strategic companies or private equity funds in their acquisitions/investments in India, China and South East Asia. Foreign direct investment transactions in these countries are quite challenging to execute and there is always a higher level of risk. One has to be familiar with the local regulations and work closely with local counsel in the target jurisdiction to come up with a viable transaction structure. However, businesses in these regions are growing at exponential rates and the reward for patient and diligent investments can be quite high. These challenges make the work extremely interesting and serve as a great learning experience for a junior lawyer.

     

    You have practised law in Mumbai, London, New York and now Hong Kong. Give us some highlights of India practices at International Firms in USA, UK and Asia.

    Logistically speaking, many international firms have their India practices operated in Singapore, Hong Kong or London. The time difference between India and the US, makes it more difficult to service clients and negotiate with the other side during a transaction from New York or the west coast.

    However, law firms are ultimately professional service firms that are responsive to client needs. India practices at law firms are a good example of this. Firms have India practices only to the extent that clients are interested in doing business in India which is in turn dependant on prevailing economic conditions. It is difficult to sustain a practice solely on inbound and outbound transactions related to India and few firms will hire an associate to do solely India work. From an associate’s perspective, while working at an international law firm, it is important to branch out and be a general corporate lawyer with some India experience. If you want to practice solely Indian law, the place to do it is at an Indian law firm in India.

    There was a time when firms operated India practices outside of India in anticipation of the legal markets opening up in India, but that is not the case anymore as there is no clear indication that the market will open up. This event has been 2 years away for 15 years now.

     

    You have worked with two Top International corporate law firms. Tell us about the work culture of both law firms, their work-ethics, salary package and also comment on the diverse practice areas.

    Linklaters and Davis Polk are both extremely prestigious firms with extremely capable lawyers. They are also both very large organizations and it is impossible to generalize the culture. Both firms demand the highest levels of professionalism and also exhibit tremendous team spirit and work ethic. In terms of offices, magic circle firms tend to be larger and more international than US firms. But, both firms are full service law firms with top-tier corporate practices.

    At a magic circle firm, the first recruits are trainees and most associates were trainees at the firm. The training contract system is a very good start to a legal career. You rotate across departments for two years and that gives you the time to adjust to life in a corporate law firm and sample various practice areas. Coming straight from an Indian law school, this system is an excellent first step to take. A typical magic circle firms pays approximately GBP 40,000 to trainees and approximately GBP 60,000 to its associates (who qualify after two years of training).

    At most US firms, the first port of entry is a summer associateship at the firm between the second and third year of law school. This is much shorter than a training contract and is premised on the fact that by the time students finish their JDs, they are more polished and ready to start practising law. Because, unlike the LL.B. system in the UK, the JD program is a post-graduate program and law graduates are older and have often had some prior work experience. As a result, US law firms typically don’t recruit outside of the JD circuit and international students find it hard to break into the system directly, especially without a US LL.M. However, once you are able to break in the system, a first year associate at a top New York firm will start at US$160,000.

     

    What is your take on Corporate v. Litigation?

    I believe that practising litigation (as a counsel) in India can be challenging without the support of a mentor. It is difficult to get briefed as a junior counsel without that support and as a result, at a very crucial age in life, you may not have a steady source of income. If you have the financial means and the talent to overcome this barrier, then litigation can be a highly rewarding experience, especially in a place like Bombay where the tradition is for seniors to support juniors and mentor them. The actual day to day work is intellectually stimulating and you are an independent professional, not constantly answerable to a senior.

    Working at a corporate law firm offers you financial stability and can be less daunting to start with because you work as part of a team and are sure to be offered the training and assistance to grow. Also, corporate law often involves problem solving and over time, you can feel like you’ve help build something, whether it’s a company, a power plant or a new product. However, with that stability and sense of accomplishment, comes long, unpredictable hours of a stressful environment.

     

    Life at a corporate law firm can be very hectic at times. What is your take on work-life balance? How do you unwind?

    Life as a junior associate at a corporate law firm is indeed quite hectic and stressful. However, sometimes, it’s important to step back and look at the bigger picture. My wife is a doctor and she always reminds me, if nobody died or suffered physical pain, it’s a good day.

    Playing a sport has always been very important to me – it’s a complete escape from everything else. So, playing basketball on the weekends is almost a religious activity and I rarely let work come in the way of that.

     

    Any advice you’d like to give to young lawyers who hope to follow in your footsteps?

    While in college, it’s important to cultivate an intellectual curiosity and let that drive you. Do what you feel passionate about, stick with it and work hard towards it.

  • Abhilasha Nautiyal, Senior Associate, IPR and Competition Law, Anand & Anand, on LL.M from Harvard and job experience

    Abhilasha Nautiyal, Senior Associate, IPR and Competition Law, Anand & Anand, on LL.M from Harvard and job experience

    Abhilasha Nautiyal graduated from Army Institute of Law, Mohali in 2010. While in law school, during her internship at Anand and Anand, she was offered a job which she accepted and started working there after graduation. Thereafter she went to pursue Masters from Harvard Law School. After coming back to India, she again joined Anand and Anand but this time as a Senior Associate. Currently she practices IP and Competition Law at Anand and Anand.

    In this interview, she talks about:

    • Law school experience at AIL
    • LL.M from Harvard
    • Career in Intellectual Property law
    • Work at Anand and Anand

     

    Tell us about your profile and how did you decide to study law?

    I work with Anand and Anand and practice IP and competition law.

    Law was a fortuitous choice, and going to AIL was also a matter of chance – I was preparing for med school when a friend introduced me to the idea of going to law school. Being from an army background, Army Institute of Law seemed like a law school I could realistically get into.

     

    What has been your experience on the NLU and Non-NLU divide?

    Yes, there is some truth in that. Luckily for me, I interned and now work at a firm that doesn’t differentiate amongst its resources on an NLU/Non-NLU divide.

     

    After graduating from AIL, you joined Anand and Anand as an Associate. How did the appointment take place?

    I was offered a job at Anand and Anand during an internship. As an associate, I assisted senior members of the litigation team. The learning curve of a litigating lawyer is steep and there is of course a lot to catch up with in terms of what the law is and how the legal machinery actually functions as opposed to what one thinks of the legal system in law school.

     

    How would you describe your experience while studying Masters from Harvard Law School?

    I always wanted to have a more fulfilling academic experience, hence an LL.M. I have come across people in the profession who feel that an LL.M. has very limited value for a litigating lawyer. In my experience, the LL.M. year opened my mind to diverse ideas, which I believe is a great ‘value addition’ for a lawyer irrespective of the field of law he or she is practicing. The LL.M. year is not just about academics but is a great opportunity for personal growth.

     

    After coming back from Harvard you were offered the position of a Senior Associate at Anand and Anand. How would you say the LL.M affected your career?

    There are several factors involved in the process – time at the firm and ability to handle individual responsibility are examples of criteria the firm may look at. I was directly offered the rank of Senior Associate after my LL.M from Harvard.

    An LL.M., at the very least, does refine ones thinking, which is a great boost. My responsibilities at Anand and Anand have increased over the years. One must bear in mind that foreign education comes at the price and must be prepared to make such an investment.

     

    Tell us a bit about work culture at Anand and Anand and the life of a Senior Associate.

    I am happy to be working with people who are as passionate, if not more, about the law. We enjoy our work and team work is our strength. I handle matters in consultation with the partners. My responsibilities include handling day to day requirements of clients, advisory work, appearances in court and taking forward the competition law practice of the firm.

     

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    How did you build up your expertise in IPR? Tell us about your work experience.

    I learnt a lot during internships and on the job. Like I said before, there is a huge gap between what we study in law school and how we actually practice law. It is important to bridge that gap – a headstart in college by focusing on quality internships is very important. The role of an IP lawyer may involve several facets like transactional work, consultancy, prosecution or litigation. The key is to do your job and to do it well. Attention to detail is a quality that can help one go a long way in this profession.

    I most enjoy working on matters at the cusp of IP and competition law. This includes FRAND and compulsory licensing problems. At the risk of sounding clichéd, I feel there is no substitute for hard work (and good strategy!)

    If you are passionate about IP, life will be much simpler as an IP lawyer.

    Mistakes happen – it’s fine as long as you learn and move on. As I have learnt over the years, it important to try because most mistakes can be corrected.

     

    How are internships helpful for a law student? What are the other options available for someone interested in IP?

    Internships are a must. Diligence is well appreciated during internships.

    It’s always helpful to have an idea of the relevant substantive and procedural law. General awareness of burning issues in your field of interest will help.

    Working with start ups, or having your own legal start up, may be a lucrative option in some cases. Alternatively, teaching, clerking with courts, or working for a government agency are other options to explore.

     

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    How do you maintain your work-life balance?

    This is a tough one. My husband is also a lawyer so both of us work long hours. The trick is to take benefit of any break, long or short, that comes our way.