Super Lawyer

Category: Associates, In-House Counsels and Advocates

  • Abhishek Singh, Law Graduate, NALSAR, on bagging a trainee contract from Linklaters and experience at University of Illinois

    Abhishek Singh, Law Graduate, NALSAR, on bagging a trainee contract from Linklaters and experience at University of Illinois

    Abhishek Singh graduated in the 2014 batch of NALSAR, Hyderabad. He has participated in the international student exchange program of NALSAR with University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign and has secured a trainee contract from a magic circle law firm.

    In this interview we ask him about:

    • Experience as a part of an International Student Exchange program
    • Cracking the rigorous online tests and interviews of a Magic Circle Firm
    • Bagging a Training Contract from Linklaters

     

    Tell us a bit about your childhood, your hometown and your pre-graduate life.

    I was born in Siddarthnagar. Due to the transferable nature of my father’s job, I was brought up in different cities across U.P. When I was in Class VII, our family took a conscious decision of settling in Lucknow for a while so as to focus on my brother’s and my education. I completed Class X and XII from St. Francis College, Lucknow.

     

    Why did you decide to study law?

    I studied Science with Maths in class 12. Frankly, I was never interested in studying Science hence after an unsuccessful attempt in the engineering entrance exams I began looking for other career options. My initial plan was to study Economics or Political Science and even took admission in Delhi University. However, during this time I came to know about the Five Year Law Program. I did some research, spoke to my family members and decided to take the plunge. The technicality of law and its close relationship with other social sciences like Economics, Political Science attracted me towards it.

     

    What were your areas of interest during your graduation?

    My area of interest always evolved during my graduation. This is because I had never given a serious thought about what I would want to do after graduation. Until my second year I wanted to do an MBA after law school. Hence, I interned with LLC, one of the India’s first organizations which provides consultancy to law firms.

    Even my law interests were always varied. I liked studying criminal law and Corporate Law. To this end I always utilised my internships well and tried to intern in places where I could know more about these areas.

     

    Tell us about your student exchange program?

    I went to University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign (UIUC) in my third year where I studied International Tax, International Criminal Law, International Commercial Arbitration and Comparative Law. Apart from the cultural exposure, in all forms, that a student from India is exposed to, being taught by some of the renowned law professors like Prof. Garoupa and Prof. Dharmapala was one of the most academically satisfying experiences. The courses and the professors challenged me to not just adjust quickly in a new country but also work towards getting grades in tough courses.

     

    In terms of academics how will you distinguish University of Illinois with NALSAR?

    I went on exchange before NALSAR had introduced choice based credit courses. Hence it was amazing to see the diverse number of courses on offer in a semester. The focus was more on exposure to the practice of law which is actually required in a commercial set up than the black letter of law, which one can always read from the books. For example, my International Arbitration Professor was a practising arbitrator. He took great efforts in explaining the qualities one should look for while a party is looking for an arbitrator and the consequences of a ‘bad choice’.  Normally, one would not find such things in a book.

     

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

    Having gained substantial experience by the end of the third year, I was clear that I wanted to work in a commercial law firm but the thought of applying for a training contract never occurred to me. It is only when the application process for foreign firms started and I saw my friends applying for it, I decided to give it a chance.

     

    What sources, materials, books, newspapers or blogs did you read to crack commercial awareness?

    Linklaters, like all other magic circle firms pays a great attention towards commercial awareness. It is basically about putting yourself in the shoes of your clients and think what decisions you would have taken had you been in his position. It is what drives decision making in any deals that you are going to work on in any commercial law firm.

    The best place to start is by reading the business section of any daily newspaper. Pick up one or two deals that are currently happening and try to get as much information about them as you can. It will help you in understanding the thought process of decision makers.

     

    How was your experience in applying to Linklaters?

    The application is the most important thing in the whole process. I found that the application process is intensive enough to require you to first, introspect about your whole life and career and subsequently present it in a form that the firm requires. Hence, before writing the application, do make an effort to read as much as possible about the firm and its practice areas. In an effort to make the application unique some people try to unnecessarily complicate it by throwing unnecessary legal jargon. I would say write simple and succinct answers. Before submitting the application, proofread it thoroughly as silly mistakes are unpardonable.

     

    How did you prepare for the Online Aptitude Tests post your application? ?

    Post application, the firm invites a select group of candidates to appear in a critical reasoning test called the Waston Glaser Test. The questions are more or less similar to the ones that are normally asked in the CLAT Logical Reasoning section i.e. deductive Reasoning, Inferences, Recognizing Assumptions etc. I don’t think any special preparation is required for it. A sample test is however available on the firms’ website for practice.

     

    Could you briefly describe the interview process for us?

    The interview process is divided into four rounds. First is a two part e-tray test. The first part is a work stimulation exercise where you will be given background information about a deal and will have to answer emails arriving in your inbox relating to the deal. In the second part you need to draft a written response to a query emailed to you by your partner, which is discussed at length in the partner’s interview round. In the second round, one has to reappear for the Waston Glaser Text but this time in a controlled environment. Next is the HR Round followed by a one-on-one interview with the Partner. The partner usually asks question based on your written response and later general questions based on your application.

     

    Did you prepare for some stock questions ahead of time for the HR Round?

    For the HR round I read my application well and also gave good thought as to why I wrote a particular answer. This was because questions like Why Law, Why Linklaters, Why Commercial Law are most likely to be asked in the interview process and you should be very clear in your mind about each one of them.

     

    How was the social environment during the vacation scheme?

    The graduate team plans a lot of social events so as to ensure that we get to know the firm, its people and other vacation schemers at an informal level too. As part of that, we visited most of the touristy places in London.  We also attended the firms’ 125th party which luckily coincided with our time in the firm.

     

    What is the evaluation process for the Training Contract?

    During the vacation scheme, a person usually works in two different departments of the firm for 7-8 days each. At the end of each seat there is an appraisal of the work that you did. Interestingly, the Principal (your reporting Association/MA) explains his reasons for his assessment and gives you a feed back on what you can do to further improve. There is also a project component which is discussed with a Partner during the final interview.

    Hence, the two appraisal reports, Project and Partner’s interview decide whether one is getting a training contract or not.

     

    What was your experience while interacting with law students from different universities?

    It was a great learning experience to interact with students from Oxford, Cambridge, ULC, LSE and other prestigious universities from the U.K. The focus during three years in the university is on learning theoretical and foundational aspects of Law. Post graduation, all Law students have to compulsorily  complete LPC, where the focus is on learning practical aspects of law. Hence role of each institution is clearly defined unlike India where our universities in an attempt to play the dual role, often could not do justice to either.  I found the UK system to be a tad better than ours.

     

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

    Don’t hesitate to take risks, enjoy each and every moment of you law school life and work extremely hard.

  • Funmi Oyeneyin on LL.M from UCL, work at Ernst & Young and at Adam & Partners

    Funmi Oyeneyin on LL.M from UCL, work at Ernst & Young and at Adam & Partners

    funmi-o-2Funmi Oyeneyin graduated with an LL.B from King’s College and thereafter pursued an LL.M in International Law from University College, London. She came across the opportunity to intern at the UN.

    Funmi worked as a corporate tax adviser at Ernst & Young and  is currently working at Adam & Partners.

    Read more about her career choices while working at different international firms.

     

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

    I grew up in Scotland with Nigerian parents, having dual nationality from birth. Suffice to say internationalism also plays a key role in my work, the focus of which is international commercial law. I also have an academic interest in Public International Law, specifically WTO and investment treaties.

     

    Amongst the various career options, what motivated you to choose law?

    At the age of 16 I participated in a mock trial of Tom Robinson (To Kill a Mocking Bird). The seed of legal aspiration was sown. I relish the academic challenge of the law and the process of analysis to reach evidence based conclusions.

    Moreover, the law plays a pivotal role in society. For me, to have the knowledge so as to have a real impact in people’s lives and in turn shape societal norms, hopefully for the better, is important.

     

    You pursued your undergraduate (LL.B.) degree from King’s College. What was the application procedure? Are there any entrance tests?

    I applied through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) application process. UCAS is the British admission service for students applying to university, through which students can apply to five universities.

    “In my day” there were no entrance exam requirements for an LL.B at Kings. I believe all applicants must now sit for the National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT)

     

    What prompted you to choose KCL for an LL.B. degree? Were there any other Universities in mind while applying at KCL?

    I focused my L.LB application on the top tier law schools as per the published ranking, applying to Cambridge, Durham, King’s College London (KCL), Edinburgh, and Glasgow. I was fortunate that all, barring Cambridge, accepted my application.

    Initially, Durham was my first choice. However, on attending the open day for King’s, I literally changed my mind that same day. Perhaps it was its proximity to the Royal Courts of Justice or the grand Maughan Library, but ultimately it was a gut feeling. One would expect a more logical answer from a lawyer but it really was that simple. A decision I have never regretted.

     

    You had started your professional career with Ernst & Young as a Corporate Tax Advisor. What was the application procedure? What did your work profile consist of?

    Application Procedure

    It was a three stage application process.

    Stage 1: an online application. A minimum 2.1 degree was required to qualify to complete the online application.

    Stage 2: A telephonic interview.

    Stage 3: An assessment day at EY’s office in More London. It consisted of a group exercise, an interview with HR, and a final interview with a partner.

    Work profile

    At Ernst & Young, I trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant, qualifying into International Tax Services (ITS) where I advised UK and foreign multinationals on tax efficient structuring and solutions. My work profile was both finance based, in that I collated and analysed financial information, and legal such as substantial research into complex UK tax law, ECJ judgments and International Treaties.

     

    Why did you choose to go for an LL.M. in International Law? Was it a job requirement in any manner?

    The LL.M was not a job requirement. International law has always fascinated me, having studied Public International Law at King’s, and then subsequent experience in the application of international tax treaties at EY. I decided to undertake an LL.M in international law to further engage this interest and progress my career to involve a broad international remit.

     

    How did you decide on University College London? Did you consider any other colleges?

    Once again I focused on the reputation of the law school and international law departments. Wanting to remain in London, I considered LSE, King’s, and UCL. I decided on UCL due to the available courses and the tutor Philippe Sands, a world-renowned international lawyer.

    As a King’s alumni, defecting to the “godless institution on Gower Street” was difficult. However, UCL’s current worldwide ranking has gone some way to help ease the shame of my betrayal to King’s.

     

    How does one prepare to get admission in University College London? Does the admission procedure involve several levels?

    The admission process for UCL’s LL.M programme was straightforward. It was done via an application form and required a minimum 2.1 LLB degree to qualify to apply.

    I spent a fair amount of time on my personal statement so as to convey my genuine interest in the subject. Outside academic aptitude an interest in the subject matter is important for a postgraduate degree.

     

    What are the top 3 things you kept in mind while selecting a university for LL.M.?

    The reputation of the law school and faculty.

    Availability of subjects in line with areas of interest, international law.

    Purpose of the LL.M – purely academic or to enhance employment opportunities.

     

    Education in the U.K. must have been very expensive. What are the scholarships available?

    The Scottish Loan authority provides student loans for university. Similarly banks can provide student loans for Bar School. Furthermore scholarships are available through the Inns of Courts.

     

    You had interned at the U.N. for about 3 months. How has your experience been? What did you take away from such an internship?

    It was a fantastic experience. Given my longstanding interest in international law, working at the international organization gave me unprecedented access to see how international laws and rules are applied in practice.

    My take away was that the purpose of the UN, in facilitating international cooperation in an increasingly interconnected world, remains fundamental even if it may suffer from bureaucracy inherent to civil service.

    Additionally, I worked with interns from all over the world and the obvious similarity between us all stemmed from a comparable social economic background. Showing that access to opportunity plays a greater role than race or culture.

     

    Would you say that the work environment at Adam & Partners Investment Advisors LLC was significantly different than Ernst & Young?

    EY is large organization and required an element of regimented hierarchy so as to function efficiently. Furthermore, it allowed for specialism in one area at an early stage.

    On the other hand, Adam & Partners, as a smaller organisation, allows for more autonomy and flexibility. The area of work is wider ranging.

    I received fantastic training at EY however I am personally better suited to the flexibility and autonomy of working with clients such as Adam &Partners.

     

    Would you say your LL.M. from UCL helped in being successful at Adam & Partners?

    In general, legal training helps to develop the ability to absorb a lot of information, analyse it and come to a conclusion. It also develops effective communication skills. These skills are helpful for any position.

    Further, friends made at UCL, a lot of whom were lawyers from other countries, have become a useful network.

     

    Having been part of a multi-cultural set-up with international clientele, did you face any cultural challenges? How did you address them?

    From birth, having dual nationality, I have been comfortable in a multi-cultural environment but acknowledge that there are inevitable cultural tensions. However, in a professional environment I have found that any such hostility tends not to be openly aggressive. The main issue I encounter is that of lowered expectation, not based on my qualifications but rather preconceptions.

    To address this, it has been important for me to remain confident in my ability and remain appropriate at all time. Furthermore, positive and consistent achievement tends to negate any such assumption.

     

    Since you are now on the other side of the table, can you give us the ‘recruiters’ point of view’, as to what they look for in a potential hire?

    Intellectual aptitude is a must. The law is academically challenging and the ability to analyse and interpret it is fundamental.

    That being said, soft skills such as good judgment, tenacity, and emotional intelligence are equally important.

    Work experience is also valuable. Be it legal internships, or simply a part time job at a coffee shop – something that demonstrates an ability to interact successfully with others in a work environment.

     

    What would be your parting message to our readers who are mainly law students and young lawyers?

    Get the grade. Rightly or wrongly, one of the most objective ways employers judge intellectual aptitudes is academic grades. Every aspect of your journey into the law has a minimum academic requirement.

    Undertake a legal internship/paralegal, even if it is unpaid. It will do two things. First, demonstrate your ability to apply legal knowledge to real life situations. Second, it will allow you decide if you actually enjoy working as a lawyer. Often the practice of law is different from academic study.

    Be flexible. The current employment environment is rather difficult for law graduates, with limited traineeships being offered. In order to best navigate this do not be discouraged by rejections, instead make a list of why the law and what you want from a career in law. Be willing to be creative to access and develop the skills needed.

    Finally, be positive and good luck.

  • Amit Singh Chauhan on LL.M from Harvard, diploma course from NLSIU and LSE

    Amit Singh Chauhan on LL.M from Harvard, diploma course from NLSIU and LSE

    Amit Singh Chauhan graduated from Delhi University in Economics and Law in 2009. Thereafter he worked at the chambers of Gopal Subramaniam for 2 years and then went on to pursue an LL.M from Harvard.

    He has cracked the New York Bar Exam and is currently working as an associate at the chambers of N. Hariharan.

    In this interview we asked him about:

    • Experience of diploma courses from NLSIU and LSE
    • LL.M from Harvard and cracking the NY Bar

     

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

    I did my schooling from St. Columba’s School, New Delhi.  After the class X boards, I was offered a scholarship by CBSE for securing an almost perfect score (99/100) in science and also received the Vedanta Mehra Memorial award for the same. I chose to pursue science with economics and later on, went on to do B.A. (Hons) Economics from the University of Delhi. Apart from this, I was actively involved in various extracurricular activities. I represented my class in swimming, cricket, quizzing and have also played chess at the state level.

    I do have lawyers in my family. My father, Mr. Ram Singh Chauhan, is a practising advocate in the Delhi High Court and Supreme Court of India and I am also married to a lawyer.

     

    Tell us a bit about your work life, your dreams and aspirations?

    I am presently working with Mr. N. Hariharan, Sr. Advocate and practicing mainly criminal law with him before various judicial forums in Delhi. He ensures that his juniors burn the midnight oil. An average working day for me is 14-15 hours. Whatever little time I get when the courts are on vacation, my father ensures that I help him with Civil Litigation and Arbitrations. Overall, I am a pretty ambitious person. My aim is to be a leading arguing counsel in this country and I ensure that I put in the effort required to be one.

     

    How was your experience of studying in a college that has churned out many eminent lawyers, judges and academicians?

    In one word it was ‘great’. The professors are highly accomplished and recognized nationally as the best in their respective fields. They are easily accessible and always willing to help. Apart from academics, there are a lot of extracurricular activities on offer like mooting, legal aid clinics etc. Further, you are encouraged to participate in social, political and cultural activities which the Delhi University has to offer. I believe all of this helps in the overall development as an individual and in becoming a better lawyer.

     

    After completing your LL.B, you pursued Diplomas from NLSIU and LSE. According to you, what value addition do diplomas do to a law student/lawyer?

    I pursued these Diplomas while I was pursuing my LL.B.  At NLSIU, I pursued a post-graduate diploma in Intellectual Property Rights and at LSE, I attended the summer school for Introduction to Corporate Law & Governance and Intellectual Property Rights.  These Diplomas, apart from providing you an edge in terms of employment, are greatly helpful if you intend to specialise in a specific field.

    My aim in pursuing these Diplomas was a bit different. I always knew that I wanted to be a litigator. I believed that I should be adequately equipped to argue or assist in any and all  kind of matters. It is for this reason I pursued these Diplomas.

     

    You also worked in the chambers of Mr. Gopal Subramanium for more than 2 years. How was the experience of working under such an eminent advocate?

    Working closely with  Mr. Gopal Subramanium, former Solicitor General of India  in advising and representing the Government of India, State Governments in India and major public sector undertakings involved in the Power Sector, Oil and Natural gas, Mining and Extraction, Telecommunication, Insurance and Finance etc., has helped me acquire sound knowledge of different laws and regulatory frameworks in India and abroad. Mr. Subramanium is a great mentor and ensures that his juniors are constructively employed while they are a part of his chamber. He is easily accessible to his juniors and goes out of his way to help them. I consider myself very lucky for having been granted an opportunity to work with him so early in my career.

     

    It is often said that classroom education and college mooting is totally different than actual court practice. What are your views in this regard?

    Classroom education and college mooting are essential in acquiring the basic understanding of law and practice. However, it is also true that Classroom education and college mooting gives you only a bird’s eye view of what actual practice is like. The pressures, stakes, strategies and technicalities of real practice are far more complicated than Classroom education and college mooting.

     

    amit-singh-chauhan-1After that, you went on to pursue LL.M. from Harvard Law School? How did you choose the universities that you applied to? What were the other universities of choice?

    After working with Mr. Gopal Subramanium for over two years I went on to pursue my LL.M. at Harvard Law. I wanted to pursue a General LL.M. so  I chose the universities in the following order: by their rankings, the subjects which I intended to study, and the faculty. In the UK I had applied to Oxford and Cambridge, and in the United States, I had applied to Harvard, Stanford, Cornell, Columbia, UPenn, and NYU. My advice to people who intend on applying for a LL.M. is that not only the subject you intend on studying matters but also, the overall reputation of the university.

     

    How was your experience and what courses did you study at Harvard?

    From day 1, Harvard was overwhelming in terms of academics and the sheer amount of activities which were on offer. You would wake up in the morning with emails from different societies and departments informing you about the events/guest lecturers for the day. Even if I wanted, I still could not attend to all which I wanted to. My only regret is that I did not have more time at Harvard.

    I studied courses on Constitutional Law, International Arbitration, Mergers & Acquisition and  White Collar Crimes amongst others. The teaching methodology involving mock transactions, trials and investigations greatly enhanced my abilities in understanding the finer points of a legal transaction. I went on to receive Honors in my International Commercial Arbitration class and my Paper on White Collar Crimes.

     

    Did you consider taking up a job in the USA itself? What were the opportunities available to you?

    I was always keen on coming back to India and practice. However, the only time I did consider taking a job in USA was after the Bar exam, which by all standards was late.  I did manage to get interviews with a couple of leading law firms in New York and Washington, D.C..

    LL.M. students have the New York job fair in January. However, most are looking to hire from countries whose legal market is open unlike India. For an Indian, it is double the effort if he/she is looking for a job and even after that there is no surety.

     

    You have also done B.A. in Economics (Hons.) from Delhi University? Has this specialization in Economics helped you in any way in your legal studies?

    Yes, I have. It was particularly helpful to me while developing or considering policies/laws and their impact on individual and society while working with the Solicitor General.  It also comes in handy from time to time, when I am involved with Banking, Finance or other commercial matters.

     

    You have recently cleared New York Bar Exam, it is said to be the world’s toughest bar exam. How strenuous would you say it was preparing for the exam? What are the rules and strategies you followed in order to crack the exam?

    It was quite strenuous especially as I started late and I knew it was my first and final shot at it. Further, it becomes more strenuous by the fact that you have about 50 days after you graduate to prepare 56 subjects/topics. I would actually give credit to my wife, Shikha, who was there to support me and ensured that I kept my cool.

    To prepare for the Bar I took classes offered by Barbri. There are others like Kaplan etc. who offer preparatory classes for the Bar. I followed their schedule as much I could and also, ensured that I had enough time for left for self study.  Since, I started my preparation later than others I had to put in 14-16 hours a day to prepare for the Bar. People who are serious about the Bar should start preparing immediately after the exams to ease the pressure.

     

    What are the minimum educational qualifications for an Indian to be eligible for the New York Bar exam? What are the job opportunities available after clearing it?

    I believe a year of education from ABA accredited institute is the minimum qualification for an Indian. Also, you are required to study specific subjects and have a minimum number of credits before you can sit for the Bar. I think people interested in taking the NY bar should check the New York Bar website for the pre-requisites.

    (The requirements could have changed. Kindly check with the NY Bar/website for the exact requirements)

    Your chances of securing a job improve greatly. However, this does change the fact Law firms prefer J.D. students and international students from countries whose market is open. Thus, for Indians it will still be difficult.

     

    What would be your advice to law students from traditional universities who want to do well in their career?

    I am going to keep it short as I am too young to advice anyone. My advice would be to work hard, work smart and be creative in your approach. Test your limit every time you think you have done your best.

     

  • Shruti Hiremath, Legal Adviser, Allen & Overy, on dual LL.M. from NYU & NUS, and her experience thus far

    Shruti Hiremath, Legal Adviser, Allen & Overy, on dual LL.M. from NYU & NUS, and her experience thus far

    Shruti Hiremath graduated from NUJS in 2011. Following that she pursued an LL.M, which required her to attend two of the world’s best known universities – New York University and National University of Singapore. She is currently associated with Allen & Overy, in the capacity of Legal Adviser, where her role entails handling structured and asset finance.

    In this interview we speak to her about:

    • Studying in the US
    • Having a dual degree
    • Plans for the future

    What was your motivation behind doing LL.M.? 

    I decided to do my masters when I was in my final year. While many are of the opinion that it is best to do an LL.M after getting some work experience under one’s belt, it is my belief that if you are certain about the area in which you want to specialise in, having just graduated should not deter you from applying for a masters (it might in fact be beneficial to do so as you get to learn from the experiences of your classmates even before you start on your first job). In-depth study of my chosen subjects and international exposure were my primary motivations in applying for an LL.M.

     

    How did you choose the university/ college? 

    In choosing a university/college, it is very important to focus on whether a given university/college offers the specific courses that you want to do and who the faculty taking those courses are. It is also crucial to think about any other objectives you may have in doing a masters. Personally, I was certain I wanted to focus on business laws. Also, I wanted to attend a program wshruti-h1ith a smaller class size as I think this allows you to interact closely with more people. The NYU@NUS program met these requirements to a T. Being a dual masters program, I was able to study more subjects in my chosen specialty and the class consisted of only 45 students.
    I also applied to the Masters in Law and Finance at Oxford University, but withdrew my application once I received a positive response from NYU@NUS for two reasons: first, I would get greater international exposure, not only in terms of a diverse class but also in terms of giving me the opportunity to experience life in more than one international city (the program allows you to study in three international cities – Singapore, New York and Shanghai); and second, I was offered the Deans’ Award, a merit-based scholarship.

     

    What did you study? 

    I did my LL.M from NYU in global business laws and the LL.M from NUS in corporate and financial services. This is an area that has been of interest to me for very long and since I hoped to work on the transactional side, I decided to take up this field of specialisation.

     

    How was your experience? 

    I had a very enriching experience both within and outside the classroom. The facilities were fantastic both at NYU and at NUS be it academic or otherwise. There was no point where I felt that something was missing. As for the faculty, I couldn’t have asked for better. Both NYU and NUS have renowned faculty and the NYU@NUS program really gives one the best of both worlds – be it Prof.Joseph Weiler (World Trade Law and EU Law), Prof. Franco Ferrari (CISG), Prof. Soornarajah (International Investment Law), Prof. Michal Gal (Competition Law), Prof. Gary Born (International Commercial Arbitration) or Prof. Umakant Varottil (Indian Business Law) to name a few. I got an opportunity to learn from the best in these fields which I will always cherish. The one thing that really stands out is that most of these professors were not pure academicians but had either practised law at some point or did so alongside teaching. This I think is very beneficial for the students as these professors are able to adapt the courses to make them more relevant to actual practice.

     

    How’s the Indian fraternity over there? 

    On the NYU@NUS program itself we were six Indians. During the NUS terms, we attend classes with NUS students. The NUS program has a very strong representation from India at the LL.M level.

     

    How is the recruitment/ placement situation for overseas students?

    Being a dual masters program, students are able to use the career services of both NYU and NUS. The career services organise fairs and also conduct practice interview sessions with various law firms. Students can also attend the International Student Interview Program in New York where many international firms come to recruit.

     

    How was the academic schedule? 

    Being a dual masters, the academic schedule was hectic. During the NYU terms we had intensive sessions where we studied only one subject at a time for three weeks at a stretch instead of having one class a week over a semester. I found this system quite effective as it gives one’s study a sense of continuity. Classes with the NYU professors were extremely interactive. The readings would be allocated/uploaded the previous day and we would have to come prepared to have a discussion on the topic. The NUS terms were like the usual semester system. In addition to classes, we also had to write papers and make presentations.

     

    What about accommodation?

    In Singapore, NUS offers a place called College Green to NYU@NUS students. These are three bedroom houses that are very close to the campus. I chose to live at a private hostel called Evans Lodge which was also very close to the campus and more reasonably priced. In New York, I lived at D’Agostino Hall which is one of the NYU halls of residence. These are two or three bedroom flats that you share with other students. I shared a flat with another NYU@NUS student and a JD student at NYU.

     

    Tell us about your classmates – was there a predominantly international crowd? 

    Most students were in their late twenties or early thirties. The crowd was undoubtedly international. Even though we were a class of only 45 students, 23 countries were represented. The diversity was amazing. It gave me a chance to learn about so many different cultures and realise how we are all so different and yet so similar.

     

    Did you get time for any extra-curricular activities?

    There’s always time to do anything you want to, if you manage your time well! Being a dual masters, the program was very hectic. But people did manage to take out time to play sports or get involved in other extra-curricular activities . Personally, I used my time to work as a research assistant for Prof. Umakant Varottil which was a very enriching experience.

     

    How does one go about scholarships? 

    There are a number of scholarships offered for Indian students going to study abroad such as the ones offered by the Tata Endowment, Inlaks Foundation and so on. Each has its own application procedures. It is important to research their requirements well in advance and keep track of the deadlines. While I did apply for these scholarships and was shortlisted for various interviews, since the program starts earlier than other masters (in May), I was unable to attend any of the scholarship interviews. The program itself does offer various scholarships such as the Deans’ Award, the Singapura scholarship and the David Marshall Scholarship.

     

    What are your future plans? 

    I am currently working in London at Allen & Overy. The in-depth knowledge of various business laws and the international exposure gained on the NYU@NUS experience has been extremely beneficial for the cross-border nature of work I am involved in here. Also, the program meets eligibility requirements for taking the New York bar exam. This is an added advantage as it increases one’s mobility and enables one to advise on a broader range of transactions. As for future plans, I plan to continue working in this field.

     

    This interview was taken in 1st quarter of 2013 by A First Taste of Law.

  • Sudeep Das, Civil Judge, Odisha Government, on working at Jindal Steel and cracking the Odisha judicial test

    Sudeep Das, Civil Judge, Odisha Government, on working at Jindal Steel and cracking the Odisha judicial test

    sudeep-das-2

    Sudeep Kumar Das graduated from Hidayatullah National Law University in 2009, after which, he spent a year and a half working at Jindal Stainless Steel Ltd. However, he decided to quit his comfortable lifestyle and join the judiciary instead.

    We have taken this opportunity to ask him about:

    • His experience as a law student at Hidayatullah National Law University
    • His time as an employee at Jindal Stainless Steel Ltd
    • Tips on clearing the Odisha judicial entrance test

     

    Tell us a bit about yourself.

    I come from a middle class family. My father is a government servant and my mother is a home maker. I did my schooling from Bhubaneswar and went on to join HNLU after that. I am presently posted as Civil Judge-cum-Judicial Magistrate First Class, Koraput.

     

    What were your ambitions before joining the law college?

    Yes, I am a first generation lawyer in my family. For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be an IAS officer – mainly because my father was in the administrative services. In fact, I was never inclined towards law, until after my class 12 exams, when my father brought me law entrance exam forms to fill up.I wrote exams for NALSAR, Symbiosis, HNLU and GNLU. On the day of the Symbiosis exam, I was in Kolkata on holiday and my father sprang a surprise on me and handed me the admit card, I went ahead, took the exam, and cleared it – along with HNLU and GNLU. I joined HNLU at the age of sixteen and, even then, the only thing I wanted was to live the ‘law school’ life, make friends, and have fun – a far cry from any real inclination towards law. However, it was destined.

     

    How was your college life?

    My college life was beyond great! HNLU will always be the best thing to have happened to me. Students with different linguistic backgrounds, cultures, traditions and customs, gathered and shared their views and opinions. That, in many ways, shaped my life and broadened my horizons. For a boy from a small city, the experience of living away from home, and meeting and interacting with new people was a challenge. I was an average student. I was never into serious stuff in college. I always had the notion that college life involves enjoying and living life to the fullest. Even on the last day of HNLU, I never thought of entering into judiciary. Like many of us who study law, a decent job with good money was all I thought about. The realisation of an actual career came only after I joined the corporate sector.

     

    When did you decide to get into judiciary?

    During my law school career I had interned with almost all the top law firms like AMSS, Khaitan, Luthra & Luthra, JSA, S&R, Karanjawala etc. But I never wanted to be in law firms as I had to prepare for the civil services examination. So I joined Jindal Steel with a thought that working in a company would provide me time to prepare for the civil services. But this thought went out of the window, the day I got my first salary. I lost focus and was swayed. With good money coming your way and living in the capital city with your best friends, people generally lose their aim of life. But after a few months I realised this is not what I wanted to do my whole life. Life is much more than sitting behind a desk, doing some research and briefing advocates. Life is to create your own name however small it may be. Further, being in the company I was never going to give anything back to the society. I wanted that each day when I go to sleep, I could tell myself that today I did something satisfactory.

     

    What motivated you most to be part of Orissa State judiciary?

    Judiciary is one of the most respected and revered institutions of our country and the backbone of our democracy. I always wanted to serve the people. For me, judiciary and executive are the only institutions in this country where you directly come in contact with the society at large and deal with their problems. People demand justice. There is no better service than being a part of the justice delivery system and imparting justice to people. As the judicial exams are conducted by State Public Service Commission and I was not conversant with Hindi, which is a mandatory requirement for Judicial Service Exams in other states, I opted for Orissa Judiciary.

     

    How did you remember the sections of the Acts in your syllabus and leading case laws on varied areas of law?

    Firstly, the idea of doing well in the field of law has nothing to do with remembering the sections of Acts. The Judicial Services Exams test not your memory but your knowledge. For instance, the kind of questions we faced were:

    Which article of the constitution includes the right to environment etc.?
    (a) Article 19 (b) Article 21 (c) Article 51 (d) Article 48

    Now, any person who has merely read the bare provisions will not be able to answer this, since the fundamental answer that the examiner is looking for is that the candidate is aware of Supreme Court’s interpretation of Article 21 to include the right to environment. People get confused, look into DPSP and fundamental duties, and get the answer wrong. The test is to determine an adequate knowledge of the constitution, which only comes by having a holistic view of constitutional law. Clarity of the basics overrides the need to memorise provisions. Case laws can be taken care of by reading commentaries and newspapers. Furthermore,the questions are generally regarding landmark cases, which every law school student is usually aware of.

     

    How did you prepare for the exam?

    Daily routine was not my cup of tea. So, I planned my preparation on a weekly basis and set deadlines to finish the syllabus.For the preliminary examination, bare acts are a must, but they won’t help if fundamentals are weak. I relied on Universal’s guide for preliminary examinations, as well. Also, note-making is one way to prepare for the main examination. They helped me greatly with quick revision. Good commentaries on each subject are essential for a basic understanding and for clarification of doubts. For example, for constitutional law, I referred to D.D.Basu. In fact, I found that the books we referred to in law school were enough to crack the exam.

     

    Would you say an exam like this requires coaching classes?

    No, not necessary at all.

     

    How did you prepare yourself for the interview?

    My interview was mostly on the subjects I opted for in the main examination like the Indian Penal Code, Contract Act, Torts, Negotiable Instruments Act etc. The interview board consisted of a Judge of the Hon’ble High Court and two members of the Orissa Public Service Commission. As for questions, I was asked about the difference between murder and culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The members asked about current affairs and recent Supreme Court decisions.

    I would also like to highlight that in judicial examinations, the major focus is on the Criminal Procedure Code, Code of Civil Procedure and Evidence Act, as these are the provisions which a judge will be applying in day-to-day activities. However, in national law schools these subjects are not given due importance as most of the focus is on corporate law and intellectual property law.

    In the interview session, one needs to be calm and focused. Even if the candidate does not know the answer,he/she should not panic. The interview is not to test your knowledge;that has already been done in the main examination. The interviewer wants to analyse whether you are fit to be a judge. Various practical situations will be put to you and your reaction to these situations will be the basis of your selection. For example, if an advocate in court makes irrelevant submissions in the court, what should be a judge’s reaction? A judge must have patience and needs to be composed. Furthermore, sudden reactions to submissions are not warranted from a judge. A judge needs to analyse law and all submissions – however irrelevant they may be – and pass a reasoned order.

     

    Tell us about your time at Orissa Judicial Academy?

    In law school, we learn the law, but in the academy, we learn the application of law in the justice delivery system. We are taught to write reasoned judgments, orders etc. The subordinate judiciary is where litigation begins. The root must be strong enough to hold the system. We are trained to record evidence of the witnesses and apply the procedures properly in day-to-day proceedings in consonance with the recent amendments and decisions of the Honourable Supreme Court and High Courts.

     

    Do you feel the extent of training at Orissa Judicial Academy for giving decisions is adequate to meet the real world’s needs?

    The training imparted at the judicial academy is adequate enough to meet the needs presently. Also, during training, we have interactions with judicial officers across India. The problems faced by judicial officers are discussed and the solutions are provided. The academy also provided special training on finger prints, brain mapping, counterfeit currencies, revenue laws etc., which are generally not taught in law schools. Also, we visited parts of Orissa to provide legal literacy to the people. This training helped us discharge our duty more efficiently. After all this, it has become clear to me why it is said that judges are “experts of the expert”.

     

    After the training period, where was your first posting?

    I was first posted as Judicial Magistrate First Class, Cuttack. Within months of my first posting, my court was declared as a Special Court to deal with Negotiable Instruments Act. That experience was immensely enriching. Moreover, there has been a lot of interpretation of provisions of the Negotiable Instruments Act recently by the Honourable Supreme Court. Therefore, one has to be equipped with knowledge of recent judgments and their application. As the negotiable instrument cases are compoundable, I convened many sittings with the complainants and the accused persons for amicable settlement of disputes and dispose of the same in the Lok Adalats.

     

    How has your experience of being a judge been so far?

    A judge’s day starts in court at 10:30 in the morning by going through various registers of the court and maintenance of the diary. A trial court in India has huge pendency of cases and lots of cases are posted each day. In the first hour of the court, the trial judges record the evidence of the witnesses, mark the exhibits etc. In the second hour, generally, we hear the bail matters and arguments. After that, we write judgments. As of experience, it is beyond description. While on the dais, one feels he is doing something for the people, for the country. A lot of people are deprived of their rights, and the judiciary is the last resort for every individual in this country. The faith of the people and the sanctity of this institution should not be compromised in any manner.

     

    What do you think of the Indian judicial system?

    The judicial system in the country is well-balanced and it has provided great judges to this country who have upheld the ideals of the Constitution. However, the infrastructure in the subordinate judiciary is not adequate and needs to be improved. Moreover, a higher budget allocation must be done by the government for the judiciary. Inadequate staff in the subordinate judiciary is also a major concern. Judiciary is one of the four pillars on which our democracy survives and the government needs to address its concerns. Secondly, the All India Judicial Service Exam must become a reality. The All India Judicial Service will foster national integration, improve the tone of judicial administration in the country, attract meritorious persons to judicial services and create confidence among them.

     

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

    A person would do different things given a chance, only if he has regrets about his past. I have no regrets. Every experience in life makes you a better and stronger person.

     

    In the end, what advice would you give to judicial aspirants?

    First of all, one should be honest about the reason for joining the services. Patience and perseverance will help in cracking the exam. In judicial services, you have a restricted life, and a large amount of time is spent in reading extensively, so make up your mind before opting for it.

  • Ashok GV, Managing Partner, CorLit Legal, on pro-bono work and striving for success

    Ashok GV, Managing Partner, CorLit Legal, on pro-bono work and striving for success

    ashok-gv-1Ashok G.V., a graduate from Bangalore Institute of Legal Studies in 2011. He is currently a Managing Partner at Corlit Legal. He is involved in a lot of social work being the Co-Founder at Crisis Prevention and Survivor Support Centre. He has coordinated cross border trade mark litigation in the United State of America. He has also dedicated himself as a Member of the Ethics Committee, Apollo Hospitals, Bangalore.

    In this interview we speak to him about:

    • His time as an undergraduate
    • His pro-bono and humanitarian work
    • His diverse experience

     

    How did you gravitate towards law?

    I always held a keen interest in writing and debating. During my high school days, I spent a large amount of time debating on the UNICEF Voices of Youth Forum on the internet. All that time spent debating issues of socio-economic interest, made me realise that I enjoyed making an argument. Plus, my father, Mr. G.K.V. Murthy, is a very accomplished Advocate practising in the High Court of Karnataka for more than two decades. I had some confusion as to whether I should pursue journalism or law, but seeing the kind of impact my father had in the lives of his clients convinced me that law is where I wanted to be.

     

    Being from BILS, do you think that a non-NLU made any difference to your career?

    I was always particular about my subject, never about the university. Be it BILS or National Law Universities, they all come with their own strengths and opportunities and one has to try and make the best of what one has.

    At BILS, my faculty members were always very encouraging and supportive of all my initiatives. I found a fantastic business partner with whom I could start CorLit Legal in BILS. Plus, it was only because of BILS that I was able to find the latitude to garner practical work experience of close to five years.  If I had to instead spend five years in a NLU, I would have been confined for the most part to campus life, leading to loss of exposure to the real world of law. That five years of work experience, gave me the skills, experience, platform and network necessary to start CorLit Legal along with my partner Sourabh.

    Of course, some of my friends from various National Law Schools managed to go abroad for prestigious moot court competitions and international internships. I might have lost out on those opportunities. So it does not matter. BILS or NLU, you can still do just fine as long as you are willing to define your priorities properly and make decisions you can live with.

     

    How important is mooting and what effect does it have on one’s CV?

    (Ashok has participated in various moot court competitions like the Raj Anand Intellectual Property Moot and the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court.)

    I have always loved litigation. Moot Courts were the only respite in a course that largely emphasises on theory. Participating in Raj Anand Intellectual Property Moot and the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court gave me exposure to IPR and International Law and helped me understand what problems in these fields look like. I learnt how to research well from these competitions, a skill that comes in handy for my career now. However, litigation in real life is far more challenging and stimulating than moot court competitions. I would urge law students to look at moot court competitions as purely a learning exercise.

     

    Tell us about your earlier association with Global Law Inc. and Meta Yage IP Strategy Consulting.

    I have found virtually every field of law interesting. Intellectual Property Rights holds a special place, because my first internship was with an IP Consulting Firm, Meta Yage IP Strategy Consulting. One of my assignments there involved drafting portions of a Patent Application and my work received very encouraging feedback. It was the first time I felt confident that I could make a career for myself in the field of law. I continue to remain very good friends with the folks from Meta Yage.

    After I completed my internship at Meta Yage, I went on to work as a Junior Associate at Global Law Inc. My senior there, Mr. M.S. Srinivasa, is arguably one of the sharpest Indirect Tax Attorneys in the country today. I spent a good eighteen months working under him in the field of Indirect Tax Litigation where I picked up critical skills such as drafting and goal oriented research. But the most prized skill from that experience was learning the extent of clerical work that goes into each case and the amount of diligence required to execute it.

    The diploma course was very insightful as it gave us considerable insights into the practice of Intellectual Property Law. The course was designed beautifully and did not waste any time dwelling into irrelevant things. The legal fraternity would be wise to learn from such courses, to make their own syllabus more useful and relevant to a Law Student’s career.

     

    Tell us about the kind of work you do as the Consulting Partner at Startup Amigo.

    Startup Amigo is a platform designed to advise and assist businesses, from the stage of ideation to the launch of the product or service portfolio. It is the brain child of my good friend, Abhishek Raju who has been one of my biggest sources of support and encouragement since the time I entered law school. In the short span of time since its inception, it has forged impressive partnerships with some of Asia and Europe’s leading management institutions and trade bodies. Its sector specialisation includes Space Technology, Water Resource Management, Health care and Defence Consulting, just to name a few.

    My role as a consulting partner, is to help Startup Amigo’s clients understand the sociological context and regulatory framework which exists in India and to help them evolve customised business strategies for the Indian Market. My engagement includes one on one consulting assignments and delivering lectures on relevant areas of law, during seminars and workshops organised by Startup Amigo and its partner organisations.

     

    What does your role as Managing Partner of Corlit Legal entail?

    CorLit Legal is a full practice law firm with practice areas encompassing Intellectual Property Rights, Taxation, Company Law and Food and Beverage Legislations. Besides Sourabh and I, who are its Founding and Managing Partners, we have six other Advocates with over twenty years of experience who came on board as Domain Partners. Clients are usually referred to us by someone we know. There is no secret to be honest. We have tried to get to know people, for the sake of knowing them and we never spoke to anyone with the intention of seeking any business. If the relationship translates into an Attorney-Client relationship, great! If not, we have managed to make new friends who can teach us something about their field of experience. CorLit Legal was never about the money. It has always been a personal journey to become more relevant and useful to the world we are part of.

     

    You are a part of the Ethics Committee, Apollo Hospitals, Bangalore. What are your primary responsibilities as such?

    The Ethics Committee is a body which reviews proposals for clinical research involving new medicines and therapeutic processes. Its primary duty is to ensure that the subjects who have volunteered for clinical research are adequately protected and ethical considerations surrounding the same are fully addressed. I was appointed primarily on account of my experience in the field of human rights and my responsibility is to inject that perspective into the deliberations of the Committee.

     

    Our readers will also be curious to know about your publications and your love for writing.

    (Ashok is the author of Harmonizing Internal Policy and Trade Mark Law and Losing Focus-An analysis of the Justice Verma Committee Report. You also have your own blog.

    Writing has been a very helpful companion. I don’t even consider it a hobby, because like how I need to breathe, I feel compelled to write. As an amateur writer, I published mainly in a women’s magazine called Eve’s Times, which provided a platform to unknown writers like myself. Writing has been an introspective process for me and largely responsible for all the progress I have made as an individual. No matter how tiring the profession gets or how demanding of my time it is, I will perhaps never give up writing.

     

    How does it feel to be recognized for the social initiatives taken by you?

    First of all, the ethical obligations for a lawyer make it incumbent upon us to devote some time to pro bono activities. Therefore, I wish to clarify that we are doing what we are duty bound to do as Advocates. Sourabh and I always knew that CorLit Legal was going to be a body that would leverage its business law practice, for the purpose of creating a sustainable pro bono program. We were lucky to find Enfold Proactive Health Trust, with whom we have collaborated to work in the field of helping survivors of sexual violence.

    Having said that, the activists that we have worked with, be it at Enfold or Dr. Ravindranath Shanbhag or Sinu Joseph or Ramesh at the Forward Foundation, they are the heroes who deserve recognition because they have gone above and beyond their professions and duties. Many of them in fact are well known and Sinu was even featured on “Chai with Lakshmi” and Ted for her work in the field of Menstrual Hygiene. Our associations with our clients and these activists are the highlight of our work at CorLit Legal. We are happy to support them however we can, although our contribution, when compared to theirs, fares poorly in comparison. As regards the recognition, Sourabh and I could care less whether CorLit is recognised or not. It’s always about the client and the work, and never about us.

     

    How did you get the thought of forming Crisis Prevention and Survivor Support Centre?

    Sexual violence is violence with a lot of power and control dynamics associated with it. After reading the works of John Douglas and Roy Hazelwood, I knew I wanted to do some work in that field and wrote extensively for internet based publications on the same subject. In 2011, we were approached by someone I knew, stating that she was assaulted and being stalked. By that time, I had a friend, Sahu who is a fantastic counsellor. We both worked together in helping the client and she eventually managed to stand up to her perpetrator and successfully warned him off. We later got in touch with Dr. Shaibya Saldanha at Enfold with the idea of creating a platform where survivors of sexual violence can find legal, counselling and medical intervention in one place free of cost. We have been working together since then.

    It is important to temper down our idealism though. India has a fantastic legislative framework, but lacks the infrastructure, manpower and attitude to implement it. The law can always become better; no doubt, but it’s also quite up to the job even now. On the other hand, the attitudes of the people on the ground are more difficult to deal with.  I don’t have any dreams or illusions about being a change maker. For us, it’s just about doing what we can do to make the life of that one survivor a little less anxious and difficult.

     

    Do you take interns for your firm?

    Well given I myself come from a humble academic background, I would go less by a person’s resume and more by the person. I usually have a chat with students who wish to intern and if I think they will be a good fit at CorLit Legal, I would be more than happy to provide a “call back”. The difficulty for us is how we make the intern’s time worthwhile for him or her. When we are dealing with an intern, we are very conscious of our responsibility to ensure they go back feeling less ignorant and more enlightened about the profession. But with so much of time spent at Court, it becomes a difficult process. So if a candidate shows initiative and respect for his or her own time, it would earn him or her, a brownie point for sure.

     

    Where do you see yourself in the long-run?

    I want to teach. Not just law, but perhaps even the humanities. Therefore, higher studies are definitely part of my plan. I joined the profession, only because I felt this experience would make me a better faculty for my students. 10 years from now, I hope to spend more time on research, writing and teaching.

     

    What all do you consider in making strategic career moves?

    I never planned any of my moves nor did I ever strategise. I have a supportive family and I managed to find the right people at the right time by sheer luck, thanks mostly to being at BILS where I found my collaborators at both CorLit Legal and Startup Amigo. Building relationships based on sincerity and mutual respect is the most important goal for any professional, including a lawyer.

     

    What would be your message to our readers who are faced with decisive choices?

    If I have to dish out advice, then do not follow the herd. Make decisions based on your own introspection and not because of someone else’s advice. Have an open mind. Most importantly, don’t succumb to the fear psychosis that tells you to freak out or get left behind the competition. As my good friend Abhishek at Startup Amigo told me, “Collaborate and don’t compete”. Be nice to everyone, for the sake of civility and you will be just fine. Lastly, remember that Law Practice is a humbling experience. It requires endurance and demands resilience. It’s a 24/7 engagement and the situations you encounter can make you feel profoundly ignorant all the time. Therefore, it’s always important to be open to learning and never assume that one is the best at what he or she does.

  • Badrinath Srinivasan, Executive, BHEL, on interning at ONGC, and working with PSUs

    Badrinath Srinivasan, Executive, BHEL, on interning at ONGC, and working with PSUs

    Badrinath Srinivasan graduated from SDM Law College, Mangalore, in 2006. Thereafter he pursued an LL.M from WBNUJS, Kolkata. After graduating from WBNUJS he joined Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Ltd. as a Senior Officer in the legal team. Later in 2010, he switched over to Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited.

     

    In this interview we speak to him about:

    • His time at NUJS
    • Working at PSUs
    • His diverse experience

    What brought you into legal studies?

    During my school days, I found that I was very good in and was comfortable with social sciences. I used to watch my uncle going to the Madras High Court every day and was probably inspired by him to join law.

    Many of my relatives from my mother’s side are lawyers. So I did not face any opposition to legal education, although Law as a profession was new to my parents. Even so, they left the choice to me. My elder brother advised me to choose the science stream in my 11th standard. His advice was very prudent considering that I could always take up law even if I chose Science but I would not be able to choose to do Engineering or Medicine if I took up Commerce or Arts in my 11th standard.

    The advice proved very helpful at work as the companies I have worked so far have predominantly been Engineering companies and there have been lots of disputes involving technical matters. It has been relatively easy for me to understand these technical aspects and even research a lot on such aspects considering my background in Science. I am perhaps lucky to have such supportive parents and brother.

     

    What do you have to say about the supposed ‘elite’ tag attached to certain law schools?

    I graduated from SDM Law College, Mangalore which is a “Traditional Law School”. I did perform well there. The faculty members and the library staff were extremely supportive. I did my LL.M. from NUJS, Kolkata and therefore I have the experience of studying in a Law School as well. Having been a part of both worlds, I find that following are the limitations in a Traditional Law School:

    1. Infrastructure- No Westlaw, Manupatra or other legal databases although the library at SDM Law College was awesome.
    2. Lack of a competitive environment.
    3. Lack of exposure- In all my five years of law school, I did an internship, did not even read a single judgement in full or a law review article. I hardly participated in moot court competitions. I never realized there was more to Law than a University rank.
    4. Exposure to Social Sciences- In a Traditional Law School, exposure to social sciences was minimal. Although we studied several social sciences subjects such as history, economics, sociology, there was no rigorous way in which these courses were taught. So we hardly studied these in the way it should be. Classes on these were rather bookish and uninteresting. But the way in which the social sciences were taught in NUJS were extremely refreshing. We had a paper in LL.M. on Law and Social Transformation and there was lot of social sciences in Jurisprudence. In fact, we invited a faculty member who taught Economics for undergraduates to take up Law and Economics in our LL.M. course. These were really great.

     

    There are some benefits of studying in a traditional law school as well. The most important benefit is a better understanding of the society. We had compulsory a legal aid activity in my college at Mangalore where we visited villages nearby to understand the legal issues/ problems people faced. Also, our class consisted of students from diverse backgrounds. The most important quality that I saw among students was humility.

     

    Being from a non-NLU did you find it disadvantageous to establish a well-grounded career?

    No. There were no problems at all. Although working in a law firm was not something I wanted, I am not sure if getting into a law firm after my LL.M. at NUJS would have been an easy task.

     

    Why did you decide to pursue LL.M from NUJS?

    After completing my LL.B., I had no strong feelings about taking a specific career path in law. I thought that I would probably become an advocate or work as a legal advisor in a company. But I was very interested in research. The idea of research appealed to me. So I wanted to do an LL.M. As regards the choice of college, I wanted to have the National Law School experience. After my 12th standard, I did write the entrance exam for NLSIU and NALSAR. With hardly any preparation, exposure or guidance, I could not get through. So I joined SDM Law College, Mangalore. So, I wanted to pursue the LLM course, and that too from NLSIU/ NUJS/ NALSAR. At that time, I had no clue about LL.M. abroad.

    During those days (2006), NUJS’ LLM Entrance used to take place in the last week of January. Therefore, I wrote the NUJS entrance exam first. I couldn’t write the NLS exam, as it coincided with my final year exams. I did write NALSAR. By the time the NALSAR results were out, my LLM classes had already started at NUJS. So I opted not to shift to NALSAR. I don’t regret those two years at NUJS- they were probably the best two years of my life.

     

    How would you describe your legal education?

    I did dream and I do dream of contributing at least a little bit to legal reform. While my UG formed the basis of understanding the law, my PG helped in understanding the theoretical aspects of law further and also taught me the methods and functions of critique. My legal education has immensely helped me in my academic endeavours.

    People often say what people study in law is totally different from what law is in practice. This is wrong. It means that they have never studied law in the first place. One hardly finds time to learn new things after beginning to work as a lawyer. So whatever we learn in law school is important. Whatever is learnt subsequently is at the cost of the client’s life, liberty or property. Therefore, it is important to learn whatever one can in the Law School. The curriculum in law school is framed such that important aspects of most of the significant laws are covered. Therefore, it is expected that many of the laws studied might not be put into use. However, these will be useful at some point or the other.

     

    How was your experience as an intern at ONGC?

    By the time I presented my dissertation and completed my LL.M. Course (March 2008) at NUJS, I had a job as a Senior Officer in the GSPC GROUP. But there were more than two months before my joining date. So I decided to intern at ONGC just to get a hang of how a government undertaking works. Also, GSPC GROUP and ONGC were both petroleum related companies.

    At ONGC, hardly any work was allotted to me. So, I had time to go through contracts and case files. I did help them out in a couple of issues concerning increase in service tax and minimum wages in the absence of a condition in the contract covering such a situation. People there were really friendly. I took that opportunity to learn a lot on Crude Oil Sale Agreement and Production Sharing Contracts and the petroleum industry. These things helped me when I started my work at GSPC GROUP. In fact, it helped me out immensely in a negotiation on COSA at GSPC. Also, even before I started working in GSPC, I knew a bit about Production Sharing Contracts and Joint Operating Agreements. So I had a lot of ammunition to impress my new boss there!

     

    What are the top three things you keep in mind while compiling a research work?

    Fortunately, I stay pretty close to my office. So I save a lot of time. Also, my interests coincide with the areas in which I deal with at BHEL.

    Three things to keep in mind while embarking on a research project:

    1. Know in detail what the problem/ issue is.
    2. Before beginning writing the paper, clearly define what you want to say vis-à-vis the problem and how you are going to approach it- structure your research
    3. Stop wasting time on writing the introduction in the beginning. Write it in the end.

    Importantly, one has to be convinced about the idea that he/ she seeks to put forth before the academic community. Another important thing is to have at least one person to review the paper, both from a readability and content perspective. For me it took an equal amount of time to read a paper and review it. Spend a lot of time reviewing the form, structure, and ideas in the paper. Before sending your work to a journal, it is important to give it for review to a faculty member or a subject expert. Also, it would be helpful if the article is read by a person who is very good in grammar. Even reputed authors commit grammatical errors.

     

    What does it take to get one’s article published in a top notch journal?

    First read the call for papers and the rules regarding publication (such as citation format, number of co-authors, type of research, etc.). Next, ask your seniors and friends whether the journal is really worth publishing in. While it is good for our ego to have publications in as many journals as possible, it is important to get our writings published in prominent journals. But it is always good to start off one’s research career by writing for a law blog or a journal that does not have extremely stringent publication standards as it is good for our confidence.

    As regards reputed journals, glance through a few articles published in the journal to get a hang of the style of writing, citation, structuring, etc. Do a comprehensive literature survey. Talk to a person well versed in the subject. Although such persons cannot substitute a thorough literature survey, they can at least tell you about writings which deal with the subject. It is possible that most of the ideas which we come up with are the ones which have already been published.

     

    How did you get the job as Senior Officer at Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Ltd.?

    During my second year (LL.M.) at NUJS (2007-2008), we decided to invite law firms and companies to our campus for recruitment. Gujarat State Petronet Limited (GSPC GROUP), a Government of Gujarat Undertaking came to NUJS for recruiting us. Due to the efforts of the faculty advisor for Recruitment at NUJS, Mr Anirban Mazumdar, and my classmates at NUJS- Biswajit Pal, Nilanjan Banerjee, Jwala Thapa and MLS Kaarmukilan, we were able to institutionalize the recruitment process for LL.M. at NUJS. GSPC Group said they were willing to recruit LLM students. So they came to NUJS.

    If I remember correctly, there were two rounds in the recruitment. The first round had a bit of mathematics, general knowledge and psychometric tests. The second round was an interview. Since GSPC Group’s main business was Petroleum, we read a lot on petroleum laws. Also, we read a lot on current affairs in detail. At that time, the topic that was much spoken about was the subprime crises. We expected questions on the mechanics of how that happened. It really feels good when the preparation for the interview is extensive and questions come from areas which you had prepared. There was actually a question on the subprime crisis!

     

    What were your responsibilities as a Senior Officer of the Secretarial and Legal Department at ONGC?

    I was a senior officer in GSPC. I loved commercial law, specifically contracts and arbitration. My dissertation at NUJS was on arbitration law. So, the kind of work I got was drafting, negotiating and vetting contracts, handling arbitrations and litigations. Negotiating contracts was real fun, especially with foreign companies. At GSPC, we had a few huge arbitrations and it was a great learning experience there. I did learn a lot from many of the counsels at Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad. I had the opportunity to be a part of the team briefing senior counsels in all these places. Overall, a great learning experience.  Thanks mostly to my boss there Mr. Sandeep Dave, Head of Secretarial and Legal Department, who is probably the best In-House lawyer I have ever known. Working under him, and that too with the excellent work profile at GSPC, is a great thing to do if a person wants to work for a PSU. The salary is not as high as it is in a Central PSU like ONGC but the salary is definitely good and the work is unbelievable.

     

    You are currently an Executive (Law) at Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited. How did the switch from ONGC take place?

    I was an intern at ONGC before joining GSPC. While I was working in GSPC, there was an open advertisement for recruitment of Law Officers. For personal reasons, it became necessary for me to shift from Gujarat to South India. So I joined BHEL.

     

    What do PSUs like ONGC and BHEL look for in prospective employees?

    Yes. It is totally different. BHEL used to select candidates through CLAT (LLM). Many of the PSUs such as IOC do select candidates through CLAT. Some PSUs like ONGC, GSPC go for campus recruitment. It is important for the Campus Recruitment Committee (by whatever name you call it) to approach them well in advance (through all means of communication, including visiting them personally if required). I have worked in three PSUs and have heard a lot about other PSUs. The best place to learn is in GSPC under Mr. Sandeep Dave. You’d get to negotiate international contracts worth millions of dollars there if you are really good at what you do. To be honest, the salary is not as much as you’d earn in a Central PSU but the learning is definitely worth it.

     

    Does BHEL take interns?

    Yes, but BHEL rarely takes law interns.

     

    What are your long term objectives?

    In five years, I wish to learn a bit about engineering, finance, economics and statistics. In the long term, I would love to be involved a lot more in arbitration and teach law.

     

    What would be your advice to young law students who wish to join a PSU?

    Lots of your time will be spent on obtaining administrative approvals and justifications from the authorities. One should not get bogged down by paper work as these actually are necessary for accountability reasons. There are two areas in which a lawyer can contribute immensely in a PSU:

    1. There is a great scope for reforming existing practices
    2. Quick decision making.

    While apt legal advice is extremely important in a PSU, aiding quick decision making is more important.

  • Shan Kohli, Associate, AZB Partners, on mooting and blogging, and working at Linklaters

    Shan Kohli, Associate, AZB Partners, on mooting and blogging, and working at Linklaters

    Shan Kohli graduated from NUJS in 2011. She was an avid blogger at SportsLawyer and she has also been covered in news media as a sports law blogger. After graduating she got a training contract from Linklaters and after working there for sometime she quit to join AZB & Partners.

    In this interview we speak to her about:

    • Getting appointed at Linklaters
    • Necessity of an LL.M degree at a magic circle firm
    • Blogging on SportsLawyer

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    I graduated from the National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata in 2011, completed my training contract at Linklaters and am currently working at AZB & Partners.  I studied in Bangalore at Sophia High School.  At school I was always very interested in participating in debates, literary events, theater and that laid the ground for a career in law.  I was quite sure by the tenth grade that I wanted to study law.

     

    Why did you choose law as a career?

    I had no other alternatives planned out. I was quite focused and sure that I wanted to go to law school.  This belief was cemented when I went to the Law School Tutorials (“LST”) classes for the entrance exams.  I enjoyed the discussions and debates.  I had some very sharp peers and trainers. The whole experience was very different from the typical classroom one has in schools, where one isn’t always encouraged to debate and ponder over issues much.  The LST classes gave me an opportunity to apply my mind and think on my feet.  After that, there was no looking back.

     

    What prompted you to consider NUJS, Kolkata for your legal studies?

    Back in the day when CLAT did not exist, we had to give individual exams for each university.  There was always another shot to do better.  I didn’t apply to too many universities; NUJS was definitely one of my top preferences.  I was elated when I got through the entrance exam.  Honestly, it wasn’t right on top of my list, though looking back if I had to make a choice given what I know now, it would be on top of my list.  Things have a way of working themselves out.

     

    Tell us about your time at law school.

    During my time at law school, NUJS was at the cusp of a change.  A new VC (Prof. MP Singh) had just taken over the reins and was spearheading a lot of student friendly reforms, bringing in lots of really good professors, introducing more electives etc, so it was quite an interesting time to be there.  I’m sure this is true for a lot of law schools, but in NUJS in particular we had a very vibrant student community.  Everything from the mess to the cyber committee was managed by students.  Everyone was very self-motivated and that sort of forced all of us to pull up our socks and keep up.

     

    As a law student which activities did you participate in?

    I wanted my law school experience to be holistic.  I wanted to explore every facet of what was on offer, so I tried to dabble in as many things as possible from joining societies, writing for the college newspaper, organizing events etc.  The one co-curricular activity which was constant throughout my five years was mooting.  I tried my hand at it in my first year since I was curious to try it out.  Anyone at law school knows how much fear and trepidation mooting evokes among students.  I was curious to know more and was hooked from my first year.  It also helped that mooting offered the opportunity to travel to interesting places across the world.  I’ve been to Australia and Taipei on my mooting trips.

     

    What kind of internships have you done?

    The set pattern that law school maps out for you, NGO in the first year, Supreme Court and then at law firms.  I interned at Janaagraha a non profit foundation in Bangalore in my first year, where I got the opportunity to get some hands on experience on a couple of interesting projects relating to urban planning and development.  I was given a lot of responsibility and a free hand to plan my own research within the parameters of the project at hand.  Besides, that I also did a couple of corporate law firm internships.

    Internships don’t really prepare one for their future job, however they help in developing skills like pushing yourself forward, making your work known around the organisation and are a great way of networking and meeting future mentors.  Law firm internships in particular can give you an insight on what a typical day is like for a corporate lawyer, but I don’t think any internship can fully prepare you for the future workplace, given the short duration.  None of my internships were longer than six weeks.

     

    Tell us about your mooting experience.

    (Shan was a part of the team which won the 10th edition of the ELSA WTO Moot Court Competition.)

    Yes I was, that was a very special moot.  Winning an international moot is the ultimate goal for anyone who moots at law school and I was no exception.  ELSA doesn’t have a national round concept.  We had an Asia Pacific round in Taipei and the finals at Dominican Republic.  The quality of judging and the teams was exceptional.  In one of our courts, we had Professor Bryan Mercurio, who had framed the problem that year, judging us.  He was particularly appreciative of our innovative approach to the problem.  I think that was really the highlight of the moot for me.

     

    Tell us about your preparation plan for any moot court competition?

    I think a lot of ground work needs to be done even before the moot problem is released. One really needs to understand the nuances of the moot.  Speaking to seniors or friends from other colleges who have gone for the moot in previous years is imperative.  Every moot court competition is different.  We have a tendency to criticise the moot problem, competitors, judging when everything doesn’t go right in a moot.  I think it is also important to understand the way a moot works, who is judging, how the moot is organised etc and crack the system.  We tend to sometimes over look the other factors at play and concentrate only on the legalese, which may not be the best way to win a moot.

     

    How did you manage mooting with academics?

    It’s quite tough, and to be honest I didn’t always manage it, but I was quite sure I wanted to give mooting a go and if anything were to go amiss I knew I had the opportunity to make up for it in the later years of law school.

     

    How did your appointment at Linklaters take place?

    The foreign law firms came to NUJS for the first time during my second year and picked up the cream.  We heard stories of lavish vacation schemes and well planned training contracts on offer.  The opportunity to work at some of the best law firms in the world was very appealing.  During my third year, I tried to attend as many of the presentations given by the foreign firms.  I tried to understand what they were looking for and tried to imbibe as much information about the firms as possible.  In my fourth year I was selected for a vacation scheme at Linklaters, at the end of which I received a training contract.

    I had the opportunity of spending six months each at four departments at Linklaters.  There was no sort of typical day, some days were more manic than others.  One of the more interesting departments I had the opportunity of working in was at Banking.  Every deal I worked on was a headline grabbing news worthy deal, which was very exciting.  One gets the opportunity to really sink one’s teeth into some of these deals and once the associates or partners see your interest then the level of responsibility and quality of work given to you also increases substantially.

    There were no challenges as such because Linklaters has fantastic systems and mentors in place.  It is also one of the most diverse firms, so I never felt like an outsider. Though I will say that here in India we tend to romanticize the amount of training one is supposedly given at any foreign law firm.  I think that sometimes training can be very pedantic and doesn’t always push you to engage, which can be counterproductive.

     

    What would you suggest a law student should do in order to land a job in a magic circle law firm?

    I think the application is the most important, as the starting point.  The application decides whether you can move forward through the subsequent phases.  It is imperative to begin working on the applications and submit them well before the deadline.  The answers should be well thought out, each question should be answered, even the little ones they tend to slip in.  I would recommend proof reading your application a number of times, ask one of your friends to go over it for you as well.  Attention to detail is critical and all magic circle law firms are sticklers for detail.

    At the interview, I think it is most important to really demonstrate that your focus is corporate commercial law that you want to make the move to London and work at their firm on a long term basis.  It is very important to have your thoughts together on what you want from your legal career and your life before the interview.

     

    shan-kohli-2

    Most of the English Law firms require an associate to complete an LL.M degree with some specialisations. How did you get to join Linklaters without a masters degree?

    Linklaters had no such requirement.  Most of the lawyers in the firm in fact did not have a masters degree.  I would recommend some prior work experience though.  Not just the few internships done at law firms in the holidays, but some significant amount of time at a leading corporate law firm in India, perhaps as a paralegal or an extended internship.  This is not mandatory but I think it would help in exposing oneself to the ways of a large corporate law firm.

     

    When and how did you decide to come back in India?

    I came back to India last year and joined AZB at their Bangalore office.  I’ve been lucky; I haven’t found any differences in work culture.  I think large firms tend to operate in more or less the same way the world over.

     

    When did you conceptualize the idea of having a blog about sports laws?

    (Shan used to write on the SportsLawyer, a blog about legal issues around sports and sporting tournaments in India – on branding, doping, broadcasting, national and state level sports associations, etc.)

    Sports law was one of the electives offered in college during my time.  I was very eager to delve into this nascent area of law.  I have always been interested in wanting to pave my own path, and to create something of my own.  The blog was a step in that direction.  I knew that the field of sports law and the issues surrounding it, were not being debated as much as they should have been.  There wasn’t much guidance from literature to rely on so we (my co-bloggers Abhuydaya and Ramanuj) had to do all the groundwork ourselves.

     

    Lastly, what would be your message to our readers?

    Keep reading SuperLawyer! All the best Donnie for all your endeavors.

     

  • Ujjaini Ghosh, Assistant VP-Global Transaction Banking, Deutsche Bank, on studying at Oxford, and working with Herbert Smith, and Linklaters

    Ujjaini Ghosh, Assistant VP-Global Transaction Banking, Deutsche Bank, on studying at Oxford, and working with Herbert Smith, and Linklaters

    Ujjaini Ghosh graduated from NUJS, Kolkata in 2006 and went on to pursue her BCL from Oxford. After her BCL she joined Herbert Smith, worked at Linklaters, Singapore with the banking group, and eventually graduated to Deutsche Bank in January 2013.

    In this interview we speak to her about:

    • Her time at Oxford
    • Working at Linklaters
    • Her experience with Herbert Smith

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    Well to put it in a nutshell and assuming that the readers are from NUJS, I would introduce myself as an alumnus (batch of 2006) of NUJS who spent some of her best and formative years at this institution, grew as a person, made amazing friends and now looks back fondly and maybe with a tinge of nostalgia at those years gone by.

    Post NUJS, I joined Oxford for my BCL in 2006. After completion of my BCL, I joined Herbert Smith as a trainee solicitor and qualified as an associate in the finance division. I eventually moved to Linklaters in Singapore where I worked as an associate with the banking group and in January 2013 moved to Deutsche Bank where I am currently working as a legal counsel in the global transaction banking department.

     

    Why and when did you decide to do law?

    To be honest, I decided to do law at a point where law was fast becoming a popular career option after engineering and medicine and I knew for sure that I did want to become a professional and make a difference though not necessarily in medicine or engineering! I joined NUJS after studying English honours for a year at St Xavier’s College, Calcutta.

    It was during my five years at law school that I realized that studying law was probably the best decision I could have made. NUJS was very interactive in its teaching methods and I could clearly link the knowledge of different spheres of legal education to the individual, society and corporations. More than the subject itself, it was the application of the subject that interested me.

     

    ujjaini-ghoshHow was studying at NUJS like for you?

    The question does make me feel ancient! Studying at NUJS was a very interesting and a brilliant experience, an experience that transformed my personality, made me aspire, made me ambitious and taught me to drive myself as hard as I could. The ambiance, the faculty, the students, the activities made five years literally fly by. NUJS was not just about studies but it was also about the multitudinous activities on offer. I do remember taking part in moot court competitions, cultural activities such as singing, dancing and theatre, coordinating seminars and group discussions, being part of various committees, assisting in legal aid projects and the list goes on.

    Life at NUJS ten years ago was very inspirational for the students. We were part of a fledgling institution and each one of us as students were driven by this urgent need to not only prove ourselves but also to make NUJS reach greater heights. The institution had an incredible moot court society which brought in awards with limited resources. The close knit student community made life in the hostel a lot of fun and the faculty members were not just “teachers” but friends and in some cases confidantes.

     

    What sort of internships did you do while in college?

    My internships were varied. I interned with Sanlaap (an NGO in Calcutta),  the trial court in Calcutta, Delhi High Court and law firms such as Khaitan and Amarchand & Mangaldas. I also interned with the Singapore International Arbitration Centre and Wong Partnership in Singapore. All the internships have played a defining role as these helped me understand how law worked in the practical world and also provided me with a better idea of what I wanted to do after law school. The internships were a stepping stone towards shaping my career. It’s just been seven years since law school so there is a long way to go!

     

    What was the first thought that came to you when you got your acceptance letter from Oxford?

    I was ecstatic and actually cried with joy! The experience was brilliant.  The academic curriculum, the students and Oxford the town itself made the experience worthwhile. The BCL is an international course and draws students from all over the world. I made some amazing friends who I am in touch with till today.

     

    What made you go into the corporate sphere of law?

    The internships did help in making me choose my area of specialization. I found myself natural leaning towards corporate law as compared to other areas where I can see myself making an effort.

     

    Would you take us through the application process for Oxford?

    Applying to Oxford is similar to applying for any top rated LL.M program in the world. I would say to apply straight after law school requires some planning in terms of studying methodically, participating in extra-curricular activities, preparing good essays and actively seeking out references.

     

    What was it like working at Herbert Smith?

    Working at Herbert Smith was a fantastic experience. The training program is very thorough and the six months spent in each department goes a long way in understanding different areas of legal practice. The learning curve was steep but the kind of confidence and knowledge that I acquired is unparalleled.  I learnt a lot from the partners, the senior associates and my peers.

     

    Could you enlighten us, in brief, on the particulars of Islamic finance and your role in the Finance Team at Herbert Smith?

    I was an associate in the acquisition and leveraged finance team at Herbert Smith and subsequently Linklaters. The work has been varied ranging from vanilla lending to secured syndicated finance deals to highly leveraged secured deals.

    Islamic finance to me is simply finance deals that are structured bearing in mind the principles of Shari’ah law e.g. there is no reference to interest in the documentation. However at the end of the day, the basic essence of financing remains the same.

     

    How does it feel like to be Assistant Vice President – Global Transaction Banking at Deutsche Bank?

    It’s proving to be enjoyable and challenging at the same time. I am part of the transaction banking front office team which means I get to liaise with the different business teams on a daily basis. Its fast paced and solution oriented. Along with legal knowledge, I am expected to understand the various products that are offered to clients and draft/review documents and advise clients on the implications of different contractual arrangements. The work involves dealing with liquidity management products, international fund transfers and trade finance.

    Deutsche Bank is a very fluid organization and I can see my role changing and growing as I grow with the business team.

     

    What do you think of the young law graduates/students and the standard of education in the field currently?

    I think very highly of them and they are definitely a very focused lot. I have not been deeply involved with the academic field for the past seven years so it’s difficult for me to comment on the standard of education. I do feel that along with theory there should be a focus on the practical implementation of law.

     

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

    I am sure that every young lawyer will be able to chalk their own path, but I would definitely encourage them to enjoy their years at law school and subsequently the practice of law. I would urge them to do what they want to do and not get bogged down in their fifth year and the first few years of legal practice by comparing themselves with their peers or superiors. Each lawyer is unique in his or her own way and there are no set rules to follow.  In seven years, I have learnt that its best to not take oneself too seriously or set very high targets but at the same time to enjoy learning and give 100% to whatever work I do at any point of time. Trust me, success follows when you can give as much as you can to your profession and yet manage to enjoy yourself at the same time.

  • Dharmendra Chatur, Advocate, King & Partridge, on choosing law over engineering, topping his batch in law school, and plans for the future

    Dharmendra Chatur, Advocate, King & Partridge, on choosing law over engineering, topping his batch in law school, and plans for the future

    Dharmendra Chatur graduated from Christ University School of Law, Bangalore in 2013, where he was class Valedictorian and was awarded  the Basant Kumar Sarala Birla Gold Medal for being the Best Outgoing Student. Currently he is an advocate at King & Partridge.

    In this interview we speak to him about:

    • His experience
    • Requisite skills for being an efficient litigator
    • How to apply for internship at King & Partridge  and research assistantships

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    I’m Dharmendra Chatur. I’m currently working as an Advocate at King & Partridge, which is one of the oldest law firms in India (established in 1904). During law school, I was an active mooter and published a few articles in international and national journals. I had a brief stint with debating as well. Being interested in academic writing and research, I was involved in research on and continue to be interested in the fields of law and public policy. I currently follow developments in the areas such as legal and judicial reforms and health and medical law.

     

    dharmendra-chaturWhy did you decide to study law?

    Honestly, studying law was never a career choice during school. I took up Science in my 11th and 12th and had decided to do engineering (following the herd!). In fact, I enrolled myself into the Mechatronics Engineering programme at Monash University, Australia (Malaysia campus) and spent one month there (February-March 2008) before deciding to call it quits. The realization that I did not want to be an engineer dawned upon me only after I began my engineering courses! However, I had a great time being an international student at Monash – although for a limited time.

    After I returned to India, I did a bit of soul-searching and introspection and thought of giving law a try. Being a first generation college-goer (in any course), I was fortunate to have no family pressure to choose a particular course. The lack of pressure therefore allowed me to explore possibilities with my career choices. I joined LST for a one month crash course to see if I would be interested in law; and prepared for the first edition of the CLAT. Being unsure if I had done well in CLAT, I enrolled myself into Christ University mainly because of the excellent faculty and campus facilities there.

     

    According to you what are the qualities of a good lawyer?

    Speaking from my limited exposure to the legal profession, a good lawyer must have three qualities – at the very least – firstly, he/she must be sociable and polite; second, he/she must have a good grasp of legal knowledge (both theoretical and practical); third, he/she must aspire to be independent in thought, inclination and action to develop a dispassionate mind.

     

    What were your areas of interest while you were studying law?

    I was interested in public law generally and a few subject areas in private law especially company law, law of contracts and so on. In addition, I was also fascinated by public international law and conflict of laws.

     

    You are working with King and Partridge right now. What is a day at work like?

    As I am a practicing Advocate at King & Partridge, my work day involves preparation for and assisting my senior colleagues with appearances in the High Court of Karnataka/Civil courts/Arbitrations in Bangalore.

     

     What skills and attributes are important according to you to hold a job like yours?

    I believe three skills are important for any litigation job in an Advocate’s formative years: strong grounding in basic aspects of the law, immense patience to learn and grow and learning by observation.

    To law students, I would suggest that they must make consistent efforts to understand certain basic concepts in all areas of law – this will hold them in good stead when they begin (a beginner’s advantage, in a way). In addition, you must better your research, critical thinking and argumentative skills – all of which you can learn by mooting, debating etc. In essence, please utilize every opportunity law school provides you to become your own person – with a voice to be heard.

     

    What is the most challenging or stressful part of your job?

    The transition from law school to law practice is both challenging and illuminating. Challenging because law schools do not prepare students to face a practical world (which is why some Advocates shine without having attended many classes in law school). However, I believe that time well-spent at law school can only make one better equipped. My transition was illuminating because you get exposed to a very different world which requires strategic planning, execution among other things. Also, you figure that law and justice are ‘personal’, in the sense that from different judges, the same facts and circumstances may elicit responses. Therefore, a successful Advocate is, in my opinion, is a person who can gauge what a judge requires and prepares/presents a case accordingly.

     

    Is it easy to have a work-life balance in this profession?

    Successfully managing a work-life balance in this profession is very subjective as it is dependent on a variety of factors. These factors may be the firm’s environment, your commitments and so on.

    At King & Partridge, we are fortunate to have a culture that encourages a solid work ethic permitting enough time to rejuvenate so we can be enthusiastic to get to work every Monday morning.

     

    How do internships help law aspirants?

    Internships are essential to ascertain what kind of legal practice one would be suited to. Although figuring that out may take some time, pursuing a variety of internships will only help a law student decide his/her career options.

     

    Does your organisation take interns?

    Yes. The interns may apply to the following e-mail address: kingpart@vsnl.net with their CV and a covering e-mail for an internship. Based on availability of slots and an assessment of the profile of the applicant, internships would be confirmed. It usually takes a week to respond to internship applications/queries.

     

    How does a good academic background help in the profession?

    A sound academic background helps an Advocate in developing legal arguments from a variety of angles. Having said that, it is not necessary that only people will good academic backgrounds can succeed in the profession – because the skill set required to succeed is very different than mere academic merit.

     

    How important are extra-curricular activities for a legal career?

    (Dharmendra has won moots and published papers in various journals as a student.)

    Moots helped me get over my stage fear and develop confidence as a speaker. They are also helpful in developing research and argumentative skills which are skills useful in a legal career.

    Publications in journals helped me learn good legal writing and developing arguments in writing.

    Having said that, I believe that both moots/publications/ other extra-curricular activities are just ‘kick-starts’ and becoming a good Advocate is only possible by developing an attitude of constant learning and re-learning.

     

    How was the experience of being a Research Assistant at Centre of Law and Policy Research and Azim Premji University (Law, Governance and Development Initiative)?

    My Research Assistantships at both CLPR and AzimPremji University were an attempt to explore if I could develop an aptitude for law and public policy research. They are both great places to intern/work at if one is seriously considering a career in law and public policy analysis/research. The details for applying for internships/research assistantships are available on the respective websites of the organizations: http://clpr.org.in and http://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/lgdi

     

    What career goals have you set for yourself?

    I aspire to be a good and respected Advocate. I am aware that this will be long journey and perseverance is the key to be focused and never lose hope.

     

    Is there any success mantra that you follow which you would like to share with our readers?

    Doggedness. Diligence. Dispassion.