Category: Higher Studies

Khushi Pandya, PhD Scholar, University of Westminster, on higher studies, SoPs and Practice at Gujarat HC
Khushi Pandya is a currently a Doctoral Researcher at University of Westminster. She is an alumnus of Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. She pursued her LL.M in International Commercial Law from University of Westminster. She was a practising advocate before the Gujarat High Court. She has also served as a Grievance Redressal & Legal Consultant at Woman & Child Development Department, Government of Gujarat.

In this interview she talks about:
- LL.M and Ph.D from the University of Westminster
- Tips on SOPs, Recommendation Letters and publications
- Practising at the High Court of Gujarat
- Working as a Legal Consultant in a Government Department
Given that most of our readers are law students and young lawyers, how will you introduce yourself to them?

Hello! I am Khushi Pandya, currently a Doctoral Researcher at University of Westminster, London. I am a proud alumnus of Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India from where I read my law degree – B.A. LL.B. I have done my LLM in International Commercial Law from University of Westminster, London in 2011-2012. I was a practising advocate before the Gujarat High Court, State Legal Consultant with Government of Gujarat and a proud volunteer engaged with Mahiti Adhikari Gujarat Pahel. I hold an ordinary and average kind of student profile. I belong to Ahmedabad, Gujarat and have completed my schooling in the vernacular.

How did you gravitate towards law? Tell us about your college life at Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. What activities did you partake in?

Well, my inclination to pursue law developed as early as Class 10. My father is a journalist based in Ahmedabad and was extensively engaged from 1996 to 2005 covering various feature stories involving human rights issues or rather, I would say, stories which outline the common man’s struggle for getting what they are entitled to under the laws of our country. Hence, from the age of 8-9, consciously or sub-consciously I too, was associated with the thoughts and stories he used to share with his fellow colleagues and it gradually developed my interest in the subject. My father’s profession indirectly provided me a platform to understand that in reality, the struggle for rights has somehow become a part of an ordinary man’s life. By the time I reached Class 9 or 10, I very well understood that law is the mechanism which helps people to redress their grievances against many odds. I completed my schooling in 2005 and chose MSU to pursue five years integrated law course – B.A. LL.B. I was in the first batch of integrated law course- B.A. LL.B at Baroda School of Legal Studies, Faculty of Law, The M. S. University of Baroda and it had all the factors you come across by being the first batch of any Course and that was mostly related to infrastructure and scarcity thereof. But renowned and experienced faculty members played very a important role during this time to nurture students’ knowledge and perspective as budding lawyers. Having renowned mentors help you a lot in getting insight of practical aspects of law. Faculty of Law, MSU gave many Justices in various High Court and Supreme Court, Advocate General, Government Pleaders, Senior Advocates and it has helped us extensively.

At the same time, one should remember that MSU is the only residential University of Gujarat and it has its positive aspects. Like any college student, I have enjoyed a lot for five years. As one of my favourite writers C.K. Bakshi has rightly said that, “You learn more from outside of class than from within four walls of a classroom.” MSU provided me many opportunities to explore and expand my vision – be it extensive and intense election process, weeklong Youth Festival or cosmopolitan environment.

As far as academic activities are concerned, I was ordinarily involved with studies throughout five years. During the first year of study, I was kind of an obedient student but in the following years I have bunked many classes and have spent time in the canteen discussing various developments in legal and political field. I have always scored well in semester examinations without any ATKT. I was overall a good student. Apart from day to day studies I have participated in various Legal Research and Writing Competitions/Seminars/Workshops – both in English and Gujarati language and have performed well too.

As far as extra-curricular activities are concerned – I have extensively participated in various activities during Youth Festivals like –story and poetry writing competitions, debate or poetry recitation. I topped in Story and Poetry Writing Competition for two consecutive academic years.

By and large those five years at BSLS, MSU were extra-ordinary in every sphere – it gave me a lawyer’s perspective by observing all facets of University life.

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

Ever since I decided to take up law as a career, my entire consideration was towards issues which affect human life. Hence, during my college days my area of interest remained more towards Human Rights or instead should I say my inclination was towards Human Rights based approach. I was associated with a voluntary group which runs a legal aid clinic and focuses on legal awareness. Stories from people who came to attend such programmes are much more interesting and a kind of reality-check. Expertise come with years of practise but the various internships I undertook have definitely helped me to develop my perspective. Talking with seniors/fellow colleagues/clients, attending office helps you to gain knowledge and practical aspects of legal procedures and that’s how you understand things. For practising law you need to understand practical aspects more; of course, books do help you but you need to understand what is termed by practising advocates as “Court Craft”.

After graduation, you started practicing before the Gujarat High Court. What kind of difficulties did you face during that period? How did you overcome them? How would you describe your experience as?

After graduation, I joined the Chambers of Dr. Mukul Sinha at High Court of Gujarat in May 2010 and trained until August 2011. I would say the experience was simply the best in each aspect – the kind of comfort and freedom you get as a fresher, I was made part of all kinds of discussions, I was allowed to participate in all court matters, I had access to all infrastructures and I learnt a lot. The reason behind mentioning all these is that ‘law firm culture’ is not yet developed in Ahmedabad and there are very few juniors – esspecially anyone without a background in the legal profession who get such freedom and liberty and comfort to work with Senior Advocates.

My experience as a junior member at the Bar was fair enough. I was exposed to a variety of matters in this short span like – matters pertaining to service law, contempt law, furlough applications, constitutional matters and few other matters involving civil rights of people against politically motivated actions.

What made you pursue your LL.M from University of Westminster, London? How would you describe your experience as? Tell us about the course structure and specialization of Master of Laws at University of Westminster?

After working at Gujarat High Court I felt that exposure in foreign country to pursue Masters Degree in Law would be worth it. At the root of making the decision to pursue LL.M from abroad was just to get exposure – both professionally and personally. Also, the idea of going back to the classroom is always fascinating one. I made a decision in May 2011 that I want to study further and started searching for Universities and short listed a few Universities in UK. I got offers from Queen Mary, Nottingham, Durham, Birmingham and Westminster. I was awarded the Taught LL.M Scholarships 2011-12 – a fee waiver scholarship at University of Birmingham. But somehow I finalised University of Westminster to pursue my LL.M.

The prime reason behind choosing UoW was faculty members – Dr Reza Banekar, Richard Earle, Adam Samuel, Dr Aurora Voiculescu, Simon Newman, John Flood, Joseph Tanega and many more. All of them are oceans of knowledge and I was lucky to have mentors like them. Classroom discussions and lectures were interactive in nature and it helped me a lot in developing a skill to speak up my mind and raising my views to a larger audience.

LL.M Course at UoW is divided into 7 modules – two compulsory modules and they were : Foundations of International Commercial Law and Dissertation; five optional modules and I took up : International Commercial Litigation, International Commercial Arbitration, Comparative Commercial Arbitration, Corporate Social Responsibility, Business and Law and Research Methodology. The course is of 180 credits – 6 modules comprising of 20 credits each and dissertation module comprising 60 credits.

The assessment method is totally different from the one we have in LL.M courses in India. Assessment of one module is divided in two or three parts – open book class room exam, research essay, assignment to finish from morning to afternoon and problem solving questions. Further, Masters Degree in Law from UoW requires its students to answer their questions within a specific word limit and it nurtures your habit to frame your arguments in a most precise manner. Gradually it developed the skill to reach your audience in few words.

One of the other reasons behind choosing Westminster was that it is situated in the heart of London – just a minute walk from Oxford Circus tube Station!.

Most fascinating and important part about studying at UoW was its library service and kind of resources you get for your research – it was simply the best.

What are the key ingredients of a well written SOP? Can you make it personal? Any tip to those making their SOPs? What might be the one mistake that the majority make?

Well, there is no strict formula to write an SOP. It varies from need to need and as far as SOP for a course in a University abroad is concerned, they provide you a frame within which you have to explain yourself and that is too general and simple. My personal belief is that a well written SOP should be free of any jargon. When any organisation asks you to write a Statement of Purpose, it has to be your statement behind your inclination to take up something and your objective behind the same can be anything – personal reason, fascination, or just like that. A well written SOP, as per my opinion, can include reason to join a specific course – personal reason or any professional mileage you may get after completing that course. My suggestion rather than a tip to those making their SOPs is: write your SOP at your own, don’t copy from others’ SOP and most importantly – your consultant for higher education abroad is not supposed to write your SOP, it’s you who has to write it and penning down your mind might take up a day or two, but at the end it will exactly reflect your mind and would be far better from a stereotypical SOP written by your Consultant. I would certainly say that majority of students who consult Foreign Education Advisors leave it up to them to write one. Please don’t do so.

Writing an SOP for applying for a scholarship/studentship equally requires you to pen down your need to seek financial assistance. When the SOP is for a scholarship, don’t embark solely on your achievements or need. All you can do is, collaborate your achievements, need and the benefit you are going to get after completion of the course.

As far as writing down your thoughts is concerned, to sum up I would quote Friedrich Nietzsche that, “Style ought to prove that one believes in an idea; not only that one thinks it but also feels it.”

I believe writing down your thoughts and perspective will definitely make a good SOP and it has certainly helped me to get the Law Research Studentship Award to pursue Ph.D at UoW.

Do you think that having your recommendation letters written from distant acquaintances with influential position may backfire against you while making your application? What is the proper thing to do instead?

My opinion is that all you need is a Recommendation Letter and it can be from anyone who knows you well – professionally or academically. Majority of institutes ask for recommendation letters from the last academic institute you have attended and in some cases they allow to have a recommendation letter from your employer. Recommendation letters are to support your application to an institute and the institute does not decide on your application solely on the basis of the recommendation letter – they do look at your grades, SOP, whether you meet other criteria or not, etc.

You have publications in various renowned journals. How should one go about writing papers and getting the same published? Please share somehighlights of your best work.

The first legal research paper I wrote was for a seminar organised by Bhavnagar University and that was in Gujarati language, discussing violence against women coming from culturally nomadic tribes. An important point to keep in mind is – writing what appeals to you is necessary – it may be purely legal, socio-legal, a novel, a story or a poem. It is said that practice does make you perfect and being in a legal profession, the habit of writing at regular intervals help you a lot. Nowadays we are in the era of social media – everything is virtual and so is your presence! As a Doctoral Researcher, during my interactions with many renowned Professors across the world, they have repeatedly advised that writing is the most important element for this profession. Publication indeed is an important factor because what you write or analyse must reach others and that’s how it is channelized across the wider community and that’s what academia actually means.

I am in the process of producing my best work. But issues on which I have written include – Right to Potable Water in this era, Muslim Personal Law with special reference to Fatwa, scientific methods used in criminal investigation and its impact, right to information, unification of arbitration law, investor-state dispute mechanism under investment treaty regime, interface between human rights law and Bilateral Investment Treaty regime, to name a few. Currently along with my Ph.D research work, I am engaged with the task of codifying various Government of Gujarat Resolutions along with relevant parts of Land Revenue Code pertaining to agricultural land and associated rights of farmers. I am genuinely looking forward to the outcome of this project and believe that it will be very helpful to farmers in understanding their rights and will bring awareness.

How did publishing affect your legal career? Apart from academia, does it help one to secure jobs at all?

I would say it boosts your confidence when you see your thoughts or work published in any peer-reviewed journal, newspaper or magazine. If you want to pursue career in teaching, having good publishing record will definitely play an important role and that is one of the University Grant Commission’s requirements too. My opinion is that solely a good publication record really does not help one to secure a job but along with that you are required to meet particular job criteria. If you are looking for a core litigation work area where you would attend courts and meet clients on weekends or in the evenings, your senior might not be even bothered whether you have any publishing record or not. But I am told that when you are willing to secure a job in top tier law firms, publications during your academic years might be of important consideration.

How do you identify and decide on a topic or area of law to write on? What is the process like? What are the top three things you consider as sine qua non for great research work?

During the initial years, topic or area which appeals to you in some way or the other, you write about it. There is no strict formula or process. You choose a topic and start writing. A good point about participating in legal research paper writing competitions is you are given a specific area to write about and it makes the task easy. I believe that finding a topic to write is bit difficult and most of the time lapses in thinking about the topic only.

Three things as sine qua non for good research work are:
- Interest in the topic – and be clear about three things – what you want to research on, why you want to research and how you want to research?
- If you are involved with serious kind of research (M.Phil/Ph.D/Post-Doc kind of research) – please be aware of all developments taking place in your research subject, know all big shots involved in this research area and do in-depth reading.
- Time-table and discipline – be clear about the time frame within which you want to finish your research work because as a human being you may procrastinate and it delays the process. So many developments are taking place and it may happen that what you are dealing with has already been dealt with by many other people just because you didn’t follow your time frame. You need to follow a military discipline at times.
I used to serve as a Volunteer for Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel, Ahmedabad from March 2013 until I came to UK, for free Legal Aid Clinic where a number of people across Gujarat come to seek advice about various legal issues they are facing. Many a time, stories from general people help you to find a topic to write an article on. You can very well co-relate the social issues they are facing and the law/rules pertaining to the same and research further and shape it as an article.

It is not always necessary to get it published in a journal or news paper or magazine. You can put it on your blog and seek a wider audience.

At present, you are a Doctoral Candidate at University of Westminster. What motivated you to pursue a Ph.D.?

Ever since I took up my LL.M dissertation, I have thought of taking it further to Doctorate research. My interest in the subject was the prime motivation to pursue a Ph.D. Along with that, encouragement and support provided by my Director of Studies who was my LL.M dissertation supervisor too, my professors, my parents and friends motivated me to take up this research project. Since my teenage years I had vaguely dreamt of pursuing a Ph.D before I turn 30; so that factor has also played a role in enrolling for a Doctorate Programme.

It is not about studying too much. It is unlike a typical study or course and in fact, it is a kind of work i.e. research and writing which you like and that’s how you go further into it. It is a process of evolving during years of your doctorate studies – both personally and professionally. But there is some inner force which keeps on motivating you to take the process further and further. That’s all.

Prior to pursuing a Ph.D , you’ve also worked as Grievance Redressal & Legal Consultant at Woman & Child Development Department, Government of Gujarat. Please tell us about it.

Yes, I was a Grievance Redressal & Legal Consultant at Women & Child Development, GoG. A walk-in interview was scheduled for the appointment where all candidates had to undergo a written test and if short listed; had to face an interview. As many as 55-58 candidates appeared for the written test and 8 were shortlisted for interview and I was one of them. Five panellists were there – Principal Secretary, WCD; Director, ICDS and three other top officers of WCD and the interview lasted for 7-8 minutes. They asked a few general questions about my alma-mater MSU, laws pertaining to prohibiting sexual violence against women, drafting skills and my course at UoW. It was a kind of formal talk after waiting for 7.5 hours at WCD Office at Gandhinagar.

Being a State Consultant there were many tasks to deal with. My main task was to handle all litigation before High Court and Supreme Court, preparing affidavits in reply, co-ordination with Government Pleaders. Majority of cases were Public Interest Litigation, service law matters and commercial matters arising out of tender process. Apart from that contract vetting was one of my tasks.

Please tell our readers about the environment of a Government department. How do the daily activities take place?

Working with a Government Department is a different experience altogether. Important tasks include preparing affidavits in reply, monitoring all Court matters, instructing District Offices about matters pending before District Courts, briefing higher authorities about any important developments, conferences with GP/AAG/AGP.

In a Government Department, everything goes on file and you will hear people saying “file chalana padega iske liye”. The working environment is typical and in your initial days it annoys you too. The working style is completely different from the one you have in Chambers or Law Firm. You keep on searching for a particular file and still couldn’t find because the person who initiated that file was transferred to some other department and the new one would say he actually doesn’t know about this issue because it’s a new subject for him/her. But gradually you learn to handle such situations and get the work done. But at the same time working with top officers of the State is also a learning opportunity.

I was the only legal consultant in the Department managing all sorts of legal issues and had many responsibilities to deal with. Normal days were packed with work and handling various matters and attending Court. Overall it was a nice experience.

What is your Ph.D research topic.? What was your motivation behind the selection of that topic?

My thesis deals with the interface between the Bilateral Investment Treaty regime and International Human Rights Law. I show the conflict seen between two regimes of law- Investment law and Human Rights Law and it aims to study the need to balance investor protection vis-a-vis human rights obligations of the state and sovereignty of the state under Investment Treaty regime.

What plans do you have once you finish your Doctoral Research? What do you plan to accomplish in the coming five years?

I will be looking forward to teaching. But my long term goal is to get actively involved in spreading right based legal awareness in India.

Lastly, what would be your message to law students interested in going for higher studies from India?

If you have a dream or are willing to pursue higher studies in foreign country, you should absolutely go for it. But at the same time it must be kept in mind that higher studies in foreign country might not guarantee a dream job at the first instance when you return to India simply because you hold foreign LL.M Degree and that’s why your purpose has to be to explore a new world- academically and personally rather than solely aiming at job employability; and a commitment to your own self to excel in whatever work you take up would benefit ultimately. Make the best out of your one year LL.M or any other Programme in all aspects and explore a new country – culturally, academically and personally. And at last, be ready to embrace the uncomfortable!
February 5, 2015
Janaki Bhide, Associate, W S Kane & Co., on LL.M in IPR from QMUL and work experience in Intellectual Property
Janaki Bhide graduated from ILS Law College, Pune in 2012. Her interest in Intellectual Property law led her to move to London right after graduation and pursue Masters in Intellectual Property law from Queen Mary University London. She also holds a Diploma in Corporate Commercial Law and Mergers and Acquisition Laws. Thereafter, she came back to India and started working as an Associate at W.S. Kane & Co., one of the prestigious IP law firms in India.

In this interview, she talks about:
- Her time at ILS amongst co-curricular activities
- Deciding to pursue Masters in IPR after graduation
- Law School experience at Queen Mary University of London
- Induction and work at a top IPR Law firm: W S Kane & Co.
Most of our readers are law students and young lawyers. How will you introduce yourself to them?

Hi all! I am a lawyer working with W. S. Kane & Co. as an associate for the past one year. I graduated from ILS Law College, Pune in year 2012. Shortly after my graduation I moved to London to pursue my Masters specializing in Intellectual Property Law from Queen Mary University of London. Presently I am working in Mumbai. My career as a lawyer has only just begun!

How did you gravitate towards law? Why law and not engineering or medical studies?

I belong to a family of lawyers. My grandfather and my father are in the same profession. Since my childhood I have had affinity towards law. In school, I particularly enjoyed political science, English literature and science. I was also actively involved in theatre activities, debates and elocutions and cultural activities. I gravitated towards law as it is a very challenging profession. As a lawyer one has to constantly learn and adapt.

Please tell us about your time at ILS.

ILS is a great college. It has a great legacy. So personally I believed it was the right choice for me. It was a big step since it was my first time outside my hometown. It took me some time to adjust, but after that I ended up having a great time in Pune! I made some amazing friends.

Apart from the subjects which were part of my curriculum, I also took up short specialized diploma courses in International Human Rights, Mergers and Acquisition Law and Corporate & Commercial Laws.

I was greatly involved in college activities, the cultural team and the theatre group in particular. I participated in many inter-collegiate drama competitions. As a part of cultural team I was responsible for organizing a lot of activities in college. Five years spent at ILS were very instrumental in shaping my personality and making me the person I am today.

Right after graduating, you went for LL.M. When did you finally decide that you need to do masters? What were the considerations you had in mind while looking at various universities?

Yes, I went for my masters right after my graduation. I think it is a personal decision. I made the decision after a lot of counselling from home and other senior students. It was general opinion of everyone that it gets very difficult to go back to the learning phase after you start working and making money. I started looking out for good universities in my final year of graduation. I was searching for law schools that offered strong courses in Intellectual Property Law.

How did you choose Queen Mary over other colleges? What was the decisive factor? How should one go about choosing a university?

I think it is very important while choosing a University to carefully go through the courses offered, the faculty teaching the courses and its reputation. You must keep in mind that the highest ranking university might not have the best academicians for the course you are interested in.

I was really impressed by the courses offered at QMUL. Intellectual Property courses at Queen Mary are some of the best in the world and students get opportunities to learn from the best IP practitioners and luminaries in the profession

I would also advise students to also get in touch with the Alumni or current students from the University you are interested in and find out more about the academic as well as the cultural atmosphere surrounding it. I contacted a couple of seniors from ILS who were then studying in QMUL and through them I got a lot of information about the culture in the University.

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

The procedure for application in a foreign Law School is quite standard. Every university has specific conditions/factors that they consider while accepting students. Be sure not to overlook them and apply accordingly. Since India is not an English speaking country, clearing International English Language tests such as IELTS or TOEFL is an important criterion. Another important thing would be getting recommendation letters from your professors, lawyers you have worked with in the order of relevance to your planned course of study. Next up is getting your Statement of Purpose (SOP) right. Your SOP needs to be properly written. Apart from these things every university would obviously be looking into your academic background, extracurricular/ co-curricular activities etc.

What were your areas of interest while you were an undergraduate student and how have they helped in choosing your subjects/courses for the LL.M programme?

Your graduation curriculum involves a plethora of subjects that you are required to study during your five years. It is only towards the final two years that you are allowed to choose one subject of your interest in a year. I found Intellectual Property very interesting and entertaining when I attended the first orientation class and I took that up as an optional subject. But of course, studying IP for one semester was way too short a time to understand it completely. It was after that semester I decided that this is the subject I would like to explore more and build my career in.

Tell us about your time during LL.M. What kind of activities were you involved in over there?

Time spent in QMUL was very enriching and enlightening. I was exposed to new experiences, new cultures and a new lifestyle! Education system there quite suited my expectations. Universities in the UK have a more wholesome approach towards studies. There is less classroom teaching compared to Indian Universities. Students are given study material for pre-class reading so that all students enter the lecture with a basic awareness of the subject. All the students are encouraged by professors to share their viewpoints. As a student of QMUL I had access to two libraries which included access to IALS, one of the greatest libraries in the world. I was quite relieved to have only 4 classes per week, which ensured that I had plenty of time to read up, participate in extra-curricular activities and take up a part time job.

I got a chance to participate in the “Oxford Price Media Law Moot Court”. It was an altogether different experience for me to be part of an International moot team and compete with the chosen teams from the best law schools and be judged by experts from all over the world. Participating in the moot made this otherwise impossible dream come true!

I also wrote a runner up prize winning essay for Prieskel Prize Essay Competiton 2012-13 on “Open Source Free Software: Current Issues in IP”.

Soon after Masters, you joined W S Kane & Co. as an Associate. Tell us about your induction into the firm. What does a normal workday entail?

Yes, soon after I returned from my masters I joined W. S. Kane & Co. I was keen on working here as it is one of the best firms for IP Law in India. Managing partner of the firm, Mr. Himanshu Kane is one of the most knowledgeable people in the IP circle. Working with someone of Mr. Kane’s standing & expertise is providing me with a strong foundation with regards to IP.

WSK has a good work culture. People are very friendly and there is a lot of encouragement to new entrants to the profession like me from the seniors. One thing I appreciate the most is their open door policy. Anyone can approach any person from the senior management including Himanshu Sir. People are always willing to help out.

I am passionate about my work and truly enjoy working in the field of IP. I just finished one year at WSK. My career has only just begun!

Does W S Kane & Co. take interns? What do they look for in their prospective interns/employees?

Yes, WSK does take interns. I would say sincerity and a genuine liking for the subject is an important criterion apart from a good academic background.

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

I absolutely agree with that notion. I finished my graduation and went straight to LLM, but I would say that my real education begun last year when I started working. All the subjects you studied at Law School, everything you know is put to test every day. You also get to learn and develop valuable skills such as drafting, communicating with clients so on and so forth. Since the field of IP is so dynamic and ever changing, there is always a lot to keep up with. It is also very important to keep reading and updating yourself.

What would be your advice to students interested in Intellectual Property Rights?

Intellectual Property Law in India is growing at an exponential rate. There is tremendous scope for growth. I would advise students who are interested in making a career in IP to keep up with the latest developments and judgements. They should also try and secure internships with good law firms practising IP. It would also help to take up diploma courses in Intellectual Property. All the best!

In closing, I would like to thank you and congratulate you for this wonderful initiative that is SuperLawyer. I am sure a lot of young students will benefit from this forum.
February 4, 2015
Sneha Nainwal, on BCL from Oxford, work at LKS and moving to the UK
Sneha Nainwal graduated from Symbiosis Law School in 2010. Soon after graduation, she went on to pursue BCL at University of Oxford. She has a very rich experience of working in India and United Kingdom. She then worked at LakshmiKumaran and Sridharan for about two years.

Being a tax specialist she also has a keen interest in opportunities involving commercial litigation and arbitration.

In this interview, she talks about:
- Law school experience at Symbiosis and University of Oxford
- Work experiences at LKS, SGH Martineau LLP,
- Experience as a Contract Attorney at Bird & Bird, Hausfeld and Pinsent Masons
- Work culture in India and the UK
How would you like to introduce yourself? Please tell us about your pre-college experience.

I am a dreamer by faith and lawyer by profession.

My brother and I had a fairly modern upbringing that offered a unique blend of traditional values and liberal outlook. My father is a judge and my mother is a home-maker. We were always encouraged to find our own inspiration in life and so we did. While I followed my father’s footsteps and joined the legal field, my brother is now a user interface designer with Facebook in California.

As part of our family tradition, I was sent to a boarding school in Nainital at a very young age. The 7 years spent at St. Mary’s Convent, one of India’s finest residential public schools, have had the greatest influence on my life. With its focus on an all-round education, character building and the belief that one’s competition is only with oneself, the years spent at Ramnee gave me the courage and integrity to be myself. My stay at Symbiosis Law School, on the other hand, gave me the opportunity to interact with fellow aspiring legal professionals and an inspiration to succeed. I made some great memories, and even better friends!

I read for the BCL at the University in Oxford in 2010-2011. I then worked at Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan, Attorneys in New Delhi for about 2 years. Pursuant to my appointment at SGH Martineau LLP, an international law firm in London, I moved to the UK in 2014 and am currently qualifying as a Solicitor in England & Wales. I reside in London with my husband, who works in investment banking.

When and how did you decide to study law? How did you settle for Symbiosis Law School?

With most of my family being reputed members of the legal fraternity, law has always had an impact on my life. My father has served the Indian Judiciary for over 25 years. The sight of those red and black books with their slightly musty smell in his library, his typewriter and his black gown always held a strange charm for me. I was an inquisitive child, easily dissatisfied with popular reason and superficial explanations.

At school, this nascent curiosity developed into a lively quest for academic research and love for debates. Being naturally good with numbers, I enjoyed subjects like maths and accountancy and took up the commerce stream for my ISC Levels. I came to realise that my skills were best suited for a career which demanded potential for research, logical aptitude and commercial acumen.

The choice was between business school and law school. It was then that my father told me about the dual program in business and law (B.B.A.LL.B), being one of a kind at the time, offered at Symbiosis. It was an ideal opportunity to pursue my interest in business and law simultaneously. I took the entrance exam and there has been no turning back.

When people say “Law school”, they look no further than the National Law Universities. As a graduate of Symbiosis, have you faced any such bias? What would you say to the future graduates of Symbiosis regarding this?

It depends on who your audience is. The university league tables and rankings have created a very competitive educational environment and it’s hard to avoid its impact on one’s academic experience. An element of prestige is definitely associated with leading institutions, be it the Ivy League, Red Brick Universities or some of our very own NLUs but it isn’t a prophecy of professional success. The two things that truly matter are – what your university has to offer and what you make of that.

Symbiosis offered me a rich gamut of opportunities, both academic and personal, and I plunged headlong into making the most of it. It was an intellectual adventure that I thoroughly enjoyed (and that’s not something you’ll hear a law graduate say often!). Those five years so moulded me that there was little room for any bias or prejudice and my career trajectory bears testimony to this fact. In addition to securing top internships and winning national moot competitions, I was offered a place at two of the most competitive law programs, BCL and MLF, at the University of Oxford and have since worked at leading national and international law firms. Similarly, my peers went on to do their LL.M at Harvard, Cambridge, NYU et al and are now working with leading law firms. The point I am trying to drive home is that meritocracy should not be underrated by us.

To the future graduates of Symbiosis – pride and prejudice are volatile social forces and often over-rated. Your biggest competition is yourself and it is only when you don’t realize your true potential that you fail. These five years could define you – make sure you choose the definition wisely.

Many lawyers say that the first year after graduation is the most difficult year for young lawyers. What was your experience? What were the biggest challenges you faced?

It was a very different experience for me as I went on to do my LL.M after graduation. For me, that one year was truly inspiring. The biggest challenge was of course the BCL! It was like an intellectual roller coaster, marked with alternating phases of ingenuity and despair, but nevertheless, exhilarating. I was thrilled to interact with some of the finest minds from across the globe, in a setting that presented a confluence of cultural diversity, and was thus, a privilege in its own right. That year taught me a lot about self-discipline, time management and social networking – skills that have greatly helped me on the professional front. The year was also very enriching in terms of my social experience – I was the International Student Representative for my college, I performed at the Oxford Playhouse in a student production by ‘Chutney and Chips’ and I also shared the screen with Akshay Kumar in a scene from the Bollywood movie ‘Desi Boys’ (it was shot at Oxford)! On the personal front, too, it was an exciting year as I met my husband, Simon, in Oxford. He is the Feinstein Scholar from the Department of Economic History and we studied together at St. Catz.

What prompted you to opt for BCL from University of Oxford soon after graduation? How difficult would you say it was gaining admission? What advice would you like to give about the application process?

My reasons for pursuing the LL.M were purely intellectual, which is why I started working on my applications in the penultimate year of law school. As my focus was more on common law centric courses, I was keen on pursuing my LL.M in the UK. I only applied to Oxford and Cambridge, as they were my dream institutions, and was offered a place on two graduate law programs at Oxford – BCL and MLF. My keener interest in the subjects of Restitution and Jurisprudence, which the Oxford Law Faculty enjoys an unrivalled reputation for, led me to choose the BCL over MLF.

The competition for any world class university is naturally fierce. The selection panels are keen to identify well rounded individuals demonstrating a balanced set of academic and extra-curricular accomplishments. While strong academic credentials are vital, a sustained participation in other co-curricular activities significantly enhances the merit your application. Personally, I see my admission into Oxford as a culmination of all past achievements throughout my academic career. Over the years, I had actively participated in internship programs, moots, sports, debates, dramatics, and pro-bono activities and every single stint was a building block in shaping my application. Having said that, I must also stress the importance of a compelling SOP. Yes, SOPs are read and taken very seriously (while being offered a place on the MLF at Oxford, I was personally told that the admissions committee was specifically impressed with my SOP). It had taken me over a month to finalise that SOP, which was proofread by all my friends and edited with painstaking attention to detail by my elder brother (in whose literary skills I have immense faith!). My recommendation letters, two academic and one professional, came from professors and a senior judge who knew me well to give a detailed and personalised account of my skills, accomplishments and personality. I must add here that the faculty at Symbiosis, particularly our then Vice Principal – Dr C.J. Rawandale, was extremely helpful throughout the process. I also submitted a written piece of work. The entire application process is quite time consuming so it is advisable to start well in advance and follow a methodical approach.

Did you apply for any scholarships? How was the academic culture at Oxford?

I was shortlisted for the Rhodes Scholarship but did not win it. The BCL at Oxford is popularly known as the academic Everest and rightly so, for it is by far, one of the most gruelling law programs in the world. The rigour of the course may vary, to some extent, with the combination of subjects. For instance, subjects like Jurisprudence, Restitution, Conflicts, Corporate Insolvency and Evidence, amongst others, are considered to be more voluminous and exacting, but if they float your boat, then Oxford is the best place to study them. I studied restitution and loved it! What is unique about the academic environment at Oxford is that it celebrates independent thought and intellectual freedom – it makes you think! You start to look beyond the letter of the law to conceptualize ideas, challenge legal philosophy and interpret case laws in ways that you would otherwise think were not even possible. The traditional Oxford tutorials, which are not common to other graduate law programs, are an excellent opportunity to have one on one academic interaction with the faculty. Needless to say, the library resources and facilities are world class. Oxford is the city of modest geniuses and a great place to be inspired!

After finishing your BCL you started work at LakshmiKumaran and Sridharan. What prompted you to join LKS? Please tell us about your days at LKS.

I completed an internship program with LKS in the final year of law school and was offered a pre-placement offer, which I had to defer to take my place on the BCL. On my return from Oxford, I joined LKS as an Associate at their Delhi office. My reasons for joining LKS were twofold – its unrivalled reputation in tax and the work environment. In my opinion, tax is the most dynamic, multi-faceted and exciting field of law. Personally, it offers a unique opportunity to combine my core strengths in the fields of maths and accountancy with my aptitude for legal analysis in a commercial setting. I was keen on tax specialisation and LKS, with its proven expertise, was the best place to do it. LKS also has an impressive work environment, where it offers every advantage of a big firm, yet retains an originality and personal touch that is often lost in the rigid corporate culture of its other competitors. I found that very refreshing.

My stay at LKS was personally enriching and professionally gratifying. I started out in the Indirect Tax Litigation team where I mainly dealt with excise duty matters. There was ample opportunity to take true ownership over my work under the guidance of experienced seniors. I drafted replies to show cause notices, filed appeals before higher forums and argued matters before the commissioners and tax tribunals (CESTAT). I also advised clients on tax benefits and exemption issues. I was very fortunate to work directly with the partners on some very high profile matters, particularly the excise duty demand against Cadbury India. In my second year, I was promoted to the position of Senior Associate and was also appointed as the Officer on Special Duty reporting directly to the Senior Partner. The new position offered exposure to a wider range of matters including VAT, Service Tax, Sales Tax and Income Tax. LKS will always be a very significant chapter in my career history, where I met some inspiring lawyers and made great friends.

What led to your decision to leave LKS and move to the UK to join SGH Martineau LLP? How was the selection process? Please tell us about the conversion course and funding options.

My decision to move abroad was inspired by my desire to work in an international environment and my growing interest in the field of international taxation. My love for England, however, can be traced to the influential works of Jane Austen, and my husband, Simon Holmes.

I was looking for an international law firm that could offer early responsibility, good exposure and accelerated career development. SGH Martineau LLP was then in its post-merger phase and looking to recruit two trainees for its London office. It was a good time to join in and participate in the high-paced growth and strategic expansion of the Firm. There is something inherently rewarding about working at a firm that is in such an exciting phase of its growth. As there were only two positions available, the level of competition was very high. I made an online application and was invited to attend an assessment day, followed by a partner interview, in London. After being offered and signing the training contract, I then secured a partial exemption from SRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority) in respect of the GDL/LPC (the conversion course). I was required to submit elaborate documentation in support of my undergraduate studies but once again, the faculty at Symbiosis was extremely supportive. I am currently enrolled at University of Law where I am completing the remaining modules on the conversion course. As for the funding, most training contract offers include sponsorship for GDL and LPC.

The training providers, too, offer scholarships and bursaries of their own. I won the Law First Scholarship in 2014, which is a merit based funding for postgraduate students at University of Law. I also have a sponsorship from SGH Martineau.

You have recently worked with Bird & Bird LLP, Hausfeld and Co. and Pinsent Masons LLP as Contract Attorney – how was that experience? How this stint proved to be helpful here? What were the events that led to your induction? Were there any interviews or selection processes?

As I hold a partial exemption from the conversion course, I have been working as a Contract Attorney alongside my studies. I have completed projects at Bird & Bird LLP, Hausfeld & Co. and Pinsent Masons LLP. The work portfolio has been pretty diverse, ranging from cartel pricing cases to financial fraud investigations. It has been a good opportunity to work alongside foreign lawyers and experience the work culture at different law firms. These projects are lucrative, flexible and a great platform for professional networking. Applications can be made either directly or through placement agencies. The selection process varies with the firm in question and may include an assessment day or interview. All of my placements were finalised by my agents and did not involve any interview. I was selected on the basis of my CV and previous work experience.

Tell us a bit about work culture at law firms in the United Kingdom. How is it different from the Indian LLPs?

The work culture would vary depending on where you are working. However, there are some general points of difference. There is a clearer distinction and finer balance between professional and personal lives. Punctuality is taken more seriously and workdays usually start early and end early. Working on weekends, if at all, is a rare exception. The interaction with seniors is less formal. The relationship with colleagues is less personal. There is greater global diversity.

How difficult was it for you, as a lawyer who had theretofore been used to the Indian legal system, to adjust to the environment of a foreign work place?

It has been a very refreshing change for me. The conversion course has been an excellent opportunity to solidify my theoretical knowledge of English Laws, which has translated well to practice and made the transition rather smooth. The short term projects have provided a real insight into the work culture and practice areas at different law firms. As for my Indian experience, it offers a natural advantage in terms of domestic expertise while working on cross-jurisdictional matters that involve Indian laws. I am still getting used to the differences in procedural laws, legal jargon and even the general work culture but so far, it has been rather exciting than overwhelming.

Can you give us advice on applications and interviews, especially with foreign law firm?

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe” – Abraham Lincoln

The key to success is preparation. It is always a good idea to do a fair bit of research on the Firm that you are applying to – its background, operational structure, work ethos, practice areas and recent deals. This will make your application less generic and highlight your interest in the Firm. Know your resume inside out and be prepared to explain/defend it. The recruitment process typically involves preliminary stages such as online psychometric tests, assessment centre and written tasks. A lot of information, useful tips and sample exercises are available online so use that to your advantage. Research your interviewer well, where possible, and ask intelligent questions. Competency based interviews are extremely popular in the UK so identify the core competencies for the role that concerns you and practice answering behavioural questions. I cannot stress enough how important this is! And now for every recruiter’s favourite buzzword – ‘commercial awareness’! Most law firms will test you for this competency at one stage or another – make sure that you are prepared to deal with it.

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

Follow your heart, not the conventions.
February 1, 2015
Mansi Sood, Rhodes Scholar, on application, SoP and LL.M from Oxford
Extremely capable and skilful, Mansi Sood from NLSIU Bangalore is a student from the batch of 2015. She has been recently awarded the Rhodes scholarship for pursuing higher studies at Oxford University. Interestingly, it has been offered only to a few students in India, Mansi being one of them. This is an interview about her success, outstanding academic records and highly polished CV. She has also provided insights on the application process for Rhodes for the benefit of readers. Needless to say, her accomplishment in the field is incredible, and she goes on to tell us about her drive and future plans. There is evidently so much to learn from her.

In this interview she talks about:
- Rhodes Scholarship
- Law school experience at NLSIU, Bangalore
- Mooting and Internships
How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers? Tell us a bit about your background and school life.

Well, I was born and brought up in Delhi and did my entire schooling at D.P.S. R.K. Puram. I was always involved in a wide range of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities but my passion has been dance. I started learning Kathak from my guru, Smt. Vaswati Misra at the age of 5 and learnt for 13 years till I went to college in Bangalore.

What was the driving force behind taking up a career in law?

My parents have always encouraged me to follow my heart and do what gives me joy. One of my cousins went to law school and I used to hear a lot about it from her. So somewhere along the way, her stories inspired me and it seemed like I would enjoy the law. The law is very logical and structured and it’s also a great equalising force. Both of these things appealed to me and I decided to take the chance. I’m just glad it worked out!

How has been your law school experience at NLSIU, Bangalore? What are the best memories of your student life there?

It’s very difficult to compress almost 5 years into one answer! But frankly, NLS, Bangalore has been a wonderful, wonderful experience. There’s so much to learn, so many opportunities and so many people to inspire you, it’s quite amazing. It is hard work but it’s definitely worth it. The memories I’m taking from here will last me a lifetime, I think.

How do you give credits to your institution for being awarded the scholarship?

I think the institution, its people and most importantly, its environment, have had a huge role to play in shaping me as a person. Whether it’s professors, friends or peers, they are always so encouraging. And the diversity of interaction makes you broaden your perspectives a great deal. So yes, I would definitely like to thank my institution and all the people associated with it for their support.

You were adjudged the third best advocate at the South India Rounds of 55th Jessup and there are winning titles for your team in many other moots. You also have many publications to your name. How did you manage and what kind of skills did you acquire?

I have been involved in a variety of co-curricular activities but as you mentioned, mooting has been the one most dear to me. When I think what all of these activities have taught me, especially mooting, is that there are always two sides to every coin, multiple ways to look at anything. And I think that’s a very important skill for a lawyer. Other than that, they also obviously sharpened my research, legal writing and advocacy skills.

What was your first reaction on learning that you are being awarded the Rhodes scholarship? How was the application process?

My first reaction was a mixture of joy and relief. I couldn’t believe it for a while, in fact there are still moments of doubt! But to be honest, it’s a great honour and I’m very grateful to have been given the scholarship.

The application process involves two stages – the written application and the interviews. Once you submit your written application, there is a preliminary interview and then a final one. At each stage, the pool keeps getting smaller.

I wasn’t always sure that I wanted to study further but once that decision got made, Oxford was the dream.

How did you go about writing your CV and most importantly, your personal statement/essay/ SOP?

Writing the CV isn’t tough, you just have to write two pages about the things you have already done. It’s the SoP that takes effort because you have to express your dreams in words and make it sound convincing at the same time. It involves a lot of thinking and introspection, more than anything else. Once you’re clear about your goals, it’s just a matter of putting it down on paper.

Do you need to have recommendations as well? What kind of profile is needed while applying for the scholarship?

Yes, the Rhodes scholarship requires 6 recommendations – 3 academic and 3 personal. There isn’t a fixed profile that you need or a checklist that you need to have completed but broadly, they look for a well-rounded personality who has been able to demonstrate more than just an interest in the field he/she wants to pursue.

Was there any interview round? If yes, how were you prepared to face the panellists? What kind of questions did they ask?

Yes, there are two interview rounds. The first one is more ‘technical’, in the sense that it’s usually taken by people from your field who are interested in having a discussion. The final interview is more about you – who you are, what you want to do etc. I was a little nervous both times, more so the second time not just because there were a lot of luminaries on the panel but also because it was my final shot at the scholarship; but both the interviews were a lot of fun and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. They asked a variety of questions, ranging from India’s labour laws to my dance to Kashmir.

What kind of internships have you done? Did you ever plan out your internships?

I have mostly done litigation internships, aside from the Summer Vacation Scheme at Herbert Smith Freehills. I did plan my internships to a certain extent, but that was mostly in line with what the college prescribes. We have institutional support in the form of an Internship Cell that helps out with contact details etc. But more importantly, seniors and alumni have always been a huge support.

You are keenly interested in research as well. Tell us about it.

I think research and policy work is an important aspect of legal work in general because often, the changes that we seek to bring about in our laws, come about through that route. I have been involved in research on a variety of subjects, from arbitration to constitutional issues.

What are your plans after your post-graduation? What kind of career do you envisage after graduating from Oxford?

My interest lies in commercial law, with a primary focus on arbitration and intellectual property laws and that’s what I want to pursue. I haven’t thought about exactly what I want to do but it would be a mix of practice and academia/policy work.

What would be your advice to our young readers who would like to apply for Rhodes scholarship in future? What does it take to have a brilliant CV?

I am not sure I’m qualified enough to give advice but I’ll say this – Just be honest. Of course, there is work involved in the whole process but the most important thing is to be yourself and talk about the things that matter to you the most. The rest will fall into place.
January 25, 2015
Tanmay Patnaik, Associate, Private Client Practice, AMSS, on an LL.M from Fordham and experience in Modelling
Tanmay Patnaik graduated from Government Law College, Mumbai. He received the USC Gould School of Law LL.M Scholarship in 2010 and pursued an LL.M in Banking, Corporate and Finance Law from Fordham Law School, New York. He is currently an associate of the General Corporate Practice Team at Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A. Shroff & Co.

Most amazingly he also partook in modelling assignments for many big brands such as Cadburys, Samsung, Vodafone, etc. and most prominently as the poster boy of Limca. He also had the opportunity to act in the movie ‘Wake Up Sid!’.

In this interview he talks about:
- Taking time out for modelling
- LL.M from Fordham Law School, New York
- Scholarship from USC Gould School of Law
- Private Client Practice at AMSS
Given that most of our readers belong to the legal fraternity, how would you introduce yourself to them?

I would introduce myself as a ‘trust’ed legal advisor. I am presently a member of the Private Client Practice Team at Amarchand & Mangaldas. The team consists of estate and trust law specialists who have years of experience in advising high net-worth families on a host of matters including succession, estate planning and family governance related matters. I am also a member of the Amarchand Japan desk which is assigned to work on general corporate transactional and advisory matters catering specifically to our Japanese clients.

I am also an expert in the field of Art and antiquities law. An extrovert by nature, I’ve never believed in defining the boundaries of what a lawyer can or cannot do.

How did you gravitate towards law? Why law and not engineering or medical studies?

The formative years of my life were spent in the company of the sons and daughters of bureaucrats and judges. The topic of law was ingrained into every dinner table conversation. I was fascinated and truly taken in by the subject. Since math and sciences were never my cup of tea, narrowing down my career choices was that much easier. I’m honestly glad there’s a pen in my hand rather than a scalpel!

Do you think being from a non-NLU has ever proved to be a hindrance for you? What has been your experience?

Personally, it has never been a hindrance to me as I joined Amarchand immediately after completing my LL.M. from Fordham.

How was your law school experience? Were you engaged in any co-curricular activities?

My law school journey has been an interesting one. In the first year of law school, I was honestly a bit lost. I soon found my feet and became very active in the Students Council and the Moot Court Association. I was to become a post holder in both committees for the next 4 years. I was also an active participant in moot court competitions throughout my law school tenure, securing two golds and a silver at the national level.

However, all this while, I had already decided to break out of the mould of the typical law student and do something different. I had chosen to dabble in the world of acting. Every lawyer has theatrical tendencies brewing in them and I just decided to stir mine. By the end of the fourth year of law school I had managed a fairly decent acting portfolio of print ads, television commercials, music videos and even a role in a Bollywood movie. I soon reached a point where I had to choose to follow through with law or dive into acting full time. It wasn’t easy to drop something that I had invested a fair amount of time in, but I understood that an acting career was fraught with uncertainty. The night I decided to give it up, I decided to work on my LL.M. applications. There was no looking back then.

You have been featured as the poster boy of Limca! Please tell us more about your career in modelling, how did it start out, and your present involvement.

I got my first modelling assignment by chance. A close friend of Mr. Piyush Pandey, who is the Executive Chairman of Ogilvy & Mather India had met me over a family dinner and recommended my name for a print ad which required a fresh teenage face. The people at O&M got in touch with me, I auditioned and 4 weeks later my face was plastered on billboards across the city! I was only 17 at the time and and the feeling was overwhelming. I was soon getting alot of casting calls for print ads and television commercials. By the fourth year of law school I had shot for over 30 top end brands including Limca, Colgate, Cadbury, Samsung, Vodafone, 7Up, Bajaj and Nike.

I also got the opportunity to travel to Dubai, Mauritius and Kuala Lumpur for music videos and commercial shoots. It was a good breakaway from the humdrum of regular student life. However, it wasn’t always bright lights and easy money. My biggest take away from the world of acting and modelling was learning how to deal with rejection. For every acting assignment I bagged, I was probably rejected for 5 others. This really helped me grow as a person. My last project was a character role in Wake Up Sid which was exciting because I got to be a part of fairly successful Bollywood movie.

I haven’t disconnected myself from the world of media altogether though. Last year I was featured and interviewed for the fashion magazine ‘GQ’ . The feature was on style conscious professionals in India donning the sharpest suits. I was later informed that I was the first Indian lawyer to get featured in GQ!

It was interesting because in my own little way I had stayed in touch with the field of media and fashion. Just driving home the point that no matter how hectic life in a top law firm can get, you can still dive into other things.

You went to pursue LL.M from Fordham Law School, New York. How did the whole experience turn out to be?

New York was a game changer. It is truly the city where dreams are made and broken. It is a city which tests your mettle. I had visited New York before and was familiar with what the city had to offer. My time at Fordham taught me to be disciplined, patient and sincere in my efforts. The law school campus is located in the heart of the city and is always bustling with that unique New York City vibe. People often say that an LL.M. has no value for Indian students looking for a job in India. I beg to differ because in my opinion the learning does not start and stop in the classroom. It goes well beyond. Leaving networking aside, it is the softer aspects of the entire LL.M. journey which really equips you for what lies ahead. With your family thousands of miles away from you, you tend to push your boundaries of what you are capable of and this is where your levels of maturity (personally and professionally) start to peak.

The city of New York is like no other. It pushes you to the extreme in every sense. New Yorkers truly value their time and they also respect yours. Located in the heart of the city, being at Fordham afforded you the opportunity to socialize with your peers and other professionals on a regular basis.

As an LL.M student, it was important that I made the most of the networking opportunities that the city had to offer. This wasn’t restricted solely to lawyers but individuals in the field of media, advertising, corporate finance, investment banking and private equity. There was always something to do, something to explore and people to meet. Being in the city that never sleeps, there was plenty to do once our classes were done and over with.

Please tell our readers about the application procedure and other requirements like CGPA, internships and recommendation letters.

First and foremost, it is vital that you identify why you want to apply to a particular school (faculty, program, location, etc.). This will help you think through a host of other questions which follow. Your statement of purpose must be an honest representation of yourself. Marketing yourself is well and truly acceptable, but misrepresentation most certainly isn’t. Maintaining a good grade is a must but restricting your achievements to the classroom isn’t the best way forward. Whilst long term internships and strong recommendation letters are an added bonus to your application, it is important that you try to stand out from the crowd.

You have received the USC Gould School of Law LL.M Scholarship in 2010. Did your scholarship provide full funding for your LL.M course?

The USC Gould Scholarship for LL.Ms is a merit based scholarship which does not require a separate formal application. Awards are typically offered in the amount of 10% to 50% of the cost of tuition and the student is notified upon receiving admission. Accordingly, when my admission letter arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I had also received a 50% scholarship award.

How did you decide on a specialization in Banking, Corporate and Finance Law? What motivated you?

I was drawn towards the practice of corporate law ever since I interned with AMSS. The internship was for a period of six months. During this time I was fortunate enough to work under some of the finest corporate lawyers in the country. I had also interned with senior counsels and public prosecutors in the past but I felt that the corporate law environment suited me best.

I chose Fordham Law over Cornell, Georgetown, George Washington and USC because it not only had an excellent corporate law faculty but it also offered me a chance to study corporate law in one of the financial capitals of the world. Having Professor Richard Squire (who previously taught at Harvard) and Professor Sean Griffith (a former editor of the Harvard Law Review), both celebrated educationists in the field of corporate law, was the icing on the cake. So it was never a spontaneous decision. I had done my homework. The one year I spent at Fordham was invaluable. When I finally graduated, it wasn’t just a degree I was taking home, it was an experience.

How did your recruitment at Amarchand & Mangaldas take place? How far would you say your LL.M experience was instrumental in this opportunity?

I applied directly to Amarchand & Mangaldas when I returned to India and I was fortunate enough to hear back from them. An interview was set up with Mrs. Vandana Shroff and it went off quite well. I had graduated from Fordham with Latin Honors and this may helped me build my case. The LL.M most certainly gave me the confidence to hold my own.

You are presently working in the Private Client Practice (PCP) team and have been associated with Amarchand for the past 3 years. Please tell us about your areas of practice.

Our Private Client Practice is based on decades of experience in advising promoter families, high-net-worth individuals and entrepreneurs in relation to structuring and holding their wealth and family businesses, especially in a taxation and succession friendly manner. The team has been handpicked by Mr. Shroff himself and confidentiality lies at the core of everything that we do.

The services we offer are bespoke to each client’s needs and include amongst other things:
- Estate and succession planning, including preparation of Wills and Codicils; providing probate and executorship services;
- Establishment of private family trusts (which may include private trustee companies, professional trustees and/or protectors, as desired); on-going advisory services for established domestic and offshore trusts;
- Restructuring of existing promoter / family holdings in a tax efficient and succession-friendly manner;
- Creation, implementation and monitoring of family governance structures, including drafting of family constitutions and vision statements;
- advice on corporate governance and business structuring from the perspective of family governance, and incidental advice on all corporate matters;
- Advice on family settlements and partitions;
- Family dispute resolution either through arbitration, mediation, and/or litigation; and
- Risk management and regulatory advice, including compliance with securities laws, takeover regulations, exchange control laws, liaising and dealing with regulators (especially R.B.I. and S.E.B.I.), as required.
People often complain about the highly skewed work-life balance at the top law firms. How do you maintain your work-life balance?

In any top corporate law firm there are going to be patches of heavy workload. It’s a natural phenomenon and that’s how markets work. The earlier you come to terms with that, the more at ease you will be. However, if you’re perpetually stuck to your desk, you’re doing something wrong. I think at the end of the day it’s upto the individual to make the most of his/her day and the environment he/she is in. I try to start my day early and hit the gym as often as I can. Weightlifting has been a stressbuster since I was in law school. At the end of the day, I try to disconnect with work and connect with my loved ones, being my parents, my beautiful wife and my pet cocker spaniel.

What would be your message to our young readers who want to join a corporate law firm in the future?

Joining a corporate law firm is an excellent choice but I would recommend keeping your expectations in check. Harvey Specter and Mike Ross are works of fiction! That’s not how law firms function. As a first year associate in any top law firm, you can expect long working hours and a heavy workload. Therein lies the challenge you must overcome. There will also be moments when you will feel disillusioned but the key is to remain patient and see it through.
January 23, 2015
Sonal More, Global Legal Counsel at an MNC talks about Corporate Law, Higher Studies and LPOs
Sonal More graduated from GLC, Mumbai and thereafter had worked as an in-house counsel at places like Spykar Jeans, Pangea3 and currently at Firmenich (a global leader in perfumes).

Even as a Global Legal Counsel at Firmenich currently, she has taken time out to pursue the MBL programme from NLSIU, Bangalore. In this interview we ask her about:
- Importance of learning a foreign language
- Work at an MNC like Firmenich
- Pursuing the Masters in Business Laws from NLSIU
Please tell us about yourself. What were your reasons for taking up law?

I belong to a closely-knit Maharashtrian family in Mumbai. Born, brought up and educated in our financial capital, Mumbai. I have always been passionate about art; the freedom to use colours with no boundaries mesmerized me, contradictory to a lawyer’s profession where rules are the key to our survival. Raised by two teachers, reading was inculcated in us right from childhood. My interest in law began when my father gifted me my first novel, Sidney Sheldon’s Rage of Angels, which was based on an American Criminal Defense Attorney. That was my first step towards law. With time, I started reading articles on prominent Indian lawyers and our legal system. I met one of the criminal defense attorneys for guidance and decided I had to find my way in the legal fraternity somehow; so I commenced my law course with Government Law College, Mumbai. Coming from a non legal background, it was difficult to understand which avenue to take, and after 2 years of initial trial and error in my internships I finally found my passion in contracts.

You have an LL.M and a Postgraduate Diploma as well in Intellectual Property Law. Please tell us how you decided to pursue the diploma also.

I was introduced to Intellectual Property Law, when I was struggling to decide which area of law I should be focusing on. Being new to the topic, I enrolled myself with National Law School, Bangalore for my Postgraduate Diploma to get more insight into Intellectual Property which helped me simultaneously to prepare for my final year law exams where IPR was my specialization. I pursued LL.M after completing the Post Graduate Diploma; I felt LL.M would give me in depth understanding in comparison to a diploma.

You also completed a Diploma in Cyber Laws from the Asian School of Cyber Law in Pune. Please comment on the quality and structure of the course. How much practical knowledge did you gain from it?

The course is designed for beginners and to get basic knowledge as to what comprises of Cyber Laws. It is automatically presumed that Cyber Law essentially means Information Technology Act and nothing more than that. This course helps to understand that Cyber Law is much more. The structure of the course is very concise and appropriate for basic level understanding. The course helped me immensely while drafting, negotiating and understanding IT concepts in software license agreements. For someone who is working on software license agreements, this course is highly recommended.

You are currently pursuing Masters in Business Laws (MBL) from NLSIU, Bangalore. It is said to be one of the toughest postgraduate law courses in India with a very low pass percentage. What would you say about the quality of the course material?

I couldn’t agree more that it is indeed the toughest postgraduate law course, at least amongst the ones I have appeared for. My preparation is mainly based on the NLS course material, for any recent updates to the regulations NLS provides additional notes. I would still recommend research on internet for additional information on updates. The material provided by NLS is very elaborate and easy to understand.

After completing your studies, you started working at Emmay HR Services Pvt. Ltd. as a Legal Assistant. What is the state of HR Departments in big and small companies?

Emmay HR which is now Randstad India, is a recruitment company so impetus on HR policies was a given. The role required me to understand the different categories of employments, namely permanent, temporary, staffing and contractual. After being a part of various setups and sectors, I realized that there are pros and cons in big and small setups. In my view the HR departments in smaller companies are more connected to the employees and have better visibility on the employee concerns. Bigger companies have robust systems in place which makes daily activities / functions smoother for sure, but at some occasions lack the personal touch till an issue is brought at the forefront. That being said, the most compliant, organized and connected HR teams in my experience are found in a factory setup. Given the number of regulations and statutory requirements, a factory needs to follow, in terms of labourers/ workers; the HR team manages the HR function and to a certain extent statutory function for the organization.

You then went on to work at Pangea3. How did you secure your appointment? What is an average day of a Senior Specialist like?

Honestly, like any other law graduate I was not really sure of joining or even interviewing with an LPO at the time. LPO had just stepped in the legal industry at that time and we had no idea how and what the company looks into. A recruiter had reached me several times to consider Pangea3 (which was then not associated with Thomson Reuters) and after having multiple conversations, I finally decided to give it a try and that proved to be a right decision.

In my role as a Senior Specialist, I functioned more as an extended team member of in house counsel teams for different companies. I was a part of the Corporate Team and more specifically the Contract Drafting Team. Amongst several projects I worked on as a Contract Drafting Attorney, I also worked on some Contract Abstraction projects. Simply put, Contract Abstraction is creating a summary or a snap shot of the executed contract, for the company to refer to. These summaries help the company to keep track of expired contracts and the provisions that were agreed on before; thus giving an insight into the contract without having to read the whole document. An average day as a Senior Specialist would comprise of contract drafting, reviewing and negotiating agreements, depending on the clients we cater to and if on a contract abstraction project, we would have specific targets of reviewing particular number of contracts; pretty much similar to the day of a non litigation lawyer.

After a year and a half, you switched to Hindustan Unilever Pvt. Ltd. How can one make his presence felt in a large company like HUL? What was your work profile like?

Unilever is a brand that everyone would like to be a part of, and when I got the opportunity I could not resist it. My profile was more of Indian litigation and contracts, where I had to co-ordinate with Advocates and counsels for the court cases and prepare documents. I wanted to try something different than my previous roles, so I had decided to move from a completely non litigation profile to a litigation profile, however after a few months in the system and attending court proceedings I realized it was not my interest so I had decided to return to non litigation. In any company for that matter, be it large or small, it is difficult to make your presence felt. In larger companies, the opportunities to shine are less frequent as you may have to wait a long time to be recognized if you missed one chance but then again if you show your skill you will succeed. I always keep in mind a message one of my seniors had told me “If you are not at the table, you are on the menu”.

Currently, you work at Firmenich Aromatics India Pvt. Ltd. as a Legal Counsel (Global). Please describe your job profile for us.

My role is primarily focused on drafting, reviewing and negotiating global agreements for all divisions in the organization, ranging from software license agreements, sale agreements, purchase agreements, et al across the globe. As an In House Counsel, I also look into company policies, their compliance, preparing training programs for the teams across all functions and partnering with the business teams to ensure adherence to policies and legal requirements. On an average day, I could be negotiating contracts with companies based anywhere in the world or discussing legal provisions with the commercial teams.

You also hold an Advanced Diploma in Spanish from Instituto Hispania, Mumbai. Does the knowledge of an extra language give you an edge over your peers?

Being born and brought up in Mumbai, it becomes a part of your characteristic to know at least three languages, which served as a foundation to learn languages quickly. I had chosen Spanish as I felt everyone at the time was focusing on French and I wanted to do something different.

Knowing an extra language definitely gives you an edge; it opens up different avenues for you as an individual, and exposes you to a different culture. For instance, if one completes all levels of a foreign language, he/she could be an Indian lawyer who can work on a Spanish Contract without the assistance of a translator.

Although I had to limit myself to three levels due to time constraints, basic proficiency in Spanish helped me immensely when I worked with Latin American clients and peers; and proved to be a training ground for me to deal with foreign accents. I do not think there is any specific foreign language that I would recommend for a law student, however if a student wants to work with European companies, French would be an ideal choice. Learning an additional language will always help you as a lawyer or even otherwise.

You have only worked in the in-house legal department of companies. Why did you never try for a law firm job or a career in litigation?

In my earlier days of law school, I had tried working for a litigation lawyer and after a month I realized that my interest did not lie there. So I tried interning with a law firm, which functioned as an extended arm of the in house counsel team as it focused on few clients at the time. That structure intrigued me. As a lawyer in a law firm, I was more focused on the letter of the law with no or limited access to the business or the commercial side of the company and I wanted to understand the business more closely, so I chose to work as an in house counsel.

It is believed that the work of an in-house counsel is restricted compared to that of a law firm lawyer but the latter has less (or no) work-life balance. Do you think this is true?

It’s a common misconception; in no way is the work of an In House Counsel restricted. I feel quite the contrary, as an In House Counsel you are forced to think out of the box and consider real business scenarios. You can no longer sit on the sideline and merely state the law, now you are a part of the decision making process and have a say in commercial provisions. As an In House Counsel, we have to wear two hats, one of a lawyer and the other of a commercial person. It is our responsibility to understand the business and ensure that the company complies with the legal requirements and also meets its commercial targets. An In House Counsel in the true sense is a business partner; attuning oneself to understand the business needs to meet targets is a task which requires business acumen and applying your legal knowledge as a lawyer, which does require us at times to burn the midnight oil and sacrifice holidays. That said, I think work-life balance is a personal choice, whether you are a part of a law firm, a company or working with a litigation lawyer, if we really want to do something we either do it or make excuses. My personal guide to maintain work life balance is Mr Narayan Murthy’s (co-founder of Infosys) letter to his employees on the subject.

What must a law student keep in mind when wishing to pursue a career in corporate law? Is a degree like CS or MBL important for this field?

While pursuing corporate law, a law student needs to keep an open mind. It is not essential that one can pursue a career in corporate law only in companies, one could gain in depth knowledge also by being a part of a LPO. So I would not restrict one’s aspirations to any specific sector of companies. An additional degree is always helpful, depending on the individual’s interests and future goals. If working as a corporate lawyer or understanding corporate law is the goal then MBL is the course for you, however if the intent is to ensure compliance, statutory related work, one should consider CS.

Lastly, what message would you leave for our budding lawyers?

From what I have learnt in the last eight plus years in the fraternity, I would suggest interning in different setups, litigation, law firms, companies, LPOs, et al. Today lawyers are more than just litigation lawyers, and subject matter experts. We are moving towards the new age, where lawyers are entrepreneurs and business oriented. Choose the area you like without any presumptions and prejudice. If you are passionate about what you do, you will create a niche for yourself.
January 20, 2015
Nikhil Singal, Principal Associate at LKS, on all about a career in Tax Law and an MCL from Cambridge
Nikhil K. Singal graduated from ILS, Pune in 2010. Soon after Graduation he started working at LakshmiKumaran and Sridharan as an Associate and then went on to pursue Masters in Corporate Law from the University of Cambridge, U.K. He is also a Company Secretary holding a Licentiate membership of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. After returning back to India, he joined LKS as a Senior Associate and was promoted to Principal Associate in May, 2014.

In this interview he talks about:
- Law School experience at University of Cambridge
- Interest and expertise in taxation law
- Growing from an Associate to Principal Associate at LKS
How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers who are mainly law students and lawyers?

Hi! I’m Nikhil Singal and I’m currently associated with the Delhi office of Lakshmikumaran&Sridharan (LKS) as a Principal Associate. I graduated from ILS Law College in 2010 and joined LKS right after college. It has been a good journey so far, and I hope it remains the same in the future!

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work in different teams, handle some very exciting assignments, represent some of the biggest clients, as well as feel good about my personal growth and development. Currently, I’m handling work related to corporate advisory and commercial litigation, along with handling some important tax matters. For a brief period from 2012-2013, I went to pursue my Masters in Corporate Law (MCL) from the University of Cambridge, after which I came back and joined LKS again.

As a lawyer, my approach has always been to expand my horizon and learn new things. I don’t like to restrict myself to one area of law or one domain. Of course, I understand that it is physically impossible to do everything, or to master everything, and I’m not aiming for that. Instead, I aim to diversify as much as possible and only after a few more years of practice, I will start specializing in a particular field. For me, change is necessary. It gives me a challenge to keep going and to keep exploring. Fortunately, LKS has been very supportive in this approach. As I mentioned, over the years, I’ve worked in different laterals of the firm and in different areas of law. So whether it be work relating to service tax, income tax, contract drafting, transactional work or dispute resolution in any forum in this country, I can very happily do it!

When and how did you decide to study law? Which universities did you consider for your legal studies? How did you settle for ILS, Pune?

I actually didn’t decide to study law. As a kid, I was always interested in doing something related to science. I spent three years in Tanzania where my father was posted as a diplomat. I studied in an international school there and loved their teaching approach. I loved all the science subjects. When I came back to India, I found it difficult to cram non-application based science subjects from voluminous books. That is not what I wanted. So I pursued commerce and thought I’ll end up doing Economics from a good college in Delhi. When I finished schooling in 2005, I had an option of going to Hansraj or Venkateshwara College in Delhi. At that time, my father also insisted that I fill up the forms for ILS and Symbiosis, Pune. So I did!

Ultimately, I had all four options in my pocket and had to make a choice. After much counselling at home, I decided to go ahead with ILS. My parents persuaded me that law is a great field, and with my analytical approach, I would be happier being a lawyer. So honestly, the credit goes to my parents! Nevertheless, I haven’t regretted the choices I’ve made. ILS is a great college, has a great legacy, and personally I believe it was the right choice for me. I enjoy being a lawyer, and I owe a lot to ILS for who I am today.

Do you think being from a non-NLU has ever proved to be a hindrance for you? Many non-NLU students complain that they feel being discriminated against during career opportunities. What has been your experience?

Not really. I think what matters the most is what and whom you let influence you, no matter which college it is. ILS has the best of reputation, the best of faculty, and a very good mix of academic and non-academic focus. I admit that everything is not positive, but that is the same in every college or university. In ILS, I met some of the brightest individuals, some of the most dynamic, some radical, some conservative. All of them are doing very well right now, and not all of them have chosen to remain a lawyer. Personally, I believe if you can prove your worth, you eliminate, or substantially reduce your chances of discrimination. This is how my experience has been. I’ve met many Partners from firms in India as well as from London and New York, and all of them know and appreciate ILS as an institution.

After graduating from ILS, you joined LakshmiKumaran and Sridharan as an Associate. How did the appointment take place? What comprised your work at LKS?

I did two internships at LKS. The first internship was in the international trade division and the next one was in the service tax division where I focussed on GST. Both my internships were very fruitful. They liked my work and by the end of the second internship, I was offered a pre-placement offer. The placements in college had yet not started, so I was one of the first ones in my batch to get a job! I took the offer knowing very well that the work will be mostly tax oriented, of which I had very little knowledge (though it was interesting indeed).

Initially, I was assigned to the tax litigation team and focussed on Service Tax and VAT matters. I did this for about a year. It was a good learning experience as the service tax law is still nascent and evolving. I dealt with some very challenging cases, and as any lawyer, there was a lot of grinding! But there was a lot of focus on knowledge enhancement and understanding the working of the law, rather than just doing something mechanically.

In my second year of work, an option was given to the Associates to opt for shifting in other practices of the firm. I was the only one who opted for a change and I opted for Direct Tax where I spent another year. This was a great opportunity and a great learning experience. I was also doing some service tax work alongside. By doing this, I got the opportunity to understand Indian tax scenario holistically and in totality. This also helped me to understand why and how many commercial decisions are made in businesses around the world. On many matters, I worked directly with Mr. V. Lakshmikumaran and other Senior Partners and all of this ultimately paved my way to get to Cambridge to do my Masters!

Thereafter you went on to pursue Masters in Corporate law from University of Cambridge. Was it a professional requirement to grow expertise in your career? How would you describe your experience as?

As I mentioned, my tax experience helped me to understand the working of businesses and the reasoning behind various commercial decisions being taken. I was very interested in understanding the rationale behind these business decisions as well as understanding the legal factors which affect the functioning of these businesses. I thought the best way to do this is to study further, and apply that knowledge in my working. I discussed this with Mr. Lakshmikumaran and though this was not a professional requirement, he encouraged me to apply and study further. I thought the time was right and with some professional experience, I went ahead to apply in select Universities in UK and US.

Cambridge offered me the perfect course and the perfect platform for what I wanted. Ever since I was in ILS, I had it in my mind that I wanted to study in Cambridge for at least a year, and this became a reality! My year at Cambridge was one of the best years I’ve had. Every day was a learning experience, and I met some of the most intelligent and fun loving people from around the world. I don’t think I need to say anything about the quality of education and the faculty etc, as the reputation of Cambridge speaks for itself.

The course was rigorous, VERY rigorous! The good thing about the course was its practicality. Many of the modules were taught by Barristers and Partners of law firms in London. We worked on live deals and cases. Not only was there a lot of personal development from Cambridge, but this course also greatly helped my transition to being a commercial lawyer, along with having a strong tax background.

Thereafter you joined LKS as a Senior Associate and currently work as a Principal Associate there. What does it take to be appointed as a Senior Associate at LKS at that stage? How did your promotion happen?

I had actually never given my resignation in LKS before going to Cambridge. My one year at Cambridge was considered as part of my job profile and was counted towards my work experience. LKS was very considerate in doing this. I met Mr. Lakshmikumaran and the HR upon my return and started working in the corporate advisory and commercial litigation division of the firm. Along with this, as I also do now, I also handled some important tax matters. This profile complemented my experience as a tax lawyer, as well as my academic qualification as a corporate lawyer.

Therefore, to answer your question more specifically, my promotions were based on my past experience, my academic qualifications, as well as of course the fact that my work was appreciated by my Partner in charge as well as the senior management. The same criterion applies to all Associates in LKS. At times the promotions are “fast-tracked” depending on the performance of the individual, but that is ultimately the decision of the management. In all this, what is most required and appreciated is the hard work coupled with a positive outlook to learn!

How do you say one can gain expertise in tax law? What does it take to be a good tax lawyer? Is the work significantly different from other transactional lawyers?

Tax laws are vast and the jurisprudence relating to these laws is very extensive. Within the ambit of tax laws, you can specialize in Direct or Indirect Tax. Even within these categories, you can specialize in corporate taxation, international taxation, service tax, VAT so on and so forth. What is more interesting is that even within these specializations, you can super-specialize in one area. All these specializations and super-specializations are rewarding. In tax laws, it is generally understood and accepted that expertise can be gained by specialization in a particular area over a period of time. This is because each area has its own extensive background and jurisprudence. I’ve also seen and experienced that once you are able to deal with one area of tax laws confidently, dealing with other tax laws and areas becomes much easier. And once you are comfortable in dealing with different tax laws, dealing with non-tax laws becomes much easier. This has been my experience.

Of course the nature of work done by a transactional lawyer and a tax lawyer is different, but that difference comes mainly at the level of the law and the procedure involved. I know many transactional lawyers who super-specialize in one area within a broad area, whether it be one leg of financing, or a specific type of private equity transaction. The same rules apply in both these contexts.

How much of your work does involve litigation, if at all?

Around 60 percent of my work is litigation, a lot of which is commercial litigation and as I mentioned, I am still handling certain important high value tax matters. The good thing here is that I get to do all kinds of litigation, in all forums, and at all levels. The other 40 percent is corporate advisory work.

Tell us a bit about work culture at LKS and the life of a Principal Associate. What is your current work profile like? Please tell us about the responsibilities you are entrusted with.

LKS has a good work culture, people are friendly and there is a lot of encouragement to junior Associates by seniors. One thing I appreciate the most in LKS is the ease of access and the open-door policy. Anyone can approach any person of the senior management, including Mr. Lakshmikumaran and Mr. Sridharan. Resources are ample, and people are always willing to help out. This is a big plus point of the firm.

As I also mentioned above, I am currently dealing with corporate advisory and commercial litigation, along with handling some important tax matters. Many of these matters are dealt directly with Mr. Lakshmikumaran, and many a times with the guidance of Mr. Sridharan. Since LKS is now a full service law firm, the work varies a lot. I’ve handled matters ranging from tax to environment to electricity to competition. The clients I deal with are diverse, ranging from the world’s biggest social networking site to the biggest spiritual society, and LKS allows you to be the point of contact and deal with them directly relating to the matter. There is of course a lot of responsibility on the shoulder of a Principal Associate. Along with mentoring the juniors and ensuring the quality of work, you become responsible for any negative consequences also (though this is all a part of the profession!). There are times when tough decisions are required to be made, and even though LKS allows this freedom to a Principal Associate, the decisions may not always be correct. All of this is nevertheless looked at in positive light by the firm, and is part and parcel of growth process in the firm.

You must have guided several interns. How would you say that an intern can generate a positive feedback in the limited time they have?

The most important thing is dedication. You are right about the fact that there is very limited time which the interns have, but many-a-times the interns spend this time doing non-productive work. I’ve mentored interns who were not at all interested in working, no matter how simple the task or proposition was. On the other hand, there have been some interns who have gone a step further and taken the responsibility of the work. Ultimately, if the intern is able to demonstrate that he/she is a team player, willing to accept an assignment, and complete the assignment with diligence and good legal research, the fact that the intern has limited time does not matter.

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

One should always accept and own up to errors and mistakes. Making mistakes is part of the professional learning and without making mistakes you cannot grow in this profession. Nobody is born a good lawyer. But one must always learn from their mistakes, try and reduce the consequences (damage control is necessary!), and try and ensure that the same mistake does not happen again. Sometimes, mistakes in this profession can cost you and the client a lot, and therefore, one has to be extremely careful. This is one of the stress factors of the profession. Nevertheless, all this should be taken in a positive light and part of the growth process.

People often complain about the highly skewed work-life balance at the top law firms. What is your workday like? How do you maintain your work-life balance?

Regular work days are always varied, from answering to various clients at the same time to running between different Courts. Work is the only constant, and workhas considerably increased as I’ve progressed in the profession. I’ve definitely learnt to deal with it in a quicker and more efficient manner, and this has helped me to take time out for myself and my family. LKS as a firm also has a good culture of promoting a work life balance and spending time with your family. Of course there are many days when I don’t get to know when the sun rises and when it sets, but this is more than normal in a profession which demands precision and quick turnaround. I have to do some form of physical exercise at least once a day, without which my day is not complete. This keeps me more active at work also. I am also very spiritual and like to read books in this area. Apart from this, I love travelling and watching movies. I spend whatever time I get with my family and try and catch up with friends as often as possible, whom I prefer to be non-lawyers (makes conversations more interesting!).

I’ve heard quite a few bad stories about different law firms in India, but I honestly think that even there a decent work-life balance can be maintained. Some firms look down at their Associates if they leave on time. This is quite discouraging! Work, if done efficiently and with focus, can be completed in half the time which one normally takes (the Germans are expert at this!). I think this can easily be emulated and unnecessary time wasted in office should be spent on personal development and on something more social and productive!

What would be your message to our young readers who want to pursue a career in tax laws?

Pursuing a career in tax laws may sometimes seems intimidating and sometimes boring. This is the impression which I have got from a lot of undergrads. This is actually not the case. On the contrary, it is a very interesting area of law and can be very rewarding once you cross the initial hurdle of understanding how the law works.

There is a lot of procedure involved and the substantive questions of law are inextricably linked to the procedural part of tax laws. One should always consider this as a positive challenge. Also, as I mentioned above, once you become comfortable with practicing in tax laws, understanding the working of other laws becomes easier. Many of the best counsels in India started off their practice in tax laws and many of them still invariably take up important tax matters.

Once you start off with your practice as a tax lawyer, there is always a scope for expansion. Even transactional lawyers cannot proceed without understanding the tax position from tax lawyers, and I’ve seen many deals being changed on this count. Tax lawyers are also highly sought after internationally.

All in all, being a tax lawyer is a highly rewarding, and I highly recommend pursuing a career in tax laws!
January 19, 2015
Jayakar Bathula, Practicing Advocate and Researcher at NALSAR, an inspiring story of facing odds
Jayakar Bathula graduated with an LL.B degree from Mahatma Gandhi Law College, Osmania University. After that he pursued an LL.M degree while specializing in International Trade and Business Law from NALSAR, Hyderabad. He currently works as a Legal Assistant with a group of advocates called Chamber of Lawyers’ Collective, High Court of AP and TS at Hyderabad.

Jayakar is an inspiring story that needs to be told and retold. The education that he has attained is mostly about the struggles that he had to endure while pursuing them. He is an example and personification of the word ‘tenacity’. Being from a very humble family, he is currently a practising lawyer and also contributes to NALSAR’s repository of study materials through his in-depth aptitude in research and learning.

In this interview, he talks about:
- Studying law at Mahatma Gandhi Law College, Osmania University.
- LL.M from NALSAR, Hyderabad.
- Preparing study materials for the One Year LL.M Course at NALSAR, Hyderabad.
- Working at Chamber of Lawyers’ Collective, High Court of A.P and T.S at Hyderabad.
Our readers consist of law aspirants, law students and young lawyers. How will you introduce yourself to them?

This is a good opportunity to introduce myself to all law aspirants, students young lawyers and the readers. Briefly, I am working as Legal Assistant with a group of advocates called Chamber of Lawyers Collective, High Court of A.P and T.S at Hyderabad.

Please tell us a little bit about your childhood and background. Why did you decide to pursue law and what influenced your decision?

The first and foremost thing which influenced me to pursue law is my social background. I am from a rural village in a hilly area called Morriguda. In my childhood I faced many problems in this village. There was no power, no water and no connectivity, only street lamps which were used by the village heads to show that there is some habitat during night times. We used to drink pond water, carried by my mother from a watering hole outside the village. The street in my village were not even ‘street’, just dirty and muddy pathways.

The only primary school where the teacher never came, was destroyed by the high flow of the river valley. So I faced lot of problems to get primary education. We went to other villages’ primary schools which were far away from ours. We struggled for primary education. But we smiled even in the crucial times and we enjoyed well.

These things affected me to pursue higher education in life. Some times every one of us can face money problems. I faced lot of money problems in paying school fees, college Fees, and University fees also. So I worked as a hotel boy at Suprabath Hotel, Hyderabad. Now it has become Royal Derby Hotel, which is good as it has developed. Sometimes, I also worked in MGNREGS to pay University fees.

From which college did you pursue graduation? Did you have any guidance on how to go about your academics, co-curricular activities and internships?

I completed my LL.B from Mahatma Gandhi Law College, Osmania University. It was really a great thing in my life; it has given me a good opportunity to work with a group of Advocates called Chamber of Lawyer’s Collective. My college and the Ranga Reddy District Court Complex both are opposite to each other and the Lawyer’s office is also just 5 minutes away from my college. I stayed behind my college. So I would ordinarily attend courts with Senior Advocates and work as a Legal Assistant under them. It has given me good knowledge.

If we talk about guidance in life… society has been the first guide in my life. I made so many mistakes but I when society has given me punishment, I realised that, this is a mistake I would never do again, I was bound by it.

What were your areas of interests in college? How did you go about gaining knowledge in these areas?

The area of my interest was Administrative law and policy. I used to read all the G.O’s which were framed by Governments, Contract and Company Law regulations. I followed journals regularly, and discussed with seniors to clarify my doubts. I pro-Actively participated in all kinds of legal discussions along with senior advocates. Later on we conducted free Coaching classes for A.P JCJ.

When and how did you decide to pursue an LL.M from NALSAR? Have you thought of applying for foreign universities?

Once there was advertisement which said that the best law University in India is NALSAR, Hyderabad. So I decided to go NALSAR for higher education. Applying and appearing for the CLAT was ‘O.K’ for me, but I was worried about the University fees and expenses. I let the financial apprehensions go and decided to try the CLAT first, and then see what happens.

After the CLAT results were declared, I applied to NALSAR, NUJS, NLUJAA, NLIU Bhopal, NLU Delhi, and was selected by NALSAR.

I started arranging money with the support of friends. I started with 25,000/- and sold my sister’s gold chain (she completed her M.B.A from Hyderabad Central University).

I went to NALSAR and requested the V.C, Prof. Faizan Mustafa but he had to reject my admission due to no scholarships available and payment of total fees was necessary. I had some friends in NALSAR in their 4^th year and I requested them to convince the V.C. Danda Madam cooperated and later V.C Sir called the CLAT Convener and confirmed my seat with a little bit of amount. My LL.M seat was confirmed in NALSAR. My uncle suggested and supported me for an Education Loan with which I settled the NALSAR fees.

For the rest of the things, my friends have given their shoulders. “The lamp of education needs the oil of finance”.

Now, how do you say I go abroad to pursue my LL.M? It is only a day dream in my life.

Here, the most important thing is that after every formality of admission was done with, my every moment was being spent in NALSAR, I was in the Library for almost 18hrs per day with books, journals and laptop. It provided me with a lot of knowledge on international trade and business laws and various emerging fields in law.

You’ve completed your post – graduation from NALSAR in 2014. How would you describe your experience?

My experience was good. I did drafting work for the SAARCLAW Bi-Annual Journal under Prof. P.V Rao Sir and prepared short notes for Air and Space Law Students. I was SAARC conference Member; a Legal Adviser for India GEO SPATIAL Conference, as well as a Legal Adviser for the India International Aviation Conference. And this credit goes to my Guide Prof. Balakista Reddy, who is now the Registrar at NALSAR. Congratulations to Prof. Balakista Reddy Sir.

What motivated you to choose ‘International Trade and Business Law’ as your specialization for LL.M?

Basically, during my graduation I used to read Administrative Regulations. I was more focussed on contract and Company Laws. Because of this impact I was motivated to opt for “International Trade and Business Laws” It is vast area; it deals with Cross Border Business Transactions, the idea that we are living in the Global Village seems true with this.

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

This is most important thing I did in my LL.M course. My Dissertation was on the Aviation Sector. It was titled “Air Lines Regulations In India And China: A Critical Analysis”.

The reason is that the Administrative body, the policy makers, the Administrative mechanisms make some regulations and impose them on the Aviation Sector. I wanted to do research on how the rules and regulations are affecting the Indian Aviation Sector, and what its impact on India’s Economy Growth is. I also discussed so what kind of regulations are there in China, what is not there in India, (like policy regulations, no Uniform Code on Aviation Fuel Tax) Fuel Tax Regulations in India, Region wise Monitoring in China, Monopoly Monitoring system in India, need of Subsidiaries in India and Liberalisation of Air Craft Purchasing in India.

We have even seen the Kingfisher bankruptcy and M&A in Aviation Sector. There is a need of Regulation in Indian Aviation Sector to access Low Cost Carriers, and to access World Wide Air Crafts, like India allowing the Big Bird from Singapore to land in the Delhi International Air Port. Many things are there in the Dissertation.

You have prepared LL.M study materials on various subjects for NALSAR. How did you go about preparing such study materials?

Sometimes we think a hundred times before starting a project, even if it is 30 pages, because we have to take care of Research Methodology, Hypothesis, etc till the Conclusion. My LL.M was a Two Year Course, now it is One year Course (which is great, because now, “Less money + less time = LL.M”).

International Laws mean you are talking about another Sovereign’s Laws, Regulations, and Administrative System which is unknown, since you are standing in your own Country. The clubbing and framing of two years of material for the One year Course has to look after each and every word consciously and I did this important thing. For this purpose I followed Empirical Research Methodology.

I referred to books, Journals, On-Line Journals, Westlaw, Lexis Nexis, International Arbitration Council Regulations, ICJ-Regulations, weekly Journals. I collected the material, clubbed and framed it.

The subjects were “International Telecommunication Laws”, “IPR Law: Relating to Space”, “Mergers and Acquisitions in International Trade”, “Aviation Regulations and M&A in the Aviation Sector” and “Corporative, Comparative and Competition Laws in USA, U.K, E.U, Canada and India”. I also separately prepared material on “Business Aviation Opportunities in India: A Golden Threshold”, “FDIs in Air Ports and Air Traffic Management in Indian Aviation Sector-Under ICAO and IATA-Regulations” and am currently preparing “International Migration and Emigration Laws”.

How do you think students will benefit from your study materials?

Exactly, this material is prepared depending on contemporary issues and how to regulate them. At the end of the day all students came to me and collected this material for their future reference. It may be useful for all “International Trade And Business Law” students. We also have to look after the latest regulations and be updated.

What is the relevance of studying from those materials when there are so many books available in the market?

Yes, there are so many books on “International Trade And Business Laws” written by prominent authors in the Market. All of these are useful. But my material is prepared depending on latest regulations and updates. Like, U.S.A Federal Laws and States Laws are different. They have a Uniform Commercial Code. It is a command for all the states, but not California which has its own laws. Similarly, E.U Laws are common for all states, and every state has its own sovereign laws. But in India it is different. India is a Union of States; Law is equal into all states. In this, we have to describe, choose, club and frame it for the benefit of our students.

Do you think keeping study materials handy helps students in last minute revision before an exam?

Of course, the handy material may be helpful to students for the sake of examination, but not in practical life.

What are your future plans?

I am presently working with the same group of Advocates, Chamber of Lawyer’s Collective. I may get a Law Faculty Position as an Assistant Professor. If I do, I will go for Ph.D, otherwise stay with the Group of Advocates. But I am interested in teaching.

Going forward, how do you expect the LL.M experience to influence your career?

Obviously, the LL.M experience will influence my life because my specialisation is “International Trade And Business Laws”. We are in a Global village where Global Consumers are there to consume our Global Products in the Global Market.

What message would you like to give to our readers?

Actually, I am not in a position to give such a message. However a few words: Dear readers, I suggest only one thing. Just do the hard work tenaciously, the result will be there.
January 18, 2015
Soumya Saxena, Activist at NCAS, on Joint European Masters in Int’l Humanitarian Action from Ruhr, Groningen and Monash
Soumya Saxena is currently working at NCAS (National Centre For Advocacy Studies). She graduated from NLIU Bhopal in 2009 and had worked at different places before joining NCAS. She holds a Joint European Master in International Humanitarian Action Ruhr University.

In this interview she talks about:
- Work at different NGOs in India involving Civil Rights
- Joint European Masters from three different European Universities
- Work at United Nations and Transparency International
- Current role at NCAS (National Centre For Advocacy Studies)
Given that most of our readers are law students and young lawyers, how will you introduce yourself to them?

First of all, thank you SuperLawyer for this opportunity to let me speak about my education, career and experience. My name is Soumya and I am currently working with National Centre for Advocacy Studies in Pune as a Programme Officer. My work is oriented towards promoting people centred advocacy. It revolves around enabling the marginalized sections to raise their voice for their causes.

I basically come from a family of bureaucrats, army men or you can say anyone who works in the public services! I was not much oriented towards pursuing competitive exams so I had two options: either do Bachelors in History or English. Yet I was somehow pushed into study law.

How did you gravitate towards law? Tell us about your college life at NLIU, Bhopal. What all activities did you partake in?

I was not really interested in taking the law entrance tests. Rather I was oblivious of the law universities around the country. Although I was keen on doing a B.A. in History from Delhi University, my parents insisted that I must take the entrance tests, so I applied for a few and got through Bhopal. It appeared at that moment the best option so I dropped the idea of studying History.

NLIU was fun. It is like a small community of students in a sort of a stranded village and therefore interaction and a feeling of fraternity is quite strong. I was a part of Law and Economic Cell and the Environmental Law Cell and took part in the events they organized. I would like to mention our library is quite good and I did spent a lot of time there.

You have interned with a national newspaper “The Hindu’’ as a staff correspondent. What was your job as a staff correspondent?

It was one of my best internships. I loved every single day of it. At first I was totally unaware about what I was going to do, but then later with the support of other journalists around I improved quite a lot. I use to cover various events that were happening in the city and then write about them for getting reported in the paper next day. I was lucky to have met Mr. N. Ram and have a discourse about journalism and media for a while. The newspaper always made sure that they give the interns good and responsible work. I remember assisting the senior journalists in doing important stories that were to go on the front page. I also did stories on current issues and asking opinions about it from public. This was a good experience because you got an opportunity to randomly interact with different people.

After graduation, you got the opportunity to work with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) at their New Delhi office as a trainee where you worked for 6 months. Please tell us about it.

I had previously worked with WWF in 2005 as an intern. I knew certain people there so I wrote to them if there could be a possibility of an internship. I was lucky to have received the opportunity again as they were urgently looking for people to work on a grant proposal. I was working in Centre for Environmental Law cell. I was involved in writing the grant proposals and the diploma course which they ran on Environmental Law. It is a very nice organization to work at they have a lot of projects and programme, and being the headquarter in South Asia, offices from Nepal, Bangladesh also Pakistan also report to them. So their work is not just limited to India but is varied. After working there, I realised I must work in the non profit sector as a career option.

When did you decide to pursue higher studies? What was your motivation behind doing an higher studies?

I did my Masters in International Humanitarian Action. During the course of my internship, I wanted to pursue my Masters either in Human Rights or International Relations. I came across this fantastic course in Humanitarian Action which was run by Network on Humanitarian Action (NOHA), an organization based in Brussels, Belgium in collaboration with seven universities all over Europe. When I went through its course structure and other opportunities that it provided I knew I wanted to do this course.

Tell us more about this Joint European Masters in International Humanitarian Action from Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, University of Groningen, Netherlands and Monash University, Melbourne (Australia).

Humanitarian Action is a diverse course. It does not teach you a single aspect for working in the non-profit sector but it gives you a quite a holistic background of working there. I looked at it as a complete package of learning and practicing everything I wanted. The course had modules on Project Management, Anthropology, Geopolitics, Human Rights, etc. so I was learning everything which I did not. It was enlightening! I learned about so many issues, about different countries and cultures which I had no idea about. It was like coming out of the well.

They made the students travel a lot! We attended the Red Cross Humanitarian Congress in Berlin, also had a simulation exercise organized by Red Cross Germany, where we were put in a situation that we are kidnapped by a militant organization while working in a conflict country. They gave us an insight that what should we do when we are in such a situation. It was spooky!

From Groningen University we went on a field trip to Georgia. It was very interesting. I had never been to Eastern Europe and the situation there was similar to what I feel is in Kashmir; the ongoing separatist movement and the conflict of separatists and the central government. We visited the refugee camps there and spoke to people about how they feel. It was very enlightening; I can write an entire paper about it. But on a lighter note, Georgians love Bollywood! Since many Indians do not visit there, people were very happy to see me. They used to greet me and ask about films and songs. It was wonderful.

Please take us through the application process for Joint European Masters in International Humanitarian Action? How did you go about writing your SOP?

Application process was tough. You have to keep in mind that people from all over the world will be applying here. So you would have to be very precise in what you write. I do not have my SOP with me but it was in the lines of my career interest, my previous education and what I wished to do in future.

I believe you do not have to write what they want to here but what you want to tell them. Many regular SOPs are repetitive, so when I wrote mine I explained that how in India there are Humanitarian issues but there are no studies to educate people in this field. This is sadly, true. There are hardly any courses in India that would prepare people for humanitarian work specifically. I am sure many people must have written that too. It partly depends on your luck as well.

I approached my university professors for the recommendation letters and they were very supportive of giving me as many as I required. I applied at over 10 universities in Germany and Sweden, so you can imagine I would have needed so many recommendation letters.

What was your topic of dissertation for Masters? Why did you choose that subject for research?

My dissertation was titled, ‘Reviewing U.S. Policy on use of Torture and Detention in Guantanamo Bay Prison during Afghanistan Conflict, 2001-2003’. I wanted to work on a topic related to human rights and humanitarian law, and this topic came up as something that caught my interest. There have been a lot of research on this but still what existed was a grey area. The humanitarian laws cover the rights and interests of armed forces but do not apply to ‘unlawful soldiers’ like the Taliban, so they were open to inhuman torture. Most of them were not even terrorists and in this situation they were without any sort of remedy. So I took up this topic where I gave the suggestion that since many conflicts in today’s world are between the State and ‘unlawful soldiers’ or militants, we need to re-frame the international laws on it. Recently, after the Senate report on CIA torture came out just a day before Human Rights Day 2014, it just becomes more relevant. I understand people in general do not have sympathy of any sort for terrorist of anti-state militia but what happened in these prisons was beyond inhuman. It is not about treating the terrorists, it is more about the lowest level of sadism where humans can fall. And all the perpetrators went scot free. No one was tried for torturing and killing innocent people.

Writing my thesis was really hard on an emotional level, for the readings I did left me quite numb. I am still working and writing on this issue. I keep attending seminars and webinars and participate in forums where this issue is discussed.

Does Ruhr University Bochum and Monash University provide students with scholarships? Are there any other institutions, which provide scholarships?

My course was under this European education certification called Erasmus Mundus. I did have living stipend of Euro 300 in Germany and Holland but it was not extended in Australia because it was a non-European country. There are many institutions that provide scholarships in Germany. You can check their programmes and opportunities as suited to you at www.daad.de

How was your time in both of these universities? How is the academic workload there?

Work load in Germany was different from that in Holland. The course in Germany was very intensive but they plan it very well and divide the work load equally. We just had one written exam and the rest were vivas, so it was more of reading and learning so that you can answer what the teacher questions. The one written exam that we had was also an open book exam, so it all depended what how you studied all through the semester. It was more focused on capacity building, reading and learning things rather than making notes or taking exams. In Holland there were no exams at all! All we had to do was work on two papers on a particular topic each for the entire semester. This was quite interesting because it improved my research and writing skills. I worked on a paper based on the political situation in Myanmar.

At Monash in Australia, we had no classes. I only worked on my dissertation and was free to attend any lecture which I was interested in. They had given a list of lectures to us beforehand.

During your Masters, you worked as a Project Trainee of United Nations Development Programme Iraq, Amman. How did you go about achieving this United Nation Development Programme at Iraq? Would you like to share any remarkable experience of this programme?

It was a cultural shock of its own kind! To start with, I landed in a country I had no idea about, I didn’t know anyone. I didn’t know the language and all that in the middle of the Arab Revolution. It was hard but fun altogether. I worked with UNDP Iraq on two projects: ‘Rule of Law’ and ‘Family Social Justice’. The experience was very different, because as a lawyer we are taught how to acquaint ourselves to the adversarial judicial system. But it was inquisitorial in Iraq, and I spent weeks understanding how that works. The project focused on improving the rule of law situation in Iraq post conflict. The family justice program was developing a law against domestic violence, which I worked on really hard but the authorities rejected many of its provisions which were essential. It was dismaying but we have to understand as foreigners it is hard to bring in radical changes in other countries. It cannot happen overnight it takes time and the participation of the local people is important. My learning from here was that there are different countries and culture which are not similar. We may not agree with many things that they do or are doing (it definitely goes against international standards) but that does not mean that to prosper they should become like the Westerners. Nor do the westerners have the duty to change their situation by imposing our value system. Change will come in due time but from their own people. I am waiting for that day. J

U.N. does a lot for its staff and its security. We were always connected with their central system through cell phones. They sent us alerts and warning about where to go and which areas to avoid. Also they spent a lot in our capacity building. I did courses in Arabic there for free; they had trainings on CPR, first aid and other relevant things. It was overall a great experience.

After Masters, you worked with Transparency International (TI) Secretariat at Berlin (Germany) as a Team Assistant in their Asia Pacific Department (APD) for one year. How did you secure your appointment? How would you describe your experience working there?

After coming back from Jordan, I lived in Bonn, Germany and learned German while looking for jobs. I applied to every place in the world possible but it is hard to get a good job as a fresher. I saw this position, applied and forgot because I applied at so many places that it was hard to keep a track. I heard back from TI one pleasant morning. I had to undergo two rounds of interviews with them and a written test and got through. The experience was of course great and I was constantly learning. German standards of working are really high because they are organized and keeping up with them is a task in itself. They attach high importance to deadlines and you always have to work keeping that in mind. It was a little tough initially but you get used to it. Our team was multinational. My colleagues were from all over Asia, including China, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. I worked on various projects and research work. To name important ones I would mention our advocacy efforts in Afghanistan, Bhutan and Myanmar to set up an office of TI in these three countries apart from organizing the Anti Corruption Conference in Brazil and Cambodia. It gave me an opportunity to travel with work and meet people from all over 100 chapters which TI had.

Living in Berlin has its own charm. I find it similar to Delhi where you have both history and modern world living together.

Thereafter, you came back to India and worked with “Shrivastav Law Associates” as a Research Associate for a year. What were the responsibilities as such?

I was outside India for more than three years. I wanted to live and enjoy at home for a few months, so I did not look for a job. I worked in a local firm where I had worked previously. The work here was similar to any law firm. Honestly, I did not enjoy much because I was not willing to work in a law firm but it was an effort to regain my legal know-how a bit which I became a bit ignorant to.

You left SLA and joined National Centre for Advocacy Studies at Pune as a Project Officer of Transparency and Accountability. How did the switch from SLA take place?

I was looking for an NGO based job after a few months and got this opportunity. I saw their advertisement and it suited me as I have worked on anti-corruption before I applied and got a call for interview for which I travelled to Pune. I cleared the interview and joined recently in August.

What does your current work profile at NCAS consists of? How is a typical workday like?

National Centre for Advocacy Studies (NCAS) is a social change resource centre working with social action groups, public interest professionals, and people from all over India and the Global South. NCAS engages a participatory, people-centred policy that enables people from all levels of the society to advocate for human rights and social justice. My profile currently deals with two projects; one is Mainstreaming Advocacy, where we act as resource people and educate people/organization/students about advocacy and its modules. Secondly, I am also working in the issues of Urban Poor, where we focus on the concept of the 100 smart cities which the Modi government has promised and see how it includes the BPL population in these schemes. When we build a good city it must be with the inclusion of the poor and marginalized and not by excluding them.

NCAS recently celebrated its 20 years and has been dedicated to work for the marginalized. I request the reader to read about us on our website http://www.ncasindia.org/

My work here is quite enriching. It is my first time working in a people-based NGO in India. I learn everyday about issues which often do not get main stream highlight. We actively work on land rights and forest rights for the tribal.

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

I agree to it. It is like you read a recipe on the internet but how you make it in the kitchen is an altogether different issue. Even as a humanitarian worker I know all the laws and good practices but while working, people make horrendous mistakes and only learn through experience. To give the perfect example is of UNDP Ira. I knew all the international laws relating to women and anti-domestic violence laws. I could draft a perfect legislation for the Iraq women, but what I forgot was their cultural context. Our draft was only accepted in parts, so I learnt that having all the knowledge but not knowing how and where to use it could lead to disastrous results. When we are working with people and for people, our knowledge plays an instrumental and administrative role. What matters more is what people want and how we can provide it to them harnessing on their own efforts. The NGO field as often people think is not very easy to work with. If we do not work efficiently, we can create a lot of problems for everyone. Therefore apart from having knowledge, having a sound perspective of the people you are working for is what is required.

What would be your parting message for our readers?

I was delighted to see this website. It is something that has always been missing for the legal fraternity. As far as a message is concerned I would say that the legal field is huge and has many facets which the students are free to explore. When I was studying, everyone simply aimed at getting a placement in a law firm, which is fine as everyone has their own priority but I was not convinced to work the similar way. I just want to tell the students who do not aspire to work in law firms or courts that as a lawyer you have various other options you can explore. It may not necessarily be an NGO or the non-profit sector. Legal studies gives you a holistic knowledge of everything under the sun, therefore you have the advantage to take up any career option later on.
January 17, 2015
Parineeta Srivatsa, Associate, ALMT Legal, on LL.M from NUS and Corporate Law
Parineeta Srivatsa graduated from Symbiosis Law School in 2011, and thereafter she had the opportunity to pursue higher studies from the National University of Singapore. While at law school she had huge achievements in mooting. She also has rich experience of interning at top-tier Indian and foreign law firms. After returning to India, she joined MD&T Partners as an Associate. Later, she switched over to ALMT Legal.

We asked her to share:
- Her experience while pursuing an LL.M from National University of Singapore
- Internship experience at foreign law firms including Allen & Overy and Allen & Gledhill
- Work at ALMT Legal
When did you decide to take up law as a career? Being a law student, were you only focused on academics? How was the academic pressure?

I chose a career in law as a matter of elimination. I’m a first generation lawyer in my family and had no background in law apart from a general (albeit misinformed) idea from Perry Mason and John Grisham novels and the Practice marathons. I was always interested in civics, administration and constitutional studies (as part of history) in high school. In the 11^th Grade, I chose to opt out of science and engineering and chose to study accounts, economics and political science. Over the course of the two years, law became a career choice and with the support of my family, the right choice. Symbiosis Law School was a game changer. In those five years, I developed a synchronous relationship with everything life in law school had to offer and the learning and un-learning that I did in those five years were the most crucial towards contributing to where I am today.

I imbibed and absorbed everything I could from what was taught, discussed and happening around me. I will cherish my time there the most. Academics weren’t the only focus but a lot of emphasis was paid to the same. Unlike school, undergraduate school suddenly burdens you with the responsibility to make your own decisions and this takes a while to get used to. The academic pressure, too, depends on how much you opt to do and how self driven you are. I had a great support system to make sure I stayed grounded and focussed despite the million distractions per minute.

How was your LL.M experience from National University of Singapore? Did you always have higher studies in your mind? If not, what motivated you to go in for the same?

The LL.M. at National University of Singapore was fascinating for me in every aspect. Renowned and accomplished professors, state of the art facilities, new country, hard working and dedicated students and challenging colleagues were just some of the many facets to my year in Singapore. I was more motivated than ever before to make the most of my year there and the facilities available at my disposal. The teaching style at NUS was more discussion based and there was abundant reading to be done for each class to encourage students and professors alike to bounce ideas off one and other. Focus was on peer review rather than peer to peer competition. The professors stimulate the discussions as moderators providing direction, valuable inputs, insights and opinions on a range of topics. This was different than what I’d been used to in class in India. Personally, I found writing papers more challenging than writing exams because I had to modify / un-learn my working style in order to cope with the level of detail and analyses required for each module.

An LL.M. was always on my mind. As an undergraduate student, I was given an introduction to all fields of law and I wanted to hone my interest in corporate and business laws with further in-depth studies on the topics and gain a global perspective on the same. I ended up making some great friends and memories in the process, as well.

During your days at Symbiosis and NUS, you interned with various foreign law firms like E Line Ventures, Joyce A Tan Partners and Allen & Gledhill. How are these foreign firms different from top-tier Indian law firms?

My first foreign internship was with a children’s educational games based company in New York called E-Line Ventures. It was a small company and quite an informal environment with many creative and dynamic people. I was their only in-house legal intern at the time and I would help with research on Intellectual Property Laws, the Children’s Online Protection Policy Act and basic trademark searches. While at NUS, I had the opportunity to work with local Singaporean firms as well as foreign firms based in Singapore. From my experience on both sides of the fence, I would say that the integration into a firm and the amount of responsibility in terms of work is more qualitative in Indian firms than in foreign firms. Having said that, foreign firms are more systematic in the training provided to interns. Associates and partners often conduct training sessions / seminars in the different fields of law and provide a general insight into the field of law that interns would be working in during the tenure of their internships.

Could you please share with us on applications for internship and interviews, especially with foreign law firms?

A strong yet crisp C.V., internships, especially in your area of interest, published articles / papers, if any, knowing your C.V. inside out (which is why it is important to have specific points and areas you’ve researched on in your C.V. instead of a general overview on the topic), and most importantly, confidence and a calm demeanour. When it comes to interviews, experience is the best tutor. Re-evaluating each interview after it’s done and picking up on all those points that I thought I’d not answered or could’ve answered better has always worked for me in the past. Also, honesty and sincerity is paramount. An interviewer will know immediately if you’re trying to guess the answer to a question you’re uncertain about.

You have also interned at Allen and Overy as an intern. Given that you had already graduated and were pursuing Masters what sort of work did you get? How would you say your legal education helped you in this internship?

At Allen and Overy my scope of work involved drafting / reviewing closing documents and options agreements and management services agreements, among others. I attended training programs on banking transactions and general corporate and mergers and acquisitions transactions. These helped in future assignments as I wasn’t completely thrown off guard when trying to grasp agreements, jargon and more importantly, the reasoning behind the same. I also researched on enforceability of non-compete and restraint to trade clauses under Singapore laws. My LL.M. was in corporate finance and business laws, so I was equipped with a basic understanding of financial and transactional concepts in law. This helped me in some of the areas of research I was expected to do during the tenure of my internships. I also had a few practical sessions in NUS where corporate lawyers from renowned firms would provide us with problems mimicking day-to-day transactional law situations. These helped a great deal in understanding documents from a transactional perspective for future interviews and work.

Do you think it makes sense to students to go overseas to study law when they want to practice in India?

I have been asked this question many times and my answer is, monetarily and as a value add to your C.V. you can get into a top law firm without an LL.M. and more often than not people have. But purely from an academic standpoint, it is definitely a value add in terms of academic depth and learning. Further, due to flexibility, it provides you with an opportunity to explore subjects that you wouldn’t normally learn in an undergraduate degree. This may have opened doors for people who didn’t think they’d be interested in that particular field / subject of law. One of the optional modules I signed up for during my LL.M. was entertainment and celebrity law, with no background or interest in the field. It turned out to be the most interesting and engaging modules that semester. These, from an academic standpoint, may open doors for a prospective student that he/she otherwise wouldn’t have foreseen.

For those students who are planning to go for higher studies, what do you think would be better- going right after graduation or going after having gained some work experience?

I would suggest considering an LL.M. after a couple of years of work experience. Having said that, going right after your undergraduate studies has its advantages. You’re still inclined to learn and you’ve gotten used to studying and facing and tackling academic pressure. Many peers who’ve intended to break off for an LL.M after a couple of years of working have not been able to do so due to many reasons, including but not limited to secure jobs and steady incomes.

Currently, you are working as an Associate as ALMT Legal. What prompted you to make this choice? What kind of work and responsibilities does an Associate at ALMT Legal generally deal with?

I was a lateral hire in ALMT Legal from MD&T Partners. I had wonderful teachers in MD&T Partners and in my short time there I was able to absorb more than I had expected to, thanks to their guidance. Thereafter, I made the shift to ALMT Legal as I found the same to be more streamlined with my interests. My work at ALMT Legal ranges from everyday general corporate research to private equity and mergers and acquisition transactions. I enjoy working in ALMT Legal and don’t think of the work environment with dread. This is important for anyone who intends to develop a career in corporate law. It is as interesting as you make it. And thus far, in ALMT Legal, with the support of a fantastic team, I have been given responsibilities and have interesting work coming my way so I stay engaged and focussed.

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

I see courses and seminars and other reading material being offered every other day for practical courses in corporate law. It is definitely a good time to enter the field as a corporate lawyer as India is looking to emerge as a global and market-friendly economy. As regards key qualities, I would say reading and keeping abreast of developments in any field of law, whether by self or through discussions with colleagues and peers and using the resources available at one’s disposal are some of the ways in which one may have an edge over others.

Do you ever feel that you missed out on the fun part of your college life?

Symbiosis Law School ensured that fun was never neglected. As for managing with academics and ‘extra-curricular activities’, I was surrounded by brilliant peers who knew exactly how to manage that. We were young and malleable and learnt to inspire, challenge, and push each other’s limits without realising how much of it we were involuntarily absorbing for the better.

Last but not least, what’s next for you?

Exploring and pursuing interests and learning inside and outside of work. Knowledge is easily accessible these days so if you don’t know something, you have only yourself to blame. I also enjoy scuba diving, driving and travelling and discovering new places, things and people and I intend to continue to explore that as well.
January 16, 2015