Super Lawyer

Category: Interviews

  • Pradeep Jain, Managing Partner, Singhania & Co., Mumbai, on all about managing a full service firm

    Pradeep Jain, Managing Partner, Singhania & Co., Mumbai, on all about managing a full service firm

    Pradeep Jain qualified in law from Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya in 2000. Thereafter, he joined Singhania & Co. in 2002 and was soon rewarded with partnership in 2004 for his excellent work in the Corporate Practice & Maritime Laws. He has played pivotal role in a number of big joint ventures and corporate takeovers. He is also regularly engaged by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India, New Delhi, to deliver lectures on various subjects related to law.

    Pradeep frequently advises clients on matters relating to the development and control regulations, policy and regulatory matters, compliances relating to Securities Exchange Board of India, Reserve Bank of India, Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority and Foreign Investment Promotion Board. He regularly advises vessel owners, charterers and P&I clubs on various maritime laws. Pradeep also represents his clients in international arbitrations under the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration and London Maritime Arbitrators Association. He is vastly renowned for his acumen in liasoning with the Foreign Investors Promotion Board (FIPB)/ Secretariat for Industrial Assistance (SIA) in the matters related to Transfer of Shares from Resident to Non-resident, foreign technical collaboration, liasoning with the Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) filing various form or Report in the matters related to Takeover, Mutual Fund, Assets Management Companies, Trusteeship, Custodian, Foreign Institutional Investors etc.

    In this interview Pradeep talks to us about:

    • His experiences working with Singhania & Co.
    • The importance of a mentor in a junior lawyer’s life, and important traits any law aspirant should cultivate
    • Networking and the legal profession, and
    • His valuable advice to all the young lawyers/students/aspirants out there.

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    A lawyer by profession, I am the Managing Partner of the Mumbai office of Singhania & Co. I come from a family of businessmen; however, my fondness for academics led me to gathering multiple degrees in the fields of science, mathematics and law and finally pursue a career as a lawyer. I joined Singhania & Co. in the year 2002, and actively worked under the tutelage of Mr. D.C Singhania, the Founder of Singhania & Co. and a veteran lawyer widely recognised for his dexterity in the areas of litigation and arbitration. Thereafter, in a short span of 2 years I was promoted to Partnership and there has been no looking back ever since.

     

    Going back to your graduation days are there any anecdotes you would like to share?

    It was a very interesting journey. You would be surprised to know that I never wanted to be a lawyer, but my Mom was convinced I would be a litigating lawyer, as I would always grab opportunities to show case my oratory skills, and of course pick up arguments.

    I loved studying mathematics and science and wanted to pursue a course related to these subjects. So my first effort was to appear for medical examinations and be a doctor. Unfortunately, I couldn’t sit for the exams due to personal exigencies. Thereafter, I decided to not waste a year and ended up pursuing a degree in mathematics and went on to pursue my Masters in it.

    I didn’t want to stop studying so I undertook the company secretary course during which my mentor Mr. Sunil Jain, advised me to explore law as a profession.

    I took his advice and I have loved every moment of this profession!

     

    How do you recall the first few years after qualifying in law?

    I have always felt that I have been fortunate and lucky in a lot of scenarios in life. I have been lucky to get picked first, or noticed in a group, and this is what happened with me in Singhania.

    The first few years of my career were nothing short of absolute delight.

    My partner, Mr. Sameer Rastogi, whom I was assisting in the initial days of my career at Singhania in 2002, liked my research skills and ideas of solutions to client issues and legal opinions drafted by me. He ensured that I was a part of important client mandates. He never failed to mention my name in other offices which helped me work and interact with different offices of the Firm and definitely aided my quick promotion to Partnership in 2004.

    Everyday brought in new avenues to learn and grow. Luckily, I was part of a firm that pushes lawyers to get out of their comfort zone and handle matters with independence. We were not treated as “Associates” working for a monthly compensation; we were instead treated as active, thinking and performing individual professionals who have the capability of servicing clients with minimal supervision.

     

    Please tell us about the relevance of a mentor as a young lawyer, how did you find your mentor?

    Having a mentor in the formative years of your career is definitely important. When we enter a new professional field, especially the legal industry, we have certain ideas about the profession in our head, and it is easy to face disappointment if we do not have a guide to help us understand the profession. Mentoring helps individuals understand the practical aspects of law and provides necessary guidance to assist individuals in making rational career decisions.

    At the cost of repetition, I would say I was fortunate to have Mr. D. C Singhania as my mentor. I was extremely surprised at the humility of one of the most sought after lawyers in India and his down to earth personality. Besides honing my legal acumen, he has helped me understand the importance of the nobility of our profession. He encouraged each and every lawyer including interns to express their opinions on matters and be independent in handling matters. If you trace the history of our Firm, you will know that through his mentoring he has instilled the confidence in many lawyers who are now running their own firms or are successfully handling Partnership positions.

    I never thought that I would end up as a Managing Partner of a firm, however, as mentioned before, it was through the guidance of my mentor that I learned about my capabilities and my true potential as a lawyer. I was guided to take initiative and encouraged to shoulder both legal and managerial responsibilities leading me to where I am today.

    Even today, Singhania & Co. actively encourages all young lawyers to aim at being independent and self-sufficient. Our Firm follows an active policy of mentoring freshers and interns into confident professionals who possess the capability of sourcing and servicing their own clients.

     

    What role does academics play in the legal profession? Given that maritime law requires a lot of reading, how has it been in your case?

    It goes without saying that an affinity to read and keep yourself updated is mandatory in our profession. A student who is academically bright showcases this ability and therefore has a better chance in terms of placements.

    Having said that, academics is one of the many ingredients that make a good lawyer. One needs to be interesting enough for clients to notice you and that involves having great people skills. Being persuasive, having a flair for writing, ability to network and socialise professionally are some of the other key components that will give young lawyers an edge over the others.

    A popular lawyer is usually a person who is blunt, bold and can mesmerise the court or audience with his words.

    To have such qualities you must have knowledge of history, philosophy along with knowledge of statutes. The more you read more confident you are to interact with your clients and fellow professionals.

    I always tell students, juniors that when you are younger, you will get time to read. So please learn as much as possible because as you grow, no matter how much you are earning, you will not get time to read.

     

    You are noted as one of the leading maritime lawyers in India. Very few students focus on maritime laws during their formative years. Could you tell us more about maritime practice in India?

    Hahaha (blushing).

    Shipping laws require extensive reading and research. Moreover practice of maritime law is not restricted to one country and in most of maritime arbitrations we deal with, English laws are applicable and one must be aware of the laws, rulings and authorities to be fully prepared for arbitrations.

     

    Founded in 1969, Singhania & Co., has been one of the very few law firms to have maintained a steady practice for all these years. Tell us more about the firm and its heritage.

    Singhania & Co. as mentioned earlier was founded by Mr. D.C Singhania in 1969. Mr. D.C Singhania is a highly respected lawyer with over four decades of experience.

    He was very well aware of the industry and its potential. He also recognized the importance of treating the profession as a service and keep the clients interest at paramount. He always emphasized on delivering good service to the Client.

    Mr. D.C Singhania, was innovative in his approach and avoided a lot of stereotype functioning of firms back then. While the popular trend was to be recognized for practicing in a particular court, he went on to successfully argue in various forums and didn’t restrict himself just to the High Court or Supreme Court.

    This is also why world best lawyers associations like “Lex Mundi” and “Terralex” felt announced Singhania & Co as first Indian member law firm.

    Over the years our Firm has been in involved in various noted arbitrations such as Western Company of North America v ONGC, and Alsthom v Railway Board of India amongst others. Our Firm has represented over 1000 international client organizations with their matters in India or abroad including fortune 500 comp

    Currently, Singhania & Co. operates out of 10 offices including an office in London. In India we have offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Indore, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmadabad

    The breadth of our practice includes Admiralty, Anti-Dumping, Aviation, Arbitration & Dispute Resolution, Banking, Securities and Financial Services, Corporate &; Commercial, Infrastructure, Intellectual Property, Joint Venture & Technology, Litigation, Mergers & Acquisitions, Technology Transfer, Project Financing, Capital Market, Private Equity and Fund, Securitization & Structured Finance and Taxation laws.

     

    Please tell us about your journey at Singhania & Co.?

    My journey in Singhania is as dramatic as my entry.

    Interestingly, I had to go the ICSI regional office and I ended up at the office of Singhania & Co. Once the seniors spoke to me and heard about my profile, they decided to take an interview and I was hired!

    Since then, it has been a wonderful journey. I have learned a lot about the profession and I guess I am still learning!

     

    We are very curious to find out how do you find time for yourself despite heading busy offices in Mumbai and Indore? What would be your tips to the young lawyers on time management?

    Haha. My friends never find me reading and my clients never see me executing works except on meetings. In fact I don’t take up my role as a Managing Partner as work.

    I like doing it and I treat it as fun and I end up having fun. I love the energy and rush involved in solving legal issues and that is why I never feel tired. I believe that if you enjoy your work and don’t take work as a task and then you will see that you are full of positive thoughts and energy.

    It is very simple. If we can sincerely work (with minimal or no distractions like calls/facebook/whatsapp etc.) for at least 8 hours a day, we can accomplish a lot more than we imagine. Being busy is dependent on how sincerely you manage your 24 hours. As a junior, my job was to be well equipped with my research and ensure that all deadlines are met. I therefore dedicated my time in office towards working and/or reading up in case I was free. That way, I would always have time for myself when I was back home. My role as a managing partner requires me to delegate and ensure that the work gets done. I also shoulder the responsibility to keep my clients and my team happy. I dedicate my time in office towards the same and still find time to pursue my interests.

     

    We have seen that many law students are faced with tough choice between attending classed and pursuing internships. What, according to you, should be the correct balance between academics and practical exposure?

    I would suggest students to take time out from their courses to intern as much as possible, as it provides a lot of practical experience and knowledge about the legal industry which cannot be learnt through books but at the same time they should not make life too serious and try to find ways to maximize once output in lesser time.

     

    Due to developments in technology and advancement of social media, networking and connecting across globe has become much easier. How have these developments affected the legal profession and the way in which lawyers have been working so far?

    Absolutely! Much has changed in terms of technology and for the better!

    It is much easier to network now than it was 15 years ago. It is easier to interact with a lawyer/firm you intend to work with even before you have met the Firm. It is much simpler to verify details about a particular firm/person now than it was a few years ago. That is how much technology has evolved.

    Networking sites allow lawyers to not just network but also freely exchange and share knowledge and insights on various laws and its impact.

    If used wisely, it is a very strong tool for a lawyer and can help us make our noble profession nobler but it has some draw back as well which should be fixed. I see young generations spend a lot of time distracting themselves on social media which eventually decreases their productivity and also sometimes explains unnecessary longer working hours!

     

    Finally, any word of advice for all the young and aspiring lawyers?

    Be bold, blunt and honest. Pursue power through your hard work, knowledge and never forget your responsibilities towards society.

    Self-evaluation helps you become a better professional and to excel when pitted against both contemporaries and seniors!

    Life is not a race but definitely a marathon so invest in yourself and in knowledge and not money in your early years.

  • Arush Khanna, Independent Practitioner, on litigation and being the Youngest Indian Scholar at IBPA

    Arush Khanna, Independent Practitioner, on litigation and being the Youngest Indian Scholar at IBPA

    Arush Khanna graduated from Symbiosis International University in 2012. He is an Advocate & Legal Consultant enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi and is a fifth generation lawyer in a family of highly respected lawyers.

    After having worked in M/s Karanjawala & Co. and in the chambers Mr. Sanjeev Anand, Advocate at the Delhi High Court, Arush started his independent practice in New Delhi.

    His principal areas of practice are Commercial & Corporate Litigation, Arbitration and Property Litigation. Arush has been providing dispute resolution and consultancy services to number of private and public sector undertakings in India.

    Arush was also selected as a Scholar to represent India at the Inter Pacific Bar Association (IPBA) Conference in Kuala Lampur in April 2016. He was a speaker at the event and was bestowed with a three year honorary membership of the IPBA. He is the Youngest Indian to be given such an honour.

    In this interview he talks to us about:

    • Why he chose independent practice over secured employment.
    • His experience as a youngest Indian to be selected as a Scholar at the Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA).
    • His journey from Shanghai, 2015 to New Delhi, 2016 (Being a part of The BRICS Legal Forum).
    • Importance of writing for a law student.

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers? Please tell us about your family background.

    I come from a very typical food and cricket loving Punjabi family. My forefathers (both maternal and paternal) migrated to Delhi from Lahore post independence. My paternal grandfather was a wholesale cloth merchant who worked out of a shop in Chandini Chowk along with his brothers. After having been in the line for over 45 years, he recently took retirement and now spends most of his time with my most doting grandmother.

    From the maternal side, well, you can shake our family tree and a lawyer may fall from it. The four generations preceding mine have mostly been lawyers. My great grandfather was a senior advocate who appeared for a host of freedom fighters during his distinguished tenure at the Bar. My grandfather has been actively practicing law for over 54 years and I would need a separate interview to speak of his accomplishments.

    As regards my parents, my father is an importer of furniture and home decoration products. My mother is a lawyer by profession and was practicing corporate law for over 15 years before switching over to the field of image consultancy and soft skills training.

    I have little twin sisters who are not so little anymore. They are currently working with a talent aggregating Startup Company.

     

    What prompted you to think of law as a career?

    I was a very enthusiastic cricketer during my days in Modern School and like every third boy in India, had dreams of making it big in cricket. However, reality struck me after my 12th board exams and I suddenly did not know what to do in my life. I was never inclined to join my father’s business or sit in Chandini Chowk selling cloth yarns for the rest of my life. It was then that the thought of doing law came to my mind. So, in all honesty, law came in my life more as a last refuge than a first love.

     

    Describe your experience at Symbiosis, Pune as an undergraduate law student.

    As is the case with most students moving out of their hometowns to pursue under graduation, the initial days were difficult, as I had to adjust to life in a new city. Little did I know that they would end up being the most memorable five years of my life. Living in Pune and studying in Symbiosis taught me so much more than just getting a law degree. The thrill of making new friends, living within a budget, taking care of your own apartment, commuting in buses and autos and the exposure to small things was quintessential in helping me gain the confidence and awareness which I would have never got in the comfort of my home or within the four walls of a classroom. I would urge every student or anyone who wishes to pursue further education to get out of their comfort zones/homes for it may very well be end up being the most enriching experience of your life.

     

    Please share your experience at Karanjawala & Co.?

    After graduating (with good grades) from law school, I was clear in mind that I wanted to pursue litigation, atleast for the first few years of my practice. I was fortunate enough to get an opportunity to start my career with one of the best litigation firms of the country. During my tenure, I had the opportunity to work on some noteworthy cases like the N.D Tiwari paternity suit and the Lodhi Hotels case and brief eminent seniors like Mr. Mukul Rohatgi and Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

    I will always be grateful to Mr. Raian Karanjawala and all my colleagues at Karanjawala & Co. for taking such an active part in nurturing me during my infancy days in the profession.

     

    How did you decide to work under a Counsel even after getting an offer from Tier I firm?

    This was the toughest decision I’ve had to make in my entire life. As much as I was thrilled to learn that I was offered a job with a very lucrative pay-package, there was a part of me that wanted something more than just money. That urge inside me to go out there and make a mark for myself kept dissuading me from accepting the offer. I always had dreams of setting up my own independent practice and I thought working with a counsel who can encourage that sentiment would be the best platform for me to pursue my dreams. Since I was only 23 years at the time, I thought myself to have the privilege of time to make decisions out of choice and not compulsion so that in the event they don’t work, I could fall back on the secured environment of working with a law firm.

     

    Please share your experience with Mr. Sanjeev Anand, Advocate at Delhi Court.

    They were most enriching three years of my life. Mr. Anand was a true mentor for he made me love my work. When your boss becomes a mentor then your profession becomes your passion and when that happens, success is sure to follow (fingers crossed and touchwood, I’ve barely started).

    He consistently emphasized the importance of sound lawyering. He always told me that a good lawyer must be a surgeon in office and an artist in court. I would often go up to him with my problems and despite his busy daily schedule, he would always make it a point to sit with me and help me out. It’s like holding your child’s bicycle from behind to make sure that he learns before he can out there on his own. So much was our bond that on my last day in his chambers, both of us had tears in our eyes. I want to make him proud one day.

     

    Why did you choose independent practice over secured employment?

    Everyone has a perception of the kind of environment they wish to see themselves work in, one which not only gives them job satisfaction but can also bring out the best in them. I always felt that working independently would give me that kind of satisfaction and feeling of fulfillment. There is no better feeling than having to see someone invest their faith and money in your individual ability to fight their case, however big or small that person may be. I must confess that it is difficult line to choose, but then nothing worth having comes easy. Having said that, I am still very young in this profession and stand to change my views depending on what life has in store for me in the near future.

     

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

    I was fortunate to work on a host of Commercial and Arbitration matters during my time with Mr. Anand. His phenomenal command over the original side Civil laws (CPC, Limitation and Evidence etc.), Contract law and Arbitration led to me developing a keen interest in the said areas. I am currently working on some noteworthy arbitration matters and also providing advisory services to companies in contractual matters/disputes pertaining to employment, shareholding and joint ventures. I have done trials (predominantly civil) for over 4 years and it is one of the joys of our profession, I hope to get some trial work coming my way in the future.

    Well, the concept of ‘practice makes you perfect’ does not apply strict sense to lawyers because apart from handling his cases a lawyer must also keep himself abreast with the latest developments in his strata of practice. Even small things like reading the newspaper help a lot. As for myself, I use my limited financial resources to invest in the some journals/reporters/magazines, which I read on a weekly/monthly basis. I also make it a point to attend the various conferences and seminars, which cover topics of my areas of practice. This gives me a chance not only to educate myself and but also get a practical insight from the experts in the industry.

     

    You are the youngest Indian to be selected as a Scholar at the Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA). Tell us about the experience.

    I attended the IPBA Conference in New Delhi in 2012 and since then I always had a desire to take part in it. More than a 1000 lawyers from the Asia-Pacific region meet annually to discuss the major legal issues concerning their respective jurisdictions. There is tremendous scope to broaden ones horizons both in terms of knowledge and network. It was there that I learnt about the IPBA Scholarship for lawyers less than 35 years of age and since the registration fee was exorbitant, the only way I could attend the conference was through a scholarship.

    I applied twice and my application was vehemently rejected stating that my qualifications fell short of scholarly standards. It was only in early 2016 that I got third time lucky and finally got the opportunity not only to attend the conference. While being conferred my certificate at the Gala evening, my name and picture was flashed on the big screen in the backdrop of the Indian flag. That was a red-letter moment for me, one which I will never forget.

     

    Being a part of The BRICS Legal Forum, please share with us your journey from Shanghai, 2015 to New Delhi, 2016.

    This opportunity initially came with a stroke of good fortune. I was a last minute addition to the delegation, since two PHD students from the Indian Law Institute had to cancel their plans last minute. It was a great honor to represent your country especially when delegation is led by a stalwart like Mr. K.K Venugopal.  I also successfully completed a three-week academic program on Chinese Arbitration Law whilst I was in Shanghai.

    As a result of my contribution at the Shanghai conference, The Bar Association of India (BAI) asked me to be a part of the Organizing Committee for the Third BRICS Legal Forum, which was held in New Delhi under the stewardship of Mr. Venugopal and Mr. Rohatgi. I was a part of the team that drafted the New Delhi Declaration for the establishment of an Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Centre for BRICS Countries at New Delhi, which was signed in the august presence of the Chief Justice of India.

    I was recently made a member of the newly formed Youth Wing of the BRICS Legal Forum and I must thank Mr. Prashant Kumar, President-Elect, BAI, for having faith in me and supporting me throughout my association with the BRICS.

     

    Tell us about your publications. What is the importance of writing for a law student?

    I have been authoring articles since 2012. Being predominantly a litigating lawyer, it’s hard articulate yourself in a non-adversarial manner, so I resorted to writing articles on the topics that interest me. Apart from sharpening your ability to research and draft, they also give you some recognition and visibility which is very important in the competitive world we live in today.

    Seeing the mushrooming of publishers/journals(both physical and online), I would strongly encourage all law students and young(er) lawyers to pen their ideas and research in the form of reader friendly articles for it will help them immensely in the long run. Having said that, I hope they help me in the long run.

     

    What are your short-term and long-term goals? Where do you see yourself five years from now?

    I’m at a very nascent stage of my professional life, so every day brings a new adventure and every conversation opens a new box of opportunities. The erratic flow of work and the uncertainty of remuneration keep me on the edge and motivated to do more.

    My short-term goal is to increase the volume of work that I am doing and I am confident that in times to come, more and better work will come my way. Moving forward, I wish to establish a solid niche practice in field of commercial litigation, arbitration and corporate advisory. I am open to exploring the option of collaborating with like-minded people/offices (both domestic and overseas) preferably specializing in different branches of law so that the office can provide more comprehensive services to the clients. Since India is on the cusp of liberalization of the legal services sector, I believe this is time for consolidation, not fragmentation and we stand to gain more by working in teams than in isolation.

     

    What would be your parting message to our readers?

    It does not befit my position to preach anything at this stage of my life. However, from my limited experience at the bar, all I can say is that it very important for a lawyer to constantly grease his wheels of knowledge. It is also very important to be enterprising, whether you are working on your own or with a firm. Try to find a space for yourself in this vast profession where you can enjoy what you are doing without thinking about competing with 1.3 million lawyers in India. Burn the midnight oil when needed but also spend time with family and friends. Don’t get too busy making a living that you forget to make a life.

     

  • Md. Kaleem Mohiuddin on his experience at law school, journey on career building and choosing litigation over corporate companies

    Md. Kaleem Mohiuddin on his experience at law school, journey on career building and choosing litigation over corporate companies

     

    Md. Kaleem Mohiuddin graduated from the University of Nagpur with a degree in law in 1994, subsequently working under a Senior Advocate for a short span. He then started practicing independently in civil as well as criminal cases and is currently Additional Public Prosecutor for Additional Assistant Sessions Court, Karimnagar.

    In this interview Mr. Kaleem Mohiuddin talks to us about:

    • His time at law school
    • His journey in career building
    • His interest in civil law
    • Choosing litigation over Corporate companies

     

    CAN YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF?

    I am a first generation lawyer in my family. I graduated in law from Nagpur university in 1994. I didn’t choose law for any specific reason, it happened to me. Currently I am a practicing lawyer in the district and session court of Karimnagar, Telangana. I used to represent clients in both civil as well as criminal cases. In 2015, I got appointed as an Additional Public Prosecutor for Additional Assistant Sessions Court, Karimnagar for three years. I am presently representing police cases as well as other civil cases.

    WHAT DO YOU THINK, FROM YOUR COLLEGE LIFE, HELPED YOU THE MOST TO BECOME WHAT YOU ARE NOW?

    I am glad I pursued my legal education from University of Nagpur for the practical exams that we had for 200 marks unlike other universities with no such similar weightage. The marks for practical exams were divided equally between thesis writing and the rest for participating in Moot Court, working for Legal aid camps, attending Lok Adalats and visiting courts to see proceedings under the guidance of a practicing advocate. Now, without this particular examination, I wouldn’t have been aware of crucial things like Lok Adalats and importance of legal aid camps. Also, I made a thesis on Relevance of Facts in Indian Evidence Act. The number of sections it contained not only made it confusing but also interesting. For this reason, I think it is very important for law colleges to have curriculum which includes practical exposure and the students should take advantage of it and gain as much knowledge as they can.

    CAN YOU BRIEF US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY AFTER ACQUIRING A DEGREE IN LEGAL STUDIES?

    Before started practicing independently in 1996, I was as a junior advocate under Advocate E. Jaggareddy. Within a period of six months of working and learning under him, Mr. Jaggareddy had other engagements, thus he could rarely come to the office which made other junior advocates show up irregularly to the office. Irrespective, I used to be in the office every day and would attend the proceedings of all the cases taken up by us. I used to work hours together flipping pages of numerous books and files and study deeply, putting things together to find loopholes in cases. Judges who had not been so polite to be otherwise, started appreciating me and that is when I felt so encouraged and my confidence level got boosted up.

    YOU SAID, YOU USED TO REPRESENT BOTH CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CASES, WHICH ONES DO YOU FIND MORE APPEALING?

    I find civil cases interesting; it is not just because the office that I worked in dealt with civil cases but also because I find civil cases challenging. In civil cases, you have to prepare the case yourself but in criminal cases you only get to defend. Pointing out mistakes is an easy task but creating a proper case is not.

    WHAT IS THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING A PUBLIC PROSECUTOR LIKE? WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST PART OF BEING AN ADVOCATE?

    I feel privileged to work for the state. Earlier, I used to represent the accused, while now I represent the complainant. The best part about being an Advocate and especially working for the state is the feeling that you get when you help providing justice to a needy person.  Rendering services to the needy helps you feel better too. The immense satisfaction at that you can aid in providing justice to the person whose rights have been wrongfully infringed is something that can’t be expressed. As I have said, law happened to me, I am glad that it did. It makes me grow every day.

    DID YOU EVER CONSIDER BECOMING A JUDGE? CAN YOU ALSO GIVE A REASON BEHIND IT?

    I personally would not want to become a judge. The scope for development decreases as you become a judge. You definitely have a huge duty upon yourself to analyze the issue with reasoning and give your judgment, but the opportunity of applying appropriate laws and fighting is lost.

    WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON LOK ADALATS?

    I think Lok Adalat system is very important in a country such as India where the number of cases is really high. It is, in fact, one of the very important things that Indian judiciary was in need of because it can be conducted at suitable places, arranged at a short notice and can be conducted in local languages. It helps in dispensing a lot of cases in very less time; also, it is the best supplementary forum for victims for satisfactory settlement of their disputes. I too have settled a lot of cases in Lok Adalat.  Lok Adalat has the competence to deal with a number of cases like Matrimonial disputes, Family court cases, Partition claims, Damage cases, Motor vehicle compensation claims, etc. It advances equal access of justice to all.

    ARE THERE ANY CHANGES THAT YOU WANT TO SEE IN INDIAN LAWS OR LEGAL SYSTEM?

    The way Indian judiciary is working for the justice of citizens is commendable. There are few things that should be taken care of. Filling of vacancies at the earliest is needed; also the inadequacy of staff and judges should be considered and taken into account. I would also want to see few changes in procedural laws. Civil Procedure Code was drafted in 1908 when we were under the British rule. The time has changed, we have become independent but we still are following the same old laws. Amendments have to be brought and a time should be fixed for the disposal of cases because there are numerous provisions in Indian laws that could be used by litigants with mala fide intention and cases are prolonged unnecessarily. Compensation procedure should be included in procedural law for long litigation.

    DO YOU THINK MORE LAW STUDENTS SHOULD TAKE UP LITIGATION THAN GOING FOR CORPORATE WORK? WHY?

    One should do what appeals to him, but looking at the present trend of law students preferring corporate world over litigation I think students should give themselves a chance to go fight a case in the court. With the kind of infrastructure, practical skills and exposure that law schools are providing now-a-days, students are lucky enough to have such facilities and they should be able to take up litigation which is not a very difficult task to them. One might not get cases in the very first days but one can definitely work under a senior lawyer, dedicate a year for understanding the procedure, making good social relations, networking and learning things. Corporate world might be amazing but so is practicing in a court. Practicing makes you feel that you are an integral part of the society. Also, students should take up the task of making a good image of advocates in the society. The other thing that I see is that most of the people think that one could earn more in corporate world, which isn’t true. One can earn enough by practicing before a court. After all, the satisfaction that you get is above anything else.

     

    WHAT ARE THE TIPS THAT YOU WOULD GIVE OUR READERS, LAW STUDENTS?

    I think students should have thorough knowledge of all the acts. One should be a regular reader and should take care about the appearance. You are not a common man, you are an Advocate. Know as many things as you can, appear decent because the major part of your profession is to provide guidance to others. Maintaining good relations with others is another important thing. Be cool and friendly. When you deal with a case, hear the client very carefully, understand the legal issue and go through the Acts. Refer precedents and get a good command over procedural laws. Don’t be an independent practitioner right after graduating from law school. Join an office under a senior Advocate. Choosing the right office and right person to work under is very important. Do not think of earning at the first instance. Develop your communication skills and network. Be positive in your profession. 90% of the society would talk about the negative aspects of your profession, but law is the best profession in the current scenario. After all, the best part about life is being satisfied and that is something that you can acquire by becoming a lawyer and helping people. Also, do not think of earning money. Money is a part of life and not life itself. Follow the right path, learn things, money will follow. Before anything, develop individuality.

  • Varchasvi Gagal, CEO, LegalSpell, on starting up in legaltech and creating a drafting tool

    Varchasvi Gagal, CEO, LegalSpell, on starting up in legaltech and creating a drafting tool

    Varchasvi Gagal graduated from Jindal Global Law School recently in 2016. After witnessing a wide array of legal cultures through global legal education in college and on exchange at Baltimore School of Law, University of Baltimore, he has been researching the use of legaltech to transform Indian Legal drafting methods, for the past 2 years. He worked at the Legal Clinic of his college to understand the need for documentation among people at the grass roots level.

    Varchasvi has recently launched India’s first DIY document drafting platform for all called LegalSpell. He has been working on his start-up for more than a year ago. His vision is to revolutionize the way document drafting is done in India.

    In this interview he talks to us about:

    • What is LegalSpell and how it is one of its kind.
    • His motivations and inspirations in life and in creating LegalSpell.
    • His journey from a simple law student to the CEO of LegalSpell.
    • His vision to do something path breaking with LegalSpell.
    • Future plans and taking Document Drafting towards a much needed evolution.

     

    Tell us a bit about yourself. What drives you? What is one achievement you would be most proud of today?

    I come from a background, which involved my upbringing in a small town (Alwar) in a joint family. I have been molded in such a way that commitments are considered to be of the utmost importance.  Being from a business family, I have always admired my father. Watching him work inspired me in so many ways. He struggled hard and created an industry all by himself.

    He drives me towards becoming a better man.

    I like to be honest. I am a straightforward person and in a lot of ways, direct and practical. And maybe that is why I never back out from my commitments. I like to keep things clear, and law taught me that in order to do that, it’s better to do everything legally. And maybe that is why I never back out from my commitments. That was my motivation towards LegalSpell.

    When you are working towards something that you believe in, you just don’t want to stop. And that has made me a workaholic. I just love to work and I can’t sleep until I am satisfied with the inputs I am giving in to achieve my goals.

    Although it took me more than a year to analyze the needs of people, one thing I am proud of today is that, I have finally created something that I once imagined. We created a user interface, which would not only revolutionize drafting, but will cater to anyone and everyone. The tool was specifically designed to adapt to the user, keeping in mind a professional as well as a layman. I am proud that LegalSpell will work directly and indirectly towards legal awareness and safety.

     

    Tell us a bit about your law school days, and your internship experiences?

    Law School for me was a joyride. It has transformed me in so many ways and yet it was a home away from home. Spending half a decade in a place is not a piece of cake. But Jindal was an experience of a lifetime. The 5 years have taught me so much, made me aware about the world, and has witnessed my transformation in many ways. I was taught by few of the most renowned faculty in India and on the other hand I made friendships to last for a lifetime. The semester exchange program opportunity gave me so much of an insight into the legal cultures of the world.

    Also, I thank my college for giving me some wonderful friends and seniors. Samridh, Ojasvi and Harsh Aggarwal have been my constant support throughout. My seniors, Advocate Jayant Malik and Arjan Sharma have guided me in shaping LegalSpell as a product. In fact, my friends and an integral part of team LegalSpell, Namon, Karan and Hrideja are also from the same college.

    As far as my internships go, I thoroughly cherished interning at Impact law venture. That was the time when Mr. Pankaj (the owner) gave me some brilliant insights into start-ups.

     

    When was the moment you decided to not pursue the mainstream legal career and dive into entrepreneurship?

    My exchange semester along with the internships played a huge role in my decision in choosing a non-conventional career. I gained a lot of experience at my internships, and a lot of knowledge in my college, however there was always something that was missing. There was always the will to do something path breaking.  Something that not only creates an impact in the legal sphere, but transforms it forever. And when it clicked, nothing was the same ever again. The drive that it brought has borne its fruits in the form of LEGALSPELL.

     

    What is LegalSpell?

    LegalSpell is an online drafting platform for lawyers, corporates, entrepreneurs, start-ups, freelancers, designers, chartered accountants and laymen alike, a tool facilitating an instinctively easy drafting. LegalSpell ensures a time-efficient and cost effective user experience. Having been designed to automatically customize and personalize the document drafts for the user, this novel drafting platform has convenience imbibed in its core. A user can prepare their customized draft simply by answering a few questions and thereafter, use the drafting platform to personalize their draft to better suit their needs. While using this platform, the user has the flexibility of hand-picking clauses from LegalSpell’s automated draft prepared on the platform or add pre-drafted clauses specifically tailored to suit their draft from the Referrals tool. To add to the user’s experience, the drafting tool also incorporates features like an onscreen Google search and drafting notes, amongst others. The orientation of the drafting platform has been kept well aligned with that of the conventional drafting tools to instill adaptability and for enhancing the user’s ease of use.

    For instance, if a lawyer needs to draft an application under Section 34 of the Arbitration Act (filed for setting aside an arbitral award), all he needs to do is answer a few specific questions and LegalSpell will automatically prepare the draft by creating the Index, Memo of parties, List Of dates, Affidavits and Vakalatnama in just one go.

     

    What is legaltech? How does LegalSpell use legaltech?

    Legaltech is nothing but a step forward towards a future where the legal fraternity goes hand in hand with technology to attain more efficiency and productivity in legal work. The idea is to revolutionize the legal sphere with advancements of technology to foster the legal needs of people with utmost convenience.

    LegalSpell is driven by the application of technology to redesign the conventional document drafting practices into a neoteric and more sophisticated system of drafting. Our vision is to strive towards efficient and hassle free document drafting through the use of legaltech. Our goal is to innovate and develop technology to make the legal system much smarter, faster and efficient. We believe that while all other spheres of our life have been transformed through the means of technology, the legal system has remained deprived of such transformation. By introducing LegalSpell, we are reshaping those conservative and conventional methods by the use of technology.

     

    Who all does LegalSpell cater to?

    LegalSpell not only caters to Lawyers, CA’s, Corporates, Start Ups, Freelancers but to layman as well. It is so easy to use that through an easy 5-step process, a highly intricate and complex document can be drafted within minutes. With our initial offerings, LegalSpell provides a platform to draft more than 120 documents, which are divided among Court Related documents, Agreements, business related documents and personal documents. In fact, with the course of time, we are aiming towards a repository of 250+ documents by the end of October. With all that in the cards, we are just getting started. Our goal is to provide our customers with a choice of each and every single document possibly required under the Indian legal system.

     

    How is LegalSpell of aid to the legal fraternity?

    Being a company started by lawyers, we realized that due to increased cost and time pressure in a highly competitive industry, it had become imperative to invent a cutting-edge solution to the highly cumbersome document drafting methods. LegalSpell serves as the perfect tool to solve these issues.

    The amount of time it takes to create an ironclad document is far beyond imagination for a layman. Be it a lawyer or a paralegal, drafting is and has always been a cumbersome process. But not anymore; LegalSpell caters to the needs of legal fraternity, where it not only saves time, but is also cost effective. No more drafting hassles, instead after a mere work of answering few questions, the user will be served with an automated draft of the selected document in one go.

    Moreover, LegalSpell not only provides the lawyers with a means to increase efficiency and work productivity, but also helps them to expand their horizons into different aspects of law with the diversity of documents that it offers.

     

    How did LegalSpell come about?

    After spending a whole semester in Baltimore School of Law, studying the functionalities of law in the global sphere and experiencing the digitized legal culture there, I realized how India lagged behind from global standards of fast and efficient document drafting. Being a legal student at that time, it perturbed me that there was no dedicated document-drafting platform in India to cater to the documentation needs of people.

    I realized that the nuances of the legal world have been changing at a pace faster than ever and range into multiple shades of an otherwise black and white regime. The idea behind LegalSpell was to empower everyone to keep up with this change. While technology has transformed the way professional needs and demands are met, the realm of documentation lacks a smart and efficient use of technology to fulfil its demands. By creating a tool for document automation and customization, we are reinventing a smarter and more productive way of generating high quality documents with utmost ease and convenience.

    As a result, I, along with two brilliant lawyers set upon to create LegalSpell, to foster the documentation needs of people.

     

    varchasvi-gagal-1

    Who are behind LegalSpell?

    Driven by the pursuit of spreading awareness amongst people, LegalSpell was conceptualized by myself with the support of Mrinal Gagal (Entrepreneur) and was, thereafter, pragmatically augmented and developed by two lawyers, Jayant Malik and Arjan Sharma. Our Team Consists of Ojasvi Singh (Advocate), Meghanjali Routh (Economic Strategist), Karan Dhingra (Law Student), Namon Deep Jain (Law Student) and Hrideja Shah (Law Student).

     

    What were the problems faced while bringing about LegalSpell?

    Everyone believes that a good idea is all that is needed to establish a successful start-up, but take my word, that is merely the beginning. Maybe that is why there’s no copyright on the idea but on its expression.

    The number of hurdles faced over the course of time in the creation of LegalSpell are innumerable, however one of the biggest challenge was to develop an instinctive platform that could respond to all the needs and necessities of the user. The research and development invested in the creation of LegalSpell, is one of the most significant reasons why LegalSpell is one of its kind. It took us a whole year, just to research and analyze the needs and demands of the consumers.

    Also, our I.T. team along with our Legal team faced countless problems while trying to incorporate technology in creating flawless drafts. However, they did a commendable job by working day and night to create a dedicated DIY document-drafting platform.

     

    Why a start-up over a conventional job or an independent legal practice?

    I am and have always been passionate about law, and at the same time I have always been taught by my father that progress is the key to everything. The idea behind LegalSpell was to create something in the field of law that proves to be a definitive step towards a progressive legal culture.

    Don’t think of LegalSpell as just another product in the market. It is much more than that, it stands tall on the foundations that are built on much higher principles. As a law student, my inspiration has always been backed by the habit of need for quality and excellence, that was instilled in me in my early years of law school. As Aristotle has said “we are what we repeatedly do, and excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”

    By creating LegalSpell, we are not only progressively catering to the needs of fellow lawyers, but are creating a legal environment where anyone and everyone has access to quality documents which helps them stay legally sound in their respective professions.

    Why serve only yourself by doing a conventional job, when you can serve the whole fraternity by making their work more productive and efficient.

     

    What can we expect from LegalSpell in the near future?

    This may sound a little over-confident, but we are just getting started. Not only are we planning to come up with three new services by the end of this year, but we are already working on adding a wide array of documents related to every profession, so as to cater to the legal documentation needs of as many people as possible.

    We already have a document offering of 110+ document drafts, and our goal for 2016 is to take it to 500+ documents by late December. On the top of that, our R&D team is constantly working on making LegalSpell’s drafting platform more instinctive, more responsive and even more user friendly, based on the feedbacks from our existing customers.

    If all goes as planned, LegalSpell will transform the way documents are created in India.

     

    Is LegalSpell intended for the Indian Markets only?

    The answer to the question whether it is “intended” only for the Indian markets won’t do justice to what the future holds for LegalSpell.

    As of now, LegalSpell is specifically focused on catering to the needs of Indian users. It is designed to respond to each and every need of the user while drafting their intended document. The documents are fashioned according to the Indian Legal System to provide utmost precision.

    However, as I mentioned earlier, that we believe in progress and we are not denying the fact that somewhere down the road, LegalSpell might include international documents under its ambit.

     

    Where do you see LegalSpell in the coming years?

    We believe that with the inception of LegalSpell, we have created something truly incredible. It holds the potential for an endless number of possibilities. We have and still are striving towards revolutionizing the Indian Legal System, and we won’t stop until a truly remarkable revolution is witnessed by our legal system. We take pride in the fact that we are instrumental in doing so.

    We already have plans for the coming years, however they are still in their initial phase, and right now we are working on our plans for the near future, moving forward one step at a time.

    As they say, “the sky is the limit”, but for us, we don’t believe in limits, and that is why “the sky is where we start from.”

     

    What would be your message to readers?

    Believe in what you do. I believe law, as a career is just not limited to litigation or corporate life. In today’s world especially when India is moving at such a fast pace towards digitization, a law student has multiple avenues to choose from. I believe that in order to sustain or to be successful in such a competitive and fast moving environment that we live in today, one needs to be innovative. We are just at the inception of innovation in the legal field and there is a long way ahead. Courses we study in our law school shape our reasoning abilities. Once we graduate only then do we realize that there has been a significant change in how our reasoning and logical abilities have been boosted. At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is one question, “Are you living your profession” and my answer to that question is YES I Am.

     

     

  • Kapil Sankhla, Founder, Sankhla & Associates, on litigation and managing a firm

    Kapil Sankhla, Founder, Sankhla & Associates, on litigation and managing a firm

    Kapil Sankhla qualified in law from Campus Law Centre, Delhi University in 1999 after gaining a B.Com degree from Shri Ram College of Commerce and another degree in Hotel Management from IHM, Pusa. For the better part of his law school, he engaged in a long term internship which prepared him to take on litigation with ease even as a fresh graduate. He is the Founder and Managing Partner of Sankhla & Associates, based out of New Delhi.

    In this interview he talks to us about:

    • His pre-law school days and passion for debating
    • Decision to pursue law and the inspiration behind it
    • The importance of reading as a habit and a passion
    • His life at law school
    • Starting up with Sankhla & Associates

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our legal amateurs and professionals?

    The learning never stops and I believe that I too am a student of law, albeit a few years your senior! I practice and perform not in a moot court but in real life courts and like any other student of law, I compete and collaborate every day. As a first generation lawyer, I have gone through my share of self doubts, trials and tribulations and have realised that the journey is its own reward. It has been a beautiful journey so far mixed with struggles, success, challenges, more struggle and more success and the graph continues to waver. I have realised, the harder I work on the basics of law, the simpler things get. I am enjoying every bit of this amazing profession where I get to understand various levels of issues and strategise and grapple with various aspects of law every day.

    As a lawyer, my mantra, my life philosophy, and the philosophy of the firm which has worked in Court battles against the biggest and the strongest opponents, and which I would like to share with our young readers is -tenacious resolve, which means stick on-hold tight, despite all odds, and your time will come.

     

    Tell us about your childhood and pre-college life. Was it your all time dream to be in the legal profession?

    I was an average student which, according to teachers would mean not very bright, but I loved (and still do) to read and was a very imaginative child. I believe that it is your education and not your studies that make a success out of you. If I had to advice, it would be-keep reading, it doesn’t matter what you read, just keep reading, and trust me all that information, however random is churning and stirring up ideas and dialogues which will hold you in good stead in the profession, irrespective of whether you become a litigator or do chamber practice.

    As a child, I think I wanted to become a writer, which I realise I can very well do even now, and best part is, there cannot be a better profession than this!

     

    What incidents, influences or interests prompted you to think of law as a career?

    I remember the first time I saw legal luminaries like Mr. Ashok Aggarwal and his famous interview where he chose morals over a client, got me interested in law as a profession and got me hooked on to it; Mr. Ram Jethmalani being in the news with Harshad Mehta made me want to stay in the profession; reading about Mr. Nani Palkivala made me want to reach for the stars and briefing and interacting with (now) Justice U.U. Lalit ensured that my faith in honesty, fairness and humbleness is firmly anchored. Most lawyers don’t join law to become lawyers, for most, it is a stepping stone for something else. Fortunately, I am a part of the minority, as law chose me.

     

    Tell us about your experience at Delhi University. What all curricular and extra-curricular activities did you participate in?

    I have a very chequered past vis-a-vis the time post school. I got through SRCC but realised early on that it wasn’t for me, so I got into Hotel Management, a field where I did quite well. Throughout my college life, I was very active in theatre and debates and it was my passion to always speak against the motion and see how I am able to convince the audience. This caught my interest towards law as a field and I took the entrance, thinking ‘what’s the harm in trying?’ I didn’t think of law as a profession, when I took the exam, but when I did get through Campus Law Centre, DU, I took it up seriously and also interned with a lawyer for more than two and a half years while I was in college. This proved to my advantage as by the time I was in my third year I was confident about court visits and in-fact upon graduating as a lawyer, I handled a final argument matter within 19 days of registration.

     

    What would you advise our readers is the ideal things to look to get out of university, other than a degree?

    A university one looks for to study should definitely have a good name and reputation. It should encourage real life examples in terms of case research and also encourage participation in moots, etc. Any university which promotes practical learning as well as theoretical learning is an ideal University to be in. Alumni of the university and their performance in the real world also has a bearing on whether the University would be able to provide what one is looking for.

    I would advise you to enjoy yourself to the fullest. Be foolish, make mistakes, learn and enjoy. Participate in whatever activity takes place, you’ll never have the opportunity to probably get away with mistakes once you become a lawyer. Enjoyment is integral to being a college student, it is indeed a time wherein one needs to relax as once we are thrown in the profession one must not forget what the stars of the legal profession have said again and again “Law IS a jealous mistress!” and there shall be hardly any time for leisure as such!

     

    You founded a law firm that is doing very well today. What challenges do you think someone who wishes to start a firm or independent practice is likely to face? What would you advise them to do to mitigate such circumstances?

    It is not easy to build a practice in law, yet not impossible either. The challenges one faces are manifold. Convincing clients to assign and engage a new firm/independent lawyer is the most important one. It is imperative that the clients approaching a new firm/lawyer should be able to get a level of comfort to be able to engage the firm as their lawyers. Necessary infrastructure to work from is also required. A decent library and efficient work staff goes a long way to enable a lawyer to concentrate on his job, leaving aside worries of billing, file management, correspondence and follow up with clients. A good support team to handle such issues coupled with dedication and hard-work should help any lawyer achieve pinnacles of success.

     

    Presently you are the Managing Partner of Sankhla & Associates. What falls within the scope of your responsibility?

    As the Managing Partner of the firm, I have the responsibility to bring in new clients, hire new Associates, make alliances with international and national firms to enable a global presence of the firm. Motivating my team and encouraging them including pointing out spheres of improvement also constitutes a large part of my role. I have to ensure that not only does the team work to their optimum potential and a bit more, but also that they get their fair share of fun, recreation and feel connected to each other as a team and a family. This ensures all round development of the firm and relations therein. The growth and success of the firm is a team work with the Managing Partner at the helm of all affairs.

     

    While hiring new lawyers what kind of skills do you look for in them?

    A promising CV entails besides a good grade, involvement in moot courts, research and an active college record. As a student, it does speak volumes if your CV boasts of a reputed college, a healthy participation in moot courts and debates, internships involving firms and lawyers handling various aspects of law and published papers and articles, if any.

    However, apart from the aforesaid, the interview matters in itself which would be the ultimate judge of what is written in the CV and the impression that one carries to the interviewer. Be honest about what you put in the CV. Knowledge of different subjects and specially the one which is a preferred choice does really go a long way to secure a job in the place of choice.  But above it all, the one thing that we really look for when we hire someone is the hunger to win and the desire to make a difference. If someone has that, then really, nothing else matters!

     

    What kind of effort should a young Associate put into work to get it appreciated? What distinguishes an Associate from a Partner when it comes to work?

    Besides hard work and dedication, self-motivated effort and initiative definitely invite appreciation. A young lawyer who takes initiative to draft out matters, research and provides innovative suggestions and a different solution to a matter, would always get appreciated.

    An associate is expected to do all the base work from research to initial drafting, coordination with interns, junior associates and clients, if necessary. He will make sure that the strategy as has been suggested by the Partner and all points discussed in the Partner-Associate meeting are followed and put it on paper. Thereafter the Partner takes over to give a final check to the draft, strategy check and additions wherever required. Partners bring in work and are instrumental in firm management, its promotion and alliances: both national and international. They are expected to bring in work, infrastructure and the support needed by the team for execution of work.

     

    What would be your advice to our readers?

    Choose what you want to do. There are many lawyers who want to be researchers, conveyance and pleading solicitors, arguing counsels all rolled into one. The rest are dreamy eyed and want to become Corporate Lawyers because it pays well. Work on your strength and choose the facet of law. Polish it every day, enjoy it to the fullest and work hard- very hard and the world is your platform and sky is the limit.

     

  • Raghav Singh, cracking IBPS and DMRC, on being a Law Officer at State Bank of India and teaching CLAT aspirants

    Raghav Singh, cracking IBPS and DMRC, on being a Law Officer at State Bank of India and teaching CLAT aspirants

    Raghav Singh graduated from Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow (2007-2012). At present, he is the Deputy Manager (Law)/Law Officer in State Bank of India posted at Administrative Office.

    In this interview he talks to us about:

    • Academic as well as extra-curricular experiences.
    • How he prepared for SBI and IBPS exams.
    • His experience while teaching CLAT aspirants.
    • Factors students should keep in mind while building their career graphs.

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    I would like to introduce myself as a Banker by profession, Lawyer by passion and Teacher at heart. I am also a hopeless optimist who cannot stop himself from laughing at serious moments.

    What was your motivation to study law?

    The motivation mainly came from my father, Sh. Arun Kumar Singh, who is currently posted as a CBI Judge at Rewa(MP). My father was born in a family of farmers and education was a luxury to him, still he worked hard and after a lot of struggle came to stand where he is today. This naturally had a profound effect on me and I developed an interest towards law. Initially I wanted to serve the judiciary but I presume, destiny had a different plan. I learned that a lawyer can contribute in many ways to the institution where he is working thereby impacting his surroundings and it is a great feeling when there is a positive impact as the character of Andrew Beckett has summed up in The Philadelphia, “It’s that every now and again – not often, but occasionally – you get to be a part of justice being done. That really is quite a thrill when that happens.”

    How was your law school journey like- could you share your experiences with us?

    If I am to answer in one word I would call that journey amazing. But law school life deserves much more than one word. As life is much more than just the job you are doing, Law school too is much more than just your academics. It is about the bundle of experiences where everything fits in, be it your success or setback or the journey that you took while reaching there.

    I had a wonderful journey thanks to my teachers, friends, seniors, juniors and everyone who was a part of it. I remember with much fondness how Anshuman hit a four of the last bowl that sealed the Inter batch cricket tournament for us where I was one of the frontline bowlers of the team and at the same time I recall how I bowled 17 times in one over in one of the matches. I remember during the Final year Aditya coming to my room and practicing on guitar for hours and telling me that singing “Smelly Cat” at our Cultural Fest is not a very good idea but I anyway went with it much to the amusement of the capacity crowd in the auditorium where only my Debating committee members were found cheering. At the same time I also remember how everyone appreciated me for the song that I composed and sang on Guitar during our farewell. In addition to the academic life all the trips towards the old city, late night Bun makkhan, watching IPL in the common room, all the Bak*****, etc. are just priceless and I can’t thank God enough for the life that I had in law school.

    Kindly share with us your academic as well as extra-curricular experiences that have helped build your personality? What were your biggest achievements in and outside law school?

    Since we had a semester system so there was lot of time at hand to participate in Extra Curricular. Mooting was one area that caught my fancy, the thrill of arguing your case was enough to make me pursue that interest in the first semester itself. One should keep in mind that Mooting is a team effort; therefore, you need to get the right team. The one thing you should look for before making a team is—Compatibility. Remember, when it comes to moot courts compatibility trumps intelligence. And add hard-work to the equation and result is a brilliant team.

    I was fortunate enough that I had my friends (who stood with me through thick and thin in our mooting journey) as the best team mates anyone can have. So with contributions from Srijan, Akansha Ma’am, Suyash, Mayank, Pallavi, Dhruv and Yash, I was able to win 3 Best Memorials (including 3rd GNLU international Moot court competition) I have also won best mediator in UPES Mediation Competition, 2012 and published few articles, 3 of which with the help of my co-authors Amit Kumar Pathak and Sukriti Guha (Manupatra Competition Law Journal, Company cases, The Practical Lawyer & Environment Law Times).

    Also, I had one of the best times as convener of the Debate & Discussion committee thanks to the members of the committee we were able to organize several debating competitions, helping  streamlining the debating culture at RMLNLU.  After me, the responsibilities of the committee were taken over by talented conveners like Vinayak, Krishna & Aayush.

    In my professional life too, I was lucky enough to have brilliant and hardworking people as my support system especially T K Singh sir, BM Sharma sir, D V Malhotra Sir & Piyush to name a few. While working in Oriental bank of Commerce as a law officer, with the collective effort of the branch managers as well as branch officials, we settled the maximum number of cases in the National Lok Adalats organized throughout 2014.

    Participation in these competitions helped me a lot in building my personality. The more you participate in extra-curricular,the more exposure you get which help you to deal with assignments in your professional life. For instance, in my SBI Deputy Manager(Law) interview, I was privileged to have former Bombay High Court Judge, Justice P D Kode(Famous for his judgment on 1993 Bombay bombings case) as the head of the interview panel and all that I learned in law school did help me to face the board with confidence and score well above 80% in the interview.

    How did you prepare for SBI (Law officer Scale-II) & IBPS (Law Officer Scale-I) exams? What are the subjects one needs to study for its preparation?

    IBPS(Law Officer Scale-1) is conducted for all the public sector banks excluding SBI. So, apart from Law, questions are asked on General Awareness, mostly relating to Banking and current affairs, Reasoning and English. There is a negative marking of 0.25 for every wrong answer. Paper comprises of 200 questions of one mark each. Since I was already preparing for judicial services, I did not face much problem in law and I just went through previous years question papers to know the pattern of the examination and practiced some mock question-papers. I feel reasoning is the deciding factor, since most of the law students just loath anything related to Maths or calculations. So I made a point to practice reasoning. It helped me in clearing Delhi Metro Rail Corporation exam as well.

    Although for SBI, the pattern is somewhat different as there is no General awareness section and other sections like Reasoning and English are merely qualifying in nature, which means that merit list shall only be decided on the basis of the marks scored in law section unlike IBPS. Therefore, the concentration must be on Law. Apart from basic laws such as Contract, Procedures codes, Penal Code one should also focus on the commercial and banking laws like SARFAESI, Banking Regulation Act, Partnership Act etc. Also, the material from Indian Institute of Banking Finance’s on legal and regulatory aspects of banking proved to be very helpful.

    As I was already working with Oriental Bank of Commerce (Allotted through IBPS), I was not having much time to spare on preparation, so I stick to the basics and practiced previous years question papers and IIBF preparatory material.

    For most of the law graduates the syllabus of these exams might appear to be alien where lot of such acts are involved which one might not have even heard before. But one needs to just go through these acts. If somebody is preparing with all seriousness and regular practice even for a short span of 2 months, it can easily be cleared.

    How was your experience teaching CLAT aspirants? What were the challenges you faced? What do you think legal aspirants need to be aware about before they become professionals?

    I immensely enjoyed teaching as it helped me personally to build on my knowledge. As I left my job at Mumbai and was appearing for competitive exams, to do away with boredom and monotony, I thought teaching would be a good experience. Here, I have to thank Bishwajit Sir and Priya Ma’am. They were very understanding and gave me an opportunity to teach the wonderful kids who are now studying in prestigious law universities. The only challenge I faced while teaching, was to simplify the legal concepts for my students. So while teaching, I incorporated this habit of explaining concepts with lots of real life examples, so that it helps them understand the application of these laws in a cogent manner.

    Legal Aspirants needs to be aware of the fact that they belong to the area which is always evolving. Past year CLAT papers have proved to be unpredictable and therefore, one should prepare with an open mind without any preconceived notions on the difficulty level of the paper. Age old formulas like studying regularly, revising timely, practicing lot of mocks and most importantly preparing with the positive mindset should be kept in mind while preparing.

    How far do you see your University as being the contributor in preparing you for what you are right now?

    Whatever I am today, I owe it to my Alma-mater. The opportunities that I got, helped me to understand the difference between and move from ‘good to better’, ‘listening to perceiving’, ‘losing to learning’, ’speaking to arguing’ and most importantly ‘reading to ‘interpreting’.

    Considering the nature and importance of this profession what according to you should be the focus of law students at the law schools? What are the important factors students should keep in mind while building their potential career graphs?

    Building concepts, utilizing the opportunities at hand, improving on research and drafting skills should be the main focus area. Do not get bogged down witnessing someone who is better than you, as 5 Years is a long span of time and one must utilize this to work on their weaknesses. It is okay, if you are not getting an ‘A’ in every subject provided that you understand the subject well you can apply those principles with confidence whenever you have to.

    And most importantly, when it comes to career, one should always be open to new opportunities and ideas.

    Tell our readers about the goals you have set for yourself for the upcoming years?

    Currently, I am striving to serve this prestigious institution, SBI, to the best of my abilities and just like law school, I shall make best use of any opportunity that comes my way. I am satisfied till I am contributing something to this institution, which serves millions of Indians in our country and abroad.

    In the end what would be your three biggest pieces of advices for the students as well as fresh graduates who are all set to begin their professional lives soon?       

    Firstly, do not hesitate to follow your hunch. Even if it says to leave your job which you just got 6 months back and do something which you feel is right.

    Secondly, Life of a lawyer is like a runner in a never ending relay race and not a sprint. So all you can do is try to maintain the advantage, so wherever you are, try to improve.

    Thirdly, it is just the human mentality, that we can never be satisfied where we are, so just stay hopeful, as said beautifully by Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption, “ Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”

  • Ajay Verma, Founder, Juris Chambers, on litigation, human rights and International Bridges to Justice

    Ajay Verma, Founder, Juris Chambers, on litigation, human rights and International Bridges to Justice

    Ajay Verma graduated in law in the year 2000 from Agra College affiliated to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University (Formerly. Agra University) after pursuing a bachelor’s degree in science. In his final year, he interned under Mr. Jayant Bhushan, the then Standing Counsel to the Central Government and joined his Chambers after graduation. After a few years of core litigation practice, he started his law firm Juris Chambers in 2003.

    In this interview he talks to us about:

    • His pre-law school days and experience with the National Cadet Corps (NCC)
    • Decision to pursue college against pressure to join the family business
    • His interests, activities and internships in law school
    • His learning experience under Mr. L. Nageshwara Rao, former Senior Advocate, presently a sitting judge of the Supreme Court
    • Starting up with Juris Chambers
    • His passion about human rights and involvement in the International Bridges to Justice as a Senior Fellow
    • Completing the International Investigator Course from the Institute of International Criminal Investigations and being accredited as a War Crime Investigator

     

    Please introduce yourself to our readers. Where were you born, brought up and completed your basic education? What was your initial career plan?

    I was born and brought up in Agra. I did my Bachelor of Science and LL.B. from a very old institution called the Agra College, which was established in 1823 by the endowments bequeathed by Pandit Gangadhar Shastri Ji, a renowned Sanskrit scholar in the service of Madhav Rao Peshwa of Gwalior. It is the oldest and biggest educational institute of northern India. During my college days I was actively involved in the National Cadet Corps (NCC) which motivated me to join the armed forces. I was an Aeromodeller during that time.

     

    You completed a B.Sc. (PCM) and also completed NCC Certificate (Air Wing) with Grade A. When you had a strong background in science and defence, why did you decide to take up law?

    Being a son of a jeweller, I had a lot of pressure from the family to join business. When I joined college, children of my relatives joined their respective family businesses. I was criticized by my relatives for not following this tradition. When I was applying for Air Force and Army through NCC direct entry, I realized that I must continue with my studies. Till the time I joined law school, I was not aware of its importance. However, once I started learning about law and the role of a lawyer in the society, I became passionate about legal practice. During my college days I participated in Indo-Nepal Cycle Expedition from Agra-Kathmandu-Agra for approx. 2500 KM organized for International Peace and Unity by the NCC. This expedition inspired me to continue towards pursuing my goals in life.

     

    ajay-verma-2

    How was your law school experience? Looking back, is there anything you wish you had done differently? What activities were you involved in when in law school?

    (Ajay pursued law from Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University [Formerly Agra University] and qualified in the year 2000)

    The biggest challenge we faced during law school was with the curriculum, where only theory was taught. It was really challenging for a student of science to start learning about law. The best opportunity we got during our college days was our study circle which was created by our Principal Dr. Mukhtiyar Singh and Dr. N.K. Gosh, a very competent professor of English Department. Additionally, I used to participate in various debate competitions. We also wanted to conduct moot courts but we were not equipped enough in terms of the infrastructure.

     

    Did you complete any internships as a law student? Please describe each of them and your reasons for taking them up.

    In the year 1999, during my final year I joined the Chambers of Mr. Jayant Bhushan, Senior Advocate as an intern, who was the Standing Counsel to the Central Government at that time. During my internship, I learnt many skills from Mr. Bhushan, who was not only a good orator but also one of the finest Senior Advocates in the Supreme Court of India.

     

    How have additional  diplomas been useful to you later in your career? Do you think such additional certificate courses and diplomas are essential for a law student?

    (Ajay completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Cyber Laws and a Post Graduate Diploma in International Trade Laws from the Indian Law Institute, New Delhi.)

    Yes, I feel additional certificate courses and diplomas help students to expand their knowledge from traditional law curriculum to a specialized field of law. Interestingly, while I was interning under Mr. Jayant Bhushan, I joined these courses. Initially it was tough for me to handle internship in Delhi and college in Agra at the same time.  So I decided to travel from Agra to Delhi thrice a week to attend the chamber of Mr. Jayant Bhushan besides my evening classes at Indian Law Institute.

     

    How was your initial experience in litigation? Did you plan to continue with litigation at that time?

    (After graduating, Ajay worked at the Chambers of Advocate Jayant Bhushan followed by Sikri & Company and thereafter at the Chambers of Senior Advocate L. Nageshwara Rao, Supreme Court.)

    While in the office of Mr. Bhushan I decided to shift to Delhi to practice law. After Mr. Bhushan’s office my experience with Sikri & Company was also very good where I learnt about service law and industrial law. This office had a very good learning environment. I planned to continue with litigation and with the urge to learn more I joined the office of Mr. L. Nageshwara Rao, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court.  Those were my golden days of learning when I was with Mr. L. Nageshwara Rao Sir who is now a sitting Judge of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.

     

    ajay-verma-3

    In 2003, you established Juris Chambers, a full-service law firm in Delhi. Please describe your experience of starting a law firm. What were the main challenges you faced? What important steps must one follow for setting up a law firm?

    Juris Chambers was started by me to work in litigation and it is not easy for a first generation lawyer to start up a firm independently. In spite of all the challenges I started this firm which not only focused on litigation but also advised many corporate clients on complex issues.

     

    What does Juris Chambers look for in potential candidates before recruiting them? What are the main management and HR practices that Juris Chambers follows?

    Before recruiting we look for the competency of the candidate after evaluating his/her cv. The applicant’s interests in various subjects of law and commitment play a major role in the evaluation. We normally hire a person on probation for six months thereafter subject to mutual understanding hire them full time.

     

    You have been a Senior Fellow at the International Bridges to Justice. What do your responsibilities include?

    Let me first explain what is International Bridges to Justice (IBJ). It began its journey in 2000 and was founded by Karen Tse who is now the CEO of the organization. IBJ was created to promote systematic change in the administration of criminal justice at the global level. Karen Tse has been a public defender and graduated from UCLA Law School and Harvard Divinity School. IBJ is presently headquartered at Geneva, Switzerland.  IBJ is a non-governmental, apolitical and independent organization. It is registered as non-profit organization in the USA and in Switzerland. IBJ has spread its wings through various countries such as Burundi, Cambodia, Vietnam, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Myanmar, China, India, North America and various other countries from Europe. IBJ visualizes in helping make a world where the rights of every man, woman and child is respected in case of an arrest, where torture is eliminated as the cheapest mode of confession, where competent legal representation is provided, where everyone is aware about his/her rights and where international human rights are respected as local laws. IBJ’s approach is very simple and functions on three very basic principles: Defender Capacity Building, Criminal Justice Reform and Rights Awareness.

    As a Senior Fellow I am currently on the board of IBJ India and working towards the promotion of constitutional rights and other rights of people. I am also working towards improving the capacity of the Lawyers Representing poor persons/person in prison before various criminal courts.

     

    You have also completed the International Investigator Course from the Institute for International Criminal Investigations. What is the course about? What exactly does the course teach and how has it helped in your work at Juris Chambers?

    Well I have always been passionate about working for human rights so I attended this course. It teaches about War Crime Investigations. After completion I became a qualified International War Crime Investigator and by virtue of the same I have been taken on the roster of Justice Rapid Response (JRR) an organization based in Geneva. Justice Rapid Response (JRR) manages the rapid deployment of criminal justice and related professionals from a stand-by roster. These deployments can be requested by the international community to investigate, analyze and report on situations where serious human rights and international criminal violations have been reported. I love to work as volunteer for these causes whenever I get time from my actual court practice.

     

    You were a part of the Harvard – Kennedy School Executive Education and received a Certificate in Leadership. Please describe your experience at the academy.

    Attending this course helped me in understanding the importance of leadership and in clearing  many misconceptions about leaders. Prof. Marshall Ganz, a famous professor was our mentor who taught us about Leadership, Organizing and Action: Leading Change. In this course, participants practice leadership by organizing a leadership team to work with him or her to mobilize members of a “constituency” to work together to achieve specific outcomes in the pursuit of a shared purpose by the end of the course. Participants learn five core leadership practices: building committed relationships; using narratives to translate values into the capacity for agency; turning resources into power by strategizing; turning intentions into effective action; and structuring organization so as to develop leadership, engage constituents, and achieve goals.

     

    Lastly, what is your plan for the future? Would you like to give any advice for the current lot of law students?

    Besides expansion of practice of the firm I plan to be a lawyer who can work towards the improvement of the society, because whatever I am gaining is from the society and I have responsibility to contribute to its improvement. There are many areas where law students can become change makers by involving themselves in social activities. I also plan to promote the pro-bono culture in legal profession.  Law students during their college time may focus on their goals and work towards in achieving the same. They must utilize their time towards skill improvement by attending as many internships and courses as they can. In my view a true lawyer learns about law and skills throughout his/her life.

  • Nikhil Patel, LL.M. from University College of London, on being a Senior Legal Counsel for DSM Sinochem Pharmaceuticals

    Nikhil Patel, LL.M. from University College of London, on being a Senior Legal Counsel for DSM Sinochem Pharmaceuticals

    Nikhil Patel graduated from Symbiosis Law School, Pune in 2010. He has worked with business teams, as a legal expert, in multiple jurisdictions, including India, Malaysia, South Africa on a variety of corporate and commercial issues. He has also managed litigation in civil, criminal and labour related matters in both India and South Africa.

    Recently, he moved from being the Chief Legal Officer of Cipla Medpro in Cape Town, South Africa to Senior Legal Counsel for DSM Sinochem Pharmaceuticals in the Hague, The Netherlands. He has an LL.M. in Corporate and Commercial Law from the University of London and currently pursuing M.B.A. from the University of Warwick, both through distance learning courses.

    In this interview he talks to us about:

    • Biggest hurdles in the early days of his career.
    • Role of an in house/general counsel in India.
    • Advise for law students on maintaining a good academic profile.
    • What recruiters look for in law graduates.

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    I’m a 2010 graduate of Symbiosis Law School, Pune. I’ve worked with Suzlon, Biocon and Himatsingka in the past, and recently moved from being the Chief Legal Officer of Cipla Medpro in Cape Town, South Africa to Senior Legal Counsel for DSM Sinochem Pharmaceuticals in the Hague, The Netherlands. I have an LL.M. in Corporate and Commercial Law from the University of London and am currently pursuing my M.B.A. from the University of Warwick, both through distance learning courses.

     

    What motivated you to pursue this field?

    I knew I wanted to be a lawyer from a relatively young age, although it was the allure of litigating in court at that point. This quickly changed during my time at college, where I found the intersection between business and law, particularly contract negotiation and creative problem solving, were much more attractive to me. This was particularly evident during my internships, since I enjoyed the in-house internships the most.

     

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

    The biggest hurdle for me was about Law school is great for giving you theoretical knowledge, however it doesn’t prepare you very well for the practical side of being an in-house counsel. This meant a lot of late nights working on drafting styles, negotiation tactics and strategies and most importantly a superior that is willing to invest in training you, which is especially difficult in a typically underfunded and understaffed support team. I can’t stress enough on how important it is to find people in positions above you that are willing to spend time giving you context, exposure and knowledge.

    Practical legal training aside, there were some skills that I needed to learn (and/or bad habits that I needed to unlearn) like empathetic listening, a risk evaluation and mitigation approach rather than risk avoidance and having a thorough knowledge of the business behind the legal agreements I was negotiating.

     

    nikhil-patel-2

     

    What did your work profile at Cipla Medpro consist of and what do you now do at DSM Sinochem? What is the role of an in house/general counsel in India?

    My profile at Cipla Medpro included contract drafting and negotiation, litigation strategy and settlements, labour law, strategic advisory and transactional structuring, competition advice, corporate restructuring, compliance and a little IPR with a strong focus on the pharmaceutical sector in South Africa. The pharmaceutical focus continues at DSM Sinochem, though as a global role rather than limited to a particular geographical area.

    The in-house counsel is first and foremost a generalist. This means that you tend to do a little bit of everything and are expected to have knowledge (a working knowledge, at minimum) of everything. This means that you have to spend a lot of your time being up-to-date on not only the latest business updates of the industry sector, but also on legal updates pertinent to that sector. You play a vital role in the on-going business of your company – through contracts up and down the supply chain – as well as the future of the company by giving input on the strategic direction and advising on risk management and mitigation. Particularly with the rise in costs of external counsel (and reducing legal team budgets), companies are giving more and more responsibility to their in-house counsels, making the role more dynamic and exciting.

     

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

    A good academic profile gives you a ‘foot in the door’. After that, it is up to you to make a great impression in the interview and ensure that you work hard to learn and add value to the place that you work. Of course it always helps that a good academic profile should indicate that your knowledge base is sound.

     

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

    If you are a law graduate fresh out of college most recruiters will test your basic knowledge to ensure that you understand the fundamentals of the law. However, by far the most important aspect, at least from my experience, is attitude and ability. One of my previous superiors once commented while we were interviewing to fill a legal position that everything but attitude and ability can be taught and that those were often the hardest to find.

     

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

    I pursued my LL.M. simply because at the time I was working on a large number of agreements that were international and I wasn’t sure that I knew everything that I needed to know while I was drafting them. While it was difficult to manage my obligations and my studies, the LL.M. was fantastic in my opinion. It focused on teaching me how to apply the legal principals I was learning, and since I was working while I was studying the LL.M., I was able to put this into practice immediately.

    More recently I realised that if I wanted to grow further in the corporate world, purely legal knowledge is insufficient and that you also need an understanding of how HR, Finance, Marketing, Strategy and the other functions within a company operate. This realisation, coupled with the great experience of the distance learning LL.M. led me to begin the Distance Learning M.B.A. from Warwick Business School.

     

    What would be your advice to our budding lawyers?

    My advice would be, once you have decided that you want to practice law (whether in-house, at a law firm or as a litigator), make sure it is something that you truly enjoy doing. You’ll find that makes all the difference in whether you excel at it.

  • Abheek Saha, Amrit Lal Saha & Associates, on building a career in Investment Law

    Abheek Saha, Amrit Lal Saha & Associates, on building a career in Investment Law

    Abheek Saha graduated from M.S. Ramaiah College of Law, Bangalore (2007-2012). With a passion towards investment, he started investing at the age of 16 in the Indian stock market. Later, after the RBI rules were liberalized, started investing in the currency market. With a special interest in Investment laws, during the college days,he concentrated on the various changes – developments of Indian and foreign investment laws, arbitration, investment arbitration, Consumers Protection, Competition laws, etc.

     In this interview, he talks to us about

    • His experience at M.S. Ramaiah College of Law.
    • How did he develop a special interest in Investment Law.
    • His experience as a fresh graduate.
    • Important factors students should keep in mind while building their potential career graphs.

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

    Law was never a second choice for me. It was always first. The decision to pursue law may be because of both my personal interest and having already seen my father practice for many years.

    Like all 11th – 12th standard school students deciding on a career in law, I too searched for all the various places a law graduate can work after passing out of law college, and the search results the law firm, companies, or in the field of litigation broadly. The prospects looked good and that validated further my interest in law.

    Kindly acquaint us with your college life. What activities you were involved in apart from regular academic curriculum?

    I was in M.S. Ramaiah College of Law, Bangalore, and mostly stayed in hostel all through the 5 years and really lived the hostel life. Among all, the Ramaiah hostel was little exception with limited restriction on movement in the night and thus could explore Bangalore during those hours.

    Sports were quite limited and I only used to go for early morning basketball with hostelites near the Ramaiah Degree college and sometimes for the table tennis after classes in the old college building. Our college building shifted to a new one when we were in final year.

    Moot court was never part of our curriculum except during practical- the final two years. But I took special interest in them and in my second year participated in the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot court competition – the ISRO funding round (NLSIU, Bangalore) and was really happy to see my Speaker score there. This was indeed my first moot court outside college. I also participated in Justice B R Sawhney Moot Court competition at NALSAR Hyderabad. I believe participating in these competition have broadened by research skills and also how to read, interpret and understand law during early days of law college. Apart from these two I have also participated in various intra and inter college competitions. We were Runners-up in ‘Mooting for Success’ organized by Law Department, Garden City College in 2010. My friend Satabish Ajjarapu who is presently a lawyer in Vizag was my Co-Speaker.

    How did you develop a special interest in Investment Laws? Did you have other areas of law that interested you? How did you ultimately choose your field of work?

    Investment related field was always my interest not only during law college days but from my school days. I used to do trading in stock market, later in currency market. So during law college there was a natural affinity towards investment laws. I have also completed a Diploma in Securities & Investment Laws from IIL, Bangalore.

    Presently through our law firm Amrit Lal Saha& Associates, we are advising lot of start-up companies, venture with really beautiful ideas through their conceptual stage to their growth stage. And Bengaluru being one of the best Start-up hub in the world, we get lot of such venture as our client. Sometimes we also cut down on our professional fees to help venture on their legal requirements and to see them in existence and thus enabling these companies and venture grow. As these companies are not all pursuing the same idea, dream and thus their requirements are quite different and these provides us the challenges and the drive to keep going.

    How can I learn to invest in the Indian stock market?

    I may not be the best person to answer this question. I don’t do it any more though. But on a general note I believe everyone can learn doing it.

    Is it a general assumption that the fresher graduates have to struggle a lot during the initial years, what was your experience?

    Struggle is an inevitable part of this profession and during initial years the struggle is definitely more. I believe the decision to pursue law as a career should not be driven by news, knowledge about how much a person is earning after passing out of law school and law colleges but by real passion in this field. I have seen Times of India publishing news about how good the placement was in NLSIU, Bangalore and then students taking decision to study law. At no cost this should be driving the decision to study law as it is not just another profession. Because long hours and focused determination and a desire to move on in the face of adversity, criticism shall bring success in this field.A famous saying of Justice Joseph Story which my father keeps reiterating “Law is a jealous mistress, and requires a long and constant courtship. It is not to be won by trifling favours, but by a lavish homage”. I believe the saying still holds goods but yes now we have lot more resources and a better faster way to search save them which helps the lawyer a lot in the profession.

    I started my career with working at Bhasin & Co., New Delhi. I was very excited then as I had my first interaction in that office with Mr Lalit Bhasin himself who had directed his Partner to conduct interview for me. It was rare to get through the firm without any reference and thus having got an offer to work there without any such references I was more happy. Eventually I have quit the firm due to personal obligations and have started on my own, firstly as a Co-Founder and Legal Counsel of a company and then as a part of Amrit Lal Saha& Associates. Now we have a good client base and things look good from here. But we had our share of struggle and our effort still continues to make things better.

    Tell us about your approach towards the long term and the short term goals you had set during the academic period and how were you able to manage it?

    Our priorities change with changing circumstances and thus I would say not all short term goals were met but slowly working towards accomplishing the long term goals. And it is those long term goals which ultimately decides our working and engaging strategies.

    Considering the nature and importance of this profession what according to you should be the focus of the law students at the law schools? What are the important factors which students should keep in mind while building their potential career graphs?

    I would say students should not be very specific during early college days about corporate or litigation or any other field but should intern and gain understanding of each such field and thus explore. 5 years college time which is a long time and the last 2 years can be spent focusing on the specific sector where they would start working.

    You have several publications to your credit! How do you choose when to write about what? Do you think research and publishing is very important for a law student?

    I have always written only in my areas of interest and choosing a topic I believe becomes easy when a person is keeping track of the changing laws and how it is evolving.

    I won’t say it is very important to write but definitely when a law student writes it helps somewhere and he can also keep track of how the law is evolving.

    Where do you see yourself ten years from now?

    Everyone sets goal and even I have done for myself. In brief I would like to see the firm grow and we are able to address larger issues and clientele.

    What is your parting advice to our readers?

    For law students I will advise not to have a frozen goal for yourself but a dynamic one because we are social engineers and the law changes as the society changes and so should we.

     

  • Pranit Saxena, Founder, lawyerouno.com, on being a Manager at Tata Consultancy Services

    Pranit Saxena, Founder, lawyerouno.com, on being a Manager at Tata Consultancy Services

    Pranit Saxena graduated from Symbiosis Law School in 2011. He currently works with TCS as a Manager in the BFSI-LPS sphere. He is part of the core team setting up GRC expert augmentation for an EU based clearing bank. The task involves the staffed GRC experts assisting the chief compliance officer with BFSI specific compliance across EU, APAC and Americas.

    Pranit is also the founder of lawyerouno.com. Lawyerouno is a social venture that helps clients contact and make appointments with any lawyer for free. It searches the most appropriate lawyer per the client’s needs.

     In this interview he talks to us about:

    • His experience at Symbiosis Law School.
    • Importance of higher studies for a lawyer.
    • com- where clients contact and make appointments with any lawyer for free.
    • His views on international financial situation owing to upcoming regulations and situations.

    Please introduce yourself to our readers, where did you grow up and complete your initial education? How did you decide to take up law?

    Hi, I am Pranit. I am currently working with TCS setting up their international compliance practice. My initial education was across six cities including Bathinda, Nagpur, Pithoragarh, Noida, Pune etc. in Army Public schools and Kendriya Vidhayalas owing to my dad being in the forces. After a lot shunting, I finally passed my 12th from Noida. I decided to take up law based on my discussions with my teachers in school and my penchant for getting in trouble with the system (school system i.e. repeatedly getting in trouble with the school administration) and I guess it had worked out fine till now.

    You have graduated with BBA LLB Degree from Symbiosis Law School in 2011. Tell us about your law school experience. Share some highlights from your college days that shaped you as a lawyer.

    So Symbiosis back in 2006 was unlike any other law school that you would see right now. We had a limited campus, amazing faculty and even a better ecosystem of students from various fields (symbiosis law school was in the arts and commerce campus). This heterogeneity of students gave us a very early exposure to variety of disciplines and opportunities. It was rightly called the Oxford of the East, as the student community in Pune was very strong. They were perineal college festivals, competitions that used to go on and provided me ample opportunities to explore. Symbiosis Pune had no hostel in the campus and we used to live independently in the city, which was a huge learning in itself. The teachers came from a varied background and were very supportive and encouraging. Apart from the obvious knowledge, what Symbiosis uniquely provides every student, is the independent attitude and a corporate ready culture, which most of us would learn post our law school.

    Did you do any internship? What was the work allotted to you like?

    I completed 24 weeks of internship across law firms like Barucha, fox mandal, companies like Larson & Tubro and Supreme Court attorneys like P.P. Rao. The spectrum covered was intentionally larger to experience a variety of fields within the legal industry. The work allocated was usually around the research projects in law firms, case file summarization in Supreme Court and high courts and occasional arbitration work for L&T. The work also included being a part of the client/vendor meetings with the seniors and keeping a note of issues.

    How did you manage internship with studies? How did the practical exposure compliment the theoretical knowledge imparted to you in college?

    Back then in Symbiosis, internships were only allowed during breaks, which made sure there was never and conflict and balancing the internships with the mandatory attendance requirement was never a challenge.

    The court internships really helped in enhancing the nuances of the procedural laws which helped appreciate the theoretical knowledge.

    There is a huge gap between what we study and what we implement as lawyers in practice. With that being said, all the knowledge and experience in college forms a very robust base for what we lawyers are expected to do at work.

    Do you consider pursuing higher studies after graduation? How important is it for a lawyer to go for higher studies? Were you inclined at any time, towards the civil services?

    Not really till now. Although I feel certifications in specialized fields can add a lot of value to the entire candidature for future opportunities. Higher studies in my view, is helpful if you are looking for a career shift like teaching, MBA, etc. Higher studies can also buy you time in case you are inclined towards exams like civil services, judiciary etc.

    A civil services exam is a different ball game and students must start preparation while in law school as the time period of five years is a huge opportunity in itself. No doubt it is a brilliant career choice.

    Tell us something about lawyerouno.com.

    Lawyerouno is my love-child that I started three years back, just to give something back to the community. It is a platform which connects people looking for lawyers to lawyers for free. We have lawyers from over 60 cities on the portal. We started the venture with a social outlook and we are still trying to be true to it. The basic thought, behind the idea was to provide young lawyers who want to set up their practice, an opportunity to connect with clients. We are also planning a few products on the portal to provide competitive pricing advantage to the clients.

    How difficult was it for you to connect and convince different lawyers to register on lawyerouno.com?

    As the registration for lawyers on the portal was free and the intention was to provide them with an opportunity to connect with the clients, I actually did not face any resistance from them, although the technology for some senior lawyers was a challenge, which we circumvented by assisting them with a unique live chat support feature.

    What is the international financial situation owing to upcoming regulations and situations?

    My current role in TCS involves setting up of compliance support practice for financial sector clients. The financial world ever since the 2008 crisis is in a state of flux. The regulatory authorities are driving regulatory dynamism as an instrument of change. The more they want to be in control the tougher it is getting for the companies. The Brexit will spur a marked shift for financial companies trading or headquartered in the UK. The companies are vying for the regulatory advantage and gearing up their compliance departments for various new regulations like Mifid II, EMIR, Basel 3 etc. More the regulations better it is for us! All in all it is looking good for the lawyers in the compliance sphere.

    Would you say that the work environment at an LPO is completely different from a law firm?

    Although my current profile is consulting, my initial experience with Thomson Reuters in the LPO sphere convinced me that whatever notion we as law students have about LPOs is completely unfounded. In fact if you are looking for a career in corporate as opposed to litigation, LPO is a very good option as it provides you with the right learning opportunities, international exposure and a good work life balance. Several of my colleagues are now well-placed in the field of contracts and forensics with various fortune 500 companies and start-ups. Right after my stint with TR in the Compliance department, I was involved with a start-up Mind Merchants for setting up their global compliance practice, which started with 3 people and is now already 45+, hence my experience within LPO spurred my growth as a legal professional. The stark difference between the work cultures that I see between these industries is the autonomy and independence that any year 1-3 associate gets at an early stage in their career.

    What were your objectives and plans in the preliminary years of the law school?

    As any other student in the initial years the motive was to have fun and explore the college life to the Tee. It is the only in the penultimate and the final year, that I decided to chalk out a plan for myself. The plan was to identify what I enjoyed more, hence most of my firm internships were in those years which made me sure that I did not see it as my life choice.

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

    I urge students to explore themselves as much as possible instead of following treaded path blindly and choose what is best for them as a life choice rather than a career choice. Try not to be bound by what you hear, but channelize your choices around what you experience. Five years of law school is an opportunity, so use it well. All the best!