Super Lawyer

Category: Interviews

  • Ankit Sinha, Associate, Juris Corp, on LL.M from QMUL, and work experience in Banking and Finance Laws

    Ankit Sinha, Associate, Juris Corp, on LL.M from QMUL, and work experience in Banking and Finance Laws

    Ankit Sinha is one of the most diligent and illustrious scholars of the 2012 batch of School of Law, Christ University. He has a noteworthy academic record as he ranked in the top 5% of his batch during his college years. He had always planned to pursue Masters since his days in law school and therefore soon after graduation, he went on to pursue Masters in Banking and Finance Law from Queen Mary, University of London. After coming back to India, he started working at Juris Corp and is currently working as an Associate there.

    In this interview, he talks about:

    • Law school experience at School of Law, Christ University
    • LL.M experience at Queen Mary
    • Induction and work at Juris Corp

     

    How will you introduce yourself to our readers?

    The first question and I find myself lost for words. As human beings, it’s always so much more difficult to talk about yourself. Nonetheless, I’ll try. I come from a family of lawyers, tracing back to my great grandfather. I have lawyers on both my paternal and maternal side. Safe to say it didn’t take me long to fit into the scheme of things and the offerings of this profession. Outside the field of law, I’m like any other mid twenty year old- I love playing sports. I am a diehard Manchester United fan. In my spare time I love listening to music and am also an amateur photographer. I also sing and play the bass guitar.

     

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

    Law wasn’t my first choice. Surprisingly, neither was engineering or medical. I loved Economics as a subject whilst I was in school. Unfortunately, as much as I loved Economics, I had an aversion towards Mathematics. Post my 12th board examinations, and once my results were announced, given that my result in Mathematics wasn’t good enough to secure a place in any Delhi University College, I decided to pursue law for a year. My father wasn’t okay with me dropping a year. My sister was pursuing law at the time, and hence I decided to follow suit.

    I appeared for a few entrance examinations, and landed up at Christ College. Within the first few years at law school, I had, during various internships, worked briefly in the field of Banking and Finance. I saw glimpses of Economics in banking and that’s where I developed my love for the subject. So much so that I went on to do my Masters in it as well. Was quite a journey from not wanting to do law, to ending up with a Masters in it.

     

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

    Five years is a long time. I made some of the best friends and have some of the best memories of my life attached to law school. Like most teenagers, going to law school away from home meant freedom for the first time. Living alone and fending for yourself. In this profession, somewhere down the long winding path, you’ll find yourself stranded and alone. My five year stint at Bangalore made me independent. It made think on my feet. It made me realise that knowing that a problem exists isn’t good enough. Finding solutions was the key. Even today, the fact that I spent those years away from home, away from my parents, made me stand up on my feet. It made me see the world from a different viewpoint. I honestly believe one cannot learn the law, one can only prove to be prudent enough to find it. I developed my research abilities throughout my five years at law school and during my internships.

     

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

    I ranked in the top 5% of my batch during my years at Christ College and subsequently ended up with a merit during my Masters. So safe to say I was good at studies. If it matters to kick-start your legal career, well, it does to some extent. Most law firms prefer students who excel in studies as it depicts sincerity. It’s not the only criteria, but it may help you land at interview with a prominent law firm. Once there, if you’re good enough, consider the battle won.

     

    Which subjects did you enjoy during your qualifying degree? What about co-curricular activities?

    Economics and Banking law! I didn’t so much so as have an iota of doubt in my mind that I wanted to pursue a career in Banking. I wasn’t interested in mooting to be honest. I spent a lot of my time playing cricket and football for the College team. In my 4th year I was appointed the convenor of the sports committee and I’m proud to say that under my stewardship, Christ College won its first ever law school sports fest when we visited NUJS, Kolkata that year. I was also an avid counter-strike fan and had the opportunity of being a part of the gaming team at Christ College as well.

     

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

    In my 2nd year itself I had made up my mind that I wanted to pursue my Masters in Banking and Finance. I had done my homework on the best Universities in UK for an LL.M. in Banking and Finance and had already sent across my applications by mid 4th year. Throughout law school I worked towards the requirements that each of the 5 colleges I had narrowed down on, stipulated, for an entry into their Banking and Finance programme.

     

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

    I applied to five Colleges. Four of them were Colleges affiliated to the University of London. Queen Mary seemed to have the most concrete Banking and Finance programme and it fit my needs perfectly, making the final decision relatively easy.

    As a heads up to those who wish to pursue higher studies, make sure you do your homework. Rankings are attractive, but there’s a lot more to a Master’s abroad than just that. Don’t blindly follow the herd. Some colleges have better programmes than others. It’s important to narrow down the best Colleges as per your specific needs, the programme you wish to pursue and the professors conducting the relevant modules you intend to take up.

     

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

    A statement of purpose is the driving force behind why you wish to undertake a specific programme at a specific College. It’s not meant to be a glorified version of your curriculum vitae. Keep it short and simple. Avoid flowery language. No one is judging your creative ability. Most College websites abroad specify the length of an ideal statement of purpose. Stick to the word limit. Also, and most importantly, if you intend to apply to more than one College, avoid writing a common statement of purpose. Each statement has to be specific to the College it is intended to be addressed to, keeping in mind the programme they are offering.

     

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

    Two professors that I always admired at law school were more than willing to write a letter recommending me. Needless to say, one of them had taught me Banking law. If you’re planning to do a Masters, make sure at least two of your professors admire you.

     

    Tell us something about your LLM year at Queen Mary, London? How did this influence your career?

    It’s a different ball game altogether. In India the education system mandates that one learns the law instead of learning how to find and apply it. At Queen Mary you’re not expected to know the law, you’re expected to find answers to queries and apply the law as per the given situation at hand. This helped me immensely when I joined Juris Corp. I may not always know the law, but I know where to find it on most occasions and how to apply it appropriately.

     

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

    My dissertation was titled “Electronic Banking: Boon or Bane?”. During my stay at the United Kingdom I noticed how everyone would just book products online. No one really took the pain to go to a Sainsbury’s or a Tesco’s. Not during the winters at least! That’s how I ended up with a dissertation on electronic banking. My topic was a comparative analysis of the usage of electronic modes of banking by people in India and in the United Kingdom.

     

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

    Juris Corp, as most know, has a very prominent banking practice. So the decision wasn’t very difficult. I sent in my resume and within a few weeks got a call from the HR department. That was followed by a series of interviews, some telephonic, some personal. The questions were primarily based on my LL.M. modules and my past internship experiences. Within two weeks I had landed myself a job at the firm, well before completing my LL.M.

     

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

    I don’t remember exactly what was asked, but I do remember that a lot was asked from what I had mentioned in my curriculum vitae. Knowing your curriculum vitae inside out is of utmost importance! I was also asked specific questions on my LL.M. modules and my dissertation. The interviewer, who now happens to be the Partner I work under, kept taking lead from my answers while asking her next line of questions.

     

    How tough were the first six months at your workplace?

    Not at all! I am very lucky in that sense. I had a very welcoming and warm team. My Partner, who heads the Banking and Finance practice at the firm, is one of the most understanding and calmest people to work under. She has, from the inception ensured that I am at par with my peers. She along with a lot of others helped me during the initial few months. Within the first 3 months I was already in the thick of things. Tough is not a situation I experienced. It was challenging, but definitely not tough!

     

    What are your day-to-day responsibilities? What is the most challenging aspect of your job? How is the experience so far?

    There’s no set day-to-day responsibility. The only responsibility entrusted upon all of us is to ensure that we keep learning every day, widening our scope in the field of Banking and Finance and delivering to our client’s expectations.

     

    Your main practice area covers Banking and Finance Law. What prompted you to choose these practice areas? Please share with our readers.

    As monotonous as it may sound, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in Banking and Finance as early as 2008. Since then it’s been my dream and today I’m living that dream.

     

    How do you manage the workload and your personal life?

    That’s not always easy. Some days the workload is a lot more than on others. When you’re still new in the profession, the aim is to strive to be better and work hard. Having said that, once in a while your mind needs to take a break. We get Sundays and alternative Saturdays off. On those days I meet friends or go on road trips. That helps. Week days are all about work! On those few days when I leave office early, I prefer going home and watching television or listening to music.

     

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

    We have internal FYI’s and bulletins circulated by all teams to help us keep at pace with the industry news and trends. In addition, on a weekly basis one or two associates make an internal presentation on the latest developments in their respective fields. All this helps keep at pace with the latest developments. I also track the Reserve Bank of India website on a daily basis. This further helps augment my knowledge in the field of Banking and Finance.

     

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

    There’s no replacement to sincerity. I make sure that I’m putting my 100% in every assignment entrusted upon me. I ensure I take up every task and perform it to the best of my ability. Errors and mistakes are inevitable. It makes us learn. It improves the way we think. Unless you really make a blunder, you’ll never end up really learning. Once I make a mistake, the next time round, while drafting that particular clause or opining on that particular aspect of law, I pay that much more attention to the finer details.

     

    Do you feel that higher education helps a person to have a successful legal career? What would be your word of advice to students who wish to go for higher studies?

    To each his own! There’s no sure shot formula to a successful career. Every individual has his or her own strengths, weaknesses and limitations. It’s best to abide by those because you know yourself best. As for me, yes the 18 month stint abroad did help me. Not just as a lawyer, but also as an individual. It made me a stronger person. More humble to my own shortcomings and towards life in general. So my advice would be, do what you think is best for you. Don’t follow the crowd. Be different, be unique, be yourself.

     

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

    If I assign work to an intern, on most occasions I don’t expect him or her to find me the answer to my query. It’s not always a simple straightforward answer. For me what counts is the effort. If I’m convinced that a particular intern has the ability to learn and improve if nurtured, I always give him or her a positive feedback.

     

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

    You must have heard the saying- jack of all trades, master of none! In this field and in my honest opinion, specialism is of vital importance. 10 years into the profession one will recognize you for the area of law you have a strong hold in. Having a forte is essential. The earlier you start, the better off you will be.

     

    What do you cherish most about the experience you’ve had over the past two years?

    I wouldn’t be able to pick one specific experience or moment. Every day has had its share of glimpses that are etched in my memory.

     

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

    I’ve just started. It’s a long winding road ahead. Every day is a challenge. Every day is an opportunity to better yourself. The past is the past and the future is too far. I hope my present and every single day of it I have a new memory to cherish. I intend to take each day as it comes and strive to be the best at what I do. As once said by Steve Jobs- Stay hungry stay foolish!

  • Subhradipta Sarkar, Assistant Professor, ITM Law School, on research acumen and being an academician

    Subhradipta Sarkar, Assistant Professor, ITM Law School, on research acumen and being an academician

    Subhradipta Sarkar graduated from Calcutta University with a BA LL.B degree in 2003. He then specialised in Human Rights Law while pursuing his Masters at National Law School of India University, Bangalore. His internships include the National Human Rights Commission as well as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Before becoming an academician, he worked as a Law Research Officer at People’s Watch, a human rights NGO where he worked for around two and a half years. He also had the opportunity to work as a Lecturer at BILS and as Assistant Professor at MATS Law School.He is currently teaching at ITM Law School, while pursuing a Ph.D from NLSIU on Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management.

    In this interview he talks about:

    • Specializing in Disaster Management and Human Rights
    • Working at People’s Watch
    • Being a teacher and academician

     

    Tell us a bit about your childhood and pre-college life as well as educational background.

    I hail from Balurghat, a small town in West Bengal. I am the only child of my parents. Incidentally, my father is a lawyer who has a long experience of practice in the District Court. My mother was a strict disciplinarian and was very concerned about my studies and future. And today whatever I have achieved, I owe a great deal to my mother’s sacrifice and tenacity during my school days. I went to a Bengali medium Government High School. During my school days, my reasonably decent academic achievements might have prompted my mother to dream of me becoming a doctor. To be honest, coming from a small town with no concept of career counselling I am not sure whether I was geared up for a career as a doctor. However peer pressure and family pressure compelled me to go ahead. Fortunately and expectedly, I failed to clear the medical entrance exams. Otherwise I could have never gotten the opportunity to study law.

     

    How did your interest gravitate towards law?

    I never found interest in the core science subjects even though I continued to score marks. I was more interested in debates and reading newspapers/magazines for enhancing general knowledge. I always wanted to utilise my interest in pursuing my studies. Of course, I never got encouragement from home in pursuing law despite coming from a lawyer’s background. I remember when I first expressed my wish to become a lawyer, my mother started crying. My intuition told me that I would enjoy this course and I went ahead on my chosen path. Since then, I have never regretted for that decision.

     

    Having graduated from Calcutta University and pursuing LL.M from NLSIU what were your areas of interest? How did you go about developing expertise and knowledge in these areas?

    My graduation from Calcutta University is B.A.LL.B. without any specialisation. However, I found interest in IPR and Corporate Law. After clearing NLSIU Entrance Exam for LL.M., I got myself registered as a Corporate Law student. While doing a book review as an assignment in Research Methodology in the first semester, accidently, I picked up Neera Burra’s book Born to Work: Child Labour in India and that changed my interest and vision altogether. This book prompted me to read more books on Human Rights. My interest in Corporate Law diminished and I wrote to the PG Council to change my specialisation to Human Rights Law. Subsequently, I went on to have invaluable experiences interning at National Human Rights Commission and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Particularly, the UNHCR internship provided me with practical exposure to deal with human rights issues including interviewing Afghan refugees through interpreters. This was something I have always treasured. In fact, my LL.M. dissertation is on refugee law.

     

    Before becoming an academician, you worked as a Law Research Officer at People’s Watch, a Human Right NGO. How was the experience?

    Excellent. Working at People’s Watch gave me an edge which many of my counter parts in academics never got. While doing my LL.M., I wanted to work with UN agencies and for that I wanted to start in the real world with Human Rights NGOs. Professor Vijayakumar recommended me to People’s Watch. Hence, it was kind of campus placement for me. I ended up in Madurai. I was extremely fortunate to work under the guidance of Mr. Henri Tiphagne, who is the Executive Director of the organisation. He is an extremely good strategist, with superlative oratory and writing skills and one who knows the law very well. I am thankful to him for shaping my early career. I had the opportunity to work with some socio-legal issues like the STF (constituted to nab Veerappan) violence, caste atrocities, custodial violence, post tsunami relief and rehabilitation, etc. Had I not gone for that job, I would never have the opportunity to witness the actually working of law in the real world.

     

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    How did you decide to go into academics?

    After working for a couple of years with People’s Watch, a few things were bothering me as I was increasingly getting annoyed at the donor driven agendas of NGOs. Secondly, eulogising hardcore criminals and advocating for their protection of human rights were somewhere pricking my conscience me as I believed that it was a partial view of the entire truth. Furthermore, I was also not visualising long term growth in my career by confining myself to Madurai as I neither had roots nor knew the local language. I was getting suffocated by work with predetermined agendas and wanted to express myself more freely and independently. Those things prompted me to leav Madurai and migrating to Bangalore to join academics. Additionally, I always felt that many teachers cared little for our issues/problems from our perspective rather they imposed theirs on us. They did not travel an extra mile in making studying law easier. I wanted to change this attitude and that is only possible if I take up teaching.

     

    What do you like best about teaching at ITM Law School? Which subject(s) do you teach? Which one interests you the most? Why?

    ITM is a very professional organisation. There is always a pressure to achieve more as they always push you to go further in enhancing your academic capabilities. There is academic freedom with accountability. I teach Law of Torts and Jurisprudence. This semester I am offering a course, namely, Disasters, Development and Human Rights, to LL.M. I like teaching Jurisprudence.

    This is a subject which law students generally hate and I like the challenge to make an all out effort to make them love the subject. I feel that if one can understand the fundamentals of law then understanding any kind of law will never be a problem. I am glad that every year I have been successful in influencing a bunch of students to study the issues analytically utilizing legal theories of various jurists. I even started a Facebook group called ‘Jurisprudence for Fun’ where I post many legal news and opinions. I encourage students to comment on them. I also have a Whatsapp group with students where I discuss about many legal problems outside the class hours. They help me to stay connected with them.

     

    You have authored various papers in many reputed Law journals. What role do publications play in the life of an academician?

    I strongly believe in the saying for academicians: ‘Publish or Perish’. This is more appropriate for law teachers and researchers. Unlike our counterparts in engineering or medicine, we do not have labs or equipments for demonstrating our research skills; and therefore, publication is arguably the best method to demonstrate our novel ideas. One example I may provide from my own experience. In 2006, I published a critique of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 in Economic and Political Weekly. This was well-taken by many and brought recognition to me because at that time very few scholars had researched in this emerging area from legal point of view. The article was even cited by the 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission in its report on ‘Crisis Management’. It enhanced my interest in the area too. Subsequently, I was asked to do a book review and write monographs in disaster management. I did my M.Phil. in the area and now I am also pursuing my Ph.D.

     

    What, in your view, are the few most important skills that law students should strive to acquire in order to write research papers effectively?

    Good oratory and writing skills are sine qua non for a good law student. When you write you tend to think logically in an organized manner and endeavour to make others understand and appreciate your contribution. Keep those things in mind when you write a research paper. You can write in any area of law you have interest. Just don’t write for the sake of writing or to add a line in your CV. The reason is that if you have interest in an area, you tend to undertake elaborate literature review to find the missing links to contribute. Then focus on one problem in the area and go ahead with the same. That’s the way you develop expertise. I have come across academicians who write in numerous areas – from space law to land law. They add up to their publication number list but I don’t find them in contributing meaningfully in any area and they are not considered as ‘experts’ in any of them. So limit your areas of research and expertise because that is actually feasible for most of us.

     

    In the meantime, you managed to pursue Master of Philosophy in Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management from NLSIU. When did you realise the importance of an M.Phil. in your professional profile?

    M.Phil. happened to me by accident. I was involved in various field researches in post-tsunami context. At the same time, law and policy regime in India regarding disaster management was in its nascent stages. So, Prof. Vijayakumar of NLSIU advised me to put down all the work I was doing in form of academic work. I went on to comply with his advice. M.Phil. helped me in numerous ways. Besides adding an academic degree, while undertaking the research, I read significantly about various aspects which certainly enhanced my knowledge. It also laid the foundation and encouragement for further research including my Ph.D.

     

    At present, along with teaching at ITM Law School, you are a Doctoral Candidate at NLSIU. What made you pursue a Ph.D.?

    Most importantly, Ph.D. is essential for promotion in academics as per UGC norms. There is also a demand for good law teachers with Ph.D. Besides career advancement, I wish to make a genuine contribution in disaster management – an area in which I have developed keen interest. Moreover, there is no book available in India from the law and policy perspective. I aspire to become one of the earliest and meaningful contributors in this regard.

     

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

    Natural disaster management and implication of international law. As already explained, I have worked in coastal areas of Tamil Nadu after the Tsunami of 2004, wrote research articles and monographs on this issue, and pursued my M.Phil. in this area, so it became an obvious choice.

     

    How do you manage your research for Ph.D. with your work?

    It was a bit difficult and stressful. I try to utilize the time after a day’s work. Working for few hours every day is helpful. I have certain plans to do some empirical research during the holidays of the university.

     

    Describe an outstanding teacher. What do you think makes this educator outstanding?

    The most important quality of an outstanding teacher is command over the subject. Essential qualities includes excellent oratory skills, ability to explain very difficult concepts in a lucid manner, approachable, good understanding of students’ psychology, and fiercely impartial in judging students’ affairs. He must be an inspiration for the students to follow in their lives. I have come across few teachers, especially Prof. Vijayakumar, Prof. M K Ramesh (both from NLSIU), Prof. Shanthakumar (my mentor), whom I consider as outstanding. May be each of them did not possess all the qualities that I have mentioned but indeed I learnt a lot of things from them and I have endeavoured to put them in practice in my case.

     

    Do you think students should behave with the professors like friends, or is it necessary to maintain a disciplined environment to create a good classroom environment?

    Both are important. While friendly relationship is required in facilitating the students in asking questions and clarifying their doubts without any inhibitions, maintaining a disciplined environment is also important. Students have to realize that probably a true teacher is the only person other than their parents who selflessly strive for their successful future. The only thing we look forward to in return is respect.

     

    What do you think is wrong with public education today?

    Where is public education? Everything has become private. Be it school or college, it has become so expensive that public cannot afford it. Despite being state institutions, even the National Law Universities charge through the roof. I would have expected the State to pump in more money in education so that more and more students from the middle class get an opportunity to get the highest quality of education. Otherwise in a wrong run, we will lose many smart brains only because of enormous educational fees.

     

    Also do you feel any changes need to be introduced in the current legal education system of our country? What do you, as a law professor feel has scope for improvement?

    More emphasis should be given to the component of clinical legal education in all subjects. Teachers must be given credit hours of teaching for their involvement in such activities and students should be assessed for their part in such activities. As of now, Drafting, Pleading and Conveyance, and Professional Ethics are considered as clinical subjects which essentially become taught courses. Besides, the simulation exercises are included which are not concerned with real cases. Rather, I would prefer students being attached with legal services authorities assisting the courts, consumer forums, government departments, public bodies in dealing with legal problems or even paralegal works in various fields and that would have a social impact. Otherwise, whatever we do in the law schools have no impact outside the boundaries. And if we can formally integrate them in the course curriculum, then it would not be left to few enthusiastic students but the whole student community would be involved.

     

    Any important things which law school didn’t teach you but ‘teaching’ did?

    Law school helped me to comprehend any legal topic for my own consumption alone but as a teacher, I have to put myself in the shoes of almost all the students including the worst student in the class. Now I have a responsibility for the performance of the entire batch.

     

    What are your long-term goals? What do you plan to accomplish in the coming five years?

    First of all, I aspire to complete my Ph.D. Then I would prefer to leave academics for a while and go and work in the field for any governmental/non-governmental/UN organizations dealing with disaster management. Subsequently, equipped with considerable practical knowledge, I want to come back to the classes. I guess such amalgamation of theory and practice would make my lecture delivery more meaningful and real.

     

    What would be your advice for law students who want to take up the profession of teaching?

    Take up teaching only if you have a passion for it. You should be prepared to learn throughout your life and study systematically for that. Well-read teachers are revered the most by the students. No part of the subject which you are going teach can be earmarked as more or less important. Students may ask you anything to quench their thirst of knowledge. Be bold to admit that you don’t have an appropriate explanation for a student’s enquiry. Come out of the class and try to find the answer. Relax, you are not God but a human being after all. Don’t try to trick the students through elusive explanations. They will soon find out the truth and paint a negative picture of yours. Remember, teaching is a unique job where you will primarily be apprised all your life by people who are junior to you in all aspects. You need to be an efficient manager to control a diverse group of students who are in the class for varying reasons. If you fail to manage the class, you will always be a failure despite all the knowledge you may possess. And never hesitate to act in just and fair way, even if it makes you unpopular for time-being, you will always gain in a long run.

  • Snigdha Pandey Kaushik, Associate, Chitale & Chitale Partners, on law school and work experience in Asset Reconstruction

    Snigdha Pandey Kaushik, Associate, Chitale & Chitale Partners, on law school and work experience in Asset Reconstruction

    Snigdha Pandey Kaushik is a graduate from Gujarat National Law University (Batch of 2009). She has interned at CCI and financial institutions such as IFCI and IIDL. She worked at litigation law firms before joining Assets Care and Reconstruction Enterprise Ltd. as an Assistant Legal Manager, followed by the post of Legal Manager at International Asset Reconstruction Company Pvt. Ltd. After working at IARCPL for almost a year, she started practising and joined Chitale & Chitale Partners. In this interview she talks about:

    • Law school at GNLU
    • Working at IARCPL
    • Being an independent legal practitioner

     

    Please introduce yourself to our readers. Please tell us a little bit about your childhood and your background?

    I am Snigdha and I have graduated from Gujarat National Law Unversity. I come from a family where my father and mother belong to a small city named Indore in Madhya Pradesh. The initial years of my life were spent in Bhopal. Since my father had a transferable job we moved to Bangalore from Bhopal. My perspective of life and my independence were due to Bangalore since Bangalore has the concept of Pre University College so you get exposed to a typical college life at a very early age. I feel that this exposure made me independent at a very early age.

     

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

    Early in my life I was clear that Maths and Science are subjects which are not meant for me. I was always comfortable with subjects like History and Civics. Hence, right after my 10th I took Arts and since I was in Bangalore I could not have been away from NLSIU. That’s when I decided that for sure this is what I want to do as this is one subject which I will never be bored of. Hence, Law and I can still say that this is one of the best subjects I studied.

     

    Tell us about your years in law school. What made your journey with GNLU exciting?

    Law School Journey has been a very memorable one. I feel that in these five years what one learns always stays with you. The best part of law school is that it has taught me that nothing is that what you cannot do.

    The experience of the Hostel life apart from just studies was great. The Hostel is the best part of the Law School. It makes one learn how to make a relationship and how to deal with different kinds of people. The exciting part of GNLU is your friends. I feel that studies are not the only thing you do when in college. You need to enjoy those five years of your college too and the best people with whom you can do are your friends.

     

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

    Well with respect to my academics at GNLU I have been an average student. Personally speaking, I don’t find it necessary that you should have great CGPA for a good career start. I feel that one just needs one opportunity whichever way you get it and use it for your benefit. It all depends on the individual what he or she wants to achieve and how they will.

     

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

    My areas of interest were Competition Law and Finance law. During my tenure I pursued my internship at CCI and at financial Institutions like IFCI, IIDL. I feel that nothing better than an internship can help you to understand your interests as practical knowledge always helps and after having the insight, knowledge about these institutes it helped me a great deal in working on my Dissertation subjects during 5th year of my college which in turn has now made my basic knowledge of the subjects clear.

     

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    After graduation, you worked with various litigation law firms before joining Assets Care & Reconstruction Enterprise Ltd. as an Assistant Legal Manager. How did the shift from law firms to ARC take place?

    Well yes I started with Litigation as I wanted to understand how courts work. The shift to ARC was not difficult as I was interested in the financial sector so the decision was not difficult. The responsibilities entrusted to me during my tenure at ARC were of a Assistant Legal Manager where I had to make sure of the Legal compliances for the company. I had to keep knowledge of the ongoing cases on a day to day basis and meet with the lawyers/briefing lawyers and  drafting of MOU and Assignment Agreements.

     

    You also had the opportunity to work as a Legal Manager at International Asset Reconstruction Company Pvt. Ltd.? Why did you prefer working in ARCs over law firms? How did that go?

    Well when you become Manager Legal the work wise responsibilities’ increase as then you are solely made responsible for the company cases as you are expected to do things efficiently and in a way where minimal supervision is required. It was a good experience which gave an insight of how things are for an in house counsel. Well there is nothing like I preferred working with an ARC and not a law firm. It was a conscious decision before making my mind completely about what exactly I want to achieve in my career it was important for me to understand whether can I work as an in-house counsel or not. Hence, now what I am doing is something I know I really want to do.

     

    After having worked at IARCPL for almost one year, you started you started practicing and joined Chitale & Chitale Partners. Was it pre-planned or it just happened during your days at IARCPL? What prompted you to make this choice and join a litigation law firm?

    It wasn’t pre-planned at all. During my tenure of working in-house there was always something which I was missing at the Courts. In spite of having lots to work I wasn’t happy with just being in office. Well, independent practice is not what I would say I am doing because it’s too soon to be completely independent in the profession for me I am doing my work but also in assistance of the seniors as there is still a lot to learn and achieve and without the assistance of my seniors in the profession it’s not possible.

     

    What are you main practice areas? How has been your experience so far? Is it more comfortable be your own boss or is the pressure of work almost similar?

    Well since it’s very niche for me so right now I am open to any kind of work coming my way before I establish myself in one field. I have worked from Competition Law to Criminal law to Environment Law, Company Law and Arbitration. The experience has been good so far. Well yes, I find it being more comfortable when you are your own boss as you can work the way you want to and manage time your way but there are days when there is work pressure. That’s the time you miss the helping hands as when you are your own boss from tiniest details to the main work it’s all your work then time management becomes crucial.

     

    How did you overcome your initial jitters in a courtroom full of experienced lawyers and judges? Tell us about the highs and lows.

    Well it’s your confidence which helps you to overcome the jitters. The good thing is that the judges are encouraging themselves (in my case I have felt that) if a young lawyer is arguing and that encouragement helps you to overcome the jitters. Highs of course are the very opportunity to argue a case and if getting a good response from the Judges. Lows is the time investment required for you to establish yourself it needs a lot of patience and dedication as it’s not something you can achieve in months or in a year time.

     

    As a practising lawyer how did you manage to learn the basics of court room practice? Did you have anyone to guide and mentor you during the initial days of your practice?

    The basics of Court room practice I have learnt from observing the seniors and the way they argue their cases and the way they present a case before the Judges. This daily observation helps you to understand and prepares you for the day when you have to stand before the Judges. How you should start with your submissions and what is required to grab the attention of the Judges. Well not really but fortunately I have friends and seniors in the profession who help me at times if I feel I am stuck or encourage me well enough to handle situations my own way. Fortunately the transition isn’t bad.

     

    How did your first hearing as an independent practitioner go? Which are the most memorable cases you argued on?

    Cases I will not have much to talk about as I am still trying to establish myself in the profession. But any case you get to argue becomes a memorable case for you. My first hearing as an Independent practitioner is indeed a memorable one as it took about 6 months plus for the matter to reach its final disposal but the feeling of getting a favourable order in your very first hearing is just ecstatic.

     

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

    Well, no, the work has never fallen in a predictable manner as when you are independent that’s the time you keep exploring options of how to enhance your practice and how to get more work. Also, if you’re attached with someone it will help so lot of days have been spent working all alone working with friends or working in a small set up law firms to figure out how it will work for you.  I am still looking for that best option.

     

    How far is theoretical knowledge in law schools consistent with the practical arena?

    Theoretical Knowledge is the basic knowledge what you gain from law schools and the basics always helps you to be consistent in the practical arena.

     

    Do you think your experience in mooting, debate, ADR and client counselling competitions shall help you in your litigation career?

    Yes absolutely. I am happy that I was a part of the Moot Court competitions in Law School and got an opportunity to be a part of a National Moot Competition as that helps to have the confidence which is required for arguing in a court room.

     

    What can the law schools do to encourage more people into litigation? Do you think the law school curriculum requires overhaul?

    As per me, not really as I feel that the Law Schools are giving you the right training I feel it’s important for you study both sides of law without any prejudice. It’s the individual who has to figure out what’s the area he is more interested in and what he or she can practice.

     

     

    The Bar Council of India has recently come out with new Certificate of Practice and Renewal Rules, 2014 that prohibit an Advocate from starting to practise in the Supreme Court unless they have practiced for at least two years in a trial court and three years in a high court in India. What is your take on this?

    Well honestly I do not agree with such a rule as I feel that an individual has a right to choose his or her forum where they want to practice and where they want to establish themselves as a lawyer. Though personally speaking I would say that it’s very important as a litigation lawyer to have practised in the lower courts too.

     

    Indian criminal law is, to a large extent, influenced by its British counterpart. Do you think if Indians would have framed our Penal Code, it would have been better?

    Yes, of course. It’s a fact that when you follow somebody else’s law after sometime you do realise that the problem in your country is not similar to the problem the other country faced. Hence, if we would have made our own Penal Code we would have made it keeping in mind the kind of issues our country was facing or the issues which are more prominent here.

     

    How to make a conscious career choice – corporate vs. litigation?

    Conscious career choice is when you realise your own strengths when you realise that this is what I enjoy and you accept that career along with its negatives and still feel happy with it, that’s when you know you have made a conscious choice.

     

    What would be your parting message to law students who want to litigate just after graduation?

    My parting message to the law students who want to litigate after graduation is that no matter how slow your growth is in litigation one should be patient as Litigation is one career choice which needs lots of patience with hardly any money in the beginning.  Another important aspect of Litigation is the building of social relationships with your counterparts as it’s very important in Litigation to interact with your counterparts and maintain a good relationship with them.

  • Prachi Vijay, Associate Consultant, Ernst & Young, on law school, internships and work experience

    Prachi Vijay, Associate Consultant, Ernst & Young, on law school, internships and work experience

    Prachi Vijay is an Associate Consultant at Ernst & Young. She graduated from Government Law College, Mumbai in 2013. While in college, she explored various areas of law and has interned in several places including law firms such as DH Law & Associates and Ernst & Young, tax firms, consultancy firms and the Court. Soon after graduation she joined Intellistay Hotels Pvt. Ltd. as a Legal Executive where she worked for over a year before joining Ernst & Young. In this interview she talks about:

    • Law school experience at GLC, Mumbai
    • The importance of doing varied internships
    • Interning and working at Ernst & Young

     

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

    I graduated from Government Law College in 2013 and am currently working with Ernst & Young as an Associate Consultant. I come from a very small town where there are only three types of career options available- Government job, Medicine and Engineering. Anything apart of these is pursued only when you are not good enough to secure one of the three jobs.

    Not wanting to follow the conventional course and clueless about what to do, it was actually my late grandfather who motivated me to pursue law. While studying for 12th Boards, I was staying at my grandparents place. He kept on telling me how honourable the legal profession is. The seeds of legal studies were sown then. Consequently, I entered law school and by the end of first year, I was certain that this is what I was meant to do. So, what started as an experiment became a passion in no time.

     

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

    Government Law College was an experience par excellence. Most of the times, students were involved in the co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. Committee meetings were frequent and it was there that the best friendships were made. Throughout the year, GLC holds a wide number of activities including moot court (national and international), debates, sports, study tour, guest lecture, etc. I was in the organizing team of most of the events that the college used to organise; Students Council ad hoc, Magazine Committee, Placement Committee, Alumni Association, to name a few.

    As far as academics were concerned, the practical exposure was immense. The classes would finish by 10:30 a.m. and I was interning full time throughout the year. So, whatever was being taught in class, I had already worked on them at the law firm where I was interning. The concept became clearer. I managed to inculcate theoretical as well as practical knowledge at the same time. This made studying easier and interesting. Five years passed in no time and voila! I was a lawyer already.

     

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

    My areas of interest were Company law, IPR and Arbitration and they still are. During my internships, I worked extensively on these areas. When you are in your 2nd year of law school, you are not taken too seriously and you end up photo copying, scanning and at the most researching, for the entire duration of your internship. So, I would go around the law firm asking people to give me work involving Company law or IPR or Arbitration. As a result I not only researched on the cases at hand but started drafting notices, giving legal opinions, making and filing trademark applications and drafting opposition.

     

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    What kind of internships did you do in your law school? Which internships will you consider to be right at the top and why?

    I am originally from Patna. The first time I came to Bombay was when I got admitted to GLC. So going back home for vacations were the only thing I looked forward to in those days. As a result, my first 2 internships happened back home.

    For 2 months, I interned with a Senior Advocate at Patna High Court, Mr. Keshav Srivastava. I learnt the basics there: Court proceedings, researching, etc. Also, it completely shattered the picture I had in my mind about the Court.

    My second internship was at a CA firm. It was a CA firm but it taught me the intricacies of taxation. As a result, my interest in taxation grew manifold and this helped me in getting an internship at a later stage at TLC, which is a taxation firm based out of Bombay which specialises in Tax litigation.

    However, the internships that played a major role in grooming me and preparing me for my legal career were DH Law & Associates and Ernst & Young. I joined DH Law when I was in my 3rdyear and was subsequently promoted from an intern to a paralegal. Consequently, I was there for more than a year and worked mainly on corporate law, IPR and arbitration. This internship by and far clarified the confusion of most law students: whether to pick corporate law or litigation.

    In the last year of my college, I started interning in Ernst & Young where I dealt with extant state, national and international laws. All in all, I explored almost all the areas of the legal field during my college years.

    I don’t come from a law background. So getting the first internship was difficult. I was dependent upon my grades in college for that. However, after much try once I secured the first one, all others followed quite smoothly.

     

    Did you find that your law school education had prepared you sufficiently for internships and your job?

    Law school is an experience in itself. In GLC everything is student driven. Whether you are organising an event or helping your seniors to get placed. Everything is taken care of by the student bodies which are headed by professors. All the execution work is handled by the students. From getting the bouquets for welcoming the guests at the event to going to law firms to invite them to take part in the placement program, everything was managed by the students. So, GLC ingrained in me a sense of responsibility. And the moment you become responsible and answerable for your work, half the battle is won. Practice years teach you the nitty-gritties of the legal field. But the basics, the concept, the root is learnt during the years of college.

     

    Did you learn any skills while interning? What are these skills and how did you acquire them?

    The top things that I learnt while interning were patience and how to work under pressure with stringent timelines without compromising on the quality of work.

    If you don’t have a legal background, the only thing that might help you in securing your first internship is a good CGPA.

    When you have contacts, it becomes easier to get into a good law firm for internships from the very initial days of law school. Having said that, contacts may land you into a good internship but whether the law firm is going to retain you or not depends upon your willingness to work hard.

     

    What do you have to say about mooting at law school and legal writing for journals?

    Mooting gives you a picture of what it would be like when you finally step into the legal field as a professional. It improves your researching and your ability to put your arguments in front of others. While mooting improves your verbal skills, legal writing improves your writing skill. Both of these are extremely important for your overall development as a lawyer. I cannot comment on whether they add bonus value to your CV or not but they certainly enhance your capabilities.

     

    How did your appointment take place at Intellistay Hotels Pvt. Ltd.? What worked for you in securing the job? What kind of responsibilities you were entrusted with?

    I’d interned in all possible areas-Court, Law Firm, Consultancy, Tax firm. The only area that was left to explore was a Company. The initial years are the only time when one can experiment and explore so when I got to know that there is a vacancy in a hospitality company for legal post, I jumped at the opportunity. I applied directly through their website and after the telephonic interview, I was called for personal interview. Within a week’s time, my appointment got confirmed and I had to join the following week. I worked there for a little more than a year. I was mainly responsible for the day to day legal issues of the company; for e.g.:- drafting and reviewing legal documents like lease, Contracts, MOUs, etc.; hospitality laws and regulations, liaisoning with various departments like Municipal Corporation, Excise Department, Police, etc. for acquiring various licenses including liquor license, trade license, etc.

     

    What would you suggest a fresh law graduate should do to hold spirit and utilise the opportunities available during the first year of graduation?

    The initial years of a law graduate play the most important role. You are no longer a law student and neither are you an established legal professional. This is the time to learn, to grasp, to get involved and make the most of it. Once you are well equipped with the work at hand, success becomes inevitable.

     

    You currently work as an Associate Consultant at Ernst and Young. What prompted you to make this choice and what made this shift possible?

    I worked at IntelliStay Hotels for over a year. It will always be special because it helped me become independent. While I was very happy with the work entrusted in IntelliStay, when an opportunity came along from EY, I knew I had to take it. The basic aim is to grow. The initial years are the best time to grow.

     

    How did your appointment at E&Y take place?

    I had already interned at EY for almost a year during college days. One of my seniors approached me when there was vacancy. While recruitment happens through the traditional method in EY, since I had worked there before, I only had to go through the telephonic interview. The recruitment was smooth.

     

    We would love to hear about your work profile. Being an Associate Consultant, what are your responsibilities?

    My basic work at EY is to help the clients in executing their plans and business. A normal work day starts with a cup of tea and a briefing of what a particular client wants. Once briefed, time lines are set and everyone gets to work. At EY, no one hovers over your head watching whether you are working or not. Everyone is just concerned about the quality of work and its completion within the stipulated time. So, responsibility comes right from the junior most post. You are responsible and answerable for your own work.

     

    What have been your failures and successes? What were the biggest hurdles and challenges in the first few months?

    Shifting from a Company (where the work is limited to the matter concerning the company) to a Consultancy (where work revolves around the requirements of the client and you are expected to work on a number of issues at the same time) is in itself the most challenging task. The first few months at EY were difficult for the simple reason that people here are very particular about providing nothing but the best service to clients and for that you are expected to go beyond your comfort zone. Fortunately, my seniors were always there to help. The healthy work environment made this transition very easy.

     

    What are the primary professional ethics you follow while at work? How do you deal with mistakes or errors?

    EY has a code of conduct and you are not expected to breach it. Client’s information is confidential and in no circumstances it can be discussed with people that have no business. Social media is to be handled with responsibility. There is absolutely no compromise on the integrity of the firm. At EY, there is hardly any scope for error or mistake.

     

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

    Social media today is so strong that it is not at all difficult to reach the nook and corners of latest industry news.

     

    Many young lawyers at corporate firms complain about the work being too exhausting, and that maintaining a work-life balance is just not possible. Could you share any tips on this?

    It’s all about the priorities. Once out of law school, the priority is to work in a good firm or a company. The basic idea is career growth. During the initial years, the question of whether one would be able to maintain work-life balance should not seep in. Once the initial years are done and dusted with, there is always a choice to work at your own terms. The career growth in legal field is comparatively fast if you are willing to give your 100%. When I got my first job, I was willing to look beyond the work load and the time schedule. I just wanted to learn and work. I compelled my bosses to give me tasks that no one was willing to take. Within no time, I became indispensable to my company.

    There can never be a work-life balance. You either work or you manage your life. Work is my priority right now too. Five years down the line, may be life will be my priority and I’ll work accordingly.

     

    What is the procedure to apply for an internship and recruitment at E&Y? What do they look for in their prospective employees?

    Recruitment at EY happens through the traditional way of interview.

    It’s a three stage process-

    1. a) shortlisting your CV;
    2. b) telephonic interview including HR round; and
    3. c) personal interview.

    EY looks for people who are responsible and responsive and are willing to take charge of things.

     

    Is there any other tip you would like to give to our budding professionals?

    Patience is a virtue. I was rejected by a number of recruiters before being finally employed. And a year and a half later, I am at a happy place. I look back and I thank them for not hiring me. There is no substitute for hard work-whether you are litigating or joining corporate. Just be passionate about whatever you are doing or don’t do it at all.

    Like Charles Bukowsi said: “Find what you love and let it kill you.”

  • Avijit Sharma, Associate, Saikrishna & Associates, work at IAMAI, winning moots and balancing studies

    Avijit Sharma, Associate, Saikrishna & Associates, work at IAMAI, winning moots and balancing studies

    Avijit Sharma graduated with a degree in Anthropology from Hans Raj College, Delhi, later he graduated in law from CLC, Delhi University in 2009. While in college, he earned several awards at moot court competitions including the award for the Best Speaker at the 27th National Bar Council of India Moot Court Competition. He was also the Convenor of the Moot Society at Delhi University. He began his legal career as Assistant Manager-Legal Affairs at Internet and Mobile Association of India. He is currently an Associate at Saikrishna & Associates. In this interview he talks about:

    • Balancing academics and mooting
    • Working at IAMAI and Saikrishna & Associates
    • Specializing in IPR Laws

     

    You have a Bachelor’s degree in Science (Anthropology) from Hans Raj College, DU. Could share with us any specific incident which motivated you to pursue law as a career?

    Law was always a career option for me. Law could be studied as a five year program after XII Boards, or a three year program after a graduate degree. Graduate degrees in English, Business Administration, Economics and commerce are considered useful for a career in law. However, after going through the syllabus for B.Sc. Anthropology I felt that it should provide an ideal foundation for a career in law – in no other discipline is one simultaneously exposed to the study of biological, sociological, cultural, economic and political growth of human beings and societies, as well as immediately useful subjects – such as human anatomy and forensic science. For me law was a logical progression from Anthropology.

     

    How was your experience at CLC, DU?

    I had a wonderful time at CLC, DU. The crowd was good. The faculty is great. The intellectual environment is stimulating. I focused on constitutional law, intellectual property and environmental law. I found criminal law fascinating and law of evidence absorbing, but tried not to neglect any major branch. I cannot presume to be able to advise anyone, but would suggest that one should try to explore every major branch of law.

     

    What is your take on academics?

    Academics are very important. A consistently good CGPA is a reflection of one’s attitude and habits of regularity, inner discipline and capacity for organized work. I believe that these qualities are equally essential for a good career in the legal profession. In addition, a good CGPA makes your CV impressive in the eyes of Law Firms and prospective employers.

     

    What skills did you get to hone as the Student Convener of your Moot committee?

    Being the student convener of the Moot Court Society was a cherished moment. The Moot Court Society was all about close looping with the senior and junior batch-mates and learning to present arguments at moot court fixtures. I am greatly in debt to Prof. Alka Chawla for recognising my time management skills, and entrusting me with various important decisions to manage the Moot Court Society.

     

    You have participated and won various moot court competitions. What is your advice to budding mooters?

    Yes, I have won various moot competitions and also won a scholarship and the Best Speaker award in the 27thNational Bar Council of India Moot Court Competition and in a few others.

    One has to be better prepared for the ‘competition’. It requires thinking through both sides of the ‘problem’, being conscious of the strengths and weaknesses of both sides of the case and an anticipation of the possible queries of the judges. In short, one should be prepared enough to be able to argue from any side of the case at a moment’s notice. My advice to a budding mooter would be – never to be aggressive at any moment, but to be assertive at all times. It is important to carefully listen to the arguments of the opposite side and the questions asked by the Judge.

     

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    How does one make a winning memo? According to you, what is the difference between a great and an average memo?

    My answer would be the same as in response to the previous question. Plus, a winning memo should be crisp and brief, without missing out on anything essential. A great memo would reflect the fullness of legal research, and a keen focus on the essential issues. An average memo would be comparatively lacking in these properties.

     

    How important do you think are co-curricular activities in shaping the legal career of a law student?

    Mooting, debating and publication in journals are the best intellectual pleasures for a law student and very effective preparation for a life in law. I’d say that it’s the time best spent.

     

    What are the tips and strategies you would like to share with our readers who are currently law students?

    Academics are very important, since they reflect one’s inner discipline and attitude towards work, and it would be foolish to sacrifice them for the sake of anything, including a good performance in a moot court competition. It is to be understood that the theory of law itself has resulted into various codified laws and landmark judgements. The great Nani Palkhiwala attained a tall stature at the bar on the foundation of a strong academic background. In short, one has to excel at both, which requires good time management – an advice which is easy to give but hard to follow. Nevertheless, a good CGPA can never hurt.

     

    How was your first year after graduation?

    The first year after graduation was a tad difficult, since I could not find congenial work at the very outset. It was important to have a proper start by finding a suitable opening with a law firm of repute.

     

    You started your legal career as an Assistant Manager – Legal Affairs at Internet and Mobile Association of India. How did your appointment take place? What was the nature of your work there?

    I applied for a position at Internet and Mobile Association of India (“IAMAI”), and was fortunate to have been offered the said position. I believe that it was due to the combined effect of my academic and extra-curricular record. As the Assistant Manager, Legal Affairs, in addition to the other things, the most interesting part of my duties was to watch and document the developments taking place in the cyber world – in India as well as globally, be they legislative, judicial, social, political or commercial.

    The tipping point came when I as a co-petitioner along with IAMAI decided to move the Supreme Court of India in a writ proceeding, challenging various provisions of The Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Rules framed thereunder. The Writ has recently been decided by the Supreme Court (reported as Shreya Singhal vs. Union of India) and is considered as a milestone in Internet Jurisprudence.

     

    Currently you work as an Associate at Saikrishna & Associates. Please tell us the recruitment process at Saikrishna. Tell us about your induction into the firm.

    S&A is always open to the induction of fresh associates. They look for young professionals having the ability to work smart as well as hard, in keeping with its professional requirements. I assume that in addition to a creditable performance at the graduate and law school level, the firm also gives weightage to the extracurricular as well as professional exposure and confidence in a prospective associate. I came in touch with Mr. Saikrishna Rajagopal and Mr. J. Sai Deepak in relation to my law related responsibilities at IAMAI. S&A and IAMAI were collaborating over several matters of mutual interests, including the above-mentioned writ petition. I must have left a good impression upon them and they were gracious enough to offer me the position of an associate in the firm.

     

    What kind of work and responsibilities does an associate at Saikrishna deal with?

    The Associates in the litigation department deal with subject matters pertaining to IP enforcement, regulatory litigation, competition law litigation, pharmaceutical advisory and litigation, entertainment, media and software anti-piracy campaigns. The gamut of work includes preparing briefs, drafting pleadings, researching relevant case laws, client meetings, court appearances. The firm provides ample work related opportunities, professional exposure and a conducive environment to enable its members to fully utilize their potential to the maximum, thereby enabling them to shape their standing and professional career.

     

    How did you build up your expertise in IPR?

    The study of law is a never ending process. A lawyer remains a student forever and only the finest and sharpest of minds can claim to be an expert in any given department of law. In all humility, I would say that I have been barely able to scratch the surface of IPR Jurisprudence. The primary essential of an IPR lawyer or for that matter a lawyer in any other field of law is his thirst for knowledge and an open but critical mind.

     

    What kind of internship applications do you think stand out positively?

    Interns are meticulously and rigorously coached at the Firm which offers to them invaluable insight into the professional lives of the lawyers conducting cases and appearing before the various courts and tribunals. The interns are given a range of responsibilities which includes research upon various propositions, preparing case notes and attending mediation sessions. The firm has an internal department which evaluates the applications keeping in mind various objective standards. I understand that interns having a working knowledge of the substantive and procedural laws usually do well with the firm.

     

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

    The study and of law and its practice has so far been an exciting journey. It has taught me ways of life. Given a chance, I would want to revisit my graduation days to attend and discuss study lectures of Prof. Kamla Sankaran on constitutional law and jurisprudence.

     

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

    The study of law is more than chalk and talk, so it is important to meet people, patiently listen to their ideas and to socialise. As an advice to law students, I would first stress upon the importance of academics and theory and thereafter making career decisions after evaluating the stream of opportunities which may come their way.

  • Sheela Yadav, Law Officer, SUN Pharma, on taking out time for LL.M, work in litigation and IPR

    Sheela Yadav, Law Officer, SUN Pharma, on taking out time for LL.M, work in litigation and IPR

    Sheela Yadav was born and brought up in a conservative atmosphere, one that is not very encouraging for girls to study, but that did not stop her from pursuing her dream of studying law. Encouraged by her father, she completed her graduation in sociology and enrolled herself for the three-year LL.B course in SNDT University. Upon graduating, she started working at the chambers of Preeti Shah, and completed an LL.M alongside her work. After developing an interest in IP laws, she switched to Sun Pharma where she currently works as Legal Officer.

    In this interview, she talks about:

    • The initial experiences of her life which made her want to study law
    • Her work in litigation and experience working under Advocate Preeti Shah
    • Her current work profile at Sun Pharma

     

    Why did you decide to study law? What inspired you to do so? How did you get through to SNDT Law School?

    I belong to a place in North India where girls are not allowed to study much but my family gave me a chance to study. One day, the panchayat of my village gave a wrong decision in a dispute regarding division of property. The dispute was between my father and my uncle, and I wanted to say something but wasn’t allowed to, being a girl. There were many other instances like this, which inspired me to study law in order to know the rights I and other girls hold. My father motivated me to join SNDT Law School.

     

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

    During my graduation my area of interest was sociology. Being a sociology student, I had to participate in various surveys where I came to know that there are a lots of people who don’t enjoy benefits of public policies, mainly due to lack of knowledge and awareness about the same. This, again, gave me a push to study a law.

     

    As a law student which activities did you participate in?

    During law school, I participated in various conferences, seminars, essay competitions and workshops which enhanced my knowledge and deepened my interest in law. I have also participated and presented a research paper in the “World Peace Congress 2008” a UNESCO chair program, on the role of youth in promoting the “Culture of Peace in the World” held at World Peace Centre (Alandi), Maeer’ MIT Pune. I was also awarded for participation in Alternative Dispute Resolution project by Indian Law Institue in 2008. In 2010, I secured First Rank in LL.B. examinations in the University.

     

    What kind of internships did you do while you were a student?

    I have done various internships during my law school. However, the internships at Haresh Jagtiani & Associates and Divya Shah & Associates are very close to my heart. These were the internships where I majorly worked with the litigation team of the firms. These firms allowed me to understand the roots of litigation and law.

     

    Do you feel that there is a perception of difference among NLU and non-NLU students?

    Yes, when you are a student from an NLU, everyone treats you like you know everything. While applying for internships, college name plays a vital role. This name gives better and easy exposure to top law firms. It’s because of the kind of education and facilities there. However, in traditional universities, we have to do everything ourselves. They are preferred even when a student from a traditional university is more talented because at the first glance the employers notice the name of the college.

     

    After graduating from SNDT Law School, you started working at the Chambers of Preeti Shah as a Junior Associate. What kind of responsibilities you were entrusted with?

    I wanted to get experience in litigation and court procedure. I heard about her and therefore directly approached her. She appointed me in spite of the fact that I did not have any references. I have learned a lot from her. She has given me lots of opportunities to appear in court and argue matters. She is the best teacher, in a way, because she taught me the basics of post-graduation experience, guided me and supported me in my highs and lows.

     

    You left the Chambers of Preeti Shah and had joined Agnihotri & Jha Associates. What led to this shift? How was your experience working there?

    During my work period with Preeti Shah I found my area of interest in IPR laws and therefore shifted to Agnihotri & Jha Associates. There, I handled IP matters including application of registration for Trademark, Copyright & Design along with other litigation matters. However, this place taught me that everything that glitters is not gold.

     

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    How did you eke out time for the LL.M from Mumbai University while still working at Chambers of Preeti Shah? Please share your experience with our readers.

    As I already said, Preeti Ma’am is one of the best people I have ever met. She supported me at every stage of my career and guided me throughout. I always wanted to do a Master’s and therefore asked her regarding the same. She allowed me, supported me and encouraged me to do so. After finishing my work, she used to ask me to go and attend my lectures. She has been an angel in my life.

     

    Currently, you work as a Law Officer at Sun Pharma. How did the switch from Agnihotri and Jha take place?

    To get better exposure, I wanted to switch and join a new company. As far as I think, FMCG & pharma companies are one of the best places to gain experience in IP laws. I am keen user and follower of LinkedIn and one day, I came to know that there’s a vacancy in Sun Pharma. I wanted to switch and therefore applied through LinkedIn. After various procedures, I was recruited.

     

    What does your current work profile at Sun Pharma consists of?

    My work profile in Sun Pharma is majorly Trademark searches including drafting Applications, Oppositions, attending Show Cause hearings, Special drives, and other follow ups in the registry including Online filings.

     

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

    The first step to deal with your errors and mistakes is to accept them and the fact that you have committed those mistakes. The next time you deal with the same or similar matter, approach it with a clear understanding of the concept and also with the mistakes committed earlier. It will increase your chances of winning.

     

    Tell us about a case that you are particularly proud of.

    Being an employee of Sun Pharma I can cannot disclose information about matters which are still going on. To crack a difficult case, always think from the other side and only then can one understand what difficulties are faced and how to tackle them. To prepare for a difficult case, deep study of the matter including the applicable laws and study of relevant provisions, remedies, penalties as well case laws is required. For example- if you are preparing for trademark infringement case : criteria for analysing trademark infringement required to be known viz. is likelihood of confusion about the origin of the defendant’s goods or service and the plaintiff should first show that it has developed a protectable trademark right in a trademark. The plaintiff must then show that the defendant is using a confusingly similar mark in such a way that it creates a likelihood of confusion, mistake and/or deception with the consuming public. The confusion created can be that the defendant’s products are the same as that of the plaintiff, or that the defendant is somehow associated, affiliated, connected, approved, authorized or sponsored by plaintiff.

     

    What are the key qualities one should possess for becoming an IP and FMCG lawyer? What is the earning potential?

    FMCG law is a new and emerging area which give lots of opportunities to learn new things every day. Deep understanding of the consumers and areas covered under the FMGC laws are the only essential and key qualities which one should possess for becoming an FMCG lawyer. Earning potential depends of the person’s hard work and knowledge.

     

    Many lawyers would say that the actual learning takes place in the years of practice. What was the case in your situation?

    Yes definitely that was true in my case as well. Practical life is totally different from theoretical and college life and day to day practice and challenge expands your knowledge and improves the skills to tackle the situation better.

     

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

    Believe in yourself, and never give up. There is no substitute for hard work and keep patience.

  • Tapan Chauhan, Legal Manager, Nestlé India, on starting out with litigation and work as in-house counsel in FMCG

    Tapan Chauhan, Legal Manager, Nestlé India, on starting out with litigation and work as in-house counsel in FMCG

    Tapan Chauhan graduated from Himachal Pradesh University after completing the three-year LL.B course and started his career by practicing in the various district courts, tribunals and High Court in the state. In 2011 he joined Mondelez India Foods Ltd. as Legal Manager. After four years there, he recently joined Nestle India Ltd. as Legal Manager.

    In this interview, he talks about:

    • How to overcome the intial jitters associated with litigation and build a clientele
    • His work profile and responsibilities at Mondelez India
    • The essentials of making it big in the FMCG industry

     

    Please tell us a little bit about your childhood and your background.

    Hi, it’s a pleasure for me to introduce myself to everyone on this forum. I am a legal professional having a diversified PQE of 8 years in the realm of law. I have my roots in the hill station of Shimla and was born and brought up there. Presently, I am based out of Gurgaon and work for a multinational as an in-house legal professional.

     

    How did you gravitate towards law?

    My inclination towards the subject dates back to my childhood, when I started following famous personalities and found a large chunk of them making up the ladder through their knowledge of law. Gandhiji’s autobiography was one of the best motivations for me and persuaded me further.
    Like everyone else, I was apprehensive about how well legal education could cater to my needs and support me through the initial years of my life but there were many other motivating factors which kept me going. For all those who believe that this profession is not rewarding enough, must rethink, as the rewards are manifold and fulfilling.

     

    Tell us a bit about your days at Himachal Pradesh University

    It started off well as I got through the entrance exam with flying colours. The 3 year LL.B. course at the Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) was a great learning experience for me. The HPU in many ways is an exceptional institution with an outstanding faculty. The institution offers a peaceful environment for one to dwell and progress, with plenty of great scholars associated with it. I enjoyed every day I spent at HPU and owe a lot to the institution.

     

    Soon after graduation, you started practicing before Himachal Pradesh High Court. What were the major challenges faced by you in the initial years of your practice?

    Soon after graduating, I joined the High Court of Himachal Pradesh and started practicing. I assisted a senior counsel for 4 years and embraced the profession. I was fortunate enough to get multiple opportunities to handle and argue sensitive matters before courts ranging from the High Court, State Consumer Commission, District & Session Courts and Consumer Forums etc. However, it all came through with lots of challenges and tough times. The biggest challenge for any new entrant to the Bar is to find out how courts function, that too, as quickly as possible, notwithstanding the fact that even hurry takes some time. Those who intern at law firms should utilize their time to learn how courts function to further expedite their learning when they join the profession real time. Learning in this profession never stops but once you get hold of the procedure, things are a lot easier to understand.

     

    How did you overcome your initial jitters in a courtroom full of experienced lawyers and judges? Tell us about the highs and lows.

    I was jittery and was embarrassed more than once. It takes time for one to get conversant with the court procedure and people more often than not, tend to question you more than necessary. But the key is how well you prepare yourself to face that and never get dismayed with humiliation. It has been a part of everyone’s life, lest they never reached a high! I remember once having a close dialogue with a veteran judge, who while narrating his initial days of practice said that the key to practice is confidence and knowing what’s written in the rule book! Of course, one cannot discount experience, but rule book gives you a chance to garner experience in the right direction. “Be prepared, always!” were his words which I want to emphatically share with everyone here.

     

    How did you build up your clientele?

    I did well for myself and have managed a small clientele within these 4 years of practice. I also advised a couple of private companies because of which I got exposed to corporate and labour laws. I found it interesting, however, the opportunities to grow further were getting restricted and though the practice was great, a desire to venture out grew within me strongly.

     

    How did you get an opportunity to work with Mondelez? How would you describe your experience? What kind of challenges did you face during this job?

    In 2011, I was interviewed at Mondelez (Cadbury) and after three intense sessions, was successful in getting an offer for a job. I was conscious of the fact that it would be a paradigm shift for me but the urge to learn more bridged the gap for me. It turned out to be a rewarding decision, eventually. The span of 4 years that I spent working at Mondelez changed me as a person and a professional. I learned how the industry works and what value an in house legal professional can add to business. And if you were to trust me, it’s way too much!

    At Mondelez, my profile offered me exposure to industry litigation, food laws, compliance and contract management. I also partnered with the supply chain by virtue of which I could understand the nuances of the FMCG business. Overall, I transformed as a professional and today consider myself lucky to have experienced two sides of the profession.

     

    What does your current work profile at Nestlé consists of? How is a typical workday like? How has been your experience at Nestlé so far?

    In my current profile, I handle Food Laws, Marketing and Consumer Laws. It’s a very challenging profile especially considering the sensitivity around food laws and enhanced focus of good companies towards compliance of the same. A normal day at work is exciting, challenging and brings to me loads of learning, thereby being completely rewarding.

     

    You’ve recently joined Nestlé India Limited as Manager-Legal. How did the switch from Mondelez take place? Did you get an offer or did you apply for Nestle?

    I have recently joined Nestlé, and about two months of effective working here, I have learnt a lot of new things. It is a great organization with strong values embedded in the people working here and I look forward to progress further both at a professional and personal level. Recruitment at Nestlé happens through a well-defined process with different levels of interviews for different positions.

     

    How well do you think your education at law school prepared you for real world practice?

    Well, like all other courses, there is immense opportunity for law courses to be customized as per the need of the hour. The way business is happening in the country with increasing globalization, academicians need to match the pace. It’s only going to help speed up the learning and would produce world class efficient legal professionals in the country.

    I compliment every young aspirant of the legal profession and would encourage them to pursue it. I have my credentials and coordinates on the networking sites and should anyone wish to contact me, I would be happy to be of help!

  • Athira Nair, Director Centre for Intellectual Property, NUALS, on academics and extra-curricular activities

    Athira Nair, Director Centre for Intellectual Property, NUALS, on academics and extra-curricular activities

    Athira P.S.is currently an Assistant Professor at the National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kerala. She completed her graduation, post-graduation, and presently she is pursuing her Ph.D from University of Kerala. She has won several Awards and Gold Medals for her top-ranked academic performance every time. She was also adjudged the Best Speaker at the Stetson International Environmental Law Moot Court Competition in 2004. Athira has authored several papers and is also a member of professional organizations like Global Alliance for Justice (GAJE).

    She is also the Director of the Centre for Intellectual Property Rights and the Centre for Parliamentary Studies and Law Reforms at NUALS. In this interview she talks about:

    • Acing academics during graduation, post graduation as well as Ph.D
    • Winning Best Speaker at Stetson’s and the importance of mooting
    • Pursuing teaching as a career

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself? Tell us a bit about your childhood and educational background.

    I am Athira P.S., currently an Assistant Professor at the National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kerala. I have been working at NUALS since 2012. I am extremely passionate about the positive effects of law on the society and believe that legal education is as much about a proper value-system as about anything else.

    About my childhood- As a student of a CBSE school in a non-Metro city, I led a very secure and non-confrontational academic and personal life. During my school days, though the norm among middle-class parents in Kerala was to incline their children towards opting for Engineering/Medicine, I was fortunate that my parents left the career choice to me. Though an above-average student, I spent most of my time pursuing extra-curricular reading, avidly going through fiction and non-fiction.

     

    How did your interest gravitate towards law?

    Law has always been of interest to me. The lives of people and the way law influences them had been a part of classics such as Bleak House by Charles Dickens, or To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee, The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson, or even the John Grisham legal thrillers. As such, I was fascinated by law and remain till date a humble student of it.

    After my XIIth, while I did get admission for engineering as well as an adequate rank for medicine, I was able to convince my parents that I would do well in law better than any other discipline. As a graduate in law himself, my father encouraged this decision. After 11 years of being a student of law, I find that I am still fascinated by it.

     

    You have done your graduation, post-graduation and also pursued Ph.D. from University of Kerala. How did your University help you mould your goals?

    Though national law schools, especially NUALS was an option, as my family was based in Trivandrum, my parents urged me to join Kerala Law Academy, University of Kerala. During the five years that I was a graduate there, I participated consistently in Moot courts, both national as well as international. The exposure that mooting gives you while you are in the beginning phase of your legal studies is significant. During my post-graduation, the Department of Law, University of Kerala, provided me with the environment in which to develop critical thinking and a capacity for legal research. I later cleared the UGC-Junior Research Fellowship and joined for research.

    While today there is no doubt that the tag of a ‘national law school’ seems to be extremely important, the fact that you hail from a non-national law school does not act against you, unless you allow it. I have come to realize from the careers of many of my batch-mates and alumni from the University of Kerala that the most important ingredient to success is building up one’s knowledge through hard work, awareness of the various opportunities in your field of interest and diligent effort at unremittingly pursuing your goal.

     

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    You have secured 2nd rank on graduation, secured 1st rank with distinction at LL.M and also qualified with 1st Rank in Law in the Ph.D. Entrance Exam from the University of Kerala. Please give us a few actionable tips on managing higher grades.

    It has been my experience that attainment of ranks and real substantial knowledge of a particular legal area can be entirely different things. While I do not disparage ranks as a system for ascertaining academic excellence, I am not entirely convinced it is the only germane measure of appraisal. At the level of graduation in law, once you identify what the examiners are looking for, it is possible for one to write the exams to the best of one’s ability by preparation, including a scan of past years question papers, constant updating of case laws in the subjects, as well as reference to latest articles and relevant books on the subject in your answer sheets. However, personally, if one does not update oneself on subjects of law continuously (even after the semester in which the subject featured has concluded) ranks need not necessarily correspond to actual knowledge or understanding.

     

    You currently work as an Assistant Professor at National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Cochin. What prompted you to choose teaching as a career?

    To be a teacher was my earliest ambition. As a student, I have experienced first-hand the influence that a teacher has in moulding and inspiring his/her students. As a UGC-Junior Research Fellow in law, I had the opportunity to teach PG students at the Department of Law, and I realized that teaching is truly my vocation. I joined the National University of Advanced Legal Studies in 2012 and I truly cherish my profession as a teacher.

     

    Tell us about your teaching methodology. Do you encourage students to take notes or do you engage your students in active class participation?

    I have read somewhere that every teacher is a performer; success of every performance depends on its audience. Just like individuals, every class has its own pulse and rhythm. From my limited experience as a teacher, I have the impression that classes are the most enjoyable wherein the occupants, including the teacher, participate fully and animatedly in the discussion. If the teacher can bring the attention of the whole group of students to a focus point, even teaching by lecture method results in active class participation, especially when the Socratic method is employed. Additionally, other teaching methods such as moots, debates, and impromptu group discussions ensure that the class is lively and engaged. I personally prefer an inquisitive active class to a quiet, note-taking class.

     

    What subjects are you currently teaching? What are your current research interests?

    As the junior-most member of the faculty at NUALS, I have had a variety of subjects to handle. I currently teach Law of Insurance, Public International Law, Intellectual Property Rights, etc. I have taught subjects such as Legal History, Professional Ethics, Conflict of Laws, Law of Property, Society, Science and Law, Public Interest Lawyering as well as Income tax. Of these, teaching the subjects of IPR and Society, Science and Law (a flagship programme of NUALS) have helped me in the pursuit of my research on the legal instruments on regulation of stem cell research. In fact, some of my students were part of the empirical study undertaken on the subject.

     

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    Do you think students should treat their professors like friends, or is it necessary to maintain a disciplined environment to create a good classroom environment?

    Today’s students are very bright- they realize that if it is pure information that they need from their studies, they need not even come to class-it is available from other sources. Necessarily, the role of the teacher has evolved to become a facilitator of gaining knowledge and a medium of value-conveyance, by supplementing the traditional teaching methodology with novel means of learning. Therefore, I advocate a via media response to the question here. In the vein of what Justice Cardozo opined, the psychological make-up and personality of the teacher is reflected in their class rooms and in the discourse with their students. In a primarily residential National University such as NUALS, where the students are of the age-group 17-22, it is important that they should be able to approach teachers and confide in them in case of any doubt or trouble; herein the teacher has to play the role of personal and professional mentor. Also, while I feel that the relationship between the teacher and her student must be friendly, it must not compromise a disciplined class room atmosphere.

     

    Tell us about your achievements in academics. How did you go about achieving several awards?

    I have been the recipient  of  Merit Scholarship to do LL.M. by the University of Kerala, Gold medallist and recipient  of  Justice Muthunayagom Memorial Prize, 2005  and also other  awards like  Sachivothama Shashtiabdapurthi Memorial Prize, 2005, Justice T Krishnan Nair Memorial Gold Medal Endowment, Justice M. Fathima Beevi Endowment, Malloor K. Govinda Pillai Gold Medal for Law.

    These awards were for securing highest marks for various subjects of graduation- I did not take any conscious efforts to obtain these and was unaware of their existence until I was awarded them. Nevertheless, I am grateful for these and they were helpful while applying for the teaching posts, as they build up one’s resume.

     

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    Having participated and won Best Speaker award and 4th Best Memorial award in Stetson International Environmental Law Moot Court Competition in 2004,what are the important skills and knowledge one must possess in order to be a good mooter?

    As a graduate student of law, mooting helps the student in getting a real feel of the life that he/she has chosen for himself. Moots give students the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the various sources of law, the methods of citation, the effective forms of address at Court, as well as skills of legal writing. Apart from the opportunity to practically explore the nuances of the various theories and provisions, the practice of mooting builds confidence as well as expands the avenues of learning.

     

    Besides Stetson, you have also participated in many national and international Moot Court Competitions during your law school days. Tell us how important is mooting and what effect does it have on one’s CV?

    As I already stated, the 5 years of graduation must be taken as a continuous learning process-if you are involved in moots, it helps you to develop in particular spheres of law and hone your skills of legal research, writing as well as argumentative skills. While impressive wins and accolades add to one’s CV, in my personal opinion, the personal development opportunities inherent in the process of mooting are far more relevant.

     

    You have presented research papers in various national and international seminars since college days till now. Are there any key factors which one should keep in mind before presenting a paper in any national or international seminar?

    As a student of law (to be a teacher is to be a perennial student), I find that the mind benefits from being taxed academically. So, wherever possible, I attend seminars, especially on topics of my academic interest, and have been fortunate to participate in international and national seminars both as resource person and presenter of research papers.

    If you aspire to be a law teacher or a researcher in law, such seminars are important; they help you develop a scientific and analytical process to defend your position on a particular question/situation of legal relevance. Also, as a meeting place of active members of the legal community and academic fraternity, such Seminars provide you with recognition and familiarity as well as networking opportunities that may prove helpful at some point in your career.

     

    You have authored various papers in many reputed Law journals. What role do publications play in the life of an academician? What, in your view, are the few most important skills that law students should strive to acquire in order to write research papers effectively?

    Publications are very important, not just for academicians, but also for aspiring academicians. Alongside good academic records and UGC-NET/JRF, publications in peer-reviewed journals are essential in the research repertoire of every aspiring academic. Even after one has entered into the field of law teaching, ‘publish or perish’ mandate dictates that teachers persevere with research publications.

    In order to publish a research paper, a topic of current significance must be identified. Thorough literature review is essential. Originality of thought and expression is of paramount importance. It is fundamental that a synopsis of the article/paper is prepared at the outset so that the scaffold and outline of the article is fool-proof. Once the draft is completed, it is helpful to run the paper through Viper or other plagiarism-proof software. Any mentors or experts in the particular area of law may be approached for review.

     

    You have been appointed as the Director of Centre for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR), Co-director of Centre for Parliamentary Studies and Law Reforms at NUALS and also a member of professional organizations like Global Alliance for Justice Education (GAJE). What are the responsibilities you are entrusted with in each of these organizations? Please share with our readers.

    As NUALS aims to encourage legal research in significant arenas of law, many centres of learning were established. I am fortunate to associate with the Centre for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR) as well as the Centre for Parliamentary Studies and Law Reforms. As the Director (i/c) of the CIPR inaugurated earlier this year, I am entrusted with organizing Seminars, workshops, special lectures as well as other programmes and to bring the CIPR as a centre of excellence. The Centre had organized a Panel Discussion on the Draft IPR Policy, DIPP on 11th March, 2015 at NUALS and intends to follow up with training programmes involving various stakeholders. Our next venture shall be a national-level essay writing competition around April 26th, the World IPR day.

    As the Co-Director of the Centre for Parliamentary Studies and Law Reforms, I had organized a National Workshop on Legal Status of Sexual Minorities: The Indian Perspective and Need for Reform on February, 2014. It was attended by legal activists in this field such as Adv. Anand Grover and Adv. Arvind Narrrain, and was hailed as the first of its kind in conservative Kerala.

     

    You have attended and organized a number of Conferences and Workshops, how has your experience been so far being associated with NUALS?

    The National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Cochin is a law school that can claim many distinctions. A relatively young national law university, we have to achieve greater momentum, and the students as well as faculty aims for greater heights. The University has been fortunate to be under the guidance of various visionaries at various points of its existence, and can be said to be at its most developmental stages currently. Whether it is the expansion of infrastructure, larger intake of students, evolving of additional specializations for graduation in law as well as efforts to establish dedicated and productive centres of intensive research and learning, NUALS is right now at its golden age. I am fortunate to be a member of the NUALS family and hope that it rises to even greater heights.

     

    A common perception in the student community is that the curriculum in most NLUs is outdated and does not equip the students with the skills that they need to solve real life problems. What are your thoughts about this perception?

    While one of the very reasons highlighted for inception of NLUs was the need for stronger and practical objective-based curriculum and stress on solving of real-life issues in law as one goes along learning, the question remains-how far has this objective been realized. One reason may be the fact that curriculum is not revisited or reviewed as timely as it should be; or that the additional inputs necessarily required from the side of the participants of the learning process are not forthcoming as they should. NUALS has, as a possible solution to part of this problem, updated its entire LL.B and LL.M curriculum through an extremely intensive workshop, wherein pioneers in the field such as Dr. N.R. Madhava Menon, Dr. N.K. Jayakumar, Dr. Rose Varghese, Dr. Chandrasekhara Pillai, Dr. P. Leelakrishnan, contributed heavily. Yet, for the entire problem to be resolved, the only solution is diligent efforts on the part of the teachers as well as students to ensure that the curriculum as well as its application caters to standards par excellence.

     

    Any important things which law school didn’t teach you but ‘teaching’ did?

    As a relative newcomer to the vocation of teaching, I have come to realize that teaching and studying law, to paraphrase late Justice Krishna Iyer, is a way of life. When one’s students are as bright and inquisitive as mine are, I find myself preparing as best as I can and questioning myself conscientiously as to the potential questions, especially when I am entrusted a subject that I do not specialize in. So teaching law has taught me that a good student can be a great teacher, and more importantly, that a good teacher has to essentially be a great student.

    Lastly, what would be your message to people who want to take up a career in teaching?

    While doing your Post-graduation, alongside the curriculum, train yourself for clearing the UGC-NET/JRF examinations. Simultaneously publish research papers in peer-reviewed journals, participate in seminars that come your way and generally be as active as you can as a PG student of law.

    In my personal opinion, these above are technicalities that favour you. However, what is mostly required is a burning passion for the subject and the unrelenting pursuit of personal and academic excellence as well as the strong desire to become a good teacher. With more law schools coming up every day and the academic community being so vibrant at the moment, I believe that the choice to be an academic is a promising and exciting one.

  • Pearl Boga, Associate, Rajani Singhania & Associates, on LL.B after B.Com and work experience

    Pearl Boga, Associate, Rajani Singhania & Associates, on LL.B after B.Com and work experience

    Pearl Boga completed her B.Com degree from H.R. College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai in 2007 and went on to study the three-year law course from University of Mumbai. She graduated in law in 2010. She was part of a number of committees and societies in college and after graduation, she also holds a Diploma in Tourism and Travel Management.

    Pearl started working at Advani & Co., Mumbai in the corporate department of the firm. After four years at Advani, she currently works at Rajani Singhania & Associates and is also actively pursuing her masters in law from Mumbai University.

    In this interview, she talks about:

    • Pursuing LL.B after B.Com
    • The advantages of being part of organisational work in law school
    • Maintaining a work-life balance in the corporate sector.
    • Work experience at Advani and Co.
    • Appointment and work at RSP

     

    Though it’s one of the most asked questions but yet, why law?

    Well, to be absolutely honest, law was my back-up career option, post my graduation in commerce from H.R. College of Commerce and Economics. I was inclined towards travel and tourism and looking for an alternate degree. However, once my course was ending it seemed to be a lucrative career choice.  So here I am!

     

    Tell us about your college life. What all activities did you participate in?

    College life was a mixed bag – from attending and participating in moots to participating in extra-curricular college activities andperforming arts and the jazz. My college life extended from my B.Com graduation to an Advanced Diploma in Tourism and Travel Management to a post -graduation degree in Law. I only happened to intern in my final (third) year of law.

     

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

    Initially, I was more interested in litigation and also interned at Vigil Juris in the litigation team. My work there involved a lot of reading of drafts of plaints and understanding the way the written statement was to be drawn. I gained a lot of experience seeing how the courts actually function as compared to simply reading about it. Also, interactions with the counsels helped me understand and be updated about the stage at which the matter currently was.

     

    At Mumbai University, you were associated with a lot of student committees. What skills did you acquire while serving various committees?

    During my graduation years, I was involved in extra-curricular activities like performing arts, moots and environment protection. Participating and preparing for moots usually helped me in the way I carry out research pertaining to my matters. Also, being a part of the organising as well as participating committee was a wonderful experience as it helped in building team spirit. This trait has proved to be very important now as being a part of a corporate M&A team, it is important to work with your team on a transaction and the same involves a lot of understanding on how your team mate works and the thought that goes behind the work put forth. It is much simpler to work when you know how the people in your team think!

     

    How did you fare in your academics? Would you say a great CGPA is a necessity to kick-start a good career in the legal profession?

    I was fairly above average in academics. To kick-start a career in any profession in India, I guess a good score is required. A great CGPA would definitely help securing decent internships during campus placements which would go a long way in determining the law firm you end up at.

     

    Do you think participating in co-curricular activities helps a student in the long run?

    Personally, I feel mooting does not help much if you are planning on taking up corporate law. However, it helps in developing certain skill sets which do help in your law career. Also, the research work undertaken in order to help you for a moot helps in understanding how one needs to prepare for a particular case. Mostly it is the recruiters’ discretion at the time of an interview to decide whether to lay emphasis on a particular candidate’s mooting experience depending on which legal field they are to be placed in.As I said before, my extra-curricular activity experience did help in building teamwork.

     

    What kind of internships did you do while you were a student?

    I only interned in my final (third) year of college at Vigil Juris in the litigation department and thereafter changed my field preference to corporate law.

     

    After graduation, you joined Advani and Co. as an Associate. What did you contribute towards this appointment?

    My main area of practise at Advani & Co. was corporate and commercial law. I was mainly involved in documentation for transactions pertaining to project finance, real estate, media and entertainment, intellectual property rights management. Further my scope of work included advising on miscellaneous issues relating to incorporation of companies, corporate governance, inbound and outbound investment, transactions related to equity market instruments, SEBI, etc. as well as conducting statutory compliance audit for various companies, specifically in relation to the labour laws as well as environmental laws and advising on the process for rectifying the lapses in compliances.

     

    After having worked at Advani & Co. for almost four years, how did the shift to Rajani, Singhania and Associates take place? Did you get an offer or did you apply for RSP?

    My experience at Advani & Co. was very fruitful; however I was looking for further exposure in the corporate field. The same being so diverse, I wanted to explore the other aspects of corporate law. So, when I got a call from RSP for an interview, I thought of taking the chance.

     

    What does your current work profile at RSP consist of? Tell us about the nature of work you’re entrusted with therein and what’s a typical day like?

    My current profile at RSP mainly involves a lot of M&A transactional work in varied sectors from the due diligence to the documentation, negotiation and finalisation of the deal stage. My scope of work also involves advising clients for drawing up schemes of arrangements for corporate restructuring, advising on issues relating foreign investment, corporate governance, etc.

    A typical day usually consists of reading emails received from the clients, having a team discussion pertaining to the same and allocation of the day’s work to the respective team members.

     

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    Corporate law comes with a humongous workload. What made you gravitate towards this field? How do you manage the workload and your personal life?

    A good balance is always essential for any healthy relationship. Prioritising your work and personal life in a balanced manner is a very important attribute one needs to possess in order to not get stressed out. I usually have self made targets and checklists for the work I need to complete. Whenever there is time for a breather between my work, I usually cut-off and have a small conversation over the phone or interact with my colleagues.

     

    What would be the one misconception you’d say you’d always held about real life legal work till the time you were an intern but changed once you started working as a lawyer?

    Whilst doing my internship I was assigned with very limited responsibilities. That definitely changes once you start working full fledged. You have to take responsibility for your work, for your juniors, working with a team or even working independently. It involves taking a lot of onus for the work you put forth and there is generally no scope for error.

     

    Would you say your B.Com degree has been helpful in your career?

    My B.Com degree has definitely helped me. Especially when it relates to conducting due diligence for M&A transactions, the review of a lot of the financial documents is much easier since I have a background in accounts. Also, my B.Com course had contract law as a subject which made it relatively easier for me to study the same for my law degree.

     

    RSP takes on interns as well. What do you feel makes an intern stand out and is very important for him to do to have a chance of getting a call back or even a PPO?

    A very important quality for an intern is to have impeccable research and drafting skills. Also a pro-active and go getter attitude would help them go a long way in the legal field.

     

    What skills would you say is a sine qua non for an intern who wants to excel at work?

    An important ingredient for an intern to excel would be to remain focussed and complete their work within the time frame provided in the manner and with the quality expected from them. Also their work needs to be backed by solid accurate research and they should be updated with the current changes taking place in law.

     

    Where do you see yourself five years from now?

    I am currently pursuing my LL.M (Master of Laws) in Business Law from Mumbai University along with my work. As I have only finished 5 years of my experience in this field, I would want to continue in the same space for the next few years to gather more expertise in this varied field of corporate law since there is so much more to learn.

     

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

    I would like to say stay focussed, follow your dream, have a passion and pursue it (be it law or otherwise). The more you like what you do, the more you enjoy doing it. Make your career choice your passion and there will be no looking back J

  • Reema Das, Legal Manager, Flipkart, on work of an in-house counsel

    Reema Das, Legal Manager, Flipkart, on work of an in-house counsel

    Reema Das graduated from the Bangalore Institute of Legal Studies in 2009. She started working with CK Nandkumar & Associates, but feeling the need for advisory and transactional work, she switched to Majmudar & Co. After working at Majmudar, she switched to Flipkart and currently works as Legal Manager.

    In this interview, she talks about:

    • Getting good grades in law school
    • Working in the corporate department of a law firm
    • The recruitment policy and her work profile at Flipkart

     

    How did you gravitate towards law? Tell us about your college life at Bangalore Institute of Legal Studies. What all activities did you partake in?

    I’d be lying if I said I always wanted to become a lawyer. Growing up, I wanted to pursue many a vocation but law was never one of them. It was only in the 12th standard, after multiple career counselling sessions, that I found merit in choosing law as a career. With a little apprehension, I decided to take that giant leap. However, my first year in Law College convinced me that I made the right choice. And since then there’s been no looking back.

    Based on my ISC (XII standard) results, I got admission in Bangalore Institute of Legal Studies. The college offered good faculty and a robust curriculum. As a student, I always focused on academics (honestly, that was my comfort zone). That apart, moot courts, cultural and literary activities, and towards the latter years, organizing seminars and working for the placement co-ordination committee, etc. kept me engaged during college.

     

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

    Company law and foreign exchange management laws have always interested me – right from the first time I was introduced to these subjects- till date.

    Internships at corporate law firms gave me hands-on working knowledge. Research and reading outside of text books and study material also helped me gain a fair amount of insight into these laws.

     

    You were one of the most exceptional students at Bangalore University. You bagged 4th rank among your batch mates in the B.A.LL.B course. Please give us a few actionable tips on managing higher grades.

    Apart from the cliché of understanding your subject well, I’d say the difference lies in stepping into the shoes of the examiner and delivering what he/she is looking for. Well-structured and precise responses are what examiners generally look for.

     

    You had started working at C.K. Nandakumar & Associates right after graduation, and thereafter you joined Majmudar & Co. International Lawyers. What led to this shift?

    At C.K. Nandakumar & Associates, I was offered a mixed profile of litigation and corporate advisory work. This gave me the much needed exposure to courtrooms. I appeared before various forums and handled arbitration suits, money recovery suits, merger applications, winding up petitions, etc. and at the same time vetted commercial contracts, technology contracts, and provided business advisory.

    I soon realized that my aptitude and inclination was more towards the business advisory and corporate law side. After weighing the choices I took a well-informed decision to focus on corporate advisory work. This led to my shift to Majmudar & Co. At Majmudar, I did corporate advisory and transactional work. It was a great learning experience; giving me first hand exposure to the subjects I loved the most.

     

    Thereafter, you left Majmudar & Co. to join Indus law. What motivated this shift? How did your appointment take place?

    I wanted to do more work in the PE/VC investment space and IndusLaw was the right place for this. I applied to one of the partners at IndusLaw. Thereafter, I went through a round of technical interview followed by an HR interview. During the technical round, my basic knowledge and understanding of transactions and the applicable law was tested. I was also required to submit a write up on a legal topic. I remember submitting an article on the twin Bombay HC judgments and transferability of shares in a public limited company.

    I would like to believe that my clarity on why I wanted to make the shift, my interest in the PE/VC space and knowledge of the why’s and how’s of the transactions that I had worked on, got me the job. At IndusLaw, my work profile consisted mostly of PE/VC deals and acquisitions. A fairly large amount of the clients were in the e-commerce space.

     

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

    Well, no amount of academic knowledge can replace real experience. So yes, I agree with this statement to a large extent. Having said this, I feel the seeds of understanding of law and legal concepts are sown during the law school days.

     

    What qualities do you think helped you for promotion to Manager-Legal at Flipkart?

    Flipkart has a structured appraisal policy in place. If an employee exceeds expectations in his/her key result areas, he/she is considered for a promotion. So I would say it is the overall performance that counts.

    I would like to believe that it is my passion for the work I do and timely delivery of advice/assistance that led to the results.

     

    Please tell us about the recruitment process at Flipkart.

    I will speak for myself. After the initial screening of the CV, I underwent three rounds of technical interviews before the HR round. The first round was with the Director-Legal, followed by the General Counsel of Flipkart and the last round was with the M&A Business Head. Post the interviews, there is usually a calibration done and the decision of hiring v/s not hiring is a collective one based on inputs from the various interviewers.

     

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    Tell us about the nature of work you’re entrusted with therein? Tell us a bit about the company, your typical workday and the overall work/life balance.

    I provide legal support (i.e., advice on structure/strategy/documentation) with respect to financial investments and the acquisitions made by Flipkart.

    Flipkart is a high energy, young company, buzzing with activities. The company is constantly looking for new ideas to explore the unexplored. So on a typical workday, I juggle between 3-4 ongoing acquisitions or investments. Each would be a different stage of completion, requiring my 100% attention. I enjoy the excitement and rush of being a part of such a passionate team. All this keeps me busy.

    As for work/life balance, it is entirely up to the individual. In this day and age, it is in your hands to prioritize and make time for all important and essential activities.

     

    What were the biggest hurdles and challenges in the first few months? What do you think makes a good in-house counsel?

    Domain-wise it is a familiar space, so I did not have many challenges. However, I was new to the corporate world, its internal systems and protocols. It took me some time to understand them.

    A good in-house counsel is one who is in sync/aligned with the relevant business teams and enables business activities and calls out the rights things.

     

    What are the primary essentials of a corporate lawyer? How do you say a fresh graduate can work on building these skills?

    Good understanding of business commercials and knowledge of applicable laws are an absolute must.

    Read and keep yourself updated on the business news and legal developments. Read research papers and analyses available on various critical points in the legal areas that interest you.

     

    Does Flipkart take interns? What is the process for same? What do they look for in their prospective employees?

    I am told there is a policy in place and interns are taken on a need basis. Interested candidates can get in touch with the HR. From what I understand, the qualities they look for are domain knowledge, eagerness, ability to learn and a positive attitude.

     

    Where do you see yourself ten years down the line? Do you aspire to be like somebody from this field?

    I love the investment/M&A space and see myself involved in the same space.

    I’d wish to imbibe the best from all my mentors and eminent people I work with/have worked with.

     

    What would be your parting message to law students who want to be successful in corporate law?

    There is only one rule – do what you enjoy doing!