Super Lawyer

Category: Interviews

  • Aditya Chopra, Legal Counsel, Sahara India on utility of mooting and CGPA in life after law school

    Aditya Chopra, Legal Counsel, Sahara India on utility of mooting and CGPA in life after law school

    Aditya Chopra is a graduate from Institute of Law, Nirma University (Batch of 2012). He has a noteworthy academic, mooting and debating record. His diligence and mettle at work was recognized when he received a job offer from Sahara India, Mumbai in last year of law school. He currently works as an in-house counsel there.

    In this interview he talks about:

    • Academics, internships, debates and moots
    • His journey from an intern to getting job offer from Sahara India
    • Work as in-house counsel at Sahara India

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    Hello, my friends!

    They say a lawyer needs to be a jack of all trades. I believe in it but with slight improvement. In this competitive world, where law profession is no more a family business, a budding lawyer needs to be a jack of all trades – at least in the initial five – ten years, one needs to have a multiplicity of experience to become a master of one. Post my graduation from Nirma University, I started my career with ASA Legal and thereafter, I worked with Advocate Ravi Prakash (Partner, DSK Legal, Delhi). I am currently working as the Legal Consultant to Mr. Seemanto Roy, promoter of the esteemed Sahara India Pariwar. I do not believe in a stereotypical way of ‘lawyering’. I look at a problem from a multi-dimensional angle and like to explore and test all the possibilities and alternatives for my client.

     

    Did you have lawyers in your family? Does a legal background help in the long run? Did any of your family members motivate you to pursue a legal career? Why did you decide to study law?

    I am the first one to break the ice in the lineage. With zero motivation from anyone in my family, it was my sole decision to go ahead in this line. Although my father did law but later on he decided to join a public sector bank. But I never ever felt hesitant or under-confident about it, as lawyering is all about confidence whether you are appearing in the Court or dealing with the clients during transactions.

    Certainly, a legal background helps. I do not deny it, be it for securing an internship to sometimes getting a job or later on for hooking the clients. But again, the merits of a lawyer or his approach towards a matter or the ability to deliver to the client – these traits always remain individual-specific and cannot be attained through heritage. So, there could be advantages to certain degrees (may be 10-20%), but in the end, in the longer run, everyone’s fate in the profession would be tested on his/her capacity to retain the knowledge (memory), maintain the immense pressure (patience) and the readiness to work (determination).

    Though I never dreamt of becoming a lawyer from childhood, but while growing up, I always used to testify everything on the touchstone of rationality and logical sense. And that’s how when I got to know that there is an extensive five-year integrated course to offer by law schools over the traditional 3 years post-graduation (this realisation was only 10 days before the last date of filling out the forms of the colleges, some even got missed), I grabbed the opportunity.

     

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    Tell us about your time at Nirma University. What all activities did you participate in?

    Spending five years in law school just after coming out from high school obviously shapes one’s identity and has indeed influenced my personality as well. It was like a leap of faith for me to join Nirma and it prepared me not only for the multi-faceted profession of law but also gave me one the most enjoyable and memorable years of my life.

    Everything at Nirma was a challenge in itself, as we were the pilot batch and therefore, we were always the subjects of the experiments conducted by the Institute on a trial and error basis. Life at Nirma was all about discipline with the most stringent rules of attendance. We were regularly assessed like any other good law school, not only on the basis of mid-sems and end-semester examinations, but in between, we also used to be bombarded with projects, term assignments, quizzes, research papers and moot courts etc. with strictest deadlines. This not only sharpened my research skills, but I also got trained to find right information at the right place in the limited time and helped enhancing my multi-tasking skills.

    I always liked to play a participatory role in all the activities taking place at the college by organizing moot competitions or conferences or lectures etc. I was lucky to represent my University in moot court competitions on national and international levels like 8th Surana and Surana International Law Moot Court Competition, 6th Leiden Air Law International Moot Court Competition and Willem C. Viz International Commercial Arbitration, Vienna etc apart from participating in various debate competitions.

     

    How has been your experience serving different committees while at Law School?

    I used to be really active in all the activities taking place at the Institute by being the part of the different committees in all the semesters like Moot Court Committee, Debating Committee, Organizing Committee, Cultural Committee etc.

    That’s the advantage of being part of the very first batch of the Institute, though we lacked experience in terms of strong alumni, but we hardly cared. We never had to follow any settled irrational norms of the college. We were constantly exploring, always on our toes, growing as an Institute. From collecting funds to managing huge sponsorships from the market for organizing a moot court competition to orienting juniors with mooting skills – to organize cultural events, I took interest in all. And I give a huge credit to our Director Mrs. Purvi Pokhariyal and her team to push us to every corner possible. They all mentored and supported us well during our initial times and then gave us the freedom to question and be the part of the norms set by the college.

    I think it’s really significant to work or be a part of at least some of the student committees, as it really teaches how to work in a team with the people coming from different backgrounds with different thought-processes to reach an amicable solution and if not much, it really teaches you to be tolerant to the people you may not like otherwise.

     

    How do you recall your internships? Did you learn many skills while interning?

    It was part of our course curriculum to intern after every semester for a month. My internship experience includes working with AMSS, AZB, Trilegal and Phoenix Legal, law clerkship with the erstwhile Supreme Court Judge – Hon’ble Mr. Justice Surinder Singh Nijjar. Since ours was the first batch, it was really difficult to secure internships as the big law firms would not recognise us due to lack of our alumni. Therefore, initially I had secured internships only through personal references and gradually I understood the pattern of the firms to accept applications for internships. One should prepare a strategy for early and well drafted applications to the appropriate firms and at the same needs to be really patient enough to accept a rejection from almost any kind of firm – big or small.

    These internships were extremely instrumental in shaping my legal career when I look back now. It provides an opportunity for students to get practical exposure of work, the application of different laws which are freshly taught in the law schools. Plus the best part is you get to interact with interns from different law schools which help in growing your network in the longer run.

     

    You have participated in various moot court competitions. How do you look at this exercise?

    This is one of the most delightful experiences which Nirma gifted me through mooting – I was lucky enough to travel across the country and overseas to taste its fruits.

    As, I mentioned earlier also, Nirma was extremely strict in terms of attendance. We could never bunk. I swear, I can count on my fingers the times, I got lucky.  There was literally no way anyone could excuse the classes – except mooting and debating. And when I realised this, I was game for it.

    From the very first year, we were given the opportunity to represent our Institute on the national level, but that opportunity was provided only after tough screening at the college level through an intra-college mooting panel or debating panel. Either being the member of the first team to represent the College at the 7th NLSIU Parliamentary Debate in my first year and a part of the first team to go international and participate in the Willem C. Viz International Commercial Arbitration at Vienna, Austria in my final year, it was a constant ride of learning. Due to lack of seniors’ guidance, especially in the first two years, sometimes we got confronted of our short-comings only at the venue of the competition. But I never got disappointed by that, instead learnt from the best teams, went back to college, polished myself and managed bringing laurels to the college.

    I think it is always good to participate in Moot Courts. Moot Courts are the closest experience that you can get to – appearing in a court involving a hypothetical case involving a moot question of law – you read books on different subjects, research, frame arguments, prepare memorials and appear before a hypothetical Court (where judges are always keen to take your case and officially rag you). It helps you at the student level itself to learn to identify the questions of law from the questions of fact, it hones up your research skills and finally organizing a legal argument issue by issue in the time bound manner. Mooting brings out the best in you to put across an argument, justify it with an intensive research with the combination of court-mannerism and court crafting.

    I would not say that it has helped me getting a job instantly. But mooting is in itself a cherishing experience and it certainly adds to one’s resume as a prospective employer would always go for a well-rounded person over a simple aggregation of the marks scored in all the semesters.

     

    You are currently working at Sahara India. How did you go about getting recruited there? Please tell us about the recruitment process at Sahara India.

    My recruitment at Sahara was an example of Talent poaching. My last office was working with Sahara’s team in a particular litigation, where I got the opportunity to interact and work personally with one of the promoters of the company. Unlike the usual selection of Sahara which starts from sourcing and interview, I was just offered the joining letter with the specified date and I embraced it. I feel privileged for the same.

     

    How important according to you is CGPA in building a career in the legal industry?

    CGPA cannot be the final determination to one’s legal education. But, when a law student applies for a job, the first thing would be the curriculum vitae (CV) and the attention of the interviewer would obviously go to the CGPA first. Undoubtedly, the first impression is created by your academic achievements which rightly includes CGPA, though I agree, cannot be the ultimate indicator as I never found myself convinced to run in the chase of 9 and 10 pointers.

    I would recommend a more balanced approach to the law school life, inclusive of all the flavours and opportunities a law school can offer. It’s worthwhile to focus on extra-curricular activities like mooting, debating, writing articles etc. – it all acts as building blocks in the formative years of the profession.

     

    Many people believe that working as an in-house counsel affords more work-life balance and is less demanding. Would you agree?

    Most of the large companies, rather than outsourcing all its legal work to law firms, have lawyers on its board to represent the company’s legal interest who are known as “in-house” counsels.

    There is a popular belief that working with companies is less demanding. I think it all depends more on the company’s legal approach. As per my experience, working with a company calls for a greater responsibility and work-life balance does not happen so easily. Unlike with the law firms, the approach towards a given task is taken with far greater concern rather than just being ‘another clients’ work’. Any advice tendered should be well founded within the contours of law while keeping in mind the welfare of the company as well.

     

    If you could re-live your 5 years in Law school, is there something you would do differently?

    I have done it all and had good fun and no regrets.

     

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

    There isn’t a sure shot way to success in the legal profession. Everyone has his/her own unique story of success. Believe in yourself – something will surely come to you. No point in comparison and ultimately losing your heart. All you need is patience and hard work.

     

  • Neeraj Arora, Expert Investigator, Cyber Crimes, Delhi Police on building a career in Cyber Law

    Neeraj Arora, Expert Investigator, Cyber Crimes, Delhi Police on building a career in Cyber Law

    Neeraj Arora started working in the Delhi police as a sub-inspector in order to support his family, while studying B.Com. Thereafter he did his LL.B from Delhi University.

    After graduating and continuing work in the police force, he developed an interest in cyber crimes and law and took up a variety of certificate courses and diplomas in India and abroad to further his knowledge in the area. Eventually, he started up his own law firm, Hazen Legal Associates which specialises mainly in cyber law and offences.

    Presently, he is a designated Expert Investigator and he has investigated a large number of cases relating to E-mail related crimes, Web-Server/System/Wireless Network Hacking, BPO Data theft, Online Auctions Website Frauds, Obscenity, E-mails/SMS Spoofing, Phishing Frauds etc. for the Delhi Police. He serves as a guest faculty member and a guest lecturer of ISACA, NICFS, Indian Law Institute, Directorate of Enforcement, Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs and many other prominent institutions. He is also an Arbitrator for NSE, ICADR and MCX in online trading matters.

    In this interview we asked Neeraj to share:

    • His initial decisive moments during graduation
    • Being a part of the Delhi police and his work in the Cyber Crimes Cell
    • Doing a number of extra diplomas and certificate courses in Cyber Law and Digital Forensics
    • Being a Consultant for the World Bank
    • Being appointed as an Arbitrator of the National Stock Exchange
    • His experience of starting up his own law firm, Hazen Legal Associates

     

    Please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a bit about your college life days. Did you have lawyers in your family?

    After doing my 12th, I started working and took my first job as an Accounts Assistant because my family circumstances required me to earn for my family. I joined B.Com (H) at the School of Correspondence Studies, Delhi University, while continuing my job. I also took up part-time writing work, filing of Income Tax/Sales Tax returns and tuitions to support my family. I am a first generation lawyer in my family.

     

    You are a Commerce (B.Com) Graduate and a Cost Accountant by qualification. What prompted you to make the transition to law?

    After completing B.Com, I joined ICWA as I intended to join the accountancy profession. Meanwhile, due to my financial troubles, [sociallocker]I joined the Delhi police as a Sub-Inspector. I also continued with ICWA and completed my final in 1996.

     

    You have pursued PG Diplomas in Arbitration and Drafting long after graduating in LL.B. What prompted you to take up these diplomas?

    I did my LL.B. from Delhi University in 2001 and pursued a PG Diploma in Arbitration & PG Diploma Drafting of Legislation, Treaties, International Agreement & Contracts from 2008 to 2010. I pursued the extra diplomas because the topic fascinated me as it upgrades existing skills and enables one to reach new heights in life as well as the legal profession. After resigning from the Delhi police in 2008, I decided to explore my career in Arbitration which is an upcoming and rewarding career. In 2008, I was appointed as an Arbitrator with the MCX Exchange and to augment my skill in the field of International Arbitration, I joined and completed these two part-time courses, PG Diploma in Arbitration, Drafting of Legislation, Treaties, International Agreement & Contracts.

     

    You have been practicing cyber law for almost eight years now. How did you become interested in cyber law?

    In 2005, I was transferred to the Cyber Crime Cell of Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi police and at the time I didn’t have much knowledge of computers. I treated the posting as a punishment, but took it up as a challenge as I foresaw huge potential in the area. I did a number of trainings on cyber offences from various police academies: CBI, CDTS and also did a Certificate Course in Computer Forensic from IP University, Cyber Crime Investigator Course from Asian School of Cyber Law, PG Diploma in Cyber Law from Indian Law Institute (ILI), Delhi, PG Diploma in Cyber Security from Asian School of Cyber Law and MBA (Information Technology) from Manipal University. Consequently, that is also how I became one of the prominent Investigators of the Cyber Crime Cell of the Delhi police.

     

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    You are associated with Delhi Police as a Cyber Lawyer & an Expert Cyber Crime Investigator. Please share few interesting experiences of your investigation with our readers and tell us more about these issues.

    On being equipped with knowledge on Information Technology, I got opportunities to investigate a large number of cases relating to E-mail related crimes, Web-Server/System/Wireless Network Hacking, BPO Data theft, Online Auctions Website Frauds, Obscenity, E-mails/SMS Spoofing, Phishing Frauds etc.

    In all the cases, I prepared the mirror images on the spot, collected relevant digital evidence, arrested a number of hackers, filed the charge-sheets in the court, etc. The investigation of cyber offences was quite challenging as there were no precedents, standard operating procedure and no one to guide us. I have collected the requisite information from the internet, various books and journals on digital forensics and by 2008, I was awarded the status of an expert cyber crime Investigator.

     

    You are a Certified Forensic Computer Expert and an empanelled member of IACIS for more than two years now. What is your job as an expert at IACIS? What kind of issues do you deal with?

    The IACIS (International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists) is the top most organization in the world which specializes in the field of computer forensics. The Certification, “Certified Forensic Computer Examiner” (CFCE) is one of the top most certification which is also recognized by the Forensic Specialities Board of U.S.

    In order to augment my skill and also to gain an in-depth knowledge, I joined the Certification and attended two weeks Hands on Training in Orlando, U.S. and after that I worked hard for another year and passed the six exams which involves analysis of mirror images to find out the Window, Internet and other Artifacts of the Crime.

    The Course was a big challenge as this is the only Certification which requires extracting the evidence without using Forensic Software. The only Software which can be used is Hex Editor and for doing one need to have good knowledge of FAT File System, NTFS etc. as the Data/Artifacts has to be extracted manually by finding the location of data from FAT/MFT Table.

     

    You have vast experience as an Investigating Officer of CBI, Cyber Crime cell and Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police and you are also associated with Justice K. Venkataswami Commissioner of Enquiry (Tehelka) for more than a decade. Please share your experience.

    I joined the CBI as Inspector on Deputation and got the opportunity to investigate the huge and technically complex cases of Economic Offences going into hundreds of crores of rupees. My skill and knowledge in the field of Finance, being a Cost Accountant, enable me to investigate these cases and to book the fraudsters. As an Investigating Officer with Justice K. Venkataswami Commissioner of Enquiry (Tehelka), I got the opportunity to investigate the huge scam and I received an award for outstanding investigation in the said assignment.

     

    You have trained many professionals at Police Organisations, Indian Law Institute, CBI and also at IACIS. Please tell us about your training programme.

    The arena of cyber forensics comprises of three domains namely Computer Forensic, Network Forensic & Mobile Forensic. These domains are inter-connected and integrated in such a manner that the knowledge of three domains is required to handle the Digital Evidence. I have been continuously sharing my knowledge of these domains by way of training. The training I provide is an integration of Bit & Byte, Debit & Credit with investigation and procedural and substantive laws.

     

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    You have also delivered a couple of lectures on cyber law. How do you prepare yourself before any presentation or delivering any lecture? Please give some tips to our readers.

    My competence in integrating computer forensics with digital evidence, e-commerce, procedural/substantive laws gives me a unique edge in delivering training in the field of Cyber Crime/Cyber Law/Computer Forensic/Financial Forensic when it is connected to the ground realities of investigation, analysis and presentation in a court of law. I am able to provide a solution to the various gaps in the investigation, collection, analysis, presentation & cross-examination on the digital evidence and integrate it with the applicable principles of digital investigation, digital evidence, cyber laws and other procedural/substantive law.

     

    From your profile it can be seen that you have strong exposure, knowledge and specialization in Arbitration law. How did you gravitate towards this discipline?

    Arbitration is one of the upcoming fields which require skills of legal procedure, proceedings, appreciation of evidence and discovery. The academic domain, knowledge and experience plays a major role in acquiring these skills and since the entire world is moving to ADR for dispute resolution, this is the most growing field with opportunities increasing exponentially.

     

    As an Arbitrator and Mediator for NSE, ICADR and MCX what kind of disputes do you deal with? What is the normal time period of disposal of an arbitral proceeding?

    As an Arbitrator on various exchanges, I am adjudicating the disputes relating to the Online Share/Commodity Transactions between the Members of Exchanges (Brokers) and their clients.

    As a member of IGRC on various exchanges, I conduct conciliatory proceedings to resolve disputes relating to the online share/commodity transactions between the Members of Exchanges (Brokers) and their clients. This mechanism provides an opportunity to the litigant to resolve their dispute with the help of Conciliator/Mediator.

    The normal time period of disposal of such dispute is 3-6 months. The disputes are resolved by conducting the proceedings as per the bye-laws and exchanges and the procedure prescribed in Arbitration & Conciliation Act, 1996.

     

    You were also appointed as a Consultant of World Bank for four years. How did you get associated with the World Bank?

    I was appointed as a Consultant to the World Bank for analysing the contractual issues relating to the projects of World Bank.

     

    You have started your own firm – Hazen Legal Associates. What were the primary challenges you faced?

    I have started my own firm as the various skills in the field of law, finance & cyber offences gave me an edge. I got a lot of work in the field of criminal laws, cyber offences and consultancy relating to cyber offences. The only challenge was to bring together so many technical and legal aspects, which I did with the help of my colleagues and associates.

     

    What are the practice areas at Hazen Legal Associates? Do your firm emphasize more on cyber law than other areas of law?

    The main practice area is confined to criminal trials in the field of economic, cyber & anti-corruption cases. Due to heavy demand in the field of cyber law, we are now specializing in consultancy and compliance with cyber law as required by ISO 27001, storage/maintenance of digital evidence, handling cases relating to cyber crimes, cross- examination on digital evidence, handling of cyber security, etc.

     

    What is the application procedure for interns at HLA? What do you look for in a prospective applicant?

    We keep 3-4 interns at all times. The application procedure requires the applicant to send the detailed profile at on cyber.nk@gmail.com, we shall then follow it up by an interview. The skills required are knowledge of computer and research in the legal field. The networking and programming knowledge adds to the priority for the applicant.

     

    In spite of having so many involvements in various organizations apart from managing your own law firm, is it easy to have a work-life balance?

    It’s always a challenge but with the support of good colleagues and associates, one can maintain a work life balance.

     

    How should one go about starting his/her own cyber law practice in India? Please name a few institutes to study cyber law in India. How important are procedural laws in this discipline?

    A good knowledge of computers is a must. A Diploma in Computer Networking is required to understand the Cyber Offences and any further qualification in the field of Computer, Network or Mobile would add to the success of individual in this arena. There are various Institutes which provide courses like Indian Law Institute, NALSAR, IGNOU etc.

    Procedural laws have a very important aspect in Cyber Law, one should have knowledge of Criminal Procedure Code/Civil Procedure Code/Evidence Act. Without a good knowledge of these procedural laws, success in the field of cyber law cannot be achieved because the implementation would be only through these procedural laws.

    The other important aspect is that the Cyber Law caters to only 20% of the Cyber crimes whereas 80% of all Cyber crimes get covered under the IPC and other Laws.

     

    What would be your advice for aspiring cyber lawyers?

    The aspiring cyber lawyer should develop their skill in the field of procedural laws and Internet Technology at the same time. Later, these practitioners may not get the time/opportunity to develop skills and therefore, I recommend that aspiring legal practitioners should acquire maximum technical skills parallel with their L.L.B which would give them an edge later on.

    In the Europe, U.S., etc. most of the cyber lawyers have a background in technology like B.Tech etc. Now, integrated Course of B.Tech + L.L.B. (5 Years) have been introduced in various Universities/Colleges and pursing these courses would ensure the success in the field of cyber law. It can be said that candidates with such qualifications will dominate the cyber world in the near future.[/sociallocker]

  • Tulika Chakraborty, Associate at Kochhar & Co. on Corporate Law and Law Firms

    Tulika Chakraborty, Associate at Kochhar & Co. on Corporate Law and Law Firms

    Tulika Chakraborty graduated from Symbiosis Law School in 2011. She has an enviable academic record and an excellent series of internships at top law firms. During law school, she participated in various co-curricular activities including moot court competitions, debates, and conferences. She also has a couple of publications to her name. Currently, she works as an Associate at Kochhar & Co.

    In this interview, she talks about:

    • Importance of co-curricular activities like mooting, etc.
    • Appointment and work experience at Kochhar & Co.

     

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

    Hi, I am Tulika Chakraborty, a corporate lawyer associated with Kochhar & Co. and an alumnus of Symbiosis Law College.

    Well, I was always charmed by the mad pace, responsibility and the glamour that comes with the legal profession. Further, with the Indian economy opening still on the upside and huge potential for growth due to liberalisation and globalisation, there seemed to be a lot of scope in the field of transactions and hence the need for corporate lawyers in the foreseeable future. To add to that, my father’s dream and motivation boosted the zeal to reach this point of success in life.

     

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

    I have always been a consistent student in college, trying to balance my course and extra curriculars. I have pursued two diploma courses from Symbiosis Law School, in addition to my regular law degree. I have been a part of certain committees and participated in programs organised by my college from time to time. College life at Symbiosis was fulfilling and has tremendously helped me grow into a comprehensive adult. I guess a good college life includes academics and life experiences.

     

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

    I was always interested in foreign exchange laws. However, we did not have that as a subject back in college. It were my stints as an intern with various law firms that gave me my first true exposure to the practical side of law and it was during that time that I became sure of the area of my interest in foreign exchange laws and corporate laws. Reading articles on foreign exchange laws issued by various law firms and magazines like yours have also guided me all through the way.

     

    How was your experience serving various student committees at SLS?

    So I was a part of this committee engaged in the upliftment of rural children by way of spreading awareness regarding the necessity of primary education for children. As a part of the committee, we would visit villages etc., gather information regarding the literacy rate amongst the children, income level of a family, child labour etc. We would thereafter educate them on the necessity of having their children educated and refrain from making children work. We would also get in touch with various NGOs, obtain necessary financial assistance and provide help to the children by way of purchasing books, stationeries etc. Being a part of committees helps one to understand and deal with people having different mind sets and perceptions. This in turn helps one to become a team player, which is a crucial requirement of any profession.

     

    What do you have to say about mooting and publications? Do they have any ‘bonus’ value when seeking jobs?

    Mooting and writing journals at law school is always good since it helps one improve upon his/her research, drafting and debating abilities. These are very important skills that a lawyer is expected to possess. In my view, such co-curricular activities do have a bonus value when graduates seek jobs since it reflects a person’s passion and zeal for the legal profession.

     

    After graduation you joined Kochhar & Co. It’s been three and half years of your work experience in corporate law. What would you say contributes to the high attrition rate of the top law firms?

    I was interning with Kochhar & Co. in my last year of college and bagged a pre-placement offer there. I have got a brilliant exposure here. I believe the work environment can be difficult as times and the inabilities to handle the work pressure contribute to the high attrition rate amongst the top law firms.

     

    Many lawyers say that years of practice can make a person adept at any discipline of law. How far would you say it is true? What was the case in your situation?

    I don’t believe that is true at all. It all depends upon the exposure a person gets and his/her willingness to learn. This can happen within a couple of years of being in the industry and might not happen after years of experience as well.

    At Kochhar, I primarily handle transactions and general corporate commercial matters. In addition to this, I have got opportunities to handle real estate, insurance, employment and labour matters etc. I have got a brilliant exposure in all non-litigation matters which has helped me build my understanding of the field I seek enjoyment while working and gather a basic understanding of all practice areas at the same time.

     

    What all does your profile at Kochhar & Co. encompass?

    As I mentioned earlier, I am primarily a part of the transactions and general corporate and commercial team. When there are transactions being handled by my company, my job is to focus on those. However, I otherwise deal in commercial documentation, corporate secretarial matters, labour and employment etc.

     

    How is real legal work different from those portrayed in popular soap operas? Are there any misconceptions which law students hold?

    It is different experience to work as an intern and as a lawyer. As an intern, one is mainly entrusted with research work and one doesn’t have any responsibility towards clients etc. Once one starts working, one becomes answerable for everything one says or writes. One begins handling clients and it gives a different level of satisfaction and happiness.

    On the misconception front, I don’t think I had any major/crippling misconception but with time I have come across people who during their college tenure believe that legal profession is similar to what is shown in Boston Legal and Suits (the famous soap operas). Sooner they get ready for the grind the better.

     

    What do you think differentiates a good intern from the rest

    I believe sincerity is a very important quality which one must possess. Interns, who ask for work, research well and come back with accurate answers based on appropriate legal provisions and judicial precedents make a difference and improve his or her chances of absorption as a lawyer.

     

    Life for law-firms can be very hectic at times. How do you unwind?

    Well honestly, at Kochhar, we have sufficient work life balance. I believe in fitness and working out. I love to cook as well. All these activities act as a stress buster for me.

     

    Where do you see yourself five years from now?

    I see myself as a General Counsel of an MNC.

     

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

    Jeremy Bentham had once said – “Lawyers are the only persons in whom ignorance of the law is not punished.” I believe as lawyers, it is important for us to keep abreast of the latest legal developments. One should strive to keep themselves regularly updated with the latest legal developments happening in our respective fields.

     

  • Leoni Mahanta, Trademark Attorney, AMSS on work experience and LL.M from NUS in IPR

    Leoni Mahanta, Trademark Attorney, AMSS on work experience and LL.M from NUS in IPR

    Leoni Mahanta is currently working as a Trademarks Attorney with Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A. Shroff & Co. (AMSS), Gurgaon. She graduated with a B.A.LL.B. (Hons) degree from National Law Institute University, Bhopal in 2009. She then went on to pursue Masters in Intellectual Property Rights and Technology law from National University of Singapore and has thereafter worked with two boutique IP law firms, initially at ZeusIP and then at Lall, Lahiri & Salhotra.

    In this interview she talks about:

    • Law school experience at NLIU and NUS
    • Work experience at ZeusIP and Lall, Lahiri & Salhotra
    • Work as Trademark Attorney with AMSS

     

    How would you introduce yourself? Please tell us a bit about how you gravitated towards law.

    Hi, I am Leoni Mahanta and I am currently working as a Trade Marks Attorney with Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A.Shroff & Co. (AMSS), Gurgaon.

    My maternal grandfather was a very big name in the legal fraternity of Assam. As a child, I would hear his great courtroom stories, the stature he enjoyed in the society, and that inspired me to become a lawyer so that I could carry forward his legacy.

     

    Please tell us a little about your law school days at NLIU? How were you at academics?

    The 5 years I have spent in National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal, are indeed very close to my heart and the whole experience has a major impact on who I am today. Studying at a National Law School gave me the opportunity to interact with the cream crowd of the country. Being a part of the competitive environment at NLIU, I became a goal oriented person at a young age. I was an above average student with a decent CGPA and I actively took part in extra-curricular activities as a core member of Gender Justice Cell and Access to Justice Cell and was involved in UNDP funded projects. My reading was not limited to class-room notes and course materials, and I would read from books which helped me to understand the basics. The purpose was not to cram up the course material to score high grades but to understand and enjoy what I was studying.

    Most importantly, one of the key highlights of my law-school years was travelling all over Madhya Pradesh and beyond, getting to know the culture and enjoying the hostel life with my friends. There was always so much to do – exams, projects, presentations, extra-curricular activities – and coping up with the trimester system taught me mechanisms to multi-task, all of which are now helping me being an associate at AMSS and still maintaining work life balance.

     

    How important do you say is a good CGPA for an illustrious career in law?

    Good CGPA is definitely very important to be noticed by a potential employer and in securing admission for higher studies at top law or business schools. However, for an illustrious legal career, the marks you have scored in law school exams have no role to play. I believe we should choose to work in the field which interests us, be sincere and honest in our attitude towards all the assignments we are involved in, be it big or small. In short, if we love our work we will naturally put all our efforts and would want to be updated with latest legal developments which in turn will reflect in the quality of our work.

     

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    How do you think internships are beneficial to law students?

    Internships give students the opportunity to experience the practical aspects of law and provide exposure to a professional environment that a law school may not otherwise be able to provide. I would advise law students to intern with Non-Governmental Organizations, National Commissions, Litigators, Corporate Law Firms and as Judicial Clerks so that they can have a fair idea of different practice areas and can gain clarity of what they would want to pursue as a career. Internships also provide great platform to refine legal skills, learn your strengths and weaknesses and to network with legal professionals who may prove to be mentors in finding jobs in the future.

     

    After your graduation, you went to pursue Masters in Intellectual Property Rights and Technology law from National University of Singapore. How would you describe your experience as?

    Yes, pursuing higher studies was always the plan! I was not mentally prepared to start working right after law school. I felt it was too soon. I wanted to go out in the world, experience different cultures, meet new people and become more independent. Though I was offered Scholarship by Kings College London, I chose National University of Singapore (NUS)because of its global approach to education and research, with a focus on Asian perspectives and expertise. Also, the University is considered to be one of the best in Asia offering diverse course modules which are taught by the professors from the top most universities of the world.

    Studying in Singapore was a life changing experience. Living in a different culture, interacting with people from all over the world helped me discover myself, break down my stereotypes about many things and see the world in new ways. The LL.M. gave me the opportunity to make great friend, meet new professionals and build invaluable relationships with peers from around the world. Also, NUS organises regular professional networking gatherings which helped me to develop networking skills. I also had the opportunity to intern at Drew & Napier LLC which is one of Singapore’s leading and largest law firms.  This experience taught mecross cultural skills and provided an international professional exposure.

    Pursuing an LL.M. abroad may not be a good idea if you are expecting it to be a means to getting a job abroad or top law firm in India. But personally, I believe that studying and living abroad contributes to overall development of one’s personality, preparing to adapt to unfamiliar environments and improve interpersonal skills as a result of interacting with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

     

    After completing your LL.M, you came back to India and started your career at a boutique Intellectual Property Firm. How would you describe your experience working at boutique firms?

    I worked in two boutique IP law firms, initially at ZeusIP and then at Lall, Lahiri&Salhotra.Working at these firms proved to be beneficial as from the very start of my career I got the opportunity to work directly under the supervision of the Partners, work on wide variety of matters due to less compartmentalisation of work, take more responsibilities and directly communicate with clients. Working in boutique set-ups helped me to gain more control on the practise, become responsive and develop management skills.

     

    Currently, you work as an Associate at AMSS. What prompted you to make this choice and how is your experience so far?

    Working at AMSS was a natural choice as I was looking for varied and challenging work and it is the best platform to experience the cream legal work in the country since it has diverse range of clients comprising world’s top business houses.

    Working at AMSS is a very fulfilling experience. The people that I work with are some of the brightest and most insightful people that I have ever met. AMSS has a very women friendly environment and the firm takes various initiatives for the well-being of the employees.

     

    What kind of work and responsibilities does an associate at AMSS deals with? What should a student do so that he gets placed in a prestigious firm like AMSS?

    Work and responsibilities of Associates at AMSS differ from team to team. Personally speaking, I believe that if one is sincere, good at work and takes initiatives then opportunities aregiven to work in wide range of matters and take more responsibilities.

    The general notion is that one should be amongst the top 10% of the class for campus recruitment in AMSS. I joined AMSS as a lateral joinee and can only comment on the basis of my personal experience. I believe that a good CGPA is important but AMSS also considers if the candidate has a good grip of the work he / she is doing and the general attitude towards work. AMSS appreciates candidates with well rounded personality and good inter-personal skills. My advice to the prospective job seekers is to develop strong base in their practice area, be honest with the interviewer and develop the spirit to be nothing lesser than the best. Recruiters can read your mind 🙂

     

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

    Every day I go to office as if it’s my first day at work with the determination to prove myself and be better than yesterday. I believe the doors of great opportunities will open up if I continue to be true to myself and my work.

  • Jagruti Dekavadiya, Managing Partner at Arun Oza & Associates on specialisation in Commercial Law from UCL

    Jagruti Dekavadiya, Managing Partner at Arun Oza & Associates on specialisation in Commercial Law from UCL

    Jagruti Dekavadiya is a graduate of the 2012 batch of Institute of Law, Nirma University B.A. LL.B. (Business Laws – Hons.). A lawyer with the qualification of LL.M. (International Commercial Laws) from University College London, (U.K.) and a Registered Trademark Attorney, Govt. of India, she is now the Managing Partner of Arun Oza & Associates.

    In this interview you will get to read what she has to say about:

    • Choosing law as a career option
    • Specialization in Commercial Law
    • Importance of Research and publications and other co curricular activities
    • Working as a Managing Partner at Arun Oza & Associates

     

    Please tell us what defines you.

    I am a very passionate human being. Routine bores me so to keep going, I need challenges. I graft wonders under pressure. I love challenges and it becomes an obsession to win, be it a boardroom game or on a playground. I believe in maximum output with limited time. Moreover, I like being at peace followed by hard work and complete fairness. I don’t like it I get favoured in anyway. I like to earn it myself than to get it inherited.

     

    What is it that motivated you to take study law?

    It is actually a very funny story. Till I completed my 12th (Science Stream – Biology Group), I always wondered as to why one chooses being a lawyer. Why would one fight cases and take mental stress dealing with others every day? But during that period, I came in contact with my mentor, guide and philosopher, Shree Arun D. Oza (Former Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor for High Court of Gujarat), who changed my perception about lawyers forever. He is the type of lawyer who fights for justice, always fighting for the cause of justice against oppression and victimisation.

    He is the only lawyer I have seen so far who will ask his filthy rich prospective client bluntly, “Did you do this?” and if the client says “Yes”, he is at fault. Mr. Oza won’t proceed further and will show him the real picture. So his honesty, integrity and power of truth inspired me to become a lawyer and then in the meanwhile, Nirma University launched their Institute of Law and Shree Oza filled out my form and told me on the day of the exam an hour before that you have to go and appear for entrance and so I did.

    My Rank was 81 (Only top 80 were to be selected.) and I got an interview call followed by an admission, and now, I hold the qualification of a B.A. LL.B. (Hons- Business Laws) with University Second Rank (with minor difference of 0.01 points) and I was also among the toppers in the Business Law Honours Subjects. I also hold an LL.M (International Commercial Laws) from University College London (UCL), UK and Registered Trademark Attorney, Govt. of India.

     

    You have specialized in Commercial law. What made you interested in the same?

    I am a Gujarati, therefore business oriented by birth! The intricacies of business, investment and calculation come natural to me. I always see the pros and cons of everything may it be on professional or personal front. Plus everything has a reason in whatever I do. So, the calculative nature and my interest in learning more about commercial law directed me to specialize in commercial law.

     

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    Do you say there is room for specialisation and research in Commercial Laws?

    Indeed, there is. Commercial Law is rather a discipline in itself. Very vast and diversified. It has an incredible scope from the academic and research point of view. The study of commerce and market, foreseeing the economic growth, and identifying the best practice to adapt or policy to formulate is the ongoing dynamic and intense area for academicians and researchers and the same is also related to the professionals up to a certain extent. I feel students who want to specialise in this, should think what they want to be – A professional or an academician and then should adapt themselves accordingly, as it’s interdependent and does not have straight jacket formula to follow.

     

    Most of your internships have been litigation internships. How helpful were they in increasing your skills and competence as a professional in the field of commercial law?

    My internships into litigation were not isolated from the commercial laws. During those internships, I have learnt the intense interdependent aspects of legislations like Income Tax, Carriage of Goods Act, Trade policies etc along with the Constitution of India. At various judicial forums, these internships have helped me learn the basics which every lawyer should know, along with the aspects of interpretations as far as commercial laws are concerned. Moreover, I believe any skill gained is always an advantage. So for me, it was like know the problems with poor contract drafting or policies resulting into litigation, so that I can be prepared to curb them before inception. Knowing what could be the prospective problem, equips you with solutions resulting into excellence and success.

     

    What do you think about students pursuing CS?

    I believe in adding brownie points to your CV but for the students who already want to specialise in Commercial Law, why do CS? It has more or less the same subjects and same contents. So, I would invest my time in attending workshop on corporate finance or investment or any related area.

     

    You did your masters from UCL, one of the most prestigious universities of the world in international commercial law. What do you think is the scope in this area?

    UCL is indeed the one of the most prestigious universities in the world and known for its course on International Commercial Law. It was indeed prestigious and an amazing experience to do my LL.M. in International Commercial Laws from there. There is a tremendous scope in this area. It widens your theoretical understanding along with the technical ‘know how’. Proficiency in International Commercial Law has the power to empower one to become a global citizen or a professional in its true sense.

     

    How do you assess your LL.M program? Was it an intensive academic and research oriented exercise or did it also help from a professional point of view?

    UCL has a very intense and comprehensive program for its LL.M. It is extremely well structured. It comprises of the academic and research aspects on the various topics and also has tutorials and workshops which empower students to have a complete holistic view than just focusing on academics. So, it was very intense from an academic and research point of view but it also offered various training programs and endowed me on the professional front too.

     

    You have done a lot of publications. How big a role did the same have to play in helping you get admission at Cambridge?

    Having publications on your name and authoring upon the burning topics always adds cherry to the cake. However, I would say that a prestigious University like UCL and Cambridge do note it. As it’s evident in my case, inspite of lacking post study experience, along with A+ Grades, it were my publications which helped me bag admission at Cambridge and UCL too. I believe in collecting options on my plate to choose and pick from later when needed.

     

    Along with having publications, what all activities did you indulge in as a law student, which helped you secure admission at Cambridge? Do research work and writing papers have a role in building you as a professional?

    I have been very active in co-curricular activities and I firmly believe that it surely played a role for me in getting an admission. I have successfully carried out responsibility in my post as the Chief Executive Editor of Nirma University Law Journal. One of the key achievements out of the list was to be selected as the Chief Coordinator to lead a batch for legal awareness camps at various villages, schools and Sabarmati Central Jail for five years. I have also been the founder and active member in the Moot Court Committee, Debate Committee, and Seminar & Publication research cell. You name any committee or any team; I have played an active role in it. I believe these responsibilities makes you a complete professional along with your academics and it surely distinguishes your profile and leads you on the top of everything. As it did to me, apart from getting admission it also helped me grab the PPO from a London based International Law Firm. (which I rejected, as I was clear of doing an LL.M. and then subsequently having my own law firm which I am doing successfully now.)

    I have presented more than fifteen papers and chaired sessions at various National and International Conferences at leading Universities in India including Bombay, Calcutta, Chandigarh, Indian Business Academy Bangalore, and Indian Society of International Law (ISIL) and as well as some outstanding seminars abroad including Los Angeles in 8th International Conference on New Dimensions of Humanities organized by University of California Los Angeles, USA in February 2010, Mauritius in ICER-2010 by University of Mauritius in September 2010, London in BSA Sociological Association Annual Conference at London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in April 2011.

    I have also taken active part in one National and two International Moots – Participated as a Researcher in Surana & Surana National Corporate Law Moot Court Competition 2008 and as a Speaker in 9thPhilip. C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition 2009 and a coach and chief researcher in International Maritime Law Arbitration Moot 2011, organized by Murdoch University, Australia in collaboration with National University of Singapore, National University of Singapore July 2011.

    I firmly believe being professional is not only about skill or knowledge. A professional needs to be equipped with the knowledge and also with a technical ‘know-how’ to face any situation ahead. Hence, I also had equal focus on my academics too. I have scored the highest in the University in Business Laws Honors subjects. I have also scored University Second position with the minor difference of 0.01 points. So, I believe in achieving excellence at every possible thing related to your area and it will be followed by the success never achieved by anyone before, may it be getting admission or a PPO for that matter.

     

    Along with Commercial law, your profile also shows that you have interest in Trademark and IPR? How closely are the two branches of law related?

    Commercial law is very vast and mammoth. Of course, it has interrelation with IP related issues too. In fact, while I was advising one of my corporate clients, he had issues with breaching contract of confidentiality resulting into the leakage of the trade secret. So, I had to take IP protections for this client. That’s how I actually ended up being qualified as Registered Trademark attorney.

     

    What are the other areas of study which you think that a law student wanting to excel as a professional in the field of commercial law should be proficient in?

    As I suggested earlier, based on the individual limb of commercial law, whatever area which interests the most to the student, he/she has to be equipped with the skills and knowledge needed. However, if you ask me to pin point them: Maritime Law, International Trade Law, Insurance, Merger & Acquisition and Corporate Finance are the essential areas of study, though each of them have an entire discipline in it.

     

    How was your first year after graduation? Do law schools in India prepare their students for their professional life?

    My first year was very exciting indeed. There were a lot of challenges to meet with. I doubt that law schools in India are completely adequate enough to prepare the students for their professional life since the curriculum in Indian Law schools is academic centered rather than practice oriented. A law student must enhance his CV with Publications, Paper presentations, Research and Moot Court presentations to compete with other candidates. I believe only academics or only extracurricular will not help. Make your CV that impressive that no one can ignore it.

     

    How did you get to work at Arun Oza & Associates? Please share with us your journey from your induction into the firm till date?

    Shree Arun Oza is a senior lawyer at the High Court of Gujarat and he served as an inspiration for me to shift to law from my Science background. I have been attending his office since 2007 from my first year of law and now, it’s my firm. I am managing it. My journey was quite tough and taunting as from day one it felt like I was talking responsibility. It was the real experience of being responsible for your act rather than a feeling of being an associate where you know there is always a senior to check. However, the journey was very interesting and to this day it continues to be. I have new challenges and new aspects to explore.

     

    What is a normal workday like at Arun Oza & Associates? Being the Managing Partner at AOA, what are your responsibilities?

    I head the Corporate and Commercial Department, including Arbitration and Intellectual Property Rights. I also head litigation along with Mr. Oza. My day starts with urgent admissions and other matters on board and ends with meetings and drafting for my commercial clients, especially companies whom I am currently advising on its International affairs too. So, my duties aren’t fixed. It’s kind of like being an entrepreneur and being the head at the same time. I also have to manage associates directly and run for final hearings at Court too. But, it’s very much happening.

     

    Do you take interns at AOA? What do you look for in a typical cover letter and CV? How can interns manage to get positive feedback in the limited time they have?

    Of course, I do take interns at AOA. Matter of fact, I am currently having three interns directly under me. One from JGLS and other two are from NLUs. I am really picky about their cover letter. I believe, because they are applying for experience, I don’t expect their CV to be full of achievements but I read the cover letter carefully. The way they draft cover letter depicts the confidence level and clarity as to why they want to intern under me or AOA. Once, I approve the cover letter, my office writes back for interview either online or offline and then if they are selected, they directly report to me. I provide them feedback on each and everything. The interns under me aren’t pampered. They get the first hand experience of everything I do. It may range from cracking negotiations with corporate clients to appearing at different final hearing stage in Courts. I give them files to read and also give them the responsibility to assist me inside the Court being on the front desk alongside myself.

     

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

    Strive to learn and stay hungry for knowledge. Take it as a challenge and believe that you can do it. Hard work is important but in this age if you also want to succeed what’s more important, is focused smart work. Know your priorities and act accordingly. No doubt, Law is a lucrative profession but learn to be fair and give back to the society as well.

  • Pooja Sharma, Senior Manager-Legal, Sony Entertainment on leaving law firm and Media Law

    Pooja Sharma, Senior Manager-Legal, Sony Entertainment on leaving law firm and Media Law

    Pooja Sharma is currently a Senior Manager-Legal at Multi Screen Media Pvt. Ltd. (Sony Entertainment). She graduated from Government Law College, Mumbai in 2007, and had thereafter worked in law firms before joining in-house.

    In this interview she tells us about:

    • Work as an Associate at law firms
    • Leaving law firms and joining as an in-house counsel

     

    Hello Pooja! What would you say brought you into legal studies?

    Firstly, A big Hello to you all! I am Pooja Sharma and I was one of you just a few years back. In particular there is no such incident but something that attracted me towards this vocation was the discipline involved and also the fact that as a lawyer one needs a good sense of clear reasoning.

     

    How would you describe your time at GLC, Mumbai?

    Government Law College, Mumbai was a great place to be in. I can say that GLC as an institution has played a great part in shaping my career, insight and my ambitions.

     

    What sort of internships did you do while in law school?

    I interned under Senior Advocate Mr. Shyam Marwadi in Bombay High Court during my college days. At that time my aim was to understand the practice of law in its purest form i.e., trials, questions of law being argued as and by way of appeals in the higher courts, etc. I strongly advocate and suggest that every law student must take up internship in the formative stages of their legal career; it’s an integral aspect of the profession.

     

    Did you find any difference between the way students of NLUs and non-NLUs take to the legal profession?

    Well, that’s really tricky to answer but I would say hard work gets you where you want to be. There are many examples of stalwarts from “non NLU” status. I think there is an edge attached to the NLU status but it’s a long race ahead, only time can tell who is going to be where. Law books are the same that each lawyer reads, the difference lies in the interpretation of the statue and this gives you an edge, it is interpretation of law that distinguishes a “good lawyer” from “just a lawyer”.

     

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    What brought you towards Media and Entertainment Law?

    Media and Entertainment Law practice happened to me by accident. I was not aware of this arm of legal practice till I started working for Hariani & Co. I was drawn towards the fact that Media and Entertainment Law is a very niche area of practice, along with interpretation of the various statue, it also requires a very sharp and clear transactional acumen. Since the practice is still evolving there is something new to learn every day and I really like this refreshing aspect.

     

    You began your professional career with Hariani & Co. as an Associate Advocate. What did your work profile consist of?

    I did not start my legal career with Hariani & Co., but Manilal Kher Ambalal & Co., as a litigation lawyer. Thereafter, I the quest to learn non-litigation and transactional aspects of law, I joined Hariani & Co., in 2010. I was initially inducted in the firm for real estate practice, however as destiny would have it, I was assigned to undertake trademarks, copyright and media related matters, in short complete intellectual property rights related practice.

     

    You’ve recently joined Multi Screen Media Pvt. Ltd. (Sony Entertainment) as Senior Manager – Legal. How did the switch from Hariani & Co. take place?

    Pre-dominantly the urge to understand the business and legal aspects of broadcasting and distribution of digital contents on various media platforms attracted me to Sony.

     

    How different would you say legal practice is from being an in-house lawyer? How should we choose which role to take?

    I understand by practice you mean litigation. Like I earlier said, every young lawyer/law student must understand Law in its purest form i.e., litigation. By attending courts one learns how to construct facts of the case and how to interpret the law in favour of your arguments. However, times are changing mind-sets are changing, law practice or role of lawyer is not limited to arguing cases in court but much more than that, which is good in a way. Every individual must keep his mind open, listen to the callings of his/her aptitude and then make a choice.

     

    Many law school students aspire to join corporate law. What do you think most are doing wrong, from your observations?

    There is nothing wrong in having an aspiration that is not in sync with the traditional outlook. If a student feels that he/she shall be more comfortable in a corporate job which is like corporate practice, he/she should pursue it. My personal view is that there is no harm in being a corporate in-house lawyer, however training and insight of pure form of law is essential and it provides you with an edge even if you want to pursue corporate in-house practice. Legal/vocational training in courts should be a compulsory part of legal education is what I feel. This will give us better lawyers in future in every field, be it bar practice or corporate in house practice.

     

    What would be your parting message for our readers?

    A simple mantra that I follow is that one should be open to learning new things, work hard and stay focused.

  • Adyasha Das, Associate Khaitan & Co., on Corporate Law, getting a PPO and moots

    Adyasha Das, Associate Khaitan & Co., on Corporate Law, getting a PPO and moots

    Adyasha Das graduated from the 2013 batch of National Law Institute University. She is one of the most diligent and illustrious scholars of NLIU and has a noteworthy academic, mooting and debating record. She was also the Convener of Moot Court Society, NLIU (2012-2013). Currently she works as a Corporate Law associate at Khaitan & Co. She has gone about achieving things on the sole basis of her merit.

    We asked her to share her experiences and strategies she used over the years. In this interview, she tells us about:

    • Work experience as the Convener of Moot Court Society, NLIU
    • Her journey from being an intern to getting job offer from Khaitan & Co.
    • Importance of academics, internships, debates and moots

     

    What motivated you to choose law as a career?

    Considering the number of lawyers and people from the legal background that dominate the corporate, social, and political scenes of the country, I don’t agree that there is currently any prejudice against law as a career in India.  If there were any apprehensions against the profession, the emergence of CLAT, national universities and lucrative job offers are fast changing perceptions about the profession.

    That said law wasn’t my first career choice. Although I did not come from a background that was prejudiced against law as a career, I wasn’t aware of the opportunities, relevance, and prominence of a legal career. In fact to be honest I inadvertently stumbled upon law, but that is a long story. However, what made me continue the pursuit was that law indulged my curiosity and engaged my attention.

     

    Tell us about your time at NLIU, Bhopal and the highlights of your college life and achievements?

    Time at NLIU was life aptly described by Calvin and Hobbes “Life’s a lot more fun when you aren’t responsible for your actions.” College is place that redefines the phrase spoilt for choice in every conceivable way. I made some incredible friends, learnt a lot and mostly enjoyed my time there.

    I am from a small city and hence for me the biggest highlight of NLIU was that it made me come across so many people, ideas, influences, thoughts, and possibilities. To add to that, I was always fortunate to have mentors (professors, seniors, and peers) to guide me around.  I believe that universities are not institutions devoted only to traditional education but rather help broaden the horizons of the students. NLIU, apart from being responsible for my basic understanding of law, has also substantially influenced  knowledge and views on music, books, movies, culture, social issues, political orientations, economic rights  etc. through its numerous committees that I was associated with throughout the five years.

     

    What skills did you get to hone while managing the NLIU moot court society?

    Mooting was my love in college. Consequently, everything associated with moots became a passion. Convenership was a great experience for me but that can mostly be attributed to the fantastic team and faculty I had to work with.  I would not be able to put in words all that I gained from this experience but among other things it taught me: “How to work with a team with differing expectations, unequal levels of execution and opposite countenances”.

     

    Having participated and won Best Speaker awards in a few moot competitions, what would be your suggestion to budding mooters?

    As I already mentioned, mooting was love for me. All my hard work and preparation was entirely influenced by how much I loved the activity itself. I could go days without food, sleep, classes and friends if a particular question of law caught my fancy. Good research and hard work are almost synonymous with a moot win. Based on my experience my only advice would be that participants should invest more interest in the moot they pick.

    Speaker awards are hugely dependent on articulation, persuasion, and spontaneity of the speaker. It is important to gauge the judge and engage his/her attention with the right arguments and points of law. This can be easily achieved by practising the orals in advance. Plus no amount of effort for a shiny trophy at the end is a bad investment.

     

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

    The answer is ‘Research’. I cannot emphasise the importance of good research any further. Good research has to be understood in context of the fact that almost every student now has access to a huge pool of resources and therefore any average memorial would contain the standard statutory provisions and case laws. What makes a difference is identifying the issues correctly and addressing them with support of authority. You will be surprised at the scope of creativity available within law.

     

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    You had also participated in the ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition. How was your experience?

    Mediation competitions are fairly different from moots and require preparation of a separate set of skills. Mediations generally test the commercial bent of a participant and her persuasion and negotiation skills. Understanding the people sitting on the opposite table plays a key role in tackling competitions like this.

    Although ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition was a brilliant opportunity for me, it was also a revelation of the fact that Indian teams required a lot more preparation considering we do not have enough mediation competitions in the country.

     

    What are your thoughts on activities like mooting, debating and publications in journals? How important do you think are these activities in shaping the legal career of a law student?

    Concentrating only on academics in a course that runs for half a decade can become quite mundane. Extra-curricular like moots, debates, model united nation competitions, publications; sports etc. provide an effective way to not ‘make Jack a dull boy’. The numerous kinds of extra-curricular available these days to students are also sufficiently varied to pique anybody’s interest. Plus these activities are a never ending source of new things to learn.

    Even objectively, recruiters across the country would not generally ignore a CV reflective of five years of constant activity. Therefore I don’t see any reason for not pursuing either one or all of the available extra-curricular that any university has to offer.

     

    How did you manage to keep up your grades?

    I am not aware of other colleges’ schedules but NLIU generally did not have a very hectic curriculum. So maintaining grades and doing well in moots remained two mutually exclusive fields. It did not require any more strategy than keeping aside 2 weeks for exams which included the week of actually writing the exams.

     

    Tell us about your internships. What skills have you acquired from these internships and how helpful have they been in your legal career?

    Technically my only corporate law internship was at Khaitan & Co. All my other internships have ranged from UNICEF, State Information Commission, an accountancy firm, a shipping company to working with a media consultant and I wasn’t interning as a law student under anyone of the above.

    Internships, of all kinds, are a great way of learning the practical aspects of law. For students, it provides an excellent work-life perspective and helps them make an informed choice about the kind of work and lifestyle they intend to choose after college.

     

    Did you have an interview before you were offered the PPO from Khaitan & Co.? Tell us about the interview process and how did you prepare for it?

    Yes I had to undergo an interview before getting the PPO. The interview was substantially the same as a campus interview. I had prepared for the interview by reading up subjects that were mentioned in my CV and things I had worked on while interning at Khaitan & Co.

     

    What are the things you consider sine qua non for positive feedback or a “call-back” from an internship?

    I am not the right person to ask this as it is really the recruiters’ decision. However anyone who shows interest in the work given to them and pays attention to the work submitted inevitably gets the attention of the seniors. Apart from that, sincerity, accountability, punctuality, and hard work always earn you brownie points.

     

    If you could re-live your five years in Law school, is there something you would do differently?

    I am not unhappy with how I spent my 5 years in college but if I could re live it, I would definitely have a lot more fun, would read a lot more than I did and do Jessup again.

     

    What would be your message to your juniors from law school?

    Work hard and have fun while you are at it.

  • Suvarna Mandal, Associate, Saikrishna & Associates on specialisation in IPR from Kings College

    Suvarna Mandal, Associate, Saikrishna & Associates on specialisation in IPR from Kings College

    Suvarna Mandal graduated with a BSL.LL.B (Hons) degree from ILS, Pune in 2012. Soon after Graduation, she went on to pursue Masters in Intellectual Property Law from Kings College, London. She has an enviable academic record and an excellent series of internships at top law firms. She has also done Diploma courses in Corporate Laws, Cyber Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Business Laws. Currently, she works as an Associate at Saikrishna and Associates.

    In this interview, she talks about:

    • Law school experience at ILS
    • Pursuing further studies and LL.M from Kings College
    • Appointment at Saikrishna and Associates

     

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

    Well, to be completely honest, I wasn’t planning on doing law when I was in High School. I intended to pursue a career in either medicine or journalism. However, in addition to having a keen interest in public-speaking, I was also an avid follower of legal luminaries like Nani. A. Palkhiwala and Leila Seth, and consequently, a career in law fascinated me. I procured an admission into ILS, Pune and though I had secured admissions into various colleges in Delhi University as well, I was advised by many to definitely look into law as a career option.

    Luckily, I had the chance to attend college at ILS for a month before I had to finally decide my career path, and within a month, I was sure that law is the best career option for me. It is my personal opinion that as a lawyer you are constantly learning and constantly adapting to a dynamic environment, and the knowledge that one procures from their LL.B degree is just the tip of the iceberg. From what I have gathered so far, even a lifetime is not enough to specialise in a particular genre of law. This was one of the deciding factors for my inclination towards law.

     

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

    While in college, academics was always the first priority, and I spent a major portion of my time understanding and studying the subjects that were taught in every semester. In addition to that, in order to expand my knowledge in specialised fields, I had done Diploma courses in Corporate Laws, Cyber Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Business Laws from Asian School of Cyber Laws, Pune and ILS itself. I had also participated in a couple of Moot Courts conducted internally at ILS and also represented my college as a Speaker in the National Round of the Commonwealth Moot Court Competition, 2009, at School of Law, Christ University, Bangalore. My preference for Intellectual Property Law directed me to write a couple of articles on IP related topics. As far as co-curricular activities are concerned, I was part of the Corporate Law Cell and the theatre group “Aahwaan” of ILS.

     

    You have interned at top-notch law firms including Khaitan, AZB & Partners, Karanjawala and LexCounsel. How did these experiences help mould you as a lawyer?

    My internship experiences at all these firms have been varied as I have had the opportunity to work in different departments and areas of law including IP Law, Corporate Law and basic civil litigation. Personally, internships have benefitted me greatly because my internship with the IP team at Khaitan made me realise that Intellectual Property is definitely my core area of interest. As a law student, it is difficult and in fact premature to make up your mind about the field of law that you would like to practise in. In my view, as a student of law, it is sufficient to just have a general idea about your areas of interest. In this regard, internships help you a great amount because you get to experience first-hand, what it would be like, to work in that particular area of law.

     

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    Right after graduating, you went for LL.M. Please share with us all the decisive moments leading to this.

    Many law students are often torn with the decision of choosing to pursue their LL.Ms soon after their LL.B. or getting some work experience before opting for the same. There are pros and cons in either scenario, and the decision has to finally be taken by the individual. I too had my share of the dilemma and confusion, but I was clear that  Intellectual Property Law was my preferred area of interest and that I wanted to study more for a comprehensive understanding of the subject. This encouraged me to first complete my Masters and then start working as a legal professional.

    Since I was sure that IP Law was the subject I wanted to specialise in, I started looking for LL.M. courses that offer the same, and The Dickson Poon School of Law, Kings College London was one of the premier and top rated institutes in UK for the same. KCL offered a specialist LL.M. Degree that focussed on Intellectual Property law prevalent in various jurisdictions and had modules that helped the prospective students in developing a speciality in the subject in academic as well as practical aspects.

    The faculty was excellent and comprised of the top-names in the field like Tanya Aplin, David Llewelyn and Sir Robin Jacob. Due to all of these reasons, this course was obviously my first choice and I was fortunate to secure an admission at Kings College, London.

    The experience of studying at KCL was enriching on all fronts which gave me the opportunity to learn from the best intellectuals in the sphere of IP, and learn with students of different backgrounds and cultures.

    As of today I can confidently say that my LL.M. at KCL has benefitted me personally and professionally. One of the main reasons for me to apply for an LL.M. outside of India was to understand the manner in which IP laws were interpreted and how they operate at a global level and its comparison with IP Laws in India.

     

    Please tell our readers about the application procedure and other requirements?

    From personal observation, I had noticed how Universities (especially abroad) gave importance to student profiles that indicated that the student has put in hard work to build a rounded CV representing his interests and activities not only in his law course but also in co-curricular activities of his choice. Internships, publications, involvement with NGO’s and social causes, cultural activities, etc. facilitate in building an overall strong profile. Having said that, a good score is essential to get into a college of your choice as that is the first criterion that Universities look into.

    The applications for LL.M. should be sent out as soon as the Universities commence with registration process as many a times, good candidates are left out merely because of applying late. Very important aspects of your LL.M. Applications are to have a crisp Statement of Purpose and to obtain good Recommendation Letters. If you have decided to pursue your masters then it is essential to start working on your recommendation letters (from faculty and from your internships, if you are not already working) and your SOP.

     

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

    I have been a voracious reader all through and have found that reading has always leaded to my inspirations and aspirations in life by broadening my horizons. As an undergraduate student, in addition to being involved with activities that were offered by my college, I was also involved in Theatre and Music. I was part of an English theatre group of Pune and performed on stage for the same. Music has been a part of my life since I was a child and I have received training in singing in Indian Classical Music and Western Music. This particular interest directed me towards writing my own songs, and after composing a couple of melodies I couldn’t help but wonder how I could protect these compositions. My interest in these creative fields and the element of curiosity to protect my musical compositions made me want to explore the field of Intellectual Property Law.

     

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

    My LL.M. experience was challenging, enriching and ultimately very rewarding. I was given the esteemed opportunity to study under and interact with internationally acclaimed academicians and practitioners who helped me greatly in my analytical and critical approach to the issues in IP Law. I studied amongst students of different nationalities, some of them were established legal professionals with substantial work experience, and some of them had recently graduated law, just like me.

    As postgraduate students of KCL and University of London we had access to some to some of the best law libraries worldwide, including Maughan Library of KCL, and the law library at the University of London’s Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (IALS). The college encouraged its students to participate in various seminars and workshops by Guest speakers, networking events, etc. organised internally or externally conducted. The students were also given an opportunity to meet legal experts such as Judges, solicitors, barristers, in-house legal counsels, etc. in order to discuss a career in IP Law.

     

    How difficult was studying abroad in terms of finding accommodation, finances and settling in? Are there any scholarships for studying at KCL?

    There is no denying that living in a city like London may be a little intimidating at first, but eventually you get comfortable. As soon as you are accepted into a college, you are provided with various accommodation options that the college can offer you, and fortunately, I was able to secure a hostel accommodation at KCL even before going to London.

    There are also several options available to students who do not wish to live in accommodations provided by the college and several organisations/websites work towards helping such students. London is a very student friendly city as there are substantial amounts of discounts available to students in public transport, restaurants, grocery stores etc. which is a relief considering that London is an expensive city to live in. As far as scholarships are concerned KCL does offer a couple, however they are extremely competitive and mostly inapplicable to Indian students. The website of the college offers all the details pertaining to the same.

     

    How was the faculty and academic schedule at KCL? Given your experiences how would you pit Indian students with their foreign counterparts?

    That pretty much depended on your choice of modules. The modules that I chose, required me to attend about 3-4 classes per week with a pre-defined reading list that needed to be studied before the class. This way, the understanding of what you studied from the list became crystal clear when the same was discussed in class with the professors. A glaring difference in the mind-set of the foreign students viz. a viz. their Indian counterparts is that the former believed in a more ‘comprehension based’ education system whereas we believe in memorising our syllabus, sometimes without understanding the underlying concept. I am of the opinion that if we are able to inculcate an application-based and practical method of comprehending the subject in our education system and combine that to the gruelling hard work that Indian students are used to, then we would have the perfect recipe for all round success.

     

    Was there time enough for non academic pursuits at KCL? How did you find the study-life balance to be?

    Though the LLM course is rigorous and requires commitment, there was enough time to explore London and indulge in the activities that it had to offer. The city has a rich history and culture and there are many places that one could visit in and around London even on a student budget. The recipe for balancing your student life and unwinding in one of the most renowned cities of the world is simple. One should make it a point to study the reading list given to you before classes, regularly attend your classes, engage in discussions with your peers and professors during classes, and always complete the assignments given by your faculty. This will help you greatly for your examinations and at the same time you will also have enough leisure time to relax and enjoy student-life at London.

     

    Soon after Masters, you joined Saikrishna and Associates as an Associate. Tell us about your induction into the firm.

    Getting absorbed into Saikrishna & Associates is a privilege and I grow and learn as a legal professional every single day. It is truly a terrific opportunity to be able to work with and rub shoulders with the best and the brightest minds in the industry. The seniors of the firm are fantastic mentors and dedicated lawyers that inspire you to work harder and learn more. I have been an Associate at S&A for almost a year now, and have had the chance to work in various verticals and practise areas of the firm such as IP Litigation, Transactions, Company Law Litigation, Advisory and Policy Reform, etc. I have also had the chance to co-author with my seniors, several publications in legal journals and magazines.

     

    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, knowledge is power and experience enriches our knowledge. A good educational background lays down the foundation to be a good professional. As a lawyer the learning is constant irrespective of what stage you are in, whether a student or a professional, and you never really cease to be a student of law. It is essential to be true to the role that you are currently in and to try and meet the expectations of that role. There is obviously a difference in studying law and practising law, however the comfort level to understand both comes with hard-work, patience and time.

     

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

    Intellectual Property Law is a dynamic and constantly growing field. We currently live in a digital and global society and Intellectual Property Rights permeates into our daily lives. IP Law in India is developing at an exponential rate and has tremendous untapped potential. Students who wish to study and understand IP law should try and secure internships in firms that practise the same. In addition to that they should try and take up diploma courses in IP law so as to increase their knowledge base in the subject. It is also essential to stay abreast with the developments and major judgments in the field.

  • Rajni Singh, Associate at Hariani & Co. on work experience in Media and Entertainment Law

    Rajni Singh, Associate at Hariani & Co. on work experience in Media and Entertainment Law

    Rajni Singh is a practicing Media and Entertainment lawyer. She graduated with Bachelors of Mass Media degree from SIES College in 2009. Her interest in law led her to join Government Law College, Mumbai and pursue LL.B. During law school, she participated in various co-curricular activities including moot court competitions, debates, and conferences. She also has a couple of publications to her name. Soon after Graduation she started working as an Associate at Naik, Naik and Co. and has recently joined Hariani and Company.

    We asked her to share her experiences and strategies she used over the years. In this interview, she talks about:

    • Pursuing Law after Bachelors in Mass Media
    • Work experience at Naik, Naik & Co. and Hariani & Co.
    • Work opportunities in media law

     

    Most of our readers are law students and young lawyers. How will you introduce yourself to them?

    Hi! I am a practicing Media and Entertainment lawyer. I completed my LL.B. from the Government Law College, Mumbai and prior to law school, I completed my under graduation in media studies. Cinema, travel and world cuisine make up for the remainder of my non-work life.

     

    You are a high distinction media graduate, what led you to pursue law?

    During my Media School days, I learnt the nuances of the media industry including the movie production process, the television broadcasting, advertising, public relations among others. I also interned at various media houses.

    Media provided me with great exposure and I grew increasingly aware and concerned about my immediate surroundings. Issues such as corruption in the private and public space and global warming really affected me. I felt the urgent need to address the problems in whatever way I could. As a result I co-founded the Socio-Enviro Club in my college. The members of the club would make efforts to bring awareness about the impact of social and environmental challenges being faced at a micro level. I was also actively involved in inter-collegiate debating and socio-political discussions these activities taught me how to think on my feet and how to clearly put my point across. In the process I realised that I wanted to take up something with a wider scope and larger social impact.

    Further, exposure to subjects like sociology, political science, economics and more importantly, media and press laws and ethics also played a very important role in my decision to pursue law. I recount being one of the very few students who actually enjoyed the legal aspects of Media. I ended up presenting my final year project on the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 with legal precedents.

    Towards the end of media school, I had to choose from three available options, working ant a leading advertising agency, a seat at a B-School and confirming my admission for a three year LLB at the Government Law College. I chose to spend three more years into studying the law.

     

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    How would you describe your time at GLC, Mumbai? What are the co-curricular activities you took part in GLC?

    The years spent at GLC were the most memorable years of my life. Amidst the short comings, the College survives because of its meritorious students and active student led bodies. One of the best things about the College was its inclusiveness. No matter what you wish to pursue, you could. Not only was the college very close to the Bombay High Court and all the law firms, but it also offered the Mumbai advantage. One could pursue non-academic artistic and cultural interests. Especially the South Bombay area is very culturally rich.

    I consciously decided to not intern during my first year and be involved in college activities. I participated in more activities than I could take. I was an active member of the Student Council, Moot Court Association and the Legal Aid Committee. I participated in several National and State Level Moot Court Competitions, winning a very few and losing many. I personally enjoyed writing research papers particularly on the subject of Intellectual Property Rights and I also professionally learnt Spanish.

    For all the three years, I was associated with an NGO ‘Public Concern for Governance Trust’. I was actively involved with the NGO for spreading awareness across Mumbai about Right to Information Act, 2005 and also the Anti-Corruption Cell. The NGO gave me an opportunity to script and direct plays in Hindi language on the practical application of the RTI Act. The play was performed before a non-English speaking audience and several colleges across the city. The entire process was thoroughly enjoyable and I do not think I could have understood the RTI Act with this clarity if I were to write an exam on it.

     

    You were heading the Legal Aid Committee (LAC) of the GLC for one entire academic year and you were also awarded the ‘Best Legal Aid Worker’. How do you recall that opportunity?

    That was by far the best decision of my life. The kind of work LAC does, I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to head it. The friendships made while working in the committee will last a lifetime. As a committee, we did some exciting work. To name a few, we started the Annual GLC Legal Quiz which is presently the most loved activity in the College. The idea of the quiz was to test general knowledge of students in creative ways and we consciously decided to un-bore the quiz. To give you an example, we used movie clips in the buzzer round wherein the participants were quizzed on the criminal and civil offences being committed in that particular clip. It was a great learning experience for the organisers as well as the participants.

    We also worked towards the mental rehabilitation of the Juvenile delinquents. My initial years at Law School were spent at the Dongri Remand Home and the Juvenile Court which made all aspects of theoretical legal learning come alive. Members of the LAC also regularly visited the Byculla and Arthur Road Prisons and filed Bail applications for under trails who could not afford legal representation. These bail applications were either for release of the under trails on cash bonds or personal bonds. Can any internship or any law firm give a first year law student this level of exposure? I do not think so.

     

    What sort of internships did you do while in law school? How instrumental were these internships in helping you decide what field of law you wished to specialize in?

    To be honest, I was always clear about pursuing Media Laws transactional or litigation. Therefore, I chose my internships accordingly. However, there is no doubt that internships really open your mind and help you understand what you like to do or sometimes by law of elimination, what you do not enjoy doing.

    I wanted to understand court practice and procedures first, that’s why my first internship was in the chambers of Sr. Counsel S. Venkiteshwaran I was exposed to Maritime laws and various matters related thereto. Pursuant to that, I interned with Vidhi Partners in their Media and Entertainment team, Anand and Anand in their Trade Mark team and thereafter I was selected to work as a long term intern with Naik Naik and Co. throughout my final year and concentrated on Media and Entertainment Laws. I learnt a lot under my seniors at each place of work. I must mention the learning involved both active learning as well as passive. It merely involves observing the seniors deal with clients or appear in the courts. The dedication and toil they put into their work was amazing. There was just so much to learn.

     

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

    I feel it is more to do with the person. Unless you put in effort, irrespective of which college you are from, one thing is sure, you will not succeed in the long run. I commend GLC for its encouraging attitude towards Counsel Practice (litigation) which is sadly not a very popular option in other law colleges in the Country any more.

    To answer your second question, unlike other professions, in the legal space, kick starting a career does not guarantee a long lasting one. I see law as a big equalizer in that sense.

     

    What brought you towards Media Law?

    I have been asked this question a number of times and every time I end up saying I don’t know. I will be wrong if I say it is the only aspect of law that excites me. Law is so multi-dimensional, it is impossible to choose a favourite subject. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Constitutional Law, IPR, Law of Crimes, Torts and Contract laws. Therefore, I chose a field of interest in which I could apply all of my above said favourite subjects and cater to the industry I feel I belong and have been exposed to from a commercial/ non-law perspective as well. It really helps me as a Media and Entertainment Lawyer to better understand the industry needs and problems that clients face.

     

    Tell us something about this new and emerging field of law that you practice?

    You chose your words correctly. It is both considerably new and very emerging. Traditional media was disorganised and rather a close knit emotional lot. I say emotional because till date members of media are very cautious of the words they use. The entire industry at one time and to some extent even today, functions on trust and oral arrangements. In fact, in the earlier days, there was hardly any transaction on paper.

    However, the landscape has changed considerably. With corporate houses and studios setting in and with the digital boom, the complexities of the industry, in terms of commercial exploitation of creative content, has grown enormously. With emergence of new platforms, formats and mediums, the dissemination and reach of information is unimaginable. With intermediaries playing an important role, there arising questions such as profit share, royalties and of course the global favourite piracy.

    Media Law includes several statues such as the Copyright Act, 1957, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997, Cable Television Networks Act, 1995, Trade Marks Act, 1999 and nodal agency of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and other self-regulation guidelines such as Advertising Standards Council of India, Indian Broadcasting Foundation and so on.

     

    You have been involved in a few pro-bono matters. What is your opinion on advocates taking up pro-bono matters?

    “Maybe after 35 when I have enough money” is what most of my friends say when we discuss the possibility of taking up pro-bono matters. They are not necessarily wrong, it is their way to look at it. For me, I think it is more selfish, I do it for the satisfaction it gives me.

    The Legal Aid Committee of the GLC always looks for advocates willing to take up matters pro-bono and there are several NGOs and independent practitioners who do take it up.

    I personally feel we should do these matters while we are young, with minimum liabilities and maximum learning curve. I have been fortunate to meet partners of law firms who are willing to spare time into taking up matters pro-bono. I have contributed to a matter on RTE for a minor girl and a few domestic violence matters among others.

     

    What should the students who look for internships actually look for?

    • Small teams: From personal experience I would recommend one must go for a smaller set up or a firm which has team structures. This allows maximum exposure and learning because one gets to do actual work and be involved in the process.
    • Court exposure: I also strongly recommend Judicial Clerkship and at least one litigation exposure as an intern preferably the first internship.
    • Term: Lastly, even though I know it is not always possible, but the endeavour should be to keep the term of your internship as at least for three continuous months so that it is mutually beneficial.

     

    Many law school students aspire to secure a job. What do you think most are doing wrong, from your observations?

    While securing a job is very important, I must mention it is not everything. I see students who start interning as early as 17-18 years of age and from day one, work towards securing a job with top tier law firms and the big pay package, I feel the approach may not be correct.

    Students must realise that they have to work all their adult life so they must pause and take it easy. Spend college time in developing skill sets, friendships, play a sport, learn a language, Moot, even if you lose (you will), even if you are embarrassed (you will be) and even if you do it all wrong (you may), but please Moot. Mooting will teach you the Law, in a way it can never be taught. Framing arguments, research on a moot point and tedious drafting (including formatting) are very critical for ones development as a practicing lawyer.

    Finally, chose a field of law not because it is lucrative financially, but because it interests you and you feel like waking up excited to go to work each day. I remember so many of my class mates took up Corporate Laws because it was “the big thing”. Two years into it, many of them realise that they don’t enjoy it as much they thought and find it rather dry. So think personally, what kind of law you would like to practice and then take it up.

     

    What are the three things a law student should keep in mind while facing an interview or applying for a job?

    From my limited experience, I can say the following:

    1. Comfort: Be comfortable, take it easy, be reasonably confident and strike a conversation, if possible. Also, you can disagree with the interviewer humbly if you don’t agree to what he/she is saying and it’s alright to say ‘I don’t know’ if you don’t know an answer to a question asked;
    2. Keep your CV short and to the point: Know your CV. You need to sound like the same person whose CV you have submitted, so the endeavour should be to keep it in tune with your actual significant achievements and experiences;
    3. Structure your CV in line with the job that you are applying for: For example: if you have a lot of Litigation experience in your CV and you are applying for a Corporate Job, you need to build up your CV accordingly to show that you are actually interested in Corporate Laws. Maybe supplement it with a research paper or a moot on the subject and be ready to face questions accordingly.

     

    What is your take on LLM?

    Right now I am learning my subjects of interest from some really learned seniors at Hariani and Co. and I am not willing to trade that, even for a year. Also, LLM for me is an expensive affair and needs planning. It does excite me a lot, because I enjoy reading the law, however, right now, I think I need to work and improve my craft. Maybe, after a few years I may look at a professional LLM.

    I must add, if any student wishes to pursue academics, LLM becomes a necessity and plays a very important role. The sole determining factor while choosing to pursue LLM should be what you personally want to do in your career and at what time.

     

    How important is scoring well in Law School?

    I think there is no taking away from the students who are academically inclined and are consistently high scorers. I have consistently scored well myself. Law as a field is very academic. One has to spend considerable time reading and therefore, you need to have an academic approach towards the profession. However, I think the profession requires more than just high marks. You have to be increasingly interested in what you are doing beyond answering a mere exam.

     

    What do you think is your way forward?

    I frankly don’t have a conclusive answer for you right now. However, I definitely want to be a good lawyer in my field of practice and currently I am in the pursuance of the same. Having said that, I have a strong liking and inclination towards legal writing, pro-bono litigation and academics so may be a combination of all.

     

    Do you go back to College?

    Oh yes. Very regularly, I look for opportunities to go there. So whenever I am invited for judging debates, moots or Quiz, I am there.

     

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

    Be open minded about law. There is simply so much that law has to offer. There are academics, research, NGO, policy making, think tanks, litigation and firm practice. Therefore, take your time (you have 5 years) and thereafter but be open to trying and failing and again trying. If you go wrong it’s okay, you can always join the dots backwards and it will all make sense.

    Good luck!

  • Savni Dutt, Associate at Saikrishna, on copyright, patents and authoring a book

    Savni Dutt, Associate at Saikrishna, on copyright, patents and authoring a book

    Savni Dutt graduated from NLUJ in 2013. She has represented her college at prestigious moot court competitions like the ICLN ICC Trial Moot Court Competition where her team went for the International Rounds. Apart from being a part of the Editorial team during her internship with the Centre for Legislative Research and Advocacy, she has also published her book, ‘Freedom to Publish’. With her specialization and interest in Intellectual Property Law, she joined the litigation team at Saikrishna & Associates and is now working there as an Associate.

    In this interview we asked her about:

    • Graduating from NLUJ and working at Saikrishna & Associates
    • Importance of Internships, maintaining grades and experience at mooting
    • Approach to Academic Writing and publishing a book

     

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

    Throughout my time at school in Gurgaon, I was mostly involved in academics. Other than that, my interests were dance and theatre, and they continue to be. I studied law at National Law University, Jodhpur and now work as an Associate in the litigation team at Saikrishna & Associates. My interest in the study of law stemmed from the many stories I had heard of my late grandfather who was a practicing lawyer in Delhi. However, I was always inclined towards a career in research or policy and studying law seemed to be the most appropriate step towards achieving that. So while I knew I wanted to study law, the decision to actually practice law as a career only came about incidentally.

     

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    Tell us a bit about your days at National Law University, Jodhpur?

    NLU, Jodhpur is a fully residential university that allows its students to make it their own. It gives its students a lot of time and flexibility. There is an active and competitive mooting culture at NLU Jodhpur. Most students seem to gravitate towards it but there’s enough time for other things like writing and sports to name a few, if one is interested. I chose to spend my time in helping organize our college fests as also other intra-university events.

     

    How were you internship experiences?

    Internships play a huge role in helping a law student find his/her area of interest and are the best source of learning. The kind of hands-on experience that a good internship can provide is unbeatable. Therefore, it is very important to choose the right kind of place for an internship to suit your interest and then to give it your best. As a student looking to learn at the job, I tried to do as many different kinds of internships as I could. My main goal was to use the period of 5 years to experience as many different kinds of legal work as I could to be able to make an informed decision about what I wanted to do once I graduated. I interned with an NGO, a research organization, with a trial court lawyer at the Tiz Hazari district court in Delhi, as also some corporate law firms. I also briefly interned with the in-house legal team of an international company. But it was the brief encounter I had with litigation during my internship at Saikrishna & Associates, which gave me the opportunity to assist on some very interesting cases, and helped me finally choose litigation over other options.

     

    You’ve represented your university at prestigious moot court competitions in India and abroad. How significant do you think mooting is for law students?

    I think mooting is something that all students must participate in at least once during their law course. While mooting might not be a reflection of what courts are really like, the lessons that one learns from the process and approach followed in moot courts are helpful even professionally. To me the most important things about mooting are working as a team and working within the limitations of time, pages, format, etc., that can truly be very stressful. Moot Court Competitions are a great way for students to push themselves into thinking out of the box. These are the important skills that according to me have been the handiest while drafting pleadings for court, often on short deadlines and appearing before an actual Court.

     

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    At the 2012 ICLN ICC Trial Competition your team was one of the two that qualified from India. What was the experience like?

    The 2012 ICLN ICC Trial Competition was a surreal experience from the time our entry, for the qualification round, was scored the highest amongst the Indian entries. The format of the competition is very different from other moots and it was nerve-wracking because each speaker was responsible individually for each round. The subject matter of the moot is international criminal law, which was a big challenge for us because we had to start our reading and research on the subject from scratch. As part of our preparation we had completed a certain amount of reading even before the topic for our written assignment was sent to us. After our qualification to the international rounds and the submission of the memorials, it was a series of oral practices that continued for around two months to perfect the structure of our speech, timing and modulation.

     

    Please tell us about your book- ‘Freedom to Publish’. How would you recommend that law students approach academic writing?

    ‘Freedom to Publish’ is a primer aimed at an audience of authors, publishers, students and professionals to empower them with basic knowledge of possible legal issues that one must be wary of when publishing something. The book has been published by ‘Manas Saikia Foundation’ and is distributed free of cost in public interest. Mr. Saikia had the idea for the book in the wake of the growing number of instances where books and publications were being abandoned or withdrawn because of potential legal actions. The book has been kept short and simple to increase its accessibility and utility to someone who isn’t a lawyer.

    An academic piece should appeal to a wide audience. Thus, it is imperative for an author, to put ideas and research in a coherent and streamlined manner. There is also an additional responsibility to check, recheck and be absolutely sure of what is being published. These are important skills for any lawyer, and with each academic piece, one perfects them. Law students, interested in academic writing, should ensure that their publication is focused on a specific issue instead of it being on a broad subject. It is also important that the publication proposes a solution or an alternative or a concrete conclusion to explain, to the reader, the purpose that has been achieved by it.

     

    You’ve been a member of an editorial team as well. Please tell us about the experience. What are the things you get to learn from such an experience?

    I got an opportunity to work with the editorial team on the Policy Booklet for Parliamentarians on Millennium Development Goals and Gender Budgeting in India, during my internship with the Centre for Legislative Research and Advocacy. It was an interesting experience though short lived, as it was limited to the duration of my internship. Nevertheless it was an enriching experience that taught me the importance of compartmentalization of work while working as a team. It also taught me how I can filter my writing and appropriately convey my ideas by making them crisp and easy for the reader. This proved very helpful in the process of writing the book.

     

    We would love to hear about your work profile. What made you choose this particular avenue?

    After studying a course on IP, I realized that there was no other subject that came as naturally to me as this one. I also believe that our professor of IP, at the time, Mr. Yogesh Pai had a role in making the subject that much more interesting. Eventually, to test my interest I chose to intern at Krishna & Saurashtri in Bombay but I was convinced only after gaining some litigation experience at my two internships with Saikrishna & Associates in Delhi.

    I work with the litigation team so my work primarily involves cases dealing with issues of copyright, patents, trademarks along with some cases relating to media law, personality rights and tort law in the form of unfair competition and commercial misappropriation. Additionally, I’ve been lucky to be involved in the series of ongoing litigation concerning the possible overlap between the competition law and patent regime. An ordinary day at work is a balanced mix of court action, drafting, researching and brainstorming with other associates.

     

    What were the biggest hurdles and challenges in the first few months? How did you deal with them?

    The first six to eight months of my career were exciting, intimidating and annoying all at the same time. They were exciting because I was finally doing what I had been waiting to do from December 2012 to August 2013. It was intimidating because my actions now had consequences. One of the biggest challenges for me in the first six months of my career was coming to terms with the responsibilities that come with being a professional. Finally, I use the term annoying because for the first few months it felt like I knew nothing, which made it harder to focus. While I am still trying to figure out how to deal with being both happy and angry about work at the same time, there is one thing that I have learnt. I have learnt that things will get done.

     

    What, according to you, are the skills required of an advocate aspiring to build a successful career in intellectual property law?

    Every time I have been in doubt, I have been told that to be able to do build a successful career in law, one need not be a genius. Average intelligence with hard work is all one needs to become a successful lawyer.  Whatever be the field of law, there is no substitute for hard work. For those interested in IP as a potential area of practice, I would suggest extensive reading on the subject. IP is vast, it is growing and most of it is still unclear, so there is a lot of room for different views. If there is a topic that interests you, read about it as much as you can but importantly write about it too. I also feel that we focus a lot on the concepts in IP and forget the procedure. One must pay equal attention to the filing and procedure for grant or registration of an intellectual property.

     

    How important do you think that extra-curricular activities are to a law student?

    Any extra-curricular or co-curricular activity is extremely important for a law student simply because it adds value to one’s time and experience as a student at the same time developing some skill or characteristic. It is also a great way to begin networking, which is extremely important for any lawyer/law student. Through law school, it was my attempt to choose a different activity every semester. So if I chose to participate in a moot one semester, the next semester was dedicated to a sports fest or a parliamentary debate. This way I was able to give importance to academics, participate in events and have some spare time at college.

     

    As a concluding message, what would be your suggestions to law students?

    Law students must remember that it is very important to maintain a good grade and to participate and to intern but it is equally important to enjoy law school. I borrow here the unconventional yet inspiring closing words by Judge Kozinski from Mattel v. MCA Records, Inc.,

    “The parties are advised to chill.”