Super Lawyer

Category: Interviews

  • Richa Parasher on securing a job from Amarchand and being an ideal student

    Richa Parasher on securing a job from Amarchand and being an ideal student

    Richa Parashar is one of the most diligent and illustrious scholars of the 2015 batch of NLIU, Bhopal. She has a noteworthy academic, mooting and debating record. Her diligence and mettle at work was recognized when she bagged a job offer from Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co., during campus placements. We asked her to share her experiences paths taken as a student over the years.

    In this interview, she tells us about:

    • Securing top-notch law firm internships
    • Her journey from an intern to getting job offer from AMSS
    • Importance of academics, internships, debates and moots

     

    Why and when did you decide to do law? What interested you most about the subject at the time?

    I decided to take up law when I was in class twelfth. I was fascinated by the diverse areas of practice and the fact that it’s one of the most dynamic fields. My uncle and my elder brother, who are also in the profession, were an influence as well.

     

    One can find it difficult to manage continuous evaluation through trimester exams, projects etc. in a law school. How did you manage to keep up your grades?

    Trimester system can get hectic, yes. There have been times when we’ve given exams just three weeks after we’d be done with the previous ones. But, the good thing is that the syllabus is never too expansive. I generally pay attention during classroom lectures and prepare notes regularly in order to maintain my grades.

     

    Your internships at law school have all been with top tier firms. Our readers would be quite curious to know how you went about securing these internships.

    I always applied for my internships well in advance and followed up regularly. It’s also important to keep your CV updated. Our university has a highly competent placement coordination committee which takes care of applications of registered candidates from third year onwards.

     

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

    Internships are probably one of the most enriching experiences that a law student goes through. Besides researching and drafting, I learnt time management and prioritising, which, I believe, hold equal value in our profession.

     

    What are the things you consider sine qua non for positive feedback from an internship?

    I think sincerity assumes importance over everything else. Besides that, one must be particular about the finer details like formatting, good presentation etc. These are things which can set you apart from the other interns.

     

    You have participated in various moot court competitions. Tell us how important is mooting and what effect does it have on one’s CV?

    Mooting is probably the most fun activity in a law school. It tests you on a number of skills like researching, drafting, arguing, keeping one’s cool under pressure etc. Every law student should moot at least once. Moot victories definitely add value to your CV. However, it doesn’t mean that if you don’t moot, you can’t have a good CV. There are lots of other things like grades, internships, paper publications, debates, mediation competitions that add up to a good CV.

     

    richa-parashar-1Recently, you bagged a job offer at AMSS. How did you go about achieving this?

    I have interned twice in AMSS. During both of these internships, I did my assignments sincerely. In my second internship, I prepared a corporate law PowerPoint presentation. In AMSS, the presentation holds a lot of weightage when it comes to recruitment. Therefore, it’s important to prepare it with diligently. For the interview stage, I brushed up my CV and basic concepts of corporate law, contracts etc.

     

    How was the experience of your AMSS internship and how was it different from other internships? Please tell us about the recruitment application process at AMSS?

    I had the finest experience in AMSS during my internships. Besides the excellent quality of work, I loved the atmosphere in the office. The seniors were really helpful and encouraging which is rare in the corporate world. For recruitment, one needs to fill out an extensive questionnaire. Apart from the CV, the interviewer may also ask questions based on what the candidate has written in the questionnaire.

     

    How did you go about preparing for your interview? What kinds of questions were asked to you?

    Honestly, one mustn’t frame their opinion about interviews based on what others tell them. The reason is that every interview is unique. You may be asked the most unusual and unconventional questions and must know how to keep your cool in such situations. However, be thorough with your CV, and basics of corporate law, contracts, property law, banking etc. I was asked questions based on my CV, general corporate law and a couple of HR questions as well.

     

    How do you think one should go about writing a CV when one is applying for a job?

    A CV should be crisp and accurate. One must ensure that there aren’t any blunders like incorrect spellings or dates. These things give the worst impression possible.

     

    There is a phenomenal obsession amongst law students with maintaining a very high CGPA. How important according to you is this in securing a job?

    Grades are extremely important in getting good placements. However, a number of other factors like internships, co-curricular and extra -curricular activities also add up. Therefore, one must try to be an all-rounder rather than just focusing on grades.

     

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

    I’d visit the library more often. Also, I’d take part in more moots and utilize the trimesters optimally.

     

    Lastly, what would be your message to our readers?

    Try everything that you possibly can, in these five years – participate in competitions, write research papers, volunteer for events, go for fests. Explore all that your university has to offer. And that includes the gym! But, make sure that you maintain your grades.

  • Robin Quadros on handling corporate M&A, work at a litigation firm and a typical corporate workday

    Robin Quadros on handling corporate M&A, work at a litigation firm and a typical corporate workday

    Robin Quadros graduated from National Law Institute University, Bhopal in 2012.. He has thereafter worked at Rohit Das & Associates and MLS Vani & Associates. He is currently working as an Associate at Desai and Diwanji, Mumbai.

    We asked him to share his journey from being a law student to being a corporate lawyer.

     

    Given that most of our readers belong to the legal fraternity, how would you introduce yourself to them?

    Hello everyone. I am Robin Quadros. I was born and brought up in Mumbai and I have graduated from National Law Institute University, Bhopal in 2012. I am an Associate at Desai & Diwanji, Mumbai.

     

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

    The thought in relation to a career in the legal industry was always fascinating. I believe that the work as an engineer or a doctor is a bit mechanical. The same kind of work is required to be performed almost every day. The degree of the problem may vary, but not the solution.

    I believe that everything or every action to be carried out from below the earth such as mining, oil exploration, etc. and everything above the earth including space is covered by laws. The work of a lawyer has more scope than working as an engineer or doctor, because an engineers and doctors are more or less restricted to their specialisation. I have always been keen on corporate law, which in itself is vast, yet I am not prevented or precluded from practicing in media law, space law, international law, taxation or any other field of law. Life as a lawyer is different every day. In case of litigation matters, all cases differ from each other. In case of corporate matters or transactions, the requirements of different clients vary. The fun part for the lawyer is that her/ his mind is always at work. This is the reason I had considered being a lawyer and had no other second thoughts. It is the most exciting career option for anyone.

     

    How would you describe your legal education? Did your legal education prepare you for the real world practice of law?

    Being a student in any National Law University is always difficult. There is always constant pressure due to the hectic schedule. The trimester system at NLIU, Bhopal made life a bit trickier. Every student has her/ his own way of working/ studying and so did I. I believe if a student’s mind is clear in terms of career options for the future, they can work/ study in a particular manner in order to achieve that goal. I was not a topper in my law school though I always believed that knowledge is power. I tried to keep abreast with current affairs as law is ever changing and hence along with regular college studies as a student, it is quintessential for a student to be updated with new laws or new interpretations of the existing laws.

    Life as a law student has surely helped me prepare for the “real world practice of law”. Every experience, whether good or bad, is a good “learning” experience and will always help me in my career. I would suggest that every law student should be ready to face as many difficult situations and challenges as possible. If you face a difficult or tricky challenge in future, the confidence to face it will flow from your past.

     

    As a law student which activities did you participate in?

    As a law student I was quite keen on mooting. I believe that mooting is the best manner to prepare a law student for the real life practice. Mooting hones the skills of the law student in research, drafting the memorial, arguing in front of the judges as well as being street smart and being quick on the feet. I have also presented few papers at conferences which assisted me in my drafting, research as well as presentation skills.

     

    robin-q-2Tell us about your law school journey from the 1st year till your final year. Did you have any guidance on how to go about your academics, co-curricular activities and internships?

    I did not take any guidance in terms of academics. Every student is different and so is their way and manner of working. A student must always follow the path which helps them the most. I decided to balance my academics with other interests such as extracurricular activities and internships. I always focussed on learning, be it academics or other activities. I would like to credit my seniors at NLIU for their guidance in terms of internships and co-curricular activities. I also had some close friends from other National Law Schools who would help, advice and guide me as and when required.

     

    What kind of internships did you do while you were a student? Any remarkable experiences during your internships that shaped your career choices later?

    I had interned at NGO’s, an LPO and various law firms. I decided to intern at NGO’s and an LPO solely with an intention to understand the kind of work carried out by such organisations. I had already decided on my career choices before joining NLIU, so the internships only assisted me in achieving my immediate career objectives.

    As I had already decided to work in a corporate law firm, I decided to have diverse work experience through my internships. Through my internship experiences I gained knowledge in banking, real estate, general corporate and project finance matters amongst others, which till date is helpful in some manner or the other. As I was a law student during the recession period in 2009, through my internship experiences I realised that I must gain experience in as many areas of practice as possible. For example, if the markets and economic situation of the country is weak, the amount of work received by the law firms in capital markets and securities and possibly the number of acquisitions in the country may be lower.

    The work at a law firm is largely dependent on the political and economic situation of the country. In a country like India, I believe that the focus of a lawyer may be on a particular practice area, but the lawyer must not shy away from other practice areas. In case of a bad economic situation in the country, the knowledge gained by the lawyer in other practice areas will help them survive till the markets are stable. This was something that I identified through my internships which according me was important.

     

    Did you find that your law school education had prepared you sufficiently for the many tasks you were required to execute during your internships and later at your job?

    Education always prepares you for the challenges in future. However, that is just the first step. Good education from a good law school is a stepping stone. One must never forget that law is ever evolving. The process of learning never stops. Law school education helped me prepare the basics. There are many new laws that are enacted. The courts also keep interpreting the existing laws which a lawyer is required to be aware of. My law school education played a major role in executing my work during internships.

    However, the work that I received at law firms during my job and the queries from clients were more complex and required much more research and analysis. It is always a different situation when you have to read a question and answer during exams as compared to advising a client in a litigation matter or a transaction. The advice given by the lawyer to the client should be good because one wrong piece of advice could affect the client in an adverse manner. The pressure faced by the lawyer in advising the client is much more than answering a question paper.

     

    How has your mooting experience been?

    To be honest, I will not term my mooting experience as “successful”, but personally, the experience has been “satisfying”. I believe that no one will have faith in you, if you do not have faith in yourself. I always liked to challenge myself where it has been possible and compete against others. I do feel sad and regret that I have not won a national moot and a best speaker award where it has been possible. I won the second best speaker in my first ever intra batch moot in my law school, which I will not consider as success, as there could have been more that I could have achieved in my mooting career.

    But mooting has instilled a lot of confidence within me and has helped me till date, including personal appearances in the Hon’ble Bombay High Court and especially in a particular case that was decided in my clients favour. Mooting has also helped me improve upon my research abilities in corporate and litigation matters. I would encourage every law student to moot at least once in their life.

    Everyone who participates in moots and takes up that challenge up front as a law student in their first year is always a winner. I have seen at least hundreds from various law schools who prepare for moots till the last moment and then back out. So everyone who participates is a winner in their own way, compared to those who back out due to low self-confidence.

     

    After graduating from NLIU you directly joined Rohit Das & Associates. How did the appointment take place?

    I had two internships at Rohit Das & Associates (“RDA Legal”). As RDA Legal at that time did not have an office in Mumbai, I had interned at RDA Legal, Bangalore in my 3rd year and RDA Legal, Kolkata in my 4th year. RDA Legal (then PXV & Partners) had visited the NLIU campus on “Day Zero” for recruitment but I could not sit for the placement due to personal problems. I had received an offer from a reputed litigation firm in Mumbai after graduation. As I was keen on corporate law, I spoke to Mr. Rohit Das over a call expressing my interest and intent to join RDA Legal. He decided to meet me and after a fruitful conversation during the meeting, I was offered a job by Mr. Rohit Das. Another good law firm in Mumbai had expressed their interest in recruiting me after I was offered a job at RDA Legal, which I declined due to strategic reasons.

     

    You left RDA and had joined MLS Vani & Associates. What prompted this switchover? Would you say that the work environment at MLS Vani was significantly different from RDA?

    This is a tricky question to answer. I had joined RDA legal as it was a start up and wished to be a part of RDA Legal’s growth as well as contribute towards the growth of the firm. However, there were certain administrative problems in the firm, which I do not wish to state now, due to which I could not continue in the firm any longer. The switchover was smooth and I am sure Mr. Rohit Das understood my actual reasons for resigning.

    The work environment at MLS Vani & Associates was way different from RDA Legal. I had joined a litigation firm from a corporate firm. I had to regularly appear in courts, had regular meetings with clients in office. I was responsible for whatever happened in the courts, so my personal responsibility and accountability in drafting as well as appearances was much more. MLS Vani & Associates was a much smaller firm in comparison to RDA Legal but was as professional as any other good law firm irrespective of the size. I was a part of some good matters in the banking and real estate area. The appearances in the courts was hectic but  fun, especially being part of the team against a few top tier law firms and working with a good litigation firm such as Dutt Menon & Dunmorrsett.

     

    You’ve recently joined Desai & Diwanji. What prompted this move?

    Though I had joined a litigation firm like MLS Vani & Associates, my interest was always to be a part of corporate transactional matters, especially Mergers & Acquisitions. After leaving RDA Legal and joining MLS Vani, I did miss being a part of M&A transactions and working on corporate matters. As Desai & Diwanji is one of the best law firms in terms of M&A and General Corporate it was not that difficult a decision to switch.

     

    How did you approach Desai & Diwanji for this job?

    Well, I did not have any contacts, so it was the normal procedure. The HR of Desai & Diwanji had always been honest in terms of requirements of the firm. I had called the HR a year back (in 2013) and she specifically informed me that the firm is looking out for a lawyer with litigation experience of at least 7 years. As I had an experience of only one year in general corporate, I obviously did not fit in to the requirements. I tried the same procedure in 2014. I called the HR and expressed my intention and interest to join Desai & Diwanji.

    The HR inquired about my work experience and informed me that a particular team was looking out for a lawyer with experience in litigation and corporate. The interview was scheduled with the concerned partner and after clearing the interview I was a part of this team at Desai & Diwanji. I currently handle 3-4 litigation matters and assist my team in corporate matters including legal opinions, due diligence and transactions such as M&A.

     

    How does your typical workday look like?

    I generally work from 9:30 am till around 9-10 pm average. The work atmosphere is really good. Being a part of a law firm with so many lawyers is always an advantage. Even if I work for 12 or 15 or 18 hours a day, I do not feel any physical or psychological exhaustion as the other associates in the firm always provide constant strength and support to each other. My suggestion to law students is that the work in a law firm is always hectic and you must choose it if you prefer that kind of work and feel you are made for it, but not just on the basis of money you will receive at the end of the month.

     

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

    As you sow, so shall you reap. The efforts which I put in today will bear fruits tomorrow. Well, I have worked for even 15-18 hours a day, for quite a few continuous days in my short stint at Desai & Diwanji till date and even had a similar schedule at a previous job. This situation in relation to work hours is not only limited to Desai & Diwanji, as lawyers in other top law firms also work long hours continuously which at times extends to two or three days. I would love to learn, make mistakes (and learn), work hectic hours, as long as I achieve what I desire in life. Many young lawyers do complain.

    Working in a good law firm is not everyone’s piece of cake. I have been working crazy hours for a while, but I remove time for family, friends and loved ones. It may be a weekend or a late night. I always like to surprise my close ones and they do appreciate my efforts. Where there is a will, there is a way. If you enjoy your work and your close ones support you, life will always be easier. The lawyers who complain are probably in the wrong field or job. Work is about enjoying, not complaining. If a client requires a particular task to be completed within a particular time, it has to be completed. This is the situation existing at all top law firms. If you are having sleepless nights, so is your client! My simple advice is that, if you feel something is not right for you or not working out for you, you are probably at the wrong place!

     

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

    I do miss my 5 years at NLIU, Bhopal dearly. It was never fast moving and hectic like my life in Mumbai. But life is all about how you live it. Bhopal was not as fast moving as Mumbai was, but I ensured that I made my 5 years at NLIU, Bhopal as fruitful as possible in my own way. I enjoyed and studied in my 5 years at NLIU, Bhopal, and I doubt I would do anything differently now. Life is all about balancing work and living.

     

    Where do you see yourself five years from now?

    Probably in a corporate law firm. Hopefully handling M&A and other corporate transactions and in a more responsible position.

     

    Lastly, what would be your message for our readers?

    I have noticed a lot of law students fear the efforts which go into the preparations for a moot. I would like to remind law students of the saying “Survival of the fittest”. Your loss is some other students gain. If you wish to be a lawyer, you should be prepared to take on all challenges that you come across. Mooting is the easiest of all those challenges you may face as a lawyer and in your life. It is not always about winning. As I stated above, every experience will help, whether good or bad.

    Another message, for law students or young lawyers, irrespective, is that many try to seek jobs in “top tier law firms”, whether for status or money but being blank or unaware about their area of interest. Identify your area of interest. I have asked many final year law students on their future plans, with the answer being “Let’s see. I am trying at all top tier law firms.” When I ask them their area of interest and their reason to apply at that “top tier law firm”, I get a blank reply. I have also come across many law students and lawyers depressed that they did not make it to a top tier law firm. If you do not get your desired job today, prepare yourself in such a manner that you might get it tomorrow. Some lawyers who make it to a top tier law firm complain about work-life balance and how difficult life is! There are many boutique firms practicing in specific practice areas, some paying as high as or higher than top tier law firms, considering that the lawyer is worth the price. Experimentation is fine during internships, but experimenting jobs is not cool! You may lie to the whole world, but you can never lie to yourself. Choose your career wisely at the appropriate time. Making it to a top tier law firm is not bad, but only if you feel you can handle it and if that is what you desire.

    I think I will end with an appropriate dialogue from the movie 3-Idiots for current law students. As many seem to have forgotten it, I quote, “Do not run behind success, but try to achieve excellence. Success will be achieved through excellence”.

  • Manish Raj on work at Coal India Ltd., being AIR 4 in the UPSC Company Prosecutor exam

    Manish Raj on work at Coal India Ltd., being AIR 4 in the UPSC Company Prosecutor exam

    Manish Raj, graduated from NLIU, Bhopal in 2009. Thereafter, he worked at Coal India Ltd. in various capacities. Recently, he secured AIR 4 in the exam conducted by UPSC for the posts of Company Prosecutors in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

    In this interview he talks about:

    • Working at a PSU: Coal India Ltd.
    • Clearing the UPSC exam for Company Prosecutors

     

    Tell us a bit about yourself as an introduction. Do you come from a family of lawyers?

    Firstly, your team is doing a fantastic job of gathering such imperative information of experiences in the field of law that could play a great role in budding grads life. Congratulations!!

    I am a 2009 batch graduate from National Law Institute University; thereafter I worked with Coal India Ltd. (A Govt. Undertaking) at various capacities starting from Management Trainee to Assistant Manager (Legal). Recently cleared the exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, so just waiting to resume my services with Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Govt. of India.

    No, miles away, I am a first person in my family who did this intentional gaffe of taking up law as a profession rest all and relatives remained associated with Railway Services, entrepreneurs (Construction firms) and Administrative Services.

     

    What got you into legal studies? Was it all planned or something that just happened by chance?

    Lived a very independent life in this regard, abhorrent to many my parents always said to justify your life as per your age and as a son. Getting into law was my independent decision for the reason that I had this bend towards humanities, writing and others. Being a Mathematics student in 12th grade really helped me a lot to think about what I definitely not want to be…

    No, I knew about the National law schools in those days and seriously took the entrance exam of NLIU along with other exams for different law schools.

     

    How was your experience at NLIU? What activities were you involved in apart from the regular academic curriculum?

    Being the hosteller at NLIU, the very first thing it taught me was to always fill the mug before you use the washroom, hilarious for many but embarrassing to some and still at times it makes me think about the balancing act of all those creatures(from other clusters) whose pug marks left imprinted on the lid.

    Well, when I have joined the NLIU it was at the apex of its transition phase, everything was yet to take a shape, so be it roads, library, gol chakkar, new teachers replacing old teachers and Canteen(though temporarily built of jute but I think it was better than the new one in the campus).

    Not an exception, it was a roller-coaster ride for me at NLIU that made me to meet the good, bad and hilarious hundred shades of grey, black and white at one place. I totally agree that time flies at NLIU, 5 years seems a moment.

    Extricating in nature, late night hobnobs at boy’s hostel, bakar at gol chakkar, road roller (doubt if some still remember about it), kallu/hemraj ki tapri, mindora, library(outside it or serene view from roof top) and others primarily remained the sites where I remained actively involved in all those highly brainstorming sessions and other societal activities. Apart from it the remaining time was being utilized for paper publications, moot courts, gym, seminars/conferences and sports too.

     

    Manish Raj

    What were your major interests as a student of law? Any suggestions for the law students on how to deal with Pandora box of laws?

    Our course curriculum is such that one remains student of both law and humanities and I remained no exception to it. My interest as a law student lied somewhere in mid of both i.e. if constitutional law than political science and administrative law too and later the contemporary socio-legal issues, henceforth the fragments from all the subjects has helped me a lot to knit something of my interest. It may seem to be an agrestic approach but with time it takes a shape to help you in profession as well as a social being.

    Reading those law books fills one with the fake sense of power and thinking oneself to be intellectually superior to others, alas the execution part of it is way different by methods and means. Consequently I think being a law student think logically, keep prime focus on your concepts of law while reading and keep yourself at bay from those great great intellectual bakar.

     

    How should one go about the internships? How important it is for a law student to plan out the course of his internships to successfully gain from the internship experience?

    Internships are the best time to explore not about the place where you intern but about yourself in a manner that what you really not want to be. Therefore trepidations or learning from others experience is not a wise act, be your experience, explore all possible job sites; law firms, FMCGs, various Adjudicating bodies, commissions and others only then decide what you really want to be in the future.

    Internships should not become the process of collecting tags/brands to make your resume look marvellous; therefore I think from 3rd year (9th trimester) onwards start fixing your steps in one direction (internship at one place) based on self hand experience of the past internships. I hope one could achieve so much than only the experience certificate.

     

    You have published a lot of papers in various prestigious journals. How should one go about writing papers and getting the same published? Can you give us a few tips to ace the art of paper writing?

    Indeed yes, from Company law journal to Harvard Law journal and still continuing with last one in The Hindu (Newspaper). I should not suggest anyone to jump in without interest or just for the sake of writing; it’s an engaging process that seeks patience and persistence to write and get it published.

    I think desirous among many may start with contemporary issues, read a lot from various sources, search for some legal clue in it to effectively justify your profession too, start writing, fit it in various pigeon hole of formats by the publishers, send it and wash your hands of with it. The most quintessential is to read and analyze the already published work of others.

     

    Tell us how has paper publishing and other co-curricular activities helped you in acquiring skills that are important for a successful legal career?

    I am not hubris a person if I say that good paper publishing is followed by appreciation and eulogized by many. Not much co-curricular activities I remained active in, the one I found myself around were writing, paper presentations at conferences/seminars, member of different cells, moot courts and others, indeed all these activities helped in evolving drafting, presenting, and fabricating(is a skill) skills in me.

     

    After graduating from NLIU you had worked at Coal India Ltd. (A Govt. Undertaking) for a considerably long time. How was your experience being part of a PSU?

    Yes, I have started working as an Executive officer (legal) and worked last on Asst. Manager (legal) position. Interestingly, during my later half I was posted at Dhanbad office and at the same time Anurag Kashyap was working on Gangs of Wasseypur project at Katras mines (Area office of BCCL, Dhanbad) and National Geographic India on some energy project at Jharia mines(Area office of BCCL, Dhanbad) so enjoyed resolving some legal query qua sites.

    Abhorrently, it remained challenging to work with a Public Sector for the reason that the laws qua Energy sector are very different and takes time to get accustomed. Apart from the legal skills, managerial, administrative skills and quick decision taking skills are tested time and again. The biggest challenge is not to manage your top slots but to get your work done by the subordinates (especially of your father’s age) and breaking the speed of file moment that remarks of Colonial era legacy.

    Major area of work remained of compliance of law at various legal forums, personnel and administrative tasks, international contracts (JVs and others) for various purposes, Land Acquisition, Arbitration, FSA ongoing Coal Blocks issue and others.

     

    How helpful do you think CGPA is when it comes to getting recruited?

    CGPA helps in getting shortlisted at least during the Campus placements, so I think it’s important to maintain a decent B+ (65% or more) score/grade. As we know even in Govt. job and private jobs they have percentage fixed as minimum eligibility.

    Let me tell all those students (mediocre) who study hard and fetch no good marks that keep your basics (concepts of law) brushed and don’t worry about the job, it will follow you. I repeat-only those who study hard and not score well in the exams.

     

    What is the importance of CGPA for law students especially for UPSC exams? Does it make any difference during the interview?

    Just fulfil the minimum criteria of percentage as reiterated in the notification for vacancies that’s it. No, Union Public Service Commission as we know is a constitutional body wherein during interviews College name, medium of education, social background and other things have been given no heed(I think) and remains neutral for all to bring out perfect equality and harmony. Quintessentially a law degree from National Law School remains at par with a law degree from any other regional college.

     

    You have recently secured AIR 4 in the exam conducted by UPSC for the post of Company Prosecutor, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India. How did go about achieving this?

    At present there are only 30 posts of Company Prosecutors with MCA in India, out of which for the vacant 13 post this recruitment drive was initiated by the UPSC. It was little shocking at first for me to get selected for the said post apparently that much more qualified candidates and senior in age had left me cold feet during the interviews at the UPSC Bhawan.

     

    Tell us about the application procedure. What all qualities did you think helped you to crack this exam?

    The exam was conducted by the UPSC, New Delhi wherein they had floated the notification containing the relevant information qua post. I think the basic understanding of law, past job experience, and my grounded approach to the issues/questions have helped me to crack it.

     

    Tell us about your interview? What kinds of questions were asked by the interview board?

    Interview was held at UPSC, Bhawan, it was Prof. David R. Syiemlieh’s (member of UPSC) board along with four members, it was started with discussing about BRICS Bank and its effect on India and World trade and ended with asking about the days at NLIU. It took 30-35 minutes (approx) wherein except one all four members remained active in asking/raising questions. I kept myself at distance from wild guesses wherever I had no answers and justified whatever was mentioned in the form, at the end perhaps favored me.

    It was different from the conventional interviews of checking your data storage capacity; it was more or less based on discussing practical problems related to social issues, legal concern, corporate laws and solutions to it/them.

     

    What are the prospects of being Company Prosecutor with Ministry of Corporate Affairs and how law students at NLIU may get benefitted from your experience?

    Even I am waiting to resume my services with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, so I don’t know much about the prospects except that it’s a Ministerial and Gazetted post with Govt. of India. Being Ministerial in nature it seems that primarily the work will inter-alia deals with National and International Corporate Laws, Policy and important trans-boundary papers drafting, preparing answers to the questions raised at Loksabha/Rajyasabha, representing ministry at various legal forums, legal opinions and working with Secretaries, officers and Group of Ministers appointed for special tasks.

    Let me join first, I can just assure at this juncture about the appropriate commitments from my side in the near future to the law students.

     

    What would be your message for law students who are preparing or planning to prepare to appear for the Company Prosecutor?

    Well, I shouldn’t suggest anyone to prepare for this post separately for the reason that posts are so less in number and since post qualification experience is one of the essential qualification for the job.

    However, keep yourself updated with the latest changes in Corporate Laws. For detailed information qua subjects one can collect the same from Ministry of Corporate Affairs, GOI website.

     

    Lastly, some dos and donts for the law students based on your past experiences in the legal field and at NLIU?

    Being a student at law school one gets to meet people from all walks of life, I too remained fortunate when it comes to batch-mates, seniors and juniors. Five years is a moment, therefore I would only suggest utilizing maximum out of the moment. Always try to utilize first 15 days of the trimesters be it for trips, hanging around, extra-curricular activities but don’t sit idle at hostel/home. Before turning pages from those bulky Volumes in library go through some general book (may be of CLA Publication) to clear your concepts first. And lastly, never throw those empty bottles from the roof top of the hostel on the road thinking that it will hit targeted lamp post at gol-chakkar.

     

  • Rakhi Mohanty on Masters in Commercial Law from LSE, litigation at Supreme Court and academic research

    Rakhi Mohanty on Masters in Commercial Law from LSE, litigation at Supreme Court and academic research

    Rakhi Mohanty graduated with a B.A.LLB (Hons) degree from NLIU, Bhopal in 2010.She then went on to litigate in the Supreme Court and later worked with a law firm based in Delhi. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Commercial Law from the London School of Economics.

    In this interview, Rakhi talks about:

    • How to choose internships while in law school
    • Litigation in India and its future
    • Pursuing LLM’s in avant-garde institutions and gruelling academic schedules
    • Academic research in foreign universities

     

    Please introduce yourself to the readers. Tell us a little about your childhood and your background.

    My name is Rakhi Mohanty and I recently completed my Masters at the London School of Economics and Political Science in Commercial Laws. I am an alumni of National Law Institute University. I come from Bhubaneswar where my father is a succesful enterpreneur and my mother has taken the daunting task of looking after the family and holding us all together. Given the lack of all-round facilities in schools at Bhubaneswar,  in terms of extra-curricular activities, sports etc which are essential for a healthy childhood thanks to my parents,  took the decision to give my sister and me an opportunity to study at one of the best boarding  schools of the country, the Lawrence School, Lovedale, which was our first step to leading independent lives as individuals. My younger sister who has recently completed her Masters at Oxford University.

     

    When did you decide to take up law as a career? Tell us something about your college life. Being a law student, were you only focused on academics? How was the academic pressure?

    I once had an ex-student visit my school and give a talk on the career attributes of the legal profession and that is very time since when my fixation with the area begun. I was completely taken in by the eloquent manner and by the comprehensive and persuasive power of the speech. As I grew up and kept myself more updated with the day-to-day news from over the world over, I noticed a common pattern of most of the prominent leaders and personalities over the world sharing a common factor of law between them. I would be lying if I say that the John Grisham novels, in their glamorous projection of lawyers, did not play a major role in my decision-making. Luckily for me, I had the privilege of committing to the career at a time of National Law Schools and law firms, which were offering some of the most promising remunerations making it one of the most rewarding professions. By the time I set my foot into the professional arena,  career in law had begun to being considered as one of the most promising careers for a young individual looking for a dynamic and successful life. NLIU provided me with the much needed break in terms of a rigorous five year program which helps a student get a taste of the various subjects that law as a discpline has to offer. We had a trimester system which kept us on our toes as we had exams and project presentations every few months. Having said that, NLIU provided a student with a wide arena of extra curriculars as well which would help one in an all round development as a professional.

     

    You’ve interned at think-tanks like the Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group. How instrumental were these internships in helping you decide what field of law you wished to specialize in?

    I think the think tanks that I did intern for, provided me with an opportunity to see aspects of life, not necessarily as a lawyer but as a a citizen, working for the betterment and efficency of the society that we live in. To be entirely honest, I enjoyed my work thoroughly and saw a side to law which requires an amount of sheer grid and determination to go on working effortlessly for the cause of others and for social well-being. They provided me with a wide area of subjects to work under such as environmental law, constitutional law etc. Having said that, as a lawyer, I feel, that one needs to find their specific area of interest to which they are willing to dedicate the next 40-50 years of their lives, working 13-14 hours each day. I found my calling in commercial laws and I am glad that before I branched out to this specific area, I got an opportunity to work and get a gist of the different branches of law, which I may never again get an opportunity to work in from here on.

     

    After your graduation, you worked in the Supreme Court. What is the reality of litigation in India? Do you think that the effort that is put into litigation does see fruition in all cases or the field of litigation is an overrated career option?

    To be honest, working in the Supreme Court first as a law clerk and then as a lawyer was one of the most defining moments of my career. I got to see the law being exercised from both sides, from the bench and from the other end, the bar. At one point of time I got to work on various judgments and be a part of the evolution of the law and later on, as a lawyer, I was working on the arguments for a case to be presented before the court. Having been asked about litigation, I would be able to explain litigation if I draw an analogy by saying that lttigation is more like running a long distance marathon. It happens at a slower pace, one needs to build up a momentum and gather the stamina, the more one practises the better they get at it and it takes a while to reach the finishing line but there is nothing quite like it. If somebody wants to litigate and feel passionately for it, they should be ready to put in the required dedication for a certain period of time and avoid feeling let down by minor setbacks. However, I think the legal profession demands one’s full time and undeterred time and attention to succeed and to be right at the top. The reality of litigation in India can be very disappointing at times, but to be honest, there is quite a high when you get argue before a bench or are applauded by the bench for presenting a case well or finishing a matter by yourself. However, I personally feel that it could only happen if one pursues something which they feel passionately for and do not feel the heat of long hours and that of a strenuous work life. I tend to be quite impatient as a person and get easily hassled by long bureaucratic processes and felt that I would not be good at litigation. I needed to find something which I could take forward and feel passionately about and that happened for me in the form of competition law.

     

    You completed your Masters from the London School of Economics. At what point did you decide to pursue your Masters? What was your motivation?

    I had decided from the very beginning that I would pursue my Masters after putting in a couple of years of work so as to be able decide as to what I want to specialise in. I stuck to my plan and after having worked for one year in the Supreme Court and then for another two years as a litigating lawyer, I decided to apply for my Masters and pursue a degree in Commercial Laws. The motivation was excellence. I did not want to slip into mediocricy and that could have only happened if I had the clarity and knowledge, which could be acquired with a Masters program.

     

    How different is the style of teaching at LSE? Do they focus more on the practical aspects of the law as compared to the NLUs?

    The teaching at LSE was extremely different from that what I had experienced at NLIU. At LSE, the students are expected to finish their readings, research and be well-prepared before a class. During the class, one is expected to voice your opinion and it is more of a discussion and sharing of opinions between the professors and the students instead of a scenario where professors are expected to spoon feed the students. In my opinion, the teaching methodolgy in the universities abroad is far superior to what we have in India as one is compelled to think out of the box, start training their mind as a professional and most importantly, it teaches you to be responsible towards your degree. The whole point of such a methodolgy of teaching is to make sure that students not only study the law as a subject but in the process learn its applications and be able to clear their notions on its implications. Having said that, one cannot forget that the degree that I attained at NLIU was an undergraduate one, which introduced me to the profession, whereas, I entered LSE as a professional, attaining a Masters degree and in the process had to a certain stature and sophistication to my work. It is only fair as to at which point, which university expected what level of work from me.

     

    How did you choose LSE over other colleges? What was the decisive factor?

    I liked the LL.M program that LSE had to offer and the wide array of subjects to choose from. What not a lot of people are aware of is that the LL.M program at the LSE is one of the intensive and prestigious programs that the University has to offer. Further, LSE offers you that one opportunity to experience life in London, the epicentre of world economy and commercial laws. I think what a lot of people do not understand is that Masters is not just about the course you study but should have the ability to  motivate, make you push your limits and not only change your perception of your life but also be a game-changer for your career. LSE and London did just that for me.

     

    What is your view on the latest trend among law students to pursue Masters abroad? How much of a brain drain do you think this is?

    In my opinion, pursuing one’s Maters abroad is not a brain drain at all. Pursuing Masters abroad gives a student a much wider perspective of the world at large and provides the much needed incites to bring in a certain level of sophistication to their work and thought process which could be put to much better use even if one decides to head back home and pursue their career in India. I feel Masters abroad is only as much a brain drain as it would be in various scenarios where lawyers working in India decide to settle abroad at some point of time in their lives for various miscellaneous reasons.

     

    In your opinion, do you think the NLU’s are conducive to academic research on a level that law schools abroad are? What is the future of NLUs?

    I feel that the compulsory requirement for academic research, which is in form of projects etc, that is being conducted by the NLUs is more of a technicality on paper rather than it being something which is actually effective and productive. I think we need to contemplate the level/standard of academic research that is being produced in the NLUs . In my experience abroad, the research work is taken extremely seriously whereby each student is appointed a supervisor who guides and provides incites into the research over the span of time so as to be able to produce something substantial and at the same time mentors the student for better research and drafting skills in terms of academic writing which leads to more international publications and referencing. In my opinion, NLUs need to put in more thought when it comes to academic research when it comes to competing with the world class universities abroad.

     

    What are your plans after completing your Masters?

    I intend to work in a reputed Competition Law/Antitrust team. I am currently exploring job opportunities in Europe as well India and given the global nature of the subject, I intend to appear for the QLTS or NY Bar exams in the due course of time so as to be able to have a multi-jurisdictional advantage to be able to make my mark as a Competition Law expert across the globe.

     

    For the benefit of the law students, kindly share some experiences of starting up with a law firm. Students are trying to gather various internship experiences at different places. Do you think internships help a law student?

    I think internships are extremely important when one is pursuing their LL.B. However, what I have learnt from my experience is that, it isn’t important to intern in various number of places but to pick one place which one feels is the best choice for them and to intern there a number of times so as to be able to exhibit their skills in that particular organization. When the time comes for recruitment, a firm or organization tends to prioritise a former intern or recalls that person’s good work over a completely fresh face. I would advice that handpick a couple of places and try to put in your best work there so that the organization either offers you a PPO or prioritises your joining in campus placements. The students should be aware of the reality that working in a law firm is not the easiest ways of life. One would be required to put in their complete time and dedication so as to be able to make a mark in a workplace.

     

    What would be your parting message to the law students?

    I would urge all budding law students to think out of the box and have the conviction to stand by their career choices, be it being that of a corporate lawyer or that of an environmentalist. We are living in a time and age when doing anything can bring you success, provided you excel in it. It is important the future talent prioritises excellence over being a part of mediocrity.

  • Rwitwika Bhattacharya on work at the World Bank, authoring books and founding Swaniti

    Rwitwika Bhattacharya on work at the World Bank, authoring books and founding Swaniti

    rwitwika-bhattacharya-1Ms. Rwitwika Bhattacharya graduated from Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government. She has previously worked as an Associate at the World Bank and is the founder and currently the CEO of the Swaniti Initiative, a non-profit that delivers development solutions to elected officials in India.

    In this interview, we asked her about:

    • working with the World Bank;
    • authoring two books;
    • her work through the Swaniti Initiative; and
    • the involvement of lawyers in her start-up organization.

     

    Could you please introduce yourself, professionally and academically, to our readers?

    I am the Founder and CEO of Swaniti Initiative, a non profit that delivers development solutions to Members of Parliament in India. Our goal is to provide them with either knowledge insight or implementation support on development issues. Prior to Swaniti, I was working at the World Bank and UNFPA. I have a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard and Bachelor’s in political science and economics from Wake Forest University.

     

    You have considerable exposure when it comes to working at the World Bank. How was your experience of working at the World Bank? What was your area of work there? Was there any particular reason for your deciding to leave?

    The World Bank is a phenomenal place to work and I was very fortunate to have gotten this opportunity. The reason that the World Bank is so great because you are surrounded by problem solvers who are academics and practitioners, working on complex issues. To be a part of an environment where you find such driven people, you begin to also focus on understanding potential ways to solve problem. My area of work was labor economics and I ended up doing a lot of research work on job creation. I was lucky enough to co-author two books during my time at the Bank. The reason I left the Bank was because I was passionate about working on governance and polity in India. When I saw there were no such organizations within the World Bank, or even in India, I started one.

     

    You have co-authored two books during your stint at the World Bank. Can you elaborate on the two books written by you?

    Sure. My first book was on Frontiers in Development Policy where I had written a chapter on political economy and development. Basically the chapter focuses on seeing how politics can be a catalyst in bringing development. We looked in to the Mauritius case study where we saw how a focused political leadership was keen on revamping the economic system and how this completely transformed the economy. My second book was ‘A Primer on Labor Policies’ and this looks in to the complexity of job creation. You see, job creation is not the result of one thing going the right way but of many things working out together: a strong education system, solid infrastructure, access to capital and stable government are few of the many things.

     

    One of your books ‘Frontiers in Development Policy’ looks to foster discussion amongst policy makers on growth and development. Would you say this is possible and if yes, to what extent? How far do you think the insights provided by you in your book have been incorporated?

    Absolutely! Even the smallest decisions by our policy makers have an exponential effect on development and growth. Let me give you a substative example: on Gandhi Jayanti we saw the Prime Minister pick up a broom. It was a phenomenal example because the ripple effect was almost every single one of my friends also picking up a broom and taking the oath to keep their city clean. Now, this is illustrative of how even the smallest step by senior policy makers can transform communities.

     

    You are currently the CEO of the Swaniti Initiative, an initiative of which you are the founding member. How did you come about setting-up this Initiative? Why did you feel the need to do so?

    Back in 2009, when elections were taking place in India, my friends are I started thinking about the electoral process. During our conversation we realized that even though so many of us were keen to contribute to strengthening governance in India, there were too few channels of entry for young Indians to work with elected officials in supporting them in supporting them in governance. This was ironic because independently some of us (including myself) had worked with elected officially, specifically MPs and Ministers, to realize that there was a strong demand to have a demand for knowledge and human capital from the side of the elected official. Then it was only natural realizing that there is a demand and there is a supply so why not connect them. Thus Swaniti was founded. We launched our first pilot in 2009 and since then we have continued to grow.

     

    Could you elaborate on the kind of work you are involved in through this Initiative?

    We are focused on providing two kinds of support to Parliamentarians and elected officials:

    a) knowledge insights on key developmental programs and/or

    b) on the ground implementation support.

    On Knowledge Insight we distribute a series of knowledge products like briefs on government schemes, insights on innovative projects and updates on developmental progress.Additionally we also connect with MPs through one-on-one meetings to provide them with insights on specific knowledge queries they might have (for example we have MPs who are keen to know about specific government programs). ‘On the ground implementation’ consists of programs where we travel to the constituency to study a problem and provide solutions to them. Our goal here is to not just provide solutions but also help implement them.

     

    Keeping in mind the administrator : people ratio, do you think that the high difference in the ratio is the main problem leading to all the developmental problems or are they other factors that contribute to the problems India is facing?

    If we were to solve any problem we would see if the bottleneck is in terms of financial resources, human capital or lack of ideas. In India’s case, it’s not that we are a poor country (look at the size of India’s budget and the amount provided in grants and aid by international and domestic agencies) and we certainly don’t have a dearth of innovative ideas. The issue comes in implementing these ideas and programs and this is primarily because we have lack of implementors. There are very few government officials and those who are there are overburdened. How do we strengthen the system in this case? We see MPs and elected officials are a rung of government who are keen to bring ground level change, however they lack either the knowledge or the human capital support. Thus, we work on providing both.

     

    In what manner are the education levels, of elected representatives and people, and poverty factoring in the development process?

    India is in a state of flux. Are citizens are getting more educated and exposed to development, their expectations from elected officials are also increasing. Subsequently the delivery of goods and services from MPs and MLAs is also needing to increase. I think the Modi-wave in the last election is indicative of how people’s voting behavior is changing: very few people would have predicted so many people voting for a focused policy change.

     

    The Swaniti Initiative provides opportunities to work with MPs and MLAs. Have the people, who have applied, been from a diverse array of vocations or there is some concentration from a few particular fields?

    Yes, we have had people ranging from architecture to business to law work with us. We are particularly excited when we see lawyers because they have a keen understanding of policy issues and a linear way of thinking. Some of our stellars Fellows have been lawyers.

     

    In your opinion, what is the kind of experience lawyers would be exposed to if associated with the Swaniti Initiative?

    We are currently looking for Fellows and research associates within Swaniti. For lawyers working with us we can assure you an opportunity to work not just from a policy research perspective but also to interact with policy makers and explore how programs get implemented on a ground level. For those looking to work at the nexus of research and program implementation, Swaniti is the place to be!

     

    What are the different ways in which lawyers can contribute to the Swaniti Initiative? Can the opportunities provided be said to be challenging for lawyers?

    Yes. We have an incredible team and we are proud of our team members. We feel like that the work and the company will be rewarding for incoming lawyers.

     

    Lastly, what would be your message to law students and young lawyers who want to pursue a career in the entrepreneurship or their own start-up?

    I would say that the hardest decision for any individual seeking to be an entrepreneur is to take the ‘plunge’ and begin something. We are often nervous about prospective failures and therefore vulnerable to steering away from entrepreneurship. However, I can tell you from personal experience that starting something by yourself is one of the most rewarding things you could do! So just take the dive, head first.

  • Anujaya Krishna on being a DAAD Scholar and authoring book on Sports Law

    Anujaya Krishna on being a DAAD Scholar and authoring book on Sports Law

    Anujaya Krishna is one of the most diligent scholars of the 2013 batch of NLIU, Bhopal. Anujaya has been the Co-Convenor of the Moot Court Association, editor of the IP Law Journal and has also authored a book on Sports Law. She is the DAAD Scholar for 2014-15 and is currently pursuing her masters in European Law.

    In this interview, Anujaya talks about:

    • Applying for scholarships and choosing the right field of specialization
    • Publications in law school
    • Balancing time for other pursuits while in law school

     

    When did you decide to take up law as a career? Tell us something about your college life.

    Frankly, coming into law was a matter of chance. More than me choosing law, I’d put it this way (at the risk of sounding archaic) – Law chose me. I was giving engineering examinations and took CLAT along with those. When I secured a good rank in the exam, I decided to take a leap of faith!

    College life cannot be described, but I’ll try. It was splendid- taught me a lot and helped me grow as a person as well as develop a deeper understanding of the profession I was taking up.

     

    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?

    I mostly interned with advocates in my hometown, Lucknow. I also interned with UNICEF and the State Legal Services Authority in Lucknow. The only law firm internship I did was with Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A. Shroff & Sons.

    Given that I chose Sports Law as my field of specialization, it was not easy to find work in that field. But I made up for that by doing research on it for my dissertation and projects in the university. In my internships, I got the opportunity to work on cases of mediation, company law, corruption, labour issues, and I also learnt how to go about due diligence and drafting.

    I believe that one should take up an opportunity when it presents itself, because nothing you learn or work on goes in vain, ever.

     

    You were Co-Convenor of the Moot Court Association. How much emphasis would you place on mooting in law school? How do you think it helps in developing argumentation and analytical skills?

    Mooting is an activity that hones your skills in myriad areas and I strongly recommend that students give it a try in law school. It goes a long way in making one versatile and grow from being a law student to a lawyer as it were.

    Mooting, to my understanding, has something for everyone- whether you are more comfortable speaking or drafting and doing research. Mooting helps gain a better understanding of the law because it enables you to apply what you have learnt and create arguments. Not only that, it also helps you think like a lawyer- focusing not only on your arguments but also on the possible arguments from the other side.

     

    You have been editor of the NLIU Law Review as well as the IP Law Journal and have several research publications to your credit. What made you develop such a keen interest in writing research papers? How did you develop on them?

    I have been fortunate to get a chance to work on several aspects relating to research and publication. While I was on the content review and editing board for the NLIU Law Review, for the IP Law Journal, I worked on the Management Board. My main motivation for writing research papers has been my interest in exploring and developing Sports Law as a field. If you notice, most of the papers I have written are based on the same.

    As for how I went about developing and writing them, I referred to books in the library and articles available online. Also, I tried conducting surveys or gaining some practical insight into the topics as well. The key point to remember when writing a research paper is to choose a topic that really interests you, so that you are constantly motivated to write about it- irrespective of dearth of resources, time etc.

     

    Congratulations on your book ‘Sports Law’. Why did you choose sports law to be the subject of your book? What motivated you to take up a field of law that isn’t that well known? What resources did you have at your disposal?

    Thank you! Like I said, Sports Law is a field that has not been explored much and we need more scholarship in that area, especially in India. Whenever I used to mention that I want to specialize in Sports Law, most people were either unaware of the subject or said that I should not set my heart on such an ‘obscure’ topic. It was exactly the fact that this field of law “isn’t that well known” that prompted me to write about it.

    I referred to some books on the subject available in the university library, all by foreign authors but I was fortunate to find one book by an Indian author as well. Case laws from the official website of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and other sources also helped. Apart from research papers and newspaper articles on issues revolving around sports law, for instance the (Draft) National Sports Development Bill, there were autobiographies and memoirs of sportspersons that gave me an insight into the status of sports in India and elsewhere.

    I also got a chance to interact with some players and coaches in Lucknow to know their views on the idea of law intervening in sports. Also, I had the guidance of my parents (who are both teachers), brother (who is a budding tennis player) and professors, encouraging me to work on this topic.

     

    When did you decide to start writing the book? Share with us your experience in getting it published and what was the reception to the book?

    The book is actually based on the dissertation I made in the final year of law school. It was my mother’s idea to get it published.

    I am thankful to Universal Law Publishers who gave a positive response to my proposal to get the book on Sports Law published and it was a smooth process. As regards the reception of the book, apart from positive reviews from my family and friends, I was glad to see that students from other law schools also read and liked the work. As a matter of fact, I recently got an opportunity to write on gaming laws for a website after the editor came across my book. At the same time, there has been some constructive criticism as well and I definitely hope to improve in the future. Reviews and suggestions are always welcome!

     

    How did you balance out your time while authoring the book? Do you have any future plans of taking up writing as a career?

    I guess you just have to make time to do the things that you love and that is exactly what I did while working on the manuscript for the book. There is no formula for it.

    Writing has always been close to my heart- not just writing on law but even fiction and poetry. It is too early to comment on whether I will take it up as a full-fledged career but I wish to keep writing whenever I get the chance.

     

    You also worked with AMSS, Bangalore. How was the experience of working in a corporate setup? What sort of research did your job profile entail?

    I feel very fortunate to have gotten a chance to work with AMSS, Bangalore. The work atmosphere is excellent and I got the opportunity to work with some of the best minds in the field of corporate law in India. The seniors were very encouraging and approachable too.

    There were various areas of law that I got to research on. I did extensive due diligence on the labour law compliances as well as on stamp duties for certain types of agreements. I also did research on aspects of contract law as well as FEMA and RBI regulations. The most memorable part was that I got to explore aspects of the new Companies Act (2013) and Rules thereunder, under the aegis of the best law firm with such knowledgeable people.

     

    You are also the DAAD Scholar for 2014-15. How did you go about applying for the scholarship? What would you advise fresh aspirants to focus on?

    My mother informed me about the scholarship and I applied for it. The most important part is the Statement of Purpose (SoP), so I would advise fresh aspirants to draft an SoP that is honest and reflects their interests and motivation clearly.

     

    What is the field of specialization you’ve chosen for the LLM?  Why did you choose that subject?

    The scholarship I received is for the study of European law. In my LL.M. course, I will be studying various aspects of European integration and I hope to make my master’s thesis on European Union (EU) policy in the field of sports.

    Coming from India- a country of unity in diversity, I think it will be interesting to understand and learn the way the EU functions, moving towards an ‘ever closer union’. Moreover, the EU has many policies relating to sports such as sports and competition law, and players’ rights etc. that I can use for further research in the field of Sports Law.

     

    anujaya-krishna-1

    Please tell us a little about your academic schedules and the general experience of studying abroad? How different do you think it is from the pedagogy that Indian Universities follow?

    The schedule is usually packed. While there may not be too many classes in a day, the duration of the classes is more. Also, there is a lot of extra reading required to be done and presentations to be made in class etc. Since the lectures are rather interactive in nature, one is required to read and come prepared for the class. Also, being in an international environment gives you great exposure- not only in terms of studies but also respecting and learning about various cultures and countries. I am also happy that I got to learn a bit of German here!

    I would say that the level of interaction and participation in classes is more here but at the end of the day, I don’t think it is to do with ‘Indian’ or ‘foreign’ universities so much as it is to do with individuals and the will to actively participate. You can make the most out of your education if you want, in whichever part of the world you are!

     

    What is your view on the rapidly growing trend of Indian students pursuing their masters abroad? Do you think there is a resurgence of the brain drain?

    I think if there is a programme of study that interests one and is feasible, then one must pursue it. As regards the question of brain drain, I sincerely hope there is none and quite frankly, it is hard to comment because it is matter of personal choice and circumstances, and putting everyone under a label would be unfair.

     

    What would be your parting message to the law students?

    Just one quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson (something I got as a farewell present in university) – “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

  • Anshuman Nayak on building a fresh career in litigation at Delhi High Court

    Anshuman Nayak on building a fresh career in litigation at Delhi High Court

    Anshuman Nayak graduated from NLIU, Bhopal in 2013. He had always planned to pursue a career in litigation since his days in law school and therefore, started litigation practice before Delhi High Court right after graduation. We asked him to share his experiences and strategies he used over the years.

     

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

    I am Anshuman Nayak, one of you, till the year 2013. I will be as sincere and earnest as possible.  As a child I have always been into reading even though I never neglected outdoor activities.

     

    How did law happen? Were you sure about pursuing a career in the legal field from the beginning? Did you ever think of alternate career options?

    I don’t know where my inclination towards the law began. It probably started when I first lay my hands on a newspaper. You get to know so many things and some things do catch your eye. I learnt so many things about the system of governance and polity. And somewhere deep down I knew I could contribute. So here I am.

    Pursuing law for me was not a very conscious decision then. And no, it wasn’t peer or parental pressure. I can tell you that it was one of my best decisions in life to do this.

    I won’t say that “I’m here to get justice delivered” and “that it pains me to see how people can be so deceitful”. No. I am not to give here lofty and impractical ideas to the readers. However, whenever I do see justice being done (the instances of which, are few and far between), it does feel good.

     

    Tell us about your years in law school. What made your journey with NLIU worth it? What are the co-curricular activities you took part at NLIU?

    There aren’t any single instances which make the NLIU journey worthwhile. Bhopal as a city is so full of greenery that anyone will fall in love with it and by extension, the University. I guess everyone has their own outlook about the place and everyone has their own versions of their University life. Personally, I don’t know if I could have a better experience. It was enriching and enlightening. I dabbled in everything mostly, particularly mooting and quizzing.

     

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

    I would ask them to learn the law, particularly the Constitution, Jurisprudence and a little bit of Procedural laws and not neglect the daunting task of reading judgments that have shaped law in our country.

     

    Tell us about the trimester system at NLIU. Do you feel it is a model that gives students enough freedom to develop themselves in a manner desired by them? Any improvements you feel it could do with?

    See, I’m not an expert in administrating things. But, I feel that the current system has served the University well from its very inception till now. Unless, there is a glaring error, I don’t feel they should discontinue it or even tamper it. If they come up with an alternative that truly addresses the problems, if there are any, with the trimester system, then I’m sure the concerned authorities would take a note of it and do the needful.

     

    What kind of internships did you do while you were a student? Any remarkable experiences during your internships that shaped your career choices later?

    I mostly interned in the High Courts of Orissa and Delhi and of course, the Supreme Court of India. I have had the opportunity of witnessing great counsels in action in the Courtroom. And those experiences have been very inspiring in the sense that they have reaffirmed my faith to be a part of the entire system.

     

    You currently practice at Delhi High Court. Did you ever consider a career in the corporate sector? What influenced your decision to work in the litigation sector?

    Law school life doesn’t exactly teach you the nitty-gritties of the real world. It is much different. For example, you wouldn’t grasp procedural law especially Civil Procedure unless you start working.

    But, to an extent, the people you come across in your time as a law student are a microcosm to the kind of people you’ll meet in your professional life.

     

    A lot of law students prefer corporate jobs over a career in litigation. What is your take on this? Is it better to work in the corporate sector for a few years before starting litigation?

    The point of the entire system of National Law Schools was to improve the standard of the Bar and consequently the Bench. An attempt was made through the first National Law School in Bangalore in 1986. However, it is lamentable that young, brilliant minds are lost in ‘lucrative’ jobs in the Corporate sector. It is largely attributed to the fact that in the Indian Society, a lawyer is not paid or revered as they should be. Even though, a large chunk of our statesmen were professionally lawyers.

     

    Do you think top notch grades have given you an advantage over others in your arena of litigation? How useful would you say would be being a topper for people who want to practice?

    I don’t think grades have anything to do with success in litigation, although many will disagree. The fact remains that there are so many laws that aren’t taught in the usual law school curriculum and you come across the very same legislations for the first time. Again, you being a top ranker is contingent upon you being studying or showing interest in a particular area of law.

    I don’t know about any mantra for success but the little I’ve seen, perseverance and a teeny tiny bit of common sense do go a long way in this field. And of course, patience, which is a mandatory and rare trait. But I guess, that is true for most of the professions.

     

    anshuman-nayak-1How has your mooting experience been? How helpful has been mooting in litigation?

    Mooting, in isolation and not comparing it with litigation, is a very enriching experience. It’s the closest that you can ever come to a real courtroom in law school. Personally, my mooting experience was what can be termed as average. However, litigation is easier than mooting because it is not always that the Judge isn’t willing to listen to you if you’ve the requisite law in your way and are stating the facts in a very cogent manner. Statistically speaking, mooting or not mooting doesn’t make a difference.

     

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

    Morning hours are for Court and later on after your cases are over, you come back to the office and prepare for the next day. Research and Drafting take up most of your time. And the work is predictable to the extent that you apply the same techniques to address a specific area of law.

     

    How necessary is it to have a mentor/guide to handhold a young lawyer while still in the formative years of the profession?

    The practical experience that is required in the beginning can only be given by a seasoned and competent lawyer. Plus, you’ve to understand that it isn’t easy and quick to get clients. You need a certain bit of maturity to be able to handle clients and advise them about the nuances of the law. Say, someone comes to you about registration of a Company. Now, you need to be well-versed with the law as well as any changes that have come through amendments or interpretations, by say, a constitutional bench judgment.

     

    What were the difficulties you faced in the early days of your practice? How difficult would you say it is to build a reputed practice? How many years of hard work does it require to build a firm clientele?

    The hardships that anyone will first feel after graduating is getting acclimatized with the place that you practice in. Read up necessary laws such as High Court Rules, Supreme Court Rules etc.

     

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

    It’s no rocket science. Just keep your eyes and ears open.

  • Anirudh Hariani on environment law litigations, LL.M. from Cornell and research skills

    Anirudh Hariani on environment law litigations, LL.M. from Cornell and research skills

    Anirudh Hariani graduated from GLC, Mumbai in 2011, with a BLS.LL.B degree. He later went on to pursue his LL.M from Cornell Law School. During his law schools he had the opportunity to intern with many legal luminaries, and in the midst of all these he had managed to score highly on research work and publications.

    We have asked him to share:

    • How research and publications helped him gain admission to Cornell Law School.
    • His experience interning with major Independent counsels.
    • Experience in environment law litigations and working on pro bono.
    • Law school experience at GLC, Mumbai.

     

    Please tell our readers, what is it that motivated you to take up law right after school?

    I’ve always been interested in two facets of law: argument and problem-solving. This stems from my school days when I participated in Model United Nations conferences. I also enjoy intellectually stimulating challenges, which one is faced with on a daily basis in our profession. My family background in law was also a strong influence on me.

     

    How was your law school experience at GLC, Mumbai?

    The big advantage of GLC is the fact that you can work while studying. Classes usually get over before noon, so most students take up full time or short-term internships during the year, which I found particularly useful. But this advantage may be diluted due to the recent Bar Council circular barring law students from doing internships during the academic year. The impact, if any, the notice will have on articled clerks intending to appear for the solicitors’ exam is also unclear.

    There’s no doubt that GLC has several deficiencies. Attendance at lectures is very low and the lectures themselves are conducted in a haphazard fashion. There are hardly any full time professors. But during my time there were a handful of highly regarded lecturers, including part-timers, whose lectures were always full. We had a professor who is now a Bombay High Court Judge, and other members of the legal fraternity used to lecture frequently. Their practical insights were invaluable.

    The proximity of GLC to the Bombay High Court, which is literally a stone’s throw away, does provide a conducive environment for students to take up litigation. But at the same time, Mumbai is the commercial hub of the country so you will find graduates taking up all kinds of law careers based on their interests.

     

    In GLC, guest lectures are organized on a fairly regular basis and extremely prominent luminaries are invited for the same. What role does that have to play when it comes to a student making his career choice?

    GLC has had a strong tradition of co curriculars, which are all student-run. During my time in college we organized an annual lecture series and had some fantastic speakers come to speak to us, including Mr. Soli Sorabjee, Mr. T. N. Andhyarujina, Mr. Anil Divan, Mr. Harish Salve and non-lawyers such as Dr. Shashi Tharoor etc. GLC, being the oldest law school in Asia, has produced many of the top lawyers in the country, over the years, so many of the speakers who would come to speak were alumni. The debating society would organize an annual debate on the steps of the Asiatic Library, which was a panel discussion with academics and policy makers, moderated by Mr. Aspi Chinoy, a senior advocate. During the D.M. Harish moot, GLC’s flagship moot, a Constitution (5-judge) bench of the Bombay High Court would preside the final rounds.

    These experiences of interacting with luminaries, and hearing them speak about their areas of expertise, or hearing their anecdotes while practicing, certainly develops passion in students’ minds. It’s not only theory that you learn, but also context and history, which motivates students greatly.

     

    anirudh-hariani-2You have done substantial amount of work and research in environmental law. What do you say about it as a field of study? You have also taken up pro bono litigations. What motivated you to take up these not so lucrative tasks?

    In India, despite having been practiced for many years environmental law has not developed into a viable means of full time employment for lawyers. The primary reason for this is that courts do not award exemplary damages, unlike in some countries, and in any case the Bar Council prohibits sharing of the proceeds of a case with the lawyer, so there is little or no incentive for lawyers to take up environmental law full time. Lawyers can’t, as a result, afford to work pro bono all the time.

    I have been involved in a few environmental matters during my time at Hariani & Co., including a major mining case, which was exciting and at the same time humbling experience, though not pro bono. On a smaller scale, I have worked pro bono with environment and animal rights activists, on matters which involve the animal welfare, in the Bombay High Court. The experience of doing such work is extremely rewarding as you can see the direct results of your work.

    I also helped update a book on environmental law, written by a leading senior advocate based in the Supreme Court. While researching for the same, it was remarkable to see the same handful of names being repeated in the cause title of Public Interest Litigations. It appears that there are a small but growing number of litigants taking up environmental causes such as deforestation, irregular development, etc. While environmental law is in its nascent stage in terms of litigation, there is no dearth of laws protecting the environment in India. The main problem is implementation.

    I eventually took up an environmental law course during my LL.M at Cornell. Despite environmental laws in the US being so radically different from Indian law, it was interesting to study the same from a purely academic perspective.

     

    Most of your litigation internships include ones under Advocate and Attorney General and includes late Mr. Vahanvati. Is there any special reason why you chose to work with independent counsels? Please tell us a bit about your internships.

    I chose to work with independent counsel to get a more holistic view of the law. Litigation is probably the purest form of law. With litigation one can come across all kinds of commercial and civil matters without being restricted to a particular area or niche (not that niche practice is uncommon). Working with counsel I vicariously experienced the thrill of appearing in court, which definitely increased my interest level in law per se.

    I was lucky to have worked with some very senior lawyers during my days at GLC. At different times, I interned with both the former, and present (prior to his appointment) Advocate General of Maharastra. Their preparation and thoroughness for matters taught me that there is no room for complacency in the profession, at the very top.

    I also worked with the late Mr. G. E. Vahanvati, former Attorney General for India, who was a very interesting person. He was a hands-on senior with interns. I was permitted to sit in his chamber and he would chat to me about his practice and his experiences at the bar – he too started his career in Mumbai. His general advice was that a student or young lawyer should make sure they learn something new each day. His advice, along with the high profile nature of his briefs, was extremely exhilarating for me, a fourth year intern. His untimely death was truly a loss for the profession.

    Through GLC students were sent to New Delhi, for judicial clerkships with Judges of the Supreme Court. Every lawyer / student must have dreamt at some point of time in their lives of working in the Supreme Court. For me it was no different. Having worked with the Attorney General, it was interesting to see the perspective from the other side of the bar. After court, I would go to the Judge’s house (a beautiful Lutyen’s bungalow) and do research work. It was exciting and somewhat intimidating knowing that your work may eventually appear as part of a judgment of the highest court of the land.

    I also interned with a Judge of the Bombay High Court in my final year, for a six month period. This was truly the icing on the cake, as I had grown accustomed to working in the Bombay High Court and was relatively comfortable in the environment.

     

    You have done an internship at Kanga & Co, which is one of the oldest law firms in India. How was your experience there?

    Kanga & Co. was my first internship as a law student at the end of my first year. Initially I was pretty clueless. But with the help of some good seniors and co-interns I learned quite a lot, even though we had not begun our proper law subjects at GLC.

    I remember that at one time, a partner required a co-intern and I to urgently draft a petition as he was travelling. Being completely fresh, we did our best with the information at hand. We didn’t know at the time that our first draft would eventually be converted into a full SLP which would be admitted in the Supreme Court!

     

    You have also interned in corporate law departments. How different was it?

    I interned with J Sagar Associates, Mumbai for one year, as a permanent intern/ paralegal. As I mentioned, apart from during exams, GLC permitted students to work through the year and many students took up long-term internships. As part of a mixed corporate and real estate team, I worked on several transactions, including performing due diligences etc. It was a proper corporate law experience. The environment was friendly and motivated, and I enjoyed working with the people there. The major take-away from my year at JSA was the large law firm culture, and the professionalism and efficiency of associates and partners which I tried to emulate. It was a good experience overall.

    Later on, I had a short stint with a medium-sized law firm in London, and my experience at JSA certainly helped prepare me for working with them. The work culture in the UK was more casual than Indian law firms. Partners would interact with interns and ‘trainee solicitors’ more casually, and would occasionally join them at the end of the week, for a drink at the pub.

    Prior to this, as a second year law student, I had also interned in the legal/ secretarial department of a large pharma company. Most of the people in the department were qualified company secretaries. It was my first brush with corporate law, prior to my JSA experience, although from the angle of the client and not the lawyer. It was a mixture of corporate compliances and reading up on company law from the CS angle, which I found quite interesting.

     

    You have been an avid writer and you have had many publications. How important do you now find your research skills?

    As a law student, I thoroughly enjoyed legal writing. Putting your thoughts down on paper not only cements your understanding of the topic, but allows you to go in-depth and to formulate your own analysis. I especially enjoyed researching on developing areas of law, such as copyright law. I always looked up to the GLC law review as a fresher, as I had heard seniors talking about it with reverence. That’s where I submitted my first legal paper, and luckily I was selected to be published.

    In my opinion, both legal writing and advocacy are equally important. But while mooting is given its due, legal writing is often overlooked. The emphasis should be equally on both.

    Even as a qualified lawyer, one is constantly preparing opinions or notes on one topic or the other. So legal research and writing skills are very important and are put to practical use. Also, academic writing establishes an in-depth understanding of that particular area of the law, which may not be the case when studying for exams or doing compulsory projects. Also, the satisfaction of seeing your name in print as a student is tremendous.

     

    After your graduation, you pursued LL.M from Myron Taylor Hall, Cornell University Law School. How helpful did your publications prove to be in gaining an admission there?

    I think my publications definitely helped me gain admission to Cornell Law School. Other things that the admissions officers look at are your statement of purpose, grades, work experience, etc.

    Having pre-existing research skills definitely helps when doing an LLM. In the first week of the LLM, we were given a tour on how to use Westlaw and LexisNexis. Having used Westlaw for an international moot and for articles, my integration was easier. Legal drafting on the other hand was completely different in the US. They have a very informal approach to drafting. While Indian contracts will run into several pages, a contract there would be more concise, informal and to the point. In fact, there was even a whole introductory course offered to LLM students on American legal writing.

     

    Along with research work, you were pretty active in other co curricular activities like being in OCs, debating, MUN etc. How did that part of law school affect your overall personality?

    Co curricular activities such as mooting, debating, MUN, being part of OCs, etc. are important to any law student’s overall experience, and to get to know people in college. I was very active in such activities in my first few years at GLC. My co curricular activities reduced as I got busier with internships.

    GLC has traditionally been a very good mooting school, but in recent years the emphasis is on national law schools. During my time we had some seniors who were fantastic mooters. Watching them moot and trying to emulate their successes was always what we aspired to do. With mooting I also had the chance to meet law students around the country, some of whom I kept in touch with. So, involving myself in mooting and other co curricular activities definitely impacted me positively.

     

    Finally, is there any tip you would like to give to our budding lawyers?

    Experiment as much as you can during your five years at law school. Try to develop your ancillary skills and soft skills while in law school, because you will need them during practice.

     

  • Khushboo Priyadarshini on work as a Lecturer, job as an in-house counsel at SBI General Insurance and LL.M from NLIU

    Khushboo Priyadarshini on work as a Lecturer, job as an in-house counsel at SBI General Insurance and LL.M from NLIU

    Khushboo Priyadarshini graduated from Pune University in 2010. Thereafter she pursued an LL.M from National Law Institute University, Bhopal. After pursuing Masters, she joined Marathwada Mitramandal’s Shankarrao Chavan Law College, Pune afiliated to Pune University as a Lecturer. Later , she switched over to SBI General Insurance Co.Ltd.

    We asked her to share her experience while pursuing an LL.M from NLIU, work experience as a Lecturer and appointment at SBI General Insurance Co.Ltd.

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    I am a law student. No, it’s not that I am still pursuing a degree… I completed my graduation from University of Pune and obtained Masters Degree from National Law Institute University, Bhopal. As of now, I am working as a legal executive with State Bank of India General Insurance Company. Yet, I still consider myself as a student because legal education for me is not just limited to obtaining a degree to use it for some end but the real essence of legal education comprises of the opportunity to update one’s knowledge and skills during continuation of one’s profession.

     

    Why and when did you decide to do law? What interested you most about the subject at the time?

    The period, when I had to make this choice, was one which although offered multiple career options but everyone’s mindset was limited to only two fields – engineering and medicals. And I did not want to be a part of the crowd. Also, I firmly believed that whichever field I would want to make a career in, should be one which provides me the learning space, where application of mind and not just fixed formula or theorem, is crucial. I perceived law as one such subject, as with every case, every situation, there is opportunity to learn something new and today, I can say that I am glad what I perceived then to be true, actually is true in the real world.

     

    khushboo-priyadarshini-1You have done your graduation from Pune University. How would you describe your time there?

    I will be pretty honest here. Unfortunately, I could not get through any of the NLUs and hence, I decided to pursue my bachelors from Pune University. During my 5-year course, while I got the chance to be under the guidance of some good professors, I also had the experience of studying a few subjects all alone because there were no teachers or lectures for those subjects. I managed to clear every semester with good grades. And when I held my degree on the day of convocation, I felt grateful to everything that happened to me during my course – the good as well as the not-so-good aspects because that’s what made me capable of completing one important stage of my life.

     

    What do you have to say about the supposed ‘elite’ tag attached to certain law schools? Do you believe branding is something that’s very relevant/ important at any stage in a law student’s career?

    The sad truth of our society is that yes, the ‘elite’ tag attached to schools plays an important role at least at the establishment stage. The perception of the real world about a student’s knowledge and skills is reflected by the brand which the student is associated with. I personally do not believe in this coz ultimately it’s your knowledge that will help you survive and not the brand.

     

    When and how did you decide to pursue Masters? Was it a professional requirement or a personal endeavour?

    I would say, it was a personal endeavour as well as a professional requirement. As I mentioned earlier, during my graduation period, the kind of experience I had in terms of availability and non-availability of good faculty, which created the interest within me to get into academics, which calls for a Master degree. So, the personal endeavour led me to take it up in order to meet the professional requirements.

     

    How did you prepare for CLAT?Did you join any coaching?

    No, I had not joined any coaching class. The notes I made during my graduation course really helped me in the preparation.

     

    You have done your LL.M. from NLIU, Bhopal. What was your specialization? Why did you choose that particular subject?

    I specialized in Business law. I chose this subject because of the scope it offers in terms of career options. It doesn’t limit me to one field. I took up teaching and now I am working in the legal team of SBI General Insurance. So the point I wish to emphasize here is that one has to liberty of choice, to get into academics, practice or corporate sector.

     

    Can you please share your experience at NLIU?

    In one word – fabulous! I got the opportunity to be under the guidance of learned professors who gave us insight about the real world apart from imparting the theoretical knowledge. And this blend got its magical touch from the heart and soul of the university that is the library – “Gyan Mandir.” Every day was an enriching experience for me and I shall always be grateful to NLIU and the teachers for that.

     

    Have you considered Doctoral Studies?Any university you have shortlisted for it?

    Yes, it’s certainly in my list. But as of now, I have not shortlisted any university but I plan to do it from one of the nationals.

     

    How would you describe your legal education? Did you dream of changing the society or working on a revolutionary legal principle while as a law student? Did your legal education prepare you for the real world practice of law?

    I would like to quote Christine Gregoire who said that Education is the foundation upon which we build our future. And to add to it, it also enables us to play a role at times in shaping others’ future.

    I may not have dreamt of bringing about a revolutionary change. But yes, I believe in the power of this foundation. I have and will always try to work towards the benefit of the people I work with.

     

    What are the main essential qualities of an Academician? What do you think differentiates between lawyers who chose academics from those of other professions?

    Sharing your knowledge is what differentiates academicians from other professionals. While others use their skills and knowledge for their own and the beneficiary’s good, academicians share their skills and knowledge to make others capable of achieving their goals and they also try to keep this cycle moving.

    The job demands one to understand the needs of every student and ensure that not a single student leaves the class without learning. Patience, diligence and continuous learning are the qualities which an academician must possess in order to impart knowledge to the students.

     

    You worked as a Lecturer for one year. What subjects did you teach there? How was the experience? What kind of skillsets proved to be useful for you during this period?

    I worked with Marathwada Mitramandal’s Shankarrao Chavan Law College, Pune afiliated to Pune University. In a short span of one year I got an opportunity to teach Arbitration, Administrative Law, Criminology, Family law and Jurisprudence. “The one exclusive sign of thorough knowledge is the power of teaching…” I can’t agree more with this statement because as I have mentioned in the previous questions also, teaching is a job which provides the learning space. Also, I think the best job for one is that which leaves a smile on one’s face every day. It has been almost a year and a half that I left working there, yet the students still remember me, call me to share their doubts, their achievements and it is a great feeling. It makes me feel that I was able to do something good.

    In terms of skill set, I updated myself with information; new examples related to subjects and imparted it to the students as required.

     

    You are currently working at SBI General Insurance Co. Ltd. How did this switch over take place?

    God always has a different plan for you. I still want to be in academics but somehow after my marriage, the things weren’t favourable for me to take up teaching. But the offer from SBI General happened and I made a choice to experience this phase of life also with the belief that one can connect the dots only looking backwards.

     

    Why SBI General Insurance Co. Ltd? How did you go about achieving this? Please tell us about the recruitment process at SBI General Insurance Co. Ltd?

    There was no plan in my mind to achieve this. I just kept going with the flow and things happened.

    About the recruitment process at SBI general insurance, whenever there is a vacancy, the HR consultants and recruitment agencies shortlist candidates from various portals and the process is taken ahead. My selection consisted of 3 rounds – interview with the Head of Department, Group discussion with fellow candidates and interview with the HR.

     

    What do Insurance Companies look for in prospective employees? Is the induction process any different from Law Firms?

    The companies look for the candidate’s knowledge about insurance and related laws. I haven’t had any experience of the induction process of law firms so will not be able to comment on the difference. But the induction here includes briefing about the insurance sector, working methodology and certain guidelines which are to be followed for all the tasks.

     

    What amount of legal work is there? What kind of work you are supposed to do there? How is the experience so far?

    The job profile is strictly related to legal stuff – handling the agreements the company enters into with various service providers, consultants, etc. It also includes negotiating, drafting, vetting of the agreements. I handle the litigation part also which includes cases before various courts, ombudsman matter, arbitration matter to which SBI general is a party.

    The experience so far has been enriching. It helps me grow professionally. I am able to witness implication and application of law in this sector.

     

    There is a phenomenal obsession amongst law students with maintaining a very high CGPA. How important according to you is this in securing a job?

    It’s a tricky question. I mean it is kind of obvious that sound knowledge and practical experience are important and not just securing good grades. But in our society, good grades are proportional to one’s knowledge. So you have to work accordingly. I hope the scenario changes in the future though.

     

    What are your long term objectives? Where do you see yourself by the end of five years?

    Pursuing PhD is a priority for me. I just want to keep going with the flow as when there is a set plan, the surprise element gets lost and I want life to constantly bring in surprises for me. I will keep connecting the dots with the hope that the end result is positive.

     

    Lastly, what would be your message to our readers who are mainly young lawyers and law students?

    Keep reading; keep comprehending because it is the only thing which will take u ahead.

     

  • Akshata Namjoshi on association with A38, LL.M from NUS over KCL, writing SoP

    Akshata Namjoshi on association with A38, LL.M from NUS over KCL, writing SoP

    Akshata Namjoshi is one of the most diligent and illustrious scholars of the 2014 batch of NLIU, Bhopal. She has participated in various co-curricular activities and has multiple publications to her name. Her interest in Corporate and Financial Laws led her to choose NUS for Masters right after graduation.

    In this interview, Akshata talks about:

    • Writing for journals and publications
    • Importance of co-curricular activities
    • Choosing NUS over King’s College, London for Masters
    • Key ingredients for SoP

     

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

    I finished BA.LLB(Hons) from NLIU, Bhopal in 2014. I am currently pursuing LL.M in Corporate and Financial Services Law from NUS, Singapore.

     

    What motivated you to choose law as a career? Did your family and friends suggest you to take up alternate career options like Medicine or Engineering?

    Definitely, after cricket, engineering is the second biggest religion in India. Widely “professed” and “preached”. I started off as a science student, but soon I realised that engineering was definitely not the career of my choice. I decided to revert back to my childhood dream of becoming a lawyer.

     

    How would you describe your five years of law school? Please share some of the memorable experiences of your college life. What made your college life exciting?

    The best part about law school is that you can choose what you want to be, what kind of people you want to interact with, which activities interest you or whether you absolutely want to be a couch potato, which of course brings its own challenges.

    For me little additions to my CV here and there made law school exciting. Debating and Mooting occupied my time in my 2nd and 3rd year and publications and blogging in 4th and 5th year.

     

    Your internships at law school have all been with top tier. How did these experiences help mould you a lawyer and which was more useful for the LL.M applications?

    It is very important to decide the kind of job or life you are looking for. Also, area specific internships in your 3rd year and 4th year help. For instance you can’t expect somebody to accept your LL.M application for Corp and Finance if all your internships have been in IPR. As far as top tier is concerned, I got a chance to intern with few of the best law firms in the country, but definitely, the kind of work that you do is the most useful.

     

    You have multiple publications in various renowned journals. How should one go about writing papers and getting the same published?

    I was lucky to have 4 publications and 3 paper presentations by the end of 5 years. While writing a paper it is essential to identify your core arguments and one should come to the point immediately, because honestly nobody has time to read a 2+ pages long introduction. Also, “Footnoting is not researching”. Your contribution to the topic, your arguments and analysis matters the most. That has worked for me at least. I am currently serving as the sub-editor of MightyLaws.in and I have been associated with A38 in the past.

    I think students who wish to apply for LL.M applications should start with smaller journals and those which respond quickly (like Monthly or Quarterly Journals). At a later stage one can try and aim for bigger and renowned journals. If you select extremely narrow and restricted topics, the possibility of your paper getting published increases.

     

    When and how did you decide to pursue Masters? Which universities did you select for your LL.M?

    I always wanted to pursue masters. And at some point in the future I plan to do a Ph.D also. I decided to apply to the top few colleges in USA, UK and Singapore. Majorly because I wanted to specialise in Corporate Law and these were the best options available.

     

    What prompted you to choose National University of Singapore from the plethora of options available? What was the application procedure?

    I had an offer from King’s College, London, Queen Mary University, London, UC Berkley California and NUS, Singapore. During my research I realised that NUS curriculum is very rigorous and being a global financial hub it would give me a better insight.

    The application procedure was definitely irritating. Every college requires a different set of documents. Many colleges require sealed envelopes, registrar’s signature, director’s bona-fide letter etc. One must start with all of this early. Otherwise you have to run a lot.

    Also, most of the colleges expect your professors to send a Letter of Recommendation directly to them. In that situation one must not run after the designation of a professor. It is better to choose professors according to the subjects that they have taught and somebody you can bother every now and then. Also, be prepared to write a draft LOR all by yourself because most professors expect you to do that.

     

    How should one go about choosing a university? Which subject you are studying there? Why did you decide to take this particular subject?

    I am pursuing my LL.M in Corporate and Financial Services Law. I went through the modules and exam pattern before deciding on NUS. I would recommend that anybody who wishes to pursue LL.M should speak to Ex-students from that university, even if they are complete strangers. I spoke to numerous ex students from NUS, King’s College, Queen Mary, NUS and UCB. Talking to them helped me understand what I was looking for. Like in this case I decided to chuck big names and went for the university which had an elaborate and exhaustive curriculum.

     

    How diversified is your batch at National University of Singapore? Do you have any Indians in your batch?

    Our batch is small, with just 25-30 people. I was happy to see large number of Europeans in NUS though. And yes there are Indians in my batch. Accommodation definitely was a problem. College rarely provides you with a hostel. They recommend few hostels and you have to apply individually or you can also rent a flat.

     

    How does one go about scholarships? Does the Institute offer any scholarship? Do students have part time opportunities? Highlight some of it.

    NUS considers students for scholarships automatically. But other colleges in UK and USA ask for applications. There are partial and full waivers. There are many scholarships which come up every year. Some even bear the costs of living.

    Students can work part time for maximum 16 hours a week in Singapore. In UK it is 20 hours.

    As far as part time opportunities are concerned there are plethora of options. Petrol Pumps to Law Firms, everything is open. I am currently working as a research assistant to a professor in NUS itself. It is the most favoured part time job for many students since it is not too time consuming. One must however remember that LL.M courses in itself require a full-time dedication.

     

    Do you think that nowadays, some students do an LL.M because it seems the “right thing to do” and not because they know what they want to study or why they want to?

    The truth is that nobody studies properly for 5 years. Once you start with a job you look for a change or revival in your career. If one is thinking of doing an LL.M just because, one didn’t get a job, then that person is in for a hard time. LL.M courses are quite demanding and if one is not interested in the subject that they have chosen, it would be quite counter-productive. You should pursue LL.M absolutely because you get to study a subject of your choice. It helps in understanding your subject through and through which aids in the long run.

    Here in NUS, I hardly remember being bombarded with cases. The professors have taught concepts and concepts only.

     

    What is the key ingredient of a well written SOP? Any tip to those making their SOPs?

    It is essential to avoid clichés. Also, an SOP is not a self-appraisal which would be like saying that “I want to be a part of football team because I am good at football”. Everybody knows that. Talk about the specifics and why you think that you can be a part of the team. Simple as that. SOP should be channelled and short.

    At the same time you shouldn’t underestimate yourself and you should include all the relevant details. Try looking for things in your CV which define you.

     

    How do you expect this experience to influence your career?

    In my case, I had a job offer from Trident before leaving college, but by then I had realised that I was still not prepared for a job. It is possible that you bag a job and then perform badly because of lack of knowledge. I wanted to learn more before I tender my services to the market. I expect this LL.M to prepare me fully for a job, at least in terms of strengthening my concepts. I hope that I would know the subject of my choice before I start working.

     

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

    Keep trying. Try everything. Don’t be in a rush to take up a job, after 10 years everybody is going to be in the same position. Find out what you like and what you want to do and then work on it.