Super Lawyer

Category: Interviews

  • Abhishek Srivastava on moots, requisites of arbitration work and experience at KLRCA and LCIA

    Abhishek Srivastava on moots, requisites of arbitration work and experience at KLRCA and LCIA

    abhishek-srivastava2Abhishek Srivastava graduated from HNLU, Raipur in 2010. After having explored his options at being an in-house counsel, working with a firm and a litigating lawyer, he joined Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitrationas a Case Counsel (KLRCA). He then went on to become the Deputy Registrar at the London Court of International Arbitration, India (LCIA-India).

    Most amazingly, his is not the usual path of success, of a brilliant CGPA and high profile internships, but of learning in life as it comes and then acing  it with all the dedication and go-getter attitude that is asked for.

    We take this opportunity to ask him about:

    • The utility of having participated in moots in his profession
    • Working for two major arbitration institutions, i.e. KLRCA and LCIA-India
    • Requisites for making a career in the field of arbitration

     

    Given that most of our readers are law students and young lawyers, how will you introduce yourself to them?

    I had graduated with a CGPA of 5.1 from HNLU, and thereafter I have been employed in varied job profiles, ranging from an in-house counsel for ETA Star Properties, to working under a lawyer, then working at Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration, and currently being appointed as the Deputy Registrar of London Court of International Arbitration, India.

    I want law students to know that even with this score, I could make it this far. Having said this, I’d like to give out the message that all the people with round about similar CGPA, should never feel that that it is even remotely the end of making a good career in this discipline. CGPA will not be the criteria to determine your success in this field, as long as you are ready to offer the best of your services. One might be an 8 pointer, and that could give him a head start with AZB & Partners or AMSS, but if he doesn’t have the calibre, there is no way he will be able to survive that place beyond six months or one year.

     

    Why did you decide to study law? Did you consider the conventional options of medical studies or engineering?

    At the very outset, I would like to mention, that studying law happened to me because it was recommended by a school friend — Vidisha Nandi. She was the one who  enlightened me about the potential of this field. And, I knew that had I done engineering or medical, I would not have had the caliber to go further in these domains, because my Maths was weak, and Biology was even worse. Honestly, I wanted to enroll for the flight steward programme, but got confused upon being advised to take up law.

    My father thought it was better to go for law, wherein my mother was still considering the old age adage–people who are not able to make their mark elsewhere, take up law. It took a lot of effort to convince them to allow me to pursue this field, and get an opportunity to explore my options. As a result when I started, I did not have much knowledge about this particular field. I had first applied to Mumbai University, since I had no clue about any of the conventional law colleges or NLSIU and the likes.this was also during the time when there was no CLAT, but  separate entrance tests for each of these colleges instead.

    Amidst all this exploring, just six months down the line, I was already considering giving up on this field. It was around that time, that I happened to read about the entrance exam to be conducted by HNLU, and thus started my journey in this realm. It was after joining HNLU, and interacting with teachers like Professor Shantakumar, and Professor Uday Shankar, that I could realize what law was all about, and what was expected out of me in this profession. This was how I developed an interest in law, and the Jurisprudence classes further went a long way in helping me comprehend this field better.

     

    Being a first generation lawyer yourself, do you think it is a disadvantageous position to be in? What would be your advice to other people who are similarly placed?

    My grandfather and father, both pursued the course of LLB, but none of themwent on to practice law. In the beginning, I thought that even I would be carrying forward this tradition of just studying law, and not looking back at it thereafter. Now, I feel that even they should have pursued law further, as it would have definitely provided me with many more opportunities. However, I am glad that I have been able to figure it out for myself, and realize that this is my true calling.

    However, there are a few things that a first generation lawyer should keep in mind, right from the time he begins to think about this profession. In my several interactions with CLAT aspirants, I have come across students who are passionate about taking it up, but give higher preference to factors like staying back in the home city, not having to stay in hostels etc., while choosing a college. If one is not ready to compromise on suchsmall things, then he should not take up law at all, for the struggle after graduation is going to be much more than this.

    Also, for the convenience of all the first generation lawyers, I must mention, that whatever be your area of specialization, in order to excel in this field in India, one must be ready for multi-tasking, and not just stick to your one field of specialization. For example, if one wants to make a career in arbitration, he should be well versed with Corporate Law, requisites of litigation etc. as well.

     

    How did you go about your journey of job-hunting after graduation? How did Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration happen?

    With the kind of CGPA that I had, and  not a great number of good internships as a result thereof, there was only one way to secure a job—getting out in the field and treading the hard way. Hence, right after my graduation, I came down to Delhi, and used to walk into all the law offices that I could get to know of, with my CV. There were only a few good offices that actually entertained this, and were kind enough to conduct interviews. At the same time, I was still confused between taking up a corporate job, or litigation, orexploring many other options that this field could offer.

    In the process, I approached Ramni Taneja, who was associated with Little & Co. at the time. She forwarded my profile to one of her colleagues Mr. Jithesh Thilak, who was the then head of ETA Star Properties in Dubai. Thereafter, I started with my first job as in-house counsel for their company in India, and had to move to Dubai for the required training. It would be interesting to mention over here, that my interview for this job was conducted in a personal meeting with Mr. Jithesh Thilak at Khan Chacha Rolls, when he had come down to India, due to paucity of time on his end.

    Subsequently, I took up my second job under a lawyer, Dr. Adish C. Aggarwala. Coincidentally, it was then that I found my way to KLRCA. He had gone to adjudge the Law Asia Moot Court Competition, and upon his return from there, was carrying a huge compendium. In that compendium, I happened to find the business card of Professor Datuk Sundra Rajoo, Director of KLRCA. It gave me the idea of exploring this new field, and I decided to send across my CV to him.

     

    What was the application and interview procedure that you had to follow for KLRCA? What did your work profile as a Case Counsel at KLRCA consist of?

    After I had sent across my CV, to my utter surprise, I received a reply from him the very next day. He  told me about the available vacancies in KLRCA, and that they were interested in taking in people. Thereafter, I was interviewed through Skype. I was selected on the basis of this interview, after which I was told to come down to Malaysia immediately.

    As a Case Counsel, I was entrusted with the task of managing the international arbitration cases, which involved one Malaysian party and other international party/ parties. Accordingly, I had to look after things like—the requisite authorities before which the case had to be presented, and routing of funds from the parties etc. Even though I was looking after international arbitrations, I had to be extremely thorough with the Malaysian Arbitration Act.

    Along with this, I was also closely involved with their product development exercise, which required me to assist the Head of the Department in making the fast track rules for the institution. I was also involved in comparative analysis of arbitration procedures worldwide, and the marketing activities of the institution. This provided me a very well rounded job, rather than just being at a 9 to 5 desk job.

     

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    How did the huge leap to becoming the Deputy Registrar of the London Court of International Arbitration happen? How is it different from working at Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration?

    I had applied to LCIA-India in accordance with a vacancy notified by them. Thereafter, I was interviewed by the then Deputy Registrar, along with other candidates. Accordingly, candidates were shortlisted on the basis of this interview, whereafter the shortlisted candidates were again interviewed by the Director General of the London office. The final selection for the post was done on the basis of this interview.

     

    Having been an avid mooter throughout your college life, do you think it assisted  you in this field?

    I believe mooting helped me a great deal, and played an immense role in my performance at different levels. For example, the first opportunity wherein I got to speak in public, apart from law school, was at KLRCA. I strongly believe that while speaking in front of so many arbitration experts, the only thing that aided me in knowing what to say, and the manner of delivery, is my thorough participation in moots.

    So, in order to know the soft skills required during written or oral conversation, I strongly believe that participation in moots goes a long way.

    Specifically, in my case, I was able to project my interest in arbitration to KLRCA, on the basis of two of my moots—International Maritime Arbitration Moot Court organized by Murdoch University, and Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Hong Kong. Since I had not taken up any specialization in arbitration, or an LLM, my thorough knowledge in arbitration during interview came from these two moot courts.

     

    What are the internships that law students can take up, if they want to make a career in arbitration?

    To be able to make a career in this field, one must know what arbitration is all about, which includes—the bare provisions of the Arbitration Act or procedure, and how the entire arbitration process starts, proceeds and ends.

    In order to be able know these intricacies, one can intern with an arbitrator, or with an institution, say KLRCA, LCIA etc., or with an arbitration lawyer, or with a firm having an arbitration department. These internships will help you know about the procedures of arbitration, like request for arbitration, its processing, and when do the actual hearings come into play.

    Also, as one will start working at the aforementioned places, misconceptions about arbitration will draw away, like—arbitration is similar to litigation, except that it happens outside the Court. There are arbitrations where hearings do not take place, instead everything is decided on the documents itself, which does not leave any opportunity for the arbitration lawyer to argue at all.

     

    What advice would you give a law student who wants to pursue a career in your field? Since you are now on the other side of the table, can you give us the “recruiters’ point of view”, as to what they are looking for in a potential hire?

    What would be looked in for a potential hire in this field is, how well they can project their interest, which could be by way of thorough knowledge of the field during interviews. For example, my question to all those who claim to be interested in the field is – Have you read the BALCO judgement?

    To start with, a potential employee must know the basics of international commercial arbitration, like compositeur, doctrine of separability, etc. And since we are from India, he must also be clear about the basics of the Indian arbitration, especially the landmark judgements.

    Other ways of reflecting interest in the field is by taking up suitable specialization at graduation and post-graduation level. One could pursue an honours in International Commercial Arbitration at graduation level. At the same time, one could also pursue various courses being offered by Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), which entails one to membership of the institute in capacity of an associate, a member, or a fellow, depending upon the course that one pursues. Since I had pursued their course in Malaysia while working with KLRCA, I had the opportunity of being taught by some of the best faculties from around the world.

    After graduation, one could pursue an LLM in International Commercial Arbitration, which could open doors directly into the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Singapore International Arbitration Centre, and other similar institutions.

     

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

    I would want to be actively working as an arbitration lawyer, arguing before the arbitration panel on behalf of my clients. I would then be able to use my intensive knowledge of rules and procedures of arbitration that I have gained from my current recruitments.

    Also, having worked with these arbitration institutions, I have witnessed a lot of amazing foreign lawyers incorporating some really ingenious methods, while arguing before the panel. So, I will be able take all of that along with me.

    Very humbly, I would want to be like Professor Jan Paulsson. He is one of the leading authorities in the field of arbitration. If one aspires to be an international commercial arbitration lawyer, one must follow him diligently. If somebody has read his works thoroughly, there are absolutely no chances that they would have missed out on anything.

     

  • Aman on pursuing BCL from Oxford, working with International Organisations and getting higher grades

    aman-cb-4Aman, a graduate of National Law University, Jodhpur, of the 2012 batch, talks about his spectacularly awe-inspiring journey as a Law student. Not one to be charmed by the glamour of law firms, as most University-toppers admit to be guilty of, Aman chose to pursue his academic instincts further, by completing his BCL degree from Oxford University, with a focus on International Law, and then moving onto complete a prestigious internship at the International Criminal Courts, The Hague. All set to join Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza, he shares with all Law Students, the following :

    • What went into winning the Trilok Chand Mangilal Sancheti Gold Medal.
    • The importance of balancing academics, moot courts and extra-curricular activities
    • The significance of choosing the appropriate internships
    • Why one should choose to pursue higher education
    • The experience of studying at Oxford, and of interning at the ICC.

     

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

    I am yet to figure out a good response to this question! Anyway – going the conventional way – I finished my undergraduate studies in law and policy sciences from the National Law University, Jodhpur in 2012. Pursuant to that, I proceeded to Oxford where I completed my BCL with a focus on Public International Law, Equality Law, Jurisprudence and Political Theory. Post Oxford, I had been interning at the Trial Chambers at the International Criminal Court, The Hague till March this year. I am preparing to join an organization called the Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza this month.

     

    How did you gravitate towards law? What interested you most about the subject at the time? Is that interest still intact?

    I have grown up in an environment – both at home and school – where I have been exposed to and sensitised about various social issues. I wanted an education that helped me do something about such issues. Law was one such option (along with Medicine and Journalism)! However when I decided on pursuing Law, I did not have a very clear understanding of how the study of law would be directly instrumental in working towards the issues that motivated me. It was perhaps the interest in gaining more familiarity with social policies and laws; the attraction of the inter-disciplinary approach to legal education that the five year law schools promised; and discussions with a few people who studied/were studying law that convinced me to pursue it.

    The motivation is intact today (though the focus is on fewer issues!). In fact, the interest is much stronger since I have grown to know how the study and the practice of law, through litigation, policy and academia, help in dealing with a variety of problems plaguing the society.

     

    You have won the Trilok Chand Mangilal Sancheti Gold Medal. Surely a lot of effort must have gone into coming first in BA.LL.B (Hons.). Please provide us with some actionable tips on how to get good grades.

    To be honest, to top the class was never a primary motivation and the effort was never directed towards that. I really enjoyed what I did and, possibly, that was the reason I put in effort in making projects, working on court room exercises, and making assignments/presentations. There were also moments where I did not sit for tests, missed classes (and consequently lost marks that used to be allocated for classroom attendance in the first few semesters at law school) to work on things/participate in events that I enjoyed! Though it did cost me a few grades, I don’t regret it. I just feel it’s best to put in effort and explore the things that we enjoy – the results will automatically follow!

     

    How did you keep your law school life exciting? Share some memories with us.

    Luckily, I was involved with a lot of things in law school and never really sensed the monotony some of us complained about. Besides dealing with regular tests and assessments, extra-curricular activities like mooting (both as a participant and as an advisor), debating kept me busy. From my first year, I was involved with college committees and editorial boards which also kept me occupied. With time, the responsibilities in these committees also increased! I also found myself actively involved in the organisation of intra university sports fest, literary fest, and cultural fest and moot court competitions at the University. There were also a couple of initiatives by some of us – some of which I had to discontinue my association with because of the time crunch! Basketball was an excellent source of recreation – especially in my fifth year! I also enjoyed taking part in the regular cultural, literary, sports events organised in college.

     

    You have participated in moot competitions as a participant, advisor and even as a judge. How do you feel a student should go about a moot in order to reap the maximum benefit from it?

    From the time I had been introduced to moot courts, I found it to be an excellent learning experience. Not only does it help one in getting a good grasp over the area of law on which the moot proposition focuses but it also helps one develop researching, drafting and advocacy skills. It won’t be incorrect to say that being a participant at moot court competitions was probably the most rewarding experience! It is perhaps the things that I picked on the way as the participant – through my experience or the wisdom of others – that helped me serve as an advisor or judge moots now! Even as an advisor or a judge I continue to feel the same about moot court competitions and still find it to be a learning experience for me!

    As to how students should go about moots – I am not sure if I am in a position to suggest anything but I always felt that one should take up a competition if they are really keen on mooting. It is definitely not something that has to be mandatorily done in law school. However, if one picks it up – it is essential that one takes it up with all sincerity and gives the proposition the due time it demands – for research, drafting and oral practise. By my experience, I also feel that having someone to guide you in the area of law, drafting and for the oral rounds also helps a lot.

    I also did a bit of debating and played a bit of basketball.

     

    As an undergraduate student, you have done a variety of internships. Did these happen by chance or did you consciously choose to pursue such internships?

    No, all of the places were consciously chosen. However the guidelines of the placement cell (i.e. to work with X institution at the end of Y semester) was kept in mind. HRLN was an obvious choice when I was looking for NGO options to work around home at the end of the first semester. The internship here introduced me to the MGNREGA. The legislation sparked a lot of interest in me and was the reason that I participated in the said survey under the supervision of Professor Jean Drèze and Dr. Reetika Khera.

    At the end of my third semester, I was keen on working with an advocate practising in appellate courts and ended up working with Mr. Prashanto Sen in New Delhi. The choice of a relatively small office was again a conscious one – it helped me get exposed to a variety of matters and be directly involved at every step. Despite my age back then, the internship helped me gain a great familiarity with the work of a practising lawyer.

    I was also keen on working with a judge at an appellate court and hence the clerkship. Since I stay in Allahabad, the working of the Allahabad High Court was also something I wanted to see.

     

    You had worked as a Student Teaching Assistant and later with Professor Jean Drèze. These were definitely a bit unconventional. How did your experiences at these places help with your skill development and shaping you as a person?

    I was always very keen about teaching and have given it very serious thought as a long term career option. In fact, the revival of the Student Teaching Assistant Programme in college was with the efforts of some of us. I really enjoyed the experience of teaching public international law to my juniors. This also helped me realise some of the challenges one can face as a teacher in a law school like mine!

    Working with Professor Jean Drèze again was very rewarding. Post my internship with HRLN, I had developed an interest in the Right to Food Movement. After law school when I got the chance to work on a study related to Pubic Distribution System (of food grains), I readily took it up. This involved a field study on the drawing up and the management of BPL lists used for distribution and also focused on the problem of the leakage of grains. This greatly helped me understand some of the problems at the ground level; and the reach, working and the shortcomings of PDS in dealing with hunger. This is one area that I really wish to continue working on!

     

    When and how did you decide to pursue higher studies?

    I was very keen about pursuing higher studies right from the beginning of law school. I had heard that it opens more avenues – which I later found to be true. Like most people, I was also attracted to the prospects of studying in some of the dream institutions! However, it was only by the end of my third year that I gave it a very serious thought. By then, I had a discovered my inclination for public international law and some areas of public law; I also had some sense of what I wanted to do in life (academics, policy, diplomacy, politics and developmental work). These factors necessarily led me to consider higher studies. By this time, I also had an idea about which institutions were reputed for the courses I was eyeing.

     

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    What was your motivation behind pursuing BCL? Would you say the purpose was well served?

    As I pointed earlier, I was very keen on developing stronger foundations in the areas of law that interested me. Oxford was definitely one of the places high on my list considering the extensive focus BCL offers in the four courses one chooses to study through the year. This was a great motivation and I was very happy to have studied courses like equality law, international law and armed conflict in such detail. Also, as I mentioned earlier, I was looking at postgraduate course with the hope that it would openavenues that were not open or visible to me otherwise. This purpose was also duly served as I do not think it was possible to know of/get internships at the ICC or the PCHR without Oxford. In fact, grants/awards by Oxford Law Faculty also helped/are helping in funding these internships.

     

    Many law students would want to pursue higher studies from abroad. What would be your suggestions to them?

    If one is interested, I feel it’s good to start considering the LL.M. option at the start of the penultimate year of law school and also take a call if one wishes to apply in the final year (or subsequently). A good way is to talk to seniors who are pursuing/have pursued higher studies abroad and read about the Universities one wishes to apply to. This gives a good understanding about i) the law school – renowned faculty and courses, prospects pursuant to an LL.M from a particular University; ii) what the selection entails and how should one go about the specific application for a particular University; iii) any specific requirements like TOEFEL etc.;  iv) and even scholarship opportunities.

    As for what it takes to get in – it’s difficult to give suggestions! Every LL.M. candidate I met had different experiences and approach towards the application. Perhaps the connecting factor would be a good academic background! Speaking for myself – besides maintaining decent grades, I put in effort in doing all the things I enjoyed all through law school.  I tried to reflect the same through my application. I guess, broadly, every person tries to do the same.

     

    Does Oxford provide students with scholarships? Are there any other institutions which provide scholarships?

    Oxford offers a couple of scholarships – some are offered by the University, some by the Law Faculty and some by the Colleges at Oxford. A list of such scholarships is available on the website of the law faculty (click here).

    Besides the ones by Oxford there are a few other funding avenues. The popular ones like Rhodes, Felix, Inlaks and Commonwealth are known to all. There are a few less known options which give partial scholarships/ soft loans which one should also explore. These include – KC Mahindra Scholarships for Postgraduate Studies Abroad, Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship, Narotam Sekhsaria Scholarship, Oxford and Cambridge Society of India Scholarship. One must research more on these funding avenues – especially the smaller ones!

     

    Did you undergo a rigorous academic schedule? How was that different from your under-graduate course?

    Yes, BCL was very demanding. Unlike most classes during my under-graduate course, one had to necessarily prepare for the classes which involved completing a reading list assigned for the said class/seminar. It is difficult to appreciate, and at times follow the discussions in the class hours if one does not complete one’s readings (thus making the limited amount of class hours futile). Besides the regular preparation for the seminars, we also had tutorials spread through the three terms. These were sessions beyond the regular class hours where students discussed their essays/ specific topics with their tutors and a small group of students who had also taken the course. Though it was difficult to work on these tutorials along with the regular readings for class, these tutorials were academically rewarding. Also, unlike law schools back home, Oxford grades depend solely on an end-of-the-year, closed-book examination which makes the preparation for it quite rigorous. In fact, I never felt that there was a concept of a break – as one is busy with reading during both term breaks!

     

    Oxford is well renowned for its brilliant faculty. How was your experience with the faculty?

    One of the primary motivations to study at an institution like Oxford was to get the chance to interact, and even brainstorm with some of the most renowned scholars in the areas you are studying. Besides the interaction in classes, I greatly benefitted from the one-on-one interactions during tutorials, or the feedback received on my work from my teachers like Dr Dapo Akande, Prof. Sandra Fredman, Prof. John Gardner, Dr. Nicos Stavropoulos, Dr. Tarunabh Khaitan and Dr. Antonios Tzanakopoulos. It was also great to see how they received my ideas and encouraged me. Some of the faculty members had also helped me take some career decisions!

     

    How difficult was studying abroad in terms of finding accommodation, finances and settling in?

    Not to sound intimidating, but all three were indeed a bit difficult for me.

    I had not got College accommodation and was slightly apprehensive about finding a place in the beginning. Eventually, I did manage to find a great place offered by the University Accommodation Offices (the next best alternative to on-site college accommodation) before the start of the term, but it was slightly far off from the Law Faculty.

    Finances were another issue. Since I could not manage a full scholarship, I had to rely on a student loan.

    Settling in was not that big a problem as compared to the other two. However, it took me some time to adjust with the academic pressure, weather, lifestyle, and also to get used to cooking etc.

     

    What difference did you find in the pedagogy of Oxford relative to an NLU?

    There is a huge difference! As mentioned earlier, one was expected to read extensively for the seminars – which were more discussion oriented. At NLU the focus was more on class room lectures as opposed to discussions. However, I find the comparison a bit unfair. Though I have my reservations about the way legal education is administered in many Indian law schools, I feel the focus of undergraduate education is to develop an interest in law and should involve more lecturing and it’s not very wise to expect all students to read as much for classes as we were expected to at Oxford. A postgraduate course like BCL is designed on the premise that the candidates have an interest in the study of that area of law and aims towards developing an advanced understanding of the chosen area. That said, it would be nice if the reading component is given some focus which is largely absent in many law schools today.

     

    How do you think the BCL programme will help you in your career?

    It is difficult to predict how it will help me in my career! I can just say that I feel that I have developed a stronger foundation in some of the areas that interest me and will definitely help me if I am to pursue a career that involves an understanding and application of these areas. BCL has also helped in developing my analytical and writing skills – something that will be useful in whatever I choose to pursue. Besides academic foundations, I also feel that Oxford has made visible, and, in situations, accessible, options that were not visible/accessible otherwise – be it international firms or international courts and originations. For example, it would not have been possible to get an internship at the Trial Chambers ICC without BCL, where I had taken up specific courses on dispute settlement and armed conflict.

     

    There has been a recent trend amongst Indian law graduates to pursue higher education abroad. Why do you think this is happening?

    Another tough one! There could be multiple motivations. However, I feel that to some extent it’s a result of the exposure that students get these days. A few years back, pursuing LL.M was not really a well-known/advertised option. With more people opting for it, a lot many get exposed to the prospects of an LL.M, and now think of it as another feasible option after their undergraduate studies. Also, the breaking of the myth that an LL.M. is necessarily for those who wish to pursue academics has led many to aim towards specialisation in their practise areas. Many of my friends intend to take up higher studies for this very reason. Some are also interested in exploring opportunities abroad.

     

    You have recently completed a clerkship at the International Criminal Court, Hague. How did you get it and what prompted you towards it? How was the experience?

    I had applied for this clerkship while I was at Oxford. Desirous of building a career in international dispute resolution, I was looking at some international courts/tribunals back then. Besides the ICC, I had also applied for the ‘ICJ Traineeship Programme’ that is offered to graduates from of a select few universities around the globe (Oxford being one). However, I was unable to get the final offer despite making it to the final shortlist from Oxford. The other option was the ICC. Having taken up a course on International Law and Armed Conflict at Oxford, I was especially keen on working there.

    For the same, I had to make an application which involved completing the application form available on their website. I was also required to send a sample of my written work, a statement of purpose, a copy of my resumé and arrange for two referees who had to send their recommendation letters. This was followed by an interview by the Judge who I eventually worked with.

    I really enjoyed my stay at the ICC. I worked with Judge Eboe-Osuji (Trial Chambers) and the set of legal officers assisting him. While I was at the Court, I assisted the Judge in drafting a number of decisions and separate opinions; prepared memorandums; assisted in the preparation of witness summaries; and helped the judges and the legal officers in other trial procedures. Besides the feedback on my work, I greatly benefitted from the discussions with my judge and the legal officers.

     

    You have recently taken a series of lectures at NLU, Jodhpur in the subjects of Jurisprudence and Constitutional Law. Can we say you may gravitate towards an academic career in the future?

    I am quite keen! As I mentioned earlier, I was always very keen about teaching and have given it very serious thought as one of the options I wish to pursue in future.

     

    You are joining the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights in Gaza. Tell us something about this.

    The Centre is a non-profit company, dedicated to protecting human rights, promoting the rule of law and upholding democratic principles in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. It also supports all the efforts aimed at enabling the Palestinian people to exercise its right of self-determination.

    I am expected to be assigned to the International Unit at PCHR which has experts on international law, fundraising and advocacy. The Unit supports other Units of the PCHR in carrying out their work as well as producing reports, position papers and press releases.  Staff in the Unit are often involved in conducting field-visits as part of their advocacy programme or field-research as part of the research programme, and are involved in building relationships between Palestinian, Israeli and international NGOs who work on human rights issues.  The International Unit also produces interventions to international bodies – including the UN. Interns are involved in all these tasks. Considering the small size of the organisation and my background, I am informed that I might also be involved with the work of the Legal Unit (composed of a team of lawyers who give free legal aid and counsel to individuals and groups, especially Palestinian prisoners in Israeli or PNA custody), Democratic Development Unit, Economic and Social Rights Unit and Women’s Unit.

    However, things are still in the pipeline. Though I have been offered the position, I am still waiting for all the clearances that are needed to enter Gaza. I hope things work out soon!

     

    What are your long term objectives? Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

    It is very difficult to say whereI see myself in 5 year’s time! I am quite keen about pursuing a career in a number of areas and am not blocking any option at this stage. However, if I am to broadly categorise – there is a good chance that in the long run I will be associated with academics, policy making, diplomacy, politics, developmental work, international/domestic dispute settlement or even a combination of a few of these. A lot depends on the opportunities that come my way!

     

    What would be your message to law students who want to pursue a BCL from Oxford?

    There is not much that I can say to people who wish to go to Oxford! They probably know about the place and all that it has to offer. I suppose it is best for this motivation to stay alive (right till the application stage which can be pretty daunting!) while one continues doing whatever they enjoy doing, with all sincerity!

  • Medhavi Singh on winning Best Oralist at Leiden Sarin and LL.M. from NYU

    Medhavi Singh talks about her journey as a Law Student of National Law University, Delhi. She had been awarded the Best Individual Oralist at the Leiden Sarin Air & Space Law Moot Court Competition. She has recently been accepted for a Masters in International Business Regulation, Transnational Litigation and Arbitration at New York University.

    In this interview, she tells us about:

    • The essentials of mooting every Law Student should keep in mind
    • What goes into excelling an International Moot
    • The importance of an LL.M from a foreign University
    • The application process for an LL.M in the U.S.

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers? Tell us a bit about your childhood, your hometown and your pre-graduate life as well. What motivated you to choose law as a career?

    I am a student of Delhi Public School, RK Puram. Originally, I am from Patna City, Bihar but have been brought up in Delhi. It was in Grade 7 that I first came across abook written on the subject of law. It was “The Colour of Law” by Mark Gimenez. The protagonist of the book was so inspiring that when I finished reading the book, I immediately knew I had to become like him. Of course, I think differently now since his practice in the book was criminal, but yes, that was my first ever motivation to pursue law as a career. Having this in mind, I took up Humanities with Maths in class 11th and 12th. I knew that subjects such as History and Political Science are tested in the National Law School exams and thought that taking these subjects would definitely be advantageous, which they actually turned out to be! For example, taking up Political Science was extremely helpful in understanding the political system of India as well as the Constitution of India, which is an integral subject from the view point of the entrance examinations.

    None of my family members are lawyers and I didn’t even know anyone who was a lawyer at the time I had decided to take it up. Thankfully, my family gave both my sister and me enough freedom to decide what we wanted to do with our lives, so they were pretty content with my career-goal.

     

    How did you gravitate into mooting? When did you decide to take up mooting seriously as a law student?

    At the outset, I would like to say that there is probably nothing more fun than mooting when you’re in law school. It’s hard work, for sure but the excitement it brings to a person at law school is absolutely unparalleled. I’m not sure how I ‘gravitated’ into mooting but I guess it’s something that most of the people in law school try anyway! I liked it so much after my first try that I couldn’t stop even when I was in my fifth year! For me, mooting was always a serious activity. It was fun but only as long as the results were positive, for which you needed to be serious about your work.

    I got drawn towards mooting especially when my team reached the finals of the KK Luthra Moot Court Competition on International Criminal Law in 2011. I remember being extremely nervous about not making it to the next round right from the first round but thankfully, it worked out well for us. Arguing in front of distinguished judges, finding loopholes in settled law as well as arguing on and learning about contemporary issues with no settled law seemed extremely exciting!

     

    medhavi-s2

    You have been the Best individual Oralist at the prestigious Leiden Sarin Air & Space Law Moot Court Competition held in Romania in March this year. Please tell us about your overall experience there regarding the competitors, the judges and other ancillary things.

    This moot was the best experience possible. I had been attempting to go for this moot since the second year of college and for some reason or the other, I couldn’t go until my last year – either I didn’t make the cut or the moot wasn’t included in the list. But anyway, I finally managed to go!

    This moot was special to me because I was very fond of Aviation Law as a subject of law. It was a field of international law that was always on the ‘move’. I must commend the Leiden-Sarin Organisers on the judges that had been called for the moot. During the entire moot, not once was I asked to state the facts and the questions that were posed to my teammate and me were precise, to the point and relevant to the problem at hand. What was more exciting about this problem was that it was based on a topic which has not yet been resolved, which meant that there was scarcity of material on the topic, which in turn helped us to make innovative and new arguments, applying not only to Aviation Law but also to different facets of International Law.

     

    How much preparation did you require for this success? Did you burn the midnight oil to excel in this moot? How much dedication and hard work was necessary for to ace Leiden Sarin?

    I’m not going to make it sound easy because I don’t think that’s honestly possible. Preparing for this moot was insanely hard. NLU-Delhi has a policy that all students must remain on campus through the week, even if you are from Delhi and I was known to be the one going home all the time for some reason or the other. I can vouch that it was during the time that I was preparing for this moot that I stayed the longest on campus, that too in the December-January winters. So yes, it’ a lot of work, but I am not complaining. I actually enjoyed myself, minus the sleep deprivation!

     

    What would you say differentiates between the best oralists and the rest? What are the top three things you consider sine qua non for being a great oralist?

    I think the most important criterion for being a great oralist is to be able to read the judge and understand what they’re looking for. We all do our homework in the sense of learning pleadings, facts, authorities etc. but ultimately, it comes down to how you can satisfy the bench before you. A judge may or may not know the problem very well, so it’s extremely important to answer his/her questions in a satisfactory manner, otherwise you end up losing the rapport that you’ve built with him/her. So according to me, on the top it would be understanding what the judge is asking for – for example, either answering questions in a precise manner or a detailed manner-and delivering the same.

    Secondly, I would want to emphasise on the importance of using relevant and contemporary real-life examples to back your case. It’s extremely important to let the judges know that what you’re arguing is in fact being practised at that very moment. I think it creates a huge impact on them.

    Thirdly, it is undeniably important to focus on you mannerisms. When it comes to mooting, most people will have the same amount of knowledge as you do and the only edge that you’ll ever have is to be able to display that knowledge and deliver your arguments effectively and differently by enhancing your mannerisms.

    For the most time that I was practicing my pleadings for the Leiden-Sarin Moot, I was concentrating on speaking slower (owing to the fact that all the judges were going to be from a foreign land) and remaining composed while answering questions. The best way to remain composed is to think of the whole procedure to be a meaningful conversation between the judges and yourself and to not let yourself get intimated by them; you probably know more than them about the problem at hand if you’ve done your research well!

     

    What prompted you to apply for an LL.M. abroad? Does it help given the career you have chosen? Why didn’t you opt for an LL.M. from India given that now we have 1 year LL.M as well?

    I experienced dispute resolution on an international scale for the first time at the Global Young Leadership Conference held in the US, where I was selected to represent India. Here, I was exposed to the tactful methods of negotiation rendered by people in addressing world issues. To further delve into the realm of international dispute resolution, I took part in Model United Nations, representing different States in various committees. I believe both these events formed the initial basis of my interest in dispute resolution on an International scale.I was drawn to International Law right from the beginning when I took part in the KK Luthra moot and ultimately by the fourth year narrowed down my liking to transnational litigation and international arbitration.

    The reason why I applied to foreign universities as opposed to an Indian one is definitely the courses that were being offered by the foreign universities as opposed to the one that were being offered in India. NYU was one University that offered a course on International Business Regulation, Transnational Litigation and Arbitration. I was excited to apply for this course because it befitted my aspirations perfectly and I wasn’t getting such an option anywhere else.

     

    You have got through to an LL.M. programme at the New York University. What do you think clicked in your favour during the selection process? How did you plan your Statement of Purpose for NYU?

    I think what worked for me was the clear picture that I had in my head with respect to what subjects I wanted to study as well as what benefit I would derive out of studying those subjects and how I would be able to apply the knowledge acquired by studying those subjects to fulfill my career-goals. My SoP had clear indications of what inspired me to choose this field, how I have already started worked in this field by means of internships, research papers etc. and how studying it would help me achieve my future plans.

    I know for a lot of people, LL.Ms are just ‘further studies’ but I think it’s much beyond that. I know it’s not a pre-requisite for any activity that you would want to undertake after law school but I feel that sometimes, it is quintessential to get expertise in niche areas, especially when you want to specialise in the same.

    Building up on your profile from the view point of an LL.M is essentially maintaining excellent grades through law school. The competition can get to you sometimes but it’s not impossible. Other activities could include mooting, debating, writing papers and even being members of relevant groups at your law school.

     

    For an LL.M you needed to have a student VISA. What are the requirements for a successful VISA application? As a lot depends on the VISA application did you prepare for the interview?

    The Visa application is a long drawn one month procedure. I can answer this question for the US Universities since that’s the procedure I am privy to. You need to first apply for your I-20, for which your University will provide you with details. The US University would then send you a hard copy of your I-20 which you must keep extremely carefully. After having done that, you must pay a fees online called the SEVIS fees and must keep multiple receipts of the same. Then you have to fill out the DS-160 form and make the visa application fees in cash to the specified banks (Axis or PNB). At the bank, they would generate a number for you which you have to use to schedule an appointment with the US Embassy. Once you have received your I-20 and paid the SEVIS fees, the visa application becomes easy and there’s not much you can do. My interview was a one line question where I was asked why I was going to NYU and which subjects I was specialising in. I was asked to pick my passport up with the visa the very next day! So no, not much preparation is required for the interview. But it’s always safe to carry all the documents with you just in case you’re asked for them.

     

    What would be your message to law students who look forward to an illustrious law school life?

    I would say it’s about maintaining excellent grades in law school and having a clear picture about what you want to study and why. It’s important to ask yourself these questions to be able to figure out whether you really want it or not. Apart from this, I would recommend all of you to have at least three teachers in mind, who have credibility and are somewhat renowned in their respective fields, who would be willing to help you out with your letters of recommendation. These letters have a huge influence on your application and must not be taken lightly! The whole application procedure seems daunting and you could feel lazy at times but trust me, in the end, it’s definitely worth it!

     

  • Divya Chawla, LL.M. candidate, University of Pennsylvania, on joining Linklaters and her internship experience

    Divya Chawla, LL.M. candidate, University of Pennsylvania, on joining Linklaters and her internship experience

    divya-chawla2Divya Chawla graduated from NLU Delhi, batch of 2014. She has just been accepted to the University of Pennsylvania. And soon after completing her LL.M. she shall be inducted into Linklaters, London.

    We took this opportunity to ask her about:

    • The process of application for LL.M. to an Ivy League University
    • Planning a successful Statement of Purpose for LL.M.
    • Internship and job offer from Linklaters

     

    What motivated you to choose law?

    It took me a long time to decide what I really wanted to do, so much so that to buy time I joined Delhi University after Class XII. I studied Political Science Hon. at Jesus and Mary College for a year during which the idea of studying law grew on me gradually. While there were no lawyers in the family, it really helped that my elder brother was studying law at that time. I was able to make a first-hand comparison between the prospects and scope of a traditional graduate degree and a professional degree. In retrospect, the gap year really helped me identify what I wanted to do and I was glad I didn’t rush into something immediately after Class XII.

     

    Please share some of the memorable experiences of your college life.

    The exciting aspect of being part of a fairly young institution is that one gets the opportunity to be a part of many ‘firsts’ of the University. I had the opportunity to be a part of the editorial board for the first edition of the NLUD Student’s Law Journal. Subsequently, as a member of the RCC, even the recruitment process had to be envisaged and managed from a fairly rough foundation. While the lack of guidance can be daunting, such experiences strengthen character and enhance leadership ability.

    Further, in terms of co-curricular activities I was lucky to be a part of the team representing the University at our first ADR competition endeavour, the Brown-Mosten International Client Counselling Competition in 2011. Mooting was also strongly encouraged right from the start and this helped me improve my research and oratory skills immensely through college.

     

    What triggered your interest in Arbitration and ADR?

    My initial interest in ADR competitions developed from the unique format. Participation in ADR competitions helps build valuable skills such as strategising, negotiation and problem-solving.  Moreover, these skills are relevant to any path you choose after graduating and are not confined to the career of a negotiator or mediator.

     

    How did you secure an internship at the Planning Commission of India and World Bank?

    The Planning Commission and the World Bank regularly list internship opportunities on their respective websites. While the Planning Commission internship is a standard program structured over a month, internship opportunities at the World Bank are on a more ad-hoc basis. Both the internships involved working on a research project under a supervisor.

    These internships helped me look at commercial issues from different stand-points. At the Planning Commission I worked on legal issues faced by the Government in airport modernization through public-private partnerships, while at the World Bank I got to analyze an industry perspective on the regulation of the microfinance sector. So this helped me understand different facets of commercial undertakings/projects.

     

    How does an Indian student get an internship in London?

    International firms such as Linklaters, organize a vacation scheme program each year for penultimate year law students, which is essentially a three week internship at the firm’s London office. As part of this program, the firm focuses on selecting a certain number of students from Indian universities. It is an exciting opportunity but the selection process is quite rigorous and competition is fierce. I think the key to be a successful applicant is to show genuine interest in commercial law and a commitment to the idea of working at an international firm. Relevant internships would demonstrate exposure to the practical side of commercial law. It would also help to highlight any publications relating to commercial issues or an elective/ short-course/ certificate program taken up. This reflects a sincere attempt at developing one’s understanding of the field. Awareness of international deals and business events and an enthusiasm to get involved in cross-border matters helps fortify the commitment towards working at an international law firm.

     

    How did your internship transform into a job offer?

    At the end of the vacation scheme, the opportunity to interview with a Partner for a training contract is automatically offered. This interview is based on an assignment that is prepared individually during the scheme and involves identifying legal and commercial issues in an international business deal.

    In a nutshell, the scheme provides the opportunity to intern in two different practice areas under an experienced Principal, and also affords a great learning experience through a range of professional development sessions. These sessions are designed to provide a broad understanding of the Firm’s global business strategy and practice areas, as well as the chance to develop skills like mediation and pitching to a client. For me, the best part of the program was when as an intern in the Banking team I got the opportunity to visit Lehman Brothers’ Canary Wharf office and get involved in the insolvency administration.

     

    What prompted you to apply for an LL.M. abroad?

    The prospect of being able to get an in-depth knowledge of subjects that I was interested in prompted me to apply for a Master’s Degree. Moreover, the Masters program can be structured to suit career goals, like a number of Universities provide a choice between practical skill-intensive courses and research-oriented courses. Some Universities are particularly good for undertaking cross-disciplinary study like NYU, University of Pennsylvania and Northwestern University. So it is basically a year of study focused on subjects that one is keen to pursue further professionally and at the same time there is the fabulous experience of being taught by distinguished professors in a multi-cultural environment.

    Further, an LL.M. provides the opportunity to gain more knowledge of the international market, thus adding a global outlook to one’s perspective. Since I am looking at working in an international legal environment I decided that opting for an LL.M abroad would be more suitable in terms of my career goals.

     

    What do you think were some of the contributing factors that helped you get into UPenn?

    From my experience with the admissions process I believe US schools are not purely focused on a student’s rank or GPA. It is a more comprehensive selection process which seeks not just ‘intellectual potential’ but also something that sets a candidate apart like volunteer work, leadership experience or professional accomplishments. Despite the obvious upside to this approach, this does bring in a huge amount of subjectivity into the process which makes it all the more difficult to espouse a formula for getting through an Ivy League School.

    It certainly helps to be an all-rounder with achievements across a range of academic subjects and extracurricular pursuits. This is viewed as a definite indicator of future success which to the admissions board is important to assess your value as an alumnus of their University. However, if one falls short of being an all-rounder there’s no need to lose hope! Showing extraordinary caliber in a specific area of interest that has been consistently pursued coupled with a definite future course of action would also make a strong application.

     

    What other courses and universities did you apply for?

    I applied for the BCL at Oxford and the LL.M at University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, NYU, and Cambridge. An obvious parameter for choosing a University is the brand name, because resume enhancement is a huge plus. On a more subjective front, it’s a good idea to identify what feature of a particular University or program ties in with your career goals, not only for the purpose of making a choice but also to highlight that your application is not a generic submission made to all Universities, but has in fact been carefully thought through.

    Personally, I believe it’s a better idea to opt for a school depending on its ranking in your intended subject area rather than a general ranking. I opted for Penn Law because it has a strong reputation for corporate law which I was interested in studying further. It also has a great cross-disciplinary program for LL.M students called the Wharton Business and Law Certificate (WBLC). Wharton is UPenn’s business school and is ranked as one of the finest. The WBLC offers law students the opportunity to learn about fundamental business, financial and management concepts in a legal context.

     

    How did you plan your Statement of Purpose?

    How a SOP is planned differs depending on the University. While some schools require that applicants address specific questions in the SOP, others follow a more general and open-ended theme. Typically, it should cover the applicant’s background; academic and professional interests, a persuasive reason for choosing the University and program of study and lastly how this choice ties in with career goals and ambitions. This means being concise is key, because information about your past, present and future must be condensed into a limited word count and must make for a compelling read. So be prepared for endless drafting and editing! Also, a conclusive future course of action that ties in with the applicant’s past and present experiences, and envisions a positive impact in a specific field (could be law, politics, business, the social sector, etc.) shows determination and passion.

    Broadly, my SOP was focused on how my background shaped my ambitions, my experience in commercial law through academics and internships, and how the LL.M. would prepare me for an important role in a trans-national legal environment.

    I’m looking forward to getting a sense of the US legal system and particularly look forward to taking up courses at Wharton during the LL.M. I expect there to be a substantial value addition to my academic credentials and a smoother transition from being a student to working in an international law firm. Finally, I’m excited about being part of a culturally diverse class and hope to build strong relations through the course.

     

    Which are the scholarships one can apply for at UPenn?

    Penn law is certainly on the expensive side as there aren’t too many options for obtaining financial aid. Applicants belonging to a few specified countries (including India) are automatically considered for financial assistance on a merit basis. There are a few such scholarships but the exact number that is awarded is discretionary and financial need is not a criterion in arriving at a decision. Further, only a part of the total cost incurred towards the LL.M is covered. However, if you are focused on human rights issues there is a dedicated human rights scholarship.

    In addition, in India there are some foundations which accept applications for education-related travel grants, like the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust. Such grants typically cover the cost of travel, insurance and visa fee. Another option is to apply for an interest free loan from the Narotam Sheksarai Foundation which selects awardees based on merit.

     

    Lastly, what would be your message to all the law students who aspire to work in one of the Magic Circle firms?

    From a technical point of view, I think the most important skill to work on consistently is commercial awareness, preferably of the international market. Equally important is sharpening professional communication ability and social skills.

  • Chitrrangada Singh, Legal Assistant, Appeals Chamber of International Criminal Tribunal, on LL.M. from UC Berkeley and practice at The Hague

    Chitrrangada Singh, Legal Assistant, Appeals Chamber of International Criminal Tribunal, on LL.M. from UC Berkeley and practice at The Hague

    chitrrangadaChitrrangada graduated from University Institute of Legal Studies, Panjab University in 2010. She took a certificate course in Arbitration and Mediation from the WIPO Academy and thereafter in 2011 she went on to pursue her LL.M. from University of California, Berkeley.

    Chitrrangada is working as a legal assistant in a defense team at the Appeals Chamber of International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Her job entails researching for and defending people who are indicted of international crimes. She has also worked in various high level and landmark cases at The Hague.

    In this interview we asked her about:

    • Studying at UC, Berkeley
    • Interning and practicing at the Appeals Chamber of International Criminal Tribunal (Yugoslavia)
    • Working in landmark cases and representing people indicted of international crimes

     

    How will you introduce yourself to our readers?

    Hi, I’m Chitrrangada. I’m a lawyer from India. After getting my license to practice at the Punjab & Haryana High Court, Chandigarh, I successfully completed my LL.M. at University of California, Berkeley. Since then, I’ve been working and living in The Hague for the past three years.

     

    Did you ever feel that not being from an NLU was a disadvantage?

    I graduated from the University Institute of Legal Studies at Panjab University in 2010. Itwas, at the time, the newly established institute setup by the university to offer a five-year B.A. LL.B degree. The faculty and administration, under the leadership of Prof. Dr. R.S. Grewal, was different from the three-year graduate degree in Law offered by the Department of Laws. The batch that I was a part of was the second batch to have graduated from this institute. At the time, we could not boast of a well-connected career placement programme. This experience would resonate with most newly established law schools in India and not just non-NLU schools.

    Further, as I did not graduate from a National Law University, it would be unfair for me to make assumptions about the experiences of an NLU graduate. However, I would say that I did find myself somewhat disadvantaged when it came to opportunities in commercial firms.

    Nevertheless, it would also be too simplistic to say that there is a bias against non-NLU students when it comes to professional opportunities. In retrospect, I think that the avenues, which each of them offers, are different. Therefore, what one can make out of the experience is also different. While the lack of facilities and the bureaucratic hurdles in state universities can threaten one’s chances, strangely, they also make you resourceful, resilient, and patient.

    I believe that, having lived and worked in Chandigarh both at the district court level and at the High Court within a Chamber, helped me immensely during my assignment as an intern and legal assistant at ICTY defence. I was able to integrate faster within the daily court functioning and minimize the adjustment period greatly. More importantly, I was able to observe and learn from seasoned criminal law professors at university and work closely with trial lawyers at the district court level over a period of two years. This gave me invaluable experience, which I was able to obtain by virtue of being at Panjab University.

    My law school experience varied a lot because of the subjects that were being taught each semester and the kind of projects I had aligned myself with every year. I was a mooter and that always kept things interesting. On an average, I was able to fit in a moot and a half per year in my schedule.

    A large part of one’s experience at the university level is determined by the expectations one has of oneself and their career – and then to make the best out of the opportunities available. For me, while it was tempting to work in a high profile commercial law firm in India, I knew that I would miss the daily rush of being in court and working on criminal law cases. I worked from that bottom-line, upwards.

    The institute faced a lot of logistical challenges on account of being newly established. However, overall, I would say that it was a positive experience.

    In conclusion, I think the nature of the law school, in and by itself, cannot change much of your career path if you are aware of what your bottom line is.

     

    How did tge certificate course from WIPO help your career?

    I took a certificate course from the online WIPO Academy on Arbitration and Mediation Procedure under WIPO Rules under their Distance Learning Program. This program offers different courses on topics related to Intellectual Property over one year and most of them are free of charge. The courses being offered currently are available online here while the full list of the courses offered by this academy can be found here. This course had a fee but it was subsidised for students from developing countries. The course required a good knowledge of the fundamentals of IP law and I had already taken their General Course on IP.

    Reading this course was quite fun actually. It covered three aspects:

    • main features and advantages of the procedures designed by WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center;
    • selection of an appropriate means of dispute resolution; and
    • drafting appropriate dispute resolution clauses for the purposes of a formal agreement.

    I liked how it focused on the procedural aspects of IP dispute resolution. However, what I liked best about this course was that it helped me look at dispute resolution further in a better way. The course material covered the basics comprehensively and was quite interesting to read. I would recommend taking this course if you’re at all interested in exploring this area of law.

     

    How did you decide to pursue an LL.M.?

    Having a Master’s degree is almost a requirement for one to entertain the idea of a career in international law. Therefore, I’m glad that I was able to conclude that step at the first given opportunity before seriously building my professional experience around that goal. However, I do think that having some amount of professional experience before beginning the LL.M. helps one make more informed choices about how best to maximize on the one (or two) year(s) of study.

    Further, successfully completing an LL.M. was important for me personally to understand whether or not a life lived abroad was for me. Even though it was at a big financial cost, I think that my experience at Berkeley was instrumental in shaping my life and career for the long term. I would have had a different opinion, had I decided to go back and work in India.

    I had applied for admission into LL.M. in my final year of law school. I did not have vast amounts of practical experience as an advocate to boast of except for numerous mooting stints and internships as a student.I had planned the application in a way that would allow for the examiners to know about me as a person as much as possible. I used my application to show that I had made the best of my situation and would do the same with the opportunities available at Berkeley.

     

    How different has Berkeley been when compared to your graduating university?

    Both the universities were unique in their own respect, especially in how they shaped me as a professional. In retrospect, I am grateful for the experiences in each of these universities, as they were big stepping stones in how my career developed. Berkeley was different from Panjab University in a lot of ways. What I appreciated the most was the flexibility in planning one’s own curriculum. During the one year of the master’s programme, I was able to pursue both thesis and course track, along with the asylum law clinic, and take courses ranging from foreign investment law to mediation etc. to humanitarian law. This was quite beneficial to me as an entry-level professional; I was able to expand on my substantive learning and build upon my research and writing skills, while graining practical experience in dealing with clients, especially those that don’t speak your language.

     

    Anything memorable that is stuck in your mind?

    The year at Berkeley was quite memorable and it is difficult to isolate one experience out of the many. The course on International Business Transactions taught by Professor Buxbaum was a delight. The majority of the students in that class were LL.M. students who, apart from the class discussions and readings, were given specific problems to discuss. Personally, I found it quite exciting to observe the various ways and means of problem-solving from the perspective of 20-30 lawyers from around the world. Before this, I was wary of the differences but not of the manner in which they operate in terms of how a problem should be approached, researched, and solved as well as how the solution must be offered and expressed to the client. Not only was this class testing you on the laws governing international transactions in business, it was also preparing us to handle the geographical and cultural sensitivities in the legal profession. I thought that was great!

     

    How did you apply for an internship to the Appeals Chamber of International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia?

    A fellow student from Boalt Hall had successfully completed a six months internship at the ICTY. I spoke with him about his experiences and the life in The Hague. After that, I decided to apply for an internship as well. The online application system on the ICTY website is fairly simple. I applied during my first semester of the LL.M. almost one year in advance of the starting date of the internship. This also gave me time and space to look for other opportunities during the LL.M. career fairs. When I got an offer for an internship at the ICTY, I also had an offer to intern in Los Angeles where I would work on community mediation projects and an offer to stay in Berkeley in pursuance of the J.S.D. degree. I was not able to obtain financial grant for the L.A. internship as well as the J.S.D., so I decided to defer my admission to the J.S.D. and take up ICTY.

    While in The Hague, I was constantly exploring funding options and was able to obtain a grant from Sir Richard May Trust to cover my living costs for the duration of my internship. This went a long way in being able to extend my stay and look for further opportunities.

    As an intern for the drafting team in the case of Prosecutor v. Lukic and Lukic, this was my first experience in a truly international working environment (Case Information Sheet, available here). I had a wonderful team to work in and everyone was very encouraging and supportive. I learnt a lot at this stage about the laborious process of judgement-writing in the appellate stage. Most importantly, I learnt that as a lawyer, one can never underestimate the significance of a carefully thought-out format. I worked on the preparations for the appeal hearing, including the deliberations between the judges.

     

    You also worked as a Pro-bono Legal Assistant, Defence, Trial Chambers at ICTY. How did you get this opportunity?

    I was recommended for this opportunity by my work supervisor at my internship in the ICTY Appeals Chamber. I applied right away and was selected for an interview. I was interviewed by a Senior Legal Assistant of the defence team. After having received an offer, I was able to start right after concluding my internship. I remember being quite excited about this opportunity. Criminal defence work at the international tribunals is quite hands-on and there is a lot of scope for learning and growth.

    My work included substantive tasks like writing research memos on specific questions of international criminal law, statute of the ICTY, Rules of Procedure and Evidence; reviewing submissions to be filed before the Trial Chamber, as well as case management tasks like organisation of evidence and providing technical and research support to the Case Manager and the counsels during court hearings.

     

    You are currently working at the ICTY as a part of the defence team. How is the work environment? Who are you representing? How did you start working on this case?

    I am part of the defence team representing Jovica Stanišic in the case of Prosecutor v. Stanišic and Simatovic under Counsel Wayne Jordash and Co-Counsel Scott Martin (Case Information Sheet, available here). Mr. Stanišic was the head of the State Security Service within the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs during the regime of Slobodan Miloševic. I started working on this case in February 2012 when I was taken up as a Pro-Bono Legal Assistant in their team. I was hired as Legal Assistant four months afterwards.

    In terms of the work, there was a steep learning curve in the beginning as this case covers very complicated aspects of the five-year conflict. However, I was lucky to have found myself in a team that was very dedicated, motivating, and good-humoured. They came through well together even during the most work-intensive and stressful times during the case. There is not one member of the team, who I have not learnt a lot from.

     

    You also worked as a junior associate at Global Rights Compliance. What do they do? What was your job as a junior associate?

    Global Rights Compliance, LLP provides international advisory services to business and government, including those operating in conflict-affected and other high-risk areas of the world, to identify, prevent, and mitigate adverse human rights impacts. Details of their recent projects can be found here. They are one of the very few pioneer firms that provide specialised services in international human rights law and responsible business practices, including public international law, international criminal law, and international trade and development.

    My job as a Junior Associate involved conducting intensive research and drafting memoranda on international human rights law and regional treaties, UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and complaint mechanisms under the OECD Guidelines for Multi-National Enterprises. I also assisted in preparation of training material on business and human rights and conducting country-specific due diligence on their human rights record and compliance with international human rights standards.

    Earlier this year, I was also able to assist in the two short-term intensive training courses that were undertaken by Global Rights Compliance at NALSAR, Hyderabad on Business and Human Rights and International Criminal Law.

     

    What is it like working to defend persons indicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity?

    The work of the prosecution is complex, painstaking, and rigourous at any given situation. However, it is still incomplete without a well-functioning defence.

    The criminal justice system is based on respect for human rights, among them being the right to a fair trial. To limit criminal justice solely to a severe contest between the prosecution and the defence and/or the victim and the accused amounts to undermining its objectives. Its objective is to aid the restoration of the imbalance caused by violation of human rights by ascertaining and affixing guilt under law. That restoration can not happen at the cost of the human rights of the accused.

    It is honourable to be working towards assuring that a person, irrespective of their charge, is able to access his right to a criminal defence. Contrary to what is sometimes assumed in respect of the ethical issues relating to this aspect of legal work, I find this work quite meaningful and fulfilling. I don’t see criminal defence as more perverse (or hallowed for that matter) than any other job description in the legal field. It is an exciting,albeit delicate, job and it deserves to be done to anyone’s best of abilities.

     

    Lastly what would be your message to all the law students who aspire to work at the International Criminal Tribunal?

    I don’t have anything new to say because there is no generic formula for this. In my case, I sometimes feel like I’m making it up as I go along. But there is no right way of doing it. I would, however, advise not to shy away from applying to opportunities that you think you’re suitable for.

    For a long-term career, you will almost definitely require a master’s degree. However, if you’re determined and hardworking, you will get there; to make life easier, it’s best to choose an LL.M. program that can provide you that opportunity. It is important to be mentally prepared to invest a good amount of time and energy in the initial few years; it can be quite a struggle.

    Few of the internships are paid, for example, sometimes the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia offer stipends. However, most of the internships are unpaid but it’s possible to obtain grants for the entire duration or part of the internship.After my grant dried out and before a job came about, I was babysitting and dog-sitting after work as well.

    I also know of some very determined people who have worked an extra job while interning in order to fund their stay.Lastly, it’s helpful to learn French and to be able to use it fluently. More obviously, it’s very important to like the work and to be committed to it, especially working in criminal law. And once you’re there, you should continue working on yourself.

  • Nishad Vaidya, Law Graduate, on being a Cricket Correspondent at CricketCountry, and moving from law to sport

    Nishad Vaidya, Law Graduate, on being a Cricket Correspondent at CricketCountry, and moving from law to sport

    Nishad Pai Vaidya graduated from NLU, Jodhpur in 2013.  But he then decided to forgo a career in law to pursue his passion, sports journalism. He has been a freelance writer for the Mumbai Indians IPL team, studio lecturer for Banquet Sports, and a cricket correspondent for CricketCountry.com.

    In this interview we speak to him about:

    • Studying in NLUJ
    • Making the transition from law to cricket
    • His experience as a sports journalist

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    At present, I am a cricket correspondent at CricketCountry.com. I cover the matches, follow the events etc. I am a graduate of, NLU Jodhpur. I spent five of my years there, and got a degree in B.A. LL.B Hons. And currently I am a full time sports journalist.

     

    What motivated you to choose law as a career?

    I was originally a science student. I took up science just like my friends.. We all tend to get brainwashed at that age and are convinced that it is best to take that path and become a doctor or an engineer. Ultimately, once I took up science, I realized that it wasn’t my cup of tea. I had to do something where I really, perhaps, could have the chance to shine. So, in my mind even when I was just 16 or 17, I always wanted to do something related to cricket in the media. I could have gone for media science, but then my parents impressed upon me the need to have a solid degree that would add value. I went through a lot of literature about law, and what lawyers do. I was attracted by it all.

     

    nishad-vaidya3

    In retrospect, how would you compare NLUJ with other premier law institutions of the country?

    I wouldn’t exactly compare NLUJ to other law schools, but I feel that it was different in terms of the infrastructure we had, and the number of courses we had. At that time, NLUJ was the only college offering BBA.L.L.B. The campus was nice and quiet, with a lot of space for sports. That was what allowed us to host an All India Law School Sports Meet called Yuvardha, which is now a biennial event. We had our own individual rooms, which gave us the space we needed in a typical day. That is why we felt that we had an edge over other law schools. There was a person in our batch who had obtained a really high rank, and could have gone to NALSAR or any other popular law college, but he chose to be at NLU Jodhpur because of the whole package. People talk about academics, but that is just one part of life. There are so many things which can’t be taught in class. You have to go out there and figure it out, all by yourself. When you come to law school you are just a kid, and you start learning how to manage yourself; you learn from your bad days; you realize how to manage time and studies. Over the years you learn a wide range of things, apart from academics, which contribute in shaping you into a complete individual. One thing which is very important at this stage is writing projects and making presentations. In law school, I always started writing a project from scratch. The learning curve which you achieve during such research works is unparalleled. This is also something you would be required to do as a lawyer.

     

    What internships did you pursue when at law school and what influenced your decisions to do so?

    I did two internships at law firms; these were experiences that I enjoyed, but when I saw lawyers drafting case memos, arguing for their clients, etc. I knew that my heart was not in it. So after my third year, I just stopped doing law internships. And then I completely switched over to journalism. As far as law internships are concerned, they do help you in dealing with reality. For example, even in my second year, I used to feel that courts worked the way they were depicted in movies and TV shows. They were supposed to be glamorous places. But the first court I went to left me shocked. I came to know what goes into becoming a lawyer. I didn’t want to be one of those conventional lawyers. And in my 3rd year, I went to intern at CricketCountry.com and have been there ever since.

     

    How did you approach CricketCountry.com for an internship?

    It was quite interesting. Today, we are in a world that is connected through internet where nothing can be hidden. In a way it’s good because we have so much exposure, as compared to our parents’ generation. I knew that I was not going to end up as a routine lawyer after my last law internship. I decided that I would never step into a law firm for an internship again. I felt that even if I would work in the best law firm of India, I would be a miserable guy. It would also not be fair to someone who deserved the internship more than me. Thereafter I started writing a blog during the 2011 World cup. One of my friends introduced me to a veteran journalist, Mr. H Natarajan. He is one of the biggest names in the field in the country, and used to be the Sports Editor of IndianExpress at one time. I connected with him on Facebook, and sent him my blog link. I also messaged him, telling him that I needed someone for guidance. He replied the next day, saying that I could write, and that CricketCountry was a platform that was there for me. He became my mentor and guide since then. This was during my 6th Semester- that’s when I started writing for them. Soon after, there was this one particular match during IPL 2011, where Sachin Tendulkar was declared to be out based on a wrong replay. I was the only one who spotted the error and I wrote an article about it and sent it to CricketCountry. When the article was put up, it went viral! news channels, online media – basically everyone was talking about it.They were also putting across the fact that a twenty year old law student picked up this mistake. A lot of things changed after that. Later, Mr. Natarajan congratulated me. At that time CricketCountry was just starting up, thus it benefited me, and it benefited everyone else. I requested Mr. Natarajan for an opportunity to learn along with him in the upcoming summer vacation, and he gladly accepted my internship request. I learnt how to frame, compile and edit news reports; how to cover a typical cricket match. That is how I applied for an internship at CricketCountry and I have been a part of it ever since.

     

    How did you make up your mind to pursue sports journalism?

    Life is not just about following what others do, and what path others have taken. So many beautiful things have happened when people have dared to go and chase what they want. On the one hand people tell me even today that if I were in a law firm, I could have seen huge financial success, but then I have to ask myself :would I have been happy in terms of my work? Even now, I work for most of my day, but while doing that work I am happy. I enjoy what I do, and there’s always something exciting in store. With my colleagues, I am always discussing Sachin Tendulkar, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sourav Ganguly and others during work hours, which other people get to talk about only during their tea time. For me, it is this fresh excitement at work I feel every day that motivates me. Initially, it was tough. People used to constantly ask me why I had chosen this path. However, then the years at college passed by and in my fifth year, I was penning down articles every day. With the guidance of Mr. Natarajan, I improved in whatever way I could. One and a half years later, I started getting noticed. We created a YouTube channel and I was anchoring videos. Soon after that I was called for a programme on national television, where I was involved in a cricket talk-show for an hour. This is what I had dreamed of since long back, and ultimately I realized it. Also, fortunately, I have featured in a few more since then. And if I could do it once, I realized that I could do it again. To try new things is not easy; it tests you mentally, physically and emotionally, pushes you to your limits. I have been blessed to get good exposure early in my career, and it is up to me now to work hard and persist with it. This is just the start.

     

    How did CricketCountry work out?

    As lawyers you tend to do mainly procedural jobs. But in the larger frame of life, there is no such procedure. So what works for me might not work for somebody else. The least one can do is to exercise the right to write a blog, you have the power of YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. You should reach out to people with what you are doing, promote yourself. And ultimately something or the other will work out. I have been very fortunate to meet Natarajan Sir. There isn’t any set procedure; you can do it your own way using the power of the internet. You have to build contacts, you have to reach out to people, that’s how you can head on to any field today.

     

    Do you think there is a scope for lawyers in the sports journalism arena?

    There is scope of law in sports journalism, but in a very general sense. You have to be very sensitive while writing stories. Your words have to be perfect. If you miss one word here or there, the meaning of a sentence can change, and you may come under some legal fire. Things like defamation, copyright, match fixing, are being dealt with everyday. In a way there is scope, but of course you are a journalist first, being a lawyer can be an added value.

     

    Do you feel like your training as a lawyer has helped you in any way?

    Yes, truly. Whatever I learnt in those five years at Law School – it does help me. You read something and you how it can be expressed in exact words. For example, being a lawyer, you know how important the word ‘alleged’ is. Also I would say that I wasn’t a good writer when I joined college, but writing all those projects helped me grow.

     

    nishad-vaidya2

    Tell us about your workplace and what a typical workday in your life looks like?

    When it comes to workplace, it depends. I have played different roles. As far as our YouTube channel is concerned, when I have to make videos for that, then a workday would include getting the footage in place, getting the shots ready, getting yourself ready for the shoot, and then once the shot is done, sitting for another day getting the shots edited. When it comes to the news desk, you edit the copy, you see what the flow of news is like, and then you write down an article describing whatever happened. And legal side of sports controversy – yes I do get to work on that. For example, when the controversy broke out last year during the IPL, I did a few articles on why spot fixing is not an offence under Indian Law, and what exactly is an offence, among other things. It also includes opportunities to interview experienced lawyers. I feel great to do that as far as sports controversies are concerned. It’s not only the law of the place, but even the laws of cricket that I work on. The educational background I had makes it easier to interpret those laws.

     

    How do you deal with rough patches?

    So far I have not faced any controversies, as such. However, what happens usually is that when you have a story, you have to be absolutely sure about it. It also depends on whether your interviewees are conversing with you on the record or off the record. Suppose that during your interviews, an important person says something a bit controversial. If this was said on the record, then it is brilliant, if not then you can still check with such persons, showing them what they said, and asking them if that is what they truly meant. If they assent to what has been quoted, then you can move ahead with publishing the same. If someone had commented on something then it’s your responsibility to make sure that it is on the record and it is clear. Partly, I am lucky that I didn’t have to experience such rough patches and partly because I have been guided very well. It is important to be honest with the job.

     

    Where do you see yourself five years down the line?

    It’s very difficult to say. I just look back at my five years, and catch sight of where I was when I was eighteen, and I realize that at that point of time, I was still very serious about my law career. I couldn’t imagine that at 23 I would be doing what I am, currently. Five years down the line, I would certainly like to still be connected with sports journalism. But how I do that, and where I reach is not something under my control. At most, I can give my 100% – I can give my best shot, and leave the rest to God. I haven’t even taken my bar exam, in fact. So, I won’t return to law career.

     

    What would be your suggestion for law students keen on taking up a job in the world of sports journalism?

    The best suggestion I can give all students is that if you are, say, a football fan, or a basketball fan, or a formula one fan, then you should probably start writing about it. Promote those articles; maybe reach out to people who matter. Start contacting those websites which allow you the opportunity to showcase those articles. It’s very important to be on the web, what with the kind of influence you can have on the web. If you are interested in video journalism or something similar, then you could possibly start your own YouTube channel. The possibilities are endless. You can create your own niche; create your own way to reach your destination. My advice would be start writing if you are really into it and follow it diligently.

     

  • Vini Singh, Advocate, on being a Company Secretary, studying in London, and taking the Judicial Services

    Vini Singh, Advocate, on being a Company Secretary, studying in London, and taking the Judicial Services

    Vini Singh graduated from HNLU, Raipur, in 2012. She then went on to pursue her Masters from UCL. During her time as an undergraduate she has interned in the Chambers of Mr. P.S. Koshy, Multiple Action Research Group – MARG, been a Judicial Clerk to Justice S.K. Sinha, High Court of Chhattisgarh, interned at Chambers of Mr. Shanti Bhushan, Sr. Advocate, Supreme Court of India, Chambers of Mr. K.T.S. Tulsi, Sr. Advocate, Supreme Court of India, Chambers of Mr. K.K. Venugopal, AZB & Partners, and AMSS. She is also a Company Secretary. 

    In this interview we speak to her about:

    • Getting an LL.M. from UC, London
    • Being a Company Secretary
    • Taking the Chattisgarh Judicial Exam

    Tell us about your life before college.

    I did most of my schooling from Indore except for the final three years which I completed in Raipur since my family had moved here. I was a science student and very keen on becoming a doctor like my father. After I finished my schooling, I took a year off to prepare for pre-medical exams and appeared for many of them at the end of that year. Never in my dreams had I thought of choosing law as a career, but a few of my friends convinced me that I should have a back up plan and there was no harm in giving an entrance exam. So I filled up the entrance exam form for HNLU and appeared for the exam with just two weeks preparation. To my surprise, more than 50% of the question paper contained exactly what I had studied, and not only did I clear the exams, I secured 4th rank as well.

    Meanwhile, I was also offered a seat in a medical college, but since their sessions start late, I decided to give HNLU a go. I attended classes for almost a month and it would be wrong to say that I chose law; I would rather say that law chose me.

     

    How will you describe your college life?

    My college life was a lot of fun. I had a great group of friends, we studied together, went on a lot of trips, celebrated birthdays and festivals, occasionally played badminton etc. Apart from academics, I participated in a few activities and competitions organised by various committees, helped organise conferences as a part of legal and social services committee and worked for the library and academic committee.

     

    vini-singh2How would you say a student can go about studying and having distinction in a few subjects?

    (Vini has bagged gold medals in Constitutional Law, Economics and Political Science. These are invariably some of the most lengthiest and difficult papers.)

    I am someone who has never adopted a certain strategy to tackle coursework or a gain a certain percentage of marks. I would say that I was able to do well academically only because I really wanted to learn. If I found something worth a read I went for it, irrespective of the fact whether it was prescribed material or not, which is why I ended up reading a lot of additional stuff such as Plato’s allegory of the cave or Dworkin’s Law’s Empire. All this additional reading eventually helped me a bag outstanding grades and those gold medals.

     

    How was your experience interning with SC lawyers?

    (Vini has worked as an intern for two great SC lawyers – Mr. Shanthi Bhushan and Mr. KTS Tulsi.)

    It was great working with such eminent SC lawyers, both internships gave me an opportunity to closely observe the pros and cons of litigation as a career choice. Mr. Bhushan is very approachable; one can discuss anything with him right down from movies to politics to any complicated legal question. My internship with Mr. Tulsi was even better because I got to work on not only criminal cases but also on arbitration matters and I also learned a lot from his team. I was placed with Mr. Bhushan by our Internship Coordination Committee, so I just had to send my resume to him for securing the internship. I applied to Mr. Tulsi’s office personally by approaching one of his juniors and requesting him to give me an internship opportunity.

     

    What did your work at AZB & Partners entail?

    Working with AZB Partners was a really good experience. I got work on a variety of matters since they do not assign interns to a particular team. So, if my morning began with say a research on FEMA, my night ended with verifying documents for an arbitration matter. However, as I was really interested in Competition law, I took initiative and more often than not sought work from that team. They were filing the then recently introduced Form I of the Combination Regulations at that time and I learnt a lot while working with them.

     

    What inspired you to pursue an LL.M?

    The academic experience was one my major reasons for pursuing an LLM, besides that I really wanted to challenge myself, that is why I decided to go for higher studies.

    I had to write a letter of purpose as a part of my LLM application explaining why I wished to pursue an LLM and what my expectations were. I believe that my application successfully convinced them that I was a deserving candidate, which is why I was given a seat in the programme. I think that it is really important convey a genuine interest in pursuing further studies to get selected in any LLM programme.

    While selecting a college to pursue my LLM, I considered the courses offered, the faculty and the total cost of my education. I chose UCL because they offered good courses in the areas I wanted to study.

     

    Why did you choose to go for UCL?

    As I mentioned earlier, my prime consideration for choosing UCL was the courses I wished to take, apart from that the reputation of the university was also a major factor. I did consider other colleges in UK such as Kings, LSE and Queen Mary, but I did not consider Indian colleges because I wanted to experience life abroad and I did not wish to spend two years pursuing a masters.

     

    Tell us about the accommodation, financial requirements and campus life at UCL?

    UCL is located in Central London and has very good accommodation facilities for the students including facilities offered by the University of London. However, if someone does not wish to stay in university accommodation one can always get a flat share in areas nearby the university at decent rates. Campus life at UCL is fantastic, there are several activities and plays that are always going on, there are a lot of places to eat, drink, hang around, karaoke, kickbox etc. The university has also got its own gym facility for people who are conscious about their fitness. I did find a lot of people from the Indian fraternity and we also had an Indian society that held many events, cricket match screenings whenever India played and celebrated various festivals such as Navratri and Diwali.

    Apart from the tuition that has recently increased and the accommodation costs that come around to 150 to 250 GBP per week, one can easily enjoy London at 500 GBP per month, plus it is not very difficult to find and manage a part time job, so it is not very costly. Plus UCL automatically considers you for many scholarships including a scholarship offered by the Chief justice of India.

     

    Tell us about the academic pressure and the faculty at UCL.

    The academic environment at UCL is very different from our law schools. There the classroom is a place for discussion and not the place to learn basics. If a student is not up to date with his/her readings, it will be very difficult for them to get anything out from the class and they may even have to face embarrassment.

    The reading list is huge, if one does not follow a proper schedule, it can be almost impossible to deal with the course load at the end, so even though I was not very regular in my studies here, I had to force myself to change this habit and only then did I manage to cover my course material.

    Faculty at UCL is very cooperative and they are usually available to clear any doubts and discuss issues in person as well as online by mail or by UCL’s electronic platform moodle.

     

    How is the recruitment/ placement for overseas students?

    The placement scene for overseas students is not very good at present. I would not deny that the tag of a prestigious university does open doors but if you are already qualified in your country, and you do not have many years of experience with you, it is very difficult to get a job. Plus you would also have to clear QLTS at your own expense since your law degree is considered as non law in the UK.

    It is comparatively easier to secure a training contract, if you have not yet qualified in your own country, however, you still need to write an exceptional application and clear six or seven rounds of assessment to get through.

     

    What do foreign universities look for in applicants?

    Excellent academics is definitely a must, however foreign universities do look for other qualities in their candidates such as any contributions to their society by volunteering etc, organisational skills, publications and sometimes achievements that distinguish you such as maybe your exceptional capability in a dance form.

     

    Tell us about the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Award for Best Performance in International Arbitration that you received.

    As a part of my LLM programme, I undertook a course on International Arbitration. This course is recognised by the CIArb, therefore they give an award for excelling in the course in association with the Faculty of Law. I was given this award for securing a distinction and I suppose the highest marks in the course.

     

    What were your subjects in LL.M. and what made you choose them?

    I decided to choose my subjects based on my interest rather than any commercial advantage. I studied a mix of commercial and public law subjects so while on the one hand I took up International Arbitration, Cross Border M&A and Comparative US Antitrust v. EU Competition Law, I also took courses like Comparative Constitutional law and Principles of media Regulation. My dissertation focused again on International Arbitration, since I find that area interesting.

    I am currently litigating; however I do plan to get some experience in the areas I have specialised in.

     

    How was the Summer School at London School of Economics?

    Summer School at LSE was fantastic and very hectic at the same time. I studied EU Competition Law there and the course really helped me lot in my undergraduate Competition law course and also during my post-graduation. However, I would only recommend such a course to someone who is already a bit familiar with the basics and ready to burn the midnight oil for those two months. I was visiting London for the first time hence I was more interested in sightseeing, but still, I did attend all classes, if not tutorials and got a lot out of it.

     

    How has the Company Secretary course helped you as a lawyer?

    The Company Secretary course has been very helpful thus far. My concepts of corporate law, taxation law, securities and finance are a lot more clear since I undertook the course. Also I think that a little bit of company accounts and management studies can do no harm to a lawyer. So, I would definitely recommend this course, if not much, you do get another degree with just a little bit more effort that you are already putting in for law school.

     

    How was your experience writing the Judicial Services Examination in Chhattisgarh?

    I recently gave Judicial Services Examinations in my state. I did not have to prepare much as I had already studied all the core subjects in depth for the bar examination. So for my preparation, I revised all the key concepts again and studied local acts prescribed in the syllabus.

    The exams however turned out to be a huge disappointment as there were hardly any questions in the exam paper that required application of any legal concept. Most of the questions were regarding the dates on which a certain Act or amendment came into force, the number of sections or chapters in a certain Act, or the chapter no. of IPC or Evidence Act that contained so and so provisions. So unfortunately my preparation strategy was not very helpful. However, after having a look at question papers of other states, I can say that it is important that your concepts are clear in order to succeed in such a competitive exam.

     

    What would be your message to our readers who aspire to go for an LL.M. abroad?

    Dear friends, all I would say is please do not chase grades, aspire for knowledge instead, be curious to learn, the grades and success would automatically follow.

  • Mayank Mishra, Founder, TeamResearch, on working in Private Equity and starting up with TeamResearch

    Mayank Mishra, Founder, TeamResearch, on working in Private Equity and starting up with TeamResearch

    Mayank Mishra graduated from HNLU, Raipur in 2009. Long before graduation he had received a PPO from Paras Kuhad & Associates. Later he moved on to Pathak & Associates and at present he is an attorney at Caspian Advisors. Mayank has also started TeamResearch.in, a platform for lawyers and law students to convene and exchange ideas.

    We take this opportunity to ask him about:

    • Studying law and managing internships from HNLU.
    • Working at two major law firms and then moving to Caspian Advisors; and
    • Starting up with and building TeamResearch.in

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    With honours in corporate and intellectual property laws, I graduated from Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur (HNLU) in 2009 and was awarded the Chancellor’s Gold Medal for overall achievement in my law school.

    After graduation, I joined Paras Kuhad & Associates, New Delhi (PKA) and worked for two years with litigation and corporate teams. I shifted to P&A Law Offices, New Delhi (P&A) as a corporate law counsel where I advised domestic and offshore clients for structuring their investments in India. For the last one year I am associated with Caspian Impact Investment Adviser Private Limited, a Private Equity (PE) fund in Hyderabad and handle all its legal matters. Also, I have co-founded www.TeamResearch.in – an online legal research portal meant for lawyers, professionals and law students.

    I have also secured the Post Graduate Certificate in Management (PGCM) in Finance from All Indian Management Association (AIMA), New Delhi and planning to pursue MBA soon.

     

    How did you gravitate towards law?

    I remember those days when almost every other friend of mine was either preparing for JEE or C-PMT. Being a mathematics student, by default I was a part of the rat race and was getting trained to somehow manage a seat in one of the IITs. The journey to IIT was difficult and I always wanted to opt out of it, but without an alternate career it was difficult to convince my parents. What came to my rescue was an article I read in Hindustan Times by Ms. Pervin Malhotra, a career counsellor who then predicted law as a rewarding career and compared it with IITs. I was quite impressed by the article and was happy to discover a career which was as good as an IIT. After a thorough research on National Law Schools, course curriculum and job potential, I opted for law over engineering and got admitted to HNLU.

     

    Tell us about your internships.

    Internships are important part of law school life. All together I have interned for more than 300 days in NGOs, District Courts, High Courts, Supreme Court and leading law firms. Despite begin a member of my batch internship committee, all my internships were secured on my own. Unfortunately, I never had those uncles or bhaiyas who could fetch me an internship over a phone call. For many of my other batch mates, HNLU internship committee played a vital role in getting the internships with NGOs, senior counsels and law firms.

     

    Do you think law schools prepare students adequately for on the job experience?

    During my internship days I always thought that my law school training was sufficient enough to take all possible assignments during my internships. Thanks to that belief and the so called self confidence, I could take various internships and perform to the best of my caliber. However, on hindsight I believe that it’s not about delivering an assignment but the manner in which an assignment is performed matters most in an internship. Hard work which is the bare necessity will be appreciated only if it is coupled with a correct and smart approach. Soft skills including small things like how to write an email or a memo to clients are never made part of a law school curriculum. The projects which we use to submit or the research we did for moots were far away from the real world assignments. After being five years in the profession, I believe that there is a serious disconnect between a law school teachings and what profession actually demands. TeamResearch.in which is my venture is devised to bridge this gap and equip 3rd to 5th year students get a sense of real world experience in their law school. It is my firm belief that one day TeamResearch.in will play a key role in helping students to be better professionals.

     

    Tell us about the life at HNLU.

    In HNLU I participated in various moot court competitions, debates, extempore, Mock-UN and other customary co-curricular activities. Thanks to the well devised academic calendar, I could get more than twenty articles published in national and international journals and simultaneously have sufficient time to be a part of cricket and football teams of my batch. The idea of TeamResearch.in, which is now a reality, has taken its roots in HNLU. On personal front, HNLU got me more than a few good friends and the life partner. Taken all together, life at HNLU was anything but hectic and monotonous.

     

    Do you subscribe to the belief that certain NLUs are more elite than the others?

    With the number of law colleges mushrooming every year, lack of experienced faculty members and the poor education quality I believe students of certain ‘elite’ and established NLU’s have a much easier time in kick-starting their career as compared to law students from other colleges. The best example is to compare a final year student of any one of the new NLUs with a NLSIU student. On an average top 5% of NLSIU grads will either have a scholarship from a foreign university or a trainee contract with magic circle firms. However, even after years of inception, toppers of new NLUs struggle hard to secure a job with tier one law firm. However I have always believed the famous saying “It isn’t where you came from; it’s where you’re going that counts.”

     

    After graduating from HNLU you directly joined Paras Kuhad Associates. How did the appointment take place?

    In the final year of my law school when recession was at its peak I interned at PKA, when I received a pre placement offer. I accepted the offer and opted out of my college recruitment drive. After graduation, I joined the firm and actively worked in both litigation and corporate teams. I was fortunate to personally work with Mr. Kuhad, who is now designated as the Additional Solicitor General of India and learn intricacies of law from him.

     

    mayank-mishra2What prompted the switchover from PKA to Pathak & Associates Law Offices?

    After working for two years at PKA, I wanted to broaden my learning curve and consensually decided to work with a corporate law firm. One of my senior from HNLU who was then working with P&A helped me to get an interview with Mr. Pathak. The interview went well and I joined P&A.

    In terms of clients and work environment, the two firms were quite different. At PKA we had majority of Indian clients, whereas at P&A we use to serve foreign clients. Likewise while working at PKA, I use to make plans for dinner with my friends, but at P&A I could only manage to get last movie show of the day once in a fortnight. In terms of work quality both these firms were fantastic and helped me to grow as a professional and a person I’m today.

     

    You thereafter left P&A to start working at Caspian Adviser. What led to this shift?

    Working for P&A was certainly my first choice but starting a venture of my own was something which I always wanted to do. In the midst of love and quest for passion, I decided to shift to Caspian Adviser – a Hyderabad based private equity fund and took a break from demanding law firm’s life. At Caspian, I’m responsible for management of all legal matters. The scope of work includes liasioning with law firms and key managerial personnel of our investee companies, attending board and committee meetings, making periodical presentations to the board of directors, drafting and negotiations of transaction documents and advising the senior management on structuring of domestic and cross border debt and equity transactions.

     

    mayank-mishra3

    Please tell us about your venture TeamResearch.in.

    TeamResearch.in is India’s 1st professionally managed and most reliable online legal research assistant. With an extensive market analysis and experience gathered, the venture has been designed to effectively assist the lawyers, hard pressed associates in law firms, in-house counsels, professionals and entrepreneurs, in performing the complex legal research on varied areas of law. If I have to summarize in one sentence, TeamResearch.in is designed to redefine the way legal research is being conducted. I endeavour to provide my clients a tailored and most reliable and authentic legal research assistance which they can rely upon.

     

    What is the overall model of TeamResearch.in?

    I personally ensure simplicity and credibility remains the virtue for TeamResearch.in. The mode of TeamResearch.in is as simple as one can comprehend. The entire venture is divided in following 3 steps:

    One – Lawyers, associates in law firms, in-house counsels, professionals or entrepreneurs (Client/ Query Seeker) who wish to avail services of TeamResearch.in are required to visit our website and post their query online. Once a query is received, we send an email to the Client/Query Seeker confirming the delivery schedule and our bank account details for processing the payment.

    Two – The query is sent to at least two meritorious researchers who are registered with TeamResearch.in and one qualified lawyer of TeamResearch.in.

    Three – All responses are then compiled, reviewed, crosschecked and authenticated by an independent experienced lawyer. Thereafter, a final research note is prepared and delivered to the Client/Query Seeker in a time bound manner. For clarifications and questions, we also arrange on call support services.

    For further details, please refer to http://teamresearch.in/How-it-Works.htm

     

    How will you ensure the quality of research by students?

    To maintain quality of research note, all queries are independently researched upon by at least one qualified and experienced lawyer of TeamResearch.in. Additionally, TeamResearch.in closely monitors and reviews every research note which it sends out to the Client/ Query Seeker.

     

    Who do you think will take services of TeamResearch.in?

    The services of TeamResearch.in will be availed by all those individual lawyers who wish to follow their passion, enjoy weekend getaways, spend ‘that’ extra hour with family and friends and more importantly have dearth of capable juniors and resources to conduct exhaustive research on their own. Additionally, small to mid-sized law firms and in house counsels who look forward for reducing their operational cost, will take the services of TeamResearch.in. We also expect budding entrepreneurs and start-ups with financial constrain to take services of TeamResearch.in.

     

    Apart from your clients, how do you think student fraternity will be benefited by TeamResearch.in?

    Students who are and will be associated with TeamResearch.in are trained to handle work pressure and equip themselves with research skills. Further, TeamResearch.in gives a flavour of gaining real world work experience which a student just can’t get in his/her classroom. Furthermore, TeamResearch.in financially rewards its researchers and pays them for every successful research assignment.

     

    Where did you get the inspiration for this venture?

    The idea of TeamResearch.in developed its roots during my law school life, where I discussed the idea with my roommate and the co-founder of TeamResearch.in Mr. M. Srinivas. As a student, I have got various opportunities to intern with a broad range of organizations and leading law firms. During my internships I was expected to extract information, research for relevant case laws and process them into a fine deliverable, which formed the basis for answering queries to structuring transactions and arguments in court rooms. I realised the necessity of having a capable and well groomed intern throughout the year and not just during the semester breaks of law schools. As the academic curriculum of most law schools demand high classroom attendance, I visualized making an intern available all round the year on a virtual platform.

     

    Why will you succeed where so many others have not made the cut?

    (It seems that other competitors have tried this business model earlier and have not been much successful in evolving a revenue stream. Grayscale and Lexbiosis come to our mind.)

    It would not be wise to comment on success or failure of Grayscale and Lexbiosis but certainly the substratum of TeamResearch.in is completely different than its predecessors. Unlike a typical undergrad initiative, TeamResearch.in is an organization which is lead by professionals and meant for professionals. Our core team comprises of qualified lawyers who are well versed with the requirements of legal fraternity. The reason for our success is the effective pricing of our services and credibility of the research assistance.

     

    How are you financing the business?

    The initial funding came from my personal savings and a portion from Srinivas. With the fantastic pace TeamResearch.in is growing, I believe it should reach its break-even point very soon. After reaching the break-even point, we will be looking for an angel investment to take our start-up to a whole new level. Meanwhile, I wish to recruit a few lawyers in order to cope up with the growing spree of TeamResearch.in.

     

    You are a corporate professional and also have started-up at the same time. How do you manage these two different involvements?

    I firmly believe that if one deploys his time wisely, managing a venture along with routine professional life is not difficult. Yes, at times I feel pushed but my team is always available for rescue.

     

    If I want to start up on my own someday, what would be an ideal time in my career to take such a risk?

    As Walt Disney said “The way to get started is to quit talking and start doing.” If the idea is good and one can financially sustain the venture for at least 24 months, any time is a good time. Do remember it’s always good to try than to cry.

     

    Who all are associated with TeamResearch?

    Apart from Srinivas and my wife Ruchi who is also a lawyer and a member of TeamResearch, we have retained a part-time IT engineer for managing the TeamResearch.in web portal. Presently, we have a database of approximately one-hundred researchers from almost all NLUs and law colleges, an advisory group comprising of fifteen associates/senior associates from leading law firms and one practicing company secretary to handle secretarial compliance. In past, we have also taken services of several experienced lawyers for drafting of petitions and corporate agreements.

     

    What qualities or factors should one look at while selecting a co-founder?

    I believe that there is no definite mantra. It’s not you but the idea which identifies a co-founder on its own. Compatibility and trust are the two important factors which one must look while selecting a co-founder. I am fortunate to have Srinivas as a co-founder of TeamResearch.in.

     

    Tell us about the biggest challenge you faced while starting up and how you solved them.

    The biggest challenge which I faced was to come out of my comfort zone and start TeamResearch.in. To overcome the myth that one cannot start a venture while working as a legal professional was difficult to crack. It took me 4 years to make TeamResearch.in a reality. Thanks to Srinivas and Ruchi for the constant support which has helped me to get TeamResearch.in where it stands today.

     

    Where do you see yourself five years down the line?

    Five years is a very long period. I see TeamResearch.in as a consultancy firm in a few years which will not only help lawyers across the country to identify correct legal position or a case law but also assist fresh graduates from law schools to understand the profession better. I want TeamResearch.in to groom students in their law school life and make them marketable for the real legal world. Just like, moots, publications and courses, I want TeamResearch.in to be a de facto part of every law student’s life.

    Also, we are going to add new services which include drafting of agreements, petitions, preparation of study materials for workshops and conferences and providing research assistance to students who are pursuing higher studies.

     

     

  • Anish Jaipuriar, Law Graduate, NLUO, on being offered a PPO from Khaitan & Co., summer school from LSE and on mooting

    Anish Jaipuriar graduated from NLUO, Cuttack, in 2014, as part of their inaugural batch. During this time he has interned with the Food Corporation of India, Khaitan & Co., Indus Legal, Zeus Law Associate, and AMSS. He has also managed the moot court committee, represented NLUO at various moots, and has also attended one of the best summer school programmes at the London School of Economics.

    Anish has received a pre-placement offer from Khaitan & Co.

    In this interview we speak to him about :

    • His mooting experience
    • Attending London School of Economics
    • Receiving a PPO from Khaitan

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    Apart from law, I love watching movies, visiting new places. I am also very passionate about mooting.

    My childhood was mostly spent in Bokaro Steel City, Jharkhand. I completed my schooling from Delhi Public School. After having completed my Xth from there, my family shifted to New Delhi where I completed my XI and XII and finally appeared for the law entrance tests and got selected at NLUO. My parents were my inspirational sources which became the driving factor to get to where I am today and to where I want to go. I am a first generation lawyer, my father is a Chartered Accountant and has his private practice so, choosing law was something new for the entire family.

     

    What motivated you to choose law as a career?

    My ending up in law was more an accident than a well thought plan. I was all set to join Manchester University to pursue Economics (Hons.) and International Business, but due to various personal reasons I decided to pursue Economics (Hons.) from Delhi University, but the course did not suit me at all, so I decided to appear for law entrances and finally ended up in NLUO. Fortunately it turned out to be a life changer and I am happy it turned out the way it did.

     

    What co-curricular activities did you engage yourself in?

    Well, I was also a member of various student committees such Literary and Debating and for a brief period I was also associated with the Mess and Hostel committee. I spearheaded the 1st Intra-University Debating Competition for selection of a pool of debaters who would represent NLUO in different debating competition held nationally and internationally. I was also the member of editorial board of the 1st NLUO Law Review.

     

    You were the convener of The Moot Society. What skills do you get to hone while managing such a responsibility?

    In the five years of my law school life, I have regularly been associated with The Moot Society (TMS) in several capacities: as a member for one academic session, a convener for three academic sessions and as an expert advisor in my final year. Mooting is one of the most important activities that take place in a law school apart from academics. Given that my University was in its early years of establishment, as a convener you have the biggest responsibility of developing mooting culture in a law school, and with our current Mooting Premier League (MPL) ranking I feel very happy.

    These years of my association with TMS has helped me improve on my inter-personal skills, organizational skills and has made me more responsible. It helped me develop and polish my multi-tasking skills.

     

     

    How important is mooting?

    (Anish has participated in various moot court competitions like ELSA, Price Law Media, NLUD Corp, and GH Raisoni.)

    In the first few weeks of law school I decided to do four moots: two as speaker and two as researcher. When I took this decision I had no clue how it would help my CV, but sure as anything I wanted to add good content to my CV and make it long. It was only in time that I learnt it is not the number of pages in CVs that help you but the quality that you carry in it. In the four moots that I have done, one got me a Best Memorandum award and in the other one I was adjudged the Best Mooter and my team qualified into the semi-finals.

    Mooting helps you identify and improve your legal skills, the answer to the question whether it helps your CV is an absolute YES!!

     

    anish-jaipuriar1

    Can you tell us about your experience at LSE?

    (Anish attended a summer school course at the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science on Introduction to International Financial Law and Regulation.)

    LSE is one of the top schools in the world and to have its name in my CV was a big for me. The experience of being part of LSE history and to study there and walk around the campus is just something you can’t compare. No matter how great you think it is going to be, the LSE feel is just beyond imagination. Though it was a short course of three weeks, you have so many things to be done; if you intend to pass the exams and submit the essays for evaluation in time you will soon realize that this trip is not a holiday. Right from the welcome party to boat party to weekends’ trip to Oxford and Cambridge, the entire course is filled with events like opera, drama and sightseeing, LSE leaves you wanting for more.

    LSE summer school takes place in two sessions, you can select a course from each session and attend both session or you can attend just one session. The application process is online, fill in the application within deadline submit the same along with supporting documents with the application fee (request for waiver may be made), and wait for them to reply. You can check the status of your application online. For more info you can visit this webpage.

     

    Tell us what all places you interned at and how did you procure your internships?

    When it comes to internship, I find myself quite lucky, because I am sure even with the right merits and grades one may not land up a good internship. I started my first Corporate Law internship at Hemant Sahai Associates, thereafter I interned with Khaitan & Co in its Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore offices. I also had the opportunity to intern with Zeus Law Associates with its corporate team. I have also done an internship with Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co, Mumbai office.

    I got through HSA, KCo. and AMS internships trough e-mail and interview process and Zeus and litigation internship through Internship committee in place at NLUO.

     

    What kind of work did you come across during your internships?

    At KCo. I was associated with the corporate team, I was also asked to accompany a team to another city for a due-diligence work. At AMSS, I was interning in the tax team and was given mostly research work.

     

    Give us some tips on framing a CV?

    Preparing your CV is more like a balancing act; you must balance both the curriculum side, extra-curricular and co-curricular side. But again there is no straight rule for preparing your CV. To a certain extent it depends for which place the CV is meant for.

     

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

    Yes, after completing my third and last internship at KCO, I applied for a position and was shortlisted for interview. After clearing the first round of interview, I was shortlisted for second round and after clearing the same I was then offered a PPO.

    I mostly read the basics of Company Law, and prepared my CV; one needs to know everything that has been mentioned in the CV. Companies Act 2013 was another important area of questioning.

     

    What do you think an intern should do to get the “call-back”?

    The first week of any internship is the most crucial, because they start to entrust you with work and the quicker you get the associates to give you meaningful work, the faster you can rely on them to give you good feedback which plays a crucial role for a call-back. Also, you need to give your best; seriousness and punctuality goes a long way in making an impression. No matter how small the work is, do it well and you will be noticed.

     

    Where do you see yourself five years from now?

    In five years I see myself as a senior associate. LL.M is definitely a plan, but for now I want to concentrate on what I have right now.

     

    You being from the first batch of NLUO, do you think that being from a relatively new law college made any difference?

    Being the first batch of a law school we did not have any alumni to look up to for help and support, so we had to do everything from the start. This really helped us as it made us more independent and allowed us to witness and build a law school from the scratch.

    Yes, as a new law school we didn’t have a well functioning internship or placement committee in place, so we did face a lot of trouble getting the attention of the law firms and lawyers. Even when it comes to mooting it took us a lot of time to make our mark, we learnt from our mistakes and improved upon them. As a first batch we did realise our geographical disadvantage but we have worked really hard to reduce the affect of the same, right from hosting Stetson, to organising international and national seminar and conferences.

     

    What message would you like to give to our readers?

    I will convey it in the famous words of Walt Disney: “If you can DREAM it, you can DO it.” Obstacles will come in life; no matter where and what you are just work hard, just keep in mind that every time you have to make a choice about anything, always ask yourself whether this goes toward or away from what you want? Always choose what goes towards what you want.

     

  • Manoj Menon, Partner, Dua Associates, on skills which transform an associate to a partner

    Manoj Menon is a graduate from NLSIU, batch of 1996. He was recruited into a Chicago based firm called Arthur Andersen LLP considered as one of the ‘Big Five’ in Accounting after his graduation. Thereafter in 2004 he became a partner at Dua Associates. After working there for sometime he founded Tatva Legal along with some of his colleagues. In 2013, he moved back to Dua Associates.

    In this interview we speak to him about:

    • Working at an US based accounting firm
    • Becoming a partner of Dua Associates in a short time
    • What it takes to become a Partner from an Associate

    Tell us something about your life before law school.

    I grew up in Cochin and went to high school there. My father and my brother are doctors though I did have a couple of uncles who were practicing lawyers.

     

    The image of a lawyer back in ’91 was neither inspiring nor attractive for most students. What motivated you to choose law as a career?

    While I was growing up, we were made to believe that the only career options available were medicine or engineering. Law was something of a back-up option that you pursued if you did not make it to medical or engineering school! I was nudged into considering law as an option by my uncle who told me about National Law School. NLS was about three years old then and yet to have a graduating batch. It seemed like a good idea at that time and so I went with the flow.

     

    How important do you think mooting is for law students?

    While I wasn’t a mooter in NLS, in retrospect I think mooting can be very useful in helping you hone your research skills as well as to help you analyse issues in a manner you would be required to once you start practicing law. It also forces you to think on your feet and gives you a feel of what litigation could be all about.

     

    If you see that a person you are considering to hire is good at mooting, debating and has a few publications, does it influence your decision to some extent?

    It definitely does not hurt to have additional skill sets and these could be differentiators while evaluating two otherwise well matched candidates. However, I feel that work experience is the most important aspect of your resume and could be the difference between whether you are hired or not. Personally, it is very important that the person I am hiring fits in with the culture of the firm and sometime you have to go with your gut on that one!

     

    Now that you are on the other side of the table, what do you think a fresher should do in order to get hired?

    Andersen was one of the firms that recruited from campus. They had recruited from campus the previous year and so I had friends who had already spent time there and loved the place. Recruiters for Andersen looked beyond just grades and tried to gauge potential of the candidates through various rounds of interview and luckily for me, they saw something in me that they liked. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have worked in Andersen because of the amazing work culture and for the solid foundation that I believe it gave me.

     

    What would you say helped you join the ranks of a partner?

    A partner of a firm is someone who can add value to the firm and help grow the practice. Normally, it involves ability to execute work efficiently as well as to bring in new work. The firm gives you an opportunity to grow your own practice within the umbrella for the firm w ith minimal interference and this helped me grow as a lawyer and make the natural progression towards partnership.

     

    What kind of effort should a young associate put in to work to get it appreciated?

    What I look for in an associate is the willingness to learn and the desire to get better at what they are doing. If you have that, everything else falls into place. Taking responsibility is a huge part of the learning process and when you see that in an associate, you naturally end up pushing good work towards that person and relying on that person.

     

    What does a partner at a Law Firm like Dua Associates do?

    A partner typically starts and ends his day worrying about billing and recoveries! While there is no typical work day, the responsibility extends to sourcing work and ensuring that the work is executed effectively. Keeping your team happy or in the very least content, is the key to sleeping well at night!

     

    When you hire lawyers under you, what kind of skills and profile do you look for?

    Like I said, I look for someone who I feel can learn fast and who fits in with the ethos of the firm. More often than not, you get a feel of the person when you meet him/her and from there on you hope for the best! With working lawyers, work experience is a key factor. With fresh graduates, while internship experience matters, I basically look for a bright person who I feel can learn fast on the job.

     

    How important is it for a law firm partner to be good at business development, or are great lawyering skills enough to become a partner?

    Traditionally, a partner is expected to generate billings for the firm. However, firms adopt different models where certain partners could be rainmakers while others would concentrate more on servicing the work so generated. Partners could also concentrate on specific aspects such as business development or administration of the firm depending on the way a firm is structured. It is important to identify ones specific strengths and work in an organisation where such skill sets are considered relevant while evaluating eligibility for partnership.

     

    Dua Associates have offered internship opportunities to a lot of law students. What would you look for in a cover letter and a CV?

    We typically look for students doing their third year of law or more. While prior internship experience helps, an interest in a particular branch of law or some exposure to the same like attending seminars or publishing articles on the subject would be helpful.

     

    How do you think interns can get noticed in a positive way in the limited time they have?

    Unfortunately, interns are often plied with drudge work. However, if they take initiative and show an interest in taking on work, it surely helps.

     

    Do you think higher studies can be a necessity for a successful legal professional?

    While I don’t think that higher studies are an absolute necessity for a successful career, it makes for some great exposure which can add value to a professional. I believe it is a matter of personal choice but having said that, if you have the opportunity, I would definitely recommend that you grab it.

     

    How does one strike a work-life ba

    I believe how you manage your life is a matter of choice and once you figure out your priorities in life, you will find a way to maintain your work-life balance. An important aspect of the same would also be to work for an organisation which shares your values and which respects the fact that you are entitled to a personal life outside work.

     

    Lastly, what would be your message to law students and young lawyers who aspire to become a partner at a top-notch law firm?

    Be careful, what you wish for!