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  • Anirudh Rao, Legal Counsel, Infosys London, on LL.M from GWU and job at the World Bank

    Anirudh Rao, Legal Counsel, Infosys London, on LL.M from GWU and job at the World Bank

    Anirudh Rao is a London-based Legal Counsel for Infosys Limited. He graduated from University Law College, Bangalore in 2009. Thereafter he pursued an LL.M from The George Washington University Law School, Washington, DC. He joined the World Bank Group as an Associate before shifting to his current job. In this interview he talks about:

    • LL.M from George Washington University
    • Tips on SoP, scholarships, interviews with foreign law firms/companies
    • Working at World Bank Group and Infosys, London

     

    Our readers are mostly lawyers and law students, how would you introduce yourself?

    I am Anirudh Rao, a London based Legal Counsel for Infosys Limited. Prior to joining Infosys, I worked for the World Bank Group as an Associate in Washington, DC. I graduated from The George Washington University Law School, Washington, DC in 2010 and University Law College, Bangalore University in 2009.

     

    What motivated you to gravitate towards law, as a discipline and a career?

    I was keen on doing something that involved the right mix of problem-solving, analysis and creative thinking. Although it did flutter the dovecotes, the one thing I knew for sure was that I did not want to touch math with a bargepole! Having been driven towards humanities from my high school years, pursuing a degree in law therefore seemed to be a natural progression as a career choice for me.

     

    Please tell us about your time at University Law College. What experiences during these five years would you think particularly helped you shape as a law professional?

    I attended University Law College (ULC) from 2004 to 2009. One of the key advantages I felt about attending ULC was that it allowed me adequate time to participate in moot court competitions, contribute to law journals and gain practical knowledge through internships. At the end of each semester during the course of my degree I interned at both law firms and companies, and during the year I was able to leverage my research skills to write papers that eventually got published in both print and online law journals. It was these experiences that helped bring a lot of perspective in to what I wanted to do as well as shape my career as a lawyer.

     

    What was the decisive factor that prompted you to choose George Washington University Law School from the plethora of options available? Did you always have higher studies in your mind? If not, what motivated you to go in for the same?

    I always wanted to be able to savour the experience of being an integral part of a multi-cultural, ethnic and linguistic class of creative and persevering minds from around the world sharing more than just the need for scholarly advancement.

    Washington, DC being the seat of power of the US government and major international organisations is also a cosmopolitan center for international commerce and business. I felt being in DC and attending GWU located in the heart of DC would put me at a distinct advantage to expand my professional network. I was also awarded the Thomas Buergenthal Scholarship on the basis of academic merit which covered my tuition for a semester.

     

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    Would you suggest having a brief work experience before applying for LL.M.?

    I had no work experience when I went to pursue an LL.M. Personally, I have no regrets looking back at my decision because it did not impede my career progression. However, I also recognise that having some work experience certainly helps in building perspective on taking a decision regarding the preferred area of study and shaping one’s career path.

     

    How did you structure your SoP? Please share some tips for a successful application. What according to you is a good profile for securing scholarships & funding?

    I don’t think I was alone in writing the first draft of my SoP and feeling like I got it wrong. A law school receives hundreds of applications and the evaluators are tasked with the arduous responsibility of reading all of them. What one needs to avoid is stating the obvious, being extraneous or generally lacklustre. A strong opening paragraph will keep the evaluator’s interest to read the rest of the SoP with a positive mindset.

    With regards to scholarships and funding, I feel that having the right mix of consistent academic performance with moot court achievements, publications and internship experience will be able to propel applications further. Highly ranked universities look for more of well rounded CVs; highlighting any outstanding sporting achievements, social volunteering and/or any other stellar achievements goes a long way in securing coveted seats and hopefully scholarships to go with it.

     

    Please tell us about your time at GWU. Was it difficult for you to adjust to a US based education system? What differences did you find in the educations system of India and US?

    GWU Law School was a fantastic experience. The faculty ranged from a former judge in the International Court of Justice, a former Register of Copyrights to subject matter experts who have testified before the US Congress. My campus life ranged from attending socials, intramural and intercollegiate sports, live music concerts and town hall meetings. My fellow students were from 30+ different countries around the globe; people ranging from former judges to a South Korean guard who previously manned the De-Militarized Zone between the two Koreas. It was a perfect opportunity to make lasting friendships in the legal fraternity across the globe.

    The LL.M program at GW is designed to allow international students to settle into the US learning system through specific coursework and breakout sessions; as such, it was not difficult to adapt to the changed circumstances. I was also fortunate to have great professor-mentors.

    Education systems in India and US are as different as chalk and cheese. As one would expect, classes were interactive rather than lecture based which meant one would have to go prepared to class. The culmination of the course at the end of the semester did not always end up in taking a routine exam to regurgitate what one had memorised through the past months. We had a repertoire of assessments including presentations, research paper submissions and theses. Students were also graded on the quality of interactions in class through the semester.

     

    How did your induction into the World Bank Group as an Associate take place? Were there any interviews or selection processes?

    The World Bank is located next to GWU Law School in Washington, DC. In fact, I took classes where I would look out the window and dream about crossing the street and working there after graduating! The US economy hadn’t fully recovered from the recession in 2010, jobs were few and far between; being based in DC certainly played a major role in securing a job at the World Bank. I would show up at World Bank hosted events and spent considerable time and effort networking with officials and engaging in conversation about their work while expressing my willingness to collaborate with them in their projects.

    Initially I was offered a short term contract. I continued to network which eventually led me to the Head of Operations and Business Strategy at the Global Environment Facility (GEF) who requested me to apply for an advertised posting through the World Bank’s job portal. Few weeks later I was called for a formal interview that was lead by a panel of four. I was asked questions about my background, competencies and how I would be a fit to the role. I came out feeling positive about my answers, a few days later, I got an email from then offering me a full-time staff position. My time there was exceptional, one experience that stands out for me was a project mission to Liberia and travelling across the country to pristine Lake Piso along the border with Sierra Leone to oversee a land degradation project.

     

    Currently you work as a Legal Counsel at Infosys, London, UK. Which events led to your induction into Infosys, London? How did your appointment take place?

    I was introduced to the then General Counsel of Infosys, through a friend, whom I later met at a World Bank hosted event in Washington, DC. I was looking to transition to the private sector and we discussed briefly about my interest in a contracts and commercial transactional role that Infosys was looking to fill. I wanted to have the benefit of a multi-jurisdictional profile and felt that crossing the Atlantic over to London would exemplify a vibrant work experience. After a round of interviews in Bangalore and working there for a year, London has been home to me and I am thoroughly enjoying it.

     

    What does your current work profile at Infosys consists of? What is a typical workday like? Are there new challenges everyday or has work settled into a predictable pattern?

    My profile is that of a commercial transactions counsel with a responsibility to lead negotiations, draft and review contracts for the provision of IT services and deliverables. I work with a vast array of customers both in the UK and in continental Europe across industries including but not limited to finance, retail, energy and utilities and manufacturing.

    A typical work day includes liaising with internal teams, negotiations with clients and assisting the business with both contracts and compliance related legal support.

    Everyday brings with it a new set of challenges and that is the way it should be to keep oneself intellectually stimulated.

     

    Tell us a bit about work culture in UK. Would you say that there exists a difference in the working environment of UK and USA?

    Both the UK and the US in general are very accepting and cosmopolitan societies to expatriates. I felt that differences between the UK and US’s working culture revolves around communication styles, sense of humour and emotional expressiveness. Especially while working in a client facing role as a lawyer where one gets the opportunity to work with people across cultures, I think it is critical to pay attention to one’s surroundings and take ample time to reflect on other people’s behaviour as well as one’s own.

     

    Can you give us advice on applications and interviews, especially with foreign law firms/companies?

    When applying to foreign companies and organisations, students are competing against local graduates who by no means are in short supply both in terms of quantity and talent. It is especially crucial to stand out and exceed expectations. The humble resume is expected to tell a student’s story in one or two pages and may be able to open the first door. One can benefit from getting their resumes peer reviewed for substance and consistency. Interviews can be daunting, however, one must manifest hunger, drive and confidence to convince why they are the right fit for the job.

     

    Any plans to come back to India?

    No fixed plans yet. There is an excitement in playing it by the ear. But who knows what the future holds!

     

    Aside from work, we understand that you are a running enthusiast, can you tell us more?

    Running gives me a nonpareil high and is also a stress buster. I started running long distance as a student and haven’t looked back since. I run both for pleasure and competitively. The two personal triumphs that stand out for me are the Auroville Half Marathon in Pondicherry in 2014 where I finished in the top 10% with about 500 runners competing and the Coorg Escapade half marathon also in 2014 where the relay team that I led finished third overall. The former was a trail run in the wilderness starting before sunrise in low visibility and the latter was a challenging high gradient uphill trail run in a tea estate setting with twists and turns across waterfalls, streams and green pastures.

     

    What are the three activities on a scale of priority, you would recommend?

    It is important for students to carve out an individualistic identity. At the same time, one should not forget to enjoy one’s time as a student. Personally, I benefited greatly from the following activities:

    1. internships
    2. law review publications and
    3. moot courts.

     

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

    In the words of Muhammad Ali “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life”. Getting cocooned in a comfort zone is always easy but getting off the beaten track and persevering will always pay off, sooner or later.

  • Aditya Chatterjee, Associate, Keystone Partners, on litigation, Jessup and managing extra-curriculars at law school

    Aditya Chatterjee, Associate, Keystone Partners, on litigation, Jessup and managing extra-curriculars at law school

    Aditya Chatterjee graduated from Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar. His aspirations to become a litigator led to his internships with Mr. Nikhil Nayyar, Advocate-on-record, Supreme Court and at Nayak & Srikumar (now Keystone Partners). He is also the Founder Editor of “The Colloquium”, an online views journal.

    His mooting achievements include the Best Memorial Award at the India Rounds of the 53rd Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition where he was also adjudged Fourth Best Advocate. He is currently working at Keystone Partners. In this interview he talks about:

    • Law school experience at GNLU
    • Pursuing litigation as a career
    • Founding “The Colloquium”

     

    What motivated you to pursue law as a career?

    Atticus Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird 🙂 (Seriously!)

     

    Tell us a bit about your time at GNLU.

    Five years in law school have, without doubt, been my best days so far. I learnt a lot from what was taught in class and even more from just being in law school (read: hostel). I was not the exam-driven studious kind and was nowhere close to being among the toppers in class; all the same I quite liked studying and went about it in my own way. I was more involved in say organising a screening of 12 Angry Men than I was in scoring well in the evidence law paper. The approach adopted with most courses in law school certainly exposed the inter-disciplinary nature of the study of law to me. I did not like courses where we only stuck to text book material. I am grateful to some of the professors at GNLU for allowing me the freedom to explore subjects just the way I wanted to. I think somewhere this freedom has contributed to my being able to decide on litigation as my career choice early on in law school.

    And academics apart…

    In college I spent a great deal of my time in running GNLU’s cultural committee and starting the film club and photography club. One of football, volleyball or badminton featured in my daily schedule. I dabbled in debates and quizzes; had my share of mooting as well.

     

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    How would you compare your alma mater with other premier law institutes in India?

    I don’t see how I can make an objective comparison. I have after all studied only in GNLU and know very little about how things are in other law universities. That said, I think GNLU has some extremely good faculty for some subjects, while also having its share of subjects that I would not count among GNLU’s strengths. This I assume would be the case in most other law schools as well. The important bit for me however is that, the attitude to academics in GNLU has not been completely blinkered by an examination centric system. We had enough happening around the core curriculum to keep the courses lively.

     

    Please tell us about your approach towards academics while in college.

    My approach to academics in college was somewhat unconventional. My CGPA was nothing great. I was essentially a five-point someone and just about managed to cross in to higher grades on a couple of occasions. I did not attach too much importance to studying for exams and scoring high marks. I however did put in a lot of effort into and spent more time on projects and class presentations. At times I volunteered in researching for classes as an informal teaching assistant, while also teaching a few modules to junior batches.

     

    Tell us about the kind of internships that you did while in law school. Did you have any such experience during an internship which helped you decide your career choice?

    I came in to law school with the idea that I would someday want to argue in court. Litigation was my calling and I picked internships accordingly. I applied for internships based on recommendations from friends who had previously interned under certain lawyers or on suggestions from my bosses at a particular internship. I started off with placements with lawyers who had large trial court practices and then moved on to High Court and Supreme Court internships.

    There was a criminal law (trial) internship that I did in Bangalore with special focus on forensic evidence. Mr. Shankarappa’s (advocate on the criminal law side in Bangalore) practice had a great variety of such matters. I assisted in the evidence stage of a murder trial involving the death of a call-centre employee in Bangalore. This exercise involved a fair bit of understanding of how forensic evidence works. Also this particular case had attracted considerable media attention and had generated some public opinion. To some extent, during this particular internship I was taught to understand things the way a lawyer is expected to, without being too influenced by opinions created outside the case file.

    All my internships have been hugely beneficial. The third year onwards, I deliberately chose to work in smaller offices where the amount of work outweighed the number of lawyers.  During most of my internships I got deeply involved in the cases that were assigned to me and tried to go about research and preparations as if I was going to argue the case. Internship experiences in the chambers of Mr. Nikhil Nayyar, Advocate-on-record, Supreme Court and at Nayak & Srikumar (currently called Keystone Partners – where I am now employed) egged me on to take up litigation straight out of college.

     

    What are the biggest hurdles and challenges of a litigation career? How do you deal with them and with litigation generally?

    Well, I still am in the early days of my career and challenges are a daily feature. The initial few days I just spent in coming to terms with how little I knew of how courts work.  Over time you learn on the job and things seem more comprehensible, you feel less clueless. The manner in which you deal with these challenges matures with time, as you better your understanding of the job, the law and court procedure. In the first couple of months as a litigating lawyer my sole aim was to see a hearing through without making a fool of myself. There sure were times when I did not manage that, but I must concede that every court outing, good or bad, has been a big learning experience. The only way to learn and get better, I would think, is by spending productive hours in court, preparing thoroughly for every hearing and perfecting your basics. As for court craft, there is no real way of learning it. You probably develop it for yourself by appearing in court regularly and from watching senior colleagues in action.

    As for the second part of the question: Progress in litigation can be slow and testing; the only way forward is by constantly keeping at it and innovating your way through trying situations. At the end of it all though, the high that follows a good day in court makes litigation worth all the time and labour it demands.

     

    What are the essential soft skills that a law student aspiring to make a successful career in litigation should work on?

    Just the willingness to learn and the drive to keep at it.

     

    You are the Founder Editor of ‘The Colloquium’, an online views journal. Please tell us about the experience. What made you start this website?

    The initial idea was to create some sort of a platform for stories and news that are not considered news worthy by the mainstream media. Unfortunately most of the mainstream media is constrained by market limitations. The attributes that a particular story needs to boast of to make it to television studios or appear in print ensures that certain kind of news (or views) will forever be denied space. On the other extreme some very pertinent issues of public importance get limited to discussions in peer-reviewed academic journals.  The Colloquium has in its own small way tried to provide space to lesser heard stories.

    The experience of running the journal has been very educative. The interviews with Capt. Lakshmi Sehgal, Justice V R Krishan Iyer and Shyam Benegal have been most memorable. It gave me the opportunity of documenting glimpses of some notably extraordinary lives.

     

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

    Mooting can help introduce oneself to preparing a brief or researching on a point of law. That said, it cannot claim to compare with the experience of researching or drafting for a case in court. Moot courts do not always demand a nuanced understanding of the law as much as it recognises the ability to argue a certain legal proposition. As for significance to a law student, I would rate a good internship experience over a good moot experience. But given all of this you cannot take away from the excitement and fun that mooting brings with it. To some extent it teaches you that a good argument in law cannot be confused with good oratory. That substance assumes priority over style and diction is a lesson that mooting has taught me.

     

    Your team secured the ‘Best Memorial’ award at the India Rounds of the 53rd Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition. Additionally, you were also adjudged the Fourth Best Student Advocate. How did you go about your preparation?

    The credit for this does not belong to me. I was fortunate to be a part of a very good team. The preparation was gruelling, at the same time very enjoyable. We spent a lot of time having heated arguments on propositions that we wanted to plead. It helped that two of my team-mates had very well-reasoned opposing views on almost every point, and thus drafting memos for rival sides became a tad bit easier. Our research was quite exhaustive and a great deal of effort went into ensuring that our memorials were unblemished. With a huge chunk of the ground work having already been done, a decent performance during the argument rounds did not seem very difficult.

     

    You have also since drafted moot problems and judged argument rounds. What was the experience like to be on the other side?

    Far less stressful!

     

    Pic Courtesy: Ishani Dave
    Pic Courtesy: Ishani Dave

    How important do you think that extra-curricular activities are to a law student? How can one manage time effectively?

    I did not manage my time effectively. I devoted almost all my time to extra-curricular and co-curricular activities. My approach was simple – I got involved in anything that interested me and everything that I thought was worth exploring. Working on college journals, heading the cultural committee, debating, quizzing, films, photography and sports, all of these exposed me to things that a text book would never teach me. These activities in fact made classroom learning more engaging. Law school would have been quite drab had it not been for these experiences.

     

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

    Do not let ‘recruitments’ take control of your life in law school.

    For most of us law school happens just once, have fun while it lasts 🙂

  • Sahana Raghunathan, Associate, JSA, Chennai, on studying at ILS Pune, recruitment and work at a top law firm

    Sahana Raghunathan, Associate, JSA, Chennai, on studying at ILS Pune, recruitment and work at a top law firm

    Sahana Raghunathan is an Associate at JSA, Chennai. She graduated from ILS Law College, Pune with a BSL LL.B degree. She also pursued Diploma courses in Human Rights and Corporate Laws. After graduation, she joined Vichar Partners as an Associate. Vichar Partners was subsequently merged with JSA where she continued to work. In this interview she talks about:

    • Studying at ILS and Diploma Courses
    • Recruitments and internships at JSA, Chennai
    • A career in corporate law and maintaining work-life balance

     

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

    Let me start by thanking SuperLawyer for this amazing opportunity. Greetings from the city of Chennai! I am Sahana Raghunathan, Associate, JSA. A Proud 90’s kid and a Corporate Lawyer. Enthusiasm personified.

    Having always been a topper and driven by marks in school, engineering “ought” to have been the natural next step. It was something like a rebellious decision (read: against the typical belief of a “tambrahm” family) to take commerce in class 11. My father likes to believe it’s because he convinced me that law and economics is a good combination. I have been told that two of my great-grandfathers were part of the then judicial system. Let’s just say that this gene skipped many a generation before me! Jokes apart and however clichéd it may sound, it was going to be either law or journalism. One road was taken, the other not. I am now with the corporate team in JSA, Chennai and my main practice areas include private equity, mergers and acquisition, banking and finance and general corporate commercial.

     

    Tell us about your college life at ILS Law College, Pune. What was the reason behind pursuing various Diploma courses? Was it a professional requirement to enhance more in your career?

    Choosing to pursue law in any city, away from home, was a conscious decision and it had a lot to do with wanting to lead an independent life (not to be read as misusing independence et al).Being the first batch to give CLAT, I was placed in Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law Punjab. But I decided to go ahead with Indian Law Society (ILS) Law College, Pune, as it is a very well established institution and it proved to be the perfect choice. Attending early morning lectures seems to have prepped me for my early morning work hours now. But the main advantage of studying in ILS, apart from the excellent and very approachable faculty, is the fact that we had the rest of the day to ourselves to pursue our other interests, legal or otherwise (no pun intended). The Diploma in Human Rights (in my second year of law school) was to get a feel of that side of law I knew I would not make a career of. When in my third year, the Diploma in Corporate Laws gave me a direction to follow and I was sure of what I wanted to do once I graduated from law school.

     

    Please comment on the quality and structure of these courses. How much practical knowledge did you gain from it?

    We had the diploma classes as frequent as thrice a week depending on the schedule of the main course (i.e., BSL. LL.B). Excellent part time faculty, who were mostly working professionals, were engaged to take practical sessions and though these sessions were not as effective as internships, they were helpful nonetheless.

     

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

    My internships during law school have been in various fields: IP, corporate litigation, general corporate commercial, banking and arbitration. Though I have always been inclined towards a career in corporate law, I wanted to venture into other areas as well and when better a time than as a student. I was really lucky to have interned with some of the best advocates such as Mr. Satish Parasaranand law firms/legal departments in Chennai such as R&P Associates, HSB Associates and Kotak Mahindra Bank.

    As an intern, the workload is less and the seniors there tend to pamper you as they know life after graduation. Talking to them, learning practical aspects of working from them and also utilising the libraries at such offices always prepared me for a better next year at law school. I knew what to look out for and how to grow professionally.

     

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

    On a theoretical level, law school preps you to know the law. The internships prepare you for the practical aspect, as in how to implement the law and how to work with it. The first few months at work is when you actually get to realise how to work the two in tandem and be creative while balancing the two.

     

    Soon after graduation you joined Vichar Partners as an Associate. Did all the attorneys from Vichar Partners continue to work after the Merger with JSA? Did it affect your work in any way?

    Yes, that’s correct. It was announced that Vichar Partners was set to merge with JSA, one of the top national law firms, effective April 1, 2014. It was an exciting moment as a young associate to realise that I would get to work with attorneys pan India and the level of exposure I would get while doing so. And yes, all the attorneys and the staff of Vichar Partners were absorbed by JSA post-merger.

    We, at Vichar, always believed in providing outstanding legal solutions, in our chosen practice areas with a strong emphasis on ethics. So it was very easy to fall in line with the mission statement of JSA. The transition was easy as the working culture was similar in both the firms and the merger has been having a very positive impact on our working style.

     

    What is your take on working at a smaller law firm in early years of career rather than working at a very big law firm?

    I wanted to join a mid-sized firm with an effective presence in the market and Vichar fit the bill perfectly. And I am glad that they decided to welcome me. The reason behind choosing a growing firm like Vichar was so that the hype and pressures around a top firm could be avoided at the beginning stages of my career but at the same time, be exposed to that same level of work and clientele. My time at Vichar was a learning slate that prepared me and gave me the confidence, both professionally and personally, to meld easily into JSA.

     

    How was your first year after graduation? What were the biggest hurdles and challenges after joining work? How did you deal with them?

    I was a lucky fresher who had a very happening first year at work:

    Mid-sized firm into a top national law firm;

    Companies Act, 1956 to the Companies Act, 2013.

    It was a little confusing at first; we had learnt the old statute while in law school but we were expected to apply the new statute at work. That I would say was one of the top concerns in my first year. At JSA, we give a lot of importance to knowledge management. We regularly have internal team discussions across the JSA offices and internal seminars and presentations that help us stay on top of things and this also ensures networking intra JSA.

     

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

    I am a team player. I believe that achieving the same result as that of what the client expects from you is the most satisfying aspect of work. And for that, team work with structured hierarchy is very essential. I value the time my seniors spend in mentoring me, my peers spend in discussions with me and my juniors spend in assisting me. Respecting my colleagues’ comments and the ability to value their input is what has helped me reach the stage I am at today.

    I think a lot of corporate lawyers would agree with me when I say that it is impossible to send out a perfect first draft. In the last one and half years of work, I have learnt that stress is only going to add to my mistakes. Getting the concepts clear, discussing it with your colleagues, reading up on it will minimalize the errors and prepare you for subsequent transactions. Also, do hope that a supreme power (read: mentoring partner/ senior associate) is around to save your dayJ

     

    There is a considerable attrition rate at the top law firms, what do you think contributes to this?

    I am sure that the reasons are mostly the same irrespective of the field of work. Some of the common grounds may be immense stress or pressure; internal politics; personal issues or plain boredom.

     

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

    Timelines and deadlines. These two words give every corporate lawyer the same feeling as an e-mail wherein the client negotiates for a lower fee quote. As an intern, I had not been exposed to unimaginable timelines. I was always under the impression that lawyers were above all and our opinion was the law of the land. Apparently not. The clients seem to know, from their experience, as much if not more than a lawyer, the workings of law on a practical basis. And if it is a start-up, they expect the lawyers to learn the law along with them. The respect has been and will always be for the law.

     

    What are the other related fields where a corporate lawyer can try hand apart from joining law firms and corporate houses?

    This era seems to be sprouting new and innovative law related jobs. One can look at being hired at legal recruitment firms; go on secondments to companies where there is no in-house legal team; join legal database compilation teams; involve in translation of legislations from vernacular languages to English and vice versa etc. And not to forget, I think every lawyer should do his/her share of pro bono work.

     

    What is the procedure for internship and recruitment at Chennai office of JSA? Please tell our readers about the same?

    Applicants are encouraged to apply at least 6 months in advance of the month during which internship is sought. Applicants may also apply to internship@jsalaw.com. For further details, please visit http://internship.jsalaw.com/application-process.aspx.

     

    Life for lawfirmites can be very hectic at times. What is your take on work-life balance? How do you unwind?

    I think it is okay to push oneself to a certain limit. Sometimes people work best under pressure as it drives them till they are able to solve their way out. But it is equally important to know and respect one’s health and family and not push away/ neglect the same. I try to keep my weekends as free as possible (atleast Sundays for sure). I find it rejuvenating to open my laptop on a Monday morning if I have seen it last on a Friday night. But since that is a farfetched dream, let’s just go with making the most of weekends and some weeknights when the deliverables for the day are done early.

    For me, unwinding means time for DIY stuff (evidenced from my office desk and walls at home); quality time with family and friends; surfing social media sites and organising/ coordinating events (from family get-togethers to JSA annual attorney retreats).

     

    What is the current scenario of studying corporate law as a career option in India? What would be your parting message to law students who want to be successful in corporate law?

    To graduate in law within the next few years would be ideal for anyone looking to make an impact in this field. New law firms are emerging; established law firms are either expanding or splitting, and all this leads to the same: boom in the job market with inevitable and intense competition.

    My parting message:

    • Know the law and enjoy working with it;
    • Be disciplined in your work; this is no place to be casual or careless;
    • Treat your clients with respect and acknowledge the fact they know the law as much as you do;
    • And finally, let law be the winner.
  • Munish Mehra, Partner, Saikrishna and Associates, on specialising in IPR, changes in career, tips to associates and interns

    Munish Mehra, Partner, Saikrishna and Associates, on specialising in IPR, changes in career, tips to associates and interns

    Munish Mehra belongs to the first batch of NLIU, Bhopal (Batch of 2003). After graduation he joined AMSS as an Associate for 9 months before switching to Anand and Anand where he subsequently became a Managing Associate. Thereafter, he joined Luthra & Luthra Law Offices as a Managing Associate. In January 2014, he joined Saikrishna and Associates and within 11 months, he was promoted to Partner. In this interview he talks about:

    • Academics and specializing in IPR Laws
    • Working at full service law firms and boutique law firms
    • Tips on converting internships to a PPO

     

    What brought you into studying law? Was it fate or plan?

    My foray into studying law was totally unplanned as I do not come from a legal background and am a first generation lawyer. I heard of the National Law School at Bangalore for the first time in 1998 through a friend who happened to be studying there. As luck would have it, the National Law Institute University was set up at Bhopal in the same year that I graduated from school i.e. 1998. I gave the entrance exam for the university, got through and things moved ahead from there.

     

    Please tell us a little about your law school days at the National Law Institute University, Bhopal? How were you at academics?

    As a part of the first batch of NLIU, Bhopal, I think all of us were a little sceptical about how the university would develop in the future. I still remember the first day of the academic session in September 1998 when we started from a premises which had been rented by the Government for the University and we set up the tables and chairs ourselves in a little classroom and got down to studying law. What helped in the initial trimesters was the inclusion of various BA subjects such as sociology, history etc which helped us to get into the groove so to speak before moving onto hardcore legal subjects. I was a relatively good student through my years at the University and finished in the top five of my class when we graduated.

     

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

    The importance of a good CGPA has increased over the years with the advent of numerous law schools coming up in various other states. However, I firmly believe that to have a good career in the legal profession, a good CGPA is just one element which plays a part in the making of a good lawyer.

     

    You have specialized in IPR law. What made you interested in the same? How do you say one can gain expertise in IPR Law? What does it take to be a good IPR lawyer?

    In the first couple of years at the University, a few seminars and moot courts were organized focusing on IPR law which played a major part in me developing an interest in IPR law. We had not yet studied IPR law till then as they were a part of the 4th year subjects. I then did two internships with Anand & Anand at the end of my 2nd and 3rd years which give me an insight into how IPR law actually works in the real world. The process of gaining expertise in IPR law or becoming a good IPR lawyer is no different from any other branch of law and requires one to be able to grasp the issues involved in the case at hand which forms the basis of your claim or defence, as the case may be, and presenting a well drafted and argued brief before a Court.

     

    You started your career at AMSS as an Associate. How did you secure your appointment? How would you describe your experience working there?

    I was recruited by AMSS pursuant to the first campus placement which happened at the University at the time the first batch was about to pass out. In fact, AMSS was the only law firm which came for the placement of our first batch and two people were recruited by the Firm. Working at AMSS was an interesting experience as even at that time it was considered to be the best full service law firm in India. My area of work involved general corporate commercial advisory and transactions. I think the biggest takeaway from my tenure at AMSS was that it made one realise that there is a sizable difference between studying subjects theoretically in law school and their application in real world deals and transactions as there are so many practical facets and situations which one is not exposed to while studying subjects in law school.

     

    After 9 months of work at AMSS, you switched to Anand and Anand as an Associate and later worked as a Managing Associate there. You also had the oppurtunity to work at Luthra & Luthra Law Offices as a Managing Associate. Please share your experience at both these place.

    It was a conscious decision to make the shift from AMSS to Anand & Anand as after a while I realised that my real interest lay in practising IPR law even though the initiation into the real legal world through AMSS held me in good stead in the coming years. I worked at Anand & Anand for nearly six years during the course of which I led the anti-piracy and anti-counterfeiting practice at the firm and had a wonderful time doing so. Luthra & Luthra posed a new challenge in terms of setting a new practice area from the ground up and it was an interesting experience to go back to a full service set from a boutique firm.

     

    Also, was there any difference in the work environment of these two law firms, considering the fact that Anand and Anand mainly deals with IPR law whereas Luthra & Luthra is a full service law firm?

    The work environment of a full service and boutique firm does vary to a large extent. The environment in a boutique firm tends to be more informal and due to a lesser number of individuals, helps in developing interpersonal relationships faster. A full service firm environment on the other hand is much more regimented and necessarily so because of the sheer number of people working there. Therefore, it does take some time to get used to it if you have joined from a smaller setup.

     

    What qualities do you think helped you for promotion to Managing Associate at Anand and Anand & Luthra and Luthra Law Offices?

    It was a combination of factors such as developing an expertise in my practice area and being able to handle matters competently and independently relatively early in my tenure at Anand & Anand. Most importantly, it helped that I was able to develop a rapport with the clients I worked with regularly so that when the time came for elevation to Managing Associate, clients were more than happy with me leading their matters on a regular basis without requiring a supervising partner. Consequently, my team reported directly to the Managing Partner of the firm.

     

    You were made a partner at Saikrishna and Associates in just Eleven months of work. What would you say helped you to join the ranks of a Partner?

    In January, 2014, I joined Saikrishna and Assciates as an Of-Counsel and within 11 months, I was promoted to the ranks of a Partner. So to say, yes, I was made a partner in Eleven months.

    Well I was a lateral hire from Luthra & Luthra having spent three years independently handling my own team and servicing the clients which had given me work when I shifted from Anand & Anand. I guess the ability to service clients professionally, train a team from the ground up, manage them and independently run successful campaigns on behalf of various clients were factors which led to me being elevated at a Partner at Saikrishna & Associates.

     

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

    At an associate level, the requirements are relatively simple in terms of being totally aware of the factual matrix of the matter, doing diligent and through research, being reasonably acceptable at drafting and being disciplined at the work place. If an associate is able to display the abovementioned qualities, any firm would be more than happy as nothing more is expected. The deliverables as expected from a Partner are totally different as he or she is expected to provide strategic advice and guidance to a client on a particular matter or campaign, monitor and supervise the work done by associates, and also ensure that billing targets as given by the Firm are met by his team and recoveries happen in a timely manner.

     

    What does a Partner at a Law Firm like Saikrishna and Associates do? What falls within the scope of your responsibility? Tell us about a typical work day.

    A Partner at Saikrishna & Associates is responsible for supervision of matters handled by his or her team, appearances before various Courts, providing strategic advice in relation to matters, reviewing opinions and memos as required by clients from time to time on various legal aspects, ensuring that billing targets are met by the team and also developing and bringing new work into the Firm. A typical day involves either going to Court for matters as listed, or coming into the office and handling various miscellaneous work such as reviewing opinions, legal pleadings, client meetings and telecons. The Firm does a lot of outstation matters which usually involves travelling to various courts across states and either a Partner or Senior Associate/Associate does that depending upon the importance of the hearing and the complexity of the matter.

     

    How important is it for a Partner of a law firm to be good at business development, or are great lawyering skills enough to become a partner? What separates the people who become Partner from those who don’t?

    Different people have different skill sets and not every Partner in a law firm is a rainmaker. It is of course beneficial for a Partner to be good at business development as that helps in the overall growth of a Firm but at the same time it is important to have senior people in the Firm who are able to handle the day to day supervision and functioning of their respective departments thereby contributing to the overall efficiency and quality of work done by a Firm. I think the ability to handle and supervise complex matters, manage teams independently, provide strategic but practical advice to clients and having the ability to develop long standing relationships with clients which generate revenues for the Firm is what separates people who become Partners from those who don’t. That is not to say that other individuals are not equally important as human talent and expertise is the most valuable resource of a law firm and that is what gives a firm its “reputation”.

     

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    How is the work culture at Saikrishna and Associates? If an Associate commits a mistake or an error what course of action do you follow?

    Saikrishna & Associates has a great and innovative work culture which is quite different from the regimented schedules which some firms insist upon. The focus of the Firm is on “client delivery” and empowering individuals to be responsible for their work product. The result is that you find Associates as well as Partners being happily available to clients 24/7 which is much appreciated. I think the way a Firm deals with a mistake by an Associate is reflected by how its senior people deal with such a situation and in that sense the Firm has preferred to explain the error rather than “shout” at an Associate for committing a mistake.

     

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

    I think it’s important for a lawyer to keep abreast of as many developments in law as possible as you never know on which facet a client may need urgent advice. An IPR matter may involve a taxation or royalty aspect one day or a criminal law aspect another day. Therefore, it’s very difficult to pinpoint any other branch of law which a lawyer must focus on to be proficient in the field of IPR.

     

    What changes has being a Partner brought into your life, do you ever feel that there is excess of work load on you? How do you manage to strike a balance between your personal and professional life?

    Being a Partner does bring added responsibility as you are ultimately responsible to the client for the work product turned out by your team. A Partner, as mentioned earlier does have to make efforts to bring in new clients into the Firm for its overall growth and development. The culture of the workplace makes a huge difference in being able to maintain a balance between work and personal life while a lot of firms may say that they place a great emphasis on the work life balance of their lawyers, our Firm does actually walk the talk so to speak.

     

    The trend is now on gathering various internship experiences at different places. Was the scenario same while you were pursuing law? How is internship helpful for a law student?

    The number of internships as done by students now, are a lot more as compared to when I was in law school. It’s not uncommon to find ten to twelve internships on a CV these days while we used to do one internship a year. An internship is very useful for a law student as you are exposed to so many practical facets of actual legal practice which is impossible to experience in law school. However, it is important to focus on the type of internships which a law student does during his law school years as the quality of internships are more important than the quantity on a CV.

     

    What is the procedure to apply for an internship or recruitment at Saikrishna and Associates? What are the qualities which they look for in their prospective employees?

    We have a Partner who is in charge of internships at the Firm. Prospective internees send their resumes to our HR department pursuant to which the Partner decides the internships to be granted for a particular period. We take special care not to overstuff the firm with a lot of interns at any given time to ensure that all interns get quality exposure to the work being done at the firm.

     

    What do you feel makes an intern stand out and is very important for him to do to have a chance of getting a call back or even a PPO? How do you think interns can get noticed in a positive way in the limited time they have?

    It’s important for an intern to be diligent and disciplined at his or her work. Reasonable oral and written skills, a decent knowledge of first principles and the ability to research properly is what makes an intern stand out from the crowd so to speak. It’s also important for internees to do at least a one month internship to enable the Firm to assess their capabilities as a 10 or 15 day internship, which some students do today to increase their tally of internships doesn’t really help in them either learning anything about the Firm or increasing their chances of getting a PPO.

     

    What would you suggest to someone who is preparing to work with an IPR law firm? What are the basic subjects which one should read and have understanding of before sitting for an interview?

    If an individual is interested in working for an IPR boutique firm then it’s advisable to be aware of the “first principles” and basics of IPR law in relation to Copyrights, Trademarks, Patents etc. An awareness of recent developments in the field of IPR is also very helpful and there are various online blogs and commentaries which regularly report such developments and recent case law.

     

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

    It depends on the type of practice an individual wants to do. As an independent practitioner, it’s necessary to be conversant with various areas of law be it civil, criminal or even company/corporate law litigation and advisory. A lawyer in a law firm will typically specialize in a few areas and will be known in the profession for his expertise in those areas. I have come across very few lawyers working in law firms who can claim to be masters in all fields.

     

    Is there anything you would like to have done differently?

    I think every experience and decision teaches you something new which makes you a better person and professional. So to sum it up, I really would not have done things differently. There is still a long way to go and lawyers never retire anyways!!

     

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

    Ideally sitting on a beach and relaxing!! On a more serious note, one would like to be someone known in the profession as an individual who is dependable, experienced and sought after. Every lawyer likes to be well known and let them not tell you otherwise. I really don’t aspire to be like someone. I would rather be known as myself ten years down the line.

     

  • Amit Sachdeva, Associate E&Y, USA, on double-LL.M from LSE and NYU and being a noted tax practitioner

    Amit Sachdeva, Associate E&Y, USA, on double-LL.M from LSE and NYU and being a noted tax practitioner

    Amit Sachdeva completed his BA.LLB from GGSIPU after which he went on to pursue an LL.M in Corporate and Commercial Laws. On the successful completion of his degree he worked with Vaish Associates. Thereafter, he pursued his second LL.M from NYU. At present he works an associate at Ernst & Young, US.

    His two most cherished achievements are: successfully taking the Diploma in Private international Law from the Hague Academy of International Law – one of the youngest to do so since 1950 and one of the four in India to have it; and getting recognised in Legal500.com and in Tax Directors’ Handbook as an “up-and-coming lawyer who specializes in tax litigation”.

    In this interview with Amit, he talks about:

    • Completing his bachelors in law from GGSIPU.
    • Being a part of the LSE curriculum as an LL.M student.
    • His working days at Vaish Associates.
    • His Diploma in Private international Law from the Hague Academy of International Law – one of the youngest to do so since 1950 and one of the four in India to have it.
    • His experience of studying at NYU, from where he did his second LL.M.
    • Working at Ernst & Young Associates, USA at present.

     

    Say Hi! to our readers!

    Hello! I am Amit Sachdeva. I was born and brought up in Faridabad, a suburb of New Delhi. Currently, I work as an M&A Tax attorney at Ernst & Young US. I am an alumnus of GGSIPU, LSE and NYU.

     

    What motivated you to gravitate towards law, as a discipline and a career? Why did you decide to study law at GGSIPU?

    Law for me was a natural career choice. My father, Mr. Madan Lal Sachdeva, was an advocate. I idealize him. I was always inspired by the respect he commanded in the society, by his ability to reason everything and by his natural passion—which was professionally crafted—to defy “aisahi hotahai” (this is how it works) attitude. These early childhood impressions took full shape when I began to realize the difference a lawyer can make to the society.

    While in Class XII all my friends were aspiring to be doctors, engineers and chartered accountants, I wanted to something that was intellectually stimulating, financially rewarding and socially empowering; something that was constant and dynamic at the same time, something that needed patience and excitement simultaneously. Law was like a perfect blend!

    GGSIPU, in 2002, was the only law school in New Delhi that offered a law course straight after high school. I didn’t want to move out of New Delhi—that’s the place we have the Parliament, the Supreme Court and the Ministries. I thought there couldn’t be a better place to study law than in New Delhi. And, as I reflect on it; I don’t disagree.

     

    Please tell us about your time at GGSIPU. What experiences during these five years would you think particularly helped you shape as a law professional?

    GGSIPU School of Law and Legal Studies was a treat. My experience was very fulfilling. The fact that ours was the second batch had its own challenges and fun. The challenge was that we had to steer our own way. And the fun was exactly that. There is no better way of learning than pioneering. Each day was an experience. Classroom discussions, moot court competitions, summer internships, cricket matches, canteen time, all of them had a part to play in how I got shaped. I think GGSIPU was an experience in itself.

     

    You have been an outstanding student throughout your school and college years. It’s not every day that someone achieves an academic laurel in each year of school! Please give us a few actionable tips on managing good grades.

    Well, I think there is no mantra to good grades. Quite honestly, I think while grades aesthetically matter, it is the passion for your work that matters more. If you ask me for a tip, it will be this: try to understand a rule for a lifetime, not commit it to memory for an exam. There is a reason behind why a rule is what it is. If you try following the reason, law school exams are not hard to score on.

     

    Soon after graduation, you went on a full tuition scholarship to London School of Economics and Political Science for an LL.M in Corporate and Commercial Laws. What was the decisive factor that prompted you to choose LSE from amongst the options available?

    As I grew up at law school, I realized the relevance of a fuller education and an international experience to our profession. It was in the early part of the fourth year of law school that I decided to apply for an LL.M. degree. Of the various options, the ones that I was seriously considering were Oxford University and LSE. Although Oxford has an impeccable legal tradition, I decided to join LSE primarily for the very reason I got drawn to GGSIPU five years ago: what better place to study law than the capital city. LSE is in London. Besides, LSE also has, I think, a better reputation for corporate, commercial, and international business laws than Oxford does. Of course, there is an element of subjectivity around it. But that is what I thought. The other reason was that Oxford offered me a partial-scholarship; LSE, a full. I didn’t apply to any law school in the US.

     

    What should one do differently in college if he/she wants to pursue higher studies after graduation? What according to you is a good profile for securing scholarships and funding?

    Following an LL.M straight after school, or spending a little time at work and then pursuing a master’s degree, is really a matter of personal choice. A lot of factors play in, such as availability of finances, family commitments, etc. Having pursued an LL.M directly after school and then another one after some work ex, I would second that work experience does put a lot of things in perspective.

    As far as admissions are concerned, I think finding an admission in a top LL.M program is hard. And, finding a scholarship is harder. I think the trick is to demonstrate two things. First, an all-round personality and, second, a commitment to the field you want to pursue. Participating in moot court competitions, debates, mock parliaments, summer internships, besides good grades and writing articles should go a long way. Publications are often viewed as synonymous with academic excellence and commitment. A handful of international publications and I think you jump the queue of applicants for a place at a top LL.M program. I must however hasten to emphasize that a reviewer spends a few minutes reviewing a case for a scholarship. So, if you get one, thank your stars; if you don’t, there is no reason to be disheartened… the decision may not be a reflection of your potential. There is just no exact science out there.

     

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    Please tell us about your time at LSE. Tell us about the academic pressure, faculty and campus life. What differences did you find between the education systems of India and the U.K.?

    The UK system is as close to the Indian as it can be. An overwhelming majority of our statutes and court decisions are based on or drawn from those of the UK. So, adjustment was not much of an issue. What was however a surprise—a pleasant one of course—was to first-hand experience the level of legal scholarship. I had the opportunity to be a student of some of the most respected scholarsacross the globe. Prof. Paul Davies (author of Gower and Davies, Principles of Company Law), Prof. Trevor Hartley (Private International Law) or Prof. Christopher Greenwood (since appointed as Judge, ICJ), the list is endless; they are scholarship-personified. I think the Indian education system needs two things—sincerity and funding.

     

    Meanwhile, you were also awarded a Diploma in Private International Law from The Hague Academy of International Law. How did you go about achieving this? Please tell us about the procedure to apply and the course.

    Yes, and I was also one of the youngest persons in the world to achieve this feat since the Diploma was incepted in 1950 and one of the only four Indians to hold this Diploma.

    Every year The Hague Academy of International Law organizes a summer school. The school has two sessions: one in Public International Law and the other in Private International Law. The sessions are taught by some of best professors and practitioners in the world. Each session attracts about 300 students. The applications are announced on their official website. Based on the performance of the students, some of the students sit for the Diploma exam. Although there is no cap, roughly about 10 students take the exam each session. There is a written test and then take an extempore oral test on a topic of international law. This is followed by the panel interviewing the student with questions, some related and some unrelated to the assigned topic. At the end, one or sometimes two students are awarded the Diploma.

     

    After coming back to India, you started your career at Vaish Associates. How did your appointment take place? Please walk us through your work profile.

    I joined the Direct Taxes team of Vaish Associates in September 2008. I had emailed the HR there. Vaish was one of the most welcoming law firms I came across. They acknowledged my email—something we don’t see too often. I had two rounds of interviews. After the interview with partner I was extended an offer to join their tax litigation team. I grabbed the opportunity.

    As a member of the tax litigation team, I attended client meetings, drafted petitions and appeals, appeared before tax officers and represented matters before the courts. I had the opportunity to handle work for many of the Fortune500 companies. In my first year, my work was more domestic tax focussed, but as I spent more time with the practice, international tax occupied my plate more and more. My partners often engaged me on assignments that involved intensive research into dense regulations, engagements that required knowledge and understanding of laws other than tax law, and matters that challenged constitutional validity of tax statutes. I handled a large number of writ petitions challenging the validity of reassessment proceedings. In addition, I would write tax opinions for our clients and render other advisory services.

     

    Tell us what did you like the most about your days at Vaish Associates.

    I had some of the best time of my life at Vaish. I worked long hours, made great friends, learnt tax law and partied. Besides, I helped the firm organize conferences, published papers, conducted team trainings, etc. It was a wholesome experience. What I liked the most about the place was the open-door policy. This meant that professionals at all levels, starting from associates and all the way up, had full access to all the partners at all times. Mr. Ajay Vohra, Mr. Rupesh Jain and Mr. Neeraj Jain personally ensured that this work ethic percolated all the way down. Mr. Rupesh Jain continues to be my mentor. I do reach out to him even today for discussions—both at personal and professional levels.

     

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    In 2013, you were noted in Legal500.com and in Tax Directors’ Handbook as an “up-and-coming lawyer who specializes in tax litigation”. How did you feel about it?

    “It must be a misprint!” were the first words that I uttered when a colleague of mine at Vaish Associates came to my desk and broke the news to me. I had no idea about it. There was no application process … no submission … no request from my side. I understand that Legal500 and TDHB undertake an independent survey of the market and clients, and report their findings impartially. Once it sank in that my name was noted, I was overwhelmed. On the lighter side, I continue to believe that it was a misprint! By far, this and The Hague Academy Diploma are two achievements that are closest to my heart.

     

    You were briefly a Visiting Faculty at NLU, Delhi where you taught a semester-long Certificate Course on Direct Taxation. How did you manage to eke out time?

    I have a passion for teaching. I have always wanted to be an adjunct professor. NLU Delhi offers semester long certificate courses. I think these students were some of the most self-motivated ones I have come across. In order to accommodate my professional commitments, my students sometimes sat in classes starting 9 in the evening and going well past midnight. One weekend they travelled all the way from Dwarka to the Vaish office in central Delhi. I think they managed, I did not. All I did was: talk! If any of my former students is reading this interview, I want to say: thank you!

     

    You left your job to pursue a second LL.M. degree., this time at NYU. Considering that you had already earned an LL.M degree, what prompted you for this?

    My first LL.M was in Corporate and Commercial Laws. But, as it turned out I began practicing tax law. So, the primary motivation was to understand the theoretical underpinnings of the rules I invoked so often in practice. I always believed that there is much to learn from the US and the UK systems, and knowing their laws would boost my practice. Besides, I also wanted to develop an international network of professionals working in the same field as I was. So, that led me to apply for another LL.M. I already had an LL.M. from the UK, I decided to cross the Atlantic and try my luck at some US universities. With God’s grace, I was offered an admission with a scholarship I couldn’t turn down. My mother and my elder brother supported my decision to go.

     

    Currently you work as an Associate at Ernst & Young, Houston, USA. Which events led to your induction into EY, USA?

    NYU School of Law makes a significant investment in its careers office. There are a couple of job fairs that NYU organizes. The careers office also invites employers from across the country to the law school to interview NYU students. I applied for a number of job interviews, had call back interviews with a few. EY Houston office had also participated in one such interview program. I had a telephonic interview followed by an on-campus interview, and a round of four interviews during office visit. Shortly after the office visit, I was offered a position. The entire recruitment process spanned over three/four weeks.

     

    What does your current work profile at EY consists of? Share with us a few of the most challenging problems you have faced thus far?

    I work with the M&A Tax team at EY. My practice entails conducting tax due diligence, writing tax memoranda and tax structuring. Typically, a tax DD is like a health check-up from a tax perspective. Tax memoranda are a narrative of what the legal position on an issue is. Tax structuring, which is my favourite, involves informing clients of the different structuring options in which a transaction may be done.

    The complexity of the US tax law is the most challenging part of my work. But, that is also the part I enjoy the most about my practice.

     

    Tell us a bit about work culture in USA. How is EY, USA different from an Indian company/firm in terms of their working?

    I think as we brisk walk more into this millennium, our practices, behaviours, languages, cultures, ethics are converging. I don’t see too much of a difference between the work culture in the US and India. My friends and colleagues who work EY India endorse this. My personal experience at Vaish was no different.

     

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

    Law School is perhaps the best time one can have in a lifetime. Enjoy it to the fullest. At the same time, be mindful of your goals, and of what you want. Also remember that lawyers are never out of work. If the economy is doing well, there is more corporate activity like M&A, IPOs, project finance, etc.; if it slows down we get involved in a different type of legal work like distressed debts, reconstructions, hedging, asset management, etc. The problem is that our education system focuses so heavily on traditional legal courses, and so little on these more modern ones. My suggestion would be that students should focus on these areas too.

  • Priya Dixit on getting recruited as an Assistant Counsel – Legal at Johnson & Johnson

    Priya Dixit on getting recruited as an Assistant Counsel – Legal at Johnson & Johnson

    Priya Dixit graduated from ILS Law College, Pune in 2011. During law school, she interned at modest law firms and with independent practitioners in order to ensure maximum learning in diverse subjects of law. Soon after graduation, she joined Johnson and Johnson as a Legal Trainee and after 18 months of hard work, she was promoted to the ranks of Assistant Counsel – Legal.

    In this interview she talks about:

    • Studying at ILS Law College, Pune
    • Being an in-house counsel
    • Recruitment and work experience at Johnson & Johnson

     

    Our readers consist of law aspirants, law students and young lawyers. How will you introduce yourself to them?

    I am an in-house counsel for Johnson & Johnson Pvt. Ltd. (J&J) since 2011. I graduated from ILS, Pune and went on to join my current company as a Legal Trainee. I was fortunate to be the first legal trainee globally to join J&J, as it does not recruit law graduates straight out of college. Since then there has been no looking back and the learning curve has been very steep for me.

     

    Tell us a bit about your educational background. Do you have lawyers in your family?

    After High School, I opted to pursue my higher secondary studies in commerce. Interestingly, almost my entire family has an engineering background. However, my grandfather was a lawyer and his extensive library always fascinated me. After my grandfather, I am the first lawyer in my family.

     

    What motivated you to choose law as a career?

    Fortunately, my parents have always been extremely supportive of the choices I have made so far. My interest in law developed over the years while visiting my grandfather during summer vacations and observing him counsel his clients with such ease and candour. The fact that people came to him with their problems and he could provide them with a solution is what fascinated me.

     

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    How did you get through to ILS Law School, Pune?

    The admission to ILS is on the basis of your 12th grade score. ILS does not have the requirement of an entrance exam .As I enjoyed studying commerce subjects, scoring well in higher secondary was not difficult. This is how I got through ILS Law College, Pune.

     

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

    After commercial laws, contracts and law of evidence, I enjoyed family law the most! The complexity of family law with each religion specific provision intrigued me.

    Co-curricular activities consisted of the moot courts, research work, competitions and diplomas. For law students reading this post, don’t fret yourself on achieving a long list of co-curricular activities. Involve yourself in co-curricular activities which are of interest to you, that should provide as a good foundation.

     

    Tell us about the places you have interned at. Did you plan your internships throughout law school?

    To be very frank I don’t have a long list of prestigious internships to boast about. My internships were spread across modest firms and independent practitioners. The basic idea was to ensure maximum learning experience in diverse subjects of law as I was pretty sure about pursuing corporate law in the long run. Therefore the internships around Human Rights, Laws of Evidence, and Intellectual Property, coupled with court assistance experience gave me valuable learning skills and confidence for post qualification work.

     

    Soon after graduation, you joined Johnson & Johnson as a Law Trainee and currently work as an Assistant Counsel-Legal there. How did your appointment take place? How did your promotions happen?

    The year of my graduation, I was not a part of the group which was selected for campus placements. (Looking back I consider that as fortunate as I was not quite ready to apply and join law firms). After the euphoria of getting my law degree wore off, I applied to a few corporates as well as law firms. During this time I applied for an opening in my current Company (through an online portal) and my Resume was shortlisted for a telephonic interview. After cracking the telephonic interview which was mostly to assess my legal knowledge, I was called for two rounds of personal interview in Mumbai. The personal interviews were conducted by the HR head and the Legal Head. The personal interviews were mostly to assess my confidence and inquisitiveness to learn. The interviewers later told me that what impressed them was the fact that I demonstrated knowledge about the operations of the Company and was aware of its many brands (apart from the Johnson’s Baby Range)

    As the Company did not have a Campus Recruitment Program for law graduates, I was hired as a Trainee to assess if I could fit in the team and developed as a resource. After an exhaustive training of 18 months I was confirmed and ended up being a part of a great team which comprises of some of the best legal experts in the industry.

    On the basis of the feedback I have received from my seniors and peers in the organisation, I have been promoted twice in the last 3 years on the basis of my strong business partnering skills and energy levels demonstrated,

     

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

    As a law graduate the most crucial aspect was understanding the business operations. Stating what the law says is only one part of the bigger puzzle. However, I soon realized that complete understanding of the entire puzzle is important in order to foresee the legal challenges which can arise while drafting a contract or advising the business on their next big project.

    I always made sure that I have a clear understanding of the issue before giving any advice. The key is to ask as many questions as possible when in doubt. It goes without saying that as a lawyer you should be aware of the applicable law. Over and above that, know the business, understand the issue, look at it from all possible perspectives and then provide legal advice.

     

    Tell us about the nature of work you’re entrusted with and what a typical day is like. What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

    In my current profile I am entrusted with compliances around Drugs and Cosmetics Laws, Food Laws, Packaged Commodity Laws, Advertising Regulations, Competition Laws, IPR, Employment laws. etc. In addition to these, on an ad hoc basis, I also advise the business on Real Estate laws, Local Pollution and Environmental laws etc. In addition to the advisory profile I also handle the Litigation portfolio for the Consumer Division of J&J.

    I feel the most challenging aspect of my job is the expectation of instant advice. When you have a strong business connect and network within the Organisation, people just walk upto you for “quick” advice. This requires that I keep myself abreast with the amendments and constantly upscale my legal knowledge across various fields.

     

    What amount of legal work is there? What have been your failures and successes?

    There is varied work in the organisation. The variety drives away monotony and keeps me on my toes. There are regular internal trainings and presentations which keep my public speaking skills polished. (So I do not miss out on the feel of a Courtroom appearance!)

    Speaking of successes first, I feel my biggest success was when my Manager showed the confidence in me to brief a leading Senior Counsel, by myself, for an important matter in the High Court. Apart from this I have had the opportunity to handle some really complex litigations and crucial company projects. In addition to this I cherish the moment when I was awarded for my work at an Asia Pacific level.

    The learning experience, as I like to call it, were the 8 months in my career where I had to step up to handle my current profile along with the indirect tax profile.. Having no prior experience in tax laws Initially struggled at understanding the taxation concepts as well as the litigation involved. It led to certain delays and I found it difficult to prioritise work. However since then there has been no looking back and the experience taught me time management as well as performing under pressure.

     

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

    Johnson & Johnson has a strong value based ethical culture. The transparency and paramount importance given to doing the right thing ensures we are not faced with any ethical conflicts and are able to work with a strong sense of passion and integrity.  As my seniors tell me, there is no mistake which cannot be corrected. On a personal front, I ensure high stake matters are reviewed by seniors and advice is not given based on incomplete knowledge.

     

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

    Good grades sit on your resume all your life and they are the first measure to assess you as a student / potential employee. However, I feel a more rounded personality is the need of the hour and not just a high CGPA. The plus side with Law Schools is that you get to intern early on and have the opportunity to prove your mettle. So the focus for law students should be a fair mix of giving importance to grades as well as gaining practical exposure as much as they can.

     

    Does Johnson and Johnson take interns? Please tell our readers about the process for same.

    We do not have an Internship Program for law graduates. However, given the scale of legal work involved I will definitely recommend the option of initiating a summer internship program in my company.

     

    It is believed that the work of an in-house counsel is restricted compared to that of a law firm lawyer but the latter has less (or no) work-life balance. Do you think this is true?

    I feel the in house work is mostly structured and with a little planning, work-life balance is achievable. In law firm practice, as I understand from my peers, as the day is divided between courts appearances and office work as well as research work, the work life balance maybe difficult to achieve. However, students starting off their career should give more importance to the quality of work in the initial years and learning the nuances of the trade. Work-life balance can be eventually worked out.

     

    Where do you see yourself five years from now? Would you consider going for an LL.M. abroad?

    I see myself gaining more exposure and growth in the industry. To steepen my learning curve is my highest priority. An LL.M does sound very attractive for qualitative addition of a qualification after a modest amount of work experience. However, many other aspects need to be considered before opting for a foreign degree. I have still not made up my mind about it.

     

    What would be your parting message to law students?

    There is no fixed formula for success. So don’t lose heart if you did not get through to the National Schools or bag the best internships or get a PPO. Just make sure that whatever you choose to pursue, you do it to the best of your ability. Nobody expects you to be an authority on each and every aspect of law. Know your flair and know it damn well. This achieved, the right attitude coupled with never ending curiosity and patience should always work in your favour!

    Also for students pursuing law in Pune, do not miss out on Barman’s pitcher and some delicious food at Arthur’s Theme!

     

  • Neha Mahyavanshi, Senior Legal Counsel, SAP, on work experience as in-house counsel and in law firms

    Neha Mahyavanshi, Senior Legal Counsel, SAP, on work experience as in-house counsel and in law firms

    Neha Mahyavanshi graduated from National Academy of Legal Studies and Research University, Hyderabad in 2006. She received a pre-placement offer from Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co. and joined it after graduation. Thereafter, she worked at Wipro Ltd. as Assistant Legal Manager before joining SAP as Senior Legal Counsel-India Subcontinent. In this interview she talks about:

    • Law school experience at NALSAR
    • Working at AMSS and Wipro
    • Being an in-house counsel at SAP

     

    How would you introduce yourself? Tell us a bit about your pre-college years. What motivated you to study law?

    I am primarily a technology lawyer with in-house experience of about 8 years. I grew up in Bangalore and then went on to study law in Hyderabad.  In school, I often took part in debate contests and won a couple of inter school contests. So, I thought that a career in law was apt for me. Also, around the time that I was in 12th standard, there was a lot of talk about law schools, and so I got hooked to the idea of joining a law school.

     

    How would you describe your time at National Academy of Legal Studies and Research University, Hyderabad? How important do you think that extra-curricular activities are to a law student?

    My time at NALSAR was fun, but more importantly, a great training ground for young lawyers to learn to cope in a competitive environment that was to continue and get more intense after college. Yes, I did take part in many extra-curricular activities. I was one of the trio that organized the first ever ‘Carpe Diem’ (NALSAR’s Intra-college fest) and was always a part of the organising committee for ‘Summons’ (NALSAR’s inter-college fest). In my final year, I was elected the Convenor of the Cultural Committee. That’s the year we organized the first ever music concert at NALSAR, with Indian Ocean performing at ‘Summons, 2005’

     

    Tell us about your objectives while in the preliminary years of Law College. What were your plans after graduation?

    I always planned to be an in-house lawyer. I had the chance to intern twice at Wipro during my years at NALSAR. I was totally drawn to the work environment, the balance and professionalism that a corporate environment offered.

     

    Looking back, how significant do you think that your legal education was? When did you happen to experience the learning curve?

    The education that I received at NALSAR must surely have been one of the best. I say this because I often encounter lawyers who don’t seem to have the basic principles of law sorted out. I can say for myself that our professors did a great job. The legal education that I received in NALSAR was a great foundation for my career.

     

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    Please tell us about your experience with regard to your first year of work at AMSS.

    I was taken into AMSS by way of a pre-placement offer. I was taken in as a part of the private equity team and did what all A1s do- due diligences and helping out with the drafting of SHAs and SSAs. While at the firm, I also worked in other practice areas, specifically in the general corporate practice, gaining experience in incorporation of companies and drafting resolutions.

    My biggest take away from AMSS are the drafting skills. All documents, including emails, were drafted with a great deal of care. You don’t often see people paying attention to fonts, justifying or spell checking documents in a corporate set up.

     

    Please tell us about the requisite soft skills which are essential for a young lawyer to build a successful career?

    I was often told by my managers that I am easy to get along with. I guess, being generally congenial has always worked for me.

     

    How was your experience of being an Assistant Legal Manager at Wipro Ltd.? How was the work pressure?

    My years at Wipro were simply great. Wipro Legal in Bangalore is the global headquarters and there is always a lot going on. I see my experience at Wipro as a very solid foundation for my future career aspirations. Wipro is a great training ground for someone who is looking for an in-house career. Wipro allowed for a perfect balance between personal and professional time. I was always excited to go to work every morning (I guess, that says a lot). The biggest positive point in an in-house role is that one enjoys the flexibility of managing one’s own work.

     

    Do you feel that there are differences between students of ‘elite’ law schools and students from other law colleges and traditional universities?

    From my limited experience, I must say that to some degree there is a difference between students of ‘elite’ law schools and other traditional universities in the beginning. I see this difference, not in the passion or dedication that the student brings in, but in the understanding of law and working methodology- which evidently is due to the difference in the quality of legal education. However, a few years into their careers, the difference between the ‘elite’ law school student versus the traditional law university student no longer exists. It’s the passion that one brings to work that makes the difference in the long run.

     

    How did you get to work at SAP as Senior Legal Counsel – India subcontinent? Please share with us your journey from your induction into the company till date?

    SAP was looking to add to their then four-member legal Team in India and I guess I fit the bill. SAP is an enterprise software product company headquartered in Germany. The legal work and work methodology at SAP is different from Wipro. So, initially I had a lot of learning to do. But once you get a hang of how things work here and understand what the commonly used abbreviations and acronyms mean, you are good to go. SAP promotes a great work culture. People are very approachable and the organization is very flat, making the work environment very pleasant. But we have our crunch time during quarter-ends and year ends when most of our business comes in.

    My experience at SAP has been great so far, and I look forward to many more years here. SAP pays attention to each individual’s personal growth, which makes it a great place to stick around.

     

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    Please tell us a bit about your work profile at SAP. What is a normal workday like at SAP?

    I am a part of the four member legal team in India. The SAP India legal team provides an overall support to the organization including sales, operations, purchasing office and admin. The SAP field lawyers in India (like myself) spend a lot of time bridging the gap between local Indian legal practices and SAP’s standard terms of operation. Every day is a new day at work, we have plenty of challenges that keep things interesting.

    There is a lot of work and exposure in SAP, on a typical day I might be on a call negotiating contract with a customer or vendor, drafting order forms, providing opinions to the business, discussing deal structures with finance and pricing teams, drafting notices or responses to customers, discussing litigation strategy for a case in court or just helping an account executive draft a communication to his client. We are very well connected to all aspects of the business and get involved with all the internal departments.

     

    What kind of legal work is there? Are you allowed to interact with clients?

    Ninety nine percent of the legal work of the company is handled by the in-house legal team. There is tons of legal work (like I described above). SAP India legal team interacts with SAP’s customers all the time. We never outsource any customer facing work to law firms.

     

    How much of work is outsourced to law firms? How a law firm is selected for the same?

    Very little work is outsourced, which is primarily litigation. Other than that, we sometimes require external opinions on some matters where we do not have expertise, such as telecom or real estate. In such matters alone we approach external law firms.

    The law firm is selected based on their expertise. We only choose from the top law firms, depending on the practice area.

     

    Would you say that there exists a difference in the working environment of a law firm and legal department of a company?

    Yes, there does. My experiences of working in a law firm (though for a short while) and an in-house department has been very different from each other.

     

    Have you ever considered litigation or starting up on your own?

    I never considered litigation because I always wanted to be an in-house lawyer.

    Though I have not considered it myself, I know many in-house counsels who have started their own firms.

     

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

    I don’t have a list of essentials for a corporate lawyer. A degree in law and the right attitude is all one needs. Also, I think doing the right internships while at college is important. Internships allow for two way assessment. The student gets a feel of the work place and also gets a chance to create an impression with the organizations that she/he is interning at.

     

    If you could list out 3 activities which on a scale of priority, should be at the top in any law student’s life (given that he wants to secure the same set of achievements as you), what would those be?

    Ensuring decent grades;

    Corporate Internships (including in-house and law firm); and

    Taking on leadership roles in student organizations and participating in extra-curricular activities.

     

    What would be your advice to young law students? How do you think that they should approach their career?

    Passion for your work is the one most important ingredient for success, I think I said this a couple of times through the interview. The other, of course, is hard work. Everything flows and falls into place if one is passionate and willing to slog it out. So, to young law students, I would say- out of the fifty odd courses that you study and the various internships that you take up, try to spot what you are passionate about and start working on it from the time you are in college. Whatever the field of interest, stay true to it and build on it by way of internships and writing articles etc. If you choose a clear path, it may be easier to get a headstart to a great career.

  • Pranay Agrawala, Ex-Law-firmite on starting up with Lex Adista and experience in litigation

    Pranay Agrawala, Ex-Law-firmite on starting up with Lex Adista and experience in litigation

    Pranay Agrawala is a Symbiosis graduate who had interned at Dua Associates and Ernst & Young among others. Upon graduating, he joined Khaitan, Jayakar, Sud & Vohra as an Associate after which he joined Trilegal and worked there for three more years. Thereafter he started a private litigation practice. He subsequently joined the Chambers of Senior Advocate, Mr. Siddharth Luthra (former ASG) before starting his own law firm, Lex Adista. In this interview he talks about:

    • Interning at the Supreme Court, Dua Associates and E&Y
    • Working at KJSV, Trilegal and Chambers of Mr. Luthra
    • Experience and challenges at a startup law firm

     

    Tell us a bit about your childhood and pre-college life as well as educational background. Did you have lawyers in your family?

    During my childhood my family moved around quite a lot and I had the benefit of experiencing different cultures and becoming comfortable with varied thought processes and customs. This has been one of the biggest parts of my school education and has proved to be invaluable in my growth. I never had any lawyers in my family and throughout my childhood, I didn’t have any interactions with lawyers either. The profession was a mystery to me until I joined Symbiosis and did my first internship, with Mr. Dushyant Dave no less.

     

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

    During college like most teenagers I concentrated on enjoying my life. I travelled, played sports all day etc., but now I feel that I missed out in participating in law school centric events. Having never been guided properly as to what would help me grow as a lawyer, I never benefitted from all the things a good law school has to offer. It was only towards my later years in college, especially after some serious internships, when I realised the value of extra-curricular activities, like mooting and client counselling, writing research papers etc.

     

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

    Law school, is not geared towards exposing a student to the ‘practice’ of law; Theory and understanding statutes, philosophy etc. were given a significant focus. I still feel that the course design and structure lacked the foresight that is conducive to learning Law. Thinking back, subjects like jurisprudence, history of courts, administrative law seemed mundane and uninteresting because of a lack of perspective, but the knowledge of such subjects is greatly beneficial to practising law. Interests for me were mostly found through internships where exposure to the various practice areas made me realise the beauty of the English language; the immense application of intellect required in drafting statutes, contracts or any legal document; the sheer application of intelligence that can make the difference between a good lawyer and spectacular lawyering; and most importantly the power of knowledge. Practice areas in law became secondary to me, just the thrill of the practice of law was paramount.

     

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

    Having had little or no exposure to the profession prior to going to law school, I realised the value of internships only by the third year. Despite having interned in every break, I really started absorbing the nuances of being a lawyer towards the end of the second year. Thereafter, I tried to intern at as many different organizations as possible. I interned at the Supreme Court, Dua Associates, Ernst & Young and many other firms. The reason for this was so I could find my practice area and an environment that I would feel drawn to. Although this approach had its downsides with respect to securing a job right after law school, I needed to know I was doing what I liked. An internship where I really felt like I was a lawyer was at E&Y. I feel it was a combination of maturity as a student and the good opportunities and structure at E&Y. From that point on I knew that I can be a good lawyer.

     

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

    Like I have mentioned above, I learned everything that I knew about being a lawyer from internships and not only from law school. During internships, notably at Dua Associates, I realised that if you desire to learn, you have to have a combination of enthusiasm (not to a point of being nauseating to associates) and hard work. The better you assist your bosses the more they want to work with you. Observe, take extensive notes, ask the right questions and don’t be afraid to be called stupid (as long as you don’t ask the same question twice); these cannons were what helped me learn at internships and I also maintain these till date. One can learn much by just paying attention.

    Needless to say, I benefitted a lot from lawyers who were happy to explain concepts and teach a young aspiring lawyer. I have many to thank for my legal education, beyond college and till today.

     

    What do you have to say about mooting at law school and legal writing for journals? Do they have any ‘bonus’ value when seeking jobs?

    Like I said before, mooting, legal writing, etc. are very important. Participating in these extra-curriculars helps build confidence and skills, which are basic skills every lawyer needs to master, and like any other thing – sooner is definitely better. I gained most of this, under extreme pressure, while working and regretted not having honed these skills in college. Although, it’s a trade off for students, whether to be entirely entrenched in college or to go out and explore the world and experience life during college. Considering the nature of our profession, college is often the last opportunity to expand your horizons.

    While seeking a job, it can make the difference between getting hired and passed over. It also makes a difference in the initial upward growth as someone with a certain degree of skill may be at an advantage.

     

    Upon graduating, you started working at Khaitan, Jayakar, Sud & Vohra (“KJSV”) as an Associate. How did you secure your appointment? Please describe the interview and induction procedure for a fresher?

    By the time I interned at KJSV, I had gained a lot of focus in what is expected from a lawyer. My natural attitude and approach to matters was noticed and I was able to convert that into a job opportunity. Also, the fact that my focus was on learning and gaining exposure meant that a smaller law firm was a great place to start, and was consequently easier to break into. In my personal view, in the beginning of the career a smaller law firm generally places more trust in you and consequently, bestows larger responsibility, helping you learn faster.

     

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    After having worked at Khaitan & Jayakar  for a year, how did the shift to Trilegal take place? Please tell us a little about your work experience and life at Trilegal.

    Given the fact that I wanted to have an all round experience in Law, after one year of practice on the civil side of litigation, I started to seek opportunities in law firms with a corporate profile. My search began a few months before the shift and I was willing to forego pay and position within the organization for a chance to gain exposure. Trilegal gave me an opportunity and I leaped at it, making the change to corporate and M&A. The shift was not easy and the expectations were often overwhelming. Trilegal is of course a great place to work and has a highly motivated team of lawyers, who never cease to set the bar of performance higher. The most important learning I took away from Trilegal was the attention to detail and research that needs to go behind any advice or action of a legal professional. As a lawyer, one is only as good as the knowledge he brings to the table, whether it be the negotiating table or the bar. This fact was driven home daily at Trilegal. I still put the same amount of attention to detail and set the bar of research very high in my own practice and with my associates.

     

    You left one of the finest law firms in India and started your own independent private practice. What were your reasons for moving from a corporate setting to litigation?

    I had not left Trilegal to start a litigation practice, but soon realised that to start a corporate practice I would have to create some credibility in the market as also become a brand on my own, so to speak. Having left the firm with a few clients (my own and not from Trilegal) already available to me, I had a steady stream of work which unfortunately lasted for only short while, and was ultimately not sustainable. Litigation is a practice more geared towards individual lawyers seeking clients and creating a presence in the profession, I simply had to shift practice areas to survive.

     

    After a few months of  your independent practice, you  have  joined  the Chambers of  Senior Advocate, Mr. Siddharth Luthra, where you have  worked for almost one year. Please tell us about your experience working under the  supervision of  Mr. Luthra.

    Like I have explained above, I needed to expand my practice to stay afloat independently. Mr. Luthra was extremely kind to me and gave me an opportunity to join his chamber while he was ASG. This proved to be a baptism by fire, as the office of the ASG was extremely busy and the intensity was only exacerbated by Mr. Luthra’s insatiable appetite for work. I did feel that I was at a slight advantage, having come from Trilegal and being adjusted to intense timelines and high expectations. Bringing my law firm approach to Mr. Luthra’s chamber helped me transition easily with respect to what was expected of me.

    I likened my stint with Mr. Luthra as a sort of LL.M, where I learned the finer nuances of the practice from a seasoned and highly successful Senior Advocate. I tried to grab as much work as possible to maximize my learning and also to increase my exposure to Mr. Luthra. Court craft, legal drafting, framing arguments and managing clients’ expectations as an individual lawyer were some of areas where I focused my attention. Exposure to the Supreme Court and representing the Union of India were an icing on the cake.

     

    Please tell us about your experience with regard to your first few sessions in court. Has it become more difficult for a fresher to achieve success?

    After completing roughly an LL.M’s worth of time learning from Mr. Luthra, I once again took the tough decision to go independent and start a practice. This time, however, I was better prepared and more mature. I did not limit myself to litigation or corporate law as I felt that I was capable of providing clients with both facets of professional services. Appearing in court is a nerve racking experience at first, no matter how well prepared you are, stage fright does kick in. Keeping a calm demeanour and retaining your presence of mind, while having the eyes of all your peers on you is not an easy task. Being extremely well prepared and keeping easily understandable, well structured notes was of great help and still is.

    Success is never easy. Those who say they got it easy are either being modest, or will have to struggle at some point to retain the success. The harder you work, the more opportunities for ‘success’ will become available to you. In the end though, success is relative.

     

    Your main area of practice consists of  corporate/civil advisory and litigation. Please elaborate on the cases you normally deal with and how has been your experience so far.

    Coming from the varied background that I do, I afford my clients a unique perspective to legal issues and advisory. At a given time, I feel comfortable taking care of regulatory compliances and commercial work, while at the same time I can advise on dispute resolution and litigation. I feel that this gives my clients a great deal of comfort, especially when it come to handling contractual disputes which require the ability to assess and understand complex SHAs or EPC contracts and to be able to build an effective strategy.

    Presently, I have a bouquet of technology and engineering companies as my clients. This is a sector of industry which has always been of interest to me and being a product of the internet age, clients find it easier to interact with me with respect to the technological aspects of commercial contracts. Of course, having a working knowledge of the internet, computer systems and engineering goes a long way in impressing a client, who then does not have to waste precious man hours in briefing their lawyers on how technology works. Relying on this unique blend which I feel I bring to the profession, I have today managed to start my own law firm, we are called Lex Adista and are a full service law firm. I represent the firm in corporate and commercial matters while my partners handle civil and criminal litigation/disputes.

     

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

    The difficulties are not far from what one would imagine. Finding clients in an industry which is teeming with talented and hard working professionals is not an easy task. To be able to sustain a steady stream of work, turning it around and finding more work to keep you going is a daily struggle. The quality of work is what ultimately decides whether your practice will be successful or not, and maintaining that quality is essential. I will give you the exact number of years it takes to build a successful law firm when I feel Lex Adista is a success.

     

    Did you build everlasting relation with your clients? Please share some of your secret tips on how to boost fiduciary relations with the people we serve?

    Having great interpersonal skills and managing client expectations are the basics for building everlasting relationships with clients. However, to maintain an everlasting professional relationship you have to provide top notch, intelligent legal advice. At the end of the day, the quality of your services and professionalism is what makes clients stick with you.

     

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

    My workday is quite varied. As a partner in a small start up law firm, each day I have to give equal importance to internal management, business development, client interaction and at the same time produce deliverables for clients. While it may be tiring, it’s never tiresome.

    We are constantly trying to pick up new work and are not confined to any particular sector. We even advise musicians, artists, startups, designers and other creative professionals who help keep the work exciting. Sometimes, as a bonus we even get passes to upcoming events for the associates!

     

    If someone does not go to a top law school, would you say he still has a shot at a great career in law?

    Of course! A lawyer never stops learning. One is always learning on the job and what a lawyer makes of his opportunities is what creates the opportunity of having a great career. Never stop working and focus on learning, this is the advice I would give to anyone who wants to grow. I too will never stop following this.

     

    When you hire interns and associates under you, what kind of qualities do you look for? What should an intern or aspiring lawyer do to get noticed in a positive way?

    At Lex Adista, and particularly under me, we focus on an appetite for learning. I love to share knowledge and find that a heated discussion based on research is a great way to find solutions for legal issues. Attention to detail and being able to present a legal argument with proper justification is the basics of any lawyering. For an intern to get noticed or for that matter for an associate to get hired, I look for individuals with a thorough approach. Any point of law can be explained on the basis of solid research and reasoning, reliance on judicial pronouncements, commentaries and the application these to the facts of the matter at hand. Creativity and a willingness to learn are essential in my book.

     

    Where do you see yourself and your firm in five to ten years?

    We are presently trying to build a successful law firm. Currently, we are looking at expanding, both, our lawyer base and our client base and hope to do each aggressively. At the same time, we are conscious of the fact that our quality and focus should not get diluted in the process. Perhaps, it is too soon for me to predict where Lex Adista will be in five to ten years, but where I would want it to be is quite clear in my head.

     

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

    For any aspiring litigator, the most important advice I can give is to focus on gathering a variety of experience and to look for opportunities to learn. For a successful litigation practice having exposure to every field of law is very valuable, and can be gained in the earlier years of practice easier than later. I too pushed myself to constantly be involved in different practice areas of Law to build an all round understanding of the practice. Getting attached to big names and going after CV value can sometimes backfire, when you realise after some years of practice you may have learned very little. A lawyer is a sum total of his experience, while frequent changes can be detrimental to getting hired, knowledge and experience will always shine through.

     

  • Ila Haldia, Advocate, Supreme Court, on starting out with civil and criminal litigation at Supreme Court

    Ila Haldia, Advocate, Supreme Court, on starting out with civil and criminal litigation at Supreme Court

    Ila Haldia graduated from Government Law College, Mumbai in 2013. She has an enviable academic record and has an excellent series of internships at top law firms including DSK Legal, Trilegal, AMSS, Khaitan & Co., AZB & Partners etc. She started practising at the Supreme Court of India soon after graduation. She is currently practising general civil and criminal litigation at the Supreme Court under the tutelage of Dr. J.N. Dubey, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court.

    In this interview, she talks about:

    • Law school experience at GLC, Mumbai
    • Choosing litigation over corporate law
    • Practising at the Supreme Court

     

    What brought you into legal studies?

    Hi, I am Ila Haldia. I am currently practising at the Supreme Court under the tutelage of Dr. J.N. Dubey, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court. Unlike many, my journey in legal studies began quite unexpectedly. I was a science student and never considered law as a career option. However, while studying science, I realised that engineering was not my cup of tea and so I decided to look for other options. In the pursuit of looking for alternate options, I met many people from different professions and through this process, I met a few lawyers. Having interacted with these lawyers, I felt drawn to the profession since I was impressed by the kind of knowledge they possessed and their command over their thought process and so I decided to pursue law. My parents were supportive of this decision of mine and thought that law would be a career suitable to my abilities.

     

    Tell us about your years in law school. What made your journey with GLC worth it?

    To be honest, it took me a year to get used to GLC. Initially, I was a little lost and wasn’t sure whether I had made the right decision. But slowly, I started getting into the groove as law started rubbing on to me. In addition to law, I had some amazing friends and seniors who helped me through thick and thin. One thing that anyone studying at GLC encounters is the ubiquitous phrase: “GLC is like a buffet which serves the best of dishes but it is up to you to choose the dishes”. At first, I never quite understood this phrase, but now when I look back, I realise that GLC is quite like such a buffet. The curriculum at GLC gave us the freedom to shape our careers according to our own accord. We had all the options and guidance available but none of which was imposed. So it really came down to individual choices. Many used this freedom to nurture their careers the others used it otherwise. It is this sense of freedom and space that made GLC absolutely worth it and stand apart from all other law colleges!

     

    Which internships that you have pursued will you consider to be right at the top and why? Tell us about some interesting internship experiences.

    Interestingly, I have had internships at many big law firms, but to me the most memorable has been one at a small firm in Bombay. We were a team of 5-6 lawyers/law students and as such the work responsibilities were not differentiated between lawyers and law students and therefore it was a really good learning experience for me. I remember my very first assignment at this firm was to assist an associate in drafting a reply to a very complex 30 pages show cause notice from the customs authority. As luck would have it, the associate I was supposed to assist was caught up with other work as a result of which the responsibility fell on my shoulders to draft the reply. Upon reviewing the draft, my senior was very impressed with my drafting skills and rewarded me for having completed this difficult task all by myself without having any prior drafting experience. Thus, I learnt that it is important to keep doing whatever work comes your way, no matter how big or small. If one keeps working and keeps doing, he/she will find an area where his/her interests lie. So look for internships which provide you work across the platform and be ready to seize whatever opportunity comes your way.

     

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    Soon after graduation, you started practicing before the Supreme Court of India. Did you ever plan to join a corporate law firm? Do you plan to pursue litigation from now onwards?

    Somehow, at first every law student’s aim is to land the highest paying job and since such packages are mostly offered by corporate law firms the aim is to get into such law firms. I was also party to this type of thinking and in fact tried to get internships in all the big law firms in their corporate department. But slowly, as I got more involved in the “corporate culture” I realised that this was not my calling. There was always this uncertainty in my head regarding corporate law since it did not involve court work. So through this process of elimination, I decided to pursue litigation and was most fortunate to get the opportunity to work at the Supreme Court of India. However, I am not restricted to the Supreme Court only, I also appear before other courts and tribunals.

    As far as my future plans are concerned, I don’t believe in long term planning. My philosophy is to do what is in hand and let’s see where it takes me. Having said that, I do hope to start my independent practice in the coming future.

     

    What are you main practice areas? How has been your experience so far?

    We are into general civil and criminal litigation. The experience so far has been extremely enriching and has broadened my horizons. I have not only matured as a lawyer but also as an individual. Litigation has taught me to have a structured thought process, improvise and think on my feet.

     

    What is your workday like? Which would be the most memorable case you argued on?

    In litigation, there is a lot of work. From morning till evening the whole day is consumed in courtrooms and chambers. So one needs to be sure that they like the work and also the work environment or else it becomes overwhelming and stressful. There are times when we have to appear in court without having a complete idea about the case and these situations help in learning how to filter irrelevant information and how to improvise in front of the judge.

    There was an early hearing application which I had to argue before a three judge bench headed by the then CJI Justice Lodha. Usually, early hearing applications are only heard on the point of urgency and the merits of the case are not argued, however on that particular day Justice Lodha decided to hear the cases on merits and took all the lawyers, including me, appearing in early hearing applications off-guard. Since, my case was listed as item 9, I hardly had the time to read through the entire file and so when my case was called out it all boiled down to improvising and succinctly putting forth the arguments which ultimately helped me in winning the case. The profession requires one to think clearly and quickly which only comes with constant practice and observation.

    The best part about litigation is that there is hardly anything predictable except for the fact that you have to work constantly. Another memorable case that I have argued was one before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. The case related to claim of insurance by a bus owner, however, the said case had been dismissed in default and we had filed the restoration application after delay of 2 and half years! After 2-3 hearings of immense grilling, the matter was finally restored however, the same was dismissed on merits. However, the presiding judge acknowledged my hard work and made a mention of the same in the judgment itself! Thus, despite the adverse order against my client, it was an achievement for me since my hard work had been acknowledged.

     

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

    It is extremely important to have a mentor in litigation. I couldn’t have come this far without my senior. There is so much to learn in practice that it can become overwhelming. Having a mentor gives one support and structure to the learning curve of a young lawyer. Making mistakes is inevitable and only a mentor can help in minimising and dealing with them.

     

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    What are the difficulties people face in their early days of practice? How is it turning out for you? How many years of hard work does it require to build a firm clientele?

    Initially, the responsibility of handling even a single case seemed overwhelming. I remember even drafting an entire petition seemed like a huge task to me but now with constant practice, the process has eased and now I am able to research the law, draft the petition and argue the matter in court. Same goes with arguing in court, initially it was terrifying to even take a ‘pass-over’ but now with passage of time and experience that initial hesitation has also vanished.

    A lot of people say that lawyers who don’t have a family legacy will find it very difficult to build a reputed practice. This may be true to some extent, but from what I have gathered, any lawyer who puts in even a reasonable amount of hard work is sure to go a long way in litigation. It may take some time, which may differ from lawyer to lawyer, but the hard work does pay off which is why there are so many successful first generation lawyers

     

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

    Well, I feel it’s a personal choice. If the interest of a law student lies in corporate law then by all means he/she should pursue it, however, I do not recommend seeking a corporate job only because of the perquisites that it offers. Initially it may be exciting but with passage of time, money does not bring job satisfaction which may lead to frustration. Many law students, do not opt for litigation/counsel practice because of low salaries. It is true that in the initial years the money is not as much in litigation but if one puts in a sincere amount of hard work then there is no looking back.

     

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

    As a lawyer in litigation, keep working hard and be patient. It takes years for a bamboo seed to start growing but once it shoots, the growth is exponential. So don’t get dismayed if the results don’t show. Have faith in your abilities and clarity in your thoughts.

    Also my message to all law students who are struggling to find their path, would be to just go with the flow and keep doing whatever comes your way and enjoy your college life!

  • Nipun Bhatia, Senior Consultant, Legal League Consulting, on work experience in Law Firm Management and being a C.A.

    Nipun Bhatia, Senior Consultant, Legal League Consulting, on work experience in Law Firm Management and being a C.A.

    Nipun Bhatia is a Senior Consultant with Legal League Consulting, India’s first management consultants to the global legal industry. After graduating in B.Com he pursued LL.B from Faculty of Law, Delhi University, and graduated in law in 2008. Besides being a lawyer, he is also a qualified Chartered Accountant. He has worked with Lall & Sethi Advocates as their Senior Manager – Finance, Administration & Human Resource Development. He has done a Post Graduate Certification Course in IPR from Indian Society of International Law.

    In this interview he talks about:

    • Pursuing C.A. and law
    • Working at Legal League Consulting
    • Law firm management and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

     

    Please introduce yourself to our readers.

    I am a Senior Consultant with Legal League Consulting, India’s First Management Consultants to the Global Legal Industry. While I deal with all aspects of Law Firm Management, my core areas of expertise include Finance, Human Resource Management and Enterprise Resource Planning. Besides being a lawyer, I am a qualified Chartered Accountant, which explains the interest in finance and number crunching. Prior to joining Legal League Consulting, I have worked with Lall & Sethi Advocates (now Singh & Singh Lall & Sethi), a leading IPR Firm, as their Senior Manager – Finance, Administration & Human Resource Development. My first job, however, was with an Ad Agency, which was a subsidiary of Future Group.

     

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    When did you think you were suited to a career in law? How did you get through to Faculty of Law, University of Delhi?

    While studying for the Chartered Accountancy course, our curriculum included studying various laws and to my surprise I used to enjoy studying them. Reading of Acts and their practical application generated a lot of interest and I decided to give the LL.B. Entrance Test after getting through the Intermediate level of CA Course. Surprisingly, I cleared the test and made up my mind to pursue the course. Also, on a lighter note, the family used to always complain that I have this habit of arguing and sharing my views upfront in every matter, so lawyer is the best suited career option for me! Once I got through, they realized that I had taken it a tad too seriously!

     

    After your graduation, you have pursued a Post Graduate Certification Course in IPR from Indian Society of International Law. Was it a professional requirement to enhance your career?

    From college days itself, I found IPR to be a very interesting area of law and something which a common man relates to. Reading about Trademarks, Infringements, and Counterfeits etc. intrigued me and I decided to take up the Certification Course, in order to have a longer stint with the subject. At ISIL, I thoroughly enjoyed the class room sessions since the faculty encouraged live discussions and took up real life case studies. Out of the sheer interest and due to such fabulous class room training, I worked very hard on the project submissions. It also helped in studying diligently, which earned me not only the highest score in the entire batch, but also a gold medal which is my prized possession till date.

     

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

    As mentioned above, during the LL.B. course, I had begun to like IPR a lot. Apart from IPR, I meticulously studied for Jurisprudence as it explained a lot about evolution of law and the rationale behind it. I still remember that my notes used to be photocopied by colleagues and juniors since I used to make very neat hand-written notes, after referring to a lot of books and doing my own research. Till then, the use of typed notes and e-mails was not very common.

    Another subject that was very interesting was Family Law. Being a Hindu, we have always been exposed to Hindu Customs and Practices. Thus, when we were introduced to nuances of Muslim Law, I found it very interesting to read.

     

    You have also managed to pursue Chartered Accountancy. Tell us why did you chose to do it and what is the utility of having a qualified CA degree in your domain?

    Chartered Accountancy came into the picture because my mother always wanted me to take it up as a career. When I cleared Senior Secondary Examination, I managed to score in decent eighties in Accountancy (99.99% score was not the norm at that time, as it is now). So I was told that I should pursue Chartered Accountancy since I have scored decently well and the subject is not that hard as compared to any other pure mathematics based option. So I just filled the form and cleared the Foundation Examination after nine months of study. It was only when I entered the Intermediate level that I realized that it is anything but easy!

    It requires a very disciplined approach towards studies and a belief that one should never ever give up. While I would always jokingly tell the young aspiring students that one should not take up CA as a career choice since it is a very demanding commitment, I would also like to outline here that all the hard work put in through the number of years of studies and all the sacrifices made during this course are really worth it! The kind of respect this profession earns you makes every sacrifice made during the course of journey worthwhile.

     

    What were the biggest challenges in the first year of your graduation? How did you deal with them?

    I did my law graduation from Law Centre – II of Delhi University, the classes of which are held in the evening. Being an evening college, it was a favoured choice for a lot of Govt. Servants and people who have already achieved a stature in life. In the first year, it had a mixed effect on me. I used to feel intimidated by the presence of such stalwarts beside me since all of them were very intellectual and would pose lot of questions in the class. I was also hesitant to make friends with them due to the age gap. However, over the period of time, as the interaction increased, I figured out that there is lot to learn from them. The fact that they were willing to work hard at that age and gain further knowledge despite being successful professionals motivated me to a very large extent. They were not only friendly, but were very helping and tolerant towards our generation.

     

    You have worked for a short period of time with a premier Apparel Brand and got to hone your creative skills over there. How did your appointment take place? What worked for you in securing this job?

    This, being my first job, will always hold a very special position in my life. I was shortlisted through a famous online job portal and was selected after a couple of rounds of interview. After the initial few hiccups, I developed a comfort level with the Managing Director of the Company and worked under him directly. My finance background and my legal knowledge both helped in securing the job since it involved a lot of work with respect to drafting of contracts and agreements, along with regular Financial MIS Reporting. Also, the experience gained during the internships helped a lot since I was able to put the knowledge to practical testing.

     

    Before moving to Legal League Consulting, you have worked with a leading IPR Law Firm as a Senior Manager – Finance, Administration & HR Development for three years. What kind of responsibilities were you entrusted with?

    Getting a job with Lall & Sethi (now Singh & Singh Lall & Sethi) was a path breaking move in my life. Ms. Bithika Anand (Founder & CEO of Legal League Consulting and under whom I work currently) was entrusted with the responsibility of finding a Finance person for the Firm.

    Through a consultant she interviewed me and found me apt for the role. Besides CA and LL.B., my certification from ISIL in IPR field also favoured me in getting selected for this role. Since the day I was appointed at the Firm, there was no looking back. Under superb training from Mr. Chander M. Lall, who is a visionary and legend in himself, I was given one challenging role after the other.

    Thus, while I joined them as a Finance Manager, within a short span of two years I was promoted to Senior Manager – Finance, Administration & Human Resource Development. Had it not been for the fantastic grooming I was given under Mr. Lall, I would have still been just an accountant! Also, it is very important to mention here that being a fitness freak, Mr. Lall is an inspiration for a lot of youngsters like me. I joined the Firm as an accountant who weighed 92 Kgs and slowly got into fitness after being inspired by him. Thus, in less than a year, I was able to knock off almost 25 Kgs from my weight. I would not be exaggerating if I say that the Firm and its wonderful people brought a 360 degree turn in my personality.

     

    How did you decide to work with Legal League Consulting?

    I think I have been very fortunate to meet just the right people in my life. As mentioned above, I was initially interviewed by Ms. Bithika Anand, who placed me with Lall & Sethi. I was very sure that whenever I would decide to move on, I would go back to her. Her dynamic personality almost instantaneously surrounds you with a positive and energetic aura. Hence, it was always in my mind to work with her. So when I planned to shift my base to Mumbai, I got in touch with her. At that time Legal League Consulting was already very well known in the fraternity and I almost immediately liked the kind of work the Firm was doing. While later my plans to shift base to Mumbai were shelved, Ms. Anand took me on board and I was given assignments of handling some leading law firms within Delhi. I must also mention that coming on board with LLC was a seamless transition. Right from the very first day I was entrusted with Client Handling and Ms. Anand allowed absolute creative freedom to us in handling the mandates. The colleagues at LLC gave a hearty welcome and were more than willing to help. I always tell Bithika Ma’am that coming back to work with her at LLC was the much destined ‘Home Coming’ for me.

     

    LLC is the first law firm management company in Indian legal industry. Can you tell us something about the kind of work LLC does?

    Legal League Consulting takes pride in being a one-stop solution to all Law Firm Management needs. We assist firms in areas of strategy, acquisition, compensation benchmarking, performance appraisals, human resource management systems, employee retention, partner reward system, training, recruitment, branding and business development, knowledge management, and IT solutions amongst other services.

    Apart from this, we are also actively involved in exploring and securing strategic alliances between law firms. Since more and more firms are moving towards institutionalizing themselves, we play an important role in structuring of firms. We have also been involved in setting systems and processes in place for LPOs and Legal Departments in Corporates.

     

    Tell us in brief about your role as  a  Senior Consultant  in the area  of  Finance and HR Management Solutions at Legal League Consulting.

    All Senior Consultants at LLC work on specified client portfolios, headed by Ms. Bithika Anand herself and supported by a team of Consultants. Having expertise in Finance, I have majorly been involved in improving cash flows in firms. We monitor the timings of inflows and outflows of cash and encourage the firms in budgeting. There is also a substantive internal audit undertaken to identify the financial health of the firms, which is followed by suggesting best practices to be followed. We also conduct thorough checks on the profitability of the firm and compare the same with global standards, Indian standards and industry standards to show a true picture to the firm.

    As far as Human Resource Management is concerned, we ensure that the performance of workforce is constantly monitored and motivation levels are maintained always. Wherever required, benchmarks for performance are set both in financial and non-financial terms, which are followed by appraisals. We suggest and implement strategies for retention of the right people by ensuring that they are suitably rewarded in the firm and their growth needs are taken care of.

     

    You have introduced Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems across various entities to bring all facets of a law-firm in sync with each other. What is this all about? Tell us in brief about this venture introduced by you to our readers.

    My interest in ERP developed manifold while working at Lall & Sethi since they were about to launch their proprietary software called ‘ClickIPR’. It enabled me to bridge the link between the lawyers’ needs and IT Professionals’ delivery. Mr. Chander M. Lall, under whom I was working at that time, used to say that ‘If I can think of it, technology can deliver it’. It is this thought that kept me driving till a particular solution was achieved for every problem at hand. The experienced gained during this stint was really helpful in suggesting ERP for law firms and implementing the same with change management.

    As the firms would grow in size and geographical locations, it would be impossible to rely on paper, human effort and simple software like word and excel files. Hence, the top management understood the need for switching to a common platform where all their needs could be taken care of. Thus, manual procedures are abandoned in favour of automated solutions. ERPs today offer total management of the firm through integrated technology approach. It is your document management system, calendar management system, time-recording software, contact manager, docketing and diary manager and internal work allocation tool.

     

    What is the main agenda of Law Firm Management? How do you think aspiring young lawyers would get benefit from this programme?

    Being a successful lawyer is not just about technical skills. Every profession requires us to be a total package these days. Law Firm Management aims to broaden the horizon of the law students and get them acquainted with aspects related to everyday working of a law firm environment, ranging from billing, client management and handling, supervising administrative staff, understanding cost implication of decisions relating to schedule of fee etc., keeping your resources motivated and how to self motivate yourself, why are smooth cash flows important for survival of firm, etc., to name a few.

     

    We would love to hear about your work profile. Being a Senior Consultant, what are your responsibilities? How is a typical day at work?

    While most of the points relating to my work profile have been outlined above, a typical day at work could be defined as ‘exciting’. All of us at LLC are an excited lot, constantly bubbling with ideas. The day involves meetings at client places, internal meetings for strategy planning and work updates and a lot of sharing of knowledge with each other. There is also a steady flow of e-mails from the clients and we endeavour to get back to them in the shortest possible turnaround time. Team LLC is very well connected with each other and all latest updates are circulated within the team, except any client information which is confidential and sensitive. Ms. Bithika Anand is always approachable by a single phone call and we always keep persons working on a mandate apprised of all developments. Thus, at any given point, all people marked on a mandate are very hands-on.

     

    How challenging is it to advise Top-Tier law firms in India? 

    While most of the assignments are challenging since we deal with human resources (and that’s the fun part!), the pressure is surely large when it comes to dealing with the Top-Tier Firms, since each decision – whether small or big, affects many people. Therefore, before any decision is taken and implemented, there is a proper plan conceptualized and shared with the top management. Upon their approval, and after incorporating any amendments suggested by them, buy-in is taken from all the people from top to bottom so that there is preparedness towards the change. Many times the conflicting views have to be reconciled and moderated, which is a challenging but enjoyable task.

     

    What would you say contributes to the high attrition rate at many top law firms?

    Well, I would say that it is not one, but a combination of factors that usually leads to it.  We all are aware that some of the top law firms give handsome packages to lawyers at all levels, yet face a high attrition rate. I believe that at some levels, hoarding of work and not passing on the same to the juniors contributes to dissatisfaction of juniors. The younger lot today want to learn and excel. If there are not enough opportunities extended to them, they tend to leave and find their calling elsewhere. Thus mentoring of juniors and training them to work independently should be encouraged. Contrary to this, where there is too much pressure is put on juniors, making them forcefully compromise with their work-life balance, it is also a culprit. Besides that, it is equally important to maintain calm during the moments of pressure. Unnecessary shouting, scolding in front of peers and juniors, sending stinkers over e-mails and texts are bad practices and build up the urge to walk out of the situation. Thus the organization should aim to achieve a healthy and balanced work environment, with right amounts of work pressure and creating sufficient bandwidth/expertise to handle urgent situations.

     

    What are your thoughts on work-life balance? How do you achieve it yourself?

    I believe work-life balance is a very important but ignored aspect by most of us. I would also like to mention here that some people think that sitting late and working extra hours is a way to impress their seniors. During my practical experience, I have actually seen people from the management having such expectations from their people which is very disappointing. Let me clear a basic premise here. I believe all of us are mature human beings and understand our responsibilities. Sitting late cannot be the measure of someone’s efficiency. I also do not agree with the theory that people who sit late are inefficient since they ought to have finished their work in time (during the day). I do not support either of the views. The management should make their people aware of their responsibilities and should have realistic expectations on delivery. The people, on the other hand, can put in extra effort during the need of the hour or exigency. However, by making it a habit or not speaking up if unreasonable work load is offered to them is also not correct on their part. They should share with the management when the work expectations cannot be delivered in time.

    As regards my work-life balance is concerned, I believe in the theory of work hard and party harder. I am approachable by my clients round the clock and the whole LLC team extends support at odd hours too when there is requirement to help and support a client. That is how we strive to become trusted advisors of our clients and give them comfort to fall back on us at the time of need. However, normally, I hang out with friends and family almost thrice or four times a week. Ms. Anand takes us out every few months for team dinners and get-togethers, where work is strictly not to be discussed. Since my best friend is a lawyer himself, we do take holidays at least twice a year during the court holidays and travel within and outside India. LLC retreats happen every year as well. All this gives us sufficient time to unwind and bounce back with a refreshed mind.

     

    Where do you see yourself five years down the line? What kind of work will you like to do?

    I have to admit here that the legal fraternity has given me a lot and I would always be indebted to it. Therefore, I am very sure that I would like to be associated with this field for all my life. There is so much more to achieve. Law Firms are yet to embrace technology in its true sense. Many firms are yet to implement systems and processes to make their day go day running smooth and more profitable. I view loopholes and problems as opportunities to help and improve. Just as a painter starts mentally conceiving a painting upon looking at the blank canvass, I start thinking of ideas to improve the moment I come across a problem. Thus, I would work in the field of Law Firm Management for years to come. However, it is my desire to get involved in teaching sometime. Anyone from Universities & Institutions reading this article?

     

    Would you like to start your own consultancy firm one day?

    To be very candid, I don’t think I am entrepreneur material! I am more than happy working for someone and realizing my dreams while helping others achieve theirs! I have worked very closely under all my bosses and strived to make their life easy. I think I derive passion out of ‘serving’. Therefore, I don’t think starting my own consultancy is on cards anytime soon, or later!

     

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

    While it may sound very philosophical, I would just say ‘Follow your heart!’ While walking the path, temptations will always come in your way. Sometimes you will overcome them, sometimes they will overcome you, it’s human. But do not let it bog you down. Study, work hard, stay updated and in between take time out for yourself. Spend time with family, make a best friend, fall in love, pursue a hobby, there is so much to do! One very important thing, choose the right people – be it a mentor, or boss, or friend or colleague or roommate. I have been blessed with right mentors, very helpful colleagues, doting friends and an awesome best friend. Our company has a lot of influence on us, so choose people with positive vibes and bright mindset. During the insane moments of your life, these choices will bring you a lot of sanity.