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  • Subhash Bhutoria, Senior Associate, Lall & Sethi on work experience in IPR matters

    Subhash Bhutoria, Senior Associate, Lall & Sethi on work experience in IPR matters

    Subhash Bhutoria graduated from National Law University, Jodhpur in 2009. He started his legal career with Lall and Sethi as an Associate. Later he switced to IPR Litigation and Enforcement team of Lakshmi Kumaran & Sridharan Attorneys where he worked as a Senior Associate. After three and half years of work at LKS, he got an offer from Lall and Sethi to rejoin as a Senior Associate which he could not refuse. Currently, he works as a Senior Associate in the litigation team of Lall and Sethi.

    We asked him to share his experiences and strategies he used over the years. In this interview, he talks about:

    • Law school experience at NLUJ
    • Work experience at LKS and Lall & Sethi
    • How to prepare for an interview with an IPR Law firm

     

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

    I am a practicing lawyer, specializing in IPR laws related to litigation and advising. Law was not the first choice as I was preparing for medicals, but the gradual understanding of the subject and experience at NLU, motivated me to pursue this field.

     

    How would you describe your time at National Law University, Jodhpur? Did you take part in extracurricular activities?

    I owe immensely to NLU, Jodhpur for turning a novice into the lawyer I am today. The elaborate course was well designed and made the legal learning quite an experience. The overwhelming assignments, projects along with compulsory internships, skilled me with able research abilities, which I honestly believe, gave me an edge in the profession. To work under pressure, stick to basics and being involved in every good, bad or ugly task, were the key learning for me at NLU.

    Extra and Co-Curricular activities were integral part of the NLU experience and indeed I was part of  quite a few of them. I was also a part of the cultural committee and could get a better view of what goes behind in organizing and managing such activities at University level. Among other things, we also formed a music group called Alfaaz during law school.

    In addition to adding ‘Hues’ to largely an academically oriented university and student mass, these activities are instrumental in interpersonal interactions and team building. Personally, these activities helped me boost my confidence and maintain calm in adversity, which is of immense help to me as a legal practitioner. In my view, these activities are vital for a comprehensive learning and hence be encouraged both by the universities and the students.

     

    How was your first year after graduation? Do law schools in India prepare their students for their professional life? What would you suggest to a fresh law graduate?

    Since campus placements did not do any wonders, I was interning with Lall and Sethi Advocates and was retained by the firm thereafter. It took a while to understand the KRAs as an associate, but having being well trained by NLU, I had no apprehension, whatsoever and hence I could learn more and earn well. Honestly, one cannot foresee the outcome and hence every task is an opportunity. It is always to be borne in mind that nothing goes unnoticeable, which is my advice to the fresh law grads.

     

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    Right after graduation, you started working with Lall and Sethi as an Associate. How did you appointment take place? How would you describe you working experience there?

    Having no job in hand at the brink of the last semester, I was also running helter skelter and was offered a job at an LPO in Pune. In the meantime, my internship with L&S was confirmed and took the risk of letting go the offer at hand for the internship. I was extensively working with the IP enforcement team and it was yet another task and my contribution to the same, which came to the senior’s notice and I was offered an appointment.

    I started with the trademark prosecution team and learned the basics and intricacies of filing and procedure. I later shifted to the litigation and enforcement team and had probably the best time on field, assisting and coordinating with my able colleagues. Having said so, I believe L&S offered me what could not have been expected from any top-tier firm at that instance.

     

    How difficult were the first few months of Lall and Sethi given that it focuses mainly on a specific field of law?

    With an honours in IPR laws, understanding the laws was not at all difficult and working with learned seniors at L&S, I could understand the practice and procedures well. In particular, the volume of work and clientele, considerably improved my drafting and response time.

     

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

    My inclination was always towards sciences and could relate the same more with IPR laws. The fascination with IPR grew further while dealing with well known brands and works at L&S.

     

    Thereafter you joined IPR Litigation and Enforcement team of Lakshmi Kumaran & Sridharan Attorneys as a Senior Associate. What had contributed towards this appointment? How did that go?

    LKS was a quick decision to explore new possibilities and work. I got to work primarily on both criminal and civil copyright litigation, involving extensive traveling and appearance in various courts and tribunals across India. Undoubtedly, it was a wonderful time working with LKS.

     

    Have you ever considered litigation or starting up on your own? Would you say the opportunity a firm provides for a young lawyer is worth the trade off in building a reputation?

    I have not considered establishing my own practice as my work profile and association with L&S offers me the same satisfaction. I beg to differ with the trade off comment as a budding lawyer, one should always consider value addition than reputation. In my opinion, smaller firms provide with immense opportunities and in turn you get recognized in the organization and otherwise.

     

    You rejoined Lall and Sethi as a Senior Associate. How did this opportunity come back to you?

    Let’s just say, I was made an offer to rejoin L&S, which I could not refuse.

     

    What is a normal workday like at Lall and Sethi? Being a Senior Associate, what are your responsibilities?

    Litigation team does not have the comfort of workday and times. For me it starts at about 9ish in the morning and depending upon the work, varies from 11-13 hours each day. I, along with my able colleagues, are responsible for taking care of courts, counterfeit actions and related advisory works.

     

    How did you build up your command in IPR? What are the primary essentials of an IPR lawyer? How do you say a fresh graduate can work on building these skills?

    As I always suggest to interns and junior colleagues, reading is the key to excel in any law, let alone IPR. Since IPR laws are largely uniform across the world and Indian jurisprudence has not developed much as yet, the Indian Courts not only refer to, but also rely upon the international precedents. I would advise fresh grads to keep themselves informed and updated about such developments.

     

    What is the procedure to apply for an internship and recruitment at Lall and Sethi? What are the qualities which they look for in one and his/her CV?

    Students can apply for internship or recruitment through email at hr@indiaip.com. Job is subjective and largely depends upon the requirement at the firm. Although many associates are hired and offered job on the basis of their internships, including me, it is not the primary criteria for hiring at L&S. In addition to being adequately qualified, it is always an advantage if the candidate has prior experience in IPR laws and law firms. Being a paper-less office, good knowledge of computers and operating system is a must.

     

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

    One must be well acquainted with consumer and contract laws, civil and criminal procedures. IPR practice substantially involves application of doctrines and tests laid down by both Indian and international Courts and hence the candidate must be aware of established precedents and doctrines.

     

    Please give our readers a few tips in order to land a job in IPR firm.

    IPR firms offer great opportunities and a rewarding career. Interestingly, IPR practice is not limited to consideration of case specific facts and interpretation of the law, but also entails extensive search and research for historical facts and information, scientific discoveries, international and trans-border data and precedents etc. Therefore, the candidates must have an across the board outlook.

     

    What would be your parting message to our readers?

    Law is a highly rewarding field and all it requires is good understanding of the subject and respect for the due process, that is what a super lawyer is.

  • Megha Suri, Senior Associate, Indirect Tax, Vaish Associates on a career in Taxation Law

    Megha Suri, Senior Associate, Indirect Tax, Vaish Associates on a career in Taxation Law

    Megha Suri graduated from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi in 2008. She is a qualified Company Secretary and also holds a Diploma in French Language. She has an enviable academic, debating record and an excellent series of internships at top law firms. Soon after Graduation she started working as an Associate at Mahajan Law Offices. Later, she joined Vaish Associates as an Indirect Tax Associate and after three years of work, she was promoted to Senior Associate.

    In this interview, she talks about:

    • Expertise in Indirect Tax Associate
    • Work at Vaish Associates
    • Growing from an Associate to Senior Associate at Vaish

     

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers who are mainly law students and lawyers?

    I am an indirect tax consultant working with Vaish Associates Advocates for over 6 years now. I practise my work passionately not because Indirect Taxes is my passion, but because Law is. After having associated with the field of law, I realise that it was way easier to complete 5 year law course and absorb the pressure of exams happening each fortnight, than taking dip in the ocean of law with each passing day and getting more drenched, with each deciding case!!

     

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

    Ever since I was class IX, I was quite focused on becoming a lawyer. Though not getting impressed with any eminent lawyer or the procedures of law, I got inclined towards legal practise by following a popular American TV series ‘The Practise’. Funny as it may so sound, but this is exactly what drove me to pursue law.

     

    Did you take part in moots when at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi or indulge in academic legal writing? What are your thoughts on these activities?

    I was an active Debater at school and the passion for debating continued in college as well. Consequently, I participated in many inter-college debate competitions. However, I didn’t take part in many moot court competitions. In fact, in totality I must have participated in just 3 or 4 moot court competitions in entire 5 year law course.

    However, for becoming a good lawyer, I think it’s extremely important for each student to take off the court fear and present himself as a good orator. In my view, for grooming budding lawyers, participation by each student in minimum of one moot and one debate competition per semester, should be made mandatory.

     

    Do you think being from a non-NLU has ever proved to be a hindrance for you? Many non-NLU students complain that they feel being discriminated against during career opportunities. What has been your experience?

    Well, I was lucky enough not to have faced such discrimination at the law firms where I had interned. However, I remember few friends of mine sharing bitter experiences, who, fortunately or unfortunately, did happen to intern at other Tier I law firms and were cornered for not belonging to the ‘NLU Lobby’, as it was called. The discrimination was to such an extent that students from National Law Schools were paid stipend as against non-national law school students, who weren’t even paid conveyance charges.

     

    Right after graduating, you worked for a very short period of three months at Mahajan Law Offices as an Associate and then joined Vaish Associates as an Indirect Tax Associate. How did your appointment take place?

    Prior to joining Mahajan Law Offices, I had interned with Vaish Associates Advocates for a period of 6 months (with the Corporate Law Department), as required under our curriculum at GGSIPU. I was willing to join the Corporate Law Department of Vaish Associates Advocates right after completing my internship. Unfortunately, as there was no vacancy then, my candidature was not considered. Subsequently, I got an opportunity to work with Mahajan Law Offices, where I was handling litigation as well as issues pertaining to corporate laws. However, three months later, I got a call from Vaish Associates regarding an opportunity with their Indirect Tax Department. I had never studied Indirect Taxes ever before, not even in my law college. Nonetheless, I wanted to join Vaish and give it a try.

     

    After three years of work as an Associate at Vaish Associates, you were promoted to Senior Associate. What qualities do you think helped you to achieve this status?

    Initial phase of your career is the most decisive and crucial for framing your path ahead. First three to five years require lot of hard work, self-motivation and persistence to make good knowledge base and grow. Being driven by these factors and my passion to learn Indirect Taxes, which was absolutely new to me, helped me to achieve the expectation of my seniors, which helped me to get promoted to being a Senior Associate. This certainly proved to be cherry on the cake and motivated me to work even harder!!

     

    You had also managed to pursue the company secretary course. Tell us why did you chose to do it and how did you manage it with work?

    While I was interning at Vaish with the Corporate Law Department, I got an opportunity to work with many Company Secretaries and many lawyers who had dual degree (one of law and other of company secretary). The amount of knowledge these people possessed about Companies Act and various issues related to Companies Act was absolutely tremendous. It encouraged me to join the course of Company Secretary (‘CS’). After I started working with Indirect Tax Division, the zeal to learn about Companies Act did not really fade away. I was still quite enthusiastic to complete the course. Additionally, my love for studies always encouraged me to pursue and finish the course.

    I was fortunate enough to have completed Law before as few subjects in the course of Company Secretary were covered by my curriculum of Law, making it simpler for me to appear in those papers. However, it was a challenge to study Cost Accounts and Financial Management, for which subjects, I used to taken tuitions before starting work in the morning. I had great support from my seniors and Partner, who gave me leaves during my exams. Moreover, by working for various clients, it gave me a practical edge to the theoretical studies that I did during the CS course. This made it easier for me to complete the course.

     

    Tell us about the nature of work you’re entrusted with therein and what’s a typical day like? How do you say one can gain expertise in Indirect tax? What does it take to be a good Indirect tax lawyer?

    I am majorly looking after various issues pertaining to Value Added Tax (VAT), Central Sales Tax (CST Act), Works Contract Tax (WCT) on pan India basis, along with issues under Service Tax, Customs and Central Excise. I am involved in rendering advisory services on various issues under Indirect Taxes, along with handling litigation services for various clients. We have matters under various forums like Commissioner, Tribunal, High Court and Supreme Court.

    Gaining expertise in any field of law entails persistent reading and creating a strong knowledge base. Clarity of concepts and its understanding and applicability is another important way of gaining expertise in any subject. Apart from this, being abreast with latest case laws is extremely essential. A lawyer can become a good indirect tax lawyer once he is determined to become so and works towards the same by following aforementioned path.

     

    Is the work significantly different from other transactional lawyers? How much of your work does involve litigation, if at all?

    A transactional lawyer would be involved in everything right from understanding the intention of the parties, to getting requisite approvals, to drafting and freezing the Agreement. My work involves this all from a specific angle of indirect taxation. Resolves issues like whether the transaction would have any bearing under prevalent indirect laws in India, how can we mitigate the cost from indirect tax perspective etc. is where we get involved into.

    We have lot of litigation matters, especially before Commissioner and Tribunal level. That is the route where all litigation arises for various companies. Visits to courts and presenting our case is a regular feature.

     

    What changes has being a Senior Associate 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?

    Becoming a senior associate is certainly an added responsibility. You become more accountable not just to your senior, but also to the client. Work load is there but it is manageable as I have colleagues at Associate level to help me.

    I am in office for almost 9-10 hours. I make it a point to finish all work in office rather than taking it back home and working. However, there are certain times, when I have to either sit back late or take work home and finish. But fortunately that’s nota regular feature. It is important for everyone to strike work life balance.

     

    You must have guided several interns. How would you say that an intern can generate a positive feedback in the limited time they have?

    It is very important for law students to explore as much as they can during their law course. This not only helps them giving a broader perspective of available career options to choose from, but also provides an insight into various legal issues. It is upon each individual how they want to make best use of available resources. Interns should focus on the work assigned to them and try finishing them after doing in-depth research as required. That will automatically generate positive feedback about them.

     

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

    To err is human. I had literally done blunders when I had just started working. I still do mistakes, but the frequency and gravity has certainly gone down. I guess that’s what experience is.

    The best way to learn from mistakes is to make a note of them at a place which is easily accessible. If the note comes in front of you on daily basis, the chances of occurrence of mistakes would surely come down. It’s not possible to work sans committing errors. It is always good to realise mistakes and better to mend them.

     

    People often complain about the highly skewed work-life balance at the top law firms. What is your workday like? How do you maintain your work-life balance?

    As I said before, it is extremely important to maintain a healthy personal life along with a wealthy professional life. I start my day around 10 and work till 8. There are days when I have to do late sitting when I have a matter in Court the next day. There are exceptional circumstances when late sitting can’t be avoided. Since I handle VAT related issues on pan India basis, my work does involve travelling to lot of places.

    But in regular days, leaving office in time is quite possible. The only way to maintain work life balance is to finish office work in office hours. Quite a number of law firms have the culture where Associates dilly-dally during major part of the day and start their actual work only around evening time. In such cases, there is no chance that people can strike the chord between their professional and personal life, which is truly quite detrimental to their future.

     

    What would be your message to our readers who are budding lawyers and law students?

    Law is not as simple as it looks. Law isn’t either as fancy as it looks. Law is such a discipline of study, which requires great amount of commitment and focus to prosper. My senior always says “Law is like a deep ocean. The deeper you take a dip, the more drenched you get with knowledge.” Maintaining strong knowledge base is the essence of roaring success in this discipline of study.

    It entails great amount of hard work and zeal to become a successful lawyer. It is quite important to love whatever study you choose. Whatever be your core practise area, it should be the one which you love to do. Only then will success come to you as easily and naturally as if it was always meant to.

  • Medha Chhabra, Executive-Legal, Piramal Enterprises, on work as an in-house counsel

    Medha Chhabra, Executive-Legal, Piramal Enterprises, on work as an in-house counsel

    Medha Chhabra graduated from Symbiosis Law School in 2011.During law school, her internships were a mixed bag of law firms and companies including Philips and Vodafone. She started her legal career Sesa Goa Limited as an Associate Manager-Legal. Currently, she works at Piramal Enterprises Limited as an Executive-Legal.
    In this interview she talks about:
    • Law school experience at Symbiosis
    • Importance of co-curricular activities and CGPA
    • Appointment and work at Piramal Enterprises Limited

     

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

    I used to watch a lot of Hollywood movies and TV series (Boston Legal in particular) and was always fascinated by the characters depicting lawyers and their lifestyle, the courtroom drama, the confessions and the on table corporate discussions. Subconsciously, I drew an image of a lawyer as the person, who possesses righteousness and superior knowledge, has a good conscience and is guardian of common man. That is it.

     

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

    I went to Symbiosis Law School, Pune. The things I appreciate most about Symbiosis are the curriculum and the exam pattern (i.e. objective driven) which compelled the students to do an in-depth study, especially of the bare acts. The second best thing was the class timings. It offered students ample time to participate in extracurricular activities or do whatever they wanted to do.

    I was in-charge of the PR and Media relations for Symbiosis as a part of the student council. Also, I served as a student cabinet (the core decision making group for all the events organised in the college) member of Symbiosis Law School. Further, I was a member of the Corporate Law Cell of Symbiosis to enrich my area of interest.

     

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

    Initially, I was fascinated by intellectual property laws the most. To pursue it further, I completed a diploma in the same and worked as an intern with Mars and Partners, a Delhi based IP boutique law firm. Subsequently, my various internships with multinationals ignited my interest in Contracts, Consumer and Labour laws.

     

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    At Symbiosis Law School, you were associated with a lot of student committees. Can you share with us your some of your experiences which you think have been helpful in the long run?

    Being a part of student council demanded a lot of time and energy. It made me realise that people management and networking can be the most challenging task of all.

    Such experiences helped me evolve as an independent being and a professional.  It helped me inculcate self-discipline, being firm and empathetic. I had to be tougher on myself, take decisions for others and ensure that the same are well executed. I learnt to put individual interest aside and to work as a team and achieve common goals against pressing timelines.

     

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

    My internships were a mixed bag of law firms and in-house.

    I would not say that any particular of them was better than other. I equally enjoyed all of them. All these internships helped me learn about some fundamentals of the law profession such as objectification of the issue/ legal point, developing an optimistic approach for solution, devising a plan of action and finding a solution to the same. This is the key mantra, I learnt from them, and I have applied the same to all aspects of my life.

    Our college used to offer internships during our semester breaks.

     

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

    While interning, in addition to what has been stated above, I learnt that hard work and perseverance are the two indispensable skills which every professional should imbibe in him/her.

    My legal acumen definitely developed during my internships. I learnt to be punctual, multitask and deliver within the pressing deadlines. Most important of all, I learnt to be meticulous and to have an eye for detail.

    Interning at different palaces gave me a fair idea as to the work culture at various places. I got an insight as to how law firm culture differs from that of a company in terms of skills and expectations which helped me take further professional decisions in my life.

     

    What do you feel about the importance of a good CGPA & networks when attempting to secure an internship?

    In my personal opinion, a good CGPA is very charming factor, not only from an internship perspective but also from a overall good resume perspective which helps you fetch a good job and may be a very good offshore study opportunity in the end. It shows consistency of efforts and academic excellence of a candidate.

    As a lawyer, networking is an essential expertise. Needless to state, it helps you by several means.

     

    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?

    They certainly help you understand the finer law points, their evolvement, objectivity, and learn presentations and many more skills. As a fresher, these co-curricular activities may bag you an extra point.

     

    After graduation, you joined Sesa Goa Limited as an Associate Manager-Legal. What had contributed towards this appointment? What does Sesa Goa Limited do and what was the nature of your work there?

    From college placement, I was recruited by Vedanta Resources Plc. and was offered to join their subsidiary Sea Goa Limited.

    As we know, Vedanta Resources is the largest private sector mining company in India. Sesa Goa is involved in iron ore mining, marketing and selling the same in domestic as well as international market.

    My work profile constituted of commercial contract drafting and negotiations, briefing counsels of corporate litigations, secretarial compliances and liaising with various government departments.

    I enjoyed working at Sesa and needless to state, loved the city. Legal team was excellent and highly supportive.

     

    After having worked at Sesa Goa for a year, how did the shift to Piramal Enterprises Limited take place?

    After a year I had decided to relocate to Mumbai and was looking for a job. I came to know through a friend that there is a vacancy at Piramal Enterprises Limited. I approached them myself and got recruited.

     

    What does your current work profile at Piramal Enterprises Limited consist of? What’s a typical day like?

    My work profile consists of commercial contract drafting and negotiating on behalf of business team with legal counsel of external parties like customers, vendors, suppliers etc., briefing counsels for corporate litigations and advising business teams on various day to day legal issues.

    Every day at Piramal is different and brings upon me different challenges. The day typically starts with emails and drafting agreements. To understand the need of business, I may need to attend meeting with business teams from different departments on various issues. Sometimes it leads to attending meetings with external parties as well. Not very often but there are hearings at courts for the litigation matters in which I have been involved in. My portfolio also includes international businesses of the Company, hence, sometimes, there are late evening calls with the business teams located at the jurisdictions other than India and their external parties.

     

    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?

    As a student I never thought that there could be a problem in enforcing a law but as I entered the profession, I realised that the mechanism to enforce law in our country lacks strength. The factors contributing to the same, in my view, are huge population, lack of technology, and sometimes, the will of the people to obey the law.

     

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

    Law is an ever evolving subject. I believe that one should never stop learning. Reading and keeping ourselves updated about the latest developments in various fields of law would help in professional development and skill enhancement.

    Separately, life is short, live it to the fullest. Do whatever you like and try to be the best at it.

     

  • Rima Bhardwaj, Legal Manager, Wal-Mart India on the job of an in-house counsel

    Rima Bhardwaj, Legal Manager, Wal-Mart India on the job of an in-house counsel

    Rima Bhardwaj graduated from ILS Law College, Pune in 2010. As a law student she has been quite active and participated in many moots, debates, MUNs and conferences. She also has multiple publications to her credit during her five years in law school. Her internship experience is a healthy mix of both law firms (Khaitan and Co., AMSS, Fox Mandal) and corporate houses (Tata Steel, Tata Motors, JUSCO). By the time she graduated, she had received a job offer from Nestle India Limited where she worked for three and half years as an Assistant Legal Manager. Later, she joined Wal-Mart India Pvt. Ltd and currently works as a Legal Manager there. In August 2014, she was awarded with Star Performer of the Year Award and that too within 6 months of joining the organization.

    In this interview, she talks about:

    • Moots, Internships and Publications
    • Work at Nestle India
    • Appointment and work at Wal-Mart
    • Bagging the Star Performer of the Year Award

     

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

    A warm ‘Hello!’ to my esteemed colleagues of the legal fraternity and the budding, incumbent entrants to the same. This is Rima Bhardwaj, currently working as a legal counsel for the India arm of the leading retail giant, Wal-Mart. I have a work experience of more than 4.5 years behind me and would identify myself as someone who has set sails for a humble journey to achieve the greater things in life.

    Hailing from a non legal background, the sole motivation to turn towards law was my own conviction and deep respect for this noble profession. It is infact one of the oldest and honoured professions recorded in the history of mankind and; a number of game changers throughout social and political history of the world have been legal luminaries.

     

    Please tell our readers what motivated you to take up legal studies?

    Right from childhood, I believe I had a knack for arguing well. In fact, my parents often used to joke amongst themselves that I should be a lawyer; little knowing that it would come true! I also had a keen interest in watching legal dramas/movies and analyzing the legal interpretations being taken in each one of them. What followed thereafter was the direct result of this intrigue and fascination towards the subject, born within me right from a young age.

    Rather I feel that more than the mode of motivation, what is important is the fact that you enter into any profession after careful thought and for the right reasons. This alone will ensure sustainability and satisfaction.

     

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    Tell us a bit about your days at ILS Law College, Pune.

    I studied in ILS for 5 years i.e. from 2005-2010. They were some of the best years of my life. It was also the first time that I was away from home, due to which I could learn the delicate task of balancing freedom with responsibility. The bi-semester course in ILS is very well structured so as not to put unnecessary pressure or burden upon students. The resultant time obtained apart from studying, was used by me in pursuing other productive activities like moot courts, research articles, NGO work, diplomas etc. I believe that for a holistic development, apart from scholastics, any student of law should be exposed to other avenues of learning law as well, which would help him/her to be a more confident individual and less of a bookworm. Such activities help a student to apply the law, to interpret it, to understand its true significance as a consequence of which they would never feel lost in the real world even if they don’t have a textbook handy. I am happy I could be one of those lucky few.

     

    How were your internship experiences?

    My internship experience is a healthy mix of both law firms (Khaitan and Company, Amarchand Mangaldas Suresh A. Shroff and Company, Fox Mandal) and corporate houses (Tata Steel, Tata Motors, JUSCO). The best experience that I have had as far as internship goes is with Khaitan and Company, Kolkata. The primary reason for the same being that the interns there are trusted with considerable amount of work and information. Any good work done is duly appreciated and rewarded through performance based stipends.

    Internships are a great way of knowing and experiencing a slice of what awaits you once you graduate out of college. However, my primary issue is with the fact that the interns are generally given half baked information or incomplete research to work upon: the larger context or the  actual facts are never explained to them due to which they are often on a wild goose chase of a misinterpreted fact and position. Balancing the confidentiality issues, the concerned associate should spend more time and energy to make their internship more enriching.

     

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

    Extra-curricular activities do give a fresh lease to an individual’s way of thinking and outlook. People who indulge in such activities get the opportunity to take time off from studying or scholastics and devote it to equally productive pursuits. However, at the same time, one shouldn’t lose sight of his/her ultimate goal that is to graduate with good credentials.

    Students should partake of such activities voluntarily. I am a strong advocate of the fact that things which are mandatorily pushed into operation can never be sustainable in the long run. One derives maximum benefit from activities that they enter into, on their own free will.

     

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

    Taking the aforementioned point forward, the primary reason that I enjoyed participating in moot court competitions was because I wanted to do it myself. Moot court competitions are a great way to test, challenge as well as improve upon your public speaking skills, usage of accurate legal idioms and expressions, legal interpretations, knowledge on the recent trends in judicial pronouncements and case laws relating to your moot question, argumentative skills etc. Being a competition, it also brings out the healthy competitive spirit within you with the opportunity to learn on the way.

    However, from a practical perspective in terms of CV or further job opportunity, it doesn’t hold much material value. The recruiters perceive it as an interesting choice of activity to be engaged in within college but that’s about it. It is so because the actual scenario in the Courts, is much more complicated, drawn out, the issues much more rigged with red tapism and the law/legal decisions very poorly appreciated, which the limited experience of moot courts fail to address.

     

    Soon after graduation you joined Nestle India Limited as an Assistant Legal Manager. How did your appointment take place?

    I was successful in getting campus recruitment right after college, in the leading FMCG giant – Nestle, in mid 2010. They had come to college with the objective of taking only one candidate. Needless to say it was a tough flight in which 3 gruelling rounds were taken – 1 Group Discussion and 2 personal interviews. I was mostly quizzed in Arbitration, Law of Contracts, Company Law and Disclosures and Civil/ Criminal Procedure Code, which fortunately I could answer to their satisfaction.

     

    Generally the first year after graduation is the most defining time of a fresh law graduate. What would you suggest a fresh law graduate should do to hold spirit and utilise the opportunities available?

    First year post graduation is a journey of the second league of self discovery and of imbibing the legal profession within oneself as an accepted way of life. My advice for the fresh law graduates shall be to take it easy and to go with the flow. It is also the right time to self assess whether they are happy with the particular avenue they are pursuing, or whether they want to change their course and venture into some other legal field or area of law. Keeping an open mind and receptive attitude shall go a long way, in the first year to establish oneself in the right context. Matured decision making, legal acumen and effective planning shall follow with experience and time.

     

    You have published a lot of papers in various prestigious journals. Can you give us a few tips to ace the art of paper writing?

    Writing has always been my passion be it fiction or non-fiction. For writing an effective and informed legal article, it should ideally be preceded with an ample amount of research through reading from various modes possible be it books, internet, journals, case laws etc. One has to write and edit through several drafts to perfect the final piece. One also has to keep its reader in mind, and accordingly customize his/her article for a student magazine, university journal, website etc. The flow of the article should be structured, whatever might be the subject, it should always start with the introduction or genus followed by the meaning, any applicable international perception on the same, defining enactments and case laws which shaped the subject, conflicting opinions or pronouncements given and last but not the least a personal conclusion of the writer. It is foremost that your research should shine through and the effort put in clearly discernible.

     

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

    Such activities have helped me to be multi-dimensional in my thought process and approach. When you engage in multiple co-curricular activities in your formative life in college, your way of thinking gets trained to run in more than one direction and process more than one view, even if they are conflicting towards one another. A good lawyer is not only one who subscribes to a particular view but one who keeps challenging his/her own view, multiple times, to arrive at a correct position.

     

    Currently you work as a Legal Manager at Wal-Mart India Private Limited. What made you choose this particular avenue? How did your appointment at Wal-Mart take place?

    Wal-Mart is relatively at its infancy in India. Considering it hasn’t yet got the FDI nod in multi brand retail, therefore the company is busy instead in establishing cash and carry wholesale model stores all over India, for the first time. Consequently there is a lot of opportunity for legal to be instrumental in helping the company to make an impactful decision and make a difference. It is the right place to be in and therefore I am.

    The hiring process constituted of 3 rounds- 1 HR interview and 2 personal interviews where I was most mostly quizzed on my past work experience and the difference that I can bring in, in case I am hired.

     

    We would love to hear about your work profile. What is a normal workday like? Being the Legal Manager, what are your responsibilities?

    A normal workday in office is pretty challenging in terms of my work profile. I am responsible for looking after all the litigations, notices, licensing queries, product safety norms and other miscellaneous matters. Due to the expansive portfolio, I get to work on various matters and the dullness of routine never creeps in.

    I would also like to state that unlike a law firm associate, an in-house counsel has to own his opinion and cannot afford to let even an iota of doubt colour his/her viewpoint. They have to be highly well read, first time correct always as well as be a jack of all trades, so that they can question the consulting advocates/ law firms and advance the company’s best interests, in a legally conducive manner. Rather an in-house counsel has a more challenging and tall order to answer to, then a law firm associate, which makes the job all the more interesting and intriguing.

     

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

    The biggest hurdle or challenge in joining any new organization is to make your presence felt and heard. People can be quite dismissive at first since they are yet to realize your true merit or potential. There are chances of getting lost in the crowd.

    In the first few months, you should set about doing just that; making yourself indispensable in the mind of the organization. Being well prepared, voicing your opinion smartly, participating voluntarily in discussions, performing within tight deadlines and making effective strategy decisions are some of the ways I made myself be noticed positively.

     

    In August 2014, you were awarded with Star Performer Award. How did you go about achieving this?

    It was a career highlight for me. I secured this award within 6 months of joining the organization and it was awarded to an individual member of the Legal Team for the first time.

    I set about achieving this by precisely doing the aforementioned activities. Something additional that I did was taking charge of things and taking complete responsibility for the completion of the same. My advice shall be in order to achieve anything, you have to come out of your comfort zone, ditch the routine way of approaching things and take risks. More often than not, you shall come out successful!

     

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

    A corporate lawyer should set its client’s interest and well being as his/her top priority. They have to set themselves the task of going above and beyond the black and white precincts of enactments/ legislations i.e. of simply reading up on what’s legal and what’s not and rather explore the grey area of brave and unconventional interpretations as well as find the solutions within the four corners of law. A corporate lawyer cannot afford to be a hardliner opinionist nor a traditional operator. He/ She needs to be ready to break new grounds, challenge obsolete ways of understanding and attempt harmonious construction of a seemingly adverse position.

    Some of the ways of achieving it is to keep oneself well informed, having informed discussions with industry colleagues, and of course the best way is to actually work upon the issue which incidentally also happens to be the best way to learn.

     

    What is the procedure to apply for an internship and recruitment at Wal-Mart? What should one do and how to contact them to apply for a job? What are the qualities which they look for in one and his/her CV?

    Wal-Mart regularly takes summer interns for a period of 1 month – 2 months every year and also pays stipend. For internship, the candidate may approach through the HR link given in the corporate website or get in touch with me as well.

    As far as job is concerned, just like any other good corporate house, Wal-Mart also seeks multi faceted legal professionals with ability to structure, streamline, regularize and lead the work/ projects given. For applying, the candidate may approach through the HR link given in the corporate website or respond to the individual job postings featured from time to time. A legal degree from a reputed college with some additional work experience helps to get noticed faster.

    The candidate should also be well versed with corporate laws like company law, SEBI, contracts, mergers, acquisition and joint ventures, arbitration, real estate and licensing laws.

     

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

    The most important tip that I would like to give is to keep your individuality and unique way of approaching work and contributing towards it, intact. There is no well defined way or formula of achieving success. Each one of us has to find it using our own special set of skills and acumen; but yes, in short term we may like to model our ways according to the person we admire. Get inspired but not dictated; your belief in yourself and your choices shall hold you in good stead in the long term. Best of Luck!

  • Awani Yaduwanshi, Manager – Corporate Legal Group, ICICI Bank on work at Banks and other corporate bodies

    Awani Yaduwanshi, Manager – Corporate Legal Group, ICICI Bank on work at Banks and other corporate bodies

    Awani Yaduwanshi graduated with Symbiosis Law School, Pune in 2012. She has an enviable academic record and an excellent series of internships at top law firms. During law school, she participated in various co-curricular activities and also has a couple of publications to her name. She has also been recipient of the Best Legislative Initiator (Female) at Amity Competition on Law Reforms, 2012. Currently, she works as a Manager – Corporate Legal Group at ICICI Bank.

    We have taken this opportunity to ask her about the several decisive moments in her career amongst other things including:

    • Publications and research skills
    • Importance of co-curricular activities
    • Appointment and work experience at ICICI Bank

     

    How did you gravitate towards Law? Tell us about your college life at Pune. What all activities did you partake in?

    As a kid I was quite fascinated by software engineers. However, the credit of me choosing law over engineering goes to my uncle. I had enrolled for a one year correspondence course from Law School Tutorial in my final year of high school. Always an avid reader, by the end of my 12th standard, I was more inclined towards law as a career option, because I thoroughly enjoyed critical/verbal reasoning, staying abreast with current affairs, reading and the logical, common sense approach of law as a field of study, all of which, came more naturally to me compared to everything else. Looking back, choosing law over other career options was a giant leap of faith, a right decision made at the right time.

    I believe we were a lucky lot to spend our college life in Pune. There was a lot to explore and keep us busy at all times. Among other things academic, my time in Pune was spent doing nothing, chilling with friends, exploring places and things to do in addition to writing research papers, attending conferences, participating in client counselling sessions, presenting papers and the like.

     

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

    To be honest, I did not have one particular interest area. As a student, I was always intrigued with how every subject, whether, contract law, tort law, international law, family law or something as procedural as CPC and IPC provided for situations, issues, problems and conflict areas. All one had to do was ask questions. The problems were already thought of, anticipated and provided for through a statute or a provision, which was always further, supplemented, debated and interpreted by the several interesting case laws. However, if I was to pick, I would say that I am particularly fond of contract law. The love started ever since I studied Section 27 and continues to date when we end up defending agreements and contracts in litigation.

     

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    What is your take on academics? How important do you say is a good CGPA for an illustrious career?

    Pune is a lovely city which ensured that college life was never just about academics. In addition to studies, five years at law school were characterised by living independently, making friends, understanding ones likes and dislikes, developing hobbies and having a lot of fun. When it comes to grades, though not one of the toppers, I would say that I managed just fine, never being on either extreme end of the spectrum.

    Personally speaking, I acknowledge that really high grades do help you get identified by a third party, usually an interviewer. However, I believe that good grades are a limited measure of how intelligent an individual is, or how successful he or she would be in his career. Good grades are a combination of multiple factors, including ones temperament on the day of the examination, manner of assessment, type of questions and sometimes even the speed in which one writes, whereas success at workplace depends on understanding your basics, knowing fundamentals, people skills, sincerity and diligence. The two should not be interrelated and everyone should focus on knowing what one claims to know thoroughly well.

     

    How did you go about securing your internships?

    I must admit that internships weren’t the easiest to secure. However, the ones that I managed were a combined effort of persistent planning, fretting, good seniors, decent contacts, an almost functional placement cell and some luck.

     

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

    Write papers when you are genuinely interested in a topic. Quality over quantity is always the rule. If you have identified your interest area, explore issues and angles surrounding it. Ask questions, formulate opinions, analyse existing material, learn about the topic and become slightly better at it than you were before writing the paper. With regards to avenues for publishing your article, lookup online websites and keep a track of conferences and seminars, journals and call for publications from colleges and other institutions.

     

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    Soon after graduation, you joined ICICI Bank as an Associate. How did your appointment take place? What worked for you in securing the job?

    I managed securing a job with ICICI Bank on day zero of placements in July 2011. That year the Bank had picked up 6 of us from close to 72 of us who sat for the placements. There was a two tier selection process comprising of group discussion and a personal interview. One has to understand that working your way through an interview involves explaining concepts and convincing a third person of your point of view rather than just quoting verbatim something from the textbooks. What worked for me, in securing my job, was a combination of focus, composure and knowing my basics well. Having a predetermined goal, coupled with drive and the confidence to push through difficult situations does leave an impact on the interviewer. Knowing your basics well and understanding concepts, seals the deal.

     

    How does your typical work day go at ICICI? What were the obstacles and challenges you faced during the initial days of job?

    My time at ICICI Bank has been fairly rewarding and the work that I have done has managed to keep me engaged and teach me something new every once in a while. The biggest benefit of being an in-house lawyer is that one deals with the commercial as well as the legal aspects of a deal which ends up being more practical and less theoretical, and helps us as transaction lawyers look at the bigger picture. One ends up reading balance sheets, understanding concepts like EBITDA, credit rating and a host of other commercial factors in addition to the legal documentation. I work for the corporate banking group and the special structuring group within the bank. Thus, my work involves documentation and ancillary issues with respect to sourcing new clients as well as focusing on accounts that may be classified as a non-performing asset and working towards restructuring the bank’s exposure in such clients.

    A typical work day at ICICI involves, negotiating with clients and with business groups within the bank who source the clients, finalising documentation, adhering to processes and meeting monthly and quarterly deadlines. Litigations involving recovery and other civil matters, coordinating with external counsels are some other aspects of work that keep us occupied.

    The challenges one may face during the initial days at work may range from settling down in a new city, to understanding your work profile, to dealing with people within and outside your team, to meeting deadlines. What needs to be remembered is that most of the issues are transient in nature and usually not as stressful as they may seem.

     

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    Any tips on how one should go about framing a C.V. and prepare for an interview?

    It may sound cliché, but its best to keep one’s CV simple. Focus on quality more than quantity and ensure that you only put your best foot forward and highlight your accomplishments, and accolades. It may also be advisable to customise your CV to suit the job you are applying for.

    With regards to interviews, it’s important to remember that having a well drafted CV is only the first step. Ensure that you are well prepared to answer and discuss anything that you have mentioned in your CV. Have opinions, remember concepts and remain composed. Confidence and composure are appealing attributes in an individual. Lastly, not even the interviewer expects you to be a walking encyclopaedia. Be sincere in what you have written and what you are trying to convey, the rest usually follows.

     

    How is the work environment as an in-house counsel different from other disciplines of law?

    To be honest, I have only worked with ICICI and thus would not be able to comment with authority on the work environments in law firms. ICICI bank as an organisation has a strong value system in place, which ensures that each employee is treated with respect. The bank follows an open door policy when it comes to addressing one’s grievances and every employee is encouraged to speak up if he feels the need to. I have heard of difficult people and difficult situations, people end up facing in law firms. However, I believe that this is too broad an issue to generalise. There are good days, and there are bad days. There are the difficult people, the self-absorbed people and the ones who are working against a deadline. That being said, a formal framework stipulating acceptable behaviour towards your juniors and seniors, does work in favour of organisations.

     

    How important do you now find your research skills?

    Ignorance of law is no excuse. As lawyers, it is important to stay abreast with the latest rulings and updates in the field of your work. While the frequency may differ, it is crucial to hone your research skills since they will always be of help at any stage of your career.

     

    How has been your experience working with interns? What do you think differentiates a good intern from the rest?

    The kind of attitude with which an intern approaches work really, works in their favour or against them. Enthusiasm, diligence and being earnest at what you do never fail to make a positive impression. Try understanding the bigger picture, get involved and have a good time. Internships are the perfect opportunities to pick up work related experiences; build your people skills, make mistakes, ask questions, understand job roles, all with limited accountability.

     

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

    After 5 years of law school, achieving work life balance, whether as an in-house counsel or as a law firm associate, does take some getting used to along with coping with the pressures of your daily job. Relatively speaking, working as an in-house counsel does afford greater scope for maintaining and sustaining the balance. That however, does not make the job less demanding, at least till you are getting paid for it. It is essential to take time out for yourself and do things that you truly enjoy doing. That more often than not makes up for the slogging.

     

    What are the tips you would like to share with our readers who are mainly students?

    • Enjoy your time at a law school. It truly is the time to have fun, make memories, friends and mistakes.
    • Plan a little and take time out to dream what you want to become in life (or at the end of five years), work towards it and be flexible.
    • Enjoy the journey rather than always worrying about what is to come. There is ample stress to follow. Take less stress when you can.
    • Develop hobbies and find your niche. There is nothing more fulfilling than doing your own thing in your own time. It will serve you well when you seek work life balance.
    • Take risks, and break a few rules. Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s mostly ok.

     

  • Priyanka Singh, Senior Legal Executive, Tata Elxsi Ltd., on work of an in-house counsel

    Priyanka Singh, Senior Legal Executive, Tata Elxsi Ltd., on work of an in-house counsel

    Priyanka Singh graduated from Bharati Vidyapeeth Law School in 2009. As a law student she has been quite active and participated in many moot court competitions debates, MUNs and conferences. She has a rich experience of working with a law firm, with a multinational financial services corporation as a Contracts Specialist – Legal and has also practiced independently. She has recently joined Tata Elxsi Ltd as Senior Legal Executive.

    In this interview she talks about:

    • Law school experience at Bharati Vidyapeeth Law School
    • Work experience at Tottenham India Law Associates and Fidelity Investments
    • Appointment and work at Tata Elxsi Ltd

     

    Legal studies are still only a backup option for quite a lot of students. What motivated you to choose law as a career? How did you get through to Bharati Vidyapeeth Law School?

    No, I totally disagree that legal studies are only a backup option for most students. There are students who work hard to clear the law entrance exam. I myself, being from a family having legal background, was genuinely interested in pursuing my law degree. Yes, on my part, family was the motivation factor, who supported and guided me throughout.

    Bharati has their own entrance test conducted at university level, after clearing it one gets admission upon counselling.

     

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

    My area of interest was contracts. I ensured that I get to read various types of contracts, the provisions being included therein. I kept myself updated about the recent development in the companies regarding contract. Which now I feel was of great use to me in my profession.

     

    As a law student which activities did you participate in?

    Basically, every law student should participate in various moot courts. I was also not an exception to it. In my first year of college my seniors guided me how to go about studies and other stuff. Throughout my college my seniors and my teachers guided me how to go about studies. For internship, i used to shortlist the law firms name, send them my CV and that’s how use to get the internship.

     

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

    I interned in a law firm and with sr. Advocates. The area was vast, whether it be company law, family law, civil, real estate or criminal law. When you work on something, you would genuinely have an interest in doing particular work. And that’s what I realised while doing my internship.

     

    What do you feel about the perception that students of certain ‘elite’ NLU’s have a much easier time in kick-starting their career? Is it true?

    Unfortunately yes, to an extent I do agree. But at the same time I also feel that in the end what matters is the knowledge and legal acumen. If you have this of course you can give a tough competition to anyone.

     

    After graduating from Bharati Vidyapeeth Law School you joined Tottenham India Law Associates as an Associate. How did the appointment take place?

    It was campus recruitment! Personal interview and HR round.

     

    You left Tottenham India Law Associates and had joined Fidelity Investments as Contracts Specialist – Legal. What led to this shift? What kind of work did you do there?

    My area of interest was always to work with a corporate organization. I had joined Tottenham only to learn and have knowledge about litigation, getting familiar with court procedures, as i feel that it’s always easy to move from litigation to corporate but to switch from corporate to litigation is always difficult. After working for a firm for a few years, I thought it’s the time to move ahead in my career and I started looking for a change and got an opportunity to work with Fidelity.

    In Fidelity I was exposed to various kinds of financial services contracts, drafting, negotiation and various types of procurement contracts. Working with a corporate is entirely different from working in a firm. I got lots of opportunity to learn the various aspects of corporate law.

     

    You’ve recently joined Tata Elxsi Ltd as Sr. Legal Executive. How did the switch from Fidelity Investments take place? Please tell us about Tata Elxsi Ltd and the recruitment process there.

    I wanted to try my hands on IT contracts hence moved to Tata Elxsi.

    Recruitment process started with legal round with hiring manager, then with legal head, and then HR round and salary discussion.

     

    What does your current work profile at Tata Elxsi Ltd consists of? How is a typical workday like?

    My day to day work at Tata Elxsi involves reviewing and redlining the contracts, drafting amendments (if any), negotiation, HR related issues relating to employees, drafting of legal notices and co-ordinating with different BU’s for clearing the agreements.

     

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    What do you think makes a good in-house counsel?

    I think that an in-house counsel should be proactively involved with the company and effectively communicate with others.

    They should know that Company is their only Client and they have to work in the best interest of the Company. One should also be familiar with company’s operations, its personnel, its existing past and potential issues.

     

    Does Tata Elxsi Ltd take legal interns? What is the process for same?

    Yes, Tata Elxsi does take legal interns. All such vacancies are posted on the company’s website, one need to apply for it, if the CV gets shortlisted, the HR gets in touch with them and we take the procedure ahead.

     

    What is your advice for law students who are interested in pursuing a career as in-house counsel?

    For every lawyer beginning is always difficult but at the same time it would give you an immense opportunity to learn and get exposed to various aspects of law. Find out what your area of interest is and then as all of us know law is only about reading, so read, learn and apply it practically.

     

  • Mansi Sood, Rhodes Scholar, on application, SoP and LL.M from Oxford

    Mansi Sood, Rhodes Scholar, on application, SoP and LL.M from Oxford

    Extremely capable and skilful, Mansi Sood from NLSIU Bangalore is a student from the batch of 2015. She has been recently awarded the Rhodes scholarship for pursuing higher studies at Oxford University. Interestingly, it has been offered only to a few students in India, Mansi being one of them. This is an interview about her success, outstanding academic records and highly polished CV. She has also provided insights on the application process for Rhodes for the benefit of readers. Needless to say, her accomplishment in the field is incredible, and she goes on to tell us  about her drive and future plans. There is evidently so much to learn from her.

    In this interview she talks about:

    • Rhodes Scholarship
    • Law school experience at NLSIU, Bangalore
    • Mooting and Internships

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers? Tell us a bit about your background and school life.

    Well, I was born and brought up in Delhi and did my entire schooling at D.P.S. R.K. Puram. I was always involved in a wide range of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities but my passion has been dance. I started learning Kathak from my guru, Smt. Vaswati Misra at the age of 5 and learnt for 13 years till I went to college in Bangalore.

     

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    What was the driving force behind taking up a career in law?

    My parents have always encouraged me to follow my heart and do what gives me joy. One of my cousins went to law school and I used to hear a lot about it from her. So somewhere along the way, her stories inspired me and it seemed like I would enjoy the law. The law is very logical and structured and it’s also a great equalising force. Both of these things appealed to me and I decided to take the chance. I’m just glad it worked out!

     

    How has been your law school experience at NLSIU, Bangalore? What are the best memories of your student life there?

    It’s very difficult to compress almost 5 years into one answer! But frankly, NLS, Bangalore has been a wonderful, wonderful experience. There’s so much to learn, so many opportunities and so many people to inspire you, it’s quite amazing. It is hard work but it’s definitely worth it. The memories I’m taking from here will last me a lifetime, I think.

     

    How do you give credits to your institution for being awarded the scholarship?

    I think the institution, its people and most importantly, its environment, have had a huge role to play in shaping me as a person. Whether it’s professors, friends or peers, they are always so encouraging. And the diversity of interaction makes you broaden your perspectives a great deal. So yes, I would definitely like to thank my institution and all the people associated with it for their support.

     

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    You were adjudged the third best advocate at the South India Rounds of 55th Jessup and there are winning titles for your team in many other moots. You also have many publications to your name. How did you manage and what kind of skills did you acquire?

    I have been involved in a variety of co-curricular activities but as you mentioned, mooting has been the one most dear to me. When I think what all of these activities have taught me, especially mooting, is that there are always two sides to every coin, multiple ways to look at anything. And I think that’s a very important skill for a lawyer. Other than that, they also obviously sharpened my research, legal writing and advocacy skills.

     

    What was your first reaction on learning that you are being awarded the Rhodes scholarship? How was the application process?

    My first reaction was a mixture of joy and relief. I couldn’t believe it for a while, in fact there are still moments of doubt! But to be honest, it’s a great honour and I’m very grateful to have been given the scholarship.

    The application process involves two stages – the written application and the interviews. Once you submit your written application, there is a preliminary interview and then a final one. At each stage, the pool keeps getting smaller.

    I wasn’t always sure that I wanted to study further but once that decision got made, Oxford was the dream.

     

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    How did you go about writing your CV and most importantly, your personal statement/essay/ SOP?

    Writing the CV isn’t tough, you just have to write two pages about the things you have already done. It’s the SoP that takes effort because you have to express your dreams in words and make it sound convincing at the same time. It involves a lot of thinking and introspection, more than anything else. Once you’re clear about your goals, it’s just a matter of putting it down on paper.

     

    Do you need to have recommendations as well? What kind of profile is needed while applying for the scholarship?

    Yes, the Rhodes scholarship requires 6 recommendations – 3 academic and 3 personal. There isn’t a fixed profile that you need or a checklist that you need to have completed but broadly, they look for a well-rounded personality who has been able to demonstrate more than just an interest in the field he/she wants to pursue.

     

    Was there any interview round? If yes, how were you prepared to face the panellists? What kind of questions did they ask?

    Yes, there are two interview rounds. The first one is more ‘technical’, in the sense that it’s usually taken by people from your field who are interested in having a discussion. The final interview is more about you – who you are, what you want to do etc. I was a little nervous both times, more so the second time not just because there were a lot of luminaries on the panel but also because it was my final shot at the scholarship; but both the interviews were a lot of fun and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. They asked a variety of questions, ranging from India’s labour laws to my dance to Kashmir.

     

    What kind of internships have you done? Did you ever plan out your internships?

    I have mostly done litigation internships, aside from the Summer Vacation Scheme at Herbert Smith Freehills. I did plan my internships to a certain extent, but that was mostly in line with what the college prescribes. We have institutional support in the form of an Internship Cell that helps out with contact details etc. But more importantly, seniors and alumni have always been a huge support.

     

    You are keenly interested in research as well. Tell us about it.

    I think research and policy work is an important aspect of legal work in general because often, the changes that we seek to bring about in our laws, come about through that route. I have been involved in research on a variety of subjects, from arbitration to constitutional issues.

     

    What are your plans after your post-graduation? What kind of career do you envisage after graduating from Oxford?

    My interest lies in commercial law, with a primary focus on arbitration and intellectual property laws and that’s what I want to pursue. I haven’t thought about exactly what I want to do but it would be a mix of practice and academia/policy work.

     

    What would be your advice to our young readers who would like to apply for Rhodes scholarship in future? What does it take to have a brilliant CV?

    I am not sure I’m qualified enough to give advice but I’ll say this – Just be honest. Of course, there is work involved in the whole process but the most important thing is to be yourself and talk about the things that matter to you the most. The rest will fall into place.

  • Roshni MS, Associate, Indirect Tax Practice, ELP on a career in tax and Law School experience

    Roshni MS, Associate, Indirect Tax Practice, ELP on a career in tax and Law School experience

    Roshni MS graduated from ILS Law College in 2011. As a law student she has been quite active and participated in various co-curricular activities. By the time she graduated, she had received a job offer from PricewaterhouseCoopers where she worked for nearly three years. Later, she switched to Economics Law Practices and is currently working as an Associate there.

    In this interview, she talks about:

    • Law school experience at Indian Law Society’s Law College
    • First year work experience at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
    • Building a career in Indirect Tax law
    • Appointment and work at Economic Laws Practice (ELP)

     

    Please tell us what motivated you to pursue law as a career? How did you get through to ILS, Pune?

    I did a major part of my schooling in Nagpur, a city that I still hold very close to my heart. Studying at the prestigious Bhartiya Vidya Mandir, I was given ample opportunities to touch base with a lot of facets which could eventually culminate into a career, be it sports, fashion or academics. However, all my life I remember being leaning towards academics despite having a good run with sports. And to choose a profession which marries this interest had to be law, considering my aversion to the numerous doctors and engineers in the family!

    Numbers were a great deal in my family and board exams were euphoria in themselves. I’m sure it is like that in most of yours. The gruelling hours put into studying eventually paid off when I saw my name in the first merit list put up by ILS, Pune. My decision to take it up was well thought and well discussed and I am more than happy to say, it’s the best decision I could have made.

     

    Please tell us a bit about your time at ILS, Pune. Please tell us about the manner in which you approached academics while in college.

    My time at college, by no means of exaggeration, was the best time of my life. The best thing about ILS, apart from other things, was the college timings: the first two years were roughly 3 hours of college and the next three were about 4 hours. You have the rest of the day to figure out things for yourselves. There were the kind who would join language classes, typing classes, work somewhere, join a diploma. I do not think any other college would give you that kind of leverage.

    The first year of college was a mess. You actually didn’t know how to approach your academics. Studying did not help and my scores plummeted. But after two semesters, and speaking with seniors, doing meticulous research, I approached the exams in a smarter, better prepared manner. I would be lying if I said I did not study, honestly I put in 4 times the effort and ended up securing a place in the merit list. And proudly, that continued.

     

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    What is your opinion when people say that all that they have learnt is in their years of practice?

    Legal Education is just that, theory. It definitely gives you a ready reckoner in your head and can guide yourself appropriately to the law. But the problem is when you need to put them to use. Except litigation, where you are given practical experience in the form of moots, corporate practice differs in humongous proportions.

    The learning curve begins at college, but literally curves when you join a corporate. It is indeed funny, but true, when people say all that they have learnt is in their years of practice. The approach the majority takes in college is to clear the exam. Unfortunately, while it helps that time, it does nothing for you at the workplace. There was no one to tell us this when we were in college, but I hope this helps you.

     

    How do you think academic research and writing can be encouraged in Indian law schools?

    Students by their own volition take part in numerous competitions for academic research and legal writing. The drafting and nomenclature which is otherwise used once in awhile in these competitions become a way of life once you venture into corporate life. Hence, inculcating this habit should become a norm.

     

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

    My first year after graduation was more or less like first year of college. You are mighty confused all the time. But the truth of the matter is everyone goes through this phase and it is more than okay to be that way.

    Apart from the learning you need to impart yourselves, another important factor which helped me immensely was the fact that I got to work with wonderful people. The work environment is an important factor which makes you the person you become.

     

    How did your appointment at PwC take place? How was your experience working there? Tell us what a typical day at work was like for you?

    PricewaterhouseCoopers, Mumbai (PwC) will always be special one for me, not only because I started my career there but because I met a lot of wonderful colleagues there. Be it my contemporaries or also the seniors I worked with and those I had a chance to mingle with. PwC had come to campus during our placement week in college and I was very happy to have made it through. What was challenging though was I did not study tax in college and to join a firm that specialized in Indirect Taxation which was a mighty decision in itself. My time spent at PwC taught me everything I know of Indirect Tax today.

    A typical day started with a quick meeting with my manager and discussing the things to do and the meetings to attend to. Everything was organised and of course, there was that break you had to take for a coffee with your friends at work. Once that was done, we were back on our seats and punching vigorously into our laptops. At the end of the day, I was mighty pleased with the things I worked on and the new facets of law I had learnt. Every day was a learning and I used to look forward to being there. I strongly recommend PwC Mumbai as one of the ideal work places to be in.

     

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    You left PwC to join ELP in their indirect taxes wing. What prompted you to make this choice and what made this shift possible?

    When I moved from Mumbai to Bangalore, a lot of things changed. They say location plays a major role on your work profile. Bangalore, as everyone knows is an IT dominated city and my profile had a major chunk of Indirect Tax compliance related assistance. This was a challenge initially but as I picked up this facade, I realised how important it is to understand the compliance involved in the subject you are working in. I strongly advise that everyone involved in indirect tax advisory must spend some time doing the compliance.

    But after spending a good 11 months in the compliance sector, I wished to move back to the advisory role in Indirect Taxation. And ELP arrived in Bangalore at the precise moment while this thought had initiated. And hence, the shift to move to ELP to join their indirect tax advisory practice.

     

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

    An Associate at ELP is typically occupied with immense drafting and litigation assistance. You have some interesting legal opinions to work on and draft some meticulous replies to show cause notices and appeals etc.

    Typically, ELP hires post a scrutiny vide your internship and hence it is of utmost importance that you have a chance to intern here.

     

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

    Professional ethics come naturally once you are in the workplace. Some simple terms like collaborate, share, speak, admit and question etc. will help you in a long way. The environment you are at work is what you create of it. If you do commit an error, admit it. But make sure you don’t repeat the same thing again. That will only mean that you are not learning from your mistakes and may tick off the Boss.

     

    How do you say one can gain expertise in tax law? What does it take to be a good tax lawyer?

    There is no substitute to experience. There is no prodigy in tax law. To be a good tax lawyer is not different from being a good lawyer. Be sincere towards the work bestowed upon you.

     

    Is the work significantly different from other transactional lawyers? How much of your work does involve litigation, if at all?

    Indirect taxation strives on litigation as much as other laws do. But what is great is that this subject also demands equal attention for the advisory work which improves your research, drafting and technical skills, ultimately which will help during the litigation.

     

    Tell us about the difference between being an In-house counsel and a Law Firm Associate.

    When I did have the chance to join an industry, this is something I thought about diligently. Being a client facing associate, I was exposed to a variety of industries and accordingly to a vast number of issues. That was something I did not want to lose.

    Alternatively, the clientele you interact with from the companies, be in the Legal team or the Finance team are one of the most passionate and brilliant minds in the legal fraternity. They are the go-to personnel of the Company before any major decisions are taken. That feeling should be irreplaceable.

    However, being in a firm, addressing varied client issues since the start of my career, I will be biased to a Law Firm Associate!

     

    Recently, the Supreme Court declared the National Tax Tribunal as unconstitutional. What is your take on this?

    While declaring the NTT could be construed as a progressive step, what is a matter of concern is the pending litigation for which the NTT was initially set up. This ruling could also affect all similar tribunals set up to decide substantial question of law. Nevertheless, there must be an alternate remedy for the speedy disposals of the pending matters and increase the confidence of the tax payers

     

    You have excelled in your academics, interned at top-notch Indian. How can one excel as a law student and enjoy college life?

    There were some seniors in college who told me that you must intern every vacation you had and there were the others who said that it really did not matter. So I did a bit of both.

    I made sure I did not intern in my first year of college. And that I would do a maximum of only 5 internships in the 5 years I spend in college. But what I did was to intern at different environments. So I interned with an individual lawyer, a company and law firms. This gave me a heads up on what to expect where.

    As for the fun part, I had a lot of time for that. I spent most of my free time with my friends or travelled back home to be with my family. I used to play tennis and would catch up on the game at a sports club nearby or you would find me drinking glasses and glasses of cold coffee in the cafeteria. Yup, definitely the best days!

     

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

    My time spent at PwC Mumbai is something that will linger on for times to come. It may not be completely true when someone tells you that you do not make friends at work. But fortunately for me, I was glad to have had that.

     

    What’s next for you?

    There are definitely some plans up my sleeve but for now, I am just going with the flow.

  • Tanmay Patnaik, Associate, Private Client Practice, AMSS, on an LL.M from Fordham and experience in Modelling

    Tanmay Patnaik, Associate, Private Client Practice, AMSS, on an LL.M from Fordham and experience in Modelling

    Tanmay Patnaik graduated from Government Law College, Mumbai. He received the USC Gould School of Law LL.M Scholarship in 2010 and pursued an LL.M in Banking, Corporate and Finance Law from Fordham Law School, New York. He is currently an associate of the General Corporate Practice Team at Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A. Shroff & Co.

    Most amazingly he also partook in modelling assignments for many big brands such as Cadburys, Samsung, Vodafone, etc. and most prominently as the poster boy of Limca. He also had the opportunity to act in the movie ‘Wake Up Sid!’.

    In this interview he talks about:

    • Taking time out for modelling
    • LL.M from Fordham Law School, New York
    • Scholarship from USC Gould School of Law
    • Private Client Practice at AMSS

     

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

    I would introduce myself as a ‘trust’ed legal advisor. I am presently a member of the Private Client Practice Team at Amarchand & Mangaldas. The team consists of estate and trust law specialists who have years of experience in advising high net-worth families on a host of matters including succession, estate planning and family governance related matters. I am also a member of the Amarchand Japan desk which is assigned to work on general corporate transactional and advisory matters catering specifically to our Japanese clients.

    I am also an expert in the field of Art and antiquities law. An extrovert by nature, I’ve never believed in defining the boundaries of what a lawyer can or cannot do.

     

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

    The formative years of my life were spent in the company of the sons and daughters of bureaucrats and judges. The topic of law was ingrained into every dinner table conversation. I was fascinated and truly taken in by the subject. Since math and sciences were never my cup of tea, narrowing down my career choices was that much easier. I’m honestly glad there’s a pen in my hand rather than a scalpel!

     

    Do you think being from a non-NLU has ever proved to be a hindrance for you? What has been your experience?

    Personally, it has never been a hindrance to me as I joined Amarchand immediately after completing my LL.M. from Fordham.

     

    How was your law school experience?  Were you engaged in any co-curricular activities?

    My law school journey has been an interesting one. In the first year of law school, I was honestly a bit lost. I soon found my feet and became very active in the Students Council and the Moot Court Association. I was to become a post holder in both committees for the next 4 years. I was also an active participant in moot court competitions throughout my law school tenure, securing two golds and a silver at the national level.

    However, all this while, I had already decided to break out of the mould of the typical law student and do something different. I had chosen to dabble in the world of acting. Every lawyer has theatrical tendencies brewing in them and I just decided to stir mine. By the end of the fourth year of law school I had managed a fairly decent acting portfolio of print ads, television commercials, music videos and even a role in a Bollywood movie. I soon reached a point where I had to choose to follow through with law or dive into acting full time. It wasn’t easy to drop something that I had invested a fair amount of time in, but I understood that an acting career was fraught with uncertainty. The night I decided to give it up, I decided to work on my LL.M. applications. There was no looking back then.

     

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    You have been featured as the poster boy of Limca! Please tell us more about your career in modelling, how did it start out, and your present involvement.

    I got my first modelling assignment by chance. A close friend of Mr. Piyush Pandey, who is the Executive Chairman of Ogilvy & Mather India had met me over a family dinner and recommended my name for a print ad which required a fresh teenage face. The people at O&M got in touch with me, I auditioned and 4 weeks later my face was plastered on billboards across the city! I was only 17 at the time and and the feeling was overwhelming. I was soon getting alot of casting calls for print ads and television commercials. By the fourth year of law school I had shot for over 30 top end brands including Limca, Colgate, Cadbury, Samsung, Vodafone, 7Up, Bajaj and Nike.

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    I also got the opportunity to travel to Dubai, Mauritius and Kuala Lumpur for music videos and commercial shoots. It was a good breakaway from the humdrum of regular student life. However, it wasn’t always bright lights and easy money. My biggest take away from the world of acting and modelling was learning how to deal with rejection. For every acting assignment I bagged, I was probably rejected for 5 others. This really helped me grow as a person. My last project was a character role in Wake Up Sid which was exciting because I got to be a part of fairly successful Bollywood movie.

    tanmay-patnaikI haven’t disconnected myself from the world of media altogether though. Last year I was featured and interviewed for the fashion magazine ‘GQ’ . The feature was on style conscious professionals in India donning the sharpest suits. I was later informed that I was the first Indian lawyer to get featured in GQ!

    It was interesting because in my own little way I had stayed in touch with the field of media and fashion. Just driving home the point that no matter how hectic life in a top law firm can get, you can still dive into other things.

     

     

    You went to pursue LL.M from Fordham Law School, New York. How did the whole experience turn out to be?

    New York was a game changer. It is truly the city where dreams are made and broken. It is a city which tests your mettle. I had visited New York before and was familiar with what the city had to offer. My time at Fordham taught me to be disciplined, patient and sincere in my efforts. The law school campus is located in the heart of the city and is always bustling with that unique New York City vibe. People often say that an LL.M. has no value for Indian students looking for a job in India. I beg to differ because in my opinion the learning does not start and stop in the classroom. It goes well beyond. Leaving networking aside, it is the softer aspects of the entire LL.M. journey which really equips you for what lies ahead. With your family thousands of miles away from you, you tend to push your boundaries of what you are capable of and this is where your levels of maturity (personally and professionally) start to peak.

    tanmay-patnaik-4The city of New York is like no other. It pushes you to the extreme in every sense. New Yorkers truly value their time and they also respect yours. Located in the heart of the city, being at Fordham afforded you the opportunity to socialize with your peers and other professionals on a regular basis.

    As an LL.M student, it was important that I made the most of the networking opportunities that the city had to offer. This wasn’t restricted solely to lawyers but individuals in the field of media, advertising, corporate finance, investment banking and private equity. There was always something to do, something to explore and people to meet. Being in the city that never sleeps, there was plenty to do once our classes were done and over with.

     

    Please tell our readers about the application procedure and other requirements like CGPA, internships and recommendation letters.

    First and foremost, it is vital that you identify why you want to apply to a particular school (faculty, program, location, etc.). This will help you think through a host of other questions which follow. Your statement of purpose must be an honest representation of yourself. Marketing yourself is well and truly acceptable, but misrepresentation most certainly isn’t. Maintaining a good grade is a must but restricting your achievements to the classroom isn’t the best way forward. Whilst long term internships and strong recommendation letters are an added bonus to your application, it is important that you try to stand out from the crowd.

     

    You have received the USC Gould School of Law LL.M Scholarship in 2010. Did your scholarship provide full funding for your LL.M course?

    The USC Gould Scholarship for LL.Ms is a merit based scholarship which does not require a separate formal application. Awards are typically offered in the amount of 10% to 50% of the cost of tuition and the student is notified upon receiving admission. Accordingly, when my admission letter arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I had also received a 50% scholarship award.

     

    How did you decide on a specialization in Banking, Corporate and Finance Law? What motivated you?

    I was drawn towards the practice of corporate law ever since I interned with AMSS. The internship was for a period of six months. During this time I was fortunate enough to work under some of the finest corporate lawyers in the country. I had also interned with senior counsels and public prosecutors in the past but I felt that the corporate law environment suited me best.

    I chose Fordham Law over Cornell, Georgetown, George Washington and USC because it not only had an excellent corporate law faculty but it also offered me a chance to study corporate law in one of the financial capitals of the world. Having Professor Richard Squire (who previously taught at Harvard) and Professor Sean Griffith (a former editor of the Harvard Law Review), both celebrated educationists in the field of corporate law, was the icing on the cake. So it was never a spontaneous decision. I had done my homework. The one year I spent at Fordham was invaluable. When I finally graduated, it wasn’t just a degree I was taking home, it was an experience.

     

    How did your recruitment at Amarchand & Mangaldas take place? How far would you say your LL.M experience was instrumental in this opportunity?

    I applied directly to Amarchand & Mangaldas when I returned to India and I was fortunate enough to hear back from them. An interview was set up with Mrs. Vandana Shroff and it went off quite well. I had graduated from Fordham with Latin Honors and this may helped me build my case. The LL.M most certainly gave me the confidence to hold my own.

     

    You are presently working in the Private Client Practice (PCP) team and have been associated with Amarchand for the past 3 years. Please tell us about your areas of practice.

    Our Private Client Practice is based on decades of experience in advising promoter families, high-net-worth individuals and entrepreneurs in relation to structuring and holding their wealth and family businesses, especially in a taxation and succession friendly manner. The team has been handpicked by Mr. Shroff himself and confidentiality lies at the core of everything that we do.

    The services we offer are bespoke to each client’s needs and include amongst other things:

    • Estate and succession planning, including preparation of Wills and Codicils; providing probate and executorship services;
    • Establishment of private family trusts (which may include private trustee companies, professional trustees and/or protectors, as desired); on-going advisory services for established domestic and offshore trusts;
    • Restructuring of existing promoter / family holdings in a tax efficient and succession-friendly manner;
    • Creation, implementation and monitoring of family governance structures, including drafting of family constitutions and vision statements;
    • advice on corporate governance and business structuring from the perspective of family governance, and incidental advice on all corporate matters;
    • Advice on family settlements and partitions;
    • Family dispute resolution either through arbitration, mediation, and/or litigation; and
    • Risk management and regulatory advice, including compliance with securities laws, takeover regulations, exchange control laws, liaising and dealing with regulators (especially R.B.I. and S.E.B.I.), as required.

     

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    People often complain about the highly skewed work-life balance at the top law firms. How do you maintain your work-life balance?

    In any top corporate law firm there are going to be patches of heavy workload. It’s a natural phenomenon and that’s how markets work. The earlier you come to terms with that, the more at ease you will be. However, if you’re perpetually stuck to your desk, you’re doing something wrong. I think at the end of the day it’s upto the individual to make the most of his/her day and the environment he/she is in. I try to start my day early and hit the gym as often as I can. Weightlifting has been a stressbuster since I was in law school. At the end of the day, I try to disconnect with work and connect with my loved ones, being my parents, my beautiful wife and my pet cocker spaniel.

     

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    What would be your message to our young readers who want to join a corporate law firm in the future?

    Joining a corporate law firm is an excellent choice but I would recommend keeping your expectations in check. Harvey Specter and Mike Ross are works of fiction! That’s not how law firms function. As a first year associate in any top law firm, you can expect long working hours and a heavy workload. Therein lies the challenge you must overcome. There will also be moments when you will feel disillusioned but the key is to remain patient and see it through.

  • Shalaka Patil, Senior Associate, Nishith Desai Associates, on work in Dispute Resolution and LL.M from Harvard

    Shalaka Patil, Senior Associate, Nishith Desai Associates, on work in Dispute Resolution and LL.M from Harvard

    Shalaka Patil graduated from Government Law College, Mumbai in 2009. She started her legal career as an Associate at Bharucha & Partners. Thereafter she went on to pursue Masters from Harvard Law School. She has also been a Rajawali Fellow at the Ash Centre for Democratic Governance, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government. Thereafter she worked as a Foreign Associate at Pestalozzi, Zurich. Currently, she works as a Senior Associate at Nishith Desai Associates and her main practice area is Dispute Resolution.

    In this interview, she talks about:

    • Law school experience at GLC, Mumbai
    • Choosing to pursue higher studies over job
    • Bagging the Rajawali Fellowship
    • Work at Nishith Desai Associates as a Senior Associate

     

    How did you decide to pursue legal studies?

    It was fortuitous. I wanted to become a journalist since I had been writing for a number of publications in Bombay from the age of 16. I thought I’d specialize in law so I could report niche cases. But once I enrolled in law, I never looked back!

     

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    Did you take part in moots while at GLC, Mumbai or indulge in academic legal writing? Do you think that these activities should be left to the discretion of students or made mandatory?

    I don’t think anything should be mandatory in law school other than your curriculum and avenues that allow you to test your analysis skills. Some people prefer mooting while others like writing, law counselling or projects. I did a few moots until my third year (such as ITAT and DMH) which really helped in engaging with a legal problem and honing my research skills. From the 3rd year though, I wanted to focus on legal writing and getting as many quality publications out as possible.

    I worked with this aim in mind and I also joined the college Students’ Council and Law Review committee. I participated in and won a few legal essay writing competitions as well during this time. In my view, the work that went into research, critically thinking through and defending problems through legal writing went a long way in building a strong foundation during my formative years. I would recommend it to law students who want to pursue a career in academics or even law firms. Mooting helps you think on your feet, writing helps you take a step back and think through the entire problem and give it your own perspective / defence.

    Other than this, I’d say doing a broad variety of internships helped me eliminate what I did not want to do and focus on areas that interested me (even though this area was quite extensive then). So all through law school I worked largely with disputes firms (I started at Bharucha as a trainee and before that I had interned at other law firms as well in Bombay). In addition, I was keen to gain some experience in the area of public policy as well and accordingly I worked at the Indian Parliament with an MP, at a think tank in Delhi and interned at the Law commission as well as an NGO. All of these opportunities gave me a first-hand experience of how the field really works and how policy translates outside of what I had read.

     

    Right after graduating, you worked for a year at Bharucha & Partners as an Associate and then went for LL.M. Why did you decide to go for higher studies?

    I wanted to study international arbitration and public law. I knew this right from my second year at GLC and I was determined to pursue this goal single-mindedly. The LL.M. was a means to study at a premier institution in an international environment (and one to which I had had limited exposure until then.) I also knew that other than teaching me the nuances of international arbitration and providing me with an excellent network of professionals and academicians, I would also be growing as a person with an exposure to best practices from around the world. The LL.M. proved to be all these things and more.

     

    Tell us something about your LL.M year at Harvard Law School. How did this influence your career?

    It taught me a number of things I know today and love about international arbitration. It gave me the opportunity to work with international law firms. It introduced me to the writing of experts such as Gary Born, Martin Hunter, Jan Paulsson and an opportunity to meet many of these stalwarts. I also studied and learned to view dispute resolution itself as a field outside of the traditional approach of Bombay High Court litigation that I had known until then. I was introduced to (and now love) investment arbitration and the world of Bilateral Invest Treaties. As a student, I was always interested in international law but knew that working in the field has limited opportunities. International commercial arbitration and investment arbitration allowed me to marry my interests of international law with commercial dispute resolution through arbitration.

    At Harvard I took very unique courses such as “Disputes System Design” where we studied ways of customising and designing dispute resolution systems for work places or companies keeping in mind their problems. I also took the popular ‘negotiations workshop’ in the spring semester where we negotiated through a series of problems whether local or international. Through this I was learning the new language of dispute resolution which was as important to me as court briefs and arguing.  My other interest was (and remains) public law / policy and I had the opportunity to engage in this as well through courses at the Kennedy School on the US Congress and law making.

    Needless to say Harvard is a place where at any given time a number of activities are going on and it is a melting pot where one gets to listen to various significant people and interact with leaders across various fields. I think this multi-disciplinary approach has really shaped my thinking as a lawyer.

    Lastly, not everything was nerdy and I did go out a lot too and met people from various countries and with cultures very different from mine!

     

    You were a Rajawali Fellow at the Ash Centre for Democratic Governance, Harvard Kennedy School.  Could you tell us about the experience?

    Kennedy School was a phenomenal experience. My research was focussed on political accountability at the Indian parliament. I interacted with a number of other MPP and MPA candidates. One really fun experience was a class I took with Professor David King on campaigning in the US. Here we studied about campaign finance, super PACs and even campaigned for a local election in Boston where one of the candidates was from HKS. The previous year I had done a class on US Congress so this was a good follow up from there. In any case, I am always keenly following new developments in world politics (the Middle East conflict being my current area of interest) and this class was a stepping stone.

     

    Currently you are working as a Senior Associate at Nishith Desai Associates. How has that experience been?

    I work in the area of disputes (with a focus on arbitration including international arbitration). NDA has given me the opportunity to work with a number of clients across various fields such as infrastructure, oil and gas, private equity and the service sector. It has deepened my understanding of business in these sectors and given me a flavour of trial work (my absolute favourite) since we run our arbitrations independently mostly. At NDA, I started working at the Delhi office and then moved to the Bombay office. Thus, I have had the opportunity to work at various courts other than the Bombay High Court right from the Supreme Court to trial courts in Delhi. NDA has an outward looking focus since a large part of its clientele is international. This is something I always wanted from my career. I was also seconded for a short time to Singapore to another top Singapore law firm which was also a fantastic experience. Having run a few international arbitrations at NDA with institutions such as SIAC, I envision this area of dispute resolution only growing in the coming days.

     

    What’s a typical day at work like? How do you strike a balance?

    A typical day is usually very busy with urgent deliverables, client calls and hearings and sometimes court work. But the rush of deadlines is what makes it exciting. But one has to just put one’s head down and power through the work. Long hours and lost weekends are a part of the process but as lawyers we all know what we sign up for so when you get some free time you should take it wholeheartedly!

     

    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?

    Hard work, the ability to do a thorough job, thinking through questions and excellent research skills. It helps if you have read the latest decisions in your area of interest and are abreast with the latest developments.

     

    What would be your message to our readers who are budding lawyers and law students?

    Enjoy the process, don’t sweat the small stuff, think big and give it your all.