Super Lawyer

Tag: academician

  • “From the standpoint of honing your skill-sets as a lawyer, be a voracious reader, aim at polishing your legal language, keep pace with latest developments, take the study of jurisprudence and statutory interpretation seriously.” – Apoorva Thakur, Partner at MKA Legal Law Offices.

    “From the standpoint of honing your skill-sets as a lawyer, be a voracious reader, aim at polishing your legal language, keep pace with latest developments, take the study of jurisprudence and statutory interpretation seriously.” – Apoorva Thakur, Partner at MKA Legal Law Offices.

    This interview has been published by Anshi Mudgal and The SuperLawyer Team

    Law is often regarded as both intellectually stimulating and socially impactful. What inspired you to pursue a legal career, and was there a pivotal moment or personal experience that influenced this decision?

    The term, ‘Advocate’, unlike a lawyer or law graduate, always used to amuse me since it’s all about championing causes. While growing up, I was almost always appreciated for my ‘gift of gab’, innovative thinking, problem-solving abilities, and my flair for writing. 

    Additionally, my role models and famous personalities about whom I liked to read, namely Dr. BR Ambedkar, Chittaranjan Das, Robin Sharma, Abraham Lincoln, Fali Nariman, etc. were all lawyers.

    On a lighter note, my love for Hindi movies with exaggerated and over-dramatized courtroom-scenes might have subconsciously sown the seeds of embarking on the path of rendering legal services and making a difference to the infamous “taareekh-pe-taarekh” system. 

    After completing your master’s degree, you embarked on an academic career.  What motivated you to take this path, and what valuable learning experiences did you gain during that time?

    My intellectual curiosity got me bitten by the ‘research-bug’, which motivated me to share with aspiring lawyers my learning-takeaways and enthusiasm for new knowledge in this dynamic domain of law. 

    It is pure delight to witness my students get empowered and blossom into successful legal professionals, Magistrates, etc. and receive heartfelt messages from them on Teachers’ Day and invites to their weddings. No fee can match that feeling of joy.

    My brief teaching-stints at CLC (DU), HILSR (Jamia Hamdard), MAIMS (GGSIPU), and NorthCap University gifted me with diverse exposure, pan-India network, and the golden chance to positively impact young and bright minds.  

    Your background as an Assistant Professor and NET-qualified academic in law is impressive. How did you blend your teaching methods with real-world legal practice, and how did your students benefit from your diverse experience in litigation, consulting, and working with corporate and government organizations?

    Creative interpretations of law, interactive case study-discussions, narration of courtroom-anecdotes and real-life client-handling experiences made my sessions interesting, I was told. 

    Guest interactions and internship opportunities with those in my circle, event-sponsoring through my firm, etc. were additional benefits for the students.  

    I have been blessed to have had responsive seekers as my mentees, most of whom resonated with my passion for breaking barriers as a first-generation lawyer, being unapologetically self-made, and experimenting with research on law in multidisciplinary shades.      

    Could you give an overview of the role and contributions of a Resource Person working with various MNCs, organizations, and NGOs? 

    Mainly, the common thread comprises assisting them with navigation through legal complexities in their daily workings, observance of relevant compliances, urgent legal support, policy-making and risk-management strategies.  

    With a client base that includes MNCs, MSMEs, and educational institutions, how do you approach legal consulting for large corporations versus smaller businesses? What unique challenges do you face when working with startups compared to established companies, and how do you tackle those?

    The focus changes, and approach to legal problems also gets affected thereby. 

    It is my observation and experience that startups and smaller businesses focus more on short-term productivity and long-term rapid growth, while larger establishments aim at steady and consistent momentum. The former may be achieved through innovative and tailormade solutions that are cost-effective and sector-specific, while the latter require transaction advisory, stable plans for dispute-resolution, calculated policy-modifications to suit changing times or industry trends or amendments in regulations/laws.

    Could you share your perspective on the role of mediation in dispute-resolution in India, and how its dynamics have evolved over the years? Additionally, how has technology contributed to simplifying the proceedings?

    From our age-old panchayat system to the popular ‘Lok Adaalats’, and from the mandatory pre-litigation mediation under the Commercial Courts Act of 2015 to the recently passed Mediation Act of 2023, this simple-yet-effective out-of-court settlement technique of dispute-resolution has witnessed an evolving landscape in India and is here to stay with a promising future. 

    I personally feel that it offers an expeditious means to reach amicable and self-binding solutions to legal problems.    

    With technological progress nowadays, ODR (online dispute-resolution) through SAMA, AGAMI, and other such portals is the pleasant reality to experience the magic of mediation sitting anywhere in India.

    As a partner at MKA Legal and the head of LAWGYSTIX Foundation, what is your approach and vision for your legal practice? What has been one of the most challenging cases you have dealt with so far, and how did you manage it?

    Bridging gaps between the industry and academia, and awakening students of law to their ‘social engineer’ Advocate self has been my vision for enjoying a ‘rule of law’ based society around us. 

    A holistic, multi-disciplinary, ethical and humanistic approach has always worked wonders for me and kept me grounded.

    Though all matters present unique challenges, I personally cherish the one through which I learnt nuances about powers of the Trial Court hearing Criminal Revision. It wasn’t a cake-walk to get a 1100+ day-limitation condoned in the interest of justice, and to get the charge successfully modified in a murky cross-case involving factual elements of modesty-outrage and attempt to murder. Working on cases related to men’s rights in false complaints under the PoSH law, or intriguing IPR advisory have also been full of learning.

    Client probing, issue analysis, brief preparation, witness examination (if the matter is at trial level), applying knowledge of human psychology, engaging in avid research etc. enable us to effectively assist Courts in delivering justice while helping oneself evolve as a practising counsel. 

    I am deeply indebted towards my mentors in chamber litigation, namely Late Sh. LK Upadhyay, Senior Advocates Gopal Subramaniam, Priya Hingorani, and Anil Sapra who have all nurtured and guided me in their special ways. 

    You’re not only a successful legal professional but also an image consultant, soft skills educator, and energy healer, among other roles. What strategies have you used to maintain a healthy work-life balance? What advice would you give to others trying to balance career aspirations with personal responsibilities?

    Donning multiple hats keeps me on my toes, and the various things I do help me get my ‘battery-recharge’ when needed. 

    Though the Indian law prescribes certain boundaries for licensed Advocates, I have experienced that all domains of knowledge have the ability to fuse into one another, provided we know how to use the integrated version. 

    Following the Hindu way of life and being a practitioner of Nichiren Buddhism, I surrender to cosmic plans for my own inherent wisdom and infinite potential to unleash when necessary. So, no specific strategies.

    On the personal front, my parents are my biggest strength, with my mentors being my compass, friends being my biggest cheerleaders, and marriage being a great teacher.

    Live in constant gratitude, and learn from everyone and everything. There might be crooked turns and deep pits on your way, but see dreams, set your goals, have a vision, wake up to your unique mission every morning, maintain a loving heart, work for others’ growth alongside your own, and keep moving ahead. 

    Once your work becomes your real fuel, your spiritual engine will keep you motivated and wisely guided towards healthy habits and holistic approach towards life.

    With your extensive experience across various areas of practice and academia, what advice would you offer to students aspiring to build a career like yours? Additionally, could you recommend some resources to help them stay informed about the latest legal trends?

    From the standpoint of honing your skill-sets as a lawyer, be a voracious reader, aim at polishing your legal language, keep pace with latest developments, take the study of jurisprudence and statutory interpretation seriously. 

    Rest, from a macro perspective, I would only suggest- focus on the soul’s progress, and the rest will smoothly follow. And trust the divine to unravel your life purpose, since whatever happens, happens for the best.

    As regards resources, the Universe has no dearth of those. However, as they say that, “Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder”, be a life-long learner and coachable mentee whose appetite is not restricted to judgments, news, interviews, amendments, debates, conferences, publications, social media content, MOOCs, etc. 

    Use your superpowers wisely, and the world will be your playground. Always remember that life is precious, and good karma is the eternal, indestructible currency.

    Get in touch with Apoorva Thakur –

  • In Conversation With: Sanjay Vashishtha, an Advocate and a prominent Academician, who is also a Bar Council of India Trust – Awardee and a St Cross Scholar

    In Conversation With: Sanjay Vashishtha, an Advocate and a prominent Academician, who is also a Bar Council of India Trust – Awardee and a St Cross Scholar

    This interview has been published by Sonali Parashar, Ojuswi Sahay, and the SuperLawyer Team

    How would you describe your journey as a legal professional so far? What part of it do you enjoy the most- teaching law or practising law?

    To begin with, my journey as a legal professional cannot be described as anything short of a “privilege” – where not only do I get several opportunities to learn from the vicarious experiences of my seniors, friends, and colleagues, but also from the clients we represent. My journey is an amalgamation of academic endeavours and practice as the question aptly puts it. I cannot help but highlight that I was lucky enough to embark and act upon opportunities as and when they came my way with utmost hard work and professionalism.

    In my professional journey, now close to a decade, I have had the privilege to represent global MNCs to individual clients – from Padma Vibhushan to Padma Bhushan Awardees to individuals who I looked up to during my days at law school. I have also had the privilege of representing a conspicuous bar association of Delhi comprising of 12000 lawyers, NLU’s, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Law enforcement agency (Delhi Police) etc. as a lead counsel and take pride in appearing pro-bono for various bodies/litigants and have been appointed as amicus to assist litigants by the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi.

    It’s a very enriching experience which enabled me to find an extended family within the legal fraternity on both the practice and the academic side. I have had the privilege of teaching / delivering lectures from Delhi Police Academy / Specialised Training Centre to several NLUs including NLUD, RGNUL, RMLNLU etc. to Delhi University, Hindu College, University of Oxford, Indian Police Institute, to several other esteemed private institutions such as Lloyd Law College, Symbiosis etc. 

    In terms of enjoying the academic side over practice or vice versa to separate my passions that overlap. Theory and practice are not only inseparable but essential in pursuing both effectively. Theory/teaching exposes me to the academic side which effectively equips me to deliver better on the practice side of the legal world. I think legal professionals should enrol/undertake teaching assignments at law schools so as to provide law students with a multidisciplinary/ practical insight into the legal world. I would conclude by saying that both teaching and practice are an indispensable part of my legal personality (on a lighter note). I enjoy them both equally! 

    As a Counsel for various commercial matters, representing clients at forums including Supreme Court, High Court and Tribunals, what do you believe has been the reason for your drive towards Litigation?

    As a litigation counsel, I witness an opportunity to grow and learn on a daily basis – the reason for my proclivity towards litigation since inception. Litigation – though equally challenging has been a mentally enriching and soul-satisfying experience. My proclivity towards litigation is mainly because of the work satisfaction that I derive out of every matter – both personal and for those we represent. Every case has its legal and factual quests that make the research and arguments worth its toil. 

    Another incentive is being able to network. Even a lunch table at a court premise is nothing less than a crash course on certain legal topics and current affairs. The ability to meet diverse clients with multi-disciplinary needs and wants makes the work even more interesting.

    Some of your esteemed clientele include the Delhi Police, RGNUL(Patiala), NLU Delhi,  South Delhi Municipal Corporation etc., to name a few. What are a few essential skills one must possess to establish and retain clients in litigation?

    The clients as highlighted by you are mostly government bodies, of course as esteemed they are. Office management is pivotal when it comes to managing multiple government clients alongside our esteemed private clients which include MNCs of various kinds, individuals, foreign nationals and other bodies. It’s imperative that there is a working system in the office to ensure timely drafting/filing of pleadings, follow-ups with clients and timely filings. Needless to highlight, every client deserves time and attention irrespective of the financial stakes. Therefore, time and resource management become equally necessary. 

    Also, building a strong team is more important than ever. A law office is never a one-person show. From peon/clerk, interns to associates everyone has an indispensable role – provided there is an effective oversight at all times. Accountability is yet another fundamental principle I would like to highlight.

    Accountability towards the client and their hardships can be equated to responsibility. Therefore both accountability and responsibility coupled with the right tools for office management are a few of the fundamental essential skills paramount to being a litigation counsel. Research and promptness along with keeping the clients informed is an added incentive in my opinion which goes a long way in client satisfaction. 

    With a Bachelor’s in law from Jamia Millia Islamia, an LLM  in Comparative Law from McGill University Canada and an MSc in Criminology & Criminal Justice from the University of Oxford, you have esteemed degrees to your name. How important do you believe academic excellence is in one’s legal career?

    Academic excellence may not be the correct label. Nor do I claim to be academically excellent. I may rather re-label this as an academic proclivity – which does go a long way in shaping the lens with which I view the legal world. In terms of academic institutions, they really give an insight into global/legal realms and highlight how legal systems/traditions of the world overlap. It also enables us to bring a trans systemic/multi-disciplinary tune to our practice which, in my opinion, enables me to better assist the Court than I could have otherwise without my LLM and MSc in criminology. Of course, besides that, you make great friends and these institutions and their affiliations equip me with several academic and other opportunities which I would have otherwise been deprived of. 

    I always, therefore, encourage my interns/associates to pursue higher studies when possible from an institution that promotes multidisciplinary education at a global level in the area of their interest and not merely a master for the sake of a label at their office.

    You have been a recipient of the National Scholarship by the Bar Council of India Trust. Please tell us more about that and how can law students target achieving the same in their careers?

    I think it’s a combination of luck with some passion for legal studies. Keep up at both! The latter you control, the former only works with the latter!

    You also hold experience in teaching law as a guest faculty at renowned institutions. You have delivered guest lectures to IPS Officers on evidence-based policing. Tell us more about your work in legal academia. What are some of the emerging trends in legal education and what are your views on these changes that you have witnessed in your career?

    I’ve had the privilege as highlighted earlier to be a guest faculty/ lecturer in various academic institutions including RGNUL, Delhi Police, RMLNLU, NLUD, Delhi University, Lloyd Law College, etc. I’ve also delivered seminars at Oxford and other international platforms and have publications in various national and international journals. My blogs are accessible at SCC, Bar and Bench and Livelaw alike on several social-legal topics. This academic interest is towards giving what I learn back to society, the legal community and the upcoming members of the bar at law schools across India. 

    As the question aptly puts it, the trends in legal education are gradually changing. Physical books are being replaced by virtual worlds – and physical lectures by virtual classrooms. Knowledge is ever-flowing. Digital platforms are disseminating knowledge / legal awareness 24 x 7 and the desire to know it all is ever-increasing. But one has to maintain a balance while adopting the emerging trends in the legal educational world. 

    There is a famous saying by Donald Rumsfeld, “There are known knowns, things we know that we know; and there are known unknowns, things that we know we don’t know. But there are also unknown unknowns, things we do not know we don’t know.”

    Therefore, it is important to read and apply our senses in a global context and assess every piece of knowledge as if there has to be a second side to the coin. The times to come are going to revolutionise how we study and interpret law and facts.

    You have publications to your credit as well and have published in reputed journals including the University of Oxford, London Redress, and other reputed journals, and also blogs at Live Law and Bar & Bench. What are 5 major skills a budding lawyer must possess to make them better researchers and writers?

    In no order:-

    1. Academic interest
    2. Endeavour to write – One has to simply write. Good or bad. It gradually improves.
    3. Readability – Make it comprehensive, coherent and easily decipherable. 
    4. Accessibility – Write on accessible platforms which are mostly free to access/read so as to provide access to legal education.
    5. Commitment & Research – Original research, commitment to collection of data and analysis. Originality in ideas is pertinent.

    Finally, a word of advice to our readers who are on their journey to establish themselves as litigation lawyers?

    Don’t give up! There are ups and downs – but thereafter – only ups and ups with fewer downs. Good luck & Thank you for your time.

    Get in touch with Sanjay Vashishtha –