Super Lawyer

Tag: First Generation Lawyer

  • How to start your own Legal Practice and go for Legal Startup, You Tube channel: In conversation with Naman Mohnot, Advocate, Author and Legal Consultant

    How to start your own Legal Practice and go for Legal Startup, You Tube channel: In conversation with Naman Mohnot, Advocate, Author and Legal Consultant

    This interview has been published by Priyanka Karwa and The SuperLawyer Team

    Sir, could you please tell us the reason behind choosing Law as a career?

    Back in 2008, when I completed my matrix and got a merit, there was a presumption that every meritorious student should fight for IIT-JEE exams so at that point of time, without thinking anything, I started preparing for the same. Later, I realised that Physics, Chemistry and Maths were unfulfilling and the subjects did not align with my interests and then I realised that I am going somewhere in the wrong direction.
    Certainly, I have always had a passion for public speaking and debating; I have worked as a radio jockey and also acted in some serials, which gave me the push to pursue law as a career. Also, there was a thought somewhere in my mind that what I can do in my life which can be useful for some other person or society. Subsequently, I decided that being a lawyer this can be done and that was the turning moment for me to decide the Career in Law. Additionally my father has been the biggest factor behind my decision to pursue a career in law. He is a law graduate himself, but he never practiced as a lawyer due to certain reasons so I decided to take his vision forward. His guidance and support have been invaluable in my development, both personally and professionally. In addition to this, law provides a flexible and versatile career path with many opportunities. Finally, I believe that law is a noble profession that can help to bring a positive change to society.

    Why did you Choose to Practise and not join any Firm, especially when you got the PPO?

    Being a Graduate from NLU- Delhi, I was sure that I will get a decent placement but the Corporate Job never allured me, even though I have done internships in good law firms but those job roles never attracted me. Apart from that, I always wanted to come back to my home town Jodhpur and build something from here by staying close to my family. I do agree that joining a law firm would have been easier then starting my own practice but I always wanted to start something of my own. So, when I decided to start my own practice, I knew it will come with advantages and disadvantages. If I think about the disadvantages then I wouldn’t have been able to make it, I knew it’s either make it or break it. Anywhere you go you have to create your place, your identity, you have to give it time and then see the magic happen.

    How was your Law School Journey like?

    I was fortunate to have such an incredible learning experience in one of the best legal institutions like NLU- Delhi. During my time there, I was exposed to some of the best professors, resources, and experiences that helped to shape me both professionally and personally. A tier-1 city like Delhi has always given me location advantages due to which I was able to write certain books and acquired a deeper understanding of the law and get a better grasp of the legal system. Along with the academic excellence, I was able to build strong friendships and lasting memories that I will cherish forever.

    Being a first-generation lawyer, how difficult was it for you to start your own practice?

    Embarking on a career in law is not a simple undertaking, be it for a novice legal practitioner or one with a prior legal foundation. Generally, a lawyer with legal genealogy has the advantage of their family background, where they don’t have to make new associations since they have sound direction and solid networking.
    I started my professional excursion with a remarkable senior, mentor Mr. Farjand Ali sir who is now an Honourable Judge in Rajasthan High Court. He gave me the directions and chances to show up, address the Courts & argue the matters. During my 2 years journey, when I was assisting him, he has given me more than 750 plus cases to argue which is a remarkable figure for any junior. I was sufficiently fortunate to get a decent senior and coach which is a critical part in the professional journey in one’s initial years and that is the thing that makes or breaks you. Once he got elevated, he advised me to become independent and since then I am practising as an Independent Advocate. I am managing the Firm Legal Shots through which our team is providng multiple Litigation and Non Litigation Services across the Country.

    Share your Litigation Journey with our viewers?

    My litigation journey has been a great learning journey. I am learning each day. Every other case brings out a different experience. I am doing what I love and following my passion makes me satisfied at the end of each day. I am extremely thankful to the bench of the Honourable Rajasthan High Court which has given me recognition. There is a long way to go!

    We are curious to know more about Aapka Consultant.

    After graduating from the National Law University, Delhi, I decided to pursue my professional career journey from my native town – Jodhpur by starting something of my own as I always had this principle in my mind that ‘ Naam aur pehchaan bhale hi choti ho, magar khud ki honi chahiye’. This idea eventually culminated in the creation of our legal start up and I approached my sister Adv. Swati Jain and we this how Aapkaconsultant came into picture. Aapka Consultant provides a comprehensive range of online one-stop business services and solutions, utilizing a network of CAs, CSs, and lawyers. This start up helped me in bagging clients from all across the nation even after staying in a Tier-2 city like Jodhpur. We are continuously providing hassle-free business and legal support to clients all over India through our services. We strive to work together with our clients and handle their complete legal and compliance needs, allowing their leadership teams to focus on their essential priorities.

    What was your vision behind your YouTube channel i.e., Legal Shots?

    Legal Shots is my lockdown brainchild. During the first lockdown of 2020, an employer from Bhilwara approached me for a legal opinion and I consulted him via whatsapp voice note and after a few days I came to know that a lot of Bhilwara people are getting relief from that. Then I set out to take my work online, explore more and contemplate undertaking something new. I was guided by my brother cum mentor Mr. Rishab Jain, who is the founder of Labour Law Advisor. With a perspective to assemble awareness and decode the laws for the general population in an easy language, in a brief and compact manner.. We began our YouTube channel Legalshots. Our vision is to promote and disseminate legal knowledge and understanding among the people. Our goal is simple – to educate both laypeople and lawyers about relevant legal and social topics, in an effort to make the complicated simple for everyone. I wanted to provide a single platform to discuss all legal issues. Three years later, we now have a family of more than 310,000 subscribers and more than 1.5 Crore Views.

    Please tell us what inspired you to write your book and the number of books you have written yet.

    Growing up in a Hindi Medium School, I was always aware of my lack of fluency in English. But I was determined to improve my English, so I applied myself to the task, researching and writing a book. Unfortunately, when I submitted an article to an International publishing house, I was rejected and told that students like me were spoiling the name of prestigious institutions like NLU-Delhi. This moment became a trigger in my life, and I began to work even harder on my English. Through dedication and perseverance, I was able to improve my English. I was determined not to let my lack of fluency in English be a weakness. I took advantage of every opportunity to read more, write more and hone my language proficiency. This experience only spurred me on further, and I began to research and wrote my first book on ‘Law relating to Ragging’ foreword by Late Mr. Ram Jethmalani which was published by Universal Publications. Later I wrote “Judgments that shaped the Indian Jurisprudence”, Foreword by Late Mr. Arun Jaitley which was published by one of the World’s biggest publishers ‘Thomson Reuters’, and ‘Surrogacy & the Law’ foreword by Mrs. Maneka Gandhi & Mr. Salman Khurshid and Revised version of ‘Law related to Ragging’ foreword by former Hon’ble Chief Justice Mr. S.A. Bobde and the Journey is still going on.

    How do you manage  Practise, Startup, Youtube Channel and Authorship journey altogether?

    Establishing my own legal practice, launching a start-up, creating a YouTube channel and writing books has been an ambitious endeavour. However, through efficient teamwork and delegation, I have been able to make the process more manageable and enjoyable. I prioritize tasks and make daily to-do lists to remain organized and ensure that nothing slips through the cracks. I am also constantly learning more efficient approaches to save time and maximize efficiency. Having a routine, staying organized, and taking the necessary breaks are the key to maintain equilibrium between all the activities. Even though my days are busy, I love what I do and that is why I am able to keep everything in check. With the help of my teams in the respective departments, we are able to provide the highest quality of service to our clients and viewers.

    Coming to the last question, any advice you would like to give to the young Lawyers out there?

    One of the invaluable pieces of advice that I would suggest to emerging lawyers is that it is worthwhile to prioritize experience and practical exposure over earning money. In a prestigious profession such as law, patience and diligent hard work are integral components of success. The early stages may be taxing and challenging, but one should wait for the opportunities, that will inevitably come, to showcase their acquired knowledge and experience and where you can spotlight the aptitudes and experience that you have collected in all those years. Law is rewarding and complex due to continual changes.

    It is essential to focus on daily learning and stay up to date with the ever-changing jurisprudence. As a legal professional, you never cease learning. It is always evolving. There will be days where you may feel you are not accomplishing anything productive, but that is perfectly acceptable. Remember that the sun continues to rise even after witnessing unfortunate events on this planet, so why not YOU? There will always be a brighter tomorrow. So do whatever your heart says and keep going!

    Get in touch with Naman Mohnot

  • “Transforming from a student to a practitioner of law can be overwhelming as a lot of responsibility vests on your shoulders”,- Abhay Agarwal, senior associate, JSA

    “Transforming from a student to a practitioner of law can be overwhelming as a lot of responsibility vests on your shoulders”,- Abhay Agarwal, senior associate, JSA

    This interview has been published by Priyanka Karwa and The SuperLawyer Team.

    To start our conversation on a lighter note, we would love to know what made you choose law as a career option?

    Since my childhood, I was unsure of what career to pursue. The choices oscillated from being an economist, a journalist, an architecture and even a chef. Being a lawyer was never on the list. It was quite usual in our school for students with commerce background to take up chartered accountancy after 12th. However, in my quest to study something more versatile, I ended up taking law since law is multidisciplinary in character. Perhaps law is the only field in which, depending on one’s practice area, knowledge of other subjects such as economics, finance and even psychology is also essential. Hence, the decision to choose law.

    We would definitely like to know about the struggles you faced in your early years as a student and after you pursued law

    Being a first-generation lawyer that too from a non-national law school was challenging. Given that the law school was fairly new, we did not have a huge alumnus base and getting internships was a dauting task.

    While law school teaches you to read the law, it is only when you start practicing that you learn to apply law in different scenarios. Transforming from a student to a practitioner of law can be overwhelming as a lot of responsibility vests on your shoulders. Having said that I feel there is a huge disconnect between classroom teaching and practicing law. This gap can be bridged by doing more internships and gaining more practical exposure.

    It would be a pleasure for our readers to know about your first job as an Associate at Khaitan & co.

    Khaitan & Co. is one of the most prestigious and amongst the leading law firms in India. After several internships, I was fortunate enough to be offered a position at the firm’s Mumbai office. Given that the firm does voluminous deals with often very high stakes, the training which seniors at the firm imbibe to its juniors is impeccable.

    While at Khaitan & Co., I was involved in various high-profile matters such as public issuances of debentures and offshore bond issuances, some of which were also award winners. I had the privilege of learning from some of the stalwarts of the industry. The time spent at Khaitan & Co., and the relations made there is something which I would cherish forever. I am grateful to Khaitan & Co. for kickstarting my career.

    Since you specialize in Banking and Finance and Financial Services, would you like to elucidate about your role as an advocate in this field and the motivation that landed you in this sector?

    I am involved in advising a range of domestic and foreign banks and financial institutions, and Indian conglomerates, in a variety of domestic and cross-border financing transactions. A typical workday as a financing lawyer involves drafting and negotiating various financing documents, and advising clients from start to closure of the transaction. On the insolvency front, I have been regularly advising committee of creditors, the resolution professional and the resolution applicant.

    Being a debt lawyer opens up a lot of opportunities in foreign market particularly the United Kingdom. This was one of the motivations of taking up banking and finance as a practice. Further, lending and borrowing is essential for a growing economy like ours. Insolvency is a developing area of law with lots of potential for growth. This is one of the few practice areas which is not seasonal, and one can expect to be busy throughout the year.

    From your profile, it is quite evident that you have worked with some of the leading law firms in India, would you like to tell us about your journey so far

    As mentioned above, I started my career at Khaitan & Co. where I worked for about 3 years. Then I moved on to Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas where my stint was rather small of less than a year. I joined JSA in July 2019. JSA boasts of robust practice areas and has been consistently ranked as Tier-I for its debt practice, amongst others.


    Under the guidance of Ms Dina Wadia and Mr Soumitra Majumdar, I have been fortunate enough to work on some marquee and path breaking transactions. Contrary to the other firms I worked at, I have gained exposure to a broader range of transactions. In a profession such as ours where burnout and depression is on the rise, JSA has also taken various measures to ensure well-being of its attorneys.

    To wrap this conversation up, what advice would you give to the fresh Law graduates?

    Bear in mind that law is a noble and a very demanding profession. Being client-centric, one has to put client’s interests over his own. This could include sacrificing weekends and leisure time. There could be unrealistic timelines and the expectations are typically high.

    Having said that, it is important to have command over the language. The only way this is possible is to read (almost anything) regularly! One should articulate his thoughts and pen it down. This will develop analytical skills and improve clarity.

    Last but not the least, work hard, be motivated to learn and take up a (weekend) hobby.

    Get in touch with Abhay Aggarwal-

  • Lokesh Bhola, Managing Partner at Legal Icons In Conversation With SuperLawyer Shares His Side On Struggles For A First Generation Lawyer

    Lokesh Bhola, Managing Partner at Legal Icons In Conversation With SuperLawyer Shares His Side On Struggles For A First Generation Lawyer

    This interview has been published by Prabhjot Singh, Priyanka Karwa and The SuperLawyer Team

    Was pursuing law planned for you or it all happened in a flow? Kindly share with our readers.

    It was not at all planned. After completing 10+2 in commerce stream, I opted to become a Chartered Accountant. I had even took admission and deposited fee for that. During that time, five year course from I.P. University, Delhi was introduced and  my father influenced me take a plunge in the field of law. I had appeared in the common entrance test conducted by the University and was fortune to get admission in limited ‘free seat’ on basis of merits.

    Initially it was more of subjective learning rather than practical and took some time to get myself adjusted in that flow. Afterwards, I had started developing my interest and scored well thorough out all semesters. Never thought that I would become first-generation lawyer in my family, however destiny has chosen so for me.

    What do you think, which specific advice has helped you come thus far in law? What is that one motivation that keeps you going in life?

    As a first-generation lawyer, the journey has been quite tough yet exciting. Working as the junior most associate in the Law Firm to heading a boutique Law Firm has been an overwhelming and enriching experience.

    The hurdles on the path of this journey, especially as a litigation lawyer, are tough to handle. Consistency and Dedication are two stepping stones for almost every success.

    Do not expect quick results especially while practicing as litigation lawyer. Change the mindset from working as employee to working like a professional. Own responsibility for every step taken by you while working on a matter. Success does not come without failures. We cannot have favourable results the way we thought every time, however we should be capable enough to be responsible for those results.

    Initially many colleagues even left the profession due to various reasons like low income, great hard work with slow or no results and that had sometimes demotivated me to choose this profession, but like a pillar of strength and motivation my family stood beside me and here I am today, enthusiastically climbing the ladder with more than seventeen years of experience and having Law Firm of my own. 

    Could you brief a case you were led on that substantially broadened your knowledge of the legal field?

    In last seventeen years, I had the privilege to lead as well as assist my senior colleagues in various corporate commercial matters across different Courts and Tribunals. 

    I fairly remember a matter dealt by me in my previous law firm, where we used to brief Late Mr. P.P. Rao, Senior Advocate in a constitutional matter being tussle between State Government and Union Government to enact law to control and supervise State Universities in the State of Himachal Pradesh.

    We used to take him for hearings before High Court of Himachal Pradesh at Shimla. In my entire career, I have not come across any other Senior Advocate like Mr. Rao, who was so thorough and clear in his understanding on the constitutional matters.

    He used to throw case law citation as well as its relevant paras to us while briefing him. That matter has surely broadened my concepts on educational and constitutional matters. I think it was his hard work and good wishes that we won that matter on his birthday.

    As an empanelled Arbitrator with prestigious Delhi International Arbitration Centre at High Court of Delhi, I have gained experience of deciding matters judiciously which has helped me in proving reasoned and more apt interpretation of legal issues.

    Lokesh, you have over a decade of experience in legal, how do you see the legal industry coming up with new concepts and creating exciting opportunities?

    India is a large country and the biggest democracy in the world. We have by far the longest constitution in the world, so the laws are accordingly quite vast. Similarly, there are host of Cases pertaining to Supreme Court and High Courts. Both these are referred regularly in the current set of cases and used immensely in the courts and by the lawyers. All this can happen only through digitization and having effective analytical tools which can help a Lawyer to quote relevant cases in the court and the corresponding Legislations and Provisions.

    I can see a lawyer walking into the court with a simple Tab and referring to relevant Legislations/Cases and the Judge verifying the same through his online terminal linked to the Master Registry. No more attachments of papers/cases/book portions etc. It makes the system faster, accurate and efficient.

    There is a huge role for Digital Transformation to play in the Legal Industry. We are far too behind in this area compared to our western counterparts. Undoubtedly, thanks to corona period, we have come a long way in transforming ourselves from a paper-based judicial system to a digital system. However, lot more is required to do in this field to help in surviving in faster pace.

    You have been there in some really big deals, how would you educate our readers about the risks attached to the same?

    Every journey has up and down graph like an ECG report. It is always fascinating to deal big ticket matters, however the same comes with many fold of challenges and expectations from client and senior colleagues. It’s true that our hard work should not depend upon the quantum of the matter dealt by us, however high stake matters involves greater effort and strategy to deal the same.

    Don’t hesitate to take opinions from expert or senior colleagues in a ticklish matter. A direction is must to achieve a goal. In a litigation, experience has bigger role than the academics. One should always adapt to learn not only by reading and research, but learning from experience of others especially your senior colleagues.

    A small court crafting skill can save you from multi-fold hurdles and that comes from court experience. A young lawyer should sit and watch proceedings in court rather than roaming outside courtroom waiting for his turn to come. A lawyer must not enter courtroom without reading his brief as you never know what may come from bench as a query.

    What strategies do you use to ensure that your clients receive the best possible?

    My preparation for a matter starts from first meeting with the client. We should make goal oriented strategy in a matter that too keeping in mind the financial implications on the client. Now a days, thanks to multiple courts and forums, we have various alternatives available to churn out results in a given matter in a most possible and economical manner. My endeavour is to pull our best suitable remedy out of bunch of options available for a given client considering his financial capabilities and timelines to get desired results.

    At the same time, a lot depends upon the zeal and hunger of client to get results in a given time frame. Many clients opt not to disclose correct and complete facts on the threshold which leads to multiple hurdles and greater time to achieve the desired goal.

    Workplace harassment also contributes to mental health issues that last forever, what are your views on the same? 

    Work-life balance is very important to ensure a long term efficiency in work and a satisfaction in your personal life. Workplace stress can be managed by fixing short term goals and taking all possible effort to achieve the same.

    Being a Partner, I try spend sometime with my team members to interact and discuss work and the general life related aspects. However, one needs to prioritise the work and maintain a discipline during the working hours.

    I am a strong supporter of not carrying the work related stress to home and spend my away time playing with my daughters as well as working out. It is equally important to take care of your health and therefore, I have made it a routine not to carry work at home except in dire emergency.

    Lastly, any 5 best pieces of advice for our readers?

    Legal field requires continuous study and keeping yourself updated of the latest developments. So, it is very important to make an early habit of reading latest judgments as well as precedents. Young lawyers should also visit Courts and hear established legal practitioners argue the cases in Court.

    There are no substitutes for hard work in law. I’ll quote J.R.R Tolkien, when he said “Shortcuts make long delays.” There are 5 P’s success formula  – Passion, Patience, Punctuality, Perfection and Politeness.

    Get in touch with Lokesh Bhola-