Super Lawyer

Tag: Law Firm

  • Jyoti Shekhar, Senior Associate, Legasis Partners on LL.M from Deakin University and work experience in Corporate Law

    Jyoti Shekhar, Senior Associate, Legasis Partners on LL.M from Deakin University and work experience in Corporate Law

    Jyoti Shekar is currently working as a Senior Associate at Legasis Partners, Delhi. She graduated with a B.S.L.LL.B degree from ILS Law College, Pune in 2007. Thereafter she started working at Mindcrest India Pvt Ltd. as a Legal Analyst. She then went on to pursue Masters in Commercial laws from Deakin University, Australia and has thereafter worked with OSC Export Services Pvt. Ltd. and Sahara India.

    In this interview she talks about:

    • Law school experience at ILS, Pune and Deakin, Melbourne
    • Work experience at OSC Export Services Pvt. Ltd. and Sahara India
    • Work as Senior Associate at Legasis Partners

     

    How would you introduce yourself? Please tell us a bit about how you gravitated towards law.

    Usually, I just introduce myself as a lawyer. I really do take pride in being a part of this industry, however small. Right from my childhood, I have always wanted to do law. Perhaps it had something to do with people telling me to be a lawyer due to my talkative and argumentative behaviour, or perhaps some impression left on me by a very illustrious Supreme Court Judge who was a distant relative and used to tell me stories. Honestly, I don’t know. But I do know that I never had a moment’s doubt about being a lawyer and yes, I still just introduce myself as a lawyer.

     

    Please tell us a little about your law school days at ILS Law College, Pune. How were you at academics?

    My college life was a lot of fun and a lot of hard work too. I was always a topper during my school days. In fact, my school refused to let me elect commerce in high school. Only after I threatened to quit the school, they reluctantly allowed me to take commerce. But I thoroughly enjoyed accountancy and business studies. I started pursuing the C.A. course along with my LL.B. That’s what kept me busy throughout college life. But I didn’t finish CA after all. But honestly, like any college student does, studying law was a last minute preparation for me, cramming all night and sacrificing sleep. I got average grades but I did have my share of fun in college.

     

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    How important would you say good grades are for an illustrious career in legal?

    Honestly, as a student, marks and percentages mean the world to us. However, to be honest, I believe that experiencing the practical world with different kinds of people, different cultures, behaviours etc. is more important in the real world. Of course, a good grade point average is important to get into good schools for further education and to make your CV look better. But honestly, after your first job, the interviews are more about how you handle people and situations. Book knowledge is something you can always refer to, but living in the practical world and dealing with colleagues, bosses and clients is the key. I guess what I am trying to say is that although a good grade is wonderful, but it shouldn’t be your entire focus.

     

    How do you think internships are beneficial to law students?

    I think the best way to learn is to practice. Internships are the best source of knowledge. Looking back, I do wish I had done more internships in college. However, internships should not be just about getting certificates. To get a headstart, try to be inquisitive and learn the knack of research, reading a contract, drafting an email, observing in meetings and courts etc.

     

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    Thereafter, you went to pursue Masters in Commercial Law from Deakin University. How would you describe your experience? What motivated you to go in for the same?

    I had an amazing experience during my masters. Actually, after finishing LL.B, I wanted a good job with a good salary. However, my father encouraged me to think long term. He told me that a good qualification will open up opportunities I couldn’t comprehend at that time. And he also said studying in a different country would expose me to different learning methods and will be a life experience. And he was right. I somehow found the courage to go ahead with the LLM plan and even felt excited by the prospect of experiencing a very different culture and academic system. That’s when the idea of going to Australia hit me. And it turned out to be the best decision of my life. When I went there, I did not know anybody in the country. Everything was completely new and different. I slowly learnt to speak their way, I worked in a grocery store, worked in their deli (and I am a strict vegetarian!!), I learnt their way of studying. We did not have exams, we only had research papers instead, lots of them. It was a whole different approach for me. I also learnt to be among people of different cultures and traditions – Australians, Chinese, Sri Lankans, and Europeans. It was very enriching. I am still active with the university’s alumni association in India. They have a lot of business networking events and activities.

     

    Do you think it makes sense for students to go overseas to study law when they want to practice in India?

    There was actually a time when a foreign degree looked good on CVs and that is partly why I went abroad. But as I mentioned above, it became more of a life experience for me. And another plus is that I learnt a lot about research and writing methods. Now actually, when people ask me this question, I really don’t know how to respond, since our academic system has also improved a lot and I feel it is a personal choice rather than a mandate.

     

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    After coming back to India, you joined OSC Export Services Pvt. Ltd. as a Consultant. How did you secure your appointment? How would you describe your experience working there?

    I simply applied to their vacancy ad. They had a series of written tests which I cleared. Of course, it was quite prestigious for me to start working there after my studies due to its association with Clifford Chance LLP. I got an opportunity to work in Clifford Chance London and New York offices which exposed me to international transactions and practices.

     

    Thereafter you joined Sahara India as Manager Legal – Corporate Finance. What led to this shift? What kind of challenges did you face during this job?

    Though I was doing quite well in my current job at the time, I wanted to get some in-house experience, which is what I wanted out of my career then – to be an in-house counsel. When the Sahara opportunity came along, I grabbed it, especially because it required me to be in the finance department, which was fast becoming my forte. Even in Clifford Chance, I was associated with their Banking and Finance department. It turned to be an amazing sea of experience with wonderful projects. Each of us lawyers had to deal with our projects independently. I loved every minute of it. The challenges were plenty; I had to pilot transactions right from proposal stage to post closing stage, of course with the assistance of external counsels, especially in other jurisdictions. We reported to the Corporate Finance Head, who had a surprisingly good grasp of legalese. It provided me with a lot of learning and knowledge.

     

    Currently, you work as a Senior Associate at Legasis Partners. What prompted you to make this choice and what made this shift possible?

    Well, the Managing Partner of Legasis Partners, Mr. Suhas Tuljapurkar, is my absolute role model in this profession. I had interned with him in Mumbai and also worked with him in Pune at the beginning of my career. I jumped at the chance of working with him again in Delhi when the opportunity presented itself. I was planning my exit from Sahara and everything just fell into place.

     

    What kind of work and responsibilities do Senior Associates at Legasis Partners deal with?

    In Legasis Partners, we are given the opportunity to develop ourselves as professionals as per our interests and skill sets. Here, we do not believe in designations and everybody pitches in to help achieve the common objective of growth. It gives me an opportunity to be independent and learn to take decisions and also to explore various ways in which I can be useful to the organization and hence to my own self as a well rounded professional.

     

    Tell us about a case that you are particularly proud of. What steps do you take to prepare for a difficult case?

    Well, a parent is equally proud of all their children. Every project I have done so far, be it small or big or high profile, has made me learn new things.

    To answer the second part of your question, in any transaction, homework is the key. I need to know the entire background before starting a project. And I never hesitate to ask questions, even at the risk of sounding ridiculous. If I have a doubt in my mind, then I cannot do a convincing job.

     

    What is the current scenario of studying corporate law as a career option in India? How challenging is life as a corporate lawyer?

    Corporate law has developed a lot in the past few years. With the new Companies Act in force, there are lots of stringent regulations which necessitate having a strong in-house team in every company. Corporate lawyers can either be in-house or work in law firms. There is no formula for being a successful corporate lawyer, though I personally believe that grasp of legal and contractual language is very crucial to this role. Also important is your negotiation skills which comes with experience. It is also important to understand the business and commercial aspects of the transaction to be valuable to your company/clients.

    Being a transactional lawyer, life can be very hectic while a transaction is in progress. Once I had taken my laptop along on my birthday dinner! But it can be quite exciting at certain times and routine at others.

     

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

    There are LPOs for those who like a little more regular timings and good salaries. However, these days, this depends on projects and deadlines too. Legal journalism is another interesting option. We need a lot of good law professors in different subjects. Then there are research related profiles in legal search engine companies. There are law publishing houses for those whose tastes are literary. People now are specializing in areas like legal recruitments, business development for law firms etc. I have just mentioned a few, there are lots more out there waiting to be explored and discovered.

     

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

    I have cherished every stage of my career. I interned with law firms and CA firms. I worked in LPOs. I worked as in-house counsel. I work in a law firm now. Every place has taught me a new perspective in which to look at the law and a new way in which to deal with people and situations.

     

    What are your plans from here on?

    I love doing different things, learning new areas and doing what I love to do. I am initiating myself in giving lectures also, whenever I can spare the time. Let’s see what the future holds. 🙂

     

  • Janaki Bhide, Associate, W S Kane & Co., on LL.M in IPR from QMUL and work experience in Intellectual Property

    Janaki Bhide, Associate, W S Kane & Co., on LL.M in IPR from QMUL and work experience in Intellectual Property

    Janaki Bhide graduated from ILS Law College, Pune in 2012. Her interest in Intellectual Property law led her to move to London right after graduation and pursue Masters in Intellectual Property law from Queen Mary University London. She also holds a Diploma in Corporate Commercial Law and Mergers and Acquisition Laws. Thereafter, she came back to India and started working as an Associate at W.S. Kane & Co., one of the prestigious IP law firms in India.

    In this interview, she talks about:

    • Her time at ILS amongst co-curricular activities
    • Deciding to pursue Masters in IPR after graduation
    • Law School experience at Queen Mary University of London
    • Induction and work at a top IPR Law firm: W S Kane & Co.

     

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

    Hi all! I am a lawyer working with W. S. Kane & Co. as an associate for the past one year. I graduated from ILS Law College, Pune in year 2012. Shortly after my graduation I moved to London to pursue my Masters specializing in Intellectual Property Law from Queen Mary University of London. Presently I am working in Mumbai. My career as a lawyer has only just begun!

     

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

    I belong to a family of lawyers. My grandfather and my father are in the same profession. Since my childhood I have had affinity towards law. In school, I particularly enjoyed political science, English literature and science. I was also actively involved in theatre activities, debates and elocutions and cultural activities. I gravitated towards law as it is a very challenging profession. As a lawyer one has to constantly learn and adapt.

     

    Please tell us about your time at ILS.

    ILS is a great college. It has a great legacy. So personally I believed it was the right choice for me. It was a big step since it was my first time outside my hometown. It took me some time to adjust, but after that I ended up having a great time in Pune! I made some amazing friends.

    Apart from the subjects which were part of my curriculum, I also took up short specialized diploma courses in International Human Rights, Mergers and Acquisition Law and Corporate & Commercial Laws.

    I was greatly involved in college activities, the cultural team and the theatre group in particular. I participated in many inter-collegiate drama competitions. As a part of cultural team I was responsible for organizing a lot of activities in college. Five years spent at ILS were very instrumental in shaping my personality and making me the person I am today.

     

    Right after graduating, you went for LL.M. When did you finally decide that you need to do masters? What were the considerations you had in mind while looking at various universities?

    Yes, I went for my masters right after my graduation. I think it is a personal decision. I made the decision after a lot of counselling from home and other senior students. It was general opinion of everyone that it gets very difficult to go back to the learning phase after you start working and making money. I started looking out for good universities in my final year of graduation. I was searching for law schools that offered strong courses in Intellectual Property Law.

     

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    How did you choose Queen Mary over other colleges? What was the decisive factor? How should one go about choosing a university?

    I think it is very important while choosing a University to carefully go through the courses offered, the faculty teaching the courses and its reputation. You must keep in mind that the highest ranking university might not have the best academicians for the course you are interested in.

    I was really impressed by the courses offered at QMUL. Intellectual Property courses at Queen Mary are some of the best in the world and students get opportunities to learn from the best IP practitioners and luminaries in the profession

    I would also advise students to also get in touch with the Alumni or current students from the University you are interested in and find out more about the academic as well as the cultural atmosphere surrounding it. I contacted a couple of seniors from ILS who were then studying in QMUL and through them I got a lot of information about the culture in the University.

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    Would you tell our readers about the application procedure and other requirements?

    The procedure for application in a foreign Law School is quite standard. Every university has specific conditions/factors that they consider while accepting students. Be sure not to overlook them and apply accordingly. Since India is not an English speaking country, clearing International English Language tests such as IELTS or TOEFL is an important criterion. Another important thing would be getting recommendation letters from your professors, lawyers you have worked with in the order of relevance to your planned course of study. Next up is getting your Statement of Purpose (SOP) right. Your SOP needs to be properly written. Apart from these things every university would obviously be looking into your academic background, extracurricular/ co-curricular activities etc.

     

    What were your areas of interest while you were an undergraduate student and how have they helped in choosing your subjects/courses for the LL.M programme?

    Your graduation curriculum involves a plethora of subjects that you are required to study during your five years. It is only towards the final two years that you are allowed to choose one subject of your interest in a year. I found Intellectual Property very interesting and entertaining when I attended the first orientation class and I took that up as an optional subject. But of course, studying IP for one semester was way too short a time to understand it completely. It was after that semester I decided that this is the subject I would like to explore more and build my career in.

     

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    Tell us about your time during LL.M. What kind of activities were you involved in over there?

    Time spent in QMUL was very enriching and enlightening. I was exposed to new experiences, new cultures and a new lifestyle! Education system there quite suited my expectations. Universities in the UK have a more wholesome approach towards studies. There is less classroom teaching compared to Indian Universities. Students are given study material for pre-class reading so that all students enter the lecture with a basic awareness of the subject. All the students are encouraged by professors to share their viewpoints. As a student of QMUL I had access to two libraries which included access to IALS, one of the greatest libraries in the world. I was quite relieved to have only 4 classes per week, which ensured that I had plenty of time to read up, participate in extra-curricular activities and take up a part time job.

    I got a chance to participate in the “Oxford Price Media Law Moot Court”. It was an altogether different experience for me to be part of an International moot team and compete with the chosen teams from the best law schools and be judged by experts from all over the world. Participating in the moot made this otherwise impossible dream come true!

    I also wrote a runner up prize winning essay for Prieskel Prize Essay Competiton 2012-13 on “Open Source Free Software: Current Issues in IP”.

     

    Soon after Masters, you joined W S Kane & Co. as an Associate. Tell us about your induction into the firm. What does a normal workday entail?

    Yes, soon after I returned from my masters I joined W. S. Kane & Co. I was keen on working here as it is one of the best firms for IP Law in India. Managing partner of the firm, Mr. Himanshu Kane is one of the most knowledgeable people in the IP circle. Working with someone of Mr. Kane’s standing & expertise is providing me with a strong foundation with regards to IP.

    WSK has a good work culture. People are very friendly and there is a lot of encouragement to new entrants to the profession like me from the seniors. One thing I appreciate the most is their open door policy. Anyone can approach any person from the senior management including Himanshu Sir. People are always willing to help out.

    I am passionate about my work and truly enjoy working in the field of IP. I just finished one year at WSK. My career has only just begun!

     

    Does W S Kane & Co. take interns? What do they look for in their prospective interns/employees?

    Yes, WSK does take interns. I would say sincerity and a genuine liking for the subject is an important criterion apart from a good academic background.

     

    Many lawyers would say that the actual learning takes place in the years of practice. How far would you say it is true? What was the case in your situation?

    I absolutely agree with that notion. I finished my graduation and went straight to LLM, but I would say that my real education begun last year when I started working. All the subjects you studied at Law School, everything you know is put to test every day. You also get to learn and develop valuable skills such as drafting, communicating with clients so on and so forth. Since the field of IP is so dynamic and ever changing, there is always a lot to keep up with. It is also very important to keep reading and updating yourself.

     

    What would be your advice to students interested in Intellectual Property Rights?

    Intellectual Property Law in India is growing at an exponential rate. There is tremendous scope for growth. I would advise students who are interested in making a career in IP to keep up with the latest developments and judgements. They should also try and secure internships with good law firms practising IP. It would also help to take up diploma courses in Intellectual Property. All the best!

    In closing, I would like to thank you and congratulate you for this wonderful initiative that is SuperLawyer. I am sure a lot of young students will benefit from this forum.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

     

  • Parineeta Srivatsa, Associate, ALMT Legal, on LL.M from NUS and Corporate Law

    Parineeta Srivatsa, Associate, ALMT Legal, on LL.M from NUS and Corporate Law

    Parineeta Srivatsa graduated from Symbiosis Law School in 2011, and thereafter she had the opportunity to pursue higher studies from the National University of Singapore. While at law school she had huge achievements in mooting. She also has rich experience of interning at top-tier Indian and foreign law firms. After returning to India, she joined MD&T Partners as an Associate. Later, she switched over to ALMT Legal.

    We asked her to share:

    • Her experience while pursuing an LL.M from National University of Singapore
    • Internship experience at foreign law firms including Allen & Overy and Allen & Gledhill
    • Work at ALMT Legal

     

    When did you decide to take up law as a career? Being a law student, were you only focused on academics? How was the academic pressure?

    I chose a career in law as a matter of elimination. I’m a first generation lawyer in my family and had no background in law apart from a general (albeit misinformed) idea from Perry Mason and John Grisham novels and the Practice marathons. I was always interested in civics, administration and constitutional studies (as part of history) in high school. In the 11th Grade, I chose to opt out of science and engineering and chose to study accounts, economics and political science. Over the course of the two years, law became a career choice and with the support of my family, the right choice. Symbiosis Law School was a game changer. In those five years, I developed a synchronous relationship with everything life in law school had to offer and the learning and un-learning that I did in those five years were the most crucial towards contributing to where I am today.

    I imbibed and absorbed everything I could from what was taught, discussed and happening around me. I will cherish my time there the most. Academics weren’t the only focus but a lot of emphasis was paid to the same. Unlike school, undergraduate school suddenly burdens you with the responsibility to make your own decisions and this takes a while to get used to. The academic pressure, too, depends on how much you opt to do and how self driven you are. I had a great support system to make sure I stayed grounded and focussed despite the million distractions per minute.

     

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    How was your LL.M experience from National University of Singapore? Did you always have higher studies in your mind? If not, what motivated you to go in for the same?

    The LL.M. at National University of Singapore was fascinating for me in every aspect. Renowned and accomplished professors, state of the art facilities, new country, hard working and dedicated students and challenging colleagues were just some of the many facets to my year in Singapore. I was more motivated than ever before to make the most of my year there and the facilities available at my disposal. The teaching style at NUS was more discussion based and there was abundant reading to be done for each class to encourage students and professors alike to bounce ideas off one and other. Focus was on peer review rather than peer to peer competition. The professors stimulate the discussions as moderators providing direction, valuable inputs, insights and opinions on a range of topics. This was different than what I’d been used to in class in India. Personally, I found writing papers more challenging than writing exams because I had to modify / un-learn my working style in order to cope with the level of detail and analyses required for each module.

    An LL.M. was always on my mind. As an undergraduate student, I was given an introduction to all fields of law and I wanted to hone my interest in corporate and business laws with further in-depth studies on the topics and gain a global perspective on the same. I ended up making some great friends and memories in the process, as well.

     

    During your days at Symbiosis and NUS, you interned with various foreign law firms like E Line Ventures, Joyce A Tan Partners and Allen & Gledhill. How are these foreign firms different from top-tier Indian law firms?

    My first foreign internship was with a children’s educational games based company in New York called E-Line Ventures. It was a small company and quite an informal environment with many creative and dynamic people. I was their only in-house legal intern at the time and I would help with research on Intellectual Property Laws, the Children’s Online Protection Policy Act and basic trademark searches. While at NUS, I had the opportunity to work with local Singaporean firms as well as foreign firms based in Singapore. From my experience on both sides of the fence, I would say that the integration into a firm and the amount of responsibility in terms of work is more qualitative in Indian firms than in foreign firms. Having said that, foreign firms are more systematic in the training provided to interns.  Associates and partners often conduct training sessions / seminars in the different fields of law and provide a general insight into the field of law that interns would be working in during the tenure of their internships.

     

    Could you please share with us on applications for internship and interviews, especially with foreign law firms?

    A strong yet crisp C.V., internships, especially in your area of interest, published articles / papers, if any, knowing your C.V. inside out (which is why it is important to have specific points and areas you’ve researched on in your C.V. instead of a general overview on the topic), and most importantly, confidence and a calm demeanour. When it comes to interviews, experience is the best tutor. Re-evaluating each interview after it’s done and picking up on all those points that I thought I’d not answered or could’ve answered better has always worked for me in the past. Also, honesty and sincerity is paramount. An interviewer will know immediately if you’re trying to guess the answer to a question you’re uncertain about.

     

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    You have also interned at Allen and Overy as an intern. Given that you had already graduated and were pursuing Masters what sort of work did you get? How would you say your legal education helped you in this internship?

    At Allen and Overy my scope of work involved drafting / reviewing closing documents and options agreements and management services agreements, among others. I attended training programs on banking transactions and general corporate and mergers and acquisitions transactions. These helped in future assignments as I wasn’t completely thrown off guard when trying to grasp agreements, jargon and more importantly, the reasoning behind the same. I also researched on enforceability of non-compete and restraint to trade clauses under Singapore laws. My LL.M. was in corporate finance and business laws, so I was equipped with a basic understanding of financial and transactional concepts in law. This helped me in some of the areas of research I was expected to do during the tenure of my internships. I also had a few practical sessions in NUS where corporate lawyers from renowned firms would provide us with problems mimicking day-to-day transactional law situations. These helped a great deal in understanding documents from a transactional perspective for future interviews and work.

     

    Do you think it makes sense to students to go overseas to study law when they want to practice in India?

    I have been asked this question many times and my answer is, monetarily and as a value add to your C.V. you can get into a top law firm without an LL.M. and more often than not people have. But purely from an academic standpoint, it is definitely a value add in terms of academic depth and learning. Further, due to flexibility, it provides you with an opportunity to explore subjects that you wouldn’t normally learn in an undergraduate degree. This may have opened doors for people who didn’t think they’d be interested in that particular field / subject of law. One of the optional modules I signed up for during my LL.M. was entertainment and celebrity law, with no background or interest in the field. It turned out to be the most interesting and engaging modules that semester. These, from an academic standpoint, may open doors for a prospective student that he/she otherwise wouldn’t have foreseen.

     

    For those students who are planning to go for higher studies, what do you think would be better- going right after graduation or going after having gained some work experience?

    I would suggest considering an LL.M. after a couple of years of work experience. Having said that, going right after your undergraduate studies has its advantages. You’re still inclined to learn and you’ve gotten used to studying and facing and tackling academic pressure. Many peers who’ve intended to break off for an LL.M after a couple of years of working have not been able to do so due to many reasons, including but not limited to secure jobs and steady incomes.

     

    Currently, you are working as an Associate as ALMT Legal. What prompted you to make this choice? What kind of work and responsibilities does an Associate at ALMT Legal generally deal with?

    I was a lateral hire in ALMT Legal from MD&T Partners. I had wonderful teachers in MD&T Partners and in my short time there I was able to absorb more than I had expected to, thanks to their guidance. Thereafter, I made the shift to ALMT Legal as I found the same to be more streamlined with my interests. My work at ALMT Legal ranges from everyday general corporate research to private equity and mergers and acquisition transactions. I enjoy working in ALMT Legal and don’t think of the work environment with dread. This is important for anyone who intends to develop a career in corporate law. It is as interesting as you make it. And thus far, in ALMT Legal, with the support of a fantastic team, I have been given responsibilities and have interesting work coming my way so I stay engaged and focussed.

     

    What is the current scenario of studying corporate law as a career option in India? What are the key qualities one should posses for becoming a corporate lawyer?

    I see courses and seminars and other reading material being offered every other day for practical courses in corporate law. It is definitely a good time to enter the field as a corporate lawyer as India is looking to emerge as a global and market-friendly economy. As regards key qualities, I would say reading and keeping abreast of developments in any field of law, whether by self or through discussions with colleagues and peers and using the resources available at one’s disposal are some of the ways in which one may have an edge over others.

     

    Do you ever feel that you missed out on the fun part of your college life?

    Symbiosis Law School ensured that fun was never neglected. As for managing with academics and ‘extra-curricular activities’, I was surrounded by brilliant peers who knew exactly how to manage that. We were young and malleable and learnt to inspire, challenge, and push each other’s limits without realising how much of it we were involuntarily absorbing for the better.

     

    Last but not least, what’s next for you?

    Exploring and pursuing interests and learning inside and outside of work. Knowledge is easily accessible these days so if you don’t know something, you have only yourself to blame. I also enjoy scuba diving, driving and travelling and discovering new places, things and people and I intend to continue to explore that as well.

  • Rahul Rai, Competition/Antitrust & Trade Lawyer, AZB Partners on LL.M in International Trade Law from Stanford Law School

    Rahul Rai, Competition/Antitrust & Trade Lawyer, AZB Partners on LL.M in International Trade Law from Stanford Law School

    Rahul Rai graduated from WBNUJS, Kolkata in 2006 and got a PPO from Economic Laws Practice after interning there twice. He joined as an Associate after graduating and worked mostly on international trade and competition law matters.

    In 2011, he decided to pursue an LL.M and got in at Stanford Law School in the USA. He describes his LL.M experience, talks about the world-class professors and facilities and his time as an Article Editor of the International Law Journal.

    After returning to India, he joined AZB & Partners and contributed in building their competition law practice. Here, he talks about:

    • Why he didn’t take up any extra-curricular activities in law school
    • His experience as an Associate at Economic Laws Practice
    • The biggest reason he got through to Stanford Law School, USA
    • Joining AZB & Partners upon his return to India

     

    Please tell us a bit about yourself. How would you like to be introduced to our readers?

    I am a competition and international trade (WTO law) lawyer working with AZB & Partners in Bombay.

     

    rahul-rai-2How did you come to know about the newly established WBNUJS? What helped you gravitate towards law?

    Like most kids from my part of the country, I too aspired to crack the IIT-JEE. Like many, I bombed through class XI and XII and unless my parents were to buy a management quota seat in some forlorn engineering college; I stood no chance of becoming an engineer. Even if I were to get into an engineering college, I was confident about my incompetence. Throughout high school I had loved studying non-science subjects like history, economics, and civics. I fleetingly heard about Professor Madhav Menon and the National Law School in Bangalore. Law as a possible career option was becoming more and more promising- it offered the escape from sciences and also promised reasonably well-paid jobs upon graduation. The prospect of landing decent jobs helped win over my parents and their fascination of seeing their son in an IIT. The prospect of getting over the baggage of disastrous XI-XII performance (I got 2/100 in Maths in the first semester in class XI and passed my XIIth with 43/100), never to look back at sciences, studying subjects that I had enjoyed in high school and yet be hopeful of a decent job upon graduation made me zero down on law as a possible career. Thereafter, it was simple. In 2001 Google was relatively new but was catching up as a research tool. I went searching for National Law School, Bangalore and found a thread talking about Professor Menon’s move to Calcutta as the founding Vice-Chancellor of WBNUJS. I wrote the WBNUJS entrance test, got through but failed to crack the entrance to National Law School, Bangalore. So I ended up in Calcutta and WBNUJS.

     

    How would you describe your time at WBNUJS? Did you partake in extracurricular activities?

    Time at WBNUJS was fun. I entered NUJS with three other friends from school. All four of us had struggled in similar fashion to find a roof over our heads after class XII. The five years at NUJS made me cement the friendship for life. I also met some very interesting and nice people and the friendships forged during college days continue to this day. That is one of my most cherished takeaway from NUJS. Academically, when I look back, I can count 5 out of 50 subjects that were taught brilliantly. I just loved G. Ajay’s Political Science, Prof. Rudranshu Mukheerjee’s History, Prof. BS Chimni + Ms. Sheela Rai + Prof. Mritiunjoy Mohanty’s International Trade Law and M.V. Shiju’s Constitutional and Competition Law courses.

    Extracurricular activities were a strict no for me. I had spent my high school days in boarding school chasing (with reasonable success) the trophies in debates, elocutions and sports and decided to do nothing in law school unless it interested me. So, all I did, was sleep, read a few books, and spend just so much energy on studies that would offer a fighting shot at jobs.

     

    Right after graduating, you started working at Economic Laws Practice. How did the appointment take place? How difficult were the first few months of ELP given that it focuses mainly on a specific field of law?

    I had enjoyed studying International Trade Law and had done reasonably well in the course. With some good luck I landed an internship at ELP, Bombay. I think I worked hard and that got noticed. I got another opportunity to intern with ELP and I decided to work in their Delhi office. Back in 2006 there were 6 associates in their office and Samir Gandhi led the International trade practice in Delhi. Again, I think I worked hard and ELP made an offer.

    First few months at ELP were difficult. I could barely draft a two sentence email and within the first month I was working on a full blown WTO dispute. Samir was and continues to be a great mentor. I struggled with drafting for about 8-10 months and finally one day I got a draft without any red marks! Working in the area of International Trade law and doing a WTO dispute was more of fun than a challenge.

     

    How did you build up your expertise in competition and trade law? Please tell us a bit about your work profile at ELP.

    I had joined ELP with the idea of working in the area of International Trade law and the hope that someday when the Competition Act, 2002 becomes operational, take up competition law as well. I spent most of the first eighteen months at ELP working on the WTO Dispute with the US on additional and extra-additional duties on import of alcoholic beverages. I would spend 8 hours in the office and another two to three hours reading up on WTO laws. I guess once you become a lawyer, there is no substitute for reading legal texts and commentaries. I just read as much as I could between Monday to Friday, week after week and month after month while at ELP.

    Sometime in late 2007 I saw an advertisement from the Competition Commission of India for conducting market studies. I took the idea to Samir, who was extremely supportive and so was Mr. Suhail Nathani, my ultimate reporting partner at ELP. We put in our proposal to run a study on the interface between antidumping and antitrust law, the Commission accepted it and thus began my career as a competition lawyer. Again, I read and read- there is just no substitute.

    The work profile at ELP was just what I had asked for- mix of litigation, advisory and policy. Above all, ELP offered the opportunity to do what I wanted to do- trade and competition work.

     

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    What prompted you to opt for an LL.M from Stanford Law School? How difficult would you say it was gaining admission?

    The desire to study for LL.M. was driven more by the idea of experiencing life in a very good university and not so much by learning ‘law’ a little more. Perhaps, I wanted to make good for the ignominy of not even coming close to cracking IIT-JEE (I was ranked somewhere around 99000 in prelims)! An LL.M. in the US back in 2011 cost about USD 75K and therefore I wanted to go to a place which ranked amongst the very best. Stanford Law School, of course does not need my certificate. I lucked out, despite my not so great rank and CGPA at WBNUJS, Stanford granted me a seat. In retrospect I think, it was all because of my work experience at ELP.

     

    Did you apply for any scholarships? How was the academic culture at SLS?

    Stanford Law School does not offer any scholarships to LL.M.s and I had secured the Hugo Grotius scholarship at Michigan. So, it was a tough call. In the end, the lure for the sun and sand in California took me to Stanford. I also tried my luck for INLAKS where I did not even make the shortlist.

    The best part about Stanford Law School was the absence of a formal grading system which made the law school such a fun place. Once you stop pitting students against each other and get rid of the system where one student will necessarily be ranked first and other ranked last, studies become fun. Students no longer run after CGPA, take up courses that they really like and above all study than aim for the top CGPA/rank. Like most top law schools in the US, Stanford attracts the very best of faculty and students. The professors are the very best, the peer group is the most diverse and extraordinarily talented. The law school promotes multidisciplinary education in the truest sense. Some of my friends were able to take up courses at the design school, others opted for ‘coding’. I had read a little on Francis Fukuyama’s work and never knew that he taught at Stanford. Realising this, I ran to register for his introductory course of political theory and despite being very selective he was just glad to take in a trade and competition lawyer with nothing but pop political science theories to offer. Likewise, I wanted to try courses at the Stanford GSB and was able to take up one of the most sought after courses-“Build your own start-up”. If I have to sum up the academic culture at Stanford, I would say that it offers the opportunity to try different things, perhaps fail, try again and in the end if nothing works out then walk out with an experience that will certainly make you a better person, if nothing else.

     

    You were also an editor of the reputed Stanford Journal of International Law. How did this opportunity come to you?

    Stanford Law School is fairly small but has significant resources. So it offers more opportunities than one can make good of in a year’s time. Every year, the student run law journals invite applications for editors. I had spent close to four years doing trade work and so I tried my luck with the International Law Journal. It worked and I got selected as one of the article editors.

    The experience though was a little ‘under-whelming’ considering how correcting footnotes can be quite boring. The article I edited was written by one of the top trade law practitioners and it was fun to read the primary sources and test the author’s propositions.

     

    How would you say in retrospect your experience in LL.M. helped you in gaining more knowledge and expertise in competition law? Would you suggest other lawyers having a similar profile to opt for an LL.M.?

    Yes. I studied competition law under Professor Mark Lemley, who is without a doubt one of the very best professors in IP and Antitrust and Charles Koob who has one of the most unparalleled profiles as a practitioner. The lessons in Antitrust and assignments have indeed helped in the manner in which I approach an issue now.

    I would most certainly recommend people to opt for an LL.M. at Stanford. If nothing you’d come back with a lot of good friends and even if you sleep through the classes, the activity surrounding you will leave you richer in many different ways.

     

    After finishing your LL.M. you started work at AZB & Partners. What prompted you to join AZB? Were there other career options available to you?

    Of course I wanted to spend sometime in the U.S. and had managed to secure an offer from one the top firm’s with their antitrust practice in Washington DC. The law firm withdrew the offer after a few weeks of extending it. I had to come scurrying back to India and look for a job. Although AZB did not have an established competition law practice, Samir and my colleagues from ELP had moved to AZB. I spoke to Samir and Zia and was convinced about the firm’s focus on building the competition law practice. Zia was and continues to be very enthusiastic about competition law and that was a big plus. The prospect of reuniting with the old team at a firm that promised to invest in a new area of law made the decision to join AZB a fairly simple one.

    I would have considered sticking around in the U.S. if we completed the “Build your own start up” course at Stanford GSB by securing the seed capital from a venture fund. All VCs told us we were ahead of the curve (polite way of saying the idea sucks). Once the start up dream failed to take off, and the DC law firm withdrew its offer, I came back to India.  AZB happened and I did not try my luck at any other firm.

     

    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?

    The romance of doing litigation never got to me. I had grown up seeing a generation of my family and family friends with nothing short of master degrees looking for jobs and not finding any. Deep down I wanted a JOB and at the moment I am happy with the sense of security the monthly pay cheque provides.

    I don’t necessarily see a disconnection between the opportunity offered by law firms and building reputation. All professions are about building trust and maintaining one’s credibility. In a law firm setting, one has to first gain the trust of his/her colleagues, immediate seniors, then the partner and finally the clients. I like the system where you are slowly exposed to different levels of responsibilities. Once you have won the trust of colleagues, seniors, partners and clients, recognition will come. On the point of building reputation I do not see any trade offs between a law firm career track and private practice track. One has to earn the trust of everyone around whether at a law firm or at a counsel’s chamber. Become trustworthy and then recognition is bound to come.

     

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

    There is a massive gulf between what is taught at law schools and what is expected from an associate at a law firm. If you manage to learn something, there is a good chance that you will have to unlearn it all once you start working. I generally think that most students walking out of the law schools have more or less the same level of intelligence and certainly sufficient intelligence to become a successful lawyer. The real differentiator is communication skills- written and spoken. The good part is that you need not be a gifted writer or orator- these skills can be acquired. And for that you need to be very very careful in the first job you pick. Rather, the decision to take up a job should primarily be driven by the senior you’d work with. If you find the right senior, the battle is half won. And if the senior has the time and patience to guide you, then nothing like it. Else just observing every single word he/she writes and speaks, analyze the difference in approach, and very soon you would develop your own style, tempered by the basic dos and don’ts taught by the senior.

    The other skill set that law schools can never provide is the ability to handle pressure. As you progress in your career, the pressure points will change and you’d see yourself struggling again. It is a continuous process and I am yet to reach a stage where I can start preaching.

     

    What is your current work profile at AZB? How can an intern be of help while trying to learn?

    I do a mix of competition and trade law work. I would say about 85% of my work is in competition law. In competition, a bulk of my work involves representation in behavioural cases and merger notifications to the CCI. Increasingly companies are approaching us for risk assessment on their business practice and guidance on mitigating risks. We loosely call it competition advisory and compliance. In International Trade I do the occasional representation for an exporter in an anti-dumping or safeguard duty investigation.

    Interns are quite valuable as the colleagues are working full time. We try and involve interns in ongoing assignments for all types of work, including research and drafting of bits and pieces of let’s say an appeal memo. All that I look for in an intern is ability and willingness to work hard and with diligence.

     

    What would be your parting message to our readers?

    To continue to work for a long period in a law firm set up can be challenging. Unless you enjoy the work, there is just no way that you will survive. So, pick the area of law that interests you the most and make a career out of that.

  • Mrinali Kaul, Associate at Talwar Thakore, on the Company Secretary course, grades, internships and an ideal law school life

    Mrinali Kaul, Associate at Talwar Thakore, on the Company Secretary course, grades, internships and an ideal law school life

    Mrinali Kaul graduated from ILS Law College, Pune in 2012. She is a qualified Company Secretary and has an enviable academic record and an excellent series of internships at top law firms. As a law student she has been quite active and participated in many debates, MUNs and conferences. By the time she graduated, she had received a job offer from Talwar Thakore & Associates and is currently working there as an Associate.

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

    • Importance of internships and maintaining grades
    • Importance of extra-curricular activities in law school
    • Completing the Company Secretary course alongside law studied
    • Work at TT&A

     

    When did you think you were suited to a career in law? How did you get through to ILS?

    Pursuing a career in the legal field was always at the back of my mind whenever I used to read novels written by Jeffrey Archer and John Grisham. The fact that top-notch orators and politicians in the country were lawyers by qualification added to the charm of being a part of this respected profession. Being a lawyer was also listed as one of my possible career choices through an aptitude test that had been conducted in my school, DPS Greater Noida. I made the final decision to take up law and become a first generation lawyer quite late in the day i.e., after giving my class 12th board exams. According to me, the pre-requisites for a career in law are that one should have a good command over the English language, ability to reason, self-confidence and be able to put forth one’s views in a coherent manner. I believed that I possessed the necessary skillset to be a successful lawyer and therefore chose law as my calling.

    ILS admits students based on their class 12th marks and an interview thereafter. As I had a reasonably good score of 94% in class 12th, I was able to join ILS for the five year law course.

     

    Which subjects did you enjoy during your qualifying degree?

    [sociallocker]The subject which I enjoyed most was company law and this paved the way for a career in corporate law. Company law is like the Holy Bible for those planning to join a corporate law firm and it is essential to be well-versed with it. What I liked about this subject was the logical manner in which it can be understood and one can draw references from the corporate world for understanding any concept. The linkage to the corporate world made it a really interesting subject to grasp and understand.

     

    Did you ever indulge in academic legal writing? What, in your opinion, are the advantages of taking part in such activities?

    Yes, I did indulge in legal writing and the articles were published in my college journal as well as in relation to the Company Secretary course. I also represented my college in moot court competitions and quiz competitions in the various law festivals held in different colleges. I have also attended conferences individually and presented my papers there. Such events are an integral part of a law student’s life as they help you to go beyond academics and also shape your personality for the future. Often one ends up forging lifelong friendships and making useful contacts at these inter-college events. Therefore, I would definitely recommend everyone to take part in one or the other event at least once in their law school life. I do not think making it mandatory serves the purpose as then students would merely do it to fetch marks and the intention to do something on your own initiative will be lost. Law schools should not spoon-feed the students and it should be left at the discretion of the students to choose whether to pursue such activities or not.

     

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    During graduation, you interned with top-notch law firms. Are there remarkable experiences during your internships that shaped your career choices later?

    My internship choices were primarily guided by my inclination to work in a corporate law firm upon graduation and therefore, I wanted to gain as much exposure as possible by interning in the top law firms in the country. During internships, I was mostly allotted research work relating to company law, securities and banking law. I have also been involved in due diligence exercises being undertaken at these firms and preparing memos on various legal issues. These internships made me realize that corporate law is really an all-encompassing term and there is a lot for me to learn in this field. Therefore, I wanted to join a corporate law firm after graduation to be able to realise my potential in this field.

     

    Would you say a great CGPA is a necessity to kick start a good career in the legal profession?

    Definitely, a great CGPA opens doors for you to bag the best internships- be it with law firms, senior counsels or even companies. It is a crucial factor during recruitments as most organisations have certain minimum CGPA requirements which one needs to satisfy to be eligible to even apply for a position as an Associate. However, having said this, marks are not the only determining factor in the long run and it is your knowledge and its application that counts ultimately.

     

    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 college?

    The course in ILS is structured in such a manner that it leaves you with ample time to pursue other courses, hobbies, activities, etc and pursuing two courses simultaneously was not really a difficult task. If you’re smart and efficient about your studies and prioritise well, it is quite a cakewalk. As I had joined law school with the intention of joining a corporate law firm upon graduation, I wanted to acquire any knowledge which would help me in the professional world and this is where the company secretary course came into the picture with its offering of an integrated approach to multi-disciplinary subjects such as law, business, finance, economics and accounts. Coming from a science background in school, I found this course to give me an edge over my peers as it covered newer areas of law such as competition, securities markets. These subjects were not taught as part of our curriculum in law school; hence this additional knowledge placed me ahead of my batch mates and also helped me in securing my job.

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    Does graduating from a prestigious school make a difference in landing a good job in this field?

    Yes, to a certain extent in the initial years, graduating from a prestigious law school does have its benefits in the recruitment scenario. However, having said that, if you’re intelligent, hardworking and smart, there’s no reason that you should be denied an opportunity irrespective of the law school you have graduated from.

     

    Soon after graduation, you joined Talwar Thakore and Associate as an Associate. How did your appointment take place? How was your interview? Please give our readers some tips to nail a law firm interview.

    My appointment at TT&A happened through the placement committee of my college. The selection process was two-fold: the first step involved sending my resume and an application form which covered questions relating to my skills and achievements, reasons for becoming a corporate lawyer and wanting to join the firm, etc. Subsequently, the shortlisted candidates were called for a personal interview to the firm’s office in Mumbai. The interview was very relaxed and I was asked to talk about myself and questioned based on my resume. I was also given a case-study based on which my critical and reasoning skills were tested and two days later, I was given the good news that I had been chosen to join the firm.

    This was the only interview that I gave and cracked, so here are the tips from my limited interview experience:

    • Be thorough with your resume and know it like the back of your hand;
    • Research on your prospective employer firm;
    • Stay calm;
    • Maintain eye contact with all your interviewers;
    • Be properly dressed; and
    • Put your cell phone in silent mode.

     

    How tough was the first year of law firm?

    Working in a law firm as an associate is a completely different ball game from interning in one. You have to be responsible and take complete ownership of your work product. Fortunately, at TT&A, we have a very healthy working environment and all the partners and senior lawyers are very encouraging and helpful and make sure that you blend in very easily with everyone and feel at home in the firm. Honestly, I did not find the first year tough. Certainly, it involved a lot of learning as what we are taught at law school is purely theoretical. But I can safely say that with the amazing work culture at TT&A, I sailed through it like a breeze!

     

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

    At TT&A, in the initial stage of our career, we are not compartmentalized in different sectors like corporate, banking, capital markets but are allowed to work on a wide range of transactions across all practice areas that the firm has to offer. This allows us to gain exposure to a variety of legal issues across multi-disciplinary jurisdictions and decide on our specialization thereafter. I have been involved in due-diligences, drafting of transaction documents in corporate and banking transactions, preparing research memorandums and notes.
    A typical day involves researching on contentious issues, drafting transaction related documents, discussions with senior colleagues and responding to client queries by email or over calls with them. The most challenging aspect of my job has to be beating the deadlines and making sure the work product meets the clients’ expectations. My work doesn’t involve litigation and taxation at all.

     

    Does your qualification in law and company secretary complement each other in terms of your work?

    Definitely, the company secretary curriculum is such that it equips you with not only legal knowledge required in the corporate world but also the business and the financial angle of a transaction. This inter-disciplinary knowledge comes very handy during transactions as it helps you to understand the bigger picture and not merely the legal issues involved.

     

    Where do you see your career going from here?

    I aim to grow with my firm and get more experience while working on the transactions, be it in corporate, capital markets or the banking sector. I am still at a nascent stage of my career and it is important for me to absorb and gain as much knowledge as possible to build upon it later.

     

    What would be your parting message to law students who want to be successful in corporate law?

    Be focussed, work hard and enjoy life!

     [/sociallocker]

  • Tulika Chakraborty, Associate at Kochhar & Co. on Corporate Law and Law Firms

    Tulika Chakraborty, Associate at Kochhar & Co. on Corporate Law and Law Firms

    Tulika Chakraborty graduated from Symbiosis Law School in 2011. 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 including moot court competitions, debates, and conferences. She also has a couple of publications to her name. Currently, she works as an Associate at Kochhar & Co.

    In this interview, she talks about:

    • Importance of co-curricular activities like mooting, etc.
    • Appointment and work experience at Kochhar & Co.

     

    How will you introduce yourself to our readers? What motivated you to choose law as a career?

    Hi, I am Tulika Chakraborty, a corporate lawyer associated with Kochhar & Co. and an alumnus of Symbiosis Law College.

    Well, I was always charmed by the mad pace, responsibility and the glamour that comes with the legal profession. Further, with the Indian economy opening still on the upside and huge potential for growth due to liberalisation and globalisation, there seemed to be a lot of scope in the field of transactions and hence the need for corporate lawyers in the foreseeable future. To add to that, my father’s dream and motivation boosted the zeal to reach this point of success in life.

     

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

    I have always been a consistent student in college, trying to balance my course and extra curriculars. I have pursued two diploma courses from Symbiosis Law School, in addition to my regular law degree. I have been a part of certain committees and participated in programs organised by my college from time to time. College life at Symbiosis was fulfilling and has tremendously helped me grow into a comprehensive adult. I guess a good college life includes academics and life experiences.

     

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

    I was always interested in foreign exchange laws. However, we did not have that as a subject back in college. It were my stints as an intern with various law firms that gave me my first true exposure to the practical side of law and it was during that time that I became sure of the area of my interest in foreign exchange laws and corporate laws. Reading articles on foreign exchange laws issued by various law firms and magazines like yours have also guided me all through the way.

     

    How was your experience serving various student committees at SLS?

    So I was a part of this committee engaged in the upliftment of rural children by way of spreading awareness regarding the necessity of primary education for children. As a part of the committee, we would visit villages etc., gather information regarding the literacy rate amongst the children, income level of a family, child labour etc. We would thereafter educate them on the necessity of having their children educated and refrain from making children work. We would also get in touch with various NGOs, obtain necessary financial assistance and provide help to the children by way of purchasing books, stationeries etc. Being a part of committees helps one to understand and deal with people having different mind sets and perceptions. This in turn helps one to become a team player, which is a crucial requirement of any profession.

     

    What do you have to say about mooting and publications? Do they have any ‘bonus’ value when seeking jobs?

    Mooting and writing journals at law school is always good since it helps one improve upon his/her research, drafting and debating abilities. These are very important skills that a lawyer is expected to possess. In my view, such co-curricular activities do have a bonus value when graduates seek jobs since it reflects a person’s passion and zeal for the legal profession.

     

    After graduation you joined Kochhar & Co. It’s been three and half years of your work experience in corporate law. What would you say contributes to the high attrition rate of the top law firms?

    I was interning with Kochhar & Co. in my last year of college and bagged a pre-placement offer there. I have got a brilliant exposure here. I believe the work environment can be difficult as times and the inabilities to handle the work pressure contribute to the high attrition rate amongst the top law firms.

     

    Many lawyers say that years of practice can make a person adept at any discipline of law. How far would you say it is true? What was the case in your situation?

    I don’t believe that is true at all. It all depends upon the exposure a person gets and his/her willingness to learn. This can happen within a couple of years of being in the industry and might not happen after years of experience as well.

    At Kochhar, I primarily handle transactions and general corporate commercial matters. In addition to this, I have got opportunities to handle real estate, insurance, employment and labour matters etc. I have got a brilliant exposure in all non-litigation matters which has helped me build my understanding of the field I seek enjoyment while working and gather a basic understanding of all practice areas at the same time.

     

    What all does your profile at Kochhar & Co. encompass?

    As I mentioned earlier, I am primarily a part of the transactions and general corporate and commercial team. When there are transactions being handled by my company, my job is to focus on those. However, I otherwise deal in commercial documentation, corporate secretarial matters, labour and employment etc.

     

    How is real legal work different from those portrayed in popular soap operas? Are there any misconceptions which law students hold?

    It is different experience to work as an intern and as a lawyer. As an intern, one is mainly entrusted with research work and one doesn’t have any responsibility towards clients etc. Once one starts working, one becomes answerable for everything one says or writes. One begins handling clients and it gives a different level of satisfaction and happiness.

    On the misconception front, I don’t think I had any major/crippling misconception but with time I have come across people who during their college tenure believe that legal profession is similar to what is shown in Boston Legal and Suits (the famous soap operas). Sooner they get ready for the grind the better.

     

    What do you think differentiates a good intern from the rest

    I believe sincerity is a very important quality which one must possess. Interns, who ask for work, research well and come back with accurate answers based on appropriate legal provisions and judicial precedents make a difference and improve his or her chances of absorption as a lawyer.

     

    Life for law-firms can be very hectic at times. How do you unwind?

    Well honestly, at Kochhar, we have sufficient work life balance. I believe in fitness and working out. I love to cook as well. All these activities act as a stress buster for me.

     

    Where do you see yourself five years from now?

    I see myself as a General Counsel of an MNC.

     

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

    Jeremy Bentham had once said – “Lawyers are the only persons in whom ignorance of the law is not punished.” I believe as lawyers, it is important for us to keep abreast of the latest legal developments. One should strive to keep themselves regularly updated with the latest legal developments happening in our respective fields.

     

  • Adyasha Das, Associate Khaitan & Co., on Corporate Law, getting a PPO and moots

    Adyasha Das, Associate Khaitan & Co., on Corporate Law, getting a PPO and moots

    Adyasha Das graduated from the 2013 batch of National Law Institute University. She is one of the most diligent and illustrious scholars of NLIU and has a noteworthy academic, mooting and debating record. She was also the Convener of Moot Court Society, NLIU (2012-2013). Currently she works as a Corporate Law associate at Khaitan & Co. She has gone about achieving things on the sole basis of her merit.

    We asked her to share her experiences and strategies she used over the years. In this interview, she tells us about:

    • Work experience as the Convener of Moot Court Society, NLIU
    • Her journey from being an intern to getting job offer from Khaitan & Co.
    • Importance of academics, internships, debates and moots

     

    What motivated you to choose law as a career?

    Considering the number of lawyers and people from the legal background that dominate the corporate, social, and political scenes of the country, I don’t agree that there is currently any prejudice against law as a career in India.  If there were any apprehensions against the profession, the emergence of CLAT, national universities and lucrative job offers are fast changing perceptions about the profession.

    That said law wasn’t my first career choice. Although I did not come from a background that was prejudiced against law as a career, I wasn’t aware of the opportunities, relevance, and prominence of a legal career. In fact to be honest I inadvertently stumbled upon law, but that is a long story. However, what made me continue the pursuit was that law indulged my curiosity and engaged my attention.

     

    Tell us about your time at NLIU, Bhopal and the highlights of your college life and achievements?

    Time at NLIU was life aptly described by Calvin and Hobbes “Life’s a lot more fun when you aren’t responsible for your actions.” College is place that redefines the phrase spoilt for choice in every conceivable way. I made some incredible friends, learnt a lot and mostly enjoyed my time there.

    I am from a small city and hence for me the biggest highlight of NLIU was that it made me come across so many people, ideas, influences, thoughts, and possibilities. To add to that, I was always fortunate to have mentors (professors, seniors, and peers) to guide me around.  I believe that universities are not institutions devoted only to traditional education but rather help broaden the horizons of the students. NLIU, apart from being responsible for my basic understanding of law, has also substantially influenced  knowledge and views on music, books, movies, culture, social issues, political orientations, economic rights  etc. through its numerous committees that I was associated with throughout the five years.

     

    What skills did you get to hone while managing the NLIU moot court society?

    Mooting was my love in college. Consequently, everything associated with moots became a passion. Convenership was a great experience for me but that can mostly be attributed to the fantastic team and faculty I had to work with.  I would not be able to put in words all that I gained from this experience but among other things it taught me: “How to work with a team with differing expectations, unequal levels of execution and opposite countenances”.

     

    Having participated and won Best Speaker awards in a few moot competitions, what would be your suggestion to budding mooters?

    As I already mentioned, mooting was love for me. All my hard work and preparation was entirely influenced by how much I loved the activity itself. I could go days without food, sleep, classes and friends if a particular question of law caught my fancy. Good research and hard work are almost synonymous with a moot win. Based on my experience my only advice would be that participants should invest more interest in the moot they pick.

    Speaker awards are hugely dependent on articulation, persuasion, and spontaneity of the speaker. It is important to gauge the judge and engage his/her attention with the right arguments and points of law. This can be easily achieved by practising the orals in advance. Plus no amount of effort for a shiny trophy at the end is a bad investment.

     

    How does one make a winning memo? According to you, what is the difference between a great and an average memo?

    The answer is ‘Research’. I cannot emphasise the importance of good research any further. Good research has to be understood in context of the fact that almost every student now has access to a huge pool of resources and therefore any average memorial would contain the standard statutory provisions and case laws. What makes a difference is identifying the issues correctly and addressing them with support of authority. You will be surprised at the scope of creativity available within law.

     

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    You had also participated in the ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition. How was your experience?

    Mediation competitions are fairly different from moots and require preparation of a separate set of skills. Mediations generally test the commercial bent of a participant and her persuasion and negotiation skills. Understanding the people sitting on the opposite table plays a key role in tackling competitions like this.

    Although ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition was a brilliant opportunity for me, it was also a revelation of the fact that Indian teams required a lot more preparation considering we do not have enough mediation competitions in the country.

     

    What are your thoughts on activities like mooting, debating and publications in journals? How important do you think are these activities in shaping the legal career of a law student?

    Concentrating only on academics in a course that runs for half a decade can become quite mundane. Extra-curricular like moots, debates, model united nation competitions, publications; sports etc. provide an effective way to not ‘make Jack a dull boy’. The numerous kinds of extra-curricular available these days to students are also sufficiently varied to pique anybody’s interest. Plus these activities are a never ending source of new things to learn.

    Even objectively, recruiters across the country would not generally ignore a CV reflective of five years of constant activity. Therefore I don’t see any reason for not pursuing either one or all of the available extra-curricular that any university has to offer.

     

    How did you manage to keep up your grades?

    I am not aware of other colleges’ schedules but NLIU generally did not have a very hectic curriculum. So maintaining grades and doing well in moots remained two mutually exclusive fields. It did not require any more strategy than keeping aside 2 weeks for exams which included the week of actually writing the exams.

     

    Tell us about your internships. What skills have you acquired from these internships and how helpful have they been in your legal career?

    Technically my only corporate law internship was at Khaitan & Co. All my other internships have ranged from UNICEF, State Information Commission, an accountancy firm, a shipping company to working with a media consultant and I wasn’t interning as a law student under anyone of the above.

    Internships, of all kinds, are a great way of learning the practical aspects of law. For students, it provides an excellent work-life perspective and helps them make an informed choice about the kind of work and lifestyle they intend to choose after college.

     

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

    Yes I had to undergo an interview before getting the PPO. The interview was substantially the same as a campus interview. I had prepared for the interview by reading up subjects that were mentioned in my CV and things I had worked on while interning at Khaitan & Co.

     

    What are the things you consider sine qua non for positive feedback or a “call-back” from an internship?

    I am not the right person to ask this as it is really the recruiters’ decision. However anyone who shows interest in the work given to them and pays attention to the work submitted inevitably gets the attention of the seniors. Apart from that, sincerity, accountability, punctuality, and hard work always earn you brownie points.

     

    If you could re-live your five years in Law school, is there something you would do differently?

    I am not unhappy with how I spent my 5 years in college but if I could re live it, I would definitely have a lot more fun, would read a lot more than I did and do Jessup again.

     

    What would be your message to your juniors from law school?

    Work hard and have fun while you are at it.