Super Lawyer

Tag: NLUD

  • “Law has always intrigued me because of its power to shape businesses, resolve disputes, and create order in an otherwise complex world.” – Ishaan Duggal, Associate Partner at HSA Advocates.

    “Law has always intrigued me because of its power to shape businesses, resolve disputes, and create order in an otherwise complex world.” – Ishaan Duggal, Associate Partner at HSA Advocates.

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

    What initially inspired you to pursue a career in law?

    Law has always intrigued me because of its power to shape businesses, resolve disputes, and create order in an otherwise complex world. While I did not have a predetermined path toward law, I was drawn to its logical reasoning, problem-solving, and impact on society. As I began to explore the legal field, I was drawn to the idea of working within a law firm environment, where I could help clients navigate complex legal challenges, whether in business, litigation, or personal matters. The opportunity to collaborate with skilled professionals and offer practical, strategic solutions to clients was something that truly inspired me. Ultimately, I saw a career in law as a way to apply my skills in critical thinking and problem-solving to advocate for clients and create lasting, positive outcomes. Over time, I developed a keen interest in commercial and financial laws, which eventually led me to specialize in insolvency and restructuring.

    What motivated you to pursue an LLM (Professional) in Banking and Financial Studies from NLU Delhi?

    After completing my law degree and practicing for a few years, I understood that it is crucial for legal professionals to stay ahead of the curve, and hence I wanted to deepen my understanding of banking, securities, insolvency and investment laws. The LLM (Pro.) in Banking and Financial Studies at NLU Delhi provided a strong foundation in areas like banking and finance, securities and investment laws, arbitration, insolvency and financial restructuring—topics that are highly relevant in today’s economic environment. This specialization has been instrumental in my practice, particularly where financial acumen is as critical as legal expertise.

    What were some key learning experiences in the early years of your career?

    The initial years of practice were a mix of excitement and steep learning curves. I quickly realized the importance of building strong client relationships. At first, I focused heavily on legal research and analysis, but I learned that a successful practice also requires understanding clients’ needs, building trust, and communicating complex legal issues in a way that is clear and actionable for them. Another key experience was learning to manage multiple cases and deadlines simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail. I also had the opportunity to work closely with senior attorneys, where I learned the value of mentorship, strategic thinking, and how to approach complex legal problems creatively. It was through these experiences that I developed a deeper understanding of how to balance legal expertise with client service, and how to work effectively as part of a team in a fast-paced law firm environment. 

    As far as my practice area is concerned, one of the most valuable experiences was understanding the practical application of insolvency laws, especially how different stakeholders—creditors, resolution professionals, and debtors—navigate the process.
    One key moment that stayed with me was working on a case where a corporate debtor’s revival depended on strategic negotiation rather than just legal arguments. This reinforced my belief that law is not just about statutes but also about commercial awareness and strategic thinking.

    What are the key challenges in insolvency proceedings in the Renewable Energy and Automobile sectors?

    Both industries present unique challenges. In the renewable energy sector, insolvency cases often involve long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), regulatory approvals, and government policies, which can complicate resolution. In contrast, the automobile industry faces issues like supply chain disruptions and asset-heavy structures, making liquidation complex.
    One of the biggest challenges is finding resolution applicants who see long-term value in distressed assets. In such cases, we work closely with financial institutions and potential investors to structure resolution plans that align with industry-specific constraints.

    What was the primary legal issue in the ARCIL vs Bishal Jaiswal judgment, and what impact did it have on insolvency law?

    The Hon’ble Supreme Court vide judgment dated April 15, 2021 in the matter of Asset Reconstruction Company (India) Ltd v. Bishal Jaiswal & Anr. decided a crucial question of law pertaining to whether entries in the Balance Sheet would amount to an acknowledgment of debt for the purpose of extending the period of limitation as provided under Section 18 of Limitation Act, 1963 (Limitation Act) as far as the IBC is concerned.  

    In this landmark judgment which is undoubtedly significant to all stakeholders under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC), the Apex Court took cognizance of the fact that although the filing of a Balance Sheet is a statutory requirement as per the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013, however, doing the same can amount to an acknowledgment of debt depending on the facts of the particular case as to whether an entry made in a Balance Sheet qua any particular creditor is unequivocal or has been entered into with caveats. These caveats could be in the form of notes to accounts or other qualifications made in the Balance Sheets.

    This judgment also set aside the majority decision of the Hon’ble National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) in the matter of V. Padmakumar v. Stressed Assets Stabilisation Fund wherein the majority opinion of the five-member bench was that entries in Balance Sheets would not amount to an acknowledgment of debt to extend limitation under Section 18 of the Limitation Act.

    In addition to the above, the Hon’ble Supreme Court relied upon its decisions in Sesh Nath Singh & Anr v. Baidyabati Sheoraphuli Co-operative Bank Ltd & Anr. and Laxmi Pat Surana v. Union Bank of India & Anr8 and observed that it is not possible to accede to the arguments that Section 18 of the Limitation Act cannot be made applicable to proceedings under the IBC.

    What advice would you offer to aspiring lawyers?

    • Hone your research and drafting skills, as the best arguments stem from well-researched positions.
    • Understand the commercial impact of legal proceedings—clients seek solutions, not just legal opinions.
    • Develop a strong foundation in commercial and financial laws, as they are critical for corporate litigation.
    • Stay patient and persistent—the legal profession demands continuous learning, adaptability, and strategic thinking.

    How do you maintain a work-life balance in a demanding legal career?

    Balancing work and personal life in the legal profession can be challenging, but I make a conscious effort to manage it effectively. A few strategies that work for me include:

    • Prioritizing tasks and setting clear timelines for completing them.
    • Taking short breaks and staying engaged in non-legal activities to maintain perspective.
    • Most importantly, understanding that while work is demanding, personal well-being is equally important for long-term success in this profession.

    Additionally, I’ve learned that there are certain periods, especially during high-stakes cases, when work demands more attention, and I adjust by being more strategic about my personal commitments during those times. The key is knowing that it’s a cycle—some weeks will be more intense than others, but I always make time to recharge when I can. In the end, it’s about being proactive in managing my time and knowing when to push and when to step back.

    Get in touch with Ishaan Duggal –

  • “Navigating trademark prosecution and enforcement across diverse jurisdictions demands an approach that harmonizes black letter law with case law and procedural insights”-Renuka Rajan, Managing Associate at Lall & Sethi

    “Navigating trademark prosecution and enforcement across diverse jurisdictions demands an approach that harmonizes black letter law with case law and procedural insights”-Renuka Rajan, Managing Associate at Lall & Sethi

    This Interview has been published by Pragya Chandni and The SuperLawyer Team

    Can you share your journey and tell us what motivated you to pursue a career in law, from your early internships to your current role as a Managing Associate at Lall & Sethi in New Delhi?

    As a child, you would find me engaging in lengthy discussions, be it with my parents, friends, or teachers at school.  And my mother’s dedication to social service has always inspired me – despite having a full-time job and two young kids, she never stopped doing whatever she could to give back to those in need. This instilled in me a strong responsibility to give back to society. As law was the way to advocate for people’s rights and engage in arguments, it was a natural progression for me to decide on law as a career. However, as a first-generation lawyer, my first real experience of the practical side of the law was through my early internships, which provided hands-on experience, and solidified my commitment to this career. Now, as a Managing Associate at Lall & Sethi, I continue this journey, driven by the belief that law is a powerful tool for society. My pursuit aligns with a deep-seated desire to contribute meaningfully to society.

    You have an extensive background in intellectual property law. Could you explain what drew you to this particular field and share some of the most interesting cases or projects you’ve worked on in the realm of intellectual property?

    The arts have always played a major role throughout my life. My mother is a classically trained singer and started training me at the age of three. Thus, having been trained in singing and dancing, and having dabbled in drawing, craftwork and directing, my curiosity was piqued by the interplay between the arts and the law, thus making intellectual property law a natural choice for my specialization. The dynamic nature of this field, especially given the developing nature of the law in India, drove me towards it. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of learning from and being involved in complicated cases that raised interesting questions of law spanning different fields. One particularly intriguing project involved navigating the complexities of derivative work performed by different artists vis-à-vis the rights of the original artist in the underlying work. Another highlight was considering and advising clients on the interpretation of comparative advertising through implied comparison. One other matter that comes to mind is advising clients on ambush marketing and its implications.  I’ve also had the privilege of delving into the interplay between trademarks and geographical indications. These experiences have not only honed my legal skills, but also reinforced my commitment to excelling in intellectual property law.

    Your experience includes working as a US and India Associate Attorney. How did you navigate the legal systems in both countries, and what were the key differences or similarities you encountered?

    Navigating the legal systems as a US and India licensed Attorney in IP law involves a focus on different strategies. What is interesting is that both countries have similarities in the manner in which they prioritize prior use in the market over the first to file with the government. But the process of registration is very different in both countries. As a US-licensed attorney, I learnt the need to be extremely thorough in running clearance searches before filing a trademark because of the strict nature of examination by the United States Patent and Trademarks Office. Conversely, in India, my focus extended to strategic advisory work, embracing a more solution-oriented approach, as Indian procedure before the Trade Marks Registry focuses on the prior user in the market. The concept of use of a trademark and what is considered sufficient is also quite different in both jurisdictions, thus changing the focus of the advice that one would give clients to prove use in the respective countries. However, despite these disparities, the Indian judiciary often considers it relevant to examine the laws abroad, more particularly in the US, UK and EU when passing orders on interesting points of law.  As a result, the development of intellectual property law in these countries is relevant for the progress of Indian law as well. This motivates me to not only keep abreast of new Indian judgments, but to also keep track of changing US jurisprudence in IP law. 

    You’ve been featured in the World Trademark Review as a top filer in the US. What strategies did you employ to achieve such recognition, and what challenges did you overcome during your time with LegalForce RAPC Worldwide?

    Securing recognition as a prominent filer in the US very early in my career was a result of highly meticulous case management, learning the law quickly and efficiently in a manner that best served the needs of my clients, of course with the integration of technological solutions for enhanced efficiency, and a vigilant awareness of evolving trademark laws. Building strong client relationships was a priority, ensuring a profound understanding of their unique needs and fostering enduring relationships.  This journey was not without its challenges. As a young lawyer, one learns by immersing themselves fully in the law and its changes by being a voracious reader and also learning to observe their peers, seniors and juniors. Much of my learning relating to procedure was due to the time I spent with paralegals who assisted me in my filings. I realized that effectively managing time and cultivating a collaborative team approach were imperative in order to achieve the best efficiency. Observing my peers and learning from their different styles of being a lawyer also encouraged me to look inwards to find the kind of lawyer I wished to be. This reinforced the importance of maintaining, in me, an unwavering commitment to complete honesty in work and excellence in both client service and legal research.

    In your career, you’ve worked on trademark prosecution and enforcement across various countries. How do you approach providing detailed country-specific advice to clients who operate in multiple jurisdictions?

    Navigating trademark prosecution and enforcement across diverse jurisdictions demands an approach that harmonizes black letter law with case law and procedural insights. I have had the unique opportunity of being deeply involved in Indian, US and south east Asian legal frameworks which exposed me to the nuances of each country’s laws and procedures. Past prosecution and enforcement experiences combined with discussions with legal counsels in different jurisdictions on a range of matters has provided invaluable lessons, allowing me to anticipate challenges and optimize strategies based on my experiences in those countries. Beyond legal technicalities, grasping the unique dynamics of each country is crucial. Procedural requirements combined with an understanding of how the judiciary reacts significantly impact enforcement strategies. Regular engagement with local counsels fortifies my advisory role, facilitating a proactive response to emerging issues. Of course – clear communication with clients is paramount for me – if I am unable to distill complex legal intricacies into actionable insights, I would not be helping them make informed decisions. Flexibility is key, allowing for tailored approaches that resonate with the legal and business requirements of each client. I always strive to understand the business needs of every client. This holistic method ensures comprehensive and effective counsel, fostering robust trademark strategies for clients operating seamlessly across multiple countries.

    As a guest lecturer and judge in various legal events, you’ve had the opportunity to share your legal expertise. Could you tell us more about your experiences in educating and mentoring future legal professionals?

    As a guest lecturer and judge at various legal events, I have had the privilege of interacting with inquisitive future legal professionals, especially students in law schools. I encourage students to come forward and ask me any question to help them understand law as a profession as this is one such profession which can benefit people from all walks of life.  Through lectures, I convey how black letter law translates to practice in an attorney’s everyday life, highlighting the relevance of judicial pronouncements and legal research. 

    As a first generation lawyer myself, I have relied heavily on connections I had built over the years, to navigate my journey as a professional. So, my aim in serving as a mentor to students, aspiring lawyers or young professionals is to help them navigate the profession a little better, guide them on refining their advocacy skills and nurture a respect for research and reading. Playing a role in shaping a new cadre of adept, socially aware, and justice-committed legal practitioners is incredibly fulfilling for me personally and I am always available to anyone who reaches out for my guidance.

    You’ve earned several degrees in law, including an LL.M. from The George Washington University Law School. How did your academic pursuits contribute to your career, and what advice would you give to law students who aspire to excel in their studies and those interested in intellectual property law and international practice  ?

    My legal education, an LL.M. from The George Washington University Law School, has been the compass guiding my career. When I graduated from law school with my undergraduate degree, I was still keen on delving deeper into the field that I knew was my calling.  So, pursuing a masters was a natural choice and I find myself much enhanced as an overall professional because of this experience. 

    As Gandhi said, ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world’. To aspiring law students: Blend academic prowess with practical wisdom. Engage in internships, embrace moot courts, and build a network. Excellence demands dedication and a commitment to continuous learning. Success in law is not just about knowledge, but embodying the change you seek. The journey from student to legal professional is a transformative process; let Gandhi’s wisdom inspire your path to becoming a catalyst for positive change in the legal realm.
    As I reflect on my journey and accomplishments, my advice to fresh law graduates would be to foster a curious mindset, staying attuned to the constant, very evolving legal frameworks. Pursue diverse experiences through actively participating in networking to construct a strong professional foundation. In the dynamic realm of intellectual property, nurture a fervor for research and keeping abreast of the latest legal developments, whether it is through reading judgments or conducting research on the aspects of law which are yet to be explored. With evolving technology, there is an ever expanding scope for the law itself given the ambiguity in the current legal framework that has not changed at the same speed as innovations. So, keeping yourself informed of legal and technological developments is key for any growing professional.   As a young lawyer, it is also very important to work towards being the kind of professional you intend to be throughout your career. Prioritizing communication skills, adeptness in communicating intricate legal concepts in a simple, easily understandable manner, establishing a mentorship network to actively seek guidance, never compromising your integrity or ethical standards – are all foundational to a flourishing legal career.   It is important to remember that every miss, every challenge and every mistake is a chance for growth, and this commitment to continuous learning will pave the way for a gratifying and impactful journey in law.

    Get in touch with Renuka Rajan-

  • Aakash Sharma, 5th Rank, UP Judicial Services-2016 shares tips and tricks to get a sweet taste of victory

    Aakash Sharma, 5th Rank, UP Judicial Services-2016 shares tips and tricks to get a sweet taste of victory

    Aakash Sharma completed his LL.B. in the year 2014 at Campus Law Centre, Faculty of Law, Delhi University. He went on to pursue an LL.M at National Law University, Delhi in 2015. After qualifying the UGC-NET exam, he taught Law as an Assistant Professor at Lloyd Law College for a year.

    Not lured by the fancy corporate jobs, Aakash got fascinated with the working of the judiciary as a judge is an independent arbiter upon the matter before him and does not have to take sides unlike a lawyer. Hence, to conquer his dream he started with the preparations from scratch without any coaching. He qualified for the UP Judicial Services – 2016 examination with 5th Rank.

     

    In this interview, he gives us great insights to:

    • The ideal time to start preparing for the Judicial Services exam.
    • His strategy for tackling and remembering the different provisions of Law.
    • Tips for facing the nerve-wracking interview.
    • And his motivational message to the aspirants.

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    First of all, thank you for giving me this opportunity to connect with your readers. I did my Law from Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi in the year 2014. Subsequently, I completed an LL.M. from National Law University, Delhi in 2015 and also qualified the UGC-NET Examination the same year. I taught Law for a year, but destiny had something else in store. I was selected in the UP Judicial Services Examination 2016, commonly known as PCS-J.

     

    How did you gravitate towards Law?

    (Aakash completed his B.A. (Hons.) in Political Science from Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi in the year 2011.)

    I have often wondered what prompted me to take up Law. It now seems to me that the decision of taking up Law after pursuing graduation in Political Science was utterly providence. While subconsciously, I used to find Law and legal process intriguing as a child. But unbeknownst to me, I have somehow drifted to it. Law is a fascinating discipline because it is so dynamic. Every day is an exciting day in law. The credit really goes to my teachers. Prof. Rajiv Khanna, Prof. Usha Tandon and Prof. Raman Mittal at Delhi University; and Prof. Mrinal Satish, Prof. B B Pandey and Prof. M.P. Singh at NLU Delhi. These teachers made Law interesting and turned my initial intrigue for Law into endearment.

     

    Did you focus only on academics in college life?

    I maintained a healthy balance between co-curricular activities and academics. I was designated the Student Convener of the Seminar & Discussion Society after winning the college debating competition at Campus Law Centre. I used to organize weekly discussions on bills, legislations and judgments. The real secret of excelling in academics is a deadly mix of self-discipline, being attentive in class, making your own notes, reading the best authors, mastering the bare acts and leading judgments, and avoiding cheap guide-books and coaching institutes like the plague.

     

    What made you choose to serve the Judiciary; did you not get tempted by the fancy corporate jobs?

    Every facet of Law is enjoyable. I chose judicial services because a judge is an independent arbiter upon the matter before him. He need not take sides like a lawyer. I found this especially attractive about judicial services. As far as corporate job is concerned, I got a taste of corporate practice during my internship days and found that it was not my calling.

     

    Do you think an LL.M. candidate gets leverage to the rest appearing for the Judicial Services?

    Yes, having an LL.M. is definitely advantageous. LL.M. at NLU Delhi is a very rigorous and advanced degree wherein you not only learn the Law, but you critically assess and deeply scrutinize it. This deconstruction of Law is not done as thoroughly in LL.B. As far as leverage over other aspirants is concerned, LL.M. will make you “think” about Laws and not just “know” the Laws; it will improve your writing skills and make you cognizant of legal theory and philosophy. Therefore, an LL.M. candidate has better grasp on the subject over the rest appearing in Judicial Services.

     

    When should a person ideally start preparing for the Judicial Services exam?

    Nobody can really be very confident that he/she will positively succeed in an exam where the success ratio is 1:200 or a mere 0.005% so I was simultaneously working as an Assistant Professor to have a steady income and a stable back-up if my efforts don’t bear fruition. I did not take coaching. I made my own notes from scratch. It was a painstaking job. Preparation for judicial services can informally start from the law school itself once the candidate has diligently read all the landmark cases in the various subjects. One should also cultivate a rational and reasonable world view and should be able to have independent opinions which are free from any bias. This exam requires utmost dedication from the candidate. It requires at least 1-2 years of dedicated preparation if you are starting from scratch. On the other hand, if you were paying attention in college itself and actually studied from cases and bare acts and not guidebooks, you can clear the exam with 6 months of preparation also.

     

    How many hours did you devote towards the Judicial Services in terms of your preparation on a daily basis?

    My agenda every day was to stick to a plan of about 2 hours for General Knowledge including the newspaper, 1 hour for Language and Essay, and 4-5 hours for Law. I tried to stick to this schedule the best I could. I revised each and every topic in every law subject at least 5 times before the Mains exam. The result of this kind of meticulousness in preparation was that during Mains I faced no problem at all in answer writing, while other candidates complained of lengthiness of some papers.

     

    What was your study pattern, the mode of study (online, offline, etc.)?

    My study pattern was well spread out across the day with regular breaks to keep the mind fresh. I referred to Ratanlal for Indian Penal Code, Kelkar for Cr.PC, Takwani for CPC, Avtar Singh for Contracts and Specific Relief and MP Singh for Constitutional Law. For Preliminary Exam, I solved a lot of MCQs and referred to bare acts simultaneously. For Mains Exam, I made notes for all subjects, solved all the previous year’s question papers, pasted the syllabus in my room and consulted it regularly to keep a tab on my preparation. For Interview, I revised the mains exam law syllabus, made notes for general knowledge, and practiced answering questions that are most likely to be asked.

     

    How did you prepare for the General Knowledge section?

    I read the Indian Express newspaper every day. For static GK I referred to Lucent, Bipin Chandra and Arihant. For current GK I referred to Pratiyogita Darpan, and used online resources from Vision IAS and GK Today.

     

    Any specific strategy for dealing with the various case laws?

    The approach to remembering the sections is to consult the bare acts again and again while studying law. There is really no other way to remember provisions. For case laws, one should prepare their own subject-wise list of leading cases and their ratio decidendi. This list will aid in last minute revision and one can regularly update it with new rulings. The exam will exhaust you. But it is important that you keep fighting as if your life depends upon it.

     

    Tell us about your interview.

    My interview lasted 25-30 minutes. I was asked about 25 questions. 2-3 questions about my personal background to break the ice. Followed by 2 questions from current affairs. And about 20 questions from Law. Interview preparation basically comprised of revising all the Law subjects and having an opinion on each and every Law issue I would encounter. The interviewing panel comprised of the UPPSC Chairman, High Court Judge, and two Law professors.

    I was first asked about my background, my education, and what I did and do presently.

    From GK I was asked to explain the rationale behind Demonetization with its pros and cons, and to tell them whether the policy had been successful or not.

    From Law, I was asked:

    • What is a Thug as per IPC?
    • Jurisprudence for unconstitutionality of s. 303 of IPC?
    • Difference between culpable homicide and murder?
    • Definition of consideration in ICA, followed by a problem based question upon it.
    • Elements of Contract and the distinction between Agreement and Contract.
    • The particular section in the Contract Act which defines what a Contract along with is its ingredients.
    • What is the definition of evidence?
    • Whether you can convict someone solely based on circumstantial evidence, the jurisprudence behind it, and the section which makes circumstantial evidence relevant?
    • What are the alternatives available if the police do not register an FIR?
    • Describe in detail the procedure of recording a complaint under section 200, and how you will proceed further with the procedure after it is recorded?
    • How many witnesses must be present along with the Complainant for recording the complaint?
    • Describe an abuse of legal process and explain it by giving an example, also state the remedy available to counter it.
    • Which section and order of the CPC prescribe for the mechanism of ADR?
    • What are the different kinds of ADR, and my comment whether they are desirable?

    Be humble and polite in the interview. Do not show off. Accept your mistake there and then. If the member tries to interrogate you further, do not get defensive and hesitant. Answer respectfully and give to the point answers. The interviewers comprise of experienced persons so do not even think of misleading them.

     

    Selected for the Judicial Clerkship/Law Researcher at Supreme Court of India in 2015; please share an insight to it.

    Judicial Clerkship comprises of an entrance examination followed by a personal interview with the Chief Justice of India himself! The entrance examination is quite competitive and comprises of English and all the Law Subjects. Students in the merit list are called to appear for a personal interview at the Supreme Court. I was interviewed by Hon’ble Chief Justice T.S. Thakur and Hon’ble Justice Anil R. Dave. It was a memorable experience.

     

    What would be your tips to those aspirants who are preparing for this exam?

    You have to produce the result of your selection yourself. So don’t count too much on coaching institutes. Judicial Services Examination is not a piece of cake. The competition is immense, so halfhearted attempts can never work. Only the most sincere effort gets rewarded. And once you achieve success, there is nothing sweeter in the world.

  • Pratik Tayal, IAS Officer, on cracking the UPSC, and achieving AIR 92

    Pratik Tayal, IAS Officer, on cracking the UPSC, and achieving AIR 92

    Pratik Tayal graduated from National Law University, Delhi in 2016. Right after graduation, he appeared for the Union Public Service Commission Examination and secured an All India Rank of 92 in his first attempt. He is the all India topper in civil services with law optional. He also secured the highest marks in GS IV Ethics Paper. During his law school days, he participated in various international moot court and client counseling competitions.

    In this interview, he talks about:

    • His experience as a law student at the National Law University, Delhi.
    • His strategy for the preparation of the Civil Services Examination.
    • Advice to prospective law students aiming to make a career in Civil Services.

    How would you like to introduce yourself to the readers? 

    I was born in Dehradun and brought up in Delhi. I have done my schooling from The Banyan Tree School, Lodi Road where I was an academically inclined student who was engaged in many extra-curricular activities and also served as the Vice Head Boy. I completed my law degree from National Law University, Delhi. As regards my background, my father and brother are in the civil services and my mother is an entrepreneur.   

     

    Why did you opt for the field of law? 

    My decision to pursue law was borne of an interest that I developed in the subject. I came across the Constitution and other law books during class XI, which stimulated my interest in this field. I do not have any legal background in my family.

     

    How did a law school education in NLU help you in achieving your dream?

    Law school has an impact on one’s personality, in both direct and indirect ways. The curriculum and pedagogy helps you to broaden your horizons and ponder over societal issues; an emphasis on extra-curricular activities ensures a brilliant exchange of ideas; and staying in a multicultural environment with people from different backgrounds enhances your sensibilities and your appreciation of diversity. At the same time, law school presents different challenges for different people, which at the time may be daunting, but eventually help you introspect and become a stronger individual.

    Having learnt and benefited from these experiences, I was also fortunate to have had a batch full of achievers, from whom I could learn a lot. The atmosphere of excellence shaped me to become serious in life, helped me to develop a goals based attitude towards work, to be focused, ambitious and determined, and most importantly, it taught me the value of hard work.

     

    Did you focus only on the academics in college life? 

    Since my elder brother had been selected for the Indian Police Service in 2011, I was fairly determined about preparing for the UPSC exam. I tried to balance both academics and preparation throughout, with the balance shifting in either direction at different times. In NLU Delhi, the work load is reasonable. It can be managed along with preparation. The pressure, similar to other things in life, depends on how much you want to take on.   

     

    What extra-curricular activities did you take part in that helped you in overall development?   

    A lawyer, I was once told, has to master two aspects of his profession: advocacy and client counselling. With this in mind, I tried my hand at mooting and client consultation competitions during law school and these experiences helped me immensely. In mooting, I represented my college in the Oxford IPR Moot Court Competition in 2014. Mooting, as an activity, helps in developing the ability to structure things well, to study a topic from different dimensions, and to be able to effectively answer questions – all of which is extremely advantageous in CSE. In client counselling, I represented India in the Louis M Brown Client Consultation Competition in Nebraska, USA. This experience helped me hone my abilities to appreciate the problem, evaluate different options effectively, and to come up with innovative solutions on the spot. These qualities are important as an administrator and are also tested in GS paper IV (Ethics) in CSE.

    Apart from these two activities that I treasure, I was involved in other pursuits such as research publications, projects, cricket, etc.

     

    Please tell us about the places you’ve interned at and whether these were all planned or happened on the go?

    I sought to gather wide ranging experiences through my internships. Some experiences were planned while some happened due to opportunities available in the college. I was involved in an RTI internship in DoPT, in UNDP, in NHRC, under a criminal lawyer and in AMSS. Internships are one of the most enriching experiences for a law student. Not only do they help in gaining theoretical and practical knowledge and myriad other benefits, they also, as happened in my case, help to explore uncharted territories and to conclusively decide upon the career path one wishes to follow after law school. Therefore, I would sincerely recommend everyone to not miss out on chances of experiencing different work environments, even if you’ve decided on civil services as your dream career. These will help definitely you understand and appreciate the surroundings better. 

     

    Did you not get tempted by fancy corporate jobs?

    I don’t believe corporate jobs are a temptation per se. It all depends on what one wants to do and what interests as a calling and professional pursuit. I have always wanted to work for public welfare and contribute to the interface between administration and the public, and I believe that the best possible way in which I can do this is as a civil servant.   

     

    When did you start preparing for the civil services? 

    I have been intermittently preparing since my second year for this exam. However, my intensive preparation began from my fourth year of law school i.e. 2015, during which time I left my college hostel and became a day scholar.   

     

    How did you start preparing for the Civil services Exam? 

    I began my preparation by studying, and researching on, previous papers thoroughly. I believe that, to prepare for Civil Services, given the vastness of its syllabus, it is more important to know ‘what not to study’ than to know what to study. Therefore, past year papers should be used to understand the expectations of this exam and then prepare accordingly. As regards coaching, I do not think that it is a prerequisite to this exam. I, for instance, did not take any formal coaching from any institute. However, guidance or the right direction is essential and that is something which is difficult to get. While coaching may help in this, it can be substituted by learning from peers, selected candidates, topper interviews and from sites like mrunal.org. Coaching has its benefits in material and momentum, while its disadvantages include loss of autonomy in your preparation since you are have to compromise your approach to accommodate their schedule.   

     

    What was the routine you followed everyday throughout the course of your preparation?

    I firmly believe that preparation for this exam is a job in itself and therefore, tried to spend eight hours a day on it, like any other job would require me to do. Beginning from January, 2015, on a usual working day, I would try to get up at 6, study for a bit, commute to and fro college, and resume studying by 12 noon to finally sleep by 11 PM.   

     

    What was your optional subject?  

    My optional was law.

     

    Do you think law students might have an edge while preparing for the UPSC exam?

    Law has a significant overlap with the GS syllabus, especially GS paper 2 and 4. However, subject overlap is not the ‘edge’ law students get, I would say. The edge we get is that we have an orientation towards policies and social issues and develop a knack of examining issues from different perspectives. So, while law makes the syllabus easier; law school makes the preparation easier. 

     

    What did you do to keep yourself motivated all the time during the course of preparation?

    One of the most difficult questions to answer.  Preparation can become overwhelming at times, where one has to be battling with failure, uncertainty, and monotony. To add to this, the cycle of the exam itself is of one year, which raises the stakes for a person. To remain motivated, one needs to have an inner drive and a clear sense of reason as to why he/she wants to be a part of civil services. One additional thing that kept me motivated and helped me to continue studying was the idea that I should not have regrets after the exam about my lack of efforts.    

     

    Could you please give some tips to those aspirants who are preparing for this exam? 

    The preparation can be divided into four phases: reading, understanding, retaining and reproducing. Emphasis should be given on each one of them separately. The idea should not be to complete the source books as have been recommended, but to understand the concept holistically. Therefore one can be innovative with the sources. Secondly, having understood the concept, it is important to put an extra effort in memorizing which can be done through notes, discussion with peers, etc. Most importantly, it is important to work on answer writing since content alone with not make it possible to score well in the Civil Services Exam. Therefore, devoting time on this aspect is as important as all others combined. Lastly and most importantly, it is important to refer to the past year papers continuously to build an orientation towards the exam and then prepare accordingly.

     

    Could you tell us in brief what are the skills required to crack prelims and mains exams?

    This exam requires a skill set which is beyond just intelligence. There is a need for emotional intelligence where one is able to identify and manage his emotions. There is a need for introspection and self-awareness where one is able to identify one’s strengths and weaknesses and work upon them. There is a need for humility, which allows you to learn from everyone as everybody has something to offer. Consistency, hardwork, dedication and a drive and passion for this exam are important virtues. For prelims, the ability of calculated guess work is one of the most important skills that can be developed, and can be done through practicing of questions. For Mains, the skill of brevity and clarity of thought should be honed.

     

    How should a law student approach Interview for the Civil Services Exam?

    Owing to the exposure a law student gets in terms of an ability to formulate and articulate arguments, interview is a relatively easy stage in the whole process. In my experience, my interview entirely revolved around the subject of law. More often than not, the interview does have a component of questioning on the field of one’s graduation, which is done to generally test a student’s general understanding and sincerity towards a thing that he/she was involved in for five years. Therefore, it would be prudent to a) study law well in the five years or b) brush it up before the interview. Apart from that, I think the biggest tip would be to stay calm throughout the process. It reflects on your composure, mental strength and ability to tackle difficult situations – traits that are important for a civil servant.

     

    What is your experience in preparing for civil services?

    It is a test of one’s temperament, as I already have mentioned. My journey was enriching and made me more knowledgeable, wiser, empathetic and, all in all, a stronger individual. This journey will always be a cherished experience.

     

    What would your message be to law students who want to pursue their career in the field of Civil Services?

    I firmly believe that there is no formula or one particular way of preparing for this exam. Just have confidence in your abilities and formulate your own strategy keeping in mind your strengths and weaknesses. You can, and should be, innovative in your preparation. Lastly, there is no substitute for hard work which this exam has a keen eye for and consequently, rewards it commensurately.

  • Suhail Mathur, NLUD graduate, on writing a bestselling book and becoming a cricket commentator

    Suhail Mathur, NLUD graduate, on writing a bestselling book and becoming a cricket commentator

    Suhail Mathur graduated in law from National Law University, Delhi,  batch of 2014. He is currently engaged with a reputable international law firm. He is also the author of the bestselling book The Bhairav Putras, and has been ranked as one of the top 50 Indian authors to follow.

    In this interview, he talks to us about:

    • His experience at NLU, Delhi and his decision to pursue law.
    • His view on internships.
    • His decision to write a book and the challenges he faced as a first time writer.
    • His experience as a cricket commentator.

     

    What prompted you to consider law as a viable career choice? If not law, what other options would you have considered for your career?

    I wanted to become a film director. But film direction and other related courses all happen to be postgraduate degrees. So I was wondering what other avenues I could explore. During my school days, I was a member of the debating forum, and was extremely passionate about it. So I eventually realized that pursuing law would be the best course of action, as is provides adequate intellectual stimulation, keeps you on your toes and pushes you to keep thinking out of the box. Moreover, the fact that your victories or your losses were not yours alone but were also shared by your client was greater motivation to work harder.

     

    Describe your experience at NLU, Delhi as an undergraduate law student. Any memorable incidents you would like to share?

    My experience at NLU, Delhi was quite pleasant. We shared a fantastic rapport with our professors and seniors. I’m still in touch with most of them and we keep meeting from time to time. There were only two batches, and everyone knew each other by name. It was a closely knit community. There is a lot of activism now, which wasn’t the case during our time. The campus also possesses a greater degree of gender sensitivity now. The college atmosphere was better during our time.

     

    What activities were you a part of in college?

    I was heavily into debating. I participated in the Oxford format of debate, which was a rarity since most of the students participated in Parliamentary debates.  I was perhaps the only one who debated in the Oxford style. I participated in 6-7 debating competitions, and I won all of them. Other than that, I would make short films and student films during my tenure whenever we had a session break. I wrote my bestselling book The Bhairav Putras during my time at law school. Since we had fewer classes in the 4th and 5th years, I could actively indulge in creative pursuits. In my 5th year, I also ventured into cricket commentary for Star Sports and Airtel’s mobile application.

     

    How did you decide to write your first book The Bhairav Putras? What were the challenges you faced as a first-time writer?

    On a lighter note, I always saw authors from IIMs and IITs writing books, and thought that it was high time that an NLU student also did the same. But to be really honest, you need to have the passion to write. Merely wanting to write doesn’t suffice; you need to be skilled as well. I had been in my school’s editorial board and I used to write and direct a lot of plays. There was a point when I was making short films and they were being circulated among friends and family. I realized that all that I was trying to do was tell a good story and if that story were told in the form of a book, it would reach a larger audience.

    History and mythology are two things I am passionate about, and I was very clear that when I write a book, it should be a culmination of both. My book is predominantly a historical thriller with loads of adventure and a dash of mythology.

    As far as challenges are concerned, the challenges are not in writing a book;  they lie in finding a good publisher. When I wrote my book, I got eighteen contracts from publishing houses. Some of the publishing offices were asking me to pay to get published, and I was very clear that I wouldn’t do that. I would rather not have my work published at all than pay. Eventually, Red Ink Publishers came on board, they brought out the book with a huge print run, and the book did exceedingly well. The book is currently in its fourth edition, and it’s been the number one best seller on Amazon eight times and for sixty consecutive weeks it was on Amazon’s bestseller list.

     

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    How does one get their book published?

    If you actually want to write a book, you should first go to a literary agent. When my book did very well I was invited to a lot of literary festivals, and I came to know that young authors weren’t being given their due by literary agents. Being an author myself, I wanted to change that. So I started the company, “The Book Bakers”, where we help authors get published and undertake editing, cover designing and marketing work for books. We currently deal with 45-50 publishing houses pan India which includes all the major publishing houses.

    Recently, The Great Khali, the WWE wrestler, collaborated with us on his autobiography, which we placed on Penguin India. I love to work with first-time authors and have helped many of them.

    Many times it happens that if you send out a book directly to a publisher, they may not read it with as much interest because they get thousands of scripts on a daily basis. But a script sent by an agent is better received since as they think it has passed a preliminary test of quality.

    Also, we guys don’t send it to the editorial and submission IDs but to the personal IDs of the individuals looking at different genres of publishing, whether it’s literary fiction, commercial fiction or non-fiction. It becomes much more streamlined and straightforward, and also helps the aspiring authors. I am very accessible on Facebook, as well as on our e-mail ID which is thebookbakers@gmail.com. People are free to write to us and we are always willing to help them.

     

    How did you manage the time to write a book?

    The thing is that if you have the passion, zeal and dedication to pursue your interest, you will manage to do that. At no point did I write the book in class or in my hostel. I wrote the book only on weekends at home. I finished writing The Bhairav Putras within the 50-60 days that stretched over a year. You have to see how to find time for both the things because you don’t want your law school’s studies to suffer in this. You need to keep your passion and profession side by side, and that’s how you make a perfect mix.

    One of the things I am quite saddened about is that in the legal sphere, the people at the top of the ladder are quite narrow-minded in their conceptualization of a lawyer. On various occasions, they ask me why I wish to continue with  law now that I am a successful author. But what these guys fail to understand is that they are undermining themselves in the process. They are undermining the ability of a lawyer to engage in multitasking. You could be a top corporate lawyer, a good writer, and also a successful literary agent. When people in other occupations and professions can be writers in their concerned fields successfully, I don’t see why lawyers can’t, and that mentality needs to change.

     

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    How was your experience when you were interviewed by various news channels? Do you have a PR agent? How did you ensure good publicity for your book?

    In India it was a great thing that a law student was debuting with mythological and historical fiction. So the response that I got was splendid. The very famous legal magazine Lex Witness partnered with us as our official legal magazine partners, for which we thanked them in the trailer and the book. They covered me in three of their issues, including a preview, interview, and a review. The prominent online portal Infibeam was my official online partner, and we had a very successful outing with them too. People showed a lot of encouragement in that aspect.

    I received endorsement blurbs from several known personalities as well. Ajit Agarkar has been my favourite cricketer and I got in touch with his wife, Mrs. Fatema Agarkar and she was very sweet. She got me in touch with Ajit and he wrote an endorsement blurb for my book. My college Vice Chancellor, Professor Ranbir Singh, Professor Sucheta Mahajan, Mr. Amrit Mathur, Mr. Mayank Austen Soofi, and many more wrote endorsement blurbs for my book, which meant a lot to me as a first time writer.

    To ensure good publicity for your book you must, foremost, have a good product with you. Then you need to sell that product. If you are making a good product and not selling it well in the market, then nobody is going to know about it. It was important for the people in the legal field to know what a student of law was capable of doing, because not only did that promote me, but also my college. The first batch had not yet graduated from my college at the time and therefore garnering positive publicity for my alma mater was important to me. It reflects well on my college’s credentials as well as mine.

    The Book Bakers has actually revolutionized the entire system of marketing and PR these days. Most of the PR was earlier confined to social media. Now we have tied up with television channels and radio stations, cinemas, metros, newspapers and magazines, and that’s the kind of PR we are willing to give to our authors and other authors who may want to market their book. Seeing a book trailer on a TV channel is unprecedented, and if people want to do that, we are giving them that opportunity. It’s very important to stand at the place where you are, and have a vision for the future. One must set targets for oneself; think about where they want to see themselves five-ten years down the line and work towards that goal.

     

    How did you become a cricket commentator for Star Sports and Airtel’s mobile application? Being a lawyer why did you decide to become a cricket commentator?

    Cricket has always been a passion and I always loved watching the game. When I was in the 4th standard I was invited by Indian coach, Mr. Anshuman Gaekwad, to meet the entire team because he was very impressed with my knowledge of the sport. Back then I wanted to write a book on cricketers, describing their personal likes, and get an insider’s view of their lives. I actually met the Indian team on the first day of the Delhi Test match in which Anil Kumble took ten wickets. Mr. Gaekwad sent Mr. VVS Laxman along with me to meet every cricketer and gave me an India cap for my cricket knowledge. I went on a cricket show called “Stumped” and was later invited by Mr. Harsha Bhogle for an hour long chat. And all of this happened when I was just nine years old! Mr. Sunil Gavaskar, who also shares the same date of birth as mine, 10th July, sent a hand written birthday wish to me. People really encouraged me at that point in time, and so the interest was always there. I always used to do commentary at home for fun whenever a match was on, and finally, Mr. Raman Bhanot and his organization, which ties up with the Star Sports and Airtel, provided me with an apt opportunity. Whenever there was a match, I used to do cricket commentary and covered the Ashes, India’s tours to South Africa, New Zealand, the Asia Cup and IPL. It was a great experience and I cherish that a lot and had it not been for my law firm job, I would have continued with this for a longer period of time.

     

    Is it crucial to participate in various competitive activities in a law school? What was your experience in this regard?

    It’s good to take part in moot courts, debates, and other co-curricular activities as it helps in building self-confidence. The ground reality at law firms  is that they do concentrate on a person’s marks more than anything else. It’s disappointing because it’s necessary for lawyers to have a well-rounded personality. The change needs to start from the law firms’ end, in the way they recruit and filter candidates, rather than the students’ end, because law students are doing wonderfully well in their student life.

     

    You chose to work at a top law firm. Why not litigation? How did you prepare for your interviews?

    I have always wanted to work for a law firm. Litigation never interested me much. All my internships with law firms have been challenging and rewarding in equal measure. They were great learning curves. I knew that I wanted to eventually work at a law firm and my time interning with some of them just bolstered my conviction further.

    When you are going for an interview you need to know the basics. But what do the basics encompass? Do you consider contract law, criminal law and CPC? There is no definition of what the basics comprise. It is not possible to remember everything about the law and asking the candidates vague questions is unfair. Students are taught the rudiments in their first year but it is impossible to assimilate and retain that information throughout your graduation. There need to be better defined parameters when law firms are testing potential candidates.

    I am generally high on my confidence and possess the ability to convince people. I really worked hard at my internships as well. I had certain achievements under my belt, and I had also worked at the firm and done well as an intern, so there was no reason why I can’t do the same once I actually joined the firm. These are the things you really need to play on. You need to play on your strengths and these were my strengths. Some people sit down and go through each and every book of law and make themselves perfect so that they face no issue while answering questions at interviews.

    The law firms need to select based on the person’s personality and their ability to interpret the law effectively. I hadn’t done any extensive reading right before my interviews, but just played on my strengths with confidence.

     

    How was your experience as a junior lawyer in a law firm? Did you acquire any important skills while working there?

    I had a great time working there. It is a challenging role to work in a law firm. The idea is to work as much as you can. If there is no work, you begin to stagnate and that’s not a very good thing. If you are getting an opportunity to work, you should take it up, and that’s how you learn more. Also, you will create a good impression in the firm. There is a world of difference between when you are interning and when you are working as a lawyer. As an intern, you are supposed to give out information to the lawyer, but as a lawyer, you are supposed to interpret that information given. So what I learnt was how to interact with the clients when we went for discussions, and how we must convince them.

     

    What are your views on the desirability of foreign law firms entering the Indian market?

    There are so many law firms abroad and they have been waiting for so many years to enter the Indian market. I just want to tell Indian law firms that if you believe in yourself, let foreign competition come in. You already have a head start in terms of your presence in the country and knowing its laws. The international firms would of course be hiring Indian lawyers but they are the ones who are at a disadvantage because they are entering a new field while the Indian law firms are the established players. So why not help many more law aspirants secure good jobs. I always feel a little saddened when I see a law student not getting placed. There were some very talented people in my batch who couldn’t make the cut, and I felt very bad. When you have made it to a National Law University or a reputed law school, then that should be reason enough for people to trust you and your ability. It’s actually a wrong mindset to continuously prevent foreign law firms from entering the market. If there is globalisation happening all over the world, then why not let foreign players come over here as well!

     

    Do you think having family members or mentors with a legal background helps in this profession?

    I don’t have anyone in my immediate family who is in the legal industry. I don’t see my lineage as a shortcoming. If there are no lawyers before me, why not be the first one in the family! I don’t consider it to be a disadvantage or a disadvantage. From college, we gave our interviews and came through the hard way. But the process is probably simpler for students with lawyers in their families because they have contacts. I see a lot of lawyers get ahead in their jobs because their parents are partners at the firm.

     

    What would be your message to our readers?

    You must have set goals and have the ability to complete them but everything isn’t as rosy as it seems. At law school, everyone will tell you to do great internships in order to secure a job. But this isn’t a foolproof plan. One needs to be realistic and only then can one tackle the challenges in this profession better. Also continue with your creative pursuits and don’t limit yourself as a lawyer. There is certainly more to a lawyer than what law firms would tend to make out of them. I balanced my legal work, agency work and my writing and if you divide the time you can achieve success. I have recently signed a three book deal with Om Books International, a noted Indian book store chain which operates abroad as well . If you are passionate about something then the legal work can co-exist with other creative pursuits. Never give up hope, but be realistic too. People will tell you a lot of things and at the end of the day, I believe it is your luck that is going to take you places more than merit. If it was based on merit alone, then a lot of people who are deserving would have got the opportunities they didn’t get. I feel that I was deserving as well as lucky, and am thankful to God for the same.

  • Paramvir Singh, IAS, AIR 29, on all about preparing for the UPSC

    Paramvir Singh, IAS, AIR 29, on all about preparing for the UPSC

    Paramvir Singh graduated from National Law University, Delhi in 2013. After graduation, he appeared for the Union Public Service Commission Examination and secured an All India Rank of 619. He decided to appear again for this exam and in the year 2014, he was successfully ranked AIR 29 and he is currently undergoing his training period at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie. He will be soon joining the Punjab Cadre after the completion of the training.

    In this interview, he talks about: –

    • His experiences as a law student at the National Law University, Delhi.
    • His strategy for the Preparation of this exam
    • Advice to Prospective candidates of Civil Service Examination.

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to the readers? Please tell us a bit about your childhood and background.

    I belong to a typical middle class family from Haryana which moved to city from a village only some 20 years back. My father and uncles are first generation graduates and lawyers who all moved to city breaking away from the traditional occupation of farming. Being unfamiliar with the city I received my primary and secondary education at very modest schools in the city, even though academically I performed decently throughout. At senior secondary level I opted for science with a view to get into one of the engineering institutions, blindly imitating others around me. However, the turn of events diverted my plans to take me where I am now stationed.

     

    Why did you opt for the study of law? Did you find any legal professional in your family and friends?

    I was least career conscious till my senior secondary level; neither had I understood the importance of choosing a career path nor did I put serious efforts to get into top engineering institutions, so at the end of my board exams I was directionless as to the path forward. My father, a lawyer, prodded me to write for law entrance exams which I found required much less time and sustained effort than the sitting for engineering entrance and took up the idea readily. Even though initially it was an accidental choice, as I went through the law school I really enjoyed the kind of environment and exposure it could provide for me.

     

    What were your objectives and plans in the preliminary years of the law school?

    I really had no elaborate plans or any particular expectations from the law school apart from a degree in law. I did not focus on any particular aspect like aiming for a brilliant CGPA or building a great CV, because I was not much aware of their value in the first place. This lack of focus towards my career path gave me the freedom to explore areas of my interest, and did not weigh me down with making career oriented choices such as choosing a particular kind of internship etc. My singular target was to focus on areas of learning where I lacked behind my peers due to differential and inadequate nature of my education in school. The maximum learning happened not because of the teachers or lectures but from influence of peers who represented diverse backgrounds and carried with them a diverse kind of learning, a little of which I was able to partake over the years in law school.

     

    Did you focus only on the Academics in the college life? How did you excel in the Academics? How’s the Academic Pressure in NLU Delhi?

    No, as I said there was no particular clarity in my mind on what I wanted to get out of law school, I tried to participate in as many things as possible like mooting, debating and even some research projects. In academics my performance was to my satisfaction and I was generally ranked in the top order. Academic pressure wasn’t all that much except with some courses where the professors sincerely put in effort and expected a good amount of self study from us; the others did not really demand much hard work and were engaged in only a formality of teaching.

     

    What extra-curricular activities did you take part in that helped you in overall development?

    I took part in many extra-curricular activities which presented to us in the law school such as mooting, some debating, legal courses in other universities, one research project for drafting a law, and a UNDP project. I did not have many publications to show for it, but I was able to learn a lot in terms of my legal acumen and drafting skills to be a successful lawyer if I chose to be.

     

    What were your areas of interest while you were in Law School? And how did you go about developing expertise and knowledge in these areas?

    As law is a very diverse field comprising of totally disparate kind of subjects, my focus was on gathering as much familiarity with these as the college could offer. The kind of subjects in which I developed more interest were dependent upon the ability of the teachers to make them more interesting and effort worthy. Some of the subjects I had more inclination to study because I found them more fundamental than others were Jurisprudence and Constitution.

     

    Please tell us about the places you have interned at and if these were all planned. How is an internship helpful for a law student?

    As for internships I was not able to do many and only worked for Delhi Legal Services Authority once. It was because of lack of focus as to what I wanted to do after graduation as also my liking to spend the limited time of vacations at my home. However, I think that internships are a great way for the students to see different work environments for themselves and also for many prospective employers to see their working firsthand.

     

    Did you not get tempted by fancy corporate jobs?

    My focus during law school was mainly on absorbing whatever learning I could, and had relegated career choices to the very end of law school. I actually was not much attracted by corporate jobs which I thought would not suit my temperament requiring similar kind of work being done over and over, however, to be fair to them I have actually not even interned in a corporate firm. But it was this impression which kept me away from them, as also my inclination not to run after money when I did not much for the kind of life I wanted.

     

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    When did you start preparing for the civil services? Did you start preparing for it when you were in college?

    I had heard a lot of good things about civil services from my colleagues and the kind of opportunities it offered in terms of career. However, neither did I have any family member in the services nor any definite guidance, so I did not consider it seriously until the final year of the law school. With very haphazard information at my disposal, but other career paths seeming very tumultuous and long I decided to join a coaching, which was not difficult being in Delhi. The initial preparation was quite unplanned and a probe in the dark. However, after the notification of the exam, which had suddenly slashed the number of optional subjects to be taken to one, I became excited and prepared sincerely for the prelims with another friend to offer me company.

     

    How did you start preparing for the Civil Services Exam? Do you think coaching is a prerequisite to crack this exam?

    It was a very unplanned and unfocused preparation in the beginning where I was trying to read everything I could get my hands on and remotely related to the exam. In hindsight I think that only served me in good stead as I did not narrow down my focus too much on the syllabus and did not get bogged down by reading only what was being taught at the coaching institutions. I joined a coaching institute only after writing my prelims, and used it as a option to use for guidance whenever I needed any and for some writing practice. With the kind of pattern which is being followed recently Coaching has lost a good deal of relevance in cracking the exam, with focus required on understanding and being able to analyse the current events happening around us. It can be as well got from newspapers and internet and coaching institutes do not have monopoly over the reading material or expertise anymore.

    Most coaching centres do not cater to the specific weaknesses or strengths of the individual student, which can only be understood and worked upon by the individual themselves

     

    What was the routine you followed everyday throughout the course of your preparation?

    My effort was towards being able to put minimum 6 hours of study everyday which changed from random readings initially to syllabus specific readings just before the exam. Not only reading, but being able to make adequate notes for remembrance and writing skills to reproduce it is equally important for the exam, so I focused on these 3 things.

     

    What were your optional subjects?

    There was but obvious choice of taking law as the optional subject when there was only one optional to be taken.

     

    Do you think law students might have an edge while preparing for the UPSC exam?

    Yes, especially because they are well adept through their study in law of filtering out and understanding the real issues involved in any question or problem. As also a student of law is generally familiar with lot of areas which overlap with the exam such as polity as also some familiarity with basic philosophical schools etc which help in the ‘Ethics’ paper. ‘law’ as a optional has performed better than most, with around 6 people being with law optional in top 50 this year. I would definitely recommend it as a much accessible career option for the law students.

     

    What was your study pattern, the mode of study (online, offline etc). Please mention some of the books you referred to and how did you go about preparing for each stage of the exam?

    My main focus was to free myself of general distractions and to be able to devote at least 6 hours every day to study for the exam. The primary mode of study was through books and newspapers for which I made notes in my laptop. I also referred to some magazines such as Frontline etc which I read online or after printing. For the preliminaries and general studies it is difficult to give a book list as there is a choice of books on every topic, but NCERTs are a good starting point for almost all topics. As for the Law, I referred to Starke for International Law, Bangia for Contracts and Torts, Gaur for IPC, MP Singh for Contracts which were the major topics in Law optional.

     

    What did you do to keep yourself motivated all the time during the course of preparation?

    Even though my focus on the exam, but I kept on doing a lot of other things to keep myself occupied as well as physically and mentally fit for the exam. I used to go cycling in the hills around my home everyday, would go for music classes and spend a lot of time in learning some new hobby or other everyday which allowed me to be focused on preparation without getting bored or distracted.

     

    Could you please give some tips to those aspirants who are preparing for this exam? How should they go about preparing different subjects like general awareness, Optional paper of law?

    While preparing a candidate should first have a detailed look at the past year question papers, to understand the mind of the UPSC examiners which can provide a direction in separation of chaff from grain while reading for it. Even though the questions are different every year but they point to a trend which can be helpful in deciding how to prepare. For Law as a optional subject the kind of questions are more or less similar every year which therefore should definitely be looked at.

     

    Every year lakhs of people attempt this exam and only a thousand people get selected? Could you tell us in brief what are the skills required to crack prelims and mains exams?

    According to me, there are basically three skills required for cracking the exam, reading skills—being able to sit continuously for extended period to read, analytical skills—ability to understand the crux of an issue from what you read and writing skills—being able to express yourself lucidly through your answer writing, which in combination with adequate hard work and dedication can make the person stand out from the hordes of people sitting for the exam every year.

     

    Mussoorie
    Mussoorie

    How should a law student approach the interview for the Civil Services Exam?

    For interview, there is no special approach or preparation which is desired. The interviewers are generally only looking for the confidence level and communication skills of the candidate which most of the law students are good at and thus interview is mostly the easiest part of the process for a law student.

     

    What is your experience with the preparation that is required for the civil services? Undisputedly, it requires a huge mental strength and hard work.

    More than anything else it requires a confidence in your ability and the dedication to put in the level of hard work required to achieve it, that is prerequisite for being successful in the exam. To plunge into preparation without adequate mental temperament can inturn be counterproductive.

     

    You secured Rank 619 in the year 2013 and got through in your first attempt. Why did you decide to take drop of a year? What was your preference of services and why?

    I was working in High Court as a litigation lawyer after taking my first attempt and work was very pleasing to my nature. When I did not get the choice of my service and being confident enough that I will make it to IAS the next year, I decided to not go through the unnecessary hassle of joining one service and leaving it when not inclined to continue in it.

     

    What would be you message to the law students who want to pursue their carrier in the field of Civil Services?

    The best advice I can give to the aspirants is that there is no set formula or strategy or a list of books/materials which can guarantee you success in the exam. There is a diverse set of very important factors such as your initial level of learning, your reading habits, your writing skills, your retention power, which should guide you in your strategy for preparing for the exam. Most coaching centres do not cater to the specific weaknesses or strengths of the individual student, which can only be understood and worked upon by the individual themselves. The differentiating element between successful and non-successful students is not the kind of coaching they took but their individual effort and their ability to understand their own weaknesses and strengths. I would also advice not to start the preparation too early, as in right after 12th standard. A candidate should use the initial years of graduation to build a solid base, so that the process of specific studies for the UPSC exam can be much smoother. I would also strongly recommend that preparation be done in a group of aspirants who can act as strong motivators to each other. It would relieve the stress of looking for best reading materials to a large extent as the discussion with other companions would sort out the best materials.

    As a career option, civil services, from my limited experience of the field, has a lot to offer and especially IAS offers the diverse exposure which probably no other job can offer to fresher graduates right out of graduation. It offers a lot of autonomy and creativity in the working environment which much more than compensates for the lesser salaries on offer. The service calls for the best minds of the country to the deal with the complex issues facing it today and law students are particularly suited for it.

     

     

    This interview was taken by: Shubham Gupta, III year, NLU Delhi

  • Punya Varma, Graduate, NLUD, on bagging a training contract from Linklaters, and plans for the future

    Punya Varma, Graduate, NLUD, on bagging a training contract from Linklaters, and plans for the future

    punya-verma-3Punya Varma is a graduate of NLU Delhi’s 2015 Batch. He has an enviable academic record and has an excellent series of internships done at top law firms. Having done the Vis Hong Kong moot twice, he has gained useful skills in commercial laws. He recently bagged a training contract from Linklaters. In this interview he takes the reader through the five phases of getting a training contract.

    • The process of getting a training contract
    • Her experience as an undergrad
    • Plans for the future

    What prompted you to pursue law?

    If I were to answer this question absolutely honestly, I did not know of the existence of magic circle law firms even until my second year. I was introduced to these firms when my friend was offered a Training Contract with Linklaters. It was then that I decided to apply for the same. Thus I got lucky with the course that my CV took. However I would suggest all law students to acquaint themselves with the backgrounds of these firms so that they can make an informed choice about joining them. It is very important to tailor your CV towards securing a Training Contract.

    The firm prides its international stature and thus looks for people who can easily mix with people from different jurisdictions and work in such an environment. It is thus important to have international exposure on your CV. This may be in the form of an international moot, international publication and conference or simply an exchange program. This is the one thing you will find present in CV’s of all students who have secured a Training Contract with a magic circle firm, apart from technical proficiency and commercial awareness which are a given.

    While I have given more importance to mooting in my law school career, some students prefer to publish papers. There is no one fixed activity that must be given priority, however one must make sure that whichever activity one chooses, it gives them exposure to commercial law, helps them work as a team and develops one’s personality holistically. It is not important that your grades be very high. People with relatively low grades have also managed to secure Training Contracts. A holistic personality, on the other hand, is very important in the application process. The firm can gauge whether the applicants really know their stuff or not.

     

    Did the Vis moot help in your preparation for the entire process?

    The Vis moot was instrumental in piquing my interest for commercial law. I was a merits speaker and thus got the opportunity to delve in the legal issues of international transactions and learn and enjoy commercial law at its core. The knowledge of CISG (Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods) I gained by doing two editions of this moot pushed me further towards wanting to work in the field of commercial disputes. This also functioned as a good showcase of the international exposure I had achieved especially having worked on the commercial side.

     

    How did your internships contribute in your decision to do this?

    While the Vis moot was instrumental in providing me with theoretical knowledge, it was the law firms I interned with that helped me understand the everyday working of commercial laws. Having interned at some firms in the country I wanted to try the same experience at the international level with the largest and most complex deals. Such an experience is only possible with magic circle firms.

     

    What specific skills did you focus on in first three years of your law school life?

    Research and writing are skills absolutely essential for a law graduate be it any area of law they wish to practice. It is very important that one develops these skills early on in the law school so as to utilize the different internships to their fullest. It is further important to keep up to date with the latest happenings and in general have an understanding of how things work in the commercial world.

    Another important skill that I focused on was teamwork. The firm looks for applicants who know how to work and succeed as teams. This can be developed by taking part in team-based competitions or even simply by organizing events. Working in a team is a valuable learning experience that no one should miss out on.

     

    What sources, materials, books or blogs did you rely on to crack commercial awareness?

    Linklaters highly values commercial knowledge in an applicant. An applicant is expected to know how a commercial deal works and what the role of a law firm is while advising its clients. An applicant is also expected to know the general functioning of the market and the latest deals to have hit the market.

    I relied mostly on a daily reading of the newspaper with special focus on the business section. Linklaters does not look for experts in commercial law; they only look for a basic level of awareness and a commercial approach to providing any legal advice.

     

    List five things one can do in their third and fourth year of law school to drastically increase their chances of landing a training contract.

    • If you haven’t already had some form of international exposure, now is the time to get that on your CV.
    • Do internships aimed at developing skills that would help you solve commercial disputes.
    • While high CGPA is not something the firm specifically looks for, it makes for a good impression if your CGPA is respectable. Thus now is the time to work on improving your CGPA as much as possible.
    • Before going for the Vac-Scheme, vac-schemers need to clear their concepts especially related to basics of commercial laws.
    • For those of you like me who are socially awkward, its time to learn to let go of that and learn to strike up conversations.

    Can you please describe the application procedure for Linklaters India Internship Program and the subsequent Training Contract for the London office?

    Applications for the Linklaters Indian Internship program are open for all students in the penultimate year of their law course. It is a three-step process starting with the completion of the application form. The application form requires the applicants to fill details of academic, extra-curricular and co-curricular activities undertaken. It also includes certain subjective questions, which need to be filled.

    Linklaters then shortlists the best applications it receives in that year and asks the shortlisted applicants to complete an online Watson Glaser Test. This is the second step in the application process. A practice test can be found on http://www.pearsonvue.com/nphstr/wg_practice.pdf.

    A further shortlist is done depending upon the cut-off that Linklaters decides and the shortlisted applicants are invited to Mumbai for the technical interview round.

    The third step is the successful completion of the interview process. The Interview Day can be exhausting. It starts with an hour-long Watson Glaser Test followed by a three hour-long E-Tray exercise. It is then followed by an hour-long HR interview and an hour-long Partner interview. Linklaters then selects the best candidates among the shortlisted candidates and makes an offer of the Summer Vacation Scheme to them.

    During the Vac-Scheme, each student is placed in two seats of their choice and is also expected to complete a written project. At the end of the Vac-Scheme, there is another hour-long Partner interview based on the written project. It is upon the completion of all the above steps successfully that the firm makes an offer of the Training Contract to the applicant.

    The entire application process can also be found here: http://www.linklatersgraduates.co.uk/application-process

     

    Did you face any particular difficulties or found anything particularly challenging while applying online?

    The Linklaters application form is fairly clear and straightforward and the applicants should find no difficulty in understanding the instructions. Please do visit their graduate recruitment website for further guidance- http://www.linklatersgraduates.co.uk/

     

    Are there any specific pointers to keep in mind while writing your CV on the law firm website during the application process?

    The application form does not directly ask the applicants for their CV. It is upon the applicants to showcase the highlights of their CV within the subjective questions that the form asks them to complete. It is very important to bring out all the qualities that I mentioned earlier on through these questions so that you can show the firm that you are the correct fit for them. Please make sure that all parts of the questions are answered. The format in which the question is to be answered depends upon the question itself; hence it is imperative to understand the question clearly and to also understand what the firm expects from the applicant.

     

    How did you prepare for the Online Aptitude Tests post your application?

    The Watson Glaser Test is a fairly universal Aptitude Test and thus applicants can find practice tests online. I have already provided one such source in the above question and another source to be accessed is http://www.linklatersgraduates.co.uk/application-process/critical-thinking-test.

     

    The Telephonic Interview/ video conferencing is the first level of shortlist for the Herbert Smith Freehills application procedure. How did you prepare for it?

    The HSF process involves a telephonic interview, which lasts roughly twenty minutes. It is a basic HR test conducted by a member of their HR team. It involves simple HR questions like answering why you wish to join a foreign law firm, why you wish to relocate to London and why do you specifically wish to work with Herbert Smith Freehills. It is also a test of whether the applicant has basic proficiency in spoken English.

     

    Are there any specific technical issues that you faced?

    The telephonic interview isn’t a very tough part of the HSF selection procedure. Make sure that you have read up on the firm and that you are in an area with sufficiently good connection and you’re good to go.

     

    The interview day can be quite nerve racking, did you take any particular steps to calm yourself?

    I made sure that I had a good night’s sleep before coming for the interview. It is very imperative that one has a clear head during the interview day as it is rather long and tiring. Prepare well and take a good night’s rest before going for the interview day and it should go absolutely fine.

     

    What was your strategy for the E-Tray exercise?

    The E-Tray exercise is a simulation of an office work environment. The first 30 minutes are reserved for reading a package of information based on which you have to complete the exercise. The next two hours comprise responding to emails that arrive in your inbox. This involves a multitude of tasks and is essentially a race against time. At the end of the task an e-mail has to be typed with your conclusions for the Partner Interview.

    This exercise is essentially a race against time and hence time management was on the top of my list while attempting it. It is a good idea to acquaint yourself with the working of the exercise before actually attempting it. A practice test can be found here: http://www.cubiksonline.com/Cubiks/Etray3/PracticeEtray/?clientID=93642980-3145-4DDE-A11C-AB99C1A6BB76&locale=en-GB.

     

    Did you prepare extensively on Indian Corporate Laws?

    The Interview does not require you to know Indian Corporate Law extensively. You must know your CV in and out and you also must have your basics in Contract Law, Property Law, and Competition Law etc very clear as the technical questions are also based on them. It is also helpful to know the basics of mergers and acquisitions and the various methods in which the same can be done. Any book, which provides the basics on this, can be referred to.

     

    What newspapers/blogs/magazines would you recommend to stay prepared for the day?

    Reading the business section of the newspaper on a daily basis and making a concerted effort to understand concepts that you don’t in one go. A very important aspect that Linklaters tests the applicants on is their knowledge about the firm. It thus makes sense to completely scan the Linklaters website thoroughly before going for the interview. Important things to be noted from the website are the locations of their offices and the values that they subscribe to.

     

    Did you prepare for some stock questions ahead of time for the HR Round?

    It is very important to prepare basic HR questions before hand. While it is counterproductive to sound too rehearsed, it also doesn’t make sense to go absolutely unprepared. Thus all applicants must have a general idea of what to say in the event of a particular question. These involve quoting instances from your life when you have depicted teamwork etc. and answering questions like “why London”, “why Linklaters” etc. It usually helps if you work along with someone. I found it really helpful to work with my friend who had also been shortlisted for the interview and practiced the questions with him.

     

    punya-verma-1

    How did you prepare in the run up to your London Trip?

    There is no specific preparation required for the Vac-Scheme. You should prepare for the trip like any trip to a foreign country. However the clothes you wear to the office need to be absolutely prim and proper. The dress code is formal and hence choices must be made accordingly. In an office environment, one’s dressing sense speaks volumes about one’s capabilities and hence the same must be kept in mind.

     

    How was the social environment during the vacation scheme?

    The Vac-Scheme usually has two socials per week wherein the firm takes out the vac-schemers for an activity and a dinner. It involves social interactions with Trainees, Associates and Partners at the firm. Since these socials form part of recruitment criteria it is advisable to make an extra effort to be social, to mix with people from different cultures and to ask questions. It may be something completely outside of one’s comfort zone (me for instance), however it is an important criterion for selection and hence the effort must be made.

     

    Describe a typical day as a Vacation Schemer?

    A typical day for a vac-schemer started at 9:30 am and ended at 5:30 pm. It was usually filled with a lot of training sessions and departmental presentations. The rest of the time we were required to be at our seats finishing any work that may have been assigned to us by our Principals or Trainee Buddies. The Grad-Rec team assigns Trainee Buddies to each vac-schemer who helps the vac-schemer with any query that they may have. The day usually ended with a social or an activity in ‘Silks’- the cafeteria named after the street in which Linklaters has its headquarters- Silk Street.

     

    What in your opinion are the aspects that the firm is evaluating you on during a Vacation Scheme?

    As vac-schemers we complete two seats during our Vac-Scheme wherein we are given work by our teams and ultimately our Principals provides a seat appraisal. The two seat appraisals are an important indicator to the firm of our working style and also tells them whether we are a right fit for the firm or not.

    We are also assigned a research project on the first day and the same is to be completed within two weeks. The technical interview with the Partner is heavily based on the research project we submit hence it is important that we work hard on this. The interview itself is also assessed and can prove to be quite a grilling experience.

    Apart from these, the Grad-Rec team also assesses our social skills during each social that we attend. Networking is of utmost importance to the firm and hence they only wish to hire people who can easily communicate with others and network for the firm.

     

    What were your learnings while interacting with law students from different universities?

    Interacting with students from different universities is always a fun exercise. You get to learn so many new things and learn to look at things from a different perspective. The vac-schemers are not necessarily from law schools and could simply be doing a course on classics. Once hired, they complete their conversion course in law and join as a Trainee.

    The UK students are as professional and their approach to work is as methodical as the Indian students, however they tend to exceed the Indian students in their social skills. That also might be because they remain firmly in their comfort zones in terms of social interactions (since they have to majorly interact with other Indian students) while the Indian students have to break out of their comfort zones to make conversation with everyone.

     

    What difference did you feel was there between your Vacation Scheme Interview and Training Contract Interview?

    While the Vac-Scheme Interview is based upon the final E-mail to the partner at the end of the E-Tray exercise and the knowledge of the firm that you have attempted to gain, the Training Contract Interview is based on the research project and the actual experiences in Linklaters. Thus the latter is definitely more grilling and technical and seems more exhausting than the former.

     

    What approach should a vacation schemer follow to get the best of out the entire experience?

    I think the best approach any vac-schemer can follow to get the best out of the Vac-Scheme is to just flow with the entire process and to enjoy the process. Once selected for the vacation scheme, the firm changes track and instead pitches the firm to the vac-schemer as opposed to the other way round. Thus I would strongly advise all future vac-schemers to enjoy the process fully!

  • Naman Joshi, Law Graduate, NLUD, on induction into Karanjawala & Co., mooting, debating, and litigation

    Naman Joshi, Law Graduate, NLUD, on induction into Karanjawala & Co., mooting, debating, and litigation

    Naman Joshi graduated from NLU, Delhi in 2014. He is currently an associate at an illustrious litigation firm, Karanjawala & Co. He has been quite involved in Debating and Mooting as a student, and coached the NLU Delhi Team which went on to win the 12th Henry Dunant.

    His engagement in sport, community service, and extra-curricular activity has also been recognised by the H. R. H. Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip.

    We asked him about:

    • Being the Best Debater at Outlook SpeakOut North Rounds
    • Coaching the NLU Delhi team to success at 12th Henry Dunant
    • Receiving the Gold Standard of the International Award for Young People

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

    I am a lawyer who in my free time, likes to read, watch reruns of Friends and Two and a Half Men, and play FIFA.

    I do have lawyers in my family. My mother is one, but she did law late as an afterthought and partly out of boredom. She was working earlier as a consultant and decided she needed something new to do. Apart from that on my paternal side I have two lawyers.

     

    What brought you into legal studies?

    I did not consider engineering as a career. It never appealed to me. Medicine on the other hand did sound fascinating, especially because I read up a substantial amount about the human body when my father underwent a bypass.I was in 6th Class then and being a surgeon sounded nice. But to be very honest, I neither had the math skills nor the scientific acumen to pursue it at the highest level. It’s not just about being a doctor or an engineer. It’s about being good enough to rise to the top of your game. Law was a conscious choice from quite early on. I’d say about 9th Class onwards. When it came to second language options, I chose Hindi instead of French (lot of lower court proceedings are in Hindi). When it came to choosing subjects in 11th, chose History, Political Science, Economics, and Maths (these subjects barring maths, are taught in law school and are actually helpful when practicing law). Law also gelled with the other things I was doing in school – debating, writing, hosting a TV show on DD Bharti, community service etc.

     

    naman-joshi-3

    What would be your advice to someone who has never debated earlier?

    (Naman has been awarded the Best Debater spot the Outlook SpeakOut Debate.)

    Honestly, I can think of at least three debaters better than me in my own class from college itself. In fact, I have never even won a debating tournament since I have stepped into college.

    Partly, because the Parliamentary Debate format didn’t feel as comfortable as Oxford-Style did and partly, because I didn’t work on it because I was mooting extensively. So no advice as far as acing a debating tournament is concerned. As far as someone who has never debated earlier is concerned, my only advice would be, give it a shot. What’s the worst that could happen? It is a fun activity where you get to travel along with a couple of your college mates and the downside is missing college for three days or so and the upside is winning some serious cash!

     

    What separates a good mooter from an average mooter?

    (Naman has represented India at the 53rd and 54th Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. You have been also been ranked the 30th Best Oralist at the 54th Jessup.)

    A good mooter is one who masters not only the brief he or she has prepared but also everything around it and is ready to have a conversation with the judges. An average mooter prepares a brief and goes ahead and argues it. The former understands the context in which the arguments are placed. The reason they are being made at all. The latter looks at the last page, sees the questions of law and opens up a book to cite authorities.

    Mooting is not just an activity you should participate in because it is a check box in your ‘things to do in law school’ book. Do it because you like the activity. Do it because you want to read, write, and talk about a particular thing. For me that happened with international law. Even though I am not mooting anymore and my work is far divorced from international law, I like to stay in touch with the subject because I like it.

     

    What would you say contributed to the huge success of the team that you coached for the 12th Henry Dunant rounds?

    I think what contributed to the huge success of the team that I coached was the very hard work they all put in. Dhruv, Utkarsh, and Natasha were absolutely dedicated to the cause of winning and they did everything they had to, to do so. Including roping me in as coach, which can be a decision one can later regret (I am sure they all did at some point or the other) because I can be very unpleasant to work with. I expect people to function in a particular way, am extremely pedantic about minute things and easily lose it. Thankfully the team took it all in their stride and it worked out well. They went on become the first Indian team to have ever won the Red Cross Moot and I am extremely happy that I was a part of that. Plus, it has always been a wish of mine to do an international criminal law moot. I never found time for it myself, so vicarious pleasure.

    As far as the difference between them and the teams they faced in each of the finals, I’d say fine margins. At the highest level, everybody works incredibly hard. But if I had to split hairs, I’d say:

    1) the team was better prepared for the questions. They knew what was coming and they had already practiced how to knock a particular question out of the park.

    2) They had contextual understanding. I remember this issue of hate speech coming up in the India rounds and how the team answered the question not only with the international criminal law standard but also how hate speech is understood by national and international human rights courts and adjudicatory mechanisms.

     

    Tell us about being the Recipient of the Gold Standard of the International Award for Young People, 2009 awarded by H.R.H. Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip.

    Essentially the programme requires you to fulfil certain mandatory hours of engagement in a sport, community service, and extra-curricular activity. There are three level – Bronze, Silver, and Gold.

    As you keep excelling in the respective activities, you keep rising through the levels. So in my case, I played tennis, was President of Interact Club in my school (the Club is affiliated to Rotary International), and was an avid photographer. It is a fulfilling experience and I’d say if your school is a part of the programme, you should definitely participate.

     

    Tell us about your summer school experience.

    The courses were extremely helpful. There were three:

    – Corporate Law at LSE,

    – International Criminal Law at Leiden University, and

    – Comparative Constitutionalism and European Competition Law at Trinity College, Cambridge.

    I can assure you that anything I know about corporate law is more likely from the three weeks at LSE with Prof. David Kershaw than two semesters of corporate law in college. International Criminal Law, of course, doesn’t get much attention in college. But it came in handy while coaching the aforementioned team. The Cambridge courses were partly academic curiosity and partly a way to test if I want to pursue a LL.M immediately after college. The answer was in the negative for now. But both of them have definitely enhanced my understanding of how I look at constitutional law and competition law.

    Application procedure is fairly simple. These universities have extremely user friendly websites. You can just log on. Complete the form. Scan and attach the relevant documents. And you are good to go.

    The question of institutional support (parent institution) didn’t arise because all these courses were in the vacation. Though the Vice-Chancellor did appreciate what I had learnt abroad and allowed me to use what I have learned abroad effectively by allowing me to coach a team officially. Until then no team had had a university appointed coach.

    I already said before how highly I rate Prof. Kershaw’s corporate law classes. And I think the same applies across to board to all the classes I took abroad. There is no doubting that those classes beat most of the classes that are being taught in any university in India. That said, I did have some seminar classes (elective courses) where the quality of teaching was at par if not better. So I guess it comes down to

    1)      teacher’s understanding of the subject;

    2)      ability to get that understanding across; and

    3)      class size.

    Class size I think is a huge factor so we can’t really blame our teachers. They are doing the best in the situation. In fact I’d say my college is doing better than most considering the recent faculty recruitment and the very serious qualifications these teachers come with National Law University, Delhi.

     

    How did you manage funding for these courses?

    My parents have been extremely kind. They will not buy me a Playstation or plan a trip to Thailand, but if it comes to down education or professional development, they have never said no, regardless of the amount of money involved. But for those looking for alternate sources of funding, these universities sometimes do have funding available. Getting in touch early on with them is a good idea.

     

    Did you ever plan to join a corporate law firm?

    No, I did not plan on joining a corporate law firm. One of the reasons is I don’t frankly like corporate law as much. Can I work in the litigation department of a corporate law firm? Sure. Can I standout in an M&A team? No. Moreover, I need the thrill of the courtroom. I need to put on the gown and stand before a judge and argue a case. So litigation was always the thing that I had in mind; that is why I never even interned with a corporate law firm. Plus my first real legal internship was with Mr. Gopal Subramanium when he was the Solicitor General of India. The experience that I left with a month later assured me that this is what I want to be doing. Future plans are fairly straightforward – practice law in the courts and hopefully be recognized for it.

     

    How did your appointment at Karanjawala & Co. take place?

    My appointment at Karanjawala & Co. was actually a last minute one. While I had interned with them earlier in the summer of 2013, I was already placed at the Chambers of Mr. Gopal Subramanium, Senior Advocate and had never applied for a job at Karanjawala. When Mr. Subramanium’s name came up for elevation to the apex court, I decided to look elsewhere because I assumed that Sir would be elevated to the Supreme Court pursuant to a recommendation of the Collegium (Of course there were certain unbecoming actions of certain persons and entities which rightly led him to withdraw his name.)

    When I started looking for a job I didn’t want my parents or for that matter even Mr. Subramanium to just make a call on my behalf. I wanted to get a job on my merits. So I asked Mr. Trideep Pais who is an advocate in the Delhi High Court and who has taught me criminal law in college to let me know if anyone is hiring so that I could send them my CV and seek an interview. I also asked other persons I knew from college like Mr. Alok Prasana, Mr. Rishabh Sancheti and Mr. Rajshekhar Rao. All of them were extremely helpful and gave me leads about persons they knew who were looking to hire.

    One lead that Trideep Sir gave me was Karanjawala & Co. I went and interviewed with Ms. Meghna Mishra who is a Partner at Karanjawala. Luckily for me she had seen my Karanjawala worksheet and had spoken to other people at the office, all of whom had said kind things about me. She told me she’d get in touch with me soon and that it looked good. I didn’t get a call for few days and I was getting anxious. A few days later I got a call saying Mr. Karanjawala wanted to meet me. I met him, he saw my CV and previous certificates of work, looked at me and asked me if I wanted to work at Karanjawala and when I said yes, he told me told me I am hired. Now I have been working at Karanjawala for a month and it is a great office with a lot of great people plus the office undertakes huge volumes of litigation. In my first month here I have been working on a couple of arbitrations, drafting pleadings, appearing in the High Court, and have even made a solo appearance before the Debt Recovery Tribunal.

     

    Do you think your experience in mooting shall help you in your litigation career?

    It already does. Mooting teaches you how to critically analyse a legal problem, building up a story using the facts you have around it, pruning out the negative facts or figuring a way of colouring them positively, researching, drafting a brief, arguing it, and answering any questions a judge might have. That’s pretty much what you do when a client comes to you with a problem and wants you to argue for him or her in court.

     

    Would you consider pursuing an LL.M from a reputed university?

    I would love to go study at Oxford or Cambridge. But let me be very honest. With a CGPA of 4.9/8, I am not very high on their list of prospective candidates. Moreover, I don’t want my parents to pay for it. So, maybe in a couple of years after I have some money of my own and my work experience can supplement my CGPA.

     

    What would be your message to law students who want to ace in moots?

    Choose a moot for the area of law and not the area of the world where it is held. A lot of students, unfortunately even in my university, want to do a particular moot because the college is paying for the trip abroad. That’s the wrong kind of attitude to begin with.

    Start reading up on that area way before the moot problem comes out.

    Put your fingers to the keyboard from Day 3.

    Start writing based on whatever you understand. You can always polish later.

    In fact you might not even use an argument you thought of early on, in your final brief, but that junked argument is very essential. Either it will tell you what not to say and take down an opponent, who has unwittingly said it, or it will provide you a way out when the argument you actually used didn’t work and you need a Hail Mary pass.

    Whatever research you have done, make notes so that you later remember you read what where. A lot of research is recyclable in a moot problem. You might not need it but that’s exactly what your teammate does.

    Lastly, think of it as real. You have to believe you are the agent/counsel for a particular state/party. If you don’t believe in the cause of a nation bombing another to establish democracy and promote peace or a nation that is sinking because of climate change, you can bet the judge won’t either.

  • Medhavi Singh on winning Best Oralist at Leiden Sarin and LL.M. from NYU

    Medhavi Singh on winning Best Oralist at Leiden Sarin and LL.M. from NYU

    Medhavi Singh talks about her journey as a Law Student of National Law University, Delhi. She had been awarded the Best Individual Oralist at the Leiden Sarin Air & Space Law Moot Court Competition. She has recently been accepted for a Masters in International Business Regulation, Transnational Litigation and Arbitration at New York University.

    In this interview, she tells us about:

    • The essentials of mooting every Law Student should keep in mind
    • What goes into excelling an International Moot
    • The importance of an LL.M from a foreign University
    • The application process for an LL.M in the U.S.

     

    How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers? Tell us a bit about your childhood, your hometown and your pre-graduate life as well. What motivated you to choose law as a career?

    I am a student of Delhi Public School, RK Puram. Originally, I am from Patna City, Bihar but have been brought up in Delhi. It was in Grade 7 that I first came across abook written on the subject of law. It was “The Colour of Law” by Mark Gimenez. The protagonist of the book was so inspiring that when I finished reading the book, I immediately knew I had to become like him. Of course, I think differently now since his practice in the book was criminal, but yes, that was my first ever motivation to pursue law as a career. Having this in mind, I took up Humanities with Maths in class 11th and 12th. I knew that subjects such as History and Political Science are tested in the National Law School exams and thought that taking these subjects would definitely be advantageous, which they actually turned out to be! For example, taking up Political Science was extremely helpful in understanding the political system of India as well as the Constitution of India, which is an integral subject from the view point of the entrance examinations.

    None of my family members are lawyers and I didn’t even know anyone who was a lawyer at the time I had decided to take it up. Thankfully, my family gave both my sister and me enough freedom to decide what we wanted to do with our lives, so they were pretty content with my career-goal.

     

    How did you gravitate into mooting? When did you decide to take up mooting seriously as a law student?

    At the outset, I would like to say that there is probably nothing more fun than mooting when you’re in law school. It’s hard work, for sure but the excitement it brings to a person at law school is absolutely unparalleled. I’m not sure how I ‘gravitated’ into mooting but I guess it’s something that most of the people in law school try anyway! I liked it so much after my first try that I couldn’t stop even when I was in my fifth year! For me, mooting was always a serious activity. It was fun but only as long as the results were positive, for which you needed to be serious about your work.

    I got drawn towards mooting especially when my team reached the finals of the KK Luthra Moot Court Competition on International Criminal Law in 2011. I remember being extremely nervous about not making it to the next round right from the first round but thankfully, it worked out well for us. Arguing in front of distinguished judges, finding loopholes in settled law as well as arguing on and learning about contemporary issues with no settled law seemed extremely exciting!

     

    medhavi-s2

    You have been the Best individual Oralist at the prestigious Leiden Sarin Air & Space Law Moot Court Competition held in Romania in March this year. Please tell us about your overall experience there regarding the competitors, the judges and other ancillary things.

    This moot was the best experience possible. I had been attempting to go for this moot since the second year of college and for some reason or the other, I couldn’t go until my last year – either I didn’t make the cut or the moot wasn’t included in the list. But anyway, I finally managed to go!

    This moot was special to me because I was very fond of Aviation Law as a subject of law. It was a field of international law that was always on the ‘move’. I must commend the Leiden-Sarin Organisers on the judges that had been called for the moot. During the entire moot, not once was I asked to state the facts and the questions that were posed to my teammate and me were precise, to the point and relevant to the problem at hand. What was more exciting about this problem was that it was based on a topic which has not yet been resolved, which meant that there was scarcity of material on the topic, which in turn helped us to make innovative and new arguments, applying not only to Aviation Law but also to different facets of International Law.

     

    How much preparation did you require for this success? Did you burn the midnight oil to excel in this moot? How much dedication and hard work was necessary for to ace Leiden Sarin?

    I’m not going to make it sound easy because I don’t think that’s honestly possible. Preparing for this moot was insanely hard. NLU-Delhi has a policy that all students must remain on campus through the week, even if you are from Delhi and I was known to be the one going home all the time for some reason or the other. I can vouch that it was during the time that I was preparing for this moot that I stayed the longest on campus, that too in the December-January winters. So yes, it’ a lot of work, but I am not complaining. I actually enjoyed myself, minus the sleep deprivation!

     

    What would you say differentiates between the best oralists and the rest? What are the top three things you consider sine qua non for being a great oralist?

    I think the most important criterion for being a great oralist is to be able to read the judge and understand what they’re looking for. We all do our homework in the sense of learning pleadings, facts, authorities etc. but ultimately, it comes down to how you can satisfy the bench before you. A judge may or may not know the problem very well, so it’s extremely important to answer his/her questions in a satisfactory manner, otherwise you end up losing the rapport that you’ve built with him/her. So according to me, on the top it would be understanding what the judge is asking for – for example, either answering questions in a precise manner or a detailed manner-and delivering the same.

    Secondly, I would want to emphasise on the importance of using relevant and contemporary real-life examples to back your case. It’s extremely important to let the judges know that what you’re arguing is in fact being practised at that very moment. I think it creates a huge impact on them.

    Thirdly, it is undeniably important to focus on you mannerisms. When it comes to mooting, most people will have the same amount of knowledge as you do and the only edge that you’ll ever have is to be able to display that knowledge and deliver your arguments effectively and differently by enhancing your mannerisms.

    For the most time that I was practicing my pleadings for the Leiden-Sarin Moot, I was concentrating on speaking slower (owing to the fact that all the judges were going to be from a foreign land) and remaining composed while answering questions. The best way to remain composed is to think of the whole procedure to be a meaningful conversation between the judges and yourself and to not let yourself get intimated by them; you probably know more than them about the problem at hand if you’ve done your research well!

     

    What prompted you to apply for an LL.M. abroad? Does it help given the career you have chosen? Why didn’t you opt for an LL.M. from India given that now we have 1 year LL.M as well?

    I experienced dispute resolution on an international scale for the first time at the Global Young Leadership Conference held in the US, where I was selected to represent India. Here, I was exposed to the tactful methods of negotiation rendered by people in addressing world issues. To further delve into the realm of international dispute resolution, I took part in Model United Nations, representing different States in various committees. I believe both these events formed the initial basis of my interest in dispute resolution on an International scale.I was drawn to International Law right from the beginning when I took part in the KK Luthra moot and ultimately by the fourth year narrowed down my liking to transnational litigation and international arbitration.

    The reason why I applied to foreign universities as opposed to an Indian one is definitely the courses that were being offered by the foreign universities as opposed to the one that were being offered in India. NYU was one University that offered a course on International Business Regulation, Transnational Litigation and Arbitration. I was excited to apply for this course because it befitted my aspirations perfectly and I wasn’t getting such an option anywhere else.

     

    You have got through to an LL.M. programme at the New York University. What do you think clicked in your favour during the selection process? How did you plan your Statement of Purpose for NYU?

    I think what worked for me was the clear picture that I had in my head with respect to what subjects I wanted to study as well as what benefit I would derive out of studying those subjects and how I would be able to apply the knowledge acquired by studying those subjects to fulfill my career-goals. My SoP had clear indications of what inspired me to choose this field, how I have already started worked in this field by means of internships, research papers etc. and how studying it would help me achieve my future plans.

    I know for a lot of people, LL.Ms are just ‘further studies’ but I think it’s much beyond that. I know it’s not a pre-requisite for any activity that you would want to undertake after law school but I feel that sometimes, it is quintessential to get expertise in niche areas, especially when you want to specialise in the same.

    Building up on your profile from the view point of an LL.M is essentially maintaining excellent grades through law school. The competition can get to you sometimes but it’s not impossible. Other activities could include mooting, debating, writing papers and even being members of relevant groups at your law school.

     

    For an LL.M you needed to have a student VISA. What are the requirements for a successful VISA application? As a lot depends on the VISA application did you prepare for the interview?

    The Visa application is a long drawn one month procedure. I can answer this question for the US Universities since that’s the procedure I am privy to. You need to first apply for your I-20, for which your University will provide you with details. The US University would then send you a hard copy of your I-20 which you must keep extremely carefully. After having done that, you must pay a fees online called the SEVIS fees and must keep multiple receipts of the same. Then you have to fill out the DS-160 form and make the visa application fees in cash to the specified banks (Axis or PNB). At the bank, they would generate a number for you which you have to use to schedule an appointment with the US Embassy. Once you have received your I-20 and paid the SEVIS fees, the visa application becomes easy and there’s not much you can do. My interview was a one line question where I was asked why I was going to NYU and which subjects I was specialising in. I was asked to pick my passport up with the visa the very next day! So no, not much preparation is required for the interview. But it’s always safe to carry all the documents with you just in case you’re asked for them.

     

    What would be your message to law students who look forward to an illustrious law school life?

    I would say it’s about maintaining excellent grades in law school and having a clear picture about what you want to study and why. It’s important to ask yourself these questions to be able to figure out whether you really want it or not. Apart from this, I would recommend all of you to have at least three teachers in mind, who have credibility and are somewhat renowned in their respective fields, who would be willing to help you out with your letters of recommendation. These letters have a huge influence on your application and must not be taken lightly! The whole application procedure seems daunting and you could feel lazy at times but trust me, in the end, it’s definitely worth it!

     

  • Divya Chawla, LL.M. candidate, University of Pennsylvania, on joining Linklaters and her internship experience

    Divya Chawla, LL.M. candidate, University of Pennsylvania, on joining Linklaters and her internship experience

    divya-chawla2Divya Chawla graduated from NLU Delhi, batch of 2014. She has just been accepted to the University of Pennsylvania. And soon after completing her LL.M. she shall be inducted into Linklaters, London.

    We took this opportunity to ask her about:

    • The process of application for LL.M. to an Ivy League University
    • Planning a successful Statement of Purpose for LL.M.
    • Internship and job offer from Linklaters

     

    What motivated you to choose law?

    It took me a long time to decide what I really wanted to do, so much so that to buy time I joined Delhi University after Class XII. I studied Political Science Hon. at Jesus and Mary College for a year during which the idea of studying law grew on me gradually. While there were no lawyers in the family, it really helped that my elder brother was studying law at that time. I was able to make a first-hand comparison between the prospects and scope of a traditional graduate degree and a professional degree. In retrospect, the gap year really helped me identify what I wanted to do and I was glad I didn’t rush into something immediately after Class XII.

     

    Please share some of the memorable experiences of your college life.

    The exciting aspect of being part of a fairly young institution is that one gets the opportunity to be a part of many ‘firsts’ of the University. I had the opportunity to be a part of the editorial board for the first edition of the NLUD Student’s Law Journal. Subsequently, as a member of the RCC, even the recruitment process had to be envisaged and managed from a fairly rough foundation. While the lack of guidance can be daunting, such experiences strengthen character and enhance leadership ability.

    Further, in terms of co-curricular activities I was lucky to be a part of the team representing the University at our first ADR competition endeavour, the Brown-Mosten International Client Counselling Competition in 2011. Mooting was also strongly encouraged right from the start and this helped me improve my research and oratory skills immensely through college.

     

    What triggered your interest in Arbitration and ADR?

    My initial interest in ADR competitions developed from the unique format. Participation in ADR competitions helps build valuable skills such as strategising, negotiation and problem-solving.  Moreover, these skills are relevant to any path you choose after graduating and are not confined to the career of a negotiator or mediator.

     

    How did you secure an internship at the Planning Commission of India and World Bank?

    The Planning Commission and the World Bank regularly list internship opportunities on their respective websites. While the Planning Commission internship is a standard program structured over a month, internship opportunities at the World Bank are on a more ad-hoc basis. Both the internships involved working on a research project under a supervisor.

    These internships helped me look at commercial issues from different stand-points. At the Planning Commission I worked on legal issues faced by the Government in airport modernization through public-private partnerships, while at the World Bank I got to analyze an industry perspective on the regulation of the microfinance sector. So this helped me understand different facets of commercial undertakings/projects.

     

    How does an Indian student get an internship in London?

    International firms such as Linklaters, organize a vacation scheme program each year for penultimate year law students, which is essentially a three week internship at the firm’s London office. As part of this program, the firm focuses on selecting a certain number of students from Indian universities. It is an exciting opportunity but the selection process is quite rigorous and competition is fierce. I think the key to be a successful applicant is to show genuine interest in commercial law and a commitment to the idea of working at an international firm. Relevant internships would demonstrate exposure to the practical side of commercial law. It would also help to highlight any publications relating to commercial issues or an elective/ short-course/ certificate program taken up. This reflects a sincere attempt at developing one’s understanding of the field. Awareness of international deals and business events and an enthusiasm to get involved in cross-border matters helps fortify the commitment towards working at an international law firm.

     

    How did your internship transform into a job offer?

    At the end of the vacation scheme, the opportunity to interview with a Partner for a training contract is automatically offered. This interview is based on an assignment that is prepared individually during the scheme and involves identifying legal and commercial issues in an international business deal.

    In a nutshell, the scheme provides the opportunity to intern in two different practice areas under an experienced Principal, and also affords a great learning experience through a range of professional development sessions. These sessions are designed to provide a broad understanding of the Firm’s global business strategy and practice areas, as well as the chance to develop skills like mediation and pitching to a client. For me, the best part of the program was when as an intern in the Banking team I got the opportunity to visit Lehman Brothers’ Canary Wharf office and get involved in the insolvency administration.

     

    What prompted you to apply for an LL.M. abroad?

    The prospect of being able to get an in-depth knowledge of subjects that I was interested in prompted me to apply for a Master’s Degree. Moreover, the Masters program can be structured to suit career goals, like a number of Universities provide a choice between practical skill-intensive courses and research-oriented courses. Some Universities are particularly good for undertaking cross-disciplinary study like NYU, University of Pennsylvania and Northwestern University. So it is basically a year of study focused on subjects that one is keen to pursue further professionally and at the same time there is the fabulous experience of being taught by distinguished professors in a multi-cultural environment.

    Further, an LL.M. provides the opportunity to gain more knowledge of the international market, thus adding a global outlook to one’s perspective. Since I am looking at working in an international legal environment I decided that opting for an LL.M abroad would be more suitable in terms of my career goals.

     

    What do you think were some of the contributing factors that helped you get into UPenn?

    From my experience with the admissions process I believe US schools are not purely focused on a student’s rank or GPA. It is a more comprehensive selection process which seeks not just ‘intellectual potential’ but also something that sets a candidate apart like volunteer work, leadership experience or professional accomplishments. Despite the obvious upside to this approach, this does bring in a huge amount of subjectivity into the process which makes it all the more difficult to espouse a formula for getting through an Ivy League School.

    It certainly helps to be an all-rounder with achievements across a range of academic subjects and extracurricular pursuits. This is viewed as a definite indicator of future success which to the admissions board is important to assess your value as an alumnus of their University. However, if one falls short of being an all-rounder there’s no need to lose hope! Showing extraordinary caliber in a specific area of interest that has been consistently pursued coupled with a definite future course of action would also make a strong application.

     

    What other courses and universities did you apply for?

    I applied for the BCL at Oxford and the LL.M at University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, NYU, and Cambridge. An obvious parameter for choosing a University is the brand name, because resume enhancement is a huge plus. On a more subjective front, it’s a good idea to identify what feature of a particular University or program ties in with your career goals, not only for the purpose of making a choice but also to highlight that your application is not a generic submission made to all Universities, but has in fact been carefully thought through.

    Personally, I believe it’s a better idea to opt for a school depending on its ranking in your intended subject area rather than a general ranking. I opted for Penn Law because it has a strong reputation for corporate law which I was interested in studying further. It also has a great cross-disciplinary program for LL.M students called the Wharton Business and Law Certificate (WBLC). Wharton is UPenn’s business school and is ranked as one of the finest. The WBLC offers law students the opportunity to learn about fundamental business, financial and management concepts in a legal context.

     

    How did you plan your Statement of Purpose?

    How a SOP is planned differs depending on the University. While some schools require that applicants address specific questions in the SOP, others follow a more general and open-ended theme. Typically, it should cover the applicant’s background; academic and professional interests, a persuasive reason for choosing the University and program of study and lastly how this choice ties in with career goals and ambitions. This means being concise is key, because information about your past, present and future must be condensed into a limited word count and must make for a compelling read. So be prepared for endless drafting and editing! Also, a conclusive future course of action that ties in with the applicant’s past and present experiences, and envisions a positive impact in a specific field (could be law, politics, business, the social sector, etc.) shows determination and passion.

    Broadly, my SOP was focused on how my background shaped my ambitions, my experience in commercial law through academics and internships, and how the LL.M. would prepare me for an important role in a trans-national legal environment.

    I’m looking forward to getting a sense of the US legal system and particularly look forward to taking up courses at Wharton during the LL.M. I expect there to be a substantial value addition to my academic credentials and a smoother transition from being a student to working in an international law firm. Finally, I’m excited about being part of a culturally diverse class and hope to build strong relations through the course.

     

    Which are the scholarships one can apply for at UPenn?

    Penn law is certainly on the expensive side as there aren’t too many options for obtaining financial aid. Applicants belonging to a few specified countries (including India) are automatically considered for financial assistance on a merit basis. There are a few such scholarships but the exact number that is awarded is discretionary and financial need is not a criterion in arriving at a decision. Further, only a part of the total cost incurred towards the LL.M is covered. However, if you are focused on human rights issues there is a dedicated human rights scholarship.

    In addition, in India there are some foundations which accept applications for education-related travel grants, like the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust. Such grants typically cover the cost of travel, insurance and visa fee. Another option is to apply for an interest free loan from the Narotam Sheksarai Foundation which selects awardees based on merit.

     

    Lastly, what would be your message to all the law students who aspire to work in one of the Magic Circle firms?

    From a technical point of view, I think the most important skill to work on consistently is commercial awareness, preferably of the international market. Equally important is sharpening professional communication ability and social skills.