Tag: llm

1. Today many students after getting their undergrad degree aspire to pursue LLM in a foreign country as they feel that an LLM from a foreign country will be more worth than pursuing an LLM in India. What do you think about it and what would you say to these students?

Nikita Abraham- ” It depends on your interests and your means to pursue those interests. I cannot say with absolute certainty that pursuing an LLM abroad is worth more than an LLM in India, since the course structure would be very different and may not be suited for everyone. Studying abroad was the only choice many years ago if equivalent programs were not provided in India, however that is not the case today.

Before making the decision, I would recommend that students slow down and sit down to think about whether they want the experience of living abroad for a year, because that would be the minimum time spent away from India since most LLM programs are one year courses. After this, think about whether you want to stay back and work for some time away from home. Whatever your answer may be to the second question, there is a lot of planning and preparation that will follow, if you want to study abroad. If students decide to pursue their Masters from a university abroad, they should:

• Shortlist the universities that offer programs with subjects of their interest
• Have a look at the faculty associated with the courses. Go through their background and their accomplishments
• Read up about the alumni and reach out to them asking about their experiences.

A prospective LLM student should do this and definitely more! This could be an easy journey for some students, whereas it could be extremely challenging for others. Find out which one you are. The most striking features about doing any educational program abroad, which multiple people before me have said, are the people you meet from different walks of life and all over the world and what you learn from them.”

2. Many students feel that LLM is a necessity after studying law as it will enhance their profile and will give them better job opportunities in the future. What do you think about this thought process of students who just want to pursue LLM for enhancing their profile? What would you say to such students?

Nikita Abraham- ” An LLM will definitely enhance your profile, but so will actual work experience. It comes down to the real learning that takes place regardless of whether you do an LLM or decide to focus on work. Keep in mind that an LLM program is so much more labour intensive than your undergraduate program and an expensive endeavor as well. The decision you make will be influenced your unique personal situation.”

3. Students who have already decided that they want to do an LLM are often confused about whether they should pursue LLM after getting some work experience or before. What would you say to these students?

Nikita Abraham- ” This depends on your area of interest, which will influence your work profile. Did you decide when you were midway through your undergraduate program that you wanted to do an LLM from a specific university? Did you start working on your profile from then by writing papers, doing specific internships, or learn relevant skills specific to the area of your interest? If yes, then go ahead and apply for that LLM program.

But if you are unsure, don’t worry. This is where work experience helps you figure out what matters you enjoy working on and what you want to learn more about. Working in a specific field, being exposed to the current legal issues, discussions with seniors will help you navigate this. Keep in mind that some LLM programs might require work experience as part of their admission criteria.”

4. After deciding that a student wants to pursue LLM, a question that comes to mind is where? So, can you tell the viewers how to choose where to do an LLM? And how did you decide yourself.

Nikita Abraham- ” Your unique financial situation might influence this decision a lot more than other factors such as what your interests are. You will need to figure out whether you can finance it yourself, or if you need scholarships or any other external funding or benefits. Look at the places you want to apply to. Find out if it matches the goals you set for yourself, whatever they may be, and if it will help you get there. Talk to students doing the same program and ask them about their studies and other projects they have done. Does their lifestyle and experience appeal to you? If yes, then you can start planning accordingly.”

5. There is a common doubt in students that whether they should do a general or a specialized LLM. What are your thoughts on it and what would you say to the students who have this doubt?

Nikita Abraham- ” As clichéd as this will sound, once again it depends on your interests and what you wish after the program. Talk to people who have done both programs for perspectives on opportunities available after completing the programs. It doesn’t matter whether you do a general program or a specialized program, you must accept that you will have to keep learning and keep yourself abreast with legal developments that could have an impact in different spheres.”

6. Many students are often confused on which area of law they should pursue their LLM in? Because even if they know their area of interest, they are getting confused on which one to choose because today there is immense competition in the market and due to the rise of technology it creates uncertainty about the future of certain jobs. How did you decide and what would you say to the students who are confused about it?

Nikita Abraham- ” Make sure that you are ready to learn and be willing to accept that things may very well change. If the rise of technology creates uncertainty about the future of certain jobs, then you should also realize that it opens the door for other kinds of jobs. Try to learn the basic skills and more, you will realize that these will always be in demand.”

7. Do you think doing an LLM after getting an LLB degree helped you? How was your experience pursuing LLM? What were some lessons which you learned while doing an LLM which you would like to share with the viewers?

Nikita Abraham- ” Yes, it has certainly helped me. I am currently doing the program. I learnt the importance of research. Being prepared really makes a difference, whether it is for your lectures, your seminars, other miscellaneous discussions with classmates, studying for your exams. You realize the importance of effective time management while juggling so many tasks on your own as an LLM student abroad. You also realize that the work you put in and your extra efforts make a difference in most activities that you do, but sometimes you can be wrong. You learn the importance of working hard but also that you need to be smart. You learn by trial and error and you come to accept that you will not be successful at everything you try out, but you will find out what you can succeed at.”

8. What according to you are some key things the students should keep in mind who have decided to do an LLM? What advice would you like to give to LLM aspirants?

Nikita Abraham- ” I would say start early once you have made up your mind. Do not while away time when you have to work on your application, because there is a lot of preparation that goes into this. After shortlisting the universities that you want to apply to, be sure to be very clear about what is expected from you as a candidate. Do not leave room for doubt. Ask around if you are unsure; ask the present students studying there, reach out to the alumni, contact the university’s administrative department.

After you know the process thoroughly, start working on your application. Some of you may take months, some of you might only need a week or two. Don’t be afraid to ask for help during this process. It is stressful and you will definitely need support. Reach out to your teachers, your friends who have done this before, seniors, your employers if that is the case, etc. Make sure to give it your all and do it with sincerity. The rest usually follows!”

About Nikhil Naren

Nikhil has completed his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelors of Laws [B.A.LL.B] from Symbiosis Law School, NOIDA, Symbiosis International (Deemed) University, Pune, India in the year 2020. Over the years he has built special inclination and interest towards Information Technology Laws, Intellectual Property Laws, Competition Law, and Contract Law amongst other areas of law. He has Co-Authored the book, Internet Law: Regulating Cyberspace and Emerging Technologies published by Bloomsbury Professional India [ISBN: 978-9389714951] at the age of twenty-three.

He was an active member and convenor of his law school’s photography society- One ‘Click’ and also has a good experience at Moot Courts and Mock-Trial competitions. Apart from this, he also mentors law students for Moots, Research, Internship, and on any other issues approached for. He loves to write on contemporary issues falling under his domain of interest. He was offered a Pre-Placement [PPO] while he was in the VII Semester of his law school and thus, has around 25 months of Work Experience in IPR and InfoTech laws over and above his past internships.

He successfully handles Metacept [www.metacept.com], a one-stop platform created for the enthusiasts of IPR and InfoTech laws with the help of his dedicated team.

He is a focused person with a strong belief in honesty and hard work. His objective in life is to continuously improve himself and to try new things that challenge him. He is a firm believer in the fact that “learning never stops”.

7 MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS BY LAW STUDENTS:

1. Grades are important because the goal of grading is to evaluate individual students’ learning and performance. But some say that grades are not always a reliable measure for evaluating. What do you think the role of grade/CGPA in a law student’s career? Up to what extent does a grade got in college matter? What would you say to students who haven’t been able to get good grades/CGPA in college as many students fear that due to bad grades/CGPA they won’t be able to get jobs in top law firms or companies?

Nikhil Naren- “Grades may be a good reflection of one’s discipline but not necessarily one’s skills. The study of law enables you to proceed with multiple career choices and one needs to figure out what aligns with their career choice. If a student’s choice of career mandates having good grades, they must. If a student wishes to pursue masters from top law schools abroad, grades [and specific subject grades] play a vital role. Some of the top law firms do have a minimum grade requirement that makes you eligible to sit for their interview.

In conclusion, I would like to say that grades are important but are not the only important factor in placing you where you wish to be. I will advise students to at least maintain an average grade in law school but give due attention to both co-curricular [publications and moots] and extra-curricular activities to make a fine balance in the end.”

2. Students are often confused about what does a good CV look like which would attract the attention of employers. Many students even pay some organizations to make a good CV for them. You must have changed and updated your CV/Resume many times in your career and you must have even seen many CV/Resumes of students as well. What according to you is an ideal CV? And what is the difference between a rejected CV and an accepted CV? In simple words, what according to you does an employer tries to find in a CV? 

Nikhil Naren- ” At the very outset, I would like to state that CVs should be tailored every time one sends them for availing an opportunity. Tailoring a CV means that the student highlights their accomplishments in line with the opportunity they wish to apply for. For example, if one applies to a law firm specialising in Intellectual Property Rights [IPR] laws, they should make it a point to first highlight all of their important achievements in the domain of IPR. Do further research on the other domains that the firm caters to.

Remember, your CV should speak loud and clear about your interests because it is the first point of interaction between yourself and your potential recruiter. You may also try to switch roles and assess yourself from the perspective of the recruiter.

One should also keep in mind that the CV does not run beyond two pages, utilize the margins and keep clear headers. You must avoid having your picture on the CV unless it is for modelling assignments.”

3. Many students normally have a fear that since they are 1st generation law students their journey would be more difficult than a student whose parents are lawyers. What is your take on it and what would you say to them?

Nikhil Naren- ” This perception might have been true around two decades ago. Certainly not in the present times. We are witnessing good law schools coming up and the practice of law diversifying. Opportunities have moved beyond graduating from law school and heading straightaway to Court practice. I am a 2^nd generation lawyer myself, but the domain of law I work in has never been practised by my father and vice versa. Today, one has ample opportunity to make their mark provided they are honest and consistent with their efforts.”

4. In Law school, there is a perception that the more the number of internships the better. Is it true? And many students feel that most of their friends get internships because of contacts and not merit due to which the students who truly deserve miss out. What would you say to them?

Nikhil Naren- ” Internships are very important, numbers aren’t. Internships provide a student with the practical learning opportunity and application of theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom. Personally speaking, an internship at one place for a longer duration creates a better impression as compared to five internships at five different places. Another reason why internships are important is that it is the only way to assess if the practice of a particular domain of law interests you or not. You might be great at knowing the essentials of a valid contract but it is through internships that you hone the skills of drafting a contract. What do you think is more important and place you well then, knowing the essentials or drafting?”

5. When you enter into law school there is a perception that you need to do moots and win moot competitions so that you can be a good lawyer in the future. Is it true? What would you tell the students regarding this, especially to students who haven’t or don’t want to participate in moots?

Nikhil Naren- ” Mooting is an important learning and skill-developing exercise that prepares you for the profession [especially if you want to pursue litigation]. However, it is not a set benchmark for becoming a good lawyer. I encourage the learners of law to become a part of their law school’s mooting contingent for at least a year. A moot court competition improves your researching and drafting skills, teamwork skills, oratory skills, presentation skills and tests your perseverance. It wouldn’t be incorrect to say that while working on a moot problem one gets a golden opportunity to lay their hands-on learning new laws even before being taught.

For students who are not interested in mooting, I strongly urge you to take it up for a year. If one is not interested still, I strongly advise them to go for good publications, but that too would not necessarily guarantee in making them a good lawyer.”

6.Students nowadays are very confused regarding the area of law they should choose. Even if they know their area of interest, they are getting confused on which one to choose because nowadays there is immense competition in the market and due to the rise of technology it creates uncertainty about the future of certain jobs. What would you say to the students?

Nikhil Naren- ” Competition shouldn’t ever make you quit on your area of interest rather it should become an enabling factor to become the best version of yourself in that particular area of practice. That’s just two different perceptions of looking at it. We have witnessed our lives turning upside down due to the pandemic, which in itself was so uncertain. You can’t stop the waves, but you can always learn to surf, isn’t it?”

7. What according to you is the most important life/career lesson you learned which every law student should know?

Nikhil Naren- ” Keep learning every day and be a better version of yourself. Evaluate before you decide or make an opinion about something. Be the Shepheard, not the sheep. Impressing others shouldn’t be your motivation. Lastly, keep your excuses at bay.”

ABOUT SOUMYA SHEKHAR

Soumya is the founder of Remote Lawyer, a virtual legal services consultancy which offers diverse services such as innovative contract drafting solutions, legal content creation, startup advisory and knowledge management services. Soumya is an alumnus of National Law University, Delhi and National University of Singapore. A scholarship holder from National University of Singapore, Soumya comes with a rich and diverse experience. She has worked with tier-1 law firms and also MNCs as an in-house counsel. She routinely advises startups on their legal requirements such as drafting commercial contracts and legal compliance needs. 

5 MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS BY LLM ASPIRANTS

1)Today many students after getting their undergrad degree aspire to pursue LLM in a foreign country as they feel that an LLM from a foreign country will be more worth than pursuing an LLM in India. What do you think about it and what would you say to these students?

Soumya Shekhar- ” I suggest that, do not apply for LLM right after your college. Work for a few years, gain some practical insights and then, if you have the academic interest in the area for which you are applying, then only go for a LLM. As far as Masters from abroad is concerned, it definitely adds to your CV. The exposure you get in a foreign university is unprecedented for Indian students as the academic pedagogy in these universities differ greatly from Indian universities. Having said that, obtaining a degree just to adorn your CV is not the way to handle your future. Pursue a LLM if you are genuinely interested in getting academic exposure, not because everyone is doing it!”

2)Students today are very confused about whether to pursue LLM or not. What do you think how a student can decide whether an LLM will be worth it for them or not? Can you share your experience with the viewers on how did you decide to do an LLM and why?

Soumya Shekhar- ” I have always been inclined towards academics. My decision to pursue a LLM stemmed from the fact that I wanted to pursue teaching at some point of time in my life and a LLM degree would have helped. Moreover, I received a full scholarship to study at the National University of Singapore, so the decision for me was pretty simple! Pursue a Masters if it ties in with your long-term goals. If you want to litigate having a foreign LLM on your CV would add to your credentials. If you want to enter into consultancy business or become an entrepreneur like me, again a foreign LLM degree makes your offering more credible. Hence, think before you follow the rat race. How would this degree help you in the long run? What do you want to do in the future? These are the questions you should ask yourself before taking the plunge.”

3)After deciding that a student wants to pursue LLM, a question that comes to mind is where? So, can you tell the viewers how to choose where to do an LLM? And how did you decide yourself.

Soumya Shekhar- ” There are primarily three reasons why one would want to pursue LLM:

1. To enhance job opportunities in India.
2. To work abroad.
3. To have a brand name on the CV.

Your choice of location of LLM should depend upon what is it that you want to get out of your LLM degree. If it is to enhance your CV: Ivy League, Oxbridge and NUS are good options. If you want to work abroad, then look at EU Universities. There are plenty of opportunities in the EU and it is comparatively easier to get through as a majority of applicants are still unaware of the potential of the EU market.

Some other universities where I had gotten through were UCL, NYU, Columbia and Georgetown, however, as I was getting a full scholarship in NUS, it made more sense to choose NUS over the US universities.”

4)There is a common doubt in students that whether they should do a general or a specialized LLM. What are your thoughts on it and what would you say to the students who have this doubt?

Soumya Shekhar- ” I would suggest a specialized LLM. It always looks better on your CV, as it shows clearly your area of interest. Choose which area you want to specialize in and build your CV accordingly.”

5)Do you think doing an LLM after getting an LLB degree helped you? How was your experience pursuing LLM? What were some lessons which you learned while doing an LLM which you would like to share with the viewers?

Soumya Shekhar- ” I took an experience of 2 years at Luthra and Luthra Law Offices, before I pursued my LLM. I think that pursuing a LLM post at least some work experience helps one understand the nuances of law better. Some of the life lessons I learnt during my time at NUS were:

1. Analytical thinking: To question the existing thought process. I critiqued the paper of a Professor who taught me and he was impressed with the fact that I decided to point out flaws in his work. This is the pedagogical level we require in India to develop an innovative mind.
2. The habit of researching deeply: While writing my term papers at NUS, I could not have turned in a paper which was superficially written. The deep dive research I did, taught me the value of reading everything before forming an opinion.
3. Exposure to different ideas and mindsets: Discussions were a huge part of the academic culture at NUS and it helped me understand diverse ideas and mindsets. It also helped me develop my argumentative skills.”

ABOUT MANVEE

Manvee is the Founder & CEO of LL.B Mania, and a student at Chanakya National Law University, Patna. Her areas of Interest lie in Sports Law & Intellectual Property Rights, and her achievements lie in the same areas.

Moreover, she is a national-level Athlete & holds a national record in High Jump & a dozen of State & Cluster level records.

Presently she is working on her blog which is called LLB Mania. According to Feedspot, LL.B Mania is ranked 113^th Position out of 162 presently which is an achievement in itself. LL.B Mania started as an Instagram page in 2018 for providing daily legal updates and in 2020 during the pandemic, she started the Blog website for LL.B Mania in April 2020 and now it has been a year and their website is growing day by day.

TOP QUESTIONS OF LAW ASPIRANTS

1)Students are often worried about whether they will be able to crack the law entrance exam in 1 year/2year/6 months/1month preparation time. According to you, how much minimum time should a student give for preparation?

Manvee-“According to me this question will vary from person to person. I have seen people cracking CLAT in span of 6 months to 2 years as well. However, cracking clat with 1-month prep is practically impossible unless and until some miracle happens on the D day with that student.

According to me as per the new pattern of CLAT, Coachings are not a necessity now, moreover we have plethora of content available on YouTube, one just needs to do some basic research to strategize his/her prep. The new patterns require the comprehending ability and critical thinking for the students which is a must for lawyers and I am really happy with the change in new pattern.

I cracked CLAT 2020, without any coaching and I would like to tell you that I cracked CLAT being in Law School. Coaching mentors often tell that, “Law School ke sath CLAT nahi crack ho paega”.But its not true at all. All one need is proper plan and its executions in the planned way, then one can crack clat while studying in Law School.

I passed out 12^th in 2018 and the same year I just sat in the exam without any prep. But I realised later on I should have prepared atleast for 3 months also then results might vary in 2019. In 2019 I gave clat after the drop but was unable to clear the exam, because I realised I didn’t gave my best, I became complacent as the exam arrived, neither I prepared GK notes throughout the year nor did mock analysis, and I took distance learning program, no one was there to guide me, this was the blunder I committed, as a result I could not make it that year and had to take admission in Private College in Bangalore.

But I didn’t give up! I took all my CLAT materials with me to my hostel and decided to write CLAT 2020 for one last time, although there was ambiguity that I may or may not crack, but I still tried. My College was pathetic, I started realising after 2 months of admission, this was not the place that I deserve. Be it Management, Hostel, or Facilities, only thing which was best was the Faculties (not all). But Only for faculties I cannot stay in the pathetic place where I was not getting the environment which I wanted always, the admissions were going on throughout the year, they even lied to our parents and do whatever they wish. I felt trapped and decided I need to get out of this shit!

So, I decided at any cost I need to crack CLAT 2020. Even our faculties who got campus placement from NLSIU at that college as Assistant Professor that same year when we got admitted, they openly told us in class get out of this place, you are going to get nothing hell out of here after your graduation, and after 1^st semester all of them left the college and joined somewhere else. Now after hearing that I was pretty much sure I am not going to stay here anymore, so I planned my next 5 months and started to follow.

I planned my schedule in November 2019 and started to follow that, it was pretty much painful but I have no choices left. My College timing was 9AM to 4PM (Monday to Saturday). And even our hostels were out campus 20 km far from the College, so we need to catch our buses daily at 7.50 AM and in the evening at 4.30 Pm. It took 1-2 hours from Hostel to College and Vice Versa. It was pretty much tiring.

I use to read The Hindu while I was in the Bus (Morning & Evening) this way I use to cover Current affairs and made e-notes in my phone and later on transfer that to my laptop. And I use to reach hostel at 5.30 Pm, So I took snacks and sleep for 1 hr and after having my dinner at 8.30 I use to complete my college work by 11 PM. And from 11.15 Pm to 3 am I use to prepare for CLAT daily in hostel and whenever I got sphere time in College.

In sum total I was working 18-20 hours daily for next 5 months (November 2019 to March 2020) and sleeping for 3-5 hrs not more than that, pretty much similar to working in Tier-1 law firms.

It was really painful for me, sometimes I though of quitting and accept that my destiny is here only, but my mind never led me to give up. My dad use to tell me in my childhood “God Help those, who help themselves”and this quote was still in my mind and I wish something happen that I get time to prepare well for CLAT 2020, so the covid-19 lockdown happened. I realised god saw my struggle in the college and providing me opportunity by extending the date of the exams and with online classes as well at home.

I was happy and safe at my home in mid-march 2020. Online Classes & Less workload; it was a blessing in disguise for me. Now I started my preparation in full-fledged manner. From March 2020 to mid-September 2020, I got 6-7 months approx. for my preparation which was sufficient for me, because I learnt the skill of comprehending long texts in my law school via projects and moots & another important skill was research skills, this thing helped me a lot.”

2)There are many students who have a doubt about whether coaching is really important to crack the law entrance exam. What do you think? Is coaching important? Did you take coaching and did it help you? Can someone without coaching also crack the exam?

Manvee-” If CLAT was on Old pattern coaching was needed somehow but for new clat pattern I don’t think so coaching is a necessity, however students find difficulty in Critical Reasoning so they can refer to YouTube, there are ample amount of content. The answer for the question Is coaching important?  Is a Yes and No, both! If someone has no idea of CLAT and its pattern and is weak in comprehension he/she may need coaching however if one has requisite comprehension skills, he/she might not need a coaching but a mentor.

I wouldn’t deny with the fact that mentor is a must for CLAT prep, it can be people who crack clat (Studying in NLU) or some coaching people, only if they can give you time & personal attention. CLAT is an exam of skill and time management, if one is able to manage and get both of them and execute this in proper manner, he/she can crack the exam.  I never took CLAT coaching but I got 2 mentors for me 1 was from NLSIU, Bangalore (now a 3^rd Year student), via my Professor in college (NLSIU Alumni), he guided me what should be the frequency of my mocks, how to attempt mocks, what should be the percentile in my mocks and other basic details and another 1 I got via Instagram, and he is Vivek Mishra Sir (Co-Founder Legalight), he guided me for Critical Reasoning and English part and moreover he gave me 1 on 1 personal attention on call whenever needed.

So Yaa! These 2 mentors played a vital role in my CLAT 2020 journey, If I would have not been in touch with these 2 people I maybe unable to crack the exam this time as well. Moreover, I got support from my Parents and my friends from my former law school, Joysree & Nithin, these 2 guys always motivated me in college and Joysree had full confidence in me that I am getting into NLU’s this year and it Happened. Joysree helped me in my projects when I was preparing for clat by taking most of the workload on herself so that I can prepare very well for the exam.”

3)In today’s generation, when it comes to deciding on a career, student’s first choice is either engineering or medical and not law. What would you say to those students who haven’t decided on whether they should take up law or not? What encouraged you to choose law as a career?

Manvee-” Answering your 1^st question, if a person is a keen reader and ready to read long texts for his entire life and, then Law is one of the best choices for him/her. If one is only coming in law profession by seeing the Tier – 1 Firms salary for the Freshers or Perks of Being a Judge, then I would advise them to do a thorough research on the profession and get a reality check about the profession.

Being a Judge, you need not to have a social life that much as an ordinary person does. You need to separate yourself from society. I have seen people giving up jobs of Judges because they were unable to enjoy their social life or socialise with people. Coming to the placement package in Corporate Sector, then my friend I would like to tell you it extremely difficult to get in Tier – 1 firm unless and until you are extremely meritorious and You need to be in Top 4-5 National Law Schools in order to get package of 15-17 lakhs/annum.

For rest of the people its extremely difficult although its possible to fetch internship and job if one plans and execute it proper manner being in lower NLU or any ordinary college. People are unaware of the fact that in Tier – 1 Firms they are required to work for an average of 70-90 hours a week (13-16 hrs/day approx.) in their initial years. These 2 are the main reason why aspirants are attracted towards the Law as career but they don’t have idea about the reality.

Coming to the next question why I chose law as a career, from my Childhood I loved to read books and more than that I love writing. But when I was in school, I wanted to be a commercial pilot so I opted for PCM in my 11^th Class, and this was the biggest mistake of my life. Somehow, I managed to pass in All 3 of them in My 12^th Boards, now I was pretty much clear that I am not going into science field. So, I have 2 options left either I go for Journalism or for Law, the eagerness to write and edit & Interpret led to opt me for law as a career.”

4)Many Students become depressed and feel that they cannot become successful lawyers if they won’t enter into a top law school. What’s your take on it? What would you say to students who have this mindset?

Manvee-” This is a most common misconception among the CLAT aspirants, that if I am unable to make it into Top 5 NLU’s I can’t be successful lawyer in my life. I won’t deny with the fact that being in top 5 NLU’s will help you to fetch internships at good places, but there are always If’s and But’s, Students do not know that for fetching internships at tier – 1 law firms or under the to notch advocates chambers, one needs to be in top 10% of their batch and moreover, they have to be all rounders like they need to achieve in moots, paper presentations, publications at reputed journals, etc.

So, if someone is mediocre student and is not in top 10% of their batch then they can work on their skillset and CV building, they can get internships easily by compensation marks over skills. And in my opinion getting into top NLU’s or even in any of the NLU’s doesn’t guarantee you that you will be successful lawyer. All that will matter is your consistency and hardwork that you did in your Law School, Initially it will be difficult to get internship in tier 1 law firms or even in tier 2 firms, but if your CV is exceptional and you are ready to put your 100% efforts then you are getting internship or job in reputed law firms, no matter what law school you studied be it private or government.”

5)Few students have a doubt in mind that whether they should take a drop for the entrance exam or not. Some students feel that drop isn’t worth for law while some feel that they should give another year for it. What would you tell to the students who are confused about whether they should take a drop or not? Do you think a drop year is worth it?

Manvee-” No, I would never recommend anyone to take drop for exam like CLAT, we have time an again seen the hypocrisy of clat consortium, so we cannot trust them more, they tell something do something. I have covered in one of my Blog CLAT – The Exam of Elite, I would suggest every CLAT taker who is thinking of drop year, should not take a drop for the exam like clat.

I would like to ask people who are thinking of dropping a year just tell me one thing taking a drop year will give you guarantee that you will get NLU’s in that attempt or not?

If the answer for you is yes then go for the drop, if the answer for this question is No, then take admission in some law college after a thorough research. For the exams like CLAT 7-8 months rigours preparation is sufficient for cracking the exam, I realised very late that taking a Drop year was never justified for the aptitude based exam, if you want to drop a year then write Judicial Service exam or UPSC, that will require a drop for sure! I have seen people taking double drop and not getting NLU’s. What’s the benefit of double drop then? So never drop for CLAT-UG atleast.

Law Profession demands work experience, the earlier you get into practise the chances are more of getting success increases. I am 1^st generation lawyer from my family, no one was there to guide me, if the things which I knew today someone told me when I passed out my 12^th immediately, then I would never took the drop for CLAT in 2019 and took admission in the same year in 2018 and I would have been in 3^rd year now.”

6)Many students have a fear that since they belong to a particular stream (For example- Humanities) they won’t be able to crack the law entrance exam (for example CLAT) because they didn’t had maths as a subject in their intermediate. Is it true that if you belong to stream which doesn’t have a particular subject then they won’t be able to crack the exam? Do you think such students have a disadvantage compared to others?

Manvee-” It’s a myth my friend! “that I belong to XYZ stream I can’t crack CLAT”, Honestly speaking any person with good comprehension skill, critical thinking and aptitude can crack CLAT. Only thing that matters is how early you start and in a planned manner. In CLAT they don’t ask Calculus, Trigonometry and all. In fact, now Maths has been replaced with Data Interpretation which I thing is pretty much awesome decision. For D.I one needs to have grip over the maths upto Class 8-10, that’s it! Most of the CLAT takers think that I can clear CLAT by leaving the Maths Section! The biggest mistake everyone does, I did the same in year 2019 and as a result I couldn’t qualify the exam, but for CLAT 2020 I attempted 4 questions out of which 3 got right and gave a boost to my rank and I cleared the exam.

Maths is the only section which can get you NLU or get out of the NLU race, what I felt in my CLAT journey. A gap of 0.25 marks can lead to difference in 250-500 ranks, so just think a gap of 1 mark can make you 2000-3000 rank up or down.

Never ever leave maths section in CLAT, atleast solve 1-2 sums, out of 15 sums 5-7 sums are always doable.

One thing I have observed, people from maths background have an edge over the other only in maths section, the actual clat aspirants are 7000-12000 who prepare diligently, but we see around 60,000 – 70,000 people write CLAT, then who are these people, these people are who do not get selected in JEE & NEET, so they think let’s write CLAT and get into NLU’s and once they enter into NLU’s they are unable to cope – up the pressure of workload and I have seen many people like these leaving the college midway, but what about that seat they wasted for one deserving aspirant who couldn’t get because of them. Just because they have an edge in maths so they get seat in NLU’s most of the time.

Get a survey done of people in NLU’s you will find most of them were never concerned about law as a profession at their first place, these people after passing out just increase the crowd and deserving candidate’s get the job late because of them.”

7)There are many students who are very weak in English because they come from a Hindi medium school. Many students who are from English medium school also have a fear since they feel they have poor vocabulary or poor readings skills. Due to poor vocabulary/reading skills they feel that they won’t be able to crack the law entrance exam. Similarly, many students are worried about maths as well. What’s your take on it? How can they prepare for English and maths?

Manvee-” See, these are the subjects that needs a lot of practise. One who is weak in vocab they need to start working on that immediately, I would recommend to do word power made easy because it contains root words which you can figure out easily in the passage of the CLAT exam. Reading of The Hindu Editorials is must for building vocabulary & new words. I personally used to make note of the difficult words from the editorial part and make my own sentences out of it, in this manner I got grasp over the new words and it benefitted me in the exam as well.

Coming to Maths, now the paper consists of Data Interpretation which requires the grasp over few topics Average, Percentage, Profit & Loss, Simple Interest, and Some part of geometry. Now I feel Maths section is easy for most of the aspirants compared to earlier one.

Practise, Practise, Practise is the key to get hands over these subjects. The more you practise the better you get the understanding of the concept.”

8)Students often get confused during 12th standard that whether they should focus on boards or law entrance exam? What’s your take on it and what would you say to the students?

Manvee-” It depends what are their priorities, I have my friend who gave priority to their 12^th Boards and then they took 1-2 drop for CLAT & I have those Juniors also who cleared CLAT with their boards. It all depends what you want at 1^st place.

If You don’t want to take drop then start focussing on CLAT from your class 11^th Only, make sure you get atleast 60-70% in your boards, that is more than sufficient & if You are struggling to pass in class 11-12^th then I would recommend you to focus on your boards 1^st because if you do not clear that, you won’t be eligible to get a seat in NLU even if You clear the CLAT exam.”

9)Do you think class 10 and 12^th marks are really important to enter into a top law school or to get a good job?

Manvee-” Not at all! Your Class 10^th certificate is only for your date of birth verification and CLAT required only 50% in 12^th Boards. And I never believe in this theory that If you are topper or score good in boards then only you can clear the examination or become a successful lawyer, Having Good marks will give an extra edge to you but that doesn’t means you will be a good lawyer or not in your life. All that matters is your consistency and hardwork that you put up throughout your law school & Post Law school.”

10)There are many students who decided to pursue law very late (For example: after boards) so, they didn’t get much time to prepare for the exam. More than any other subject, they are most worried about current affairs questions as they haven’t kept track of it. What would be your advice to them? How can they prepare for current affairs? What was your strategy?

Manvee-” I am one of them who decided to pursue law after my Boards result was out, I was struggling between Journalism & Law, end of the day I decided to go for Law.

See! Current Affairs is something which you cannot complete in 1 month or in a Crash course if you haven’t studied that whole year, current affairs need time and one needs to memorize that.

Current Affairs was always my favourite & strongest section in CLAT. I always used to get highest marks in mocks and in CLAT exam as well in Current Affairs section.

See, I have learnt from my mistakes only what I did in my drop year that in 2018 for CLAT 2019 and still unable to clear that, those mistakes I didn’t repeat in my CLAT 2020 preparation which I was doing simultaneously with my Law School.

I am writing down my mistakes which I did when I took a drop year –

• Not Reading the newspaper on daily basis
• Not preparing the notes for current affairs
• Just reading one liners MCQ’s from Compendiums
• Not doing comprehensive study for the important topics
• Not doing research for important topics
• Never analysed mocks properly
• Not doing the revision diligently.

My Preparation strategy for CLAT 2020 (G.K Section) when I was preparing while studying in Law School –

• Reading Newspaper on Daily Basis
• Preparing daily G.K Notes & revising them diligently
• Did my own research for Important events & made notes out of them (Texts & Videos)
• I used Compendiums only as a reference not for the main prep.
• Attempted & Analysed Mocks seriously.
• Moreover, I made notes from The Hindu & The Indian Express and connected that with past happenings of that events which I prepared notes.

So, these were the learnings from my own mistakes which I did in my drop year & trust me it works most of the time. So, if one has right mentor with them then they can clear the exam without coaching & when I am telling this then I assume that the student has basics knowledge of the exam patterns and has solved past year paper and some questions as well.”

11)When we talk about entrance exams there is always a question in the mind of students that how much time they should devote for preparation of law entrance exam in a day What would you say to the students regarding this?

Manvee-” The answer for this is pretty much simple, as I mentioned earlier it depends upon the priority of the person to person –

For 12^th Boards Students

• Make a Schedule and Set targets for your prep.
• On an average 4-6 hrs daily for 1 years along with attempting regular mocks & analysing them thoroughly.
• Try to maintain a balance between your Boards & CLAT, trust me its possible, it only depends on your willingness & willpower.
• You should be clear with your strategy before starting your preparation.

For Students who are in Law School

• Make a Schedule and Set targets for your prep.
• Spend around 5-6 hours daily for 6-10 months on your prep along with attempting mocks on regular basis & analysing them.
• Read as much law subjects as you can, Legal Section will be much easy for you because paper is comprehension based now, all you need to interpret that.
• Be aware with the Daily News and Important topics for G.K sections.
• You should be clear with your strategy before starting your preparation.
• The CLAT preparation will be toughest phase of your life when you will require to maintain a balance between your law school & CLAT prep, but it is possible.

I am pretty well aware of the mistakes that most of the CLAT Aspirants does, that’s why within a month (around May 2021) I am coming with my another venture CLAT EASY, which is a part of LL.B Mania, where we will be helping the CLAT Aspirants in their preparation & mentorship and all, everything free of cost. Because I Know not everyone can afford coaching, but everyone needs guidance for their preparation.”

ABOUT AKRITI SHIKHA

Akriti Shikha is a law graduate from Symbiosis Law School, Pune and has been extensively working in the field of Dispute Resolution. She has interned at various top tier law firms in India such as Khaitan & Co., Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, AZB & Partners, Nishith Desai Associates and many more. She began her career with L&L Partners, Mumbai, in 2018.  Her primary practice area is dispute resolution (litigation). She has represented the firm’s clients across fora, which involved appearing in and arguing matters before Courts and Tribunals, research, drafting and drawing up pleadings, submissions, notices, briefing and assisting Senior Counsels. She is currently an Associate at HSA Advocates, Mumbai.

5 MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS BY LAW STUDENTS:

1)Grades are important because the goal of grading is to evaluate individual students’ learning and performance. But some say that grades are not always a reliable measure for evaluating. What do you think the role of grades/CGPA is in a law student’s career? Up to what extent does a grade received in college matter? What would you say to students who haven’t been able to get good grades/CGPA in college as many students fear that due to bad grades/CGPA they won’t be able to get jobs in top law firms or companies?

Akriti Shikha-“ There is no doubt that law school grades are important and play a vital role when recruiters (especially law firms) consider while offering an individual a job after earning their law degree. I think the grades are an initial evidence to judge an individual as a potential candidate and are used to screen through candidates and decide which students to interview. However, not getting good grades does not mean that one will not succeed in their legal career. Internship/ work experience, soft skills, networking, interview session and other factors are just as critical as grades are to one’s career. For some students, good grades will assist them in their pursuits, whereas for others, networking/ other factors will be the skeleton key. However, a well-rounded CV will get their feet in the door, both in law firms as well as companies.”

2)Students are often confused about what a good CV looks like which can attract the attention of employers. You must have changed and updated your CV/Resume many times in your career and you must have even seen many CV/Resumes of students as well. What according to you is an ideal CV? How do you think one should go about writing a CV when one is applying for a job?

Akriti Shikha-“ CV is a short account that you provide on who you are, what you did, and what you plan on doing for your career. Having a strong CV will get you noticed by the recruiters and help you to seek the interview you deserve. There is no such ideal CV that works for all, but an attempt should be made to answer, ‘Why should we hire you?’ and that you are perfect fit for the position. One should take utmost care while preparing the CV since that would create the first impression on the recruiters. Certain suggestions to create an interview-winning CV are:

• The CV should be 2 pages long (maximum).
• It should highlight your educational and additional qualifications, internships experience, academic achievements, moots participation, publications, and extra-curricular activities.
• Avoid providing too much personal information.
• Do not forget to run a spell check on your CV and make sure the formatting is uniform throughout. “

3)Today most of the law students are shifting towards cooperate sector because of the big salary they would get initially. There is a notion among the law students that if you join a law firm or a company you will earn money faster than if you choose to work under a senior advocate in a court. What are your thoughts on the same? And what would you tell all those students?

Akriti Shikha-“ The question on whether to work with a law firm or in a company or under a senior advocate would depend on the individual’s area of interest and their career objectives. Each one has its own merits and requires a slightly different skillset. The notion of having a big pay-check may seem alluring to many initially, however, what is important is that the work must give you a sense of professional and personal fulfilment. One eventually realises that challenging work, work culture, collaborative environment, some creative perks etc. are relevant considerations for you to stick around.

For a lawyer who just started his career in litigation, carving out space for him as a litigating lawyer can be tough due to the fact that for beginners, the earning is extremely low. But for ones who are truly passionate about it, you never know, you may become a great future counsel in the country! For the ones who seek to work in a law firm or a company, the pay packages are comparatively enormous, but the question remains on whether you would like to work in the office which may demand fourteen-to-sixteen-hour workdays, six to seven days a week, in the long run. In the end, the aim should be to get the success that you truly deserve, and each person has to discern what is their definition of success, and then understand the skills you need to achieve it. Some people define it in terms of money and the car that you drive, while others define it in terms of the respect you get from the bar and the bench, and there are numerous other criteria you could posit. “

4)In Law school there is a perception that the more the number of internships the better. Is it true? And many students feel that most of their friends get internships because of contacts and not merit due to which the students who truly deserve miss out. What would you say to them?

Akriti Shikha-“ I think that the ‘depth matters more than the width’. The quality of the legal internships benefits the students in multifarious ways and would be more meaningful than the number of internships undertaken by them. It is the lessons you learn during the internship that makes the difference.

Building contacts and networking is definitely a great way to land internships. To know who truly ‘deserves’ is a debatable question and whether you get the internship on merit or through reference, either ways, you need to simply work hard during the internship period, depending on which you may be offered a pre-placement offer. “

5)What according to you is the most important life/career lesson you learned which every law student should know?

Akriti Shikha -“ There is not just one important life/career lesson, but a few:

• Figure out what you want to do in your career and, if possible, plan your every move around it.
• Work hard but play hard too.
• Choose your career wisely. If you love what you do, you will do it well and effectively.
• You always pass failure on your way to success.
• Keep reading and stay updated with the current news and events. You never know when it might come to your aid, after all, a lawyer is required to think on his feet.”

ABOUT ANANT GUPTA

Anant graduated from National Law University Odisha in 2016. Throughout his 5 years of law school, Anant remained an active mooter with a considerable number of achievements to his name. His team was adjudged as the “Runners Up” at the NUJS Herbert Smith Corporate Law Moot.

He worked with the Banking Law team of Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. for 2 years and also gained business certifications from Harvard Business School. After which he realized that entrepreneurship is better-suited to his interests and skills. He took a leap of faith and founded 2 startups – Memo Pundits, the ed-tech startup, and Infinite Detours, a high-end trekking startup for travelers across the world.

Memo Pundits is India’s first Mooting School for law students, founded in 2014 by Anant Gupta and Rachnendra Tripathi. It is a unique platform which imparts knowledge in the field of mooting. What sets it apart is its teaching methodology, which is far from traditional Indian online courses. All online courses are based on the Harvard University’s “Active Learning” model, which makes sure that learning is always fun!

Having conducted over 70 webinars, Anant’s vision is to reach all in need of guidance. He is also the recipient of an Under 30 National Award for being an inspiring entrepreneur in the ed0tech industry.

TOP 5 Questions that are most frequently asked by law students

1) Grades are important because the goal of grading is to evaluate individual students’ learning and performance. But some say that grades are not always a reliable measure for evaluating. What do you think the role of grade/CGPA in a law student’s career? Up to what extent does a grade got in college matter? What would you say to students who haven’t been able to get good grades/CGPA in college as many students fear that due to bad grades/CGPA they won’t be able to get jobs in top law firms or companies?

Anant Gupta- ” In most scenarios, the importance of grades come from the fact that it is one of the quickest yet uncomplicated yardsticks to evaluate a candidate within minutes. However, grades are relevant the most while applying for the first job. The majority of good lawyers no longer know or care about their grades. Clients and employers judge lawyers mainly by the work they do and the outcomes they show.  It can be a plus going to IV leagues or a top NLU, or being a gold medallist in the batch, but it has no bearing on job or clients.

So, if someone applied for a scholarship to study at a prestigious foreign law school, grades could be significant, but only when applying for the first job; after that, it’s all about the lawyer’s efficiency. Employers usually assess applicants by assigning trial assignments, analysing connections and recommendations, and assessing the quality of work performed before making a hiring decision. This how they guess the potential of a typical candidate. So even if they do a mistake and hire someone who is undeserving, they get fire within a few months as it is fairly easy for them to spot the unskilled.

As a result, more often than not, people with low grades routinely outperform others simply on the basis of their abilities and track record. If a student has not earned a satisfactory score, they should commit more time and effort to learning practical skills through internships, preferably long-term ones. Many law firms take in law students with low grades, train them in skills, and polish them up so that they can get decent jobs. So correctly prioritize.”

2)Many students normally have a fear that since they are 1st generation law students their journey would be more difficult than a student whose parents are lawyers. What is your take on it and what would you say to them?

Anant Gupta- ” In law school, a misguided first-generation lawyer faces a slew of challenges. Most of them now lack sufficient knowledge of how law as a practice maintains financial stability and sufficient profits. In certain cases, references are more important than hard work, particularly when there is no proper guidance, as every senior is not always accurate with their advice and suggestions. Furthermore, most applications go unanswered because they were submitted directly to HR divisions at law firms without any references, due to a lack of understanding of how the legal profession functions. The costs of attending law school, which are a financial burden for many students and their parents, are at the top of the list. To summarize, the most significant challenges are economical, academic, and social.

There are a few tactics to choose from at this stage. To begin, one must accept the challenges and mentally prepare to close the “readiness gap.” Students should not be afraid to go out and clear their questions through on-campus advising committees that guide students through various challenges. Students should make an effort to make a positive impression and receive letters of recommendation from places they interned or worked for. Always strive to work hard and smart. Avoiding trouble areas have never benefited anybody, so everyone can take the time to work it out while retaining discipline and respect. Then, for those who are experiencing financial problems, keeping an eye out for scholarships on and off campus should be a top priority. That job can be handled through diligent internet searches and career counselors. Also, before applying for a student loan, one should do extensive research into the whole process, from seeking professional advice to evaluating one’s own circumstances to making repayment plans. A lot of students mistake loans as an investment rather than a debt.

But, in the middle of it all, students must maintain their spirits and not be defeated or scared by the obstacles. All should be proud of all of their hard work and preparation that went into producing the results and networks that they did. Of course, mental health should be prioritized, and it’s normal to feel stressed and human, but no one should question or discredit their achievements. A lot of people have made it, others will too.  “

3)Today most of the law students are shifting towards cooperate sector because of the big salary they would get initially. There is a notion among the law students that if you join a law firm or a company you will earn money faster than if you choose to work under a senior advocate in a court. What are your thoughts on the same? And what would you tell all those students?

Anant Gupta- ” A law degree can lead to a variety of careers, including science, education, government jobs, banking, and finance, among others. The legal profession is divided into two major categories: corporate law and litigation. Making a decision between these two practice areas is crucial because it will have a significant effect on the future. Most people make this decision before enrolling in law school, but students should still keep the possibility of revaluation in mind.

Litigation is a field where you can test your abilities in order to gain notoriety. It gives you a large sum of money, but only after a few years of proper establishment. It gives individuals the freedom to make their own decisions, such as who they work with, how much they charge, and what area they practice in. There’s something exciting about solving practical problems, and it also gives them a lot of admiration. Furthermore, since litigators operate all year, their compensation is unaffected by economic fluctuations. However, the profession’s biggest drawback is its sluggish speed. Litigators who are only starting out are underpaid, have a difficult time finding clients, work as hard as they can when looking for work, persuade clients, and deal with a lot of rudeness and irritating phone calls.

Now in case of working in a law firm, a lawyer directly enters into a clear, strong, and unified company culture who have a well-established business that gives a hefty sum of money straight from the beginning. Therefore, all the work in building a place for oneself is not required. In corporate there is also a stability and assurance of job, which is basically fixed if one keeps working well. Now, when a lawyer works in a law firm, he or she enters into a simple, solid, and cohesive company culture with a well-established business that pays a large amount of money right away. As a consequence, no effort in constructing a place for oneself is needed. There is also job security and stability in the business sector, which is practically guaranteed if one performs well. Their work is often influenced by the state of the economy, as job availability is decreased when the economy is poor. There is also less communication with colleagues due to all the formal work.

Hence, both have their own pros and cons to deal with. Furthermore, there are middle-ground options such as general commercial litigation, which includes almost any form of business dispute, including breach of contract, relationship conflicts, business torts, and so on. At the end of the day, it’s just about asking oneself the right questions and getting truthful answers about what they are capable of, they you want to do, and what is the core reason behind these choices as certain practice areas attract certain personalities. So, everyone needs to assess themselves, their interest, qualification, work-ethic, and mindset before setting a goal and start working on it.”

4)In Law school there is a perception that the more the number of internships the better. Is it true? And many students feel that most of their friends get internships because of contacts and not merit due to which the students who truly deserve miss out. What would you say to them?

Anant Gupta- ” A law school internship is key for several reasons keeping aside the general expectation and BCI’ regulations. It aids the process of building on one’s existing knowledge and converting it to practical skills through extensive training and practice by being put into real situations with real clients. It facilitates education while growing the chances of landing a good job later.

Students in their early semesters are encouraged to do simple internships , even if they can pull-off a big one through connections, as it would be redundant due to a lack of legal expertise. So students mostly go for  internship with a non-profit organization and an internship with a trial court. NGO internships highlight how law can make a difference in the lives of the poor, and they are often the only option available because large firms do not accept students in their first or second years. A trial court internship offers a more realistic image of legal practice and teaches the essential skills required to be a successful lawyer. Also, small firms do take in such students often which gives them their first corporate work experience. The focus should be on exploring various fields of law, careers, and work settings in short periods to get a taste.

After that comes the time to narrow down focus and make selective and strategic choices to suit one’s goal. But even if a student is confused at this point, no need to lose it. There are plenty people who have broken norms and gotten into big firms without a lot of internships or have joined their dream law firm only to quite in months. But that is not an excuse to slack off. After that, it’s time to narrow one’s focus and make strategic and selective decisions in order to achieve one’s target. However, even if a student is puzzled at this stage, there is no need to stress excessively. Many people have defied the odds and gotten into major law firms without doing several internships, and there are also individuals who have entered their dream law firm only to leave after a few months. So, the strategy goes like this; explore then invest (work, energy, and time). This does not equate to the highest number of internships, but rather to their quality. The argument is that making concerted effort over a five-year period, doing the work rather than overthinking, getting uncomfortable with oneself, and making wise decisions should be good enough.”

5)During 12th standard, students come under this enormous pressure to crack entrance tests to get into top-tier law schools of the country but as we all know that due to limited seats everyone cannot get into it. What would you say to students who couldn’t make their way to the top law schools?

Anant Gupta- ” My first response here will be that in the long-run, it really does not affect one’s career. There is no doubt that NLUs have become the most influential movement and a major step forward in the development of legal education in India, bringing supreme infrastructure, ambition, global outlook, outreach, glamour, and, of course, recruitment. These advantages cannot be denied. But most of it is true only for the top 5-6 NLUs. The secret is that any law student can adopt the NLU model by implementing those concepts to their own lives, and embark on a journey to becoming an exceptional lawyer. I have seen such results myself while training both NLU and non-NLU students through Memo Pundits.

There are a few thresholds that a law school should pass to realistically better their performance. If campus recruiting is taking place and people are being recruited, the issue will be solved to a large degree. Despite the fact that some major Indian law firms take pride in recruiting from top law schools and batch toppers, several other recruiters also welcome students who intern for a long time with them. An ambitious environment is non-negotiable. Law schools, where students are highly competitive and function in a close-knit fraternity on a small campus, lift their standards of themselves to the point where they go out of their way to accomplish the things they are intend on accomplishing, such as internships, jobs, moots, as well as other activities. People are often jolted out of their stupor while they are in a competitive environment.

Another substantial factor is the exposure provided; through extremely esteemed individuals teaching, taking webinars, and interacting with students in institutions. There is also the factor of institutional memory at work which stresses on recruitment driven campus culture focused on mentoring, internships, deliberate branding, strong student bodies, events and recruitment committees, strengthening the community bonds and, as a result, success.

So, if a law school is providing all these goodies, then there is no need to search for the NLU batch. And above all, anyone can rise from any place, it’s all a matter of work, luck, and networking!”

About Sofia Bhambri

She is Managing Partner (Advocate) at S.Bhambri & Associates, Delhi. Her Boutique Law Firm was started by Mr. N.K Bhambri in the year 2011. The Primary focus was on Family Law as well as Matrimonial Law Practise. Since, then the growth has been magnanimous and now they are proud to be associated with several of our associates. They particularly deal with Matrimonial Disputes, Recovery of Money Suits, Trademark and Copyright Registration & Prosecution, Labour/Employment Laws and Compliances, Consumer Cases, Criminal Cases, DRT Matters, School Tribunal Cases, Senior Citizens Tribunal too. She as a Managing Partner, has litigation experience of 7 years in various Courts of our country such as various High Courts, District Courts, Tribunals and Forums.

She was empanelled as AMICUS CURIAE with National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, New Delhi. She was empanelled as Legal Aid Counsel with Delhi Legal Services Authority, West, New Delhi.

She is the Honorary Member of Advisory Board at Lecit Elite, a Legal Startup aimed at spreading awareness and aiding law students since the year, 2020. She is the founder of Initiative Raahat aimed at providing legal guidance to women in distress in particular. 

TOP 6 Questions that are most frequently asked by law students

1)Grades are important because the goal of grading is to evaluate individual students’ learning and performance. But some say that grades are not always a reliable measure for evaluating. What do you think the role of grades/CGPA is in a law student’s career? Up to what extent does a grade received in college matter? What would you say to students who haven’t been able to get good grades/CGPA in college as many students fear that due to bad grades/CGPA they won’t be able to get jobs in top law firms or companies?

Sofia Bhambri-” As far as grades are concerned, they do not have that much effect, while a law graduate’s profile is being scrutinized for hiring purpose. As practical internship experience is considered. However, it does not mean that a law student must turn a blind eye towards his or her grades completely. It is quite alright that you may be an average student, however, if you have loads of practical internship experience matching with the job description then, it is likely that you would be hired.  I would like to add that if, a law student is striving to pursue his or her Masters Degree from outside India, then, the grades or percentage must mandatorily be above average, as the foreign Universities consider good grades prior to issuing admission offer to a student.”

2)Students are often confused about what a good CV looks like which can attract the attention of employers. Many students even pay some organisations to make a good CV for them. You must have changed and updated your CV/Resume many times in your career and you must have even seen many CV/Resumes of students as well. What according to you is an ideal CV? And what is the difference between a rejected CV and an accepted CV? In simple words, what according to you does an employer try to look for in a CV?

Sofia Bhambri-” Well, if you are freshly enrolled lawyer then your CV must include all of your internship experiences in chronological order, beginning from new to old ones. Your CV must be framed in your own language, the internship experiences more or less must match with the job description for which you are applying for. One must tailor the CVs according the requirements and the job profile for which one is applying for. Law students must refrain from making grammatical errors in their CV, as well as must not resort to getting their CVs drafted by some other person. If a law student does not know his or her strengths then how can someone else know it. They must instill confidence in themselves and must not be swayed by anyone who lures them by saying that a CV must be framed by a professional.”

3)Many students normally have a fear that since they are 1st generation law students their journey would be more difficult than a student whose parents are lawyers. What is your take on it and what would you say to them?

Sofia Bhambri-” Even if a law student is going to be a First Generation Lawyer, it is my belief that our legal profession absorbs those, who are willing to invest majority of their time in gaining experience related to his or her area of interest. Yes, it is true to some extent that second generation lawyers get a readymade platform, such as an office, already existing clientele, however, even they have to make efforts in order to gain confidence of the clients, as your name alone won’t suffice if you are not putting effort and time to build your own rapport with your clients, colleagues, seniors etc.”

4)Today most of the law students are shifting towards corporate sector because of the big salary they would get initially. There is a notion among the law students that if you join a law firm or a company you will earn money faster than if you choose to work under a senior advocate in a court. What are your thoughts on the same? And what would you tell all those students?

Sofia Bhambri-” While, choosing to work in corporate sector or otherwise is solely a lawyer’s discretion, however, the notion that money can be made faster if one chooses to work in a company or a law firm is completely false, as people forget that in a company or a law firm one gets limited salary, and while one is gaining experience and learning tricks of the trade under an advocate in his or her junior-ship, they are laying groundwork for setting up their practice in future. In  beginning, a junior may not get handsome amount of money, however, once you have invested around five years in litigation practice, then sky is the limit for you to earn, you can surpass those who are working in corporates or in law firms on salary basis. One of the best thing about litigation practice is that you are not answerable to your boss, you are your own boss, you make your own rules.”

5)In Law school there is a perception that the more the number of internships the better. Is it true? And many students feel that most of their friends get internships because of contacts and not merit due to which the students who truly deserve miss out. What would you say to them?

Sofia Bhambri-” The quality of experience one gains in an internship matters not the quantity, if you have not been able to gather practical experience during your internships then internships will be of no value addition to your CV. Furthermore, the issue with law students is that all of them want to intern at a Tier-1 law firm, they are focusing on big names, however, they ought to keep in mind that they can learn a lot from small law chambers too. When a law student can focus on learning rather than concentrating on getting internships, in places where already there is a rush, then things would start to unravel in their favour. They must not in any circumstance fall prey, to herd mentality prevalent in their batch.”

6)During 12th standard, students come under this enormous pressure to crack entrance tests to get into top-tier law schools of the country but as we all know that due to limited seats everyone cannot get into it. What would you say to students who couldn’t make their way to the top law schools?

Sofia Bhambri-” I will answer this question in straight words, well how does it matter? If one does not get into top law schools, you can pursue law from any University or Law College and still do wonders in your career. Legal profession is all about practical skills  it has less to do with the academics, while one is pursuing law. If a law student can put consistent effort into his or her work, that is to gain practical skills then, I don’t think anything can stop that person from achieving great heights.”

ABOUT ADARSH SOMANI

Adarsh Somani is an Partner at ELP and part of firm’s tax practice. He is a Chartered Accountant and a law graduate from University of Rajasthan.

Adarsh assists several multinational and domestic companies in deploying tax efficient value chains in business. He has now been servicing clients for more than a decade. Adarsh inter-alia extensively focusses on Goods and Services Tax matters and tax policy issues. Adarsh’s skill sets also include contract structuring, negotiations as well as transaction advisory from a tax perspective.

Major industries for Adarsh include Pharma & FMCG, Financial Services, and retail businesses.

He is a regular speaker at tax conferences and conventions and has also co-contributed a paper on ‘Valuation and Classification under GST’ for ICAI in past. He regularly writes columns for various online and offline publications.

Prior to joining ELP, Adarsh has worked at BMR Advisors and Ernst & Young.

TOP 10 Questions that are most frequently asked by law students

1)Grades are important because the goal of grading is to evaluate individual students’ learning and performance. But some say that grades are not always a reliable measure for evaluating. What do you think the role of grades/CGPA is in a law student’s career? Up to what extent does a grade received in college matter? What would you say to students who haven’t been able to get good grades/CGPA in college as many students fear that due to bad grades/CGPA they won’t be able to get jobs in top law firms or companies?

Adarsh Somani –” Grades aren’t the only thing important to say the least.  Grades, in my view, are a function of what you deliver on a given day, which could be a virtuous day or a tumultuous day.  The same, therefore, is no assessment of what you are on all other remaining days i.e. what your consistency is all about. 

Grades may, in a best-case scenario, aid placements but consider the fact that the A-listers also go through a rigorous process for assessment of ability, aptitude and attitude before being handed over a job. This followed by a periodic assessment of what they do on the job, which does not consider the academic grades at all. Accordingly, rate the relevance of grades yourself.

Legal profession requires academic risk taking, creativity and value conservation as well as addition.  One who succeeds in all these aspects is one who ends his career on a high.  That’s what the objective should be, commencing howsoever but definitely ending on a high.

And the good news getting even better; have seen the pattern of recruitments changing over past few years, where shortlisting of candidates is done basis several neutral parameters and grades do not constitute a significant part thereof.”

2)Students are often confused about what a good CV looks like which can attract the attention of employers. Many students even pay some organisations to make a good CV for them. You must have changed and updated your CV/Resume many times in your career and you must have even seen many CV/Resumes of students as well. What according to you is an ideal CV? And what is the difference between a rejected CV and an accepted CV? In simple words, what according to you does an employer try to look for in a CV? 

Adarsh Somani – ” My personal liking is something which is minimal and clear.  Always do include a personalized vision  statement in your CV, some recruitments happen only on basis of whether your goals are aligned to that of the potential employer.”

3)Today most of the law students are shifting towards corporate sector because of the big salary they would get initially. There is a notion among the law students that if you join a law firm or a company you will earn money faster than if you choose to work under a senior advocate in a court. What are your thoughts on the same? And what would you tell all those students?

Adarsh Somani -” This would be a question of what your career goals are?  Everyone in long run make the money they deserve to make so such short-sightedness is best avoided.  Every place, every person teaches you something, what would you relish in long run is something you should be clear about.”

4)In Law school there is a perception that the more the number of internships the better. Is it true? And many students feel that most of their friends get internships because of contacts and not merit due to which the students who truly deserve miss out. What would you say to them?

Adarsh Somani -” Having contacts and network is also a merit point (in some sense), so you focus on your strengths & merit points.  Emphasize on how can you increase your merit points, an illustrative way could be being a social media influencer regarding laws & legal profession, etc.”

5)During 12th standard, students come under this enormous pressure to crack entrance tests to get into top-tier law schools of the country but as we all know that due to limited seats everyone cannot get into it. What would you say to students who couldn’t make their way to the top law schools?

Adarsh Somani -” Am reacting through just one question, does everyone from top law school comes out with equal capabilities and achieve same highs? 

As a child, I remember that we were told that you focus on learning the skill and not location of your classroom or who your teacher is?  No one can teach you what you do not want to learn and no one can deny you what you want to learn.”

6)When you enter into law school there is a perception that you need to do moots and win moot competitions so that you can be a good lawyer in the future. Is it true? What would you tell the students regarding this, especially to students who haven’t or don’t want to participate in moots?

Adarsh Somani -” We may be talking about court craft here I assume.  The essential point being that each practice shall tune you up as a professional.  Use the opportunities to learn first-hand, by observation and basis the feedback you get. Winning is no more than cherry on the cake and it’s the cake that could be sold not the cherry on it.”

7)Nowadays there are enormous online courses present on the internet which are being sold. It is high time that Law schools should start analysing their syllabus/course structure so that students who are already paying law school fees, don’t need to additionally buy these online courses. What do you think? What would be your suggestions to Law schools?

Adarsh Somani – “The curriculum designed by law schools is typically to give students an exposure and flavour  of a variety of law, legal issues and litigation styles.  Law is all things art and hence, no curriculum would be perfect.  As students we should anxiously off take all that is being taught.

The online modules, paid or otherwise, seek to impart knowledge on a specific subject.  You should at best see this as another variety that one can learn rather than making case of FOMO.”

8)What do you think is the key difference between a student who is selected by a top-tier law firm/lawyer and a student who is rejected? What would be your advice to the students who are getting rejected again and again, with respect to what their focus should be on?

Adarsh Somani -” The student rejected has a goal to look up to, (s)he has the motivation & reason to work harder & smarter, (s)he will get the practical opportunities much faster, (s)he should, therefore, be thankful for the rejection as it landed her/ him an ocean to deal with & become wiser unlike those, who got selected are likely to deal with a small pool in a stereotype manner.

The suggestion for students, who get rejected by so called top-firms is to ensure that take up a job with anyone who has the willingness to help them learn.  It is an age old saying that not everyone gets the best product in the market and not everyone, who gets the best product may be happy with it. So do not envy your peers getting a fancy job, as even they may not know what are they even subscribing to!”

9)Students nowadays are very confused regarding the area of law they should choose. Even if they know their area of interest, they are getting confused on which one to choose because nowadays there is immense competition in the market and due to the rise of technology it creates uncertainty about the future of certain jobs. What would you say to the students?

Adarsh Somani- “ No one, absolutely no one starts and ends his legal career doing the same paraphernalia. A start choice should be made on two clear parameters – area of interest and the resolve  that you’ll give more than your 100% to the chosen one.

People evolve as professionals over the span of their careers, learn new skills, transform & adapt to changing environments and eventually deal on basis of how strong their roots and capabilities to decode the law the are.  Reflect on the matter that a comma appears the same to one and all and yet not everyone interprets it at par.  Given this, do not fret over what you start with, you will have to evolve on the go. “

10)What according to you is the most important life/career lesson you learned which every law student should know?

Adarsh Somani – “ I have two key lessons to quote instead.  Failures, aren’t bad thing, its timing is.  When you fail young, you have more time for correction and that too with life lessons learnt.  Failing at later stage of your career could be high stake, high profile and difficult to deal with (especially, if you have not know for long of what it means to fail).  The lesson in reckoning being start experimenting when still young and see yourself evolving in a big way.  Remember time gone, will never come back.

The other lesson that has remained with me is that, you can’t travel in two boats together.  Define your priorities, and let everything else take backseat. Have never seen an honest effort failing, if you get what it means and also, have never seen the jack of multiple of trades mastering anything. Set your vision and focus on it like Arjuna did on the fish-eye.”

ABOUT HIMANJALI GAUTAM

Experienced Advocate with a demonstrated history of working in the law practice industry. Skilled in Litigation , Arbitration, Dispute Resolution, Contract Law, and Legal Writing. Strong legal professional with a Bachelor’s Degree focused in Law from Faculty of Law, University of Delhi. 

TOP 5 Questions that are most frequently asked by law students

1)Many students normally have a fear that since they are 1st generation law students their journey would be more difficult than a student whose parents are lawyers. What is your take on it and what would you say to them?

Himanjali Gautam-“Being a 1^st generation lawyer life has been personally challenging for me in the field of litigation but I have this thing in me which does not let me do things which are easy. I never ended up limiting my horizons and had to start everything from the scratch. You grow at a regular pace in the beginning, and as you grow and gain more experience, you get more clients and you get a bigger office and more staff, that’ll happen over the course of time. The first few years, I believe five years, require the most effort possible. The idea is to figure out what path suits best for you as a person. I didn’t really have a legal background or a mentor as such who I can grow under the shadow of, so for me the plan for going independent was to have one case at a time. The biggest confidence building act I’ve done is being independent from the beginning.

Try to get as much exposure as you could with due guidance and exposure by seniors during your internships. I believe that law has two important aspects to it, firstly is to be a smart, analytical person, one who can analyse problems and give solutions, and that’s a quality which is very inherent. You can sharpen it and hone it, but you can’t learn it per se, knowledge of law is something you can grow over time by learning and studying, but if you have that skill of analysis it works well with the knowledge of law.”

2)In Law school there is a perception that the more the number of internships the better. Is it true? And many students feel that most of their friends get internships because of contacts and not merit due to which the students who truly deserve miss out. What would you say to them?

Himanjali Gautam-” Indeed, it is always important to go out and explore as mere knowledge of law is not sufficient. I have this view that it is not the quantity but the quality of knowledge which determines the minds dignity. Contacts do help the individual with the exposure but as I myself provide internships my main focus lays upon the Cover letter of the students which helps me know their purpose and their will to learn and explore this magical field. You do get some exposure from internships as college lacks in providing you practical knowledge of the field and when I went independent, it gave me a great opportunity to grasp a lot of knowledge in a really short amount of time. It is very crucial that students make an internship a top priority as an individual can learn a lot from the people around them.

PS: Enjoy your internships and Don’t consider it as a burden on yourself.”

3)Students are often confused about what a good CV looks like which can attract the attention of employers. Many students even pay some organisations to make a good CV for them. You must have changed and updated your CV/Resume many times in your career and you must have even seen many CV/Resumes of students as well. What according to you is an ideal CV?

Himanjali Gautam-” Just be concise with your cover letter and refrain from inserting more paragraphs and don’t forget to insert your purpose of applying. For me an ideal CV is well formatted with attention- grabbing details.”

4)What do you think is the key difference between a student who is selected by a top-tier law firm/lawyer and a student who is rejected? What would be your advice to the students who are getting rejected again and again, with respect to what their focus should be on?

Himanjali Gautam-” Sometimes the best things come to us while we are waiting. Our profession works on word of mouth. It takes consistent efforts, honesty and hard work to build trust and reputation. One must not take rejections personally and Let go of being afraid of the word NO, as a NO now does not mean NO FOREVER. Whenever you hear a NO end up questioning what would it take you to reconsider.”

5)What according to you is the most important life/career lesson you learned which every law student should know?

Himanjali Gautam-” The most important lesson I learned was to be polite to everyone; You are more likeable when you show respect to People.”

ABOUT ABHISHEK SUBBAIAH

Abhishek Subbaiah graduated from the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru and began his career with India’s largest private sector banking institution – ICICI Bank, in 2013. Having had a chance to work with ICICI Bank’s in-house legal team in locations ranging from Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru and in a broad spectrum of teams managing everything from legal documentation and processes to special projects and litigation consultation, he still considers this foundation and foray into law to be his greatest strength in understanding business requirements and blending legal theory with practice.

In 2015, Abhishek began his practice as a full fledged legal practitioner with tier I law firms in Mumbai such as Khaitan & Co., Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas and J. Sagar Associates, with experience in Finance and Technology related portfolios and a specialisation in working with marquee clients such as Reliance Jio, Franklin Templeton and Goldman Sachs, to name a few. Rounding his experience off with a foray into India’s insolvency and bankruptcy regime and working closely with resolution professionals engaged in sectors ranging from manufacturing to industrial processing and logistics, he gained close to five years of in-depth experience as a go-to legal counsel with a strong focus on innovation and leadership in his role as a Senior Associate.

The year 2020 saw Abhishek’s return to his hometown Bengaluru and the inception of his firm Bridge Legal in a city that in his opinion holds ‘a lot of promise and potential to be the next Delaware’

TOP 12 Questions that are most frequently asked by law students

1)Grades are important because the goal of grading is to evaluate individual students’ learning and performance. But some say that grades are not always a reliable measure for evaluating. What do you think the role of grades/CGPA is in a law student’s career? Up to what extent does a grade received in college matter? What would you say to students who haven’t been able to get good grades/CGPA in college as many students fear that due to bad grades/CGPA they won’t be able to get jobs in top law firms or companies?

Abhishek Subbaiah-“Of course, the relevance of academic records depends on the hiring organisation – large scale firms obviously need a benchmark to evaluate multiple candidates and to say that grades are irrelevant at the start of one’s career would be a very incorrect statement to make.

The more of a chance one has to demonstrate one’s skill and expertise, the less relevant grades do become in a practical, non-academic scenario – for example, someone with good work experience who has exhibited a high level of performance will have such a background trump any academic record from years ago; I suppose one could apply this to internships as well, where one has a chance to prove their worth especially if contrasted against mediocre or simply bad grades.

What is a ‘top’ law firm? One that functions at high economies of scale and can afford to pay high salaries to freshers? If so, yes, grades matter unless one personally knows someone at said law firm that understands that the grades are not an apt reflection of the values needed (they usually do not have much time, though – the bigger the firm, the larger the number of applications). The best teams in law firms (any law firm) know how and when to look out for diamonds in the rough, though – the aim should be to prove this worth and work harder especially since grades won’t come to one’s rescue. Compensate and adapt – there are always more ways than one to reach a target goal.”

2)Students are often confused about what a good CV looks like which can attract the attention of employers. Many students even pay some organisations to make a good CV for them. You must have changed and updated your CV/Resume many times in your career and you must have even seen many CV/Resumes of students as well. What according to you is an ideal CV? And what is the difference between a rejected CV and an accepted CV? In simple words, what according to you does an employer try to look for in a CV? 

Abhishek Subbaiah-” Students are paying organisations to draft CVs now? I didn’t know this but that would seem to preclude a larger problem of communication (or lack thereof). In either case, seniors and peers from college are the best individuals to approach first – try and understand the differences between a CV for a law firm and one for an in-house position (they are very different) first. Try to access and read as many CVs as possible.

There is no ideal CV that works for any situation. The CV is a proposal, preferably for something specific, that reflects your experience and experiences that are relevant to the entity hiring. Clear and crisp, you can’t go wrong with a customised document highlighting your strengths and why you’re perfect for a role.

A rejected CV is one that is irrelevant to the job posting (meaning that the basic criteria is not met) and is either inaccurate or has language / drafting issues or both. Ask a senior or peer to have a look at your draft and take some inputs!”

3)Many students normally have a fear that since they are 1st generation law students their journey would be more difficult than a student whose parents are lawyers. What is your take on it and what would you say to them?

Abhishek Subbaiah-” I can only comment on the corporate law space – whether or not one is a first-generation lawyer or not is largely irrelevant. There are exceptions to every rule but I can say with confidence that what you do and what you become depends solely on you and not your surname. Maybe it can translate into more clients in the future, but at that stage a lot of other aspects become more important, such as how well you know and practice your law.”

4)Today most of the law students are shifting towards cooperate sector because of the big salary they would get initially. There is a notion among the law students that if you join a law firm or a company you will earn money faster than if you choose to work under a senior advocate in a court. What are your thoughts on the same? And what would you tell all those students?

Abhishek Subbaiah-” I haven’t worked under a senior advocate so I cannot comment on this. I should assume that each sector has its own pros and cons. As regards money, one can run a fact check in either case to understand which position pays how much.

To say that money is irrelevant is a very incorrect statement – I understand why the notion of a big paycheck seems attractive to many (I joined the corporate sector myself), but do keep in mind that it is really, really important to work on portfolios that one LIKES. I can’t stress this enough – those who work only for the money don’t usually do very good work and even when they do, it’s drudgery for them (combined with long work hours, that isn’t a good formula).”

5)In Law school there is a perception that the more the number of internships the better. Is it true? And many students feel that most of their friends get internships because of contacts and not merit due to which the students who truly deserve miss out. What would you say to them?

Abhishek Subbaiah-” I think the quality of the internships matter a lot more than the quantity. I’ve seen a lot of organisations choose interns on a lot more than just contacts (but it’s usually based on the next marker, grades) but no doubt contacts help. If you think you deserve an internship, try and find ways to prove it – draft a good cover letter, an apt CV and simply work hard to identify good people willing to identify talent. I know this is easier said than done, and I agree that it is a hard job and a very sad state of affairs generally. Firms and organisations also need to change (many have).”

6)During 12th standard, students come under this enormous pressure to crack entrance tests to get into top-tier law schools of the country but as we all know that due to limited seats everyone cannot get into it. What would you say to students who couldn’t make their way to the top law schools?

Abhishek Subbaiah-” I know a lot of great lawyers (and even interns, any level, really) from other law schools, all of whom have made it big and function at the highest echelons of performance. I don’t need to say any more.”

7)When you enter into law school there is a perception that you need to do moots and win moot competitions so that you can be a good lawyer in the future. Is it true? What would you tell the students regarding this, especially to students who haven’t or don’t want to participate in moots?

Abhishek Subbaiah-” I can’t answer this question – I didn’t really moot much in college. I’m sure it does help, from what I’ve limitedly experienced and generally seen. I wouldn’t deem it compulsory to enter the corporate space, though.”

8)Nowadays there are enormous online courses present on the internet which are being sold. It is high time that Law schools should start analysing their syllabus/course structure so that students who are already paying law school fees, don’t need to additionally buy these online courses. What do you think? What would be your suggestions to Law schools?

Abhishek Subbaiah-” Oh yes, there is always room to improve. The biggest lessons need to be imparted just before getting into law schools, actually –  so that onus is at a schooling level, first of all. Secondly, there’s always room for improvement in terms of making available better and more relevant courses and I’m sure every good law school is aware of this and trying to adapt (if not, they really should).

Suggestions from professionals have always been the same – structure and allow for a lot more extra seminar courses that allow practicing advocates and lawyers to disseminate their knowledge.”

9)What do you think is the key difference between a student who is selected by a top-tier law firm/lawyer and a student who is rejected? What would be your advice to the students who are getting rejected again and again, with respect to what their focus should be on?

Abhishek Subbaiah-” Focus on what’s not working out by identifying it, reevaluate your position and then adapt to the requirement, even if it means learning and working a lot harder than those who manage to get through. There’s no harm in taking other routes, either – conceptions of what is a ‘top’ job is very subjective and it really isn’t the only avenue open to become successful.”

10)Students nowadays are very confused regarding the area of law they should choose. Even if they know their area of interest, they are getting confused on which one to choose because nowadays there is immense competition in the market and due to the rise of technology it creates uncertainty about the future of certain jobs. What would you say to the students?

Abhishek Subbaiah-” Interest and passion needs to come first – the other parameters are largely irrelevant especially a couple of years into one’s career. If you like it, you’ll find a way to make it work. The world is a law student’s oyster – just pick aspects that you love to work on!”

11)What according to you is the most important life/career lesson you learned which every law student should know?

Abhishek Subbaiah-” Love what you do or you will never do what you love.”

12)Was there any life-changing moment in your career or is there something which someone told you and it got stuck in your head after which things started changing in your life? If yes, would you like to share with law students?

Abhishek Subbaiah-” Many things and acts, actually. I can’t go on record, though (smiles).”