i know right now not getting a job seems like the end of the world but 5 years later it wont matter at all. you're very very young and so much time to figure out what you want to do and its absolutely fine. trust me when i say this - it wont matter in the long run if you were unemployed for a bit

Who said you are a failure. the fact that you are in an NLU - is proof of your success. Getting a job has a few factors that align well. first the effort you take to reach the right people, networking and lastly a sprinkle of luck. connect with smaller firms, consider starting with litigation, - there are many options available. Power up your self and get out there. Good Luck

Adopt a dog. I had suicidal tendencies but now I cant because I have to care for the dog. Btw, I am very successful by any standard career wise, married and still the feeling does not go away. You need love, connection and a strong purpose in life, only that keeps me in line away from depression.

You will make it, just know the bad feeling eventually passes if you want it to.

I'm so sorry for what you're going through. It sounds like you have a proper depression coupled with a very rough jobs situation. Whatever you do, please don't do anything you can't undo.

But, you should know that jobs and careers first of all, should not and do not define you. You are more than just a job or exam you get at the end of your studies. And the legal jobs market is tough for a lot of people right now, so I'm sure you are not alone. Also, no one is a failure for not getting a legal or any job right now; often it is circumstances beyond our control.

And one day it might turn out to be a blessing in disguise that you didn't get the jobs you are focusing on right now, and you will discover something or someone or somewhere that will make you happy one day (even if you don't have the perspective to see that right now or the ability to look into the future, obviously).

Take it one day at a time, be kind to yourself, eat well and sleep well as much as you can, maybe go for walks or exercise to clear your head, or meditation or drawing or writing or reading fiction or comics or something else you enjoy, and think of some different options or other jobs: are you interested in the law, for instance, or do you have other careers that might also interest you?

Take some time out from the law job rat race for a week or two and find some perspective.

And perhaps consider opening up to someone in your family or some other acquaintance from home, who might understand the situation you are in and give you some support, even if you currently think they might not? Or some advisers in college, etc, perhaps? Or have you considered another therapist or a doctor who can prescribe you anti-depressants might help? It could just be the chemicals in your brain right now that are giving you an especially hard time with the stress you are under, and that does suck.

Wishing you all the very best, you are much less alone than you think you are!

Final year student from a T2 NLU; been trying for a job since two years but nothing’s working out. Writing competitive exams also, but I don’t think I’ll clear them. I feel like ▮▮▮ myself due to how ashamed I feel and how much of a failure I am, but at this rate I think I’ll die of stress before needing to do anything to myself. I’ve no friends, no family member I can talk to about this and therapy has been useless. I don’t know what more to do or how to be less depressed. I don’t even want to be happy anymore, I just want this failure of my life to be over.

[Moderator Note: if you are considering or having thoughts of self-harm, please consider asking for help or calling a help line, such as one of the following: https://findahelpline.com/countries/in/topics/suicidal-thoughts ]

Below is what the partner of curiam posted on the group during the end of march — these guys dont like to pay money to associates

Guys, sorry there's been no updates in the bank accounts today. Apparently the cheques need only my signature...which Prince told me on asking only half an hour ago. 🤦 Anyway, we are working on alternates so that the retainers plus a few goodies should reflect in the accounts by day after (tom is bank holiday). Sorry for the delay and thanks for a fab financial year.

To your point on panel work. The learned judge recused themself. If only the recusal order had been passed sooner! especially when grounds for contempt arguably existed much earlier (if stating uncomfortable facts amounts to smearing and therefore- by some stretch - contempt) - Kejriwal and his cronies would not have gotten away with publicly showcasing how lucrative Union of India briefs can be: a multi-crore business (sorry, “practice”), even for lawyers with hardly 5 years of experience.

As a stakeholder in the system, one without a godfather or political connections, i too am embarrassed. Embarrassed to be part of a system that confers substantial advantages on the privileged while denying others panel work and opportunities, often with contempt and indifference.

I am also embarrassed by what the likes of Saurabh Bharadwaj are resorting to: openly taunting judicial pronouncements and observations made by a sitting High Court judge, even post recusal.

Context- https://youtu.be/JJ8Vr5GsvZw

I feel conflicted. I do not like the AAP, nor do I believe they were right in the manner in which they conducted themselves before Justice Sharma. Yet, ironically, it is only through their brand of politics and dirty tricks that the interests of lawyers like me ie. those without backing, struggling for work and denied panel appointments or meaningful opportunities are being indirectlyacknowledged, even if only by 0.1%.

If memory serves me correctly, Cranfield is well known for its clinical drugs research and other niche tech courses. Styled as a merger this is mostly KCL bulking up on STEM. KCL received a hefty endowment from a South East Asian tycoon for its law school a decade back or so. Hefty enough to to buy out naming rights.

After the 2008 fin crisis several such mergers and buyouts had happened. Even earlier when many so called universities mushroomed out of what were essentially colleges, it eventually led to a crack down and clean up.

But it is true the situation is worrisome. Chinese and Indian students along with some others bring in the moolah that kept these universities going. After all we pay 3-4 times the fee that UK national pay. Add to that the cost of living etc. Scholarships sound fancy but are meagre percentage. Also most scholarships are small bursaries and very few are what folks understand as "full scholarships".

Time to wise up.

This is actually a strategic acquisition rather than a merger. Cranfield is a postgraduate-only engineering and management university that specialises only in a few niche subjects, like aeronautical and aerospace engineering (it has its own airfield), defence technology and finance. Cranfield was suffering financially because a large number of EU and overseas students used to study these (as opposed to native Brits, who flock towards the humanities). With EU students no longer entitled to subsidised fees and international enrolment dwindling, Cranfield was facing a financial crisis. So King’s quietly bought it in a distress sale.

STEM departments boost rankings and their students and faculty are seen as less agitation-oriented than humanities students and faculty. Also, their employment rate is usually 100%. You probably have better job prospects as a Cranfield MSc in Aerospace Engineering over an Oxbridge MA in Philosophy or History (at least salary-wise). So KCL decided to acquire this rather than, say, SOAS or some theatre or art school. Since Cranfield is postgrad-only, they expect the people there to boost research rankings. Another advantage of STEM departments is that they can raise revenue through industrial consultancies. MIT and Stanford are obviously the gold standard, but even Cranfield does projects for aviation and military companies. They won’t be dependent on subsidies and handouts, which SOAS probably would.

Thus, OP’s concerns are more valid for pure-play humanities colleges like SOAS. For example, the UK’s top divinity school, Heythrop College, which was part of the University of London, has shut down completely.

Didn't IPAC pack up from Kolkata? Guess some packets got left behind.

How did one forget how Cal HC judges deemed to be anti establishment by puny little Green wo/men were heckled by Kindness acolytes inside and outside courtrooms and court premises? Did we also forget how Choti Chata police stood by and did zilch? And how can we forget how CP and the entire senior brass could do zilch with regime supported folks who put up posters against Justice Mantha including walls of Cal HC.

I personally prefer the law of contempt to be binned. After all the legislature and the executive don't have it and hopefully would never enact one for self preservation. And the judiciary often weaponizes it. But have forgotten how Kindness herself slandered judges deemed hostile to her shenanigans?

And now the gall to use court as some publicity stunt to keep her flock of wayward sheep together. Actually it started with an indulgent SC and regime friendly judges in Cal HC who gave her and apparatchiks a long rope.

#Reapwhatyousow

basically those who didnt make it to partnerhsip are promoted to counsel - this is because 1) the top is heavy, almost every second person cant become a partner , b) to save equity and cost, c) performance and billing

But there have been cases where a counsel has become a partner after 2-3 years. so alot of factor at play for this.

bump! I need to know this too. I am kinda fed up with litigation- I had come to DR with some lofty dreams, but things haven't worked the way I expected. Plus, I have realised that I like research and writing more than I like the drama of filing, coordination with difficult clients and waiting for hours outside DHC courts and hope for the matter to be heard/ or let the judges humiliate me. I don't think I am cut out for this practice. I have around 4 years of PQE. Want to pivot to public policy, any leads would be great!

From what I’ve heard- capital markets is a very boring practice area. Tax on the other hand is a lot more challenging and exciting. However, the number of law firms having a decent tax practice are way lesser than those with a Capital markets practice.

Also- i only have experience in direct tax. For IDT I think LKS is the only option. There are a few tier one firms with a good DT practice though.

Not a US lawyer, but have dealt with FCPA cases. The DOJ does drop prosecutions by entering into deferred prosecution or non-prosecution agreements. These agreements come with strings attached for the accused, including penalties, cutting off market access, reporting requirements etc.

Objectively, not a stitch-up all along (he was charged under the Biden administration); subjectively, you decide ;)

Hi everyone! Wanted to get some views on whether one should prefer direct tax at LKS or CAM at A0 level.

From what I’ve heard, LKS seems to offer a steeper learning curve because of the volume and variety of matters. It also appears that direct tax is a relatively larger practice there, which may translate into better long-term growth opportunities.

On the other hand, CAM is known to compensate better, though I’ve heard the direct tax team is comparatively smaller and progression beyond the PA level can sometimes be slower.

Would love to hear from people who’ve worked at either place or have insights on the kind of work, learning, and growth at both firms.

Hi all, I am applying to the M&A team of a tier I law firm for the position of an SA. What kind of questions should I expect during the interview? Would be really helpful if those who sat for interviews at the SA level could reply to this thread.

Thank you in advance to all.

UGC has issued a directive to all law colleges, including NLUs, to integrate forensic sciences into their law curriculum.
https://www.legalitysimplified.com/ugc-calls-for-bharatiya-nyaya-sanhita-studies/

The actual UGC notification is here:
https://www.ugc.gov.in/pdfnews/1707526_Bhartiya-Nyaya-Sanhita-Studies-in-law-Curricula.pdf

Two things:
> This is the power and impact of NFSU

> Any postings on forensic sciences and NFSU are therefore unquestionably relevant on this platform

To what extent are A0s involved in the transactions? Do you accompany seniors in negotiations, closings? What kind of mentorship do you receive when it comes to drafting/ marking up transaction documents? What proportion does due diligence exercises form part of the total work?

With the number of judges in the SC going to increase to 38 by the end of the Monsoon session, should one wait for clerkship opportunity even if one does not get called in the first batch? Or, should one join registry if one gets the call? How many departments are there in the registry? How is the work at Centre for Research and Planning. Have heard that they assist CJI's office.

Litigation people have carved out a really good life? Half of the litigators in the country don't know where the next day's ration is going to come from. They get matchbox size offices and most don't even have one of those. They have to kowtow to stupid people masquerading as judges. They have to pay bribes regularly to get a matter listed, get frustrated at the snail's place of proceedings. Since there's this fetish in this forum of idolising a profession based on the lives of less than 1% of the people practising it, I am merely mentioning how the other 99% live. Nothing against litigators, they are trying to make a living the best they can, unlike these trolls infesting this forum.

> I just want to say that I don't know what I am going to do now. The college just doesn't ignite anything within me.

Yes, that's true, HNLU is an underwhelming and mediocre place in all terms - but the one that matters the most is peer quality and faculty quality, and they're both quite pathetic. However, your goal was getting jobs, and HNLU is not low enough in the hierarchy that this is at all an issue. If you stay withing the top 20 batch ranks, the advice goes, you are likely to get a good job. This advice exists and has been passed down for years because it IS true. Staying in the top 20 is NOT difficult to do - most peers are quite dim and quite uninterested in academics, so you'll fly into the top 20 if you just apply yourself a little (not even a lot), especially since your fluency over English seems to be alright judging from this post.

> One more thing, is that I don't want to take a partial drop as it's impossible that your CGPA doesn't get affected and in the unfortunate situation of not clearing CLAT with a desired rank, what will one do with that messed up CGPA (also the first semester matters the most, as it most greatly affects the overall average of future semesters).

This is entirely false. I took a partial drop: I studied the first semester and then gave CLAT again. I moved my rank from 850+ to 50+, while also having a batch rank of 13. I did not spend any serious amount of time on prep that encroached on my academics. HNLU is overwhelmingly chill, likely to accommodate for the very low caliber of the majority of the student body and faculty. There is really nothing to do most of the time. Besides, CLAT is a game of luck, and all your prep will be for nothing if the paper is unlucky, and if it is lucky then whatever prep you managed will be sufficient.

The second falsehood here is that first sem CGPA matters. First of all, prep may drop you CGPA by 10-20%, due to prep, from what you could have done had you applied your best effort, not more than that. Law school grades, like CLAT ranks, are mostly about luck and inherent intelligence than hard work. This difference is NOT meaningful, and you have many other semesters to recover any losses. Besides, the first sem is the easiest. Secondly, the first sem DOES NOT matter the most, it matters quite little, because there are many other semesters to go before your CGPA is used to allot internships by firms. You will have a lot of runway to course-correct.

Just take a partial drop, then if it works out and you get a good NLU, take a call (depending on your age and family financial position) on what you want to do - stay at HNLU or upgrade to what you got.

> I used to get consistent 90+ (at least 85+) scores in mocks and got scores good enough for getting NALSAR at least, in the previous year papers except for 2021.

This is very sad to see, because candidates really take coaching material and outcomes to be gospel truth. The reality could not be further from the truth. Coaching is a business; it has no objective besides creating profits for owners. This means that inputs are obtained at lowest cost, outputs are sold at the highest cost and marketed as the opposite. Allow me to demonstrate:

I have seen how coaching centers prepare their materials. First year kids (17-18 yo) in NLS (other NLUs too) used to be paid 500-2,000/month to churn out 50+ questions weekly on the side. They obviously farm this task to AI. They obviously are only doing it to pay for their booze or parties that parents are unlikely to pay for. They obviously have NO idea what a CLAT paper is like and are just doing whatever gets them a bit of cash. The centers don't care - it's the lowest price they can pay for something that looks plausibly like CLAT questions. If the centers had to pay an adult, they would have to pay a living wage, but by farming this out to first year kids, they must only pay a nominal wage.

Coaching mocks and their outcomes are WORTHLESS. They have ZERO meaning, absolutely ZERO. There is NO CORRELEATION between outcomes there and in a real CLAT, absolutely NONE. They are a commodity that exists in the market because people are willing to buy them. That's it. You're anxious and want mocks, bad enough to pay for it, so they'll sell you mocks to meet that demand (same concept as drugs or OnlyFans). Coaching centers DO NOT care about you. Coaching centers KNOW NOTHING. Coaching centers capitalize on FUD.