Hi everyone,

I’m a PA at a tier 1 law firm and currently in the last phase of my pregnancy (due in about 1–2 months). Based on my doctor’s advice, I’ve been working from home due to certain medical risks.

However, the situation at work has been quite difficult. Despite my condition, I’m constantly being made to feel redundant by my partner, and there is an expectation to continue handling deliverables with the same intensity—including pulling all-nighters. There is also frequent yelling and an insistence on being available virtually 24x7.

This has been extremely distressing, both physically and mentally.

I have tried addressing this internally, but there hasn’t been any meaningful change in behaviour.

I wanted to understand from others in the community:

- a. Is this kind of expectation normal in similar situations?
- b. How have firms generally dealt with maternity-related accommodations?
- Would it make sense to escalate this externally (for instance, to the Bar Council), or are there better ways to handle this?

c. Would really appreciate any perspectives or experiences—especially from those who may have gone through something similar.

Thanks in advance.

Heard that one of the partners in ▮▮▮ team is moving along with a PA and is having under the table conversations with some associates to take with him. Can anyone from the team confirm. I have interned in this team before and would like to apply whereever the split faction goes.

Recording the ED’s stand, the court noted that the agency did not oppose the plea in view of Chandel’s “voluntary and purposeful cooperation” during the investigation. However, the central agency sought conditions, and the court directed Chandel not to tamper with evidence or influence witnesses.

“In view of the voluntary and purposeful cooperation extended by Vinesh Chandel during the investigation and without prejudice to the rights and contention of ED, ED is not opposing the present bail application," the central agency told the court.

https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/india/law-news/story/i-pac-co-founder-vinesh-chandel-bail-delhi-patiala-house-court-ed-enforcement-money-laundering-trinamool-2903604-2026-04-30

🤔🤔🤔🤔

And this happens just shortly before the Bengal election results are declared??

I want to preface this by saying I am so sorry that you are going through this, and wishing you all the strength and power in the world. That being said, I don't fully concur with the advice that you should file a complaint unless you are positive that you want this to be a public part of your life.

In an ideal world, of course you should be able to seek help, but in reality, this is likely to entail a lot of gaslighting, nitpicking your every word, slut shaming and little to no recourse. Needless to say, I do not condone any of this, and wish the world wasn't this unfair.

By all means, get a rape kit test if you want to keep your options open, and most certainly get started on treatment to reduce the risk of STDs, but don't rush into filing a complaint unless you are certain. Solely to protect your peace, you may want to consider speaking to a good therapist about this.

REGARDING THE FAREWELL EMAIL BY VC

This VC ▮▮▮. Writing such a demeaning email towards both the SBA and Batch26 is a shame and tells a lot why this university doesn't progress. Because People at the top have such thinking.

Will this VC have guts to reply if we ask him what he has done. What's his report of the year? He's easily assessing the student community for everything (which honestly no one asked him for) but will he able to let us assess him. NO! #removeVCV

Guys do you all know what's the new low of hnlu admin ? -sending an " year end note" mail to all batches literally saying: "you may now better appreciate" our governance, because everything which was put forth by students was "impractical" "imaginary" "impossible to execute"!!!

SERIOUSLY??????

I don't understand which part was impractical?

Just tell me honestly, what's was non-executable here ? Asking better water and food quality so that half of the students do not get admitted to hospital? or Seeking nurse's assistant after 5:30 pm or just ice for treating wounds when uni claims to ensure 24 hour medical support via nurse? or Asking for faculties who actually knows to teach, or discussion rooms for students? or Asking for merely permission to let's 3+ member team do international moot (without funds of the 'extra' member and minimal namesake fund for the 3 member btw). Or to ensure less arbitrariness in marking by incompetent panel of faculties, seeking mid sem instead for moot court exercise of 25 marks filled with numerous loopholes??

Wt! was unreasonable here ?

This is not even half of the practical reasonable demands which have been left unheard by admin.

Even in the so called "discussion" with admin, it is a well known fact that VC is the only one who speaks non stop for like 3/4th part of meeting and then when it comes to students to seek practical things to be done, they are being shouted upon by registrar and other deans.

The sheer miserable state of affairs.

And the point that students can't even do anything here. As admin possess arbitrary power enough to take down whole career of a students in uni merely by putting proto on some antu jhantu cause.

They have even summoned students for proto and punished them merely coz they filed RTI to know something about University.

At this point only alums can really step in to do something. Please save hnlu. It's my humble request to hold uni accountable and not let it's arbitrary power go on. Please!!

This is the mail the vice chancellor sent today to all batches. Almost engaging atp. On another note, all international moots now require a "special administrative approval" to form a larger team. They are just fcking with us at this point. The academic calendar is just to suit their own interest, disregarding our internship schedules. The moot clinic is still here. The VC and his ▮▮▮ minions think that all the moot wins is because of that sham of a moot clinic they have introduced. Wake up. Wake up administration before you face a full fledged protest, which is not a very remote possibility now.

"Dear Members of the Student Bar Association (2025–2026) and outgoing batch of 2026 of UG & PG,

As the academic year has ended this week, it is both appropriate and instructive to reflect upon the tenure of the outgoing Student Bar Association/ batch of 2026 one marked, without doubt, by ambition in articulation and enthusiasm in projection.

The Association’s engagement with “macro-level analysis” and its professed foresight on a wide spectrum of institutional issues has been, at the very least, noteworthy. One must acknowledge the consistency with which large-scale visions were presented, even if their translation into measurable outcomes occasionally remained… aspirational.

It is equally pertinent to note that, despite repeated assurances of maintaining decorum in the campus and at University functions, the year witnessed unfortunate instances of indiscipline among constituents. The expectation that SBA leadership would effectively regulate such conduct appears to have been an evolving objective rather than an achieved standard.

From the administration’s perspective, there has never been any hesitation in encouraging innovation or new propositions. However, as you may now better appreciate, governance requires not only imagination but also a careful calibration of feasibility, legal constraints, institutional discipline, and, importantly, the confidence of parents who entrust us with their wards.

The numerous meetings held over the year, along with discussions on deliverables, reflect a sustained engagement particularly on those issues that could withstand the test of practical implementation. The pursuit of other, more ambitious promises continues to remain an instructive exercise in understanding the gap between intent and execution.

As your mentors and administrators, we consider such experiences as integral to leadership learning.

On a concluding note, we extend our very best wishes to the outgoing team and to all the outgoing batch of students. May you carry forward not only the zeal to envision change around you, but also the wisdom to implement it with responsibility, discipline, and foresight.

Wishing you all good health, meaningful opportunities, and enduring success. Not just the last five years but always HNLU will be your emotional space even at a distance.

Yours affectionately,

Vice Chancellor"

There's no trauma, just opportunism shown by the complicit majority. Which is why most of those 'traumatised' people didn't even turn up for the condolence ceremony, grief counseling etc. (not by admin but by students). If you've genuinely faced trauma, then the comment isn't dictated towards you at all. Most did not. Moreover, trauma didn't prevent people from going to vacations, interning. Nor was it an excuse not to attend classes or pay fees but still demand to sit for the exams. Even before ▮▮▮ many were negotiating to get the debarred list withdrawn. Grief indeed!

You can keep couching it the way you like, the fact remains that it was a blatant disrespect to the memory of a student whom most of you didn't even know that well, butv whose death used to get out of jams like debarment list and unpreparedness for exams. There have been students who immediately left for vacations after the exams were made optional and then were those who chose to exercise their opt-out after seeing the question paper.

Honestly go for it. ISB has PGP Pro/Max, JBIMS has a weekend one (which a couple of my colleagues did). Avoid PGPX courses, they are residential. It will equip you with a wide variety of skills, allow networking, and give you a genuine perspective you didn't have before. But places like ISB are relatively tougher to get into.

Disclaimer: Am currently a PGP student at ISB

Hi

I am a corporate lawyer mainly experience general corporate and banking experience. I have experience of law firms and now working as an inhouse counsel with an india conglomerate.

I am planning to pursue MBA on weekends from a IIM/or any other good college while working. Please give your opinion on it.

Thanks

The work and kind of people.

- Work: The work we do is repetitive. My SA mostly does the same work as me, just with higher accountability. I do not want to be pigeonholed into reviewing documents throughout my career.

- People: The people are unnecessarily problematic and controlling. I have friends across other tier-1 firms, and even if my team may be relatively better, I still find it hard to tolerate.

Saw the recent poat from chako on hiring a k&s guy for IP & TMT practice. Was wondering if there's any IP team at SRL? If so, can someone spill the beans on work culture in general and hiring in patents team, if there's any? I am 11y PQE with hardcore patents experience - wondering from future job prospects. Would appreciate helpful responses. Thanks!

Hnlu admin stepped to a new low -sending an " year end note" mail to all batches literally saying: "you may now better appreciate" our governance, because everything which was put forth by students was "impractical" "imaginary" "impossible to execute"!!!

SERIOUSLY??????

I don't understand which part was impractical here?

Asking better water and food quality so that half of the students do not get admitted to hospital? or Seeking nurse's assistant after 5:30 pm or just ice for treating wounds when uni claims to ensure 24 hour medical support via nurse? or Asking for faculties who actually knows to teach, or discussion rooms for students? or Asking for merely permission to let's 3+ member team do international moot (without funds of the 'extra' member and minimal namesake fund for the 3 member btw). Or to ensure less arbitrariness in marking by incompetent panel of faculties, seeking mid sem instead for moot court exercise of 25 marks filled with numerous loopholes??

Wt! was unreasonable here ?

This is not even half of the practical reasonable demands which have been left unheard by admin.

Even in the so called "discussion" with admin, it is a well known fact that VC is the only one who speaks non stop for like 3/4th part of meeting and then when it comes to students to seek practical things to be done, they are being shouted upon by registrar and other deans.

The sheer miserable state of affairs.

And the point that students can't even do anything here. As admin possess arbitrary power enough to take down whole career of a students in uni merely by putting proto on some antu jhantu cause.

They have had summoned students for proto and punished them merely coz they filed RTI to know something about University.

At this point, alums needs step in to do something. Please save hnlu. It's my humble request to hold uni accountable and not let it's arbitrary power go on. Please!!

No one has supported these people and there is consistently across all batches and alumni that what happened shouldn’t have happened. But the punishment is far harsher, excessive and disproportionate than what transpired. No one was hit or hurt, but since the matter was escalated to UGC the university just took the harshest path possible. All people are asking for (including the complainants) is some leniency in the order so it accurately reflects what actually happened. Please don’t talk so casually about people’s futures on a public platform.

This analysis is very helpful, thanks. I had a few follow-up questions: you’re practicing law under the reciprocity arrangement then, right? Are there any restrictions that you have to follow - certain matters that you can or cannot do? And do you need to pay the amount specified under the new Bar Council Rules for foreign lawyers?