There is this thing called 'choice'. 'Free will' or 'priorities' for some. Someone will find meaning and/ or money as a litigation professional. Some in firms. Or may be in-house, LPOs, advisory, arbitration, policy, God knows what else. There would be some who hate what they do, but pull on because of whatever reasons. There are gonna be some who will be average Joes and Janes wherever they go. It's okay, it is life, comes to an end one day. Not everyone makes EP, GC, or has even one reported judgment in their name. Some will make a killing in their field, whether by choice or by circumstance. No reason to look down on somebody's life choices.

Sincerely,

A litigator who has seen enough to comment.

lets assume that you have X PQE in India (in the UK, no one really asks whether it is post AIBE or from the day you joined after college). Usually they remove 2 years at the start, because in the UK there is a 2 year training/qualification period post UG degree (previously it was LPC, now it has become like bar exam called SQE, but 2 years experience is still required, although someone even without a degree can technically sit for SQE 1). Although in India law is for 5 years and in the UK ug law is for 3 years, this 2 yr discount is still automatically added to Indian PQE. Then depending on the work and CV, the UK team will again add a variable deduction of 2-3 years, so in practice any Indian PQE below 4 years has little value. As this is discretionary and no HR team will ever say this upfront, if you can negotiate with the hiring partner you may get some leeway, however, it is rare. So rule of thumb is X - 4/5. sidenote: Laterals have kind of dried up.

Family tree and branches. Networks formed at NLS and elsewhere, esp recent variety. Include spousal networks and family tree and branches. Yashwant Sinha and disgruntled oldies. Personal politics and gripes. IoUs.

Quite a bit to connect. But once you do that, it's really the old, well trodden path of access and favours. Sure there is talent, merit etc. But let's not overstate. Not for her. Not for anyone like her or PLUS

A video of Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy lashing out at Additional Solicitor General SV Raju during the ED versus TMC hearing in the Calcutta High Court, in the case involving the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the West Bengal government, surfaced online. The senior advocate told Raju to show some respect to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The video of the incident soon went viral.

In the viral clip, Guruswamy could be heard telling Raju, “The next time you want to, as a law officer, refer to a sitting Chief Minister (Mamata Banerjee) by her name, give her the dignity of calling her the Chief Minister of a state, a multi-term Chief Minister.”

...

Reacting to the viral video, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate praised the senior advocate. “Absolutely brilliant takedown of Additional Solicitor General SV Raju in the Calcutta High Court by Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy,” Shrinate wrote on her X account.

https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/give-her-dignity-of-calling-her-cm-advocate-menaka-guruswamy-shouts-at-addl-sgi-sv-raju-during-ed-case-in-calcutta-hc-congress-lauds-lawyer-video

Lots of replies here saying the rank is irrelevant but that's not true. Being at a good law school, and for someone without any connections, the only real edge you have is through the RCC, which doesn't do you any good if you're a poor ranker. Cold mailing and nagging the HR simply doesn't work, they receive too many mails already.

Good job by MG! Just because one is senior in age and a man does not allow him to try to put down women.

https://x.com/Sourav_3294/status/2011675976347107533/

How’s the pay and work culture at big international law firms for someone moving from India. Specifically, what kind of salary do firms like HL, Allen & Overy, Linklaters, or Sidley offer for PQE 2–3 years in capital markets, and what’s the pay like for PQE 6–8 years as a senior associate? Also, how’s the work culture is it significantly more intense than in India. And is it lonely?

CAM- Good work, no unreasonable partner. But high entry barrier. You will have constant vacancies in SAM, across all the junior levels, but not that often at CAM.

SAM- Good work, more CoCo deals than CAM Noida but work culture is problematic and a bit more toxic than it should be.

KCo- Can be avoided

AZB- a particular partner (Agnik, if I remember correctly) have heard good things about him- good guy to work with. Not sure about other partners.

JSA- not so great deals in Delhi

Someone please tell about Trilegal.

It would be incredibly helpful if we could have an 8pqe at a T1 in India provide a similar breakdown so we might compare on an informed/like for like basis (i.e what annual post-tax income is, what percentage of that income is going on housing, education, and the various other heads kindly identified by the prior poster, and what percentage is saved at the end of the year).

Agree with everything you've said. We have saved up for a mortgage but haven't pulled the trigger as yet cuz we're not sure we want to stay in London longterm exactly for the reasons you've outlined. Plus a part of me wants my children to grow up in India instead of a coconut kid (but that's not the primary reason).

Its (relatively) easy to get into MC but making partner is a whole different game... The way I look at it, one option is to move to a US firm for a 25% pay rise, or keep grinding and gun for partnership here or in a peer/silvercircle firm. No easy options really.

Great info here. Let me add some context. I don't know you at all, but some general observations.

£2.4k rent is on the low side. There are lots of variables of course, but I'm guessing you are either living outside London and commuting (tough with MC hours) or in a 2 bed flat somewhere. That figure is what you'd probably spend for a modest 2 bed flat in a nice area or a nice two bed flat in a much less nice area (on average). Your kid is probably fairly young too - you probably cannot live in a flat like that long term (although car suggests you probably are living outside London and commuting which means you may have a bigger place).

As a rough estimate, a nice family house in a decent area will be around double that (if not a lot more) - and that will come from after tax income. Also, in the long term you won't want to be dependent on rent and will need to have saved the deposit on a mortgage which is another game entirely...

Ditto school fees - £2k per month is for one child. If you have 2 (or god forbid, 3) - well, that's all coming from after tax income and at your income level that's near enough 50% tax.

Also, unless you are in the tiny minority who makes MC partner, or makes it to the top of an inhouse job (ie, MD legal at a bank), your income is already pretty close to topping out. You can still go up, but you are not going to double your income.

In short - your costs are going to keep going up, and your income is probably not. You don't really have any slack left for the long term unless you make partner or your spouse starts earning as much as you do. Forget saving a lot - you'll be lucky if you can just hang on to your current lifestyle especially if you have more children.

I don't mean to suggest you're badly off or anything - you're making a high income and living a comfortable lifestyle - and if necessary you can take kids out of private school etc - I'm just pointing out that one does not come to London (especially with a family) to save money..

Why would any foreign law firm associate first of all want to work here as

a) Way less pay than abroad, but a similar or high level workload

b) Will not have local level expertise in areas like employment, tax and real estate

c) As per BCI they can advise only on international arbitration matters and not on Indian law

d) More pollution, sub standard life

Correct. Before CLAT, there were fewer law schools, fewer seats and only 20% SC/ST/OBC reservation (the 93rd Constitutional Amendment increasing the number hadn’t yet been implemented).

As a result, most students were from elite backgrounds. The NLSIU fest was called Strawberry Fields, whereas a fest today would probably be named after Diljit song.

SG Tushar Mehta: What was there to hide that the chief minister had to barge in with the commissioner of police ? Sitting Chief minister entered the premise and violating all law and order... she took possession of all digital devices and three incriminating documents and left at 12:15 pm. The incident report was also drawn. Please see the totality of this. DG, police chief were all shown the documents. They had the courage to take incriminating material... it is taken and then showed to public. IPAC has not even filed a complaint.

...

Kapil Sibal: IPAC we all know that it takes care of elections in West Bengal. Formal contract between TMC and IPAC in 202.

...

SG Tushar Mehta: We approached the High Court. Now see what happens when mobocracy overtakes democracy. See what the High Court judge observes in the order. It notes huge number of lawyers gathered creating commotion. She stated environment in court was not conducive for a hearing.

SG Tushar Mehta: Yes court was converted into jantar mantar. They had arranged buses and transport also for those members. HC passed an order saying only lawyers will enter the court and the hearing will be live streamed....

https://www.livelaw.in/high-court/calcutta-high-court/calcutta-high-court-ed-ipac-raids-west-bengal-cm-mamata-banerjee-519051

https://www.barandbench.com/news/ed-v-mamata-banerjee-live-updates-from-supreme-court

Hi everyone,

I’m in my final year of law school and honestly feeling pretty confused about career choices right now. I’m really interested in criminal law and litigation, but at the same time I also need to be realistic about money.

I know criminal law usually doesn’t pay much in the beginning, and most people start with very low stipends. But I wanted to ask, are there any criminal law chambers or firms (especially in Delhi) that pay juniors something like ₹40–50k per month from the start, or at least close to that?

I’m not expecting shortcuts or overnight success, just trying to understand if such options even exist and what kind of skills or background they usually look for. Any advice or leads would really help.

Thanks in advance!

It depends on the team. Consider this: many senior, well-reputed partners have quietly exited firms in Mumbai and Delhi. My impression is that those still around barely have major clients to sustain their setup especially in the Delhi office. That said, if you're a fresh A-1/A-2 grad, join but stay alert; plenty of up-and-coming law firms are far better positioned, in my opinion.

Hello! I am seeking insights on the salary structure (fixed and variable components) at Argus Partners, Delhi office for A1 and A2 positions. I would appreciate any information on the work culture, team dynamics and overall learning environment at the firm. Any inputs would be greatly appreciated.

Worth joining, but only if you're competent enough to deal with the fund's practice (highly toxic, as you need more attention and understanding than other A0s); she's kind of no BS on work product, or you are out, but heard from a guy who has interned under SRK that she is the best partner he has ever worked with; already confirmed two guys for 2026; done for the batch I believe .......

Due to physical ailments( I wasn't well prepared for the CLAT exam and I bombed it. Right now I have to choose between Shiv Nadar school of law Chennai

Sls Noida

Ms Ramaiah school of law

I am willing to work my ass to get into boutique firm or a upper t2 firm and slowly work my way up.(I have zero connections in the legal industry). Your insight will be much appreciated

I am an in-house Counsel with 3 years PQE

Was checking industry standard for law firms and realised that the data on in-house roles is very limited so will share what I personally know in the hopes that it helps others negotiate better. Have an offer for 18 LPA for a tech MNC. ITC is paying 24 LPA for 4 years PQE. IBM is paying 17-19 LPA for 4 years PQE. Wipro blackstone is paying 14 LPA for 2Y PQE. Godfrey Philips is at 18-19 LPA for 3.5Y-4Y PQE. Infosys is offering 18 LPA for 3Y PQE. KPMG is paying 13-16 LPA for 4Y PQE

Note that above salaries are for lateral hires and may not be an accurate representation for everyone in those roles with same PQE.

Hello! I am seeking insights on the salary structure (fixed and variable components) at Argus Partners, Delhi office for A1 and A2 positions. I would appreciate any information on the work culture, team dynamics and overall learning environment at the firm. Any inputs would be greatly appreciated.