21 out of the 42 jobs were highly-paid and competitive Big Six law firm roles on the back of 10 PPOs, while four jobs were with the even more lucrative foreign law firms.
A total of 45 students participated in campus placement activities, also yielding two qualifications for fellowships (LAMP and Young India), and one teaching position.
Of the students who did not participate in the recruitment cell’s activities, six graduates have enrolled in LLMs, nine will pursue careers in litigation and 11 will sit for judicial services or civil services exams.
Out of those joining the bar, three are practising in the Supreme Court, four in the high courts, one in the trial courts and one in Nepal.
In 2012, NLSIU Bangalore grads secured 46 jobs out of a graduating class of only 65, with 25 heading to Big Six law firms.
In 2012, only six opted to forge a career in litigation with one going for judicial services exams and six taking other competitive exams.
NLSIU did not disclose its final recruitment figures in 2013.
At other top colleges, Big Six jobs made up 25 out of 72 jobs bagged by NUJS 2014 graduates, and 26 out of 71 jobs bagged by Nalsar 2014 graduates.
One recruitment cell member commented that the increase in students going to the bar or sitting judicial or civil service exams was not a trend, but it was about preferences. “More people want to be a part of the system directly. And it should be taken as a positive that so many students have decided to take up litigation and govt/judicial services preparations.”
Editor’s note: We are reaching out to other 2014 recruitment committees who have now graduated. NLU Delhi’s RCC has not yet responded to us despite repeated calls and emails over the last month. We are hopeful that RGNUL Patiala, GNLU Gandhinagar, Christ Bangalore and NLU Jodhpur will disclose soon. Please get in touch with us at to arrange sharing any college’s final figures.
Domestic law firms
Out of 23 total law firm jobs, 11 were through PPOs. Amarchand Mangaldas, Luthra & Luthra and Khaitan & Co were tied at the spot of the heaviest recruiter, although Khaitan did not hire from campus.
Other than the Big Six, S&R Associates and Clasis Law hired graduates.
| Firm | Jobs |
|---|---|
| Amarchand | 5 (2 PPO) |
| Trilegal | 4 (1 PPO) |
| JSA | 1 |
| Khaitan | 5 (PPO) |
| Luthra | 5 (1 PPO) |
| AZB | 1 (PPO) |
| S&R | 1 (PPO) |
| Clasis Law | 1 |
Foreign law firms
Allen & Overy, which recruited one graduate each from NUJS and Nalsar this year also recruited one graduate from NLSIU. Herbert Smith, which recruited two graduates from NUJS this year and no one from Nalsar, recruited the heaviest at NLSIU.
| Firm | Jobs |
|---|---|
| Allen & Overy | 1 |
| Herbert Smith | 3 |
| Quinn Emanuel (Internship) | 1 |
Corporates
Eight corporates recruited 11 graduates from campus and a competition advisory consultancy recruited one graduate through independent efforts.
| Organisation | Jobs |
|---|---|
| Powergrid | 1 |
| Deutsche | 1 |
| Cipla | 2 |
| Tech Mahindra | 1 |
| Hinduja | 1 |
| ICICI | 2 |
| Infosys | 1 |
| Mckinsey | 2 |
| Competition Advisory Services(LLP) | 1 (Off campus) |
NLSIU 2014 graduating batch – full placement figures
| Allen & Overy | 1 |
|---|---|
| Herbert Smith | 3 |
| Quinn Emanuel (Internship) | 1 |
| Amarchand | 5 |
| Trilegal | 4 |
| JSA | 1 |
| Khaitan | 5 |
| Luthra | 5 |
| AZB | 1 |
| S&R | 1 |
| Clasis Law | 1 |
| Powergrid | 1 |
| Deutsche | 1 |
| Cipla | 2 |
| Tech Mahindra | 1 |
| Hinduja | 1 |
| ICICI | 2 |
| Infosys | 1 |
| McKinsey | 2 |
| Competition Advisory Services (LLP) | 1 (off campus) |
| Young India Fellowship | 1 |
| LAMP | 1 |
| Civil and Judicial Services preparation | 11 |
| Litigation | 9 |
| LLM | 6 |
| NETIIT (Education policy) | 1 |
| 69 |
Comments
FYI, lit has always been mainstream lawyering - so it can't be a 'trend'. Also, stop reporting news in such a manner that you depict only nlu-ites as the be-all and end-all of law practice in India.
1. Ask Madhava Menon - he has been perennially upset that students from national law schools almsot exclusively got mopped up by law firms and chose corporate law over litigation and the bench (the purpose of NLUs, according to Menon, was particularly to feed talent back into the litigation system).
2. Ask any NLS, NUJS or Nalsar graduate from 4 years ago, when the markets were great. A small handful from each batch would do litigation, the vast majority would join foreign firms, corporates or domestic firms. An even fewer would do judicial services or civil services exams.
3. Talk to some alumns from the younger colleges: litigation or judicial services was perceived as a second choice for those who couldn't get a job in a law firm, which was the majority (rightly or wrongly).
4. Or read comments on older LI articles on campus recruitment ( http://www.legallyindia.com/tag/campus-recruitment ) - there was talk of RCCs fudging figures by pretending students chose to go into litigation even though the reality was that they couldn't get placed.
5. Subject to the latest NLS figures being accurate, there is definitely a change visible there - almost as many students went into bar or competitive exams, as went into Big Six law firms.
So, you can ask yourself: either
a) law firms are recruiting less in general and kids are forced to do lit, or
b) law firms are recruiting less from NLS in particular, forcing kids to do lit, or
c) more are voluntarily choosing to do lit & courts because certain parts of that career choice have increased their appeal. Maybe it's the fact that the first NLS alum litigators have now become senior counsel, and that there's a fair network NLS has built in the courts?
These figures and this report aren't conclusive, but it's something worth thinking about.
Maybe some NLS graduates can cast some light on this and whether attitudes towards litigation have changed at all?
Or maybe they're getting more connected and all have uncle judges and uncle advocates?
The fact that these 20 come from the most elite law school in the country makes zilch of a difference.
Who knows if that was a conscious choice or they were compelled by the circumstances.
To say that whatever these elite law school students do, is the 'in thing',without even verifying, whether the same was done consciously or forced by circumstances, is too delusive.
This looks more like an effort to downplay the bad recruitment figures at NLS this year. Infact, last year's recruitment figures at NLS (apparently, being so bad)were not even disclosed. Of course not disclosing (bad) recruitment figures for 2 consecutive years was not an option. So this ploy of playing it cool??
Please read the comment before responding.
Revealed: Lit is now trendy as 42 NLSIU graduates get desk jobs and 20 opt for bar, judiciary, civil service
It's also known as Betteridge's law of headlines:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge%27s_law_of_headlines
However, the fact is that 20 went for lit / competitive exams this year, compared to only 13 several years ago.
Either that's an increase in interest, or a downturn in recruitments.
You say - we don't know yet at this point, but hope to get to the bottom of it...
In any case, it's clear there is little to separate recruitments at NUJS, Nalsar and NLS anymore...
More food for thought... :)
Can you name [b]any two[/b] students who landed a foreign firm job with a low batch rank? You can't because foreign firms look at a lot of other things but, before that, they want what they call a 2:1 CGPA at minimum.
Yes, a low batch rank may lead to a rather plush job in India, thanks to the great Indian [i]jugaad[/i].
Just to show where you [u]personally[/u] stand, the word in your last line should have been "fare".
As to all those asking the question about whether this is news, or a trend, given the small numbers involved, think about it in terms of percentages. If one fourth of the top tier of law graduates in this country are choosing a less lucrative (in the short run) career path, then that's definitely worth discussing (if not celebrating).
Apart from the likelihood that the kids now are richer and, therefore, able to afford the years of no pay, it's very possible that the recent elevation to senior counsel of several NLS grads has created some role models for the current crop to aspire to? Showing them that, uncle or no uncle, you can get to the top of the litigation world on merit?
As an NLS grad who is now at a law firm, here's hoping the trend continues! God knows they're likelier to be happier in litigation :-)
:-)[/quote]
Stupid comment my dear. Most of the NLS alum who are now senior counsel are progeny of judges / senior counsel / etc. So no surprises what are the factors that contribute to senior counselship.
Anyways the poor fools who choose litigation I feel sorry for them because they're pursuing a dream that is simply not practical and throwing away their 20s.
Bang on, dude!
maybe in the Punjab, but not in Delhi or namma Bengaluru
maybe in the Punjab, but not in Delhi or namma Bengaluru[/quote]
Remember Sajan Poovaya who recently became a senior in Bangalore and is one of the poster boys of NLS for that reason? Look up who his dad is. Even others from Karnataka HC's latest crop are sons of judges and other senior counsel.
Many of these "seniors" would have had no practices if their parents were not lawyers. It's a fact. Those who are from non-lawyer families and have succeeded have done so by sheer luck of the draw. For every successful Dayan Krishnan there are a dozen unsuccessful guys.
the rot is just...endemic
"Persuing"
Sample this:
1. Pursuing
2. Perusing
- Some people want to study the law before they litigate
- GLC is busy admitting domicile candidates
- Maharashtra doesn't exactly welcome immigrants
- The state is busy implementing draconian laws, including arrests for "suspiciously" drinking tea
- Drinking in Mumbai requires a permit and cops implement the law whenever they feel like
- The weather of Bangalore is better
1- They intern and study law in courts/firms, this is how people used to learn law before modern concept of law school came along, not that its bad
2- Most NLUs have domicile quota incase you dont know
3- Maharashta has more immigrants than whole of South combined, and they welcome hard working immigrants just not lazy slobs who suck on states resources and dirty the city
4 & 5 - You can drink whatever you want here, no time limits as well and I am not sure what draconian law you are talking about, I have never been arrested lol
6- Mosoons here are better
YOU SUCK!
Point wise reply:
1. Extended internships are no way to learn the law, else the top NLUs, or the Harvards/Oxfords, would all be based in metros. Excluding litigation, law firms do not really "teach" law; only practice points.
2. Most top NLUs have no domicile quota and the NLUs which do, do not have massive domicile-quota like GLC.
3. No one is debating whether Maharashtra has immigrants – just what happens on and off to immigrants.
4&5. Yes, you are the sole standard for judging your city; people who get arrested/detained for partying at nightclubs should not be a cause for concern to aspirants/parents.
6. Ha ha ha. Right! Cute.
We are debating why people will prefer a NLU over GLC, especially if they are not from Mumbai/Maharshtra, given that recruitment stats are not so great these days.
GLC is a nice college for a lot of reasons, so don't get upset when you hear criticism on the issues that need to be adressed if GLC wishes to re-gain some lost glory.
JGLS?