NLSIU Bangalore’s 2015-graduating batch, which is currently finishing its fourth year of their five-year degree, has placed 33 students after its first day of on-campus recruitment with a mix of PPOs and Day Zero offers.

The batch is a total size of 72, with 54 students taking part in the recruitment coordination committee’s (RCC) efforts.

By the end of the so-called Day Zero recruitment yesterday, the invited Day Zero firms Amarchand Mangaldas, AZB & Partners, Luthra & Luthra, Khaitan & Co and Trilegal all made offers to students.

16 jobs were made through pre-placement offers (PPOs), usually made directly to students following internships at the firm or company, while 17 jobs were offered on Day Zero by law firms interviewing candidates.

The RCC commented in an email: “We feel these placement figures are really good and show a marked improvement from last year. Considering that more than half the batch is already placed now, we are hoping to hit 100% recruitment before the end of this calendar year.

“As for the remaining students, we will be focusing on getting as many companies as possible to campus to recruit (or get students internships at interested companies, which can turn into job offers) and will also be focusing on top-end Tier-II firms.”

Firm-wise break-up of total recruitment figures:

• Amarchand Mangaldas: 12 offers accepted (7 PPOs / 5 Day Zero)
• AZB & Partners: 1 offer accepted (All Day Zero)
• Luthra & Luthra: 4 offers accepted (1 PPO / 3 Day Zero)
• Khaitan & Co: 8 offers accepted (4 PPO / 4 Day Zero)
• Trilegal: 4 offers accepted (All Day Zero)
• S&R Associates: 3 PPOs (did not participate on Day Zero)
• Deutsche Bank: 1 PPOs (did not participate on Day Zero)

It is understood that earlier this month, NLU Delhi and NLU Jodhpur have also started their Day Zero.

NLSIU’s figures dwarf last year’s Day Zero recruitments at NLSIU, when the college had placed only 24 fourth-year students by 20 April 2013, including 11 PPOs.

“In fact, we think these are the best recruitment figures that we have seen in a while,” wrote the RCC. “So I guess, the job market is clearly on the upswing, especially considering that quite a few of the firms seemed keen on expanding across offices this year.”

NLSIU recruitments have traditionally been the first in the recruitment season, though NLU Jodhpur beat Bangalore last year by four days, placing 11 by 16 April.

Day Zero at the oldest national law schools recruitments are traditionally a bellwether for the coming recruitment year, as the strength of recruitments there will give an indication of demand, as well as determine how many more graduates will need to be picked up by law firms.

For instance, it is understood that Khaitan & Co will be aiming to recruit at least 26 freshers to start after graduating in 2015.

Between law firms there is a battle every year to get included in Day Zero to get access to the widest selection of students, while most law schools will try to hold early Day Zeros to ensure their students get a shot at joining the most aggressively recruiting firms, which also tend to offer the highest pay packages.

2015 batch Day Zeros compared