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Latest News |
| 28th
January 2010 / Times of India / Bangalore Edition |
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COURTROOM VERSUS CUBICLE
With a large number of law graduates opting out of litigation
and going for jobs in corporate law firms, The Times of
India asked final-year students of the NLSIU about merits
and demerits of both
Apacked courtroom, lawyers in black gowns and white collars
presenting their case, the judge keenly listening ...
This is what most law students used to dream of while
opting for the stream. But that was then.
Over the years, many have discovered that jobs at corporate
law firms are more attractive. The reasons vary from too
much politics in litigation to great pay packages at law
firms . But the small percentage that still chooses the
old path swears by the job satisfaction that litigation
brings with it.
YOU ARE YOUR OWN BOSS
Shivam Singh, a fifth-year student at the National Law
School of India University (NLSIU), says he always wanted
to be a practising advocate. After internships at litigation
and corporate law firms, he enjoyed the former more than
the latter. As a practising lawyer, you fight for peoples
rights, for justice . That makes the difference, he says.
Does having a family background help Pat comes the reply:
No. I always had a liking for litigation. Moreover , a
client comes to you only if you are good. Even if you
have lawyers in the family, you wont have any clients
if youre not good, he adds.
Highlighting the merits of litigation as a job, Shivam
says one gets the opportunity for intellectual growth
and has to constantly update himself or herself on subjects
that are currently significant. You can be your own boss,
he adds with a smile.
The general perception that students who fail to get through
other courses take up legal education has changed. With
a number of premier law schools in India today, its become
tougher to get admission, raising standards of legal education.
PRACTICAL STRATEGY
Madhav Kanoria, Shivams batchmate, has different plans.
Though his ultimate goal is litigation, he wants to work
in a corporate firm first. Many of us want to take up
litigation, but it requires hard work and patience. In
the beginning, there isnt much money. When you join a
firm and work for some time, you have the financial back-up
to join litigation. Around 14 students from our batch
plan to join law firms and later pursue litigation, he
says.
The students feel litigation drains you out and some even
get dillusioned as things may not work as expected despite
best efforts. However, sky is the limit in litigation.
If we see some lawyers today, they have excelled in both
their job and public life, he adds.
RESPONSIBILITIES COME FIRST
Vikram Hegde, another final-year student, has gone a step
ahead and decided to appear for the civil services exam.
With the kind of skills I have, I am am probably more
suited to civil service. However, in case he doesnt make
it in the exam, he wants to join litigation. The financial
risk is that I will be giving up a salary of Rs 1 lakh
for Rs 15,000 or so. But what I have learned from lawyers
is that salary is enough to cover basic requirements.
I am willing to give up luxuries to fulfill my responsibility,
he explains, adding that litigation provides a holistic
view and helps in intellectual growth.
TO OXFORD AND BACK
For Rhodes Scholar Niranjan V, its always been litigation.
After his higher studies at Oxford University, he plans
to take up litigation as its satisfying. Even when I applied
to NLS, I wanted to be a practising lawyer. Oxford University
is one of the best places for litigation. The knowledge
learned there can be used here, he adds. After completing
the course in June, Niranjan will leave for Oxford in
September. By then, he wants to work with a senior lawyer.
Litigation is my favourite area, especially income tax.
CORRUPTION A PUT-OFF
For Nidhi Rani, a law firm job is what she enjoys the
most. She has undertaken internships at an NGO, litigation
firm and corporate firm, and enjoyed the last the most.
Corruption and politics in litigation is a put-off . I
might later work for an NGO, she says.
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