Going through various write-ups on different law related sites, mine may appear very lame to many legal professionals working in the esteemed organisations. However, there will be many who can totally relate to my situation. I am a law professional currently working with a MNC as their Employment Lawyer. It is a great place to work but maybe I require more than just a great employer.

I did my graduation from a good college but not from National Law School. When I joined my course I was very enthusiast and keen to learn the different verticals of law with an ambition to become an elite professional. In my second year I came across this differentiation, for the very first time, Students from National Law School and students from some third tier school. Sadly, I belonged to the second race. This became very prominent while applying for internships or when we use to go for some conferences or competitions, the treatment was different. No issue with that, cause we ourselves have seen the difference but still the good are only few and rest are just like us. Now the placements, obviously the story remain the same. However, some of my batch-mates were hired by top law firms, inspite of the alumnae from the third tier Law School, which was really great.

I always thought that Law is same for everyone but still the professional field is divided into many verticals like students from National Law Schools, then professionals working in Law firms and in-house Counsel, barriers never end. Whenever I see a job-post in some law-firm they only ask for Lawyers from Law-firms and some precisely ask for National Law School. Are they super-human being, they never commit any mistake or what is so special about them which the other professional is lacking? Only because some don’t have NLS as their graduate school, are rejected without being interviewed. Why to be so judgmental, you never know you find a gem underneath coal. At least give chances to the deserving profile, why to reject professional cause they are not from Law-firms or from NLS. We can only learn theory from our colleges but a practical exposure is required and unless an opportunity is not given, one cannot prove its metal.

It is a task for me to make a shift in my career. I want to go back from being an In-house counsel to Law firm, to have more work exposure to learn more about restructuring laws and dispute resolutions. But this drive seems quite impossible for me but I am not a giver and let’s see when I achieve what I thrives for.