Despite a strong profile, the standard application channels for firms like NDA, JSA, TT&A and CAM seem to be dead ends right now for someone who is not applying through their college internship committee

1. Nishith Desai Associates (NDA): Their 'Internship Application Form' link redirects to a generic job posting, and the their website says send an email internship@nishithdesai.com with the application form (which is not available on their website).
2.
3. JSA: The website states they are closed for internship applications and the email sends automated rejections, and they explicitly discourage emailing partners. Yet, I see people on LinkedIN (even from NON-NLUs) securing internships, what is the actual protocol for non-campus applicants?
4.
5. TT&A: Can i send a email to recruitment@tta.in and actually expect a response? Or would my email never be seen. How exactly can one get an internship there
6. Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (CAM): For non-NLU/non-campus applicants, does sending an email to cam.internships@cyrilshroff.com or cam.delhi@cyrilshroff.com work?

Since my college placement cell isn't active, I'm trying to figure out the actual protocol to get a CV seen by a human at these firms. Has anyone successfully navigated the application process for these recently outside of a campus placement drive? Would appreciate any leads on the correct HR POCs or application process.

depends on team to team, even if you don't come early...at most days you have to wake up as early as 6 in the morning and spend 2-3 hours working early morning at home if you don't like to pull late nights. That said, on an average in my team office hours is 10:30 am to 8 pm....but on maximum days work has to be taken home and weekends are also occupied. I so badly want to leave law firms.

I disagree with the 3rd point. Westernised people aren't considered as attractive in most of India. What most Indians mean by fair is actually light brown like Punjabis tier and not Vitiligo skin of Whites. And as regards to low fat and high cheekbones its appeal is limited to metros. Anywhere else people will ask if your family is not feeding you

"Start THINKING about settling?" Bro, they have been doing that for ages! Now there is increased competition for settling abroad because migration abroad has expanded from UCs only to all castes, because a huge chunk of our university grads now are SC/ST/OBC, because of higher reservation.

So there is competition everywhere: for entry in govt universities, govt jobs and even jobs abroad. Next up will be reservation in Ashoka, Jindal and ISB, since political parties now want reservations extended to private institutes.

It's because of our huge population and lack of family planning in India. Rahul Gandhi's "Jitni abadi, utna haq" chant is the new normal and followed by the BJP too.

Lol.

There are only two non family owned tier 1 law firms in India. Trilegal and Jyoti Sagar Associates. Your options are too less.

If you think these firms are any better. You are wrong. Hours and culture are equally brutal whether it's all equity or family.

The only difference is - in family firms. You will see founders kids having an edge and see them becoming partner with good amount of equity no matter how they dumb they are. But this difference doesn't affect unless you are like a senior partner.

Both the firms have problems. S&R has seen some big exits lately. Thr own are loosing faith in the organisation. Associates are troubled because (guess!). At the same time, you can't compare it to a Indus. However, Indus has some very good teams and seniors. They also are doing some good work.

Yes, the NLUs are completely ignored and sidelined from all innovative initiatives. For instance, the budget allocated ₹550 crores to build and implement an integrated criminal justice system, but NLUs have been left out altogether. Seriously, NLUs are low priority for the respective state governments and are deemed 'untouchable' by the central government. As the OP states, it is as if NLUs don't exist at all. What a state to be in.

T2 2nd year law student,
very mid cv, low grades- 7/10 gpa, internships- one inhouse, one at taxation, one district court, 2 research. One article publication(random legal journal), extra curriculars- uni moot, uni paper presentation, certificates- banking and finance, insolvency, labour law, fintech(100% in assessments).
its sem 4th rn my cgpa hit all time low which is 7, idk what to do with myself rn, i have no connections, i'm failing at asking seniors for favors it just sucks i feel so clueless by the fact that honestly idts i can even sit for interviews even if i qualify for any internship. I'm looking to apply at boutique firms in delhi who might take me in without minding my bad cv bec i actually want to learn, i am interested in taxation please lmk if any options. i've been severely depressed, also please let me know if any ongoing virtual comps, i'm honestly a little cut off from my family bec bad relations so cant really ask for much money to be able to do offline comps neither i have many friends who would want to do comps with me i'm sitting for the judgment writing comp spons. by S&A so really looking forward to win it somehow. i dont knowhow to feel better about my situation rn i can just try to fix things here and there and just try my best not to give in to the anxiety of not being able to do better in my life.

I graduated in 2023 from a 3-year LL.B (CLC) and post graduating, I joined a litigation chamber more for namesake and, to be frank, the year was spent around preparing for judicial service examinations and was largely unproductive in terms of real learning. Though, on paper it reflects litigation experience.

I then moved in-house, where over the last couple of years I have largely worked on government tenders and public procurement related matters.

My exposure includes drafting and reviewing contracts, tender conditions, grievance filing, contract negotiations, compliance work and other related matters. I also managed to file and appeared in a few writ petitions wherein i challenged a few tenders and government policies. I have also had some exposure to NIA matters during my chamber days.

The problem I am now facing is this:

1. While I have done a fair amount of work across areas, I do not feel “specialised” in any one domain. My current in-house role also feels like it is adding little to no value to my CV going forward, and I am worried about stagnation.

2. This job pays peanuts.

Law firm salaries are obviously attractive, but I am unsure whether firms would even seriously consider my profile, given that I do not have deep litigation training or a clear law firm pedigree.

At this stage, I am trying to understand realistic options:

1. Is it possible to pivot from an in-house government tenders/public procurement role into a law firm (litigation or transactional)?

2. Does public procurement and tender work have long-term value as a niche, or does it box you in?

3. Would it make sense to double down on one area (for example, arbitration, regulatory, or contracts), or is a reset via litigation or an LLM/course more practical?

4. For someone in this position, what are sensible next steps over the next 2–3 years?

Would really appreciate candid advice from seniors who have seen or made a in-house to a law firm transition.

Being a final year law student, is it worth interning for consecutive months in April and May for above mentioned firms in the hope of ppo/placement (when you have not interned with either of them before)?

Isn't there a hiring freeze by April or may or they can still offer a ppo if I work excellent?

Please help, also how valuable is a senior associate of your team batting for you? Does it help? If yes then to what extent?

Same as title. Currently with 2 PQE at a T2 law firm. Wanted insights and guidance as to how to apply since there is virtually no information available online. Do the partners at the Mumbai office entertain cold emails? Or is there any dedicated HR/recruitment portal I can apply to? Any and all guidance will be appreciated. Thanks!!

Hey everyone, it's been almost two years since I graduated law. Back then after graduation I struggled to get jobs. Did a corporate law diploma for a year while applying everywhere, but nothing panned out. I was desperate but finally got lucky with a BPO walk-in for US pre-employment compliance and now marks 8 months working night shifts for 5 LPA. Absolutely hate it and want out, but putting in papers scares me coz I'll be back to unemployed with no network.

Tried cold LinkedIn messages and emails to lawyers/firms but no responses at all. Lately into GDPR, got Securiti AI privacy ops cert, planning to build sample DPIA/PIA/ROPAs. Im eyeing privacy or law firm/ in house roles but completely clueless if I would even be considered given how brutal job market was when I graduated.

How do I network properly? Which firms/roles to target? Quit blind or line up first? Shall I hop into litigation? Would it ever provide financial stability? How do i ressurect my career? Any suggestions appreciated guys

Recently got done with an internship, while I learnt a lot I also made few mistakes, which the associates were kind enough to point it out and correct it for me. it's been a few days and I've been wondering If I should ask for feedback to make it clear for me what I need to work on. however they are busy individuals and I don't want to come off as pestering and someone who cannot get over small mistakes, which I was told about that I need to be a bit calmer.

Should I ask for feedback or just let it be ?

For firm lawyers, it is a leave-home-at-8:30 am or 9-am, come back by 8 or 9 pm routine, with occasional weekend work (or regular weekend work). Don't they get tired? And if both spouses have the same schedule, how are kids, parents etc. managed? Kids get sick, kids need supervision, parents need time, plus one needs personal time to rest. How do people do it!

Applies only to SC/ST/OBC domiciled in Bihar, not other states. I am assuming NLUs are included, because IIT, IIM, NIFT and top state institutes are included

So in addition to reservation, this is another welcome step for SC/ST/OBC students. Kudos to Nitish Kumar ji and BJP-JDU govt.

👏👏👏👏🙏🙏🙏

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bihar/bihar-govt-to-cover-entire-fees-for-sc-st-students-enrolled-in-nit-iit-aiims-nift-and-cimp/article70570531.ece/amp/

He may be a racist and toxic towards women, and he may be careless in asking men to undergo plastic surgery. But can you disagree with the following:

- Looks matter a lot in our society, even for guys

- Guys who look handsome get ahead in their professional lives

- A westernised male face is considered attractive by women: fair skin, low fat, high cheekbones etc (even Bollywood actors do this: SRK is very dark in real life)

Can you deny this isn't true?

A new political party that pro-merit and pro-markets? The challenge, of course, that such a party would draw support mainly from non-reserved, urban and well-educated categories of Hindus and minorities. People not reliant on free rations and doles. Only 20% of the population max.

1. No, not T1s at least.

2. Because of the first response, you'll have to target smaller firms that pay peanuts.

3. No. It is by far the most saturated area with the most competition at junior level. My partner (I work at a T1) receives at least 20 applications from ostensibly competent candidates for internships and entry level positions, without ever putting any vacancy posts.

4. No. Positions are scarce. For ever 50 M&A vacancies, there are maybe 2 TMT vacancies at firms that pay anything above 50-60k.

Overall, if you have the option to do something else that you can show competence in, do that. Do not step into TMT unless you're absolutely sure about it and don't mind earning half of what you would be, otherwise.

Most institutional arbitration rules leave the appointment of a tribunal secretary to the tribunal, subject to the parties being ok with the proposed secretary and some other restrictions. In overseas arbitrations I've been involved with, the tribunal secretary ends up being an associate / junior lawyer from one of the arbitrators' firms / chambers. In some cases, the tribunal asks for a junior member of the institution's secretariat to be appointed as secretary.

Indian arbitrators don't formally appoint a tribunal secretary in ad-hoc arbitrations (certainly none that I've seen). They end up using a junior lawyer from their chamber / firm as an informal secretary.

If this something that interests you, why not reach out to someone at the MCIA? They have a training program, and while you may not want to sign up for it now, maybe they can convince you otherwise, in terms of increased opportunities to be appointed.

If you're interviewing with established T-1/T-2 firms, they probably won't ask for salary slips. Most of these firms are aware that individual lawyers' chambers don't issue salary slips. For that matter, I've worked in three T-1 firms and was never issued a salary slip unless I requested these for a specific purpose (e.g., for visa applications).

In any case, if you're moving from a litigation chamber to a non-litigation role in a firm, the firm is unlikely to care what you were getting at your chamber - they'll already have a number in mind for you. If they do ask, be honest and tell them what you've put in your post.

Choose one city, ideally where you live in. All three cities will teach you different approaches and have different matters. Crim Law is very grassroot heavy, so choose a city where you live in/have a network in so you can better work with Police Departments/Officers/Agencies. Also, you'll be required to know the regional language so Chennai and Bombay will require Tamil/Marathi respectively.

Wrt good seniors in Bombay, Ponda, Merchant, Girish Kulkarni, Mundargi(s) etc. are all good but are too senior to mentor properly. Trial advocates like Ashok Saraogi are chambers where you'll actually get good experience. Taaraq Sayed is another name for good mentorship

Lol, GNLU is T1? Only in the dreams of Ganloos, in no other metric. You produce zero research, don't have good faculty, your grads rarely go into academia or non law firm careers, and you don't have any choice or say in university matters. Come back when you're ready to play in the big leagues.

That's the problem with NLUJ people. They don't understand what's good for overall students. Less than 2% of any batch get vacation schemes, but the entire batch is affected by faculty. As for VS, the total number of NUJS people working in foreign law firms is way higher than NLUJ people. As is the number working as academics, policy body people, GCs, practically everything. More importantly, students at NLUJ don't have any say whatever in the way things at the university works, unlike at NUJS.

Union budget 2026-27 mentions IITs, AIIMS, IIIMs, NFSU, and NITs, but NLUs (27 of them collectively, no less, mean nothing) never find any mention at all. It is as if these state NLUs don't exist at all. All this hue and cry over T1, T2, etc., doesn't mean anything in real life.

Had same thought as yours in 1st . dorp out of law firm and law mentally in first year . Passed ca foundational and ca intermediate In 2 year. ca intermediate helped get some tax internship in t2 law firm and big 4 . Mentally prepared myself of 3 year for torture that was about to happen but. In last year my brother told me about cpa" us versions of ca" quite easy camapred to ca . Passed its 4 exam in 6 months cause I had 90 % attendance and stopped going to classes and studied at hostel all day . After passing all 4 exam applied to masters in accounting in usa fat byu in my last semester got accpeted "they have strict and wried ass rules beware if someone else wanted to go " finished master and jonied big 4 in m&a tax . Right now at associate at dallas . I think I had the privileged enough to pursue cpa and had funds for attending college in usa . I think in law you can also crave your path . It's on you and yourself and dont think about finance just live furgually and if not intrested in law crave your own path . Don't dorp out get maximum cgpa it will definitely help in future and by not dorping ,fees will not be wasted .

It's quite easy to bulid that maths reasons aint there no calc or trigonometry involved in cat , gmat or any finance related exam . Myself clearned Gmat with 685 focus edition GMAT score . First started at 8th class maths finished till 12th . It's was quite easy . Just assume your basic are weak from the start at any stage . This relearning helped to pass my cfa l1 to l3 exam also .And stop campareing yourself with engineering. Camapre yourself with your past that will keep your motivated in this process. Yes engineering have strong control on maths ,doesn't means you can't bulid that lvl of maths yes you can. AND pls dont limit your's opportunities using maths as a excuse.

Lala firms greedy.

All equity firms less greedy.

Lala firms you spend life sucking up.

All equity firms you spend life camping up.

Lala firms no one so much as farts without the lalas approval. Then also your farts have to smell nice to the lalas liking.

All equity firms you can fart if the committe says it's ok to fart because they too are farting.

Basically it's a rock and a hard place. Go where you find a soft spot. Good luck.

Yes, NFSU gets another funding boost.
https://money.rediff.com/amp/news/market/budget-2026-27-rs-1471-cr-for-forensic-schemes/41209320260201

https://money.rediff.com/amp/news/market/budget-2026-27-rs-1471-cr-for-forensic-schemes/41209320260201

This comes on top of the ₹30000 crore funding announced in January 2026.
https://www.legallyindia.com/convos/topic/466375-wow-rs30000-crore-funding-nfsu-a-big-beneficiary

The Coursework takes 6 months. Classes sre consistent but very less classes are there in a week. They have some good senior faculty for Philosophy and Research Ethics. However qualitative or quantitative analysis is not taught of IIT level. If you are interested in learning these opt for IITs. If done right it can be wrapped up in 3.5 years. Average is 5 years. Max 8 years is rare. This is in contrast to NLS, Bengaluru where I have seen many dedicated scholars taking 7 years. GNLU is also fast and has a streamlined process. NALSAR, I am not sure. If someone can tell about Ph.S. at NALSAR, that would be great.