How does compensation typically progress from Principal Associate to Partner and then Equity Partner at Saraf, CAM, Trilegal, SAM, Luthra, AZB, CMS Indus Law and JSA? What are the approximate compensation ranges and percentage increases at each stage across these firms?

Lalaji doesn't care about anyone. Ask these exits are happening because of money. Be it AS, RB, SP and RC (in all probability to KCo). If you see the pattern, these all are big names and are moving to all the firms, where they can get some control and not always remain is shadows of someone. At some point, you need to respect and reward merit too.

Heard there are a few senior level exits happening at CAM - One senior EP from Bangalore and another senior financing lawyer (may or may not be a head of practice) is also rumoured to be leaving. Some GC exits are also expected. Why all of a sudden? While all of this is going on they are looking to promote more partners at a mid year round to make up for the loss. How does it make sense? If these guys had the numbers 3 months ago why make them wait and if they did not have the numbers, how did they make it up in 3 months?

Go NALSAR Class of 2026!! You guys are awesome!! Well done. As the post here says, keep up the great work on the representations!!

I am an Indian student at one of the British unis this person spoke at (defiled with his presence) earlier this year when he visited UK. Trust me, you don't wanna be in the same room with him. He really is not a nice man, at all. To think that this was a representation of my country abroad made me want to jump in front of a moving car, literally.

This is more dumb nonsense. What has the CJI done ? A handful of annoyed comments here and there - there’s no judgment he has passed they disagree with, no conduct he has done they can condemn. He’s not actually done anything unworthy of a CJI- this isn’t Ranjan Gogoi. As far as chief justices go - he’s not the worst one. The point of inviting him to convocation is also to honor the office regardless of who is sitting in it. If right wing students can put up with activist judges like Chandrachud and Sanjay Kishan Kaul - left wing students should put up with Surya Kant. We’ve actually had law ministers from BJP government and chief ministers of state be the chief guest at convocation before.

Honestly it just seems like a faction of Nalsar students are so attention hungry they’re aping the worst excesses of students in America. And American institutions like HYS can do this and come back - they have hundreds of years of history, NALSAR is not even 30 years old- if its students antagonise the legal profession and the public in their quest for social media points - I’m not so sure what will remain of it.

Every associate at every law firm thinks about becoming a partner when they start. Some of us come from families that are very ordinary/lower middle class and have negligible chances of getting any 'business' to T1 law firms. A section of us is lucky enough to find mentors who would be willing to either give us parts of their book, or just involve us in execution of their matters while backing us for partnership. But for the rest, I was hoping to get a realistic understanding of the pathway:

1. What are the targets that T1 firms impose on new partners? I heard that these targets can be anywhere in the neighbourhood of 3 to 5 Cr, and keep increasing depending upon the firm and their model. Is that broadly correct? If not, what are the correct numbers like?

2. Realistically and statistically (based on your best estimates), how likely is it for someone with no familial connections/angel senior partner to meet such a target purely through goodwill based on good execution as an associate over the years? What about non-M&A teams that do advisory work and typically get smaller mandates?

3. I'm asking these questions because naturally, we see a lot of people who were refused partnership at such firms and eventually moved in-house post PA/counsel positions. If it's indeed practically difficult to get these numbers, does it make sense for mid-levels w/o connections to look at in-house options already (assuming we find an in-house opportunity with a payscale that's acceptable)? What would you say is the right PQE for this?

4. Does the specific law firm make a difference? If so, how? (Understand that KCo and Tri look at partnership differently than S/CAM, AZB, Luthra, Saraf or JSA, for example.)

Thanks for taking out the time!

Even if your rating goes to max, your emolument will still be dependent on the mood of the all mighty. So don't get any hopes. I got a 5h, my partner approved, I had client testimonials and still my bonus was 70 percent. Made multiple requests with evidence but was made to feel like a beggar. The HR boffin was doing nothing but lip service. I resigned the next day. My partner resigned shortly after with team.

Would advise you to approach your Partner & HR first. Shifting internally at ▮▮▮ involves clearing interviews with counsel and Partner again. Posting on a public forum ensures that you are easily identify able..could have just told vaguely that you are ▮▮▮ ▮▮▮ lawyer. Otherwise try out laterally to recruiters.

Kudos, tho

Hi everyone,

I work in ▮▮▮ as ▮▮▮ in the ▮▮▮ team in ▮▮▮. I wanna change and go to ▮▮▮. Please let me know if someone can refer or knows about vacancies in the ▮▮▮ team in other ▮▮▮ and ▮▮▮. Also, if someone knows about good ▮▮▮ ▮▮▮ in ▮▮▮ ▮▮▮, I don't mind an internal transfer.

Guys, I'm a fourth-year student at a non-T1 NLU and am planning to apply to Anagram Partners for an internship, hoping to get a call-back. I heard they are offering 21.50 lakhs (18.50 fixed + 3 bonus) for BO 2027 A0s. Is this correct information? Are they really paying so much? Also, how is the work culture at Anagram? I read they are a small boutique firm.

All I can say is — keep it up dosto, super proud!

Link of Hindu's coverage: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/outgoing-nalsar-students-do-not-want-cji-surya-kant-at-convocation-ceremony/article71322218.ece

Comes just 2 weeks after students went on a short hunger strike. Also, let's remember that elite NLUs like NLSIU, NLUD and NALSAR stand apart because a large chunk of students opt for careers outside of law firms, or head abroad. So they don't really need to be worried about CAM etc rescinding offer letters (although a few law firm hires may not be taking part).

Great show of courage from the students!

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/outgoing-nalsar-students-do-not-want-cji-surya-kant-at-convocation-ceremony/article71322218.ece

- Even after the Epstein files showed Epstein supplied him with Russian girls?

- And then he got an STD and slipped in antibiotics in Melinda's food so that she would be safe?

- And now the origin of Covid is increasingly pointing to a lab leak and Fauci's role is under question?

Strangely, it's still called the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation!

https://www.thegatesscholarship.org/scholarship

SP be like good riddance to that shit. A platform like CAM is only good if the partners are there. Once all the good ones leave, all that is left are ass kissing sycophants who couldn't get one client if they wanted to. Looking at how rainmakers are leaving. Exodus at a senior level shows the true picture.

In 2024 batch, Raj scapegoated Ritesh Batra. Apparently even Shuklaji was responsible for said scapegoating. In 2025 batch, Raj scapegoated Shuklaji. So Shuklaji found another job. On this pretext, DJ usurped Shuklaji’s post and now seems like even DJ ain’t performing! (DJ may play it off as too early to show results).....actually problem is neither Ritesh nor Shuklaji nor DJ.....when the raw material, i.e., kids are so bad, the final result will also be bad!

Raj and his protocol officer (Mishraji)....please focus more on college? Merely posting on LinkedIn on how fantastic jiggles is or living in your bubble of calling some bigshots and feeling like "meine kya college banaya hai" won’t help no? For this, Raj, you must stay more in college than travel the world

1500 to 2000 candidates wrote the exam of Infosys Protege that too for around 10 legal vacancies. Total applications were even more, they rejected a lot more. What a waste of time to make every candidate travel to exam and interview centres. But unlike other companies Infosys doesn't select candidates on basis of college. My college doesn't have any placements. This is the first time I gave a proper corporate MNC interview. Traveling to Kochi, Bengaluru or Delhi for the interview is the costly part.

Any updates on results? When will it be declared?

But do we entertain blatant conflicts of interests in summary procedures? Can you show me where in the CPC summary procedure is a court allowed to both prosecute and adjudicate? Speed is important but no country with a rule of law should ever be willing to sacrifice the most basic tenets of fairness for it.

On Axon - I know what unitary theory is but you were not making the same point. Your argument on Article II was like Slater v Trump which dealt with the administrative side of FTC (FTC prosecutors have to be accountable to the executive - the unitary theory you speak of). Axon addressed it to some extent but the underlying challenge related primarily to FTC’s judicial side fairness (particularly the fact that FTC commissioners are the prosecutors, judges and appellate authorities in an ALJ setting - read the judgment along with Para 31 bullet 1 of the complaint). This has nothing to do with the unitary theory (though that was also one of the secondary arguments raised).

On constitutional mandate - the CCI didn’t say they won’t take suo moto matters at all. They just said they’ll be judicious on when to intervene. The parental legislation you refer to also vested a large amount of discretion on the Commissioners in exercising their powers. “may” rather than “shall” in Section 19 says it all. As I’m sure yk there’s no minimum annual suo moto investigations requirement anyways. So I really don’t see a problem with the regulator deciding that yk what, maybe I’ll proactively learn from all the fair play criticisms against me while also taking a cue from my international counterparts.

On state enforcement - you clearly took the effort on all other aspects. Would appreciate if you could clarify what you meant because I really don’t see a point here.

As a partner, I see a constant gripe with the fact that partners ask their junior resources what to advise a client. This is not uncommon and is a very standard practice in the industry. The reason is simply because we want to understand your thought process and whether you have the skills to advise a client on your own. If your thought process is weak, or your fundamentals flawed, we simply do not trust you with responsibility, plain and simple.

As for work life balance, if you want to run a marquee practice like financial regulatory or cap marks or GC, you should let go of that expectation since the client is extremely important.

A better pool of students, no domicile, far better than NUJS, higher academic standards, better infrastructure, and frankly, NLUD’s faculty are still better than whatever local West Bengal colleges NUJS hires from. Not to mention the research centres that put NUJS to absolute shame.

Good riddance- the phrase works both ways. A brand is only as big as the people who make it big. Icarus flew too high and we all know how that story ends.

Arrogance has caused the downfall of many institutions.

Introspection, realisation of harsh reality and suitable corrective measures help save the downward spiral.

Can someone please explain in detail how the salary structure in a law firm works? And the different ways that law firms compensate - for a fresher. For any T1 firm - it’s fixed plus bonus.

How is bonus calculated?

What are the bands for different ratings (1-4)?

It would be great if someone can shed some light, I’m sure a lot of us will benefit from this.

For different firms, please indicate name of firm and how salary structure works from A0 level to upwards as they progress.

His supporters say:

- He was targeted by racists because he is black

- He is genuinely a brilliant scholar

- The allegations of language copying and falsification of research data are exaggerated

- The allegation that he lied about his life when he said he ran 30 marathons in 30 days with a broken leg, and various other claims, are not relevant: only issues related to his academic work are relevant

- Again, the allegation that he targeted a journalist investigating him through the police and a law firm are outside the ambit of academia and not relevant

- Due regard should be given to the fact that he has autism

His opponents say:

- He should not have been made a professor at 37. Merit was ignored at the expense of DEI

- Non-black academics with better research records and publications were ignored

- His research has no rigour and is full of woke buzzwords

- The plagiarism charges are serious.

- The statements made by him about running marathons are proven lies which should be taken seriously because a professor should behave ethically

- involving the police against the journalist was harassment

Masterstroke by SP ….▮▮▮ ;-)

Should one now, laugh/cry to this great learned, wise & intellectual, legend of an anecdote.

Speaking on her exit, CAM Managing Partner Cyril Shroff said,

“She has spent most of her career with the firm. Given her seniority, she wants to explore the natural progression of being an independent arbitration practitioner and arbitrator. We are very supportive of her decision and see it as a logical step as an arbitration practitioner. We wish her all success.“

Is it? I don't know- 16-18 hours look quite nice compared to any other job. Every uni has its own admin and other institutional work as well- that is something everyone has to do. Many universities mandate attendance every day, NLS doesn't for the faculty.

Then NLS has AAD that does a lot of heavy lifting- someone who went to a uni without such department told how much extra they had to give because no auch dept was present at their place.

I am Bo'27 and was recently placed at CAM via the Day 0 process at my T1 NLU.

I wanted to know when will CAM send out official email confirmations from their end or offer letters?

Also do we have to do a mandatory internship or will we be directly posted as an A0?

Any insights shall be appreciated!

Child, as a partner at a tier 1 with a privacy practice, I'd advise you to not consider a career at Big4 or in-house at all. In-house you're the worst sort of cost center you could be. At Big4 your being a lawyer doesn't matter coz your employer can't formally provide legal advice and that matters.

Id also caution you that privacy is just the flavour of the season, like insolvency was all the rage in 2016. Even at peak flavour season, you can't make a decent target on Tech/Privacy in a law firm and will have to do some GC/M&A/FSRP. Try to do the things that traditionally pay the most, being GC/PE/M&A. Or do something that's not as high paying but perpetually on and in demand like debt, or funds.

If one wants to have live in Kolkata which firms will provide that stability

Khaitan, argus or aquilaw

Will aquilaw still be as relevant as it was under TMC regime , like if one wants to make name.

They have some connections in Calcutta HC as well

Pay wise as well ,

GNLU guy

I get what u are trying to say but it's really not small legal circle anymore.

From my personal experience almost everyone knows about "Bangalore law school" "Hyderabad law school" "Kolkata law school" and "Dwarka law school" in Delhi High court and supreme court

Yeah, right. Your knowledge of political theory and philosophy is pretty out of sorts - an odd gap for somebody who read law at university, wouldn't you say? No doubt you found a shortcut to hack your law degree and graduate successfully.

But also, your knowledge of history is equally poor, which is quite surprising. Look at Russia in the immediate post-Soviet years - before the advent of Vladimir Putin. They operated on the model you described. See how it went. Russia wouldn't be fucked up like it is now if it weren't for that kind of thing.

They can hire you. It is not impossible at all. Just keep working somewhere or the other consistently. Make sure your practice area is not not TOO VARIED. Like for litigation - stick to litigation while you may experiment with regulatory, trial or appellate litigation. Write some solid articles. Many tier-1's also hire research associates so that also you can apply for. Keep practicing in chambers, join a senior advocate or some other boutique law firms with good mandates. You can work with ex-tier 1 partners who open their own firms (there are MANY). They have good work. Then you can switch. But why do you even want to. PhD is a far better route. Tier-1's are soul sucking hellholes. It's law, it's everywhere! Do not lost hope! all the best

It is without doubt the absolute best financial services regulatory practices not just in the firm but in the industry. The partner has the deepest knowledge of regulatory positions, so much so that he knows things that even the regulator may not know. The lore on 4th floor is that when RBI officials require clarity on some point, they call him. Even senior partners in the firm and other firms check in with him when they are stymied on a point of law. He is also one of the best mentors you could find, and is extremely participative, often asking A0s what the firm should advise the client. Work life balance in this team is also excellent, with team members not being able to recollect the last time they were required to work outside of office hours. Overall the best team to work with, but only if they select you. They are known to be very selective, going by the very lean team numbers.

The only con is that this team, much like the larger team it's part of, has clients who are 'sharks' and you won't possibly cut it in the team if you're not a trailblazer and a 'shark' like the EP this team reports to. So ya, non-sharks please excuse. Only tier A intellects with superb communication skills can survive in this team.