JFYI.......IIM Calcutta will also receive ₹500 crore in funding for expansion. The previous TMC government had stalled this.

And Jadavpur just received ₹ 1,000 crore in funding.
https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/kolkata/budget-boost-for-ju-excellence-plan-centre-to-contribute-rs-1000-crore-state-rs-250-crore-says-finance-minister-swapan-dasgupta-prnt/cid/2166737

So this is a royal snub for WBNUJS.

I have an internship confirmed for September, primarily with the DR team. I am from an upper tier 3 NLU and went through the traditional application process by emailing the firm my CV. Is there a stipend provision? I have heard there is a significant NLU-Non NLU bias there, but do they count tier 3 NLUs as NLUs?

Is there any rule on how many days a Bar Council can take to register an applicant? The three-year practice period starts from the date of registration, but it has been over 50 days and I’m still not registered. Other State Bar Councils are doing it much faster. Such delays could cost an aspirant an entire year!

Aside from your experience letter - in case you don't already have it - ensure that you take a copy of the offer letter / contract you signed at the time of joining. Some firms have the bad practice of not giving this upfront. Later employers sometimes ask for it. If you got a salary bump/ bonus take that letter as well.

Not always needed - but always helps to have the record. Some firms now a days also allow you to download 'salary slips' from their internal HR portal (not accurate) - which you might need for tax.

They will also make you sign a bunch of documents (confidentiality letters etc.) - better to take a photo of those as well before signing - for good measure, just in case.

One student apologised for her posts against an Israeli prof, but was still given punishment by being asked to write a "reflective" essay.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/9/kcl-pro-palestine-tensions

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/20/uk-universities-pay-to-spy-on-students-social-media-accounts

Lmao guys it is peak recruitment season - please be productive and focus on bagging offers through merit instead of this whataboutery and targetting colleges. No recruiter gives a flying fuck about LI anyway, you'd be better of saving your time trying to outreach potential hirers if you're part of some RCC, or studying if you're a candidate. Hope everyone gets hired everywhere.

It’s true, check S&R Press Release:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/s%26r-associates_announcement-capitalmarkets-lawyers-activity-7482763232605163522-5evQ?utm_medium=ios_app&rcm=ACoAAABvUJ4BT_tVzFiqhzhMpeT9D-ii-xx-5ZY&utm_source=social_share_send&utm_campaign=copy_link

Naman undoubtedly played a key role in capital markets and deserves full credit for his contributions. At the same time, reducing the legacy to only business development overlooks a significant part of what made the platform successful.

Mr. Pradyun wasn't just driving relationships, he combined business development with execution, coordination, and getting things done on the ground. Strong relationships can create opportunities, but converting them into outcomes requires equally strong execution. That combination is difficult to replace, and that's why the legacy has inevitably felt the impact of his absence.

Can someone please confirm whether the International Counsel is still practising law or has quietly acquired the Indian capital markets?

The comments here are incredible 😂 Merchant bankers with him. Investors with him. Market relationships with him. “Pure strings” also with him.

What was left for the rest of the firm? The printer?

The Capital Markets King is apparently BlackRock, SEBI and a Tier 1 law firm rolled into one counsel.

Legacy should stop hiring associates. Clearly all they need is the International Counsel, one laptop and good WiFi

Wait, ▮▮▮ controls the merchant bankers, investors AND market relationships? 😂

Why is this man practising law? Give him a Bloomberg terminal and the Finance Ministry.

“The pure strings were with him throughout” has killed me. My brother in Christ, this is an SME IPO practice, not the Bilderberg Group.

Apparently everyone else was thrown out and Legacy has now assembled the Avengers because they hired a few associates and promoted people with two years' experience.

Meanwhile Mr. International Capital Markets Counsel sits at the centre of the Indian securities market personally allocating merchant bankers and investors.

Peak Legally India fiction. Please continue. 😂

This is becoming comical. Nobody was “thrown out”, but apparently anonymous insiders now have access to HR decisions, merchant banker complaints and the entire firm's succession planning.

And the suggestion that one individual alone “controls” the capital markets relationships, merchant bankers and deal flow is even better. At this rate, perhaps SEBI, the exchanges, investors and every law firm in the country should also start routing matters through the self-proclaimed international capital markets counsel.

Two-year lawyers being made PAs is an “upgrade”, but everyone else leaving was “thrown out”. Convenient narrative.

This reads less like market intelligence and more like firm-sponsored humbug. ▮▮▮

The Legend of the "Simple" Litigator

He dreamt of courts, of robes, of fame,

"A litigator! his proud claim.

With confidence both bold and ample,

He'd always say, "Let's keep it simple!"

Yet every file grew twice its size,

With notes, annexures, and surprise.

The "simple" path we'd hoped to see,

Became a legal family tree!

When hearing day would finally come,

We'd think, "Today's the beating drum!"

But somehow fate would intervene...

"An adjournment!: the favourite scene.

tbh most of the T1 firms don't provide the major works to intern and even if they did it will be like preparing summary, list of dates , etc., So will suggest you to ask them about drafting and try to befriend an associate and tell them your condition, getting closer to one of the associate always helped me.

OUT:

- All TMC ministers

- Senior Advocate Ratnanko Banerji

- A pro-TMC Senior Advocate

IN:

- Suvendu Adhikary

- Swapan Dasgupta

- Aquilaw founder Sanjay Basu

- Ashim Ray

- Kalyan Bandopadhyay

- a pro-TMC person whose spouse is a pro-TMC lawyer but has now done a flip (IYKYK).

- New chairman of WBHRC

So years and years of being a TMC acolyte is ok as long as you ditch the party now??? 🙄🙄 Or will they be removed soon??

https://www.nujs.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/WBNUJS-General-Council-Membership-Status-as-on-01.07.2026.pdf

https://www.nujs.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/WBNUJS-Executive-Council-Membership-Status-as-on-01.07.2026.pdf

So I am interning in a tier 1 law firm. I mailed my team in morning to ask for work and then went to them in person as asked as well. I have not gotten even a single deliverable since doj. Should I approch them again and if this persists how often should I be asking them for work?

Bhai actually the point is Legacy has gained all this recognition just bcoz of Mr. Chakravarty who himself has started and established this capital markets practice, its going to be a big loss for legacy and the remaining associates there no matter if a new debt capital markets partner is being hired equity practice will suffer badly.

So we essentially get an IIT in Kolkata now..

What about NUJS?? Maybe a push for National Importance status for NUJS? Or a funding increase? Or more land?

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/state-to-send-iiest-upgrade-proposal-to-centre/articleshow/132371286.cms

You already have CIPPE. How useful is it? It's just a nice to have certification. It won't be the sole reason you would get hired in your next role. Your work exp at this MNC would be the primary reason for any hiring managers deciding factor to hire you. CIPPE just tells 'I do upskill, if you send me a DPA I will atleast understand it'.

SQE is also like that. It just proves to some hiring managers a positive image. That too if the hiring manger is based out of London or Dubai. These days for Indian roles, hiring managers are based out of India itself.

Basis what I talked to a professor and some former Infosys interns in an around Bangalore who knows about this. Infosys Prodigy is competitive—around 1000 students have been writing this test for the past 2 years, going through multiple rounds of interviews, and they may take 10 fresher lawyers in the end. Few of my classmates and seniors have applied for Prodigy. I had my application rejected probably because they only take those who finish law school by 2026.

The salary is below industry standards, starting at just 5 to 6 lpa, and even after 2 years the pay will only be around 10 to 12 lpa. But my professor told me that the brand value your CV will have after getting in will be as good as what you would get at a tier 1 law firm or a major MNC's legal team. This role is based out of Trivandrum - which is also a disadvantage considering its a tier 3 city.

So the advice she gave is simple: work on prodigy for less than 2 years, and then go for a jump with a substantial hike.

Engineers at Infosys are also underpaid, but after 2 years they jump with good hike to other companies. As a lawyer, you would be fully eligible and have much better offers than the average engineer when you make that jump, because that 'Lawyer at an MNC' brand can open doors at other MNC companies that usually never hire fresher lawyers.

If you are considering the Infosys LPM program for a Legal Analyst role (based in Pune or Gurgaon), it's recommend to avoid it. Despite the 'legal' title, you will not be treated or valued as a lawyer; the role functions much more like a generic process executive. This is different from Prodigy exam. You will be assigned to a specific client account doing highly repetitive, non-legal tasks with very little actual legal work. Because of this, the pay is low, and making future career jumps back into other legal roles will be difficult. This above was told by an ex - Infosys Legal LPM lawyer to an intern who was there.

Man BUMP max! It has been two days of me waiting to get my query posted here. The mods have really gone to hibernation or what? I tried posting an alternative on Reddit previously but the comment was not posted by these mods. I am really not sure now if they are going to post this even or not, but such a shame.

That's the point. That's why universities prefer "safe" phd topics so that they can just throw it to any Advisor irrespective of field. I've seen Constitution law professor guide IPR scholars, Criminal law professors guide civil law scholars, jurisprudence professors guide family law scholars. There is no respect for a specialist and their niche. Look at Maritime law, majority centres like in MNLU and NLUO don't even have Maritime law professors in Maritime law centers. A taxation professor is teaching Maritime law. This is the level of legal education in India.

If you apply outside, you first mail the faculty. Then if and when the faculty approves then you apply at the University, which inturn asks the faculty if approval was given. Here all of us, irrespective of specialisation give the same entrance, and same interview and then are thrown to any random professor.

All the NLUs that opened a LLB program have absolutely dented their reputation. Started with NLS where hostels are now unavailable and faculty is teaching 100 kids. Then NLUO was worse with 50% domicile already and now their LLB batch has taken a first come first serve approach. CNLU has fights where internships and recruitment is being fought amongst students. Etc.

Look, one can't generalise. Depends from partner to partner and team to team across firms. Some will be more empathetic, others less. But yes, as a general rule of thumb, you'll fare better at law firms when you reconcile to the fact that an individual lawyer's personal troubles are not really a high priority concern for anyone. You are useful till the time you are able to bill. Harsh but true.

Ask AI this question and you will get all garbage responses about professional management and current practice leaders becoming MPs even in the large family firms. Shows the limitations of AI in understanding the Indian Lala culture.

Also this is now in a way also linked to opening up to allow foreign firms, assuming it happens in our lifetime 😝

I am doing my ba llb from lpu cause sadly I did not give any entrances. I have published a few papers and constantly write on blogs while constantly preparing for clat pg to get a llm from a good nlu for either a job or a phd futher on. I am trying out for placements in thinktanks and LPO's and in courts for for position of legal researcher. ​am I doomed. Trying my best to prep for exams and curate skills. Also if I do a llm from some nlu can I get a good job from there?

2026 pass out. I have done good internships & am in top 5 of my college ranks. did one assessment only to be told recently, hiring is frozen. I was sure I was gonna get placed. College offers no support except poorly paid no name litigation chambers. What are my possible options? I absolutely cannot settle for any any small firm given my experiences, its embarrassing and my friends have accepted very low paying offers like 15000 pm, I dont want that, thats been my stipend in the past.

No. You will get the degree of MNLU but will will be a student of NISM and it's curriculum which is unique, niche and different from MNLU LLM or other NLU LLM. It's NISM.that will bring campus placements to you as you, not MNLU.

And ig this is India's only LLM program with good placements.

https://chambers.com/articles/dll-further-strengthens-its-capital-markets-practice-with-the-addition-of-timothy-franklyn

Reviews? Looking to apply

I get the impulse, but this is kind of flattening the forest, so it is never a dangerous approach. Much better to learn boundaries and how to trust one's instincts and not treat mistakes like the end of the world. Kiss a few frogs, learn to identify control early, and invest in friendships that keep you stable through the mess. You can't police the whole world.

It’s true - wait for the confirmation to hit very soon. Agree that they are a very hardworking team but they’ve been unable to hit their targets here for the last 6 quarters. Leaving SAM was not a mistake, that team is also struggling with billables but has deeper pockets to cushion the headwinds. Interesting times

Hi , I have recently joined NUJS, .

Background - 24 y old , with science background did a year in bsc zoology after giving neet twice then dropped out to do some business and trading, joined bsc physics on the side a year later , then currently while finishing my final year gave clat as I found a lot of stuff surrounding the legal side of M&A, VC interesting, I had a liking towards the legal profession for few years but due to financial constraints and not being from a legal family I was unable to commit to it back then

Now I get that I am a older student and 2 out of 10 top firms might reject me completely on the basis of age ( cause of ageism, still I have heard that law firms don't care that much ) .

So I request anyone here if they can guide me , specially nujs alumni or any suggestion or anything on how to manage stuff , how to intern, which co curriculars would help, how is Calcutta HC( heard not good), also i have a keen interest in policy think tanks as well ( but currently more interested in the financial side of things)

PS- anyone asking why ballb, cause NUJS don't have llb, wanted to be with my single mom ( I lived in Delhi for 5 years) , plus I am more comfortable in my city,

Please moderator help

I am a symbi grad and currently unemployed. While many of my batchmates have secured jobs, many are still navigating the same uncertainty. But there is one thing I can say with complete conviction. I secured most of my internships because of the relationships I built with alumni. The college did help in few, but that was also mostly because of the alumni network.

Over the years, I had had the privilege of interacting with some exceptionally hardworking partners, principal associates, senior associates, and associates at law firms from SLS, Pune. One lesson has become abundantly clear. Your network is your social capital. Your college can open a few doors, but the relationships you cultivate determine how many more remain open.

After all, today's conversation could very well become tomorrow's client, referral, mentor, or opportunity. People invest in people long before they invest in credentials.

What genuinely surprises me is how underrated networking and interpersonal skills continue to be in law school. We spend years mastering statutes, precedents, and drafting, yet often overlook the art of building trust, nurturing professional relationships, and having meaningful conversations. In today's legal profession, being technically competent may get your foot in the door, but emotional intelligence, curiosity, and the ability to connect with people are what keep you in the room. Also, underrated is having fun at workspace, while also cracking quality and deadlines.

One thing I will always be grateful for is the Symbi alumni community. The partners, in particular, have been incredibly generous with their time, remarkably approachable, and genuinely invested in helping students grow. And also the base in UK, US and Singapore. Folks at NYU, Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard. Folks securing scholarships and TCs abroad. Folks cracking deals at law firms and companies. And every symbi hustler, finding their space in this world! Perhaps that generosity is something they themselves inherited from those who came before them, and they continue to pay it forward.

You don't need to know everything. You simply need the courage to reach out, ask thoughtful questions, and start conversations. More often than not, you will discover that people are willing to help far more than you expect.

Your degree may introduce you, but your reputation, relationships, and character will carry you the rest of the way.

Shout Out to Akshay Malhotra, Gouri Puri, Abhilash Chandran, Roxanne, Nikunj Maheshwari, Anjan Dasgupta, Kunal Chandra, Neeraj Menon, Gautam Chabra, Gautam Singh and Richa Choudhary!

I live in Mumbai and have passed out of a not so notable law college and so far have only had one internship from a not so notable place. I was burned out from all the travelling i had to do during the course of this internship and as somone with a crippling social anxiety i was filled with dread over having to appear before a judge. I also think litigation demands accountability and responsibility i'm reluctant to shoulder at the moment. Having had a bad experiance i pivoted to finance and spent two years learning before i hit the wall and now i'm forced to fall back on my law degree with a substantial time and skill gap. Based on what my friends have described to me working in firms can be very challenging because of the long strenous hours. As someone who has hobbies and values personal time a lot, i'm unable to commit to this kind of an arangement because it's the very thing that made me leave law in the first place. I was wondering what maybe the best bet for me, which department shows promise of making me the most money while being relatively less demanding and keeping a healthy work-life balance?

So my question to you all is this: many a time, we go out for drinks even on weekdays and return home at 2 a.m., or sometimes between 2 and 4 a.m. The next day, we have court, early morning client meetings, discussions with our partners, and all the other aspects of a lawyer's job. On top of that, we have our own pending work that needs to be completed.

On weekdays, as I have seen many people do, they go out, drink until 3 or 4 a.m., come back, sleep for a few hours, and then head straight to the office or court. Throughout all of this, they never seem to complain about a hangover, sleeplessness, or anything else. They appear as energetic as possible, and their focus at work also seems to be very good.

Whereas I face a different problem. The moment I sit for a while, whether I am looking for case law, sitting in court while other matters are being heard, or drafting something, I just fall asleep.

So how do these individuals manage it, and what is the difference? Because I have seen many of them, a great many.

No, non-compete clauses are generally not enforceable against employees. However, employers often find other ways to create hurdles for someone joining a new firm. It is also quite common for them to contact the prospective employer and provide negative feedback about the employee. Unfortunately, this is fairly rampant across many top firms.

A prominent litigator has now sounded AI job loss alarm bells. What's next for juniors/ early career lawyers?

https://x.com/i/status/2076526634954608812

this is actually a good thing we should remain the senior designation to those who are actually deserving not that evey alternat year some 10s of 100 are getting designation it should remain previlage but DHC has really outworked themself throwing designation left right and centre