This happens in foreign firms too - let's not get critical of how firms function in India without any idea of how it works overseas. The racism is both overt and covert. It's impossible to have survived AZB for so long but then cut it at BnM - probably got mistreated for skin tone or accent. As for credit - there is none given willingly, unless the client does first. However given the current climate, most clients partake rather than recognize.

The movements in law firms happen so quick. Any insights. Thoughts on this development? CAM gains, JSA’s loss !

https://www.barandbench.com/news/corporate/exclusive-jsa-senior-partner-amit-kapur-to-join-cyril-amarchand-mangaldas-as-head-of-delhi-office

I wrote CUET UG this year and expecting enough to get into BHU BALLB comfortably. My other option would be to join DU south campus for BA hons and maybe go for a partial drop for CLAT (Not very inclined towards this, as I'm already 19 and starting college at 20 feels depressing).

I'm unable to make a decision here, as both the options come with their own cons. I can opt for a non professional degree in Delhi and stay closer to my home, or go for a professional course in a tier 2 town which doesn't really have many opportunities (correct me fi I'm wrong here).

Please share details about BHU BALLB program and what should I go for based on my options.

This is actually such a good post that won't be well-received by the modern day slaves of T1 law firms. Any workplace worth spending time at promotes physical and mental wellbeing, and this is true for the leading law firms outside India as well. Yet I consistently see the unhealthiest, most depressed individuals at law firms; the irony is that it'll be these same people who reject this idea.

Hope this discussion makes it past LI and has some real impact tho.

I've been working a couple of years at my current gig, looking to move on. I'm financially comfortable enough to quit my litigation job, and look for a job in a few months. People around me are discouraging me on various grounds: it will be hard to negotiate a new salary, I will fall out of the network, it might look like I was kicked out, etc. I work at a firm in Mumbai.

I'm wondering if there's truth to this, have other people done it? I want to do it just because I'd like a nice break for a couple of months and focus on hobbies. This is normal in most other industries, so I think it should be okay here?

Hello, LI Moderators. You’ve marked my comment as “Contested.” Fair enough. But surely such a designation implies that some factual claim is either inaccurate or misleading. Could you identify exactly which part of my comment fails that test? If the objection is ideological rather than factual, it would be more honest to say so. Otherwise, I’d appreciate a clear explanation of what, specifically, is untrue.

I personally think your idea is stupid since NRI quota subsidies the education of all other students, but you can't file a PIL against it unless you want to overturn the affirming precedents that have recognized it's constitutionality. Plus it was clarified that colleges can choose to enforce or restrict NRI/Management Quota as they please, you're better off convincing the consortium or individual colleges/State Edu Dept. to amend their structure of NRI Quota.

Ex TL lawyer here. Some good things about TL from my time there:

It is better organised and managed than other law firms of its size. The finance, HR and the Admin / IT teams definitely seem to have a better grip of things and are impressive at what they do. This does NOT mean they are nice folks but they perform their functions reasonably well.

The 'up or out' culture is actually a good thing. The chances of dealing with a clogged up higher management on crucial matters and developing client relationships is low and there is not as much dead weight sitting at the top as there is in other firms. Dead weight is not unique to Indian law firms btw. And as you try and expand your client base as a young Partner or Counsel, not having to deal with deadweight BS is a giant blessing (believe me!).

Some of their functional teams (at least when I was there) are genuinely good at their work. The Competition / employment / Secretarial teams were pretty spot on in their observations during complex diligences. At least I never saw a major screwup on their part. These functions can be a nightmarish prospect to navigate in most big firms. The Tri experience was a lot better. Not sure if this still holds true but I did get a chance to work with some smart and professional folks when I was there.

(This one may no longer be true but let me say it anyway). The office spacing and seating is a lot better than most big firms. The old One Indiabulls office (above KCo) was well lit up, reasonably well spaced and didn't have a drab, cave-like feeling that a lot of big firms put you through. I am told their new office is superbly designed and good on the management to keep that facet of the firm working experience alive. When you are working away at your desk over the weekend, it helps in knowing that you have a comfortable place to sit (& bawl, I guess).

The random office party they would throw now and then were generally good. If you have some good friends in the office, it is nice to have the chance to party with them in an office setting. This does not apply to the offsites though. I found those to be rather sad and boring (too much emphasis on random academic talks and too little partying). Maybe that has changed now, who knows?

It makes a lot of sense to go there early in your career, so you have a better chance of absorbing the culture and 'fitting in' better with the firm's ethos. They (the firm's management) are a brilliant lot, without a doubt.

The idea that firms will continue to employ 500, 1,000 or 2,000 lawyers at current levels feels increasingly optimistic.

If AI can handle first drafts, DD reviews, research, summaries and markups in minutes, the leverage model changes.

I also know of Tier 1 firms charging clients fees that barely make economic sense simply to preserve strategic relationships and market share. When pricing pressure and AI collide, the traditional pyramid becomes even harder to justify.

My prediction: law firms and in house legal teams will operate with 30 to 40% fewer lawyers within the next two years while delivering similar output.

The bigger question is not whether lawyers survive its whether the traditional law firm model does.

Find another Rhodes Scholar + Oxford DPhil who has been taught/supervised by Paul Craig, because if there is one thing that guy teaches very well, it is how to make sure you aren't forced to suffer fools. An Indian uni VC needs to be able to do that, because she will be dealing with ministers and so on who are just about fifth class passes. Therefore, the one taking on the responsibility of doing what you are suggesting needs to first start by having the skill to put fools in their place. Hope this helps. All the best.

Y'all are really naive if you didn't understand the agenda. 😅 See these articles from Vice and Time:

"Running Clubs Are the New Dating Apps" https://www.vice.com/en/article/running-clubs-are-the-new-dating-apps/

"Running Clubs Are a Horrible Place to Date" https://time.com/article/2026/05/10/running-clubs-are-a-horrible-place-to-date/

Everyone knows that these run clubs are nothing but a facade for dating. They are trying to copy this American fad and import it to India, where most streets and parks are horrible for running anyway, plus the weather is too hot. The Time article says: "It’s clear everyone is here for only one goal: women are whispering about who their type is, while the men are hitting on the newest girl to join the club. " But in India, unlike in there West, 90% of the crowd will be sex-starved guys. It will be like that even in lawyer groups.

So try alternatives where the ratio will be better and you have a statistically higher chance!! Run clubs are just too hackneyed now.

so I have done 10+ good internships, have tier 1 and 2 on my CV, whenever i apply to Indus Law, their hr, khushboo just reject within a day without any reason.
i'd understand if it would be lack of slot issue but I dont think its that, its like her only job is to reject, i have tried apply 3-4 times all at different times in my career and she just rejects. i really wanna intern there, does anyone have any idea how to crack it

Bar & Bench: 70% of content is now paid PR. LiveLaw has a lot of tacky promotional content and the quality of writing/analysis is poor. Can’t believe these sites have the audacity to paywall their content, after making so much money from advertising and PR! Both sites are also politically biased in favour of the left-liberal ecosystem and one can see the ideology of their staff on their X accounts. Then there is LawBeat: Just a BJP mouthpiece and that Sanya Talwar is totally RW.

Contrast that with how LI used to be back in the day, when the present Gen Z were barely born. It had excellent crowdsourced news on law firms and law schools. Ran a campaign against Manan Mishra of the Bar Council, as well as many corrupt NLU VCs. In fact, a lot of protests, leading to the resignation of these people, took place after exposes by LI: Veer Singh of NALSAR, Ishwar Bhat of NUJS, Bimal Patel of GNLU, SS Singh of NLIU, Sukhpal Singh of HNLU… lots.

Now these sites do puja of NLU VCs and glorify then.

You're missing the point here. If you go to a senior, his opinion overrides T1s opinion. Hence, the firm would always say go with seniors view, if you've gone to a senior, else what even is logic of going to a senior? The firm can have its own view and senior may have different view, that's entirely possible. Just because they've different view, doesn't make firm's view wrong one. I've a personal experience, we went to a senior for a matter (because there was a straight adverse judgment against us, which was incorrect in our view). The senior was categorical in his view that no point in litigating but we still briefed him, went ahead with the litigation and ultimately won. So, no. A blanket statement is not correct.

Again this.

No - we are sitting and defending our profession before clients you lot disappoint. To be honest - we are disappointed too. My boss even spoke to some partners who quietly acknowledge the rot.

Client is now using investors foreign firm to vet every advise after provisions cited are wrong. That foreign firm must be now shopping from every lit team they know. Great job guys.

We still have our mandate and are due in court.

NLU alumni don't prefer NLSIU only because the VC is an NLU alumnus himself. It is also because NLSIU is the only NLU to have regularly and frequently held recruitment drives during Sudhir's time. They routinely recruit once a year, at times twice and release the results relatively within reasonable time after the interviews. No other NLU does all of that at present.

Unrelated to Symbi Law grads in new WB govt. The new min of state (unlike Cabinet Minister earlier) for Law and Judicial Depts in GoWB is a 33 yr old advocate from North Bengal. Given the pervasity of ageism and/or gerontocracy I doubt he will have much of a voice in NUJS EC. But what is more likely is a NLU or an extension of NUJS in Siliguri, which already has a circuit bench of the HC.

Foreign law firms work differently. There is a lot of individual work and personal involvement in your case files. Making the team work and solely taking credit for their work and ideas will work only in Indian law firms. Won’t last long, like other partners who have joined as senior associates in US firms

If you're going to be rude, or are a troll, don't comment on this post, don't try to dis-illusion me; scroll straight past.

Those who agree with me know exactly where I'm coming from; if by some stroke of sheer luck you come across this post, I urge you to email me at nluthrowawayforpil@gmail.com

NLU Students, Advocates, and all those more qualified than me, I seek bona-fide, well-intentioned advice and reality checks, as I currently view this as a serious endeavour.

I am not overly optimistic, and am merely exploring options. I will take what advice I can get, and would be deeply grateful for the same, so please do reach out to me through mail.

My quals: Student at top 3 nlu (through merit) and 98% in 12th (only disclosing because LI trolls now won't come at me for my supposed "saltiness" and "lack of competence" now)

I seek light at the end of the tunnel, please help me.

Atleast one person is trying to address some of the long-standing issues and rot in the system, and that naturally takes time. The problems are deep-rooted. But the question is not only about the system. What about the state of the Bar itself? There is a growing perception that relationships often matter more than merit. Pitches seem to focus less on capability and track record and more on access and proximity. The implicit message sometimes appears to be: “Look at who I can call” rather than “Look at what I can do.”One hears stories of pitches where the emphasis is on attendance at private parties of xx, rather than the strength of legal advice. I hope that madam is able to stem the rot and Bar come to realize there is far more value to be made from good lawyering than from cultivating access.

The idea here is to be constructive and suggest ways in which they can bridge the gulf.

The gaps are as follows:

1. Faculty quality (NLU alumni talent all prefer NLSIU, because the VC is an NLU alum)

2. Private sector donors

3. Gap in NIRF and QS rankings (GNLU and NUJS don't even feature in QS)

4. Global ties

5. Overall repute and standing

Honestly, it's the fault of the kids and their parents for even appearing for this exam if they very obviously don't have the talent to make it. Pvt colleges have their own entrance exams and processes (which far more people convert) but no one seems to have a problem. Everyone only has a problem with a state institution which is already poorly funded, making money from this.

An additional plus point of AILET for NLUD is that it helps them get talented students who may have performed badly in CLAT. In such sense, it's a second chance for those students (who did badly at CLAT but could clear AILET) as well, as it was for me many moons ago.

Depends on which demographic you are looking at. If your NLU has very elite big city girls, they may already have a dating and sexual history, and may not be interested in inexperienced guys. Those from smaller towns are often similarly inexperienced, so perhaps better chances there.

But regardless of this, if you are a class topper and have good social skills, you may be surprisingly sought after, if you are willing to share class notes and give private lessons before the exam.

1. Jocks

2. Class toppers with good social skills

3. Experienced and confident guys

That’s the hierarchy I have observed.

2021:-completed 12th standard

2021-2023:Took a 2year academic drop to prepare for CLAT(BALLB) . Unfortunately I did not clear the cutoff.

2023-2026: completed B. Sc. , I am currently 23yr old

I recently appeared for the CUET PG exam to secure seat in DU 3yr LLB program. However, my score is not sufficient to clear the DU cutoff this year

I am at a critical career crossroads and need realistic advice on which path to choose next;

Should I join a private law college immediately this year to avoid further academic gaps?

Or should I take another drop year to prepare for DU, NLS 3yr LLB(NLSAT) ? Given my past 2year drop after 12th , will another gap year hurt my corporate placement or law firm CV?

Since I am 23with a B.Sc. degree should I shift my focus entirely to preparing for government job exams instead of pursuing law?

Practically everyone is in London this week for London International Disputes Week and the networking opportunities surrounding it. The Ministry of Law and Justice deserves credit for participating and for promoting sport as a means of relationship-building. Unlike Twitter activism, it actually tends to produce tangible results.

What is striking, though, is watching commentary from people who have never spent a day worrying about where the next brief is coming from. This particular gentleman has enjoyed the extraordinary privilege of spending his entire career in PIL work and activism, largely because he was born into circumstances that insulated him from the commercial realities faced by ordinary lawyers. Being Shanti Bhushan's son comes with certain advantages.

More than ten years ago, he publicly disclosed that he was worth around ₹100 crore. Good for him. But that rather undermines any claim to understand the daily realities of practitioners who must earn mandates, attract clients, meet payroll, and run viable practices.

The truth is that there is a certain type of lawyer whose entire worldview is shaped by never having had to compete in the marketplace. They mistake financial insulation for moral enlightenment and activism for professional achievement. It is easy to sneer at networking when one has never depended on it. It is easy to dismiss commercial success when one has never had to pursue it.

So by all means, let him speak about activism. On that subject, he has experience. But when it comes to the business of law, client development, or building a successful practice, he is about as qualified to advise the profession as a trust-fund heir is to lecture people on making payroll.

If you have examples of him clamping down, please provide. He's not that sort of guy. He literally laughs hysterically when telling stories of how he and his flatmates sometimes had to physically carry up drunken Australians in their Oxford accommodation, whose capacity to drink beer he is still amazed at. Prudish/fastidious types would not laugh at that. They would frown, look contemptuous and try to avoid telling such stories if they could at all manage it.

Educational Background & Timeline:

- 2021: Completed 12th standard.
- 2021–2023: Took a 2-year academic drop to prepare for CLAT (BA LLB). Unfortunately, I did not clear the cutoff.
- 2023–2026: Pursued and successfully completed a 3-year B.Sc. degree. I am currently 23 years old.

Current Situation:
I recently appeared for the CUET PG exam to secure a seat in Delhi University's (DU) 3-year LLB program. However, my score is not sufficient to clear the DU cutoff this year.

My Dilemma & Options:
I am at a critical career crossroads and need realistic advice on which path to choose next:

1. Private Law College: Should I join a private law college immediately this year to avoid further academic gaps? If so, which private colleges are worth the investment for a 3-year LLB?
2. Another Drop Year for Premier Institutes: Should I take another drop year to prepare intensely for DU (via CUET PG 2027) or NLS Bangalore's 3-year LLB (NLSAT)? Given my past 2-year drop after 12th, will another gap year hurt my corporate placement or law firm CV?
3. Pivot to Government Exams: Since I am 23 with a B.Sc. degree, should I shift my focus entirely to preparing for government job exams instead of pursuing law? [1]

Tax in general is heavily dominated by CAs. Direct tax is complicated due to the involvement of accounts and vast volume and CAs are already aware of majority of the sections while lawyers read very little in law school. Indirect tax has a better number of lawyers in practice.

Between Direct tax advisory and litigation, choose litigation, because CAs cannot appear before courts. However, CAs will always have an edge over lawyers when it comes to advisory, primarily due to their better understanding of law and numbers and their ability to see how a transaction will be affected both from a legal and commercial standpoint.

Coming from a person who was in tax for 2 years and is looking to move to a different field.

What kind of issues does your child have? The answer to your question could depend on that.

I do wish to add that the law (disputes or corporate), by its very nature, is not the best suited place for neurodivergent individuals. There are high pressure environments, difficult deadlines, need to handle multiple things at the same time, unreasonable people, unpleasant people, strong competition with almost everyone, need for good social skills (manage difficult people (upwards or downwards), get clients, etc.) which are all essential for a successful legal career. Legal practice can also affect mental health and those issues can get magnified for some neurodivergent people. [Source: I know neurodivergent lawyers who have underachieved despite being great lawyers.]

So media is reporting that Mamata will merge her faction of the TMC with the Congress and become Congress National Vice President, while Abhishek becomes National General Secretary. This means MG will automatically become a Congress RS MP now!! Fantastic outcome for her. Joins a national party, gets access to Rahul and gets a chance to represent Cong governments in TN, Telangana, Karnataka and Kerala.

MG must be secretly celebrating that the BJP won. 😅

National Secretary of ABVP and criminal lawyer apparently. Has a BALLB (Hons) from Jalpaiguri Law College, North Bengal University. Total assets declared 19 lakhs and total income 5 lakhs per annum. So I'm guessing mostly a modest district court level practice and more into ABVP/RSS activism. Also has 5 criminal cases pending, but I wouldn't read much into that as the TMC habitually filed fake cases against opponents.

https://www.facebook.com/adv.biraj.biswas/

https://www.myneta.info/WestBengal2026/candidate.php?candidate_id=416

Incidentally, an NUJS graduate was once the rising lawyer face of the BJP in Bengal and got a Lok Sabha ticket, but his career got derailed after a male party worker filed a SH case against him (the worker shortly joined the TMC after filing the case). He has since stayed away from politics, focused on his law practice and probably his health (lost a lot of weight). And the SH case has magically died down. Good for him, I guess. Politics is sadly too dirty and not meant for well-educated NLU lawyers!

lol. just go to clubs or house parties. if you have a social life, and a "life" outside of law, you can easily date without having the need to download these weird apps, and trying this new running club. unfortunately, most people I've come across can't hold a conversation to save their life, and also most corporate lawyers suffer from high superiority complex, which makes nobody really want to be around them for long enough. further, the stress them badly too. to be honest, its just better to leave law I feel after a point, or to switch to a role which allows you the freedom and time to explore life outside. I wish the obsession with Tier 1, and universities alumni "class" ends, and people end up living for themselves, this is actually increasingly very unhealthy. having relationships is a very human part of our life, and most people if you interact they are so miserable, no wonder, they can't date, and not to blame them too, they tend to attach all value of self to their high paying job, and justify it with long stressful hours taking away precious youth.

After a prolonged delay of 3 months, the SC has finally decided to release the Law Clerk results on 12th June 2026, after students mass mailed regarding the inordinate delay in declaration. Big win for students!

This is a developing story and will be updated continuously

Just in. Portfolios finally allocated and law officers appointed!!

Finance - Swapan Dasgupta.

Higher Education - Jagannath Bhattacharya

Law - Stays with Suvendu Adhikary

AG - Surojit Nath Mitra (Hazra Law College alum)

ASG - Dhiraj Kumar Trivedi (DU alum)

Additional AG - Billwadal Bhattacharya (Symbi alum, previously DSG)

How does this impact NUJS?? Who will be calling the shots among these people?? A bit sad to see no NUJS alum associated with the present government. Maybe because most are left-leaning?

I'm planning on joining the BA LLB course at BITS Law School this July. Total course fees comes to around 70 lakhs. Couldn't get myself a scholarship, buthat should be fine. I'll be a first generation lawyer. Any thoughts or insights about the college? All opinions are welcome.

P.S: Please avoid the Jindal glaze, Jindal was never an option for me. CLAT Rank was 4k this year, didn't write any other law entrance exam as I am a science student who wrote CLAT with 0 prep and didn't know what all exams I should be writing. If you need any other details, feel free to ask :)