I was in the same boat. Exactly the same. But over time I realised that:

a) LI and the usual cribbing about law firms always paints a bad picture. But it is not entirely true. Law firms all across the globe have intense hours. It pays you a lot of money that will ensure a good enough and comfortable upper-middle class life. It is not necessarily ALL BAD.

b) No good, high-paying profession with great career prospects is without long hours and toxicity. Being at the top of your field, be it medicine, law, engineering, finance, UPSC, you will have to sacrifice a lot of things. If you think corporate law is demanding and toxic, you have no clue about medicine.

c) Embrace the opportunity that has presented itself to you. Always remember that most problems have a way of working out themselves. You don't know how your law firm experience is going to be. Wait till you find out, and then worry about these things.

the reason is simple - clients in Banking use buzzwords and fancy firms cater to such people, thus vet very complex particulars to capture representations while churning out documents. Its been like this for many years and nobody does anything about it. Also, as a B&F Associate - you will be asked to make a lot of numeric management PPTs in your first 3-4 years during the deal lifecycle so keep that too in mind before thinking that "you will make an impact in the world of insolvency or structured debt". And wait for March kid, I know folks breaking down, cussing each other and taking it all out on the juniors and interns when things hit the fan (which it routinely does with templated and volumes of documentation involving ratios, asset backed security, liquidity carve outs and everything else in between). Tread with caution and care and please rethink this practice from a long term standpoint because you can't really prepare for it and will learn everything on the job.

Banking and Capmarks should never be the practices to get into with "desperation" since the real work is very dirty and requires very thick skin from what seems to be the market perception. Join only if you considered the nature and volume of mundane work involved. Target areas like Funds or PE-VC for better hours and more learning instead of being a templated lawyer.

BREAKING NEWS: CAA has been notified.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/4-years-after-bill-passed-citizenship-law-caa-becomes-reality-5218643#pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

https://www.news18.com/india/modi-govt-notifies-caa-rules-citizenship-amendment-act-implements-in-india-8811579.html

For kids too young to remember, NLUs had erupted in protest back in Dec 2019. Literally every single NLU student body had signed a petition. Many alumni had also joined. Candlelight vigils were held and songs of unity were sung across NLU campuses. JGLS had also joined.

So all eyes are on NLUs and Jindal for their next move.

https://www.legallyindia.com/lawschools/caa-round-up-30-nls-students-1-prof-4-nalsarites-detained-by-cops-law-firm-shuts-shop-statements-galore-more-nujs-mnlu-student-politics-20191219-11084

https://www.legallyindia.com/lawschools/nls-student-body-votes-against-brute-majoritarian-caa-nujs-joins-8-nlus-slamming-cop-violence-post-minor-controversy-20191217-11082

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/derek-at-nujs-event-students-divided-over-guv-uninvite-move/amp_articleshow/73195909.cms

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/nujs-student-group-takes-back-guv-invite/amp_articleshow/73179463.cms

So long as both of you are in the same team, do not do this. Don't do it, irrespective of whether she is into you or not. Emotions change inter-personal dynamics massively, and this can drastically affect the working culture for both of you and other members in the team.

If you feel strongly about her, change teams / firm first. This is coming from a person who married another person from the same firm (very very different teams). I have also dated people in the same team many a moons ago, and it never ends well. Everything becomes too complicated.

I'm down to just two three people I somewhat talk to now. Granted my own mental health hasn't been the best - depression and passively suicidal thoughts don't help - but once I'm out of this shitty T2 I think I'll be able to feel better over a new start. This 5 year degree is a curse. They should do the integrated in 3.5 years or 4 and be done with it.

Received internship opportunity to intern at Tatva Legal Hyderabad this summer. Need to know how teams get allocated and whether a general corporate team exists at Tatva Legal Hyderabad. Whether this opportunity suits a 4th-year T3 NLU student?who is aspiirng to make his mark in GenCorp or allied field?

I have secured a seat at NALSAR through general in CLAT 2024. I didnt clear AILET: secured a rank of 2XX. Due to personal and health reasons my family wishes that I stay in Delhi, by taking admission though the foreign national quota of NLUD, as my family is based in Delhi. I am not a citizen of India. My question is: Will I face any sort of discrimination at NLUD for not having entered the college through a general rank? Are people even aware of each others AILET ranking? If I, for example, were to run for any student association positions and such, would people be less inclined to support me? Are peopel aware of which people in their batch got in through foreign national quota? I'd be eternally grateful if someone from NLUD could answer these. Thank you

My class 12 Mark's in subject history were changed by .5 by ISC Board during recheck but I have already gotten that marksheet by board with that old number in history.

so I want to ask if if university will accept my marksheet as it's not updated and if they only check their criteria marks with that marksheet.

It's official marksheet given by Board to me but I want to be sure they will accept it as I have already got it before my paper was rechecked by board

https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/markets/we-see-signs-of-manipulation-in-the-sme-segment-says-sebi-chairperson-12436571.html

Serious observation by the SEBI Chair. Even ▮▮▮ startups by prominent ▮▮▮ have gone to market through this SME platform. Will anyone be caught in the crosshairs? There's a reason T1 firms' CapMarks teams refuse to do these IPOs.

As someone in the West who visits LI regularly: this is a load of BS. There are way too many Altos here to always feel like I live in one of the richest countries in the world (will not name which one but it is Western Europe). And also for the record perhaps: this country is far more socialist than India; perhaps even too socialist for my taste - but it delivers results in GDP per capita year after year.

Also, socialism = more customs duty? What kind of a weird definition of socialism is that? Owning a Merc is frowned upon in many circles unless you are in the douchey Investment Bankers group (which, btw, is not that well-paid as you think it is). Everyone else is happy with public transport or bikes.

Interned there a long time back and it was a waste of time. They put us interns up in a basement across the main office and made us do irrelevant tasks. Nobody followed up on those tasks and ultimately at the end of the internship, we had to make a presentation. It was useless but I made buddies with my co interns. Miss those days of hanging out in the Deer Park and eating delicious North Indian food all around in the area. The winter also seems so beautiful now. But there was no learning, just a certificate. The founder is a member of a particular political party and has pictures with leaders of the political party across the office.

My office is at Nariman Point. I am looking for places to stay in Mumbai. I have two choices which are:

a. Look for a place nearby but because of high rent, compromise on the living standard and adjust in an okayish place (somewhere near dadar, byculla, lower parel)

b. Look for a good place (housing society with common pool, gym, clubhouse, etc.) but travel for long hours in the local (somewhere near mulund or andheri)

My work life is such that I often have to spend very long hours at the office

I am an upcoming associate at a tier 1 law firm in Mumbai. I am confused about the income tax structure and the benefit of 44ADA which is available to professionals. Can anyone from the industry with experience help me out on this? Here are a few doubts which I have:

1. Can I claim other exemptions apart from 44ADA like 80C or 80GG (rent) etc.

2. Does the fact that 50% of my income is deemed "expense" mean that it should reflect in my bank account (for example if I earn 1lakh per month, does it mean that my bank account should reflect that I do not have more than 50k since I am claiming it as an expense)

I had also referred a CA regarding this and he gave me an example of the tax breakup which goes like:

Assuming the package is of 16 LPA. So by 44ADA, 50% is deducted and the taxable income is 8L. On this 8L, no other deductions can be claimed so by applying new regime, it comes to 36,400 (0-3L: no tax, 3-6L: 5% i.e. 15,000 and 6-8L: 10% i.e. 20,000 plus cess 4%)

Is this how the tax is paid or is there a different practice which goes around?

There is also another thread on LI about this but I didn't quite get it so looking for answers from experienced people with simplified version.

Faculty attrition at nalsar has been a problem since a long while now- plenty of NLU alumni have joined and left teaching positions including Manav, Ajey, Prashant Reddy, Ashrita, Akshaya, Malavika, Anjaney, Anshuman, Jagteshwar, Aakanksha, Chinmay, and recently even Rahul and Pranav, some of these people were deeply invested in institution building and went on to find teaching positions in other law schools- Many of these people left after the pandemic as well, we do at some point have to ask ourselves why all of these people keep joining and leaving. Is the administration hostile to alumni? not just this one but past ones? Is there a problem with the standard of education or the number of teaching hours thats demanded from alumni? are they seeking academic mentorship that they arent receiving? The only alumni nalsar has held on to - the two that have recently entered the teaching pool- seem to have stayed because they were afraid to go anywhere else even for their masters/ doctoral degrees. Thats institutional inbreeding.

See ET article https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/migrate/indias-100-bn-trade-pact-efta-has-a-lot-for-indians-wanting-to-work-in-europe/articleshow/108386195.cms

asking for a voice and for somewhat democratic even reasoned decision making is not asking to be the proxy administrator. Thats the problem with this mindset. What do you think the VC and the deans are for? do you think these positions are rewards? do you think anyone trying to have a reasoned debate is trying to capture power?

these positions are not about power or about rewards. The VC and the deans are usually just the first among equals. universities are not companies and these people are government servants. the best way for them to make decisions is to consult with and listen to their faculty and their students. They dont have to obey any one- but they should ideally listen.

Chauhan doesnt have a PhD. I dont think thats as much about lack of interest as it is the extreme amounts of administrative work the university has been burdening him with since he joined. Its impossible to imagine a part of the university administration that would not be affected by him leaving.

And hes not some authoritarian. If you talked to him for five minutes youd know he was not a particular fan of the AD/ FM raj either but hes clearly willing to work with people who disagree with him. If hes giving up on the university and leaving- that is a troubling thing everyone should worry about.

Dear Associates in T1 firms, how many Sundays have you really got an whole day off on average. It will be helpful if you can mention PQE, practice area and firms name as well. I know the market is cyclical in nature but still what's your view in general. I don't count Saturday's as weekend anymore 😂.

You mean IIT KGP. IITK does not have a law department.

Yes. For Ph.D. admissions, this is the exact requirement:

LLM (2-year program) after EITHER
> at least 5 years of integrated LLB degree after 10+2 examination OR
> 3 years LLB degree after 10+2+3 examination

I'm not sure what's wrong with OP's firm. But mine lacks proper management and sort of feels like I'm under some dictatorship on most days. "I'm gonna treat you like you're pathetic and won't reach anywhere without me, but hey at least I get you free lunch/dinner and fancy booze sometimes" vibe.

Hi all,

I'm working as an A0 at a small firm practicing in Gen corp. So in my offer letter there is a term of appraisal after 3 months of joining the firm and the firm would increased upto 10%-20 of my salary accordingly. So should i ask hr or partner what would be done this respect or should i wait?

Sir, you will regret joining Cap marks. If you have a nice in house job where they pay you decently and let you have a life, why do you want to jump ship? Cap marks will be a dead end job once you come in you will not be able to leave. To top that off, this year will be a crazy year in terms of volume of work.

Every firm can but these greedy lalas don't want to share the profit. These people don't have basic knowledge of the legal applications on the matter and whole of the work is handled by associates. Yet they eat up 90% of the revenue. S&r proves as to how paying good salary is very easily possible

Living Standards - Chennai, very affordable you will save a lot of money in Chennai. It has good public transport, amenities etc. It's as safe as Bangalore.

Chennai as a city is miles ahead in front of bangalore.

Culture/Future Prospects - Bangalore. Bangalore has far more legal opportunities than Chennai. Also language will become a problem in Chennai. In bangalore you can adjust with Hindi. Chennai not the same. Most lawyers are from Tamil Nadu. Bangalore has many law firms and in house opportunities.

Also,

Cost of living is also low because of social life. In Bangalore you club party a lot. Chennai you won't be able to do the same. That's one another reason people in Chennai save a lot.

Apart from that - you are from north, for your children assimilation will be easier in bangalore. And you are unmarried - I have seen a lot of professionals from UP Bihar in Bangalore. Not that much in Chennai. Easier to get potential spouses in bangalore.

Job opportunities /future - Bangalore any day. Especially for a north indian.

TMT is the hardest practice area to break into. There is a lot of hype but hardly and vacancies and work. Even so called TMT firms hardly do any TMT work and they do gen Corp work.

IP pays low, but there is voluminous amount of work. TMT it's not like opportunities are there.

This is about the most delusional thing that I have ever read. Do you think that law firm recruiters are going to be impressed by articles in iPleaders? Even keeping aside law firms, no person in academia is going to be impressed by such a publication. When it comes to litigation, there might be some lawyers who think highly of iPleaders. However, you are better off staying far away from them.

I was part of a T1 firm known to have a toxic work culture. There was an expectation of putting in at least 9 billable hours a day. If we did not meet this target - we were indirectly 'encouraged' to increase our hours for the work done more than the actual time spent. Further, we were regularly asked to round up our time from say 30 or 45 minutes - to the complete hour. Ultimately, the partner may rationalise the time - but not always - and not for all clients.

It is unfortunate and unethical - but true - there is a significant exaggeration/ inflation in hours. There is pressure on partner for billing. There is pressure on the fee earners to meet the 2200+ billable hours annually. This is directly linked to year end reviews and bonuses. Ultimately, the client directly bears the brunt of these pressures in terms of the additional billing - which is quite difficult to keep a check on when there are multiple lawyers working on the same matter/ transaction.

Can you actually back up your hypothesis by factual data? In India, Watches are taxed at same rate, HMT or Rolex and Innova and Merc are taxed at same rate! Whats the tax rate in west? Lastly, if what you say is right, there couldn't have been any other brand of vehicles or watches in west, given an extremely good brand is available for cheap. Thoda reality dekh lo dost.

LLM and PhD are two seperate things. Dissertation in an LLM is technically just one paper and that too you spend the last sem on it. PhD is one whole azz thesis, that you spend years on. You can swallow your pride and clear your LLM, since it's just 10 months of sck. But PhD is a whole different ball game.

That's what I am afraid of, since I do want to progress to better universities in the future. Moreover, your last degree is usually the basis of your selection/impression on the panel. So, should I still try for NLUs despite their current reputation. Who knows by the time I get my degree, things might turn out for the better.