It sounds like you're not able to talk to anyone about how you really feel, including your wife? You said you don't want to hear / consider this, but therapy might be the exact thing that could conceivably help in the space you are in. In fact, it's designed and intended for your situation, and it shouldn't carry the stigma that you attach to it, or have to cause any impact to your self respect (even if you think right now you must make it alone or whatever other reason you might have for feeling this way).

And the fact that you're able to articulate these thoughts you're having in writing, means you already have more self-awareness and perspective than most people in your situation. Give some therapists a go, what's the worst that could happen if you speak your fears out loud?

Covid has definitely taken a toll on lot of us, especially if you have lost a near or dear one. It also disrupted our social fabric and as working professionals, once you lose touch with people, it’s difficult to get back in.

Would like to share my insight and you may find this helpful. I have taken a break working from law firms (although lesser PQE than you), and I didn’t join anywhere after leaving my law firm.

What I’ve realised is - the 1st Month immediately after leaving was mentally very disturbing. My brain had got used to the work and the pressure and the constant calls that the sudden void was causing withdrawal syndromes. The sudden hollowness craved some direction/ instruction from outside. Btw, no matter how much I write, I can never explain the mental zone that I was in while working (even when there may not have been lot of work). I’m mentioning this because when I spoke to my friends in other industries (not law) they didn’t seem to be facing this. It took me some time to get out of the feeling that I was “wasting time” or I had to “be productive”.

The other thing is - I felt like my work sucked out my personality and I was only a shadow of the past me. Just sitting at home after leaving thinking something nice will happen doesn’t work. I had to actively take interest and go out and try out different activities so I feel like my former self.

I feel - when we are working, our entire time is spent at work / thinking about work, so we also end up hanging with work colleagues, but at the end of the day, you can’t really share everything and treat them as your friends. So the that bottling up some emotions causes undue stress.

Not sure, how much this will help, but I hope it gets better.

I mean of all the 5 year batch kids, if two sons of a former CM of a state, now turned UT, happen to study in one batch together, you'll need a secret get together with them right. Can't blame Jindal. A doctor earning 5lpm is rich, but what would I talk to him compared to what all I can talk to the likes above. Hence

So, there are are several parties held every year, not one particular grand dinner per se. Some are thrown by Naveen Jindal at his Lutyens bungalow, some by Raj in his DefCol bungalow and some at five star hotels. I have attended one such party, as I was working as an intern for someone who took me along. The guest list is naturally very exclusive. I saw ministers, foreign Ambassadors, IAS officers etc, plus of course bigshot lawyers.

I have graduated in 2023 and have joined a boutique law firm in New Delhi. I was supposed to work in corporate here but they don't have much corporate work and I end up doing a lot of lit. The corp work is also mere contract reviewing. I want to do hardcore transactions/ M&A. Now, I am stuck here and I want to join a place who take non-NLUs freshers in transaction. Please share any insights and leads

If you have any opportunity where I can apply, you can share the details here:

https://www.secretmessage.link/secret/651916780bdf1/

I'm a 10-year pqe. I'd consider that I've a pretty decent career, I've done T1s, T2s, Boutiques, and I'm now a senior of a vertical at a well to do set up. My take home is pretty good, my life in general is pretty good. I have a good apartment, I'm married to a successful lawyer, and I have the material life that would ordinarily qualify as "what could you possibly be complaining about?"

That said, since covid my brain's been off the fritz. I sometimes sit and just cry inconsolably, my temper - while never released on juniors or anyone employed by me - is always on the break of snapping and vile things come out my mouth when I don't even want to, which again leads me to hate and berate myself. I've tried to end things multiple times, held back only because I genuinely love my spouse. Every waking minute I'm alone is a minute I hate and want to hurt myself. I cannot for the life of me take therapy because I just do not respect myself after those things. I have drinking problems, but I've managed to avoid it disturbing my life till now.

Anyone else dealing with anything similar? How are you dealing with this? What can I do?

I don't need empty platitudes of "stay strong", "I'm sorry" etc. I need real advi(c)e.

I think the way that NLSIU has lobbied over the years is unfair. The Infosys-Rhodes Trust connection was used to the hilt. Other channels as well. Now an alum is chairing the selection panel.

In my view, the Rhodes panel should have one representative from each of the four corners of India, each being an alum from a different university, plus 3 foreigners. Also, the corporate trustees should be more balanced. Once CEO from each part of the country. Also, the preference for wokeness and human rights law should stop.

Exactly, CAM is way better. Indus just has a battery of lawyers in 1 practice which ensures faster turnaround time and bulk mandates. CAM's deals are headliners and top quality. But again, Indus is a strong number 2 spot and no other firm comes close to it as far as ECM is concerned. Thus, I feel - CAM > Indus > S&R/SAM > KCO > JSA > AZB/Tri > Rajani > Saraf > SNG > Crawford > B&P/L&L.

All NLUs are primarily UG institutions, hence it is possible to have non-PhD faculty with otherwise decent credentials to do the teaching. NLUs do offer PG and Ph.D. programs as well, but these are secondary (often ridiculed by some viewers in this forum itself). That's what happens. On the other hand, if the institute is a research or a PG institution, then all faculty must have a Ph.D. followed by two to four years of post-doc experience to be Assistant Professors. An example would be IISc.

Rhodes isn’t just an individual ‘scholarship’. It’s much more than that. Even today a whole lot of colleges (every in US like Princeton) uses Rhodes as a metric to judge institutional excellence.

For nlsiu - say it honestly , any alumni would’ve worked to get their students on board for the win. Let’s not single out just NLS

All the NLUs other than NLU Tripura have got permanent faculty numbers for law subjects without PhD. It is not yet mandatory for an entry level position even under the UGC norms. Having NET/SET is enough. At NLS, Sudhir has a good practice of giving jobs to young people with good credentials even if they don't have NET clearance yet. They don't get tenure immediately, but all the other benefits are there. That's a good practice to build a good core cohort for the future.

Honestly, this isn't the worst. The kid has family money, they're happy to spend it seems like.

But the travesty is when middle class kids burn their way through A1-A3, SA1-SA3 by spending beyond their means, all to put on a show.

At the junior levels, it seems to be Apple products, foreign holidays, and wardrobe. As they go up, they seem to embrace this watches and cars scene. I see so many with poor savings, blowing everything on rent, dining out, and consumer durables, and other "experiences". It's all very sad.

Naveen Jindal did just give a loan. It is a for profit university , their aim is to make profit and distribute that profit amongst themselves. This level of expansion at Jgls has clearly led to fall in academic standards . You’re telling me all 11000 of these students are getting a proper legal education? You’re telling me that admin can manage 1100 people well ? Nah. Raj gets an increment based on how he increases enrolment. They’re not really concerned with what happens to you after enrolling no . This all will never change . The place was created to make money. Other schools don’t make enough money as of yet. Some of them might be financially in the black - but that’s not enough profit for Jindal.

The campus is overcrowded - yknow why ? Cause you can’t get a classroom to do things when you want to . Cause working at the library is not a quiet thing at all. And eating lunch at any of the messes feels like a blood sport.

But this is what y’all signed up for - and y’all can’t have dilution of academic standards if you don’t have all of this - so have at it.

The PAs and salaried partners that you have seen are probably from either an affluent family already or do not have a burden of paying off home

loan EMIs. I have interned at the both the Bangalore office of Khaitan and Mumbai office of Trilegal to speak for the same. The PA that I worked with had a 2019 Creta which is a great car for someone in their early 30s and most SA’s had cars like city, nexon, verna etc. Associates mostly came on metros, local train in Mumbai and some had their own bikes. In the Bangalore office, there was an SA who came on metro to the office.

The law firm salary is therefore not as good as people think it is. With the rise in inflation and ridiculous living expenses in cities like Bombay and Bangalore makes you realise that a big chunk of your in-hand income is spent on rent, food and travel. Also, with increase in seniority and compensation, the bonus component becomes a huge part of your annual compensation. The bonus component is usually 60% of your annual revenue at partner levels, with 30% tax on top of that. You can calculate your in-hand after that. Therefore, buying mid-level german cars will take years of partnership and equity in the firm.

discreeteely enquire and fill out the row for the the firm at https://www.legallyindia.com/convos/topic/221940-Crowdsourced-open-and-fully-editable-list-of-salaries-in-Indian-law-firms

But unusual if this is happening after 3-4 months. Maybe you’re in capital markets where there isn’t much work some times and then suddenly there is so much work you sleep for 2-3 hours.

Some practice areas are cyclical.

Anyway, do let us know which teams have such decent hours cos we would love to join too.

Totally agreed about the learning part. But if I want to stay in my hometown ( A city near Mumbai) and practice there, would it be fruitful and worth the efforts I would put in ? Is the money good in general ? Like Ive always dreamt of having my office in my hometown but the firm/ HC practice attracts me more. Hence asking, is district practice good enough, can one make decent ?

Arey bhai - you are contradicting yourself. I never mentioned nlu J always has better TCs than nalsar. This year has been exceptionally well nlu J foreign wise and for nliu Bhopal domestically. And also Nujs had a lot of tier-2 offers. Woh count karna chalu karunga toh Tera argument fall Waise bhi kar jayega.

Need some life advice.

I have received an offer from the disputes team at CAM, Bombay but they don’t go to courts. I work at a law firm in delhi and I go to courts.

Have spent 7 years and to go to CAM, they will reduce 2 years from my profile.

Should I make this change; is it worth it?

And need an idea of the salary range for SA1 at CAM!

Thanks!

The lead is not legacy lead only, before people start claiming that. Even in the last decade, NLSIU ranks second in terms of Rhodes scholars produced by Indian law universities. Only NUJS has produced one more than them (4 versus 3) during this period. So it is clear that NLS is maintaining the standard over the years till present. Glory, glory Law School.

General Formula to get Rhodes nowadays (exceptions do exist)- a person preferably from Kashmir Region or Oppressed class according to rhodes + Criticise GOI + Criticise Indian policies + leftist or liberal leftist atleast + Victim card + GPA and other ancillaries if above conditions are met.

Rhodes Scholar List for Law Schools in the last 10 years:

NUJS - 4 (2021, 2018, 2016, 2013)

NLSIU - 3 (2016, 2014, 2013)

NLUD - 2 (2020, 2015)

CLC Delhi - 2 (2020, 2015)

GNLU - 2 (2019, 2017)

Nagpur University - 1 (2017)

NUALS - 1 (2016)

NALSAR - 1 (2014)

Most of this info is inaccurate. A simple comparison of the number of TCs received by the NLUs in the last decade would make the position clear, but most NLUs don't readily disclose placement figures anymore. NLUJ does not really have any advantage in that ground over NALSAR or NUJS. One year's performance shouldn't be used as a benchmark.

As for domestic placements, NLIU Bhopal does well, though not as well as NUJS, which has got the best domestic placements for whatever reasons despite its controversies and falling academic standards. NLUJ and NLIU Bhopal have comparable domestic placements. GNLU is slightly behind and NALSAR is slightly ahead of NLUJ and NLIU Bhopal on that count, if we don't count this year. NLS has fallen behind recently, but still does okay enough.