Some background about me. I dropped out of a Top-3 NLU after the first year because at that time the 5yr curriculum felt rather restricting for a 17y old. I had a range of interests from law to literature to politics but honestly, I didn't want to enter the race for crafting the perfect employment-oriented CV so early.
So instead I enrolled myself for a B.A. (Hons.) at arguably the best department in India for the specific discipline I wanted to study. Had my seasons in the sun, read what I loved and worked with a well known politician. I graduated in 2021.
Since then I have considered doing a 3yr LLB. With NLSIU announcing its new 3yr LLB program, I had a few questions on my mind that I would love to get some perspective on (even if its speculative):
1. Academically I think the course will be up to snuff but what do you guys think of the prestige value? Will firms /employers give a damn whether its a 3 or 5 year degree from NLSIU? 2. Compared to DU Faculty of Law or Jindal, I am inclined to choose NLSIU's 3 year law program. Any thoughts? 3. I will be 25 btw I graduate law, by that point most peers of mine would already have worked 2-3 years in the profession. I am inclined to think it doesn't matter in the long run, but what do you guys think?
1 and 2 are both too early to respond to with any accuracy. Nobody knows who will teach those courses, plenty of new recruitment and infra will have to created. Sudhir cannot create excellent teachers by himself at the drop of a hat. Job-wise, it remains to be seen whether the NLSIU alum feel the same way towards the 3 Year LLB grads like their 5 year counterparts. They certainly don't feel the same way towards the LLM grads. Even curriculum-wise, there will be less scope for specialisation and offbeat elective courses, with the bulk of the 3 years having to be devoted to BCI mandated compulsory papers.
Yeah I am aware the largely decorative rather than practical value of that specific LLM, but I was thinking that since LLB is a standard degree of legal qualification and I already have premium undergrad qualifications, it should work out. Of course, like you said, perhaps too early to tell.
Hey! I don't have anything to help but I wanted to ask something. I got into Delhi University this year in the political science hons program. The college I have gotten into, is a decent south campus college but thanks to the skyrocketed cut-offs, I missed out on better colleges despite of a good percentage (97). Can you suggest how can I get the most out of my situation in terms of interesting internships and projects not necessarily associated with the college brand name.
In one line = You should do things that signal prestige and competence.
1. Identify what lies at the intersection of "I love doing this" and "I am good at this". Could be debating, could be working in election campaigns, could be research projects and much more. If you are not good at much, don't worry you will have time to develop those skills as long as you put in the effort.
Next identify what the most prestigious or well recognized achievements in your fields of interest are - try and get as many of them as possible. Even better if you can be the youngest or the first of a kind to achieve something.
2. Network, Network, Network. Can't emphasize this enough. Friends, Family, Professors, Guest Speakers, Cold Mails - do whatever you have to instead complaining about those who were born into networks that matter. Network or die.
3. Do prestigious, interesting things that you like doing but also present that information on a CV, in a way that it becomes a conversation starter. Weave a narrative, create a personal brand that people identify you with.
4. Go out of your comfort zone. For example I learnt the programming language R as it helps in data visualization of electoral datasets. For me this was going out of my comfort zone. There is literally nothing to lose. If you fail its a hilarious story, if you succeed you are an unlikely hero/polymath.
5. Have good grades. Doesn't have to be the best boss, but maintain a standard. In the long run they dont matter much, but having good grades def gives you easier access to opportunities you would have to otherwise work harder for.
To DU, If you want to do law in future, please don't do pol sc hons it's not gonna be helpful, try for b com or eco hons, or the best suggestion would be to go for a 5 year course so that you can explore law adequately in your college. To OP, I would suggest NLUIS or GLC over DU. Delhi University Law faculty (All three centres) is a good option, good faculty and everything, but there is zero support from the college in terms of placements and internships, you are on your own, this is if you are interested in a law firm job/ corporate law. If you are want to do litigation or sit for judicial services, DU IS THE BEST, you're 15mins away from all major courts in Delhi, Supreme Court is 30 mins away, DU has a reputation and prestige in litigation circles, the case study method of teaching, and alumni network all helps. Lastly, one thing advantageous for both corporate career or litigation career studying from DU is that you will get ample time to do anything, you can literally intern all year around. GLC again has the same advantage of time, and GLC has an active alumni network and placement cell, plus there is a location advantage for a corporate but the cost of living in Mumbai is high if you clear the exam and can afford Mumbai then go for it. NLUIS I think will have a good course since it's the leading law college for all its existing courses, and it of course has a brand value in corp world. Then there is Jindal if you have money, it's worth it. Please don't waste your time at Amity. Symbiosis Pune is also good for 3 year course.
Hey man, thanks for the answer. Since I am assuming you are in DU Faculty of Law (based on your alias), can I ask you a few more questions regarding DU?
1. I have some great litigation internships lined up already. But how difficult would it be to score Tier 1 law firm internships from DU (since I want that experience as well)? How do people go about it? I have friends who are A0-A2 at some of the T1s, do their referrals matter? 2. How much are prominent Litigation firms paying these days for freshers? Firms like say Karanjawala etc .? Does DU Law Fac have alumni there?
it's a great opportunity for law students that NLSIU is coming up with a 3 year llb program because every law aspirant want to go to nlu as they are the best law college in India. But sad that they none of the nlu offer this course. There are many well established 3 year law colleges like GLC, DU, BHU, symbiosis pune still many students would have choose NLU if they have had 3 year law program. Reasons -
1. NLSIU ( NO. 1 law college) - every student want to study from the best college. Being the first established law college This college has its own legacy as it is a government affiliated institution.
2 . Placement - NLU have the best tie up with top law firms, companies and in house. ( the placement will soley depends upon your own abilities and skills) even if you don't get placed from college you can definitely do internships on your own.
3. Infrastructure ,academics, faculty - they've claimed that they'll provide the best of all these three things to the students let's see if they'll able to match up to the expectations.
Keep that in mind that competition will be very high. Even if it's a new course many aspirants have an eye onto this. : p
Lastly, consider as an option and Don fully rely upon it because we don't know when and how they'll start the new course. Also like the any other law college this will definitely have a law entrance so I would like to advice you that start preparing for the entrance and go with the flow. If not, then DU, GLC are open for you..
•• college is just a way to start your career. A way to get education and skill . the outcome is depends upon how you implement that education in your life. ••
To hitch21, it is difficult to score a tier 1 internship without any connections, but if you are in first year, try to write research papers/ articles in relevant area you want work in, or do moots, try to score an internship in that area by 2nd year, network with people on LinkedIn, since you already have friends in law firms it will be helpful, having a jack with a partner will definitely get you an internship at tier otherwise build your way up you have 3 years. Don't do litigation internships after 1 semester, if you want to work in law firms, as already 3 years in not much time to explore everything.
Wanted to ask how did you land up to work with a politician. Please guide like is there any specific requirement for that or some sort of intership if that so is it available
1. Gets admission after clearing CLAT. NLSAT is nowhere close in terms of competition. Being a student of NLS, I know that the quality of students in 3-year LLB courses is shit. Only around 5-10 of them are good. By good, I mean, better than an average 1st year, 5-year LLB student.
2. Rank family system, mentorship systems, senior-junior friendships, and Alumni network. Most of the alums still keep contact with some students from the 5-year course who in turn help with securing internships. The present RCC will help guide the next RCC etc. which helps with approaching firms etc.
3. Electives: As someone has rightly pointed out, 5-year LLB students get access to more number of elective courses.
The notorious NLSIU entitlement is also exclusively owned by the 5 year students, as is evident from this comment, especially point one. Those 3 year students have already proven their worth in the real world, whereas you are still being fed and housed by daddy/mommy dearest without having achieved anything of worth.
Don't understand why they have to get into NLSIU through the easier route (3-year LLB) after proving their worth to the world. What kind of worth have they proven?
Ask any 3-year LLB student at NLSIU now about how many internships their RCC has provided. The answer is 0 (zero) whereas people in their 4th Year at NLSIU have started getting PPOs.
This comment seems to have been made by a 17-19 yr ol who is full of self entitlement. Kid, 3yr courses are for graduates and you never know how talented the minds of people are apart from those studying in nls. You're completely failing on being a good student at one of the top law colleges.
That's not how the world works. You can be very good at what you do in a below-average engineering college but you will struggle to get attention from big companies whereas a below-average kid at IIT will easily get placed in a decent company.
There are a lot of good students in the 3-year LLB program at DU. Why do they struggle to get placed in T1 firms whereas the last ranked student from the 5-year LLB program of NLS/NALSAR gets a decent job?
Look at Symbi/Jindal, they offer both 3-year and 5-year LLB programs. Compare the placements between the two. IMO, if someone wants to pursue a 3-year LLB then pursue it from DU where the fees are less.
So instead I enrolled myself for a B.A. (Hons.) at arguably the best department in India for the specific discipline I wanted to study. Had my seasons in the sun, read what I loved and worked with a well known politician. I graduated in 2021.
Since then I have considered doing a 3yr LLB. With NLSIU announcing its new 3yr LLB program, I had a few questions on my mind that I would love to get some perspective on (even if its speculative):
1. Academically I think the course will be up to snuff but what do you guys think of the prestige value? Will firms /employers give a damn whether its a 3 or 5 year degree from NLSIU?
2. Compared to DU Faculty of Law or Jindal, I am inclined to choose NLSIU's 3 year law program. Any thoughts?
3. I will be 25 btw I graduate law, by that point most peers of mine would already have worked 2-3 years in the profession. I am inclined to think it doesn't matter in the long run, but what do you guys think?
Hoping for some sincere help guys! Thanks.
Good joke btw.
Thankyou.
1. Identify what lies at the intersection of "I love doing this" and "I am good at this". Could be debating, could be working in election campaigns, could be research projects and much more. If you are not good at much, don't worry you will have time to develop those skills as long as you put in the effort.
Next identify what the most prestigious or well recognized achievements in your fields of interest are - try and get as many of them as possible. Even better if you can be the youngest or the first of a kind to achieve something.
2. Network, Network, Network. Can't emphasize this enough. Friends, Family, Professors, Guest Speakers, Cold Mails - do whatever you have to instead complaining about those who were born into networks that matter. Network or die.
3. Do prestigious, interesting things that you like doing but also present that information on a CV, in a way that it becomes a conversation starter. Weave a narrative, create a personal brand that people identify you with.
4. Go out of your comfort zone. For example I learnt the programming language R as it helps in data visualization of electoral datasets. For me this was going out of my comfort zone. There is literally nothing to lose. If you fail its a hilarious story, if you succeed you are an unlikely hero/polymath.
5. Have good grades. Doesn't have to be the best boss, but maintain a standard. In the long run they dont matter much, but having good grades def gives you easier access to opportunities you would have to otherwise work harder for.
To OP, I would suggest NLUIS or GLC over DU. Delhi University Law faculty (All three centres) is a good option, good faculty and everything, but there is zero support from the college in terms of placements and internships, you are on your own, this is if you are interested in a law firm job/ corporate law. If you are want to do litigation or sit for judicial services, DU IS THE BEST, you're 15mins away from all major courts in Delhi, Supreme Court is 30 mins away, DU has a reputation and prestige in litigation circles, the case study method of teaching, and alumni network all helps. Lastly, one thing advantageous for both corporate career or litigation career studying from DU is that you will get ample time to do anything, you can literally intern all year around.
GLC again has the same advantage of time, and GLC has an active alumni network and placement cell, plus there is a location advantage for a corporate but the cost of living in Mumbai is high if you clear the exam and can afford Mumbai then go for it.
NLUIS I think will have a good course since it's the leading law college for all its existing courses, and it of course has a brand value in corp world.
Then there is Jindal if you have money, it's worth it.
Please don't waste your time at Amity.
Symbiosis Pune is also good for 3 year course.
1. I have some great litigation internships lined up already. But how difficult would it be to score Tier 1 law firm internships from DU (since I want that experience as well)? How do people go about it? I have friends who are A0-A2 at some of the T1s, do their referrals matter?
2. How much are prominent Litigation firms paying these days for freshers? Firms like say Karanjawala etc .? Does DU Law Fac have alumni there?
There are many well established 3 year law colleges like GLC, DU, BHU, symbiosis pune still many students would have choose NLU if they have had 3 year law program.
Reasons -
1. NLSIU ( NO. 1 law college) - every student want to study from the best college. Being the first established law college This college has its own legacy as it is a government affiliated institution.
2 . Placement - NLU have the best tie up with top law firms, companies and in house. ( the placement will soley depends upon your own abilities and skills) even if you don't get placed from college you can definitely do internships on your own.
3. Infrastructure ,academics, faculty - they've claimed that they'll provide the best of all these three things to the students let's see if they'll able to match up to the expectations.
Keep that in mind that competition will be very high. Even if it's a new course many aspirants have an eye onto this. : p
Lastly, consider as an option and Don fully rely upon it because we don't know when and how they'll start the new course. Also like the any other law college this will definitely have a law entrance so I would like to advice you that start preparing for the entrance and go with the flow.
If not, then DU, GLC are open for you..
•• college is just a way to start your career. A way to get education and skill . the outcome is depends upon how you implement that education in your life. ••
Wanted to ask how did you land up to work with a politician. Please guide like is there any specific requirement for that or some sort of intership if that so is it available
1. Gets admission after clearing CLAT. NLSAT is nowhere close in terms of competition. Being a student of NLS, I know that the quality of students in 3-year LLB courses is shit. Only around 5-10 of them are good. By good, I mean, better than an average 1st year, 5-year LLB student.
2. Rank family system, mentorship systems, senior-junior friendships, and Alumni network. Most of the alums still keep contact with some students from the 5-year course who in turn help with securing internships. The present RCC will help guide the next RCC etc. which helps with approaching firms etc.
3. Electives: As someone has rightly pointed out, 5-year LLB students get access to more number of elective courses.
Ask any 3-year LLB student at NLSIU now about how many internships their RCC has provided. The answer is 0 (zero) whereas people in their 4th Year at NLSIU have started getting PPOs.
There are a lot of good students in the 3-year LLB program at DU. Why do they struggle to get placed in T1 firms whereas the last ranked student from the 5-year LLB program of NLS/NALSAR gets a decent job?
Look at Symbi/Jindal, they offer both 3-year and 5-year LLB programs. Compare the placements between the two. IMO, if someone wants to pursue a 3-year LLB then pursue it from DU where the fees are less.