I graduated in the year 2022 and have been working at a boutique firm with little to no clients, no quality and have been writing articles for them on UAE regulations (they have which hardly gets reviewed). Don’t even get me started on the pay. I recently got a call from SAM’s HR who said there’s a vacancy for a paralegal position and not for an associate. Should I take it up?? I am skeptical about it seeing that it’s a step backwards. I have an interview coming up please help!! Would it be worth it??
I think you should definitely take up the offer from SAM (provided the interview goes seamlessly). Definitely go for the interview and make sure you brush up on the basics of law such as contracts, difference between damages & indemnity etc. etc. You have nothing to lose. Just make sure the HR and you clear up as to how long will your paralegal-ship period be. Try to mention that you are coming with some work- ex and negotiate the period to as few a month as possible. Additionally, be clear about the team that you will be working with if all goes well, which team/ Partner will you be placed under. Do your research and homework about the same too.
With respect to the work, from what you have mentioned, your current work does not seem intellectually stimulating or even remotely interesting. God forbid the opportunity at SAM does not culminate into a full- time offer, you would have the advantage of mentioning working at a place like SAM on your CV. Always helps.
PS- I am sure you are aware about the culture/ work timings at various T1s. Be mentally (and physically) prepared for the same too. Take this decision, after weighing all the pros and cons that come with working at a place like this.
One of the best pieces of advice that I have seen given on Legally India. This is the true power this forum possesses, helping someone with a genuine query, rather than allowing posts on things like men's right movements and other trashy posts.
God bless whoever gave this advice. It is quite well thought out and well written.
If I may add one thing, OP, I cannot stress enough about the due diligence you need to do on the team/ Partner you will be placed under. Please do this. A good Partner will make/ break your career.
You need to ask them if there is scope to grow. It might be a foot in the door, or just a final job with no growth. If your intention is clearly to become an associate, you need to make your intentions clear at the very beginning.
See if you have nothing else in your hand, why saying no to any opportunity?
You should definitely give it a try. Maybe they’ll like your work and you get absorbed. Even if you don’t, the name of SAM would do open gates for you.
I know people who worked as trainee or paralegal at SAM and made it to other firms as an associate.
Unfortunately, I did not get the position and the HR did not even bother emailing me about that until I asked. The interview was average and I think they expected way more seeing that I interviewed for the paralegal position rather than associate. They also said that I wouldn’t get drafting work as much. I answered as much as i could and have worked on uptill now and definitely need to brush up on my knowledge. However if they have been expecting a person to know that much, I could have just interviewed for the associate position which they def would not offer me as I don’t belong to any NLU. Overall I did not get good vibe from the interviewer who is an associate whereas I expected some senior associate or principal associate would be taking the interview.
I was so happy seeing all these replies to my question. In the end even though I did not get the position, it just feels good to see and know that people here actually take that effort to give you genuine advice. Thank you all you loveliess!! Xoxo
You are so young! Literally just a kid! You have your whole life ahead of you. Why don’t you think about a master’s in a different field? Perhaps an MBA or a specialised management degree like tech management or even hotel management? I think these degrees will open up a lot of opportunities. Frankly, the legal profession is quite an unattractive one, because the profession has not grown as was anticipated and expected reforms have not taken place (liberalisation, fast-track courts across India, National Judicial Service, Nationalisation of NLUs etc). Since you mention the UAE, you can try and use a management route to get a job in the UAE too. You can always fall back on your law degree if you want to return to practising law.
Your career and time go two steps back.Making it to Associate position itself will become a hard task and you would repent for this decision.Only brand name, however big is not enough. Also whichever law firm will interview you after SAM will look at positioning you from paralegal experience to maybe say fresher associate.This happens in all sectors where persons with smaller brands names are negotiated down, you should not give in.
There people here who were initially hired as Trainee at law firms but weren't hired, though they liked your work and attitude I have a story where the student was initially given an assessment after graduation but was not hired due to no vacancy, this was intimated during the last week of the assessment period. Thereafter, due to the student's work performance, a Traineeship for 6 months was given till there is any vacancy. But the said traineeship was cut short to three months (intimated 20-25 days prior) due to not being able to meet their branch financials. Now, the firm has hired someone else.
I think you should definitely take up the offer from SAM (provided the interview goes seamlessly). Definitely go for the interview and make sure you brush up on the basics of law such as contracts, difference between damages & indemnity etc. etc. You have nothing to lose. Just make sure the HR and you clear up as to how long will your paralegal-ship period be. Try to mention that you are coming with some work- ex and negotiate the period to as few a month as possible. Additionally, be clear about the team that you will be working with if all goes well, which team/ Partner will you be placed under. Do your research and homework about the same too.
With respect to the work, from what you have mentioned, your current work does not seem intellectually stimulating or even remotely interesting. God forbid the opportunity at SAM does not culminate into a full- time offer, you would have the advantage of mentioning working at a place like SAM on your CV. Always helps.
PS- I am sure you are aware about the culture/ work timings at various T1s. Be mentally (and physically) prepared for the same too. Take this decision, after weighing all the pros and cons that come with working at a place like this.
Best of Luck! :)
God bless whoever gave this advice. It is quite well thought out and well written.
If I may add one thing, OP, I cannot stress enough about the due diligence you need to do on the team/ Partner you will be placed under. Please do this. A good Partner will make/ break your career.
Best of luck!
You should definitely give it a try. Maybe they’ll like your work and you get absorbed. Even if you don’t, the name of SAM would do open gates for you.
I know people who worked as trainee or paralegal at SAM and made it to other firms as an associate.
All the best buddy.
I was so happy seeing all these replies to my question. In the end even though I did not get the position, it just feels good to see and know that people here actually take that effort to give you genuine advice. Thank you all you loveliess!! Xoxo
I have a story where the student was initially given an assessment after graduation but was not hired due to no vacancy, this was intimated during the last week of the assessment period. Thereafter, due to the student's work performance, a Traineeship for 6 months was given till there is any vacancy. But the said traineeship was cut short to three months (intimated 20-25 days prior) due to not being able to meet their branch financials. Now, the firm has hired someone else.