As per leaked screenshots, Spice Route Legal rescinded an offer made to an A0 the same day, because she enquired about working hours. The mail reads -

"While we understand your concerns regarding the compensation package, work hours, and expectations, we believe it is important for any member of the firm to align with our internal expectations, policies, and organisation structures.

Based on our conversation today, I have had an extended chat with my team. Considering the misalignment in expectations, we regret to inform you that we will be unable to move forward with the previously extended offer. We understand that this may be disappointing news, but we believe it is essential to ensure a suitable fit for both parties involved.

We genuinely appreciate your interest in joining Spice Route Legal, and we wish you good luck in your future endeavours. We hope you find an opportunity that aligns with your career aspirations and meets your desired expectations."

Please keep in mind the fresher - already desperate for a job was not looking to have a work life balance, but merely enquiring.

Discuss.

Nothing to discuss. That's indian law firm life for you. If the firm believes that she wanted to put in less work (her choice) than the firm wants her to, then the firm will not take her unless the firm has no other option. At least they mentioned it upfront instead of putting up a rosy picture now and then demolishing it once she joins. We haven't read her email and you deliberately quoted only the firm's response, so we can't figure out how it would have appeared to the firm.

These firms (Indian T1 law firms) are very unprofessional and whimsical in the absence of proper competition in the market. I experienced such casual and inconsiderate behavior at S&R Associates too.

The internship and PPO process lacks consideration for how important the first job is in any person's life and how empathatic the process should be towards all the hardwork and ambition of so many years from a candidate. I think the entry of foreign law firms in India is really needed for these firms to have any pressure to meet the best standards of professionalism.

Hey! Yes. There were many good people there. Truly appreciate them. But some I encountered were ▮▮▮ ▮▮▮. For example, someone was yawned 10-15 times, literally, while giving me instructions and that's just one example. I wish best for the firm. It's always going to be a mixed bag. But was expecting much high standards.

LI fam, stressed out freshers and everyone else who is sick of whimsical and entitled law firms,

go off, do your thing.

Link 1 - https://paste.pics/OHAJN

Link 2 - https://paste.pics/OHAI6

PS - I know this person personally - I'm privy to her conservation with the "strategic teams" (just a fancy name for HR btw). She only enquired about the CTC and work hours and whether she would have time over weekends. Basic stuff she wanted to formalise before accepting officially. After being told they'd get back to her, her offer was rescinded.

What is wrong in this? Spice Route Legal has evidently handled this situation extremely well. Rather than onboarding someone who doesn't want to work 6-7 days a week, they have culled out this person at the very outset. This benefits both Spice Route (since they obviously do not want someone who is not willing to put in those hours) and the potential candidate (since Spice Route's ethos are clearly not suited for her).

This level of transparency and candidness should be appreciated. I am unable to understand why some people are bemoaning frank behaviour and trying to instigate others to make an issue out of this.

Founder loves to work everyday. Wants ppl to join who can do the same. Does not want ppl to join who cannot do the above.

Is that simple enough for you to understand? You are sounding like a commissar who regurgitated the virtues of socialism and how we all need fixed employment, fixed hours and fixed salaries.

Not to be rhetoric but rather real. Not mentioning basic working hours, for which there is the fixed salary is not just. Why you ask or even are attempting to defend, is because it is exploitation of free labour, which is very evident in legal industry especially encouraged by law firms. Not even mentioning this, makes no recourse possible, even if there is toxicity and free labour for not pay for extra hours of work. I mean law graduates who have studied 5 long years, done at least 10 (mostly unpaid internships), don’t you think basic work place respect they deserve. And this person barely asked for it, what is wrong, do not misguide people by encouraging this kind of behaviour and egoistic firms by calling them transparent. If they would have been, they could just say this to the candidate, and still give her chance to respond, if she agrees and is willing to do that then it would have been still fine. But providing an opportunity, not clarifying doubts and then acting on their whims and rescinding the offer doesn’t prove a single point you are ATTEMPTING to make to DEFEND places like SRL!!!!

Shame shame!