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I am seeking guidance on making a transition into corporate law and would be grateful for any insights from this community.
I am a law graduate (B.A. LL.B, Class of 2023) from one of the top 3 NLUs and have spent the last two years in dedicated preparation for the UPSC examinations.
I am now keen to pivot and build a career in a corporate law firm.
My question for those in the industry is: How can I best position my UPSC preparation period in my resume and interviews to demonstrate its value, rather than it being perceived as a simple gap? How else can I cover this gap? Moreover, I am interested in competition or disputes, though I am open to other areas as well. I have heard that the lateral hiring scene is bad and might be very difficult to land a job. Any suggestions in this regard are appreciated.
- Reach out to your "alumni network", even though said networks don't actually exist. If you brown-nosed a senior enough in college they may offer some help but beyond that you're on your own. (I'm fairly certain you must've already tried reaching out to your seniors and it didn't work out, which is why you're asking this question in the first place. This bit about sucking up to the "alumni network" is pretty trash advice and is regurgitated unthinkly on this forum.)
- Work at a local law chamber in your city
- "LLM kar le"
You need to understand that most law firm environments comprise a mix of petty, stressed out and bitter people. Stop expecting help from those quarters. Join a company or a firm and work your way up. Send hundreds of cold emails. Ask for a job, if not that then an assessment internship if not that then an internship. Write articles of the practice area you're interested in and try to get them published. Send them to relevant partners.
Don't depend on your seniors. MS Dhoni had once famously remarked, "Don't look up, God isn't coming to save you". Carry this attitude in your life and you'll go far. Keep your dignity and wits about you. All the best.
Objectively, your odds of marrying a Bollywood actress are probably higher than your odds of cracking the UPSC. Let that sink in.
Reach out to your alumni network, join as an A0 (market is never bad for good resources / associates) - take whichever team you get and slog it out for a few years. Top 3 NLUs have strong and helpful alumni.