I'm so sorry for what you're going through. It sounds like you have a proper depression coupled with a very rough jobs situation. Whatever you do, please don't do anything you can't undo.

But, you should know that jobs and careers first of all, should not and do not define you. You are more than just a job or exam you get at the end of your studies. And the legal jobs market is tough for a lot of people right now, so I'm sure you are not alone. Also, no one is a failure for not getting a legal or any job right now; often it is circumstances beyond our control.

And one day it might turn out to be a blessing in disguise that you didn't get the jobs you are focusing on right now, and you will discover something or someone or somewhere that will make you happy one day (even if you don't have the perspective to see that right now or the ability to look into the future, obviously).

Take it one day at a time, be kind to yourself, eat well and sleep well as much as you can, maybe go for walks or exercise to clear your head, or meditation or drawing or writing or reading fiction or comics or something else you enjoy, and think of some different options or other jobs: are you interested in the law, for instance, or do you have other careers that might also interest you?

Take some time out from the law job rat race for a week or two and find some perspective.

And perhaps consider opening up to someone in your family or some other acquaintance from home, who might understand the situation you are in and give you some support, even if you currently think they might not? Or some advisers in college, etc, perhaps? Or have you considered another therapist or a doctor who can prescribe you anti-depressants might help? It could just be the chemicals in your brain right now that are giving you an especially hard time with the stress you are under, and that does suck.

Wishing you all the very best, you are much less alone than you think you are!

Adopt a dog. I had suicidal tendencies but now I cant because I have to care for the dog. Btw, I am very successful by any standard career wise, married and still the feeling does not go away. You need love, connection and a strong purpose in life, only that keeps me in line away from depression.

You will make it, just know the bad feeling eventually passes if you want it to.

i know right now not getting a job seems like the end of the world but 5 years later it wont matter at all. you're very very young and so much time to figure out what you want to do and its absolutely fine. trust me when i say this - it wont matter in the long run if you were unemployed for a bit

I don't want to give you wishy-woshy feel good advice here but all I'll say is this - get to work on something, anything - even if it means working for ₹10,000 a month at a local advocate's chambers. Make do with whatever best you can at the moment. At the same time, prepare for something bigger - maybe the CAT exam. I promise you, the day you stop expecting that something will magically change for the good is the day you actually start on your journey to a better life.

You are not a failure, you managed to get into an NLU a T2 one at that, this achievement in itself puts you in the top percentile of legal aspirants in this country. Be kinder to yourself. The resilience you’re showing right now is admirable and an achievement in itself, please please give yourself some credit.

A job doesn’t define your worth as a human being. You’re young, give yourself time to figure things out.

Life is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. As long as you’re on your feet, things can always turn around, as long as you’re alive and kicking your world can always change for the better. There are things only you can give to yourself - one such thing is the realisation that you have time, you still haven’t graduated and even if you had graduated - in this tough market there’s no shame in not landing a job immediately.

Just keep going, you don’t have to win everyday - you only have to win once, and the next day could be the one where you find what you’re looking for. I’m so sorry you’re having to go through this but it does get better.

Please do consider the advice shared in the other comments regarding changing therapists and including some exercise - as a fellow survivor of poor mental health, these things do really help. Also if you haven’t already, try to broaden your criteria for the jobs you’re looking at - if you’re limiting your search to tier-1s or a specific practice for example then do consider other firms and practices - experience is so valuable in our profession and it’s much easier to switch jobs or practices once you have a job in hand.

Please take care of yourself, your life is more precious than anything else. I would love to see an update from you here down the line when you land a job so that we have the opportunity to applaud yet another achievement of yours. Rooting for you buddy, good luck and I’m sure it will all work out.

Thank you for your support everyone. I am the OP, and I’m truly grateful for all your advice. Unfortunately, after posting the initial message, I did something I’m not proud of and could only check back again today. I am trying to do better and all your words of warmth and encouragement have given me considerable hope. Again, thank you so much for all your advice.

Am glad you’re ok. As someone with quite a few years under the belt in this profession, i can vouch for the fact that it is indeed, as someone above says, a marathon. It’s build slowly, day by day. There are good days and then there are some not so good days. There are days where i still curl up and go to bed at 9 pm because i just want to. Depression is real. Get some professional help. It will help you smile and make the world a much better place.