Final year student from a T2 NLU; been trying for a job since two years but nothing’s working out. Writing competitive exams also, but I don’t think I’ll clear them. I feel like ▮▮▮ myself due to how ashamed I feel and how much of a failure I am, but at this rate I think I’ll die of stress before needing to do anything to myself. I’ve no friends, no family member I can talk to about this and therapy has been useless. I don’t know what more to do or how to be less depressed. I don’t even want to be happy anymore, I just want this failure of my life to be over.

[Moderator Note: if you are considering or having thoughts of self-harm, please consider asking for help or calling a help line, such as one of the following: https://findahelpline.com/countries/in/topics/suicidal-thoughts ]

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.

Who said you are a failure. the fact that you are in an NLU - is proof of your success. Getting a job has a few factors that align well. first the effort you take to reach the right people, networking and lastly a sprinkle of luck. connect with smaller firms, consider starting with litigation, - there are many options available. Power up your self and get out there. Good Luck

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.

I was in this position a month ago. Any form of success or failure to get a job in the legal field in India rn should not be considered as a metric to guage anyone's worth. It's chaotic and unpredictable. A human life is worth much more than having a seat a law firm or anywhere for that matter.

Bhai pehli baat
Tu failure nahi hai
Tu bas thak gaya hai

Aur honestly jo tu feel kar raha hai na woh bahut saare final year law students feel karte hain but koi bolta nahi
Especially T2 T3 NLUs mein placement pressure aur comparison insaan ko andar se tod deta hai

Do saal se try kar raha hai matlab tu give up nahi kar raha
Failure woh hota hai jo koshish hi band kar de

Aur competitive exams ka scene bhi brutal hota hai
Har attempt ke baad lagta hai life ruk gayi hai
Par ek exam clear na hona aur life kharab hona dono alag cheezein hain

Ab practical baat sun

Abhi tera dimag survival mode mein chal raha hai
Isliye tujhe future sirf dark dikh raha hai
Stress itna zyada ho gaya hai ki tu khud ko objectively dekh hi nahi paa raha

Toh abhi life solve nahi karni
Bas system stabilize karna hai

Sabse pehle
Room mein bandh rehna band kar
Roz bahar nikal
Chahe 20 minute ke liye hi sahi

Gym join kar
Haan genuinely
Maza aayega isliye nahi
Discipline aur structure ke liye

Body jab completely stagnant hoti hai na toh thoughts aur bhi poisonous ho jaate hain
Workout ke baad brain literally thoda calm hota hai

Dusri baat
LinkedIn aur dusron ki achievements dekhna kam kar
Wahan sab log apni highlights daalte hain
Koi apna breakdown post nahi karta

Teesri baat
Tu abhi permanent conclusions temporary phase mein le raha hai

Final year ke placements miss hona feels like end of the world
But law mein careers weirdly delayed bloom bhi karte hain
Bahut log 25 26 tak settle hi nahi hote
Kisi ko litigation mein time lagta hai
Kisi ko in house role milta hai later
Kisi ka switch hota hai
Kisi ka startup chal padta hai

Tu abhi bas tunnel ke darkest part mein khada hai
Isliye exit dikh nahi raha

Aur ek aur important cheez
Tu burden nahi hai
Tu bas isolated hai

Insaan jab stress mein hota hai na toh usko lagta hai sab usse aage nikal gaye
Par reality mein bahut log quietly struggle kar rahe hote hain

Abhi bas ek kaam kar
Next 30 days ke liye life ko tiny goals mein tod de

Wake up on time
Gym
1 hour applications
1 hour exam prep
Eat properly
Sleep properly

Bas itna

Poora future ek saath solve karne ki zarurat nahi hai

Aur sun
Tu marne ki nahi
Bas iss version of life se bhaagne ki baat kar raha hai

Dono alag cheezein hoti hain

Life shayad abhi achhi nahi hai
Par khatam kar dene layak bhi nahi hai