Before choosing a law college, look not at its ranking but at the faculty, what they have done and what publications they have…

Advocate Shwetashree Majumdar-

Founder and Managing Partner, Fidus Law Chambers

Grihshobha has always strived to provide accurate information and sound guidance to its readers. Today, in continuation of this effort, we present a discussion with Advocate Shwetashree Majumdar, Advocate at the Delhi High Court and Founder and Managing Partner of Fides Law Chambers, where she shared a wealth of guidance and advice for students, especially law students, based on her career journey and experience:

Would you like to give a small glimpse of your life journey?

I was born and raised in Kolkata. My father was an engineer and my mother a teacher. When I was 18, I took the All India Entrance Exam and was selected to the National Law School, India’s largest law college. Today, I am the first lawyer in my family.

What subjects in high school were important to your law career?

When I was in school, I had a science degree and was preparing for medical entrance exams. A friend of mine wrote many good things about the National Law School through letters, which impressed me greatly. I took the All India Entrance Exam and was selected to the National Law School in Bangalore. My mother played a major role here.

She said that when you feel that your chances in getting admission in a top medical college are less and on the other hand the biggest law college is calling you, then I would say that you should go to law school and I chose that opportunity and today I am successful in this field.

I would say that whatever subject you have, if you have full dedication and desire then you can choose law along with any subject, like even after studying biology, I did a law degree and achieved a good career.

I’d also like to say that nothing you learn goes to waste. Today, I use my science education to research many things in my profession, so it’s not like someone can’t earn a living by studying science or any other subject.

How important is choosing a good college?

Colleges play a huge role, and I would advise you to look not at college rankings but at the faculty. What is their experience? What have they done in their field? What are their publications? When I talk to many college faculty today, I find that their knowledge is very limited.

Second, visit colleges as often as possible. This practice is still not common in India.

But in foreign countries, students visit colleges before enrolling, which is crucial. You should go there, see the library, observe the environment, learn about the college and faculty from students, and learn about internships and tie-ups.

What other skills should law students have along with studying law?

First and foremost, reading and writing. These days, these are becoming increasingly rare. It’s a matter of concern if you want to become a lawyer and don’t have the habit of reading. Without reading understanding and reading knowledge, how will you develop independent thinking and thought leadership? Without these, you will remain hollow inside.

Also, write your own work and research. Legal writing is a valuable skill. If your work is published, it strengthens your CV. Proofread your writing.

Many students today lack proofreading skills. Proofread your work thoroughly. Even small mistakes and missing details can impact your performance. If you don’t do your own work well, how can you do someone else’s assignment without errors?

How different is the law of books and the actual law practice?

Bookish law and practical law are very different. I only use 15 to 20% of what I’ve learned in books; the rest is my skills. Classroom teaching is like a box, but in real life, you break that room. I also believe in open-book exams. It’s not about memorizing books, but about knowing where to find answers. This is a skill.

And you have to present your case like in a court. I would advise students who want to go to court to first test themselves in various activities in college, such as moot court. There, you are given a problem and the opportunity to present and defend it. These activities are at the national and international level. Participating in such activities gives you practice.

How important is the role of subject options and internships for a law student?

First, subject choice comes in the last 3-4 years of graduation. A student can’t decide to become a corporate lawyer in the first year, as they have no knowledge of the subject at that time. Gradually, you figure out where your interests lie. A lawyer must have a strong understanding and grasp of all subjects. The syllabus guides you to study all the law subjects.

Secondly, internships are essential, but getting one is becoming increasingly difficult these days. I believe colleges should step up and partner with firms to provide internships to their students.

Simply writing a letter to a professor asking them to hire your student isn’t enough. Thousands of students are searching for internships these days. If you did an internship at a prestigious institution but weren’t taught the work, it’s useless. Even if you find a small firm, if you offer daily instruction, that’s the right place. When a recruiter asks you what you learned during your internship, you’ll be able to answer.

CAREER TIPS

  • For internship, choose a firm where you get to learn work every day, even if the firm is small.
  • There’s a huge difference between law as taught in books and practical law. Improving your debating skills is the key to success in this field.
  • Independent thinking will develop only by working on reading and writing.

– Rajni Prasad