Career in Leading Banks: Interview of Mr.Purushottam Kumar (Senior Legal Manager, ICICI Bank)

1)Sir, please introduce yourself to our readers.

Hello everyone, I am Purushottam Kumar. I completed my B.A.LL.B. in 2013 and currently, I am serving as Senior Legal Manager of ICICI Bank at Patna.

2) What role do you think a law school plays in shaping the future of a law professional ?

I think the only edge which national law schools having 5-year integrated course provides over the traditional law colleges is in terms of extra-curricular activities. One actually gets a platform where one can practice, showcase and improve their skills be it in terms of mooting, debating, writing articles etc.

3) You have been a working legal professional since 2013 after you graduated from Chanakya National Law University. Please share the entire path you traversed during this span of 7 years.

Once I graduated in 2013, I moved to Delhi and worked with certain lawyers and law firms there. I didn’t like to stay in Delhi maybe I wanted to be back to my home. So, I came back to Patna and worked with an International Anti-Trafficking, “Justice & Care”. I had assisted them in litigation, in rescue and I can say, it was a great experience working with them. I also worked with Times of India where my responsibility was to cover the news pertains to court. In 2016, I got the opportunity to work with ICICI Bank, my first posting was in Raipur and till 2017, I was there in Raipur. After that, I got transferred to Patna and since then I am in Patna.

4) How did you make your way as a Legal Manager of ICICI Bank? Please share your entire recruitment process with us.

I have been sending my resume to different firms, companies etc. I got the call for this job through LinkedIn. The interview was done through video conferencing. Before the video conferencing was scheduled there was certain written mental ability kind of test which was done through email. After a series of these processes, I got selected and was sent to Kolkata for the training session which was of 3 days and then I got posted to Raipur as a Legal Manager.

5) Since you have been working at ICICI as a Senior Legal Manager, please enlighten us about what does the reputed banks look for while hiring a law professional ?

You should have a sound basis and your approach should be clear. You are the person who will be advising the bank. At a few small locations, you have to singlehandedly deal the matters. You need to take the call quickly on behalf of the bank, so you will get confused and may land up into some trouble if you do not have sound basics. So, these are the prime objects which an HR manager of these banks looks for while hiring a candidate.

6) Mooting, Debating & Internships. How essential these skills are as a lawyer and the importance they hold in shaping the future of a Law Professional ?

It’s a combination of all these things which makes one a good law professional. It will be wrong to say that if someone has good debating skills then he will be a good law professional. Moreover, doing a lot of internships and learning nothing during internships will not help in any way. So, it's basically the skills you learn, the knowledge of the law and the experiences you gain by working assiduously that matters. 

7) Thank you so much, sir, for talking to us, please send it with some suggestions you would like to convey.

Don’t choose law as your second option, when you are not able to get into engineering, medical or whatever it is. Law requires great passion, enthusiasm and the ability to learn and unlearn. If you have that much passion for law or you want to be an eye for the other people and society then only you should choose law as a career path. And yes, Don't miss the chance to enjoy your college life.