Career in Leading Law Firms: Interview of Mr. Rajat Jain (Senior Associate, Vaish Associates)

1) Sir, please introduce yourself to our readers.

I am Rajat Jain. I am a 2013 law graduate and have been practicing for the last seven years. I am working with Vaish Associates Advocates since my graduation.

2) Please tell us about your law school experience.

Till the completion of 12th standard, I wasn’t sure what I want to do next in my life. On my father’s advice, I decided to do Law. By that time, dates for filling forms of many universities had already expired. However, I was able to get an admission in one of the colleges affiliated to Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University in B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) course. My batch was just the third batch there. I was fine in academics but not much active in the co-curricular activities. My overall experience of the law school was good.

3) From completing your graduation in law to becoming a senior associate of India's leading law firm, Vaish Associates. Please tell us about this journey of yours.

I joined Vaish Associates in the year 2013, as a law intern. In my University, students are required to do 3 months of mandatory internship in the last semester. So I did my internship at Vaish Associates. Subsequently, my internship got extended and eventually, I got absorbed after completion of the law and getting enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi. My seniors have been really helpful and polite since the beginning. My team is one of the smallest teams in the firm which has given me the opportunity of getting involved in every aspect of the work being executed by the team which really helped me a lot to grow as a professional. The journey has been full of ups and downs but a fulfilling one to an extent.

4) You have been working as a senior associate at Vaish Associates Please tell us what leading law firms look for while hiring a candidate.

Most of the times, it depends from firm to firm and team to team what they are looking for in a candidate. Generally, it should be the legal aptitude, problem solving ability, knowledge, adaptability and sincerity towards the work that any firm will consider while hiring a candidate. In our profession, a person needs to constantly work hard to be successful.

5) What kind of matters you deal with as part of your job ?

One of the best things of my work profile is that I get to work on different types of assignments and different areas of laws. The core area of practise comprises of matters relating to White Collar Crimes (PMLA, Benami Law, Income Tax Prosecutions), civil litigation, IPR Prosecution and litigation, information technology laws, Agreements, Opinions, etc.

6) What are the things which a law student should do, if he/she wants to get placed into reputed law firm after college ?

If a student is clear that he/ she wants to join a law firm since the beginning of the career then the student should preferably do more internships with the firms. Generally, if there is vacancy in a firm and firm likes the work of a student, the possibility is quite high of getting absorbed. Internships give an edge to a candidate and help to build a rapport with a firm.

7) 5 year law schools are a complete package with many varied experiences and a lot of things to explore. What according to you is better way to go about, grabbing every opportunity that comes your way and see what you can make out of those 5 years or to have figured out in advance your goal and then move in that particular direction.

In my view, a student should grab every opportunity that comes in his way during his law school. It will definitely help him to identify his passion and goal. By doing different kinds of work will help him in identifying his area of interest. However, if a student is sure about a particular stream of law or what he wants to do then he should pursue in that direction.

8) Mooting, Debating and Internships. How essential these skills are as a lawyer and the importance they hold to pave your way into big reputed law firms ?

It’s very important to adopt a pro-active approach for doing these things. Participation in moots, debates, internships, writing research papers/ articles, etc. are very essential for overall growth of a student. These things enhance your potential as a professional and are quite helpful when you start your career.

9) People do self negotiations while opting for a particular career path. If one is saying yes to the comforts and respects of Judiciary then at the same time they are saying no to the lavish corporate lifestyle and vice versa. What as per you are the relevant factors a law student should consider before deciding what they should do after completing their graduation ?

It totally depends on the area of interest of a particular student. I have seen many students who are pre-determined to join judiciary since the start of the law school. Some students are more inclined towards desk work and some want to appear in the courts. However, a student should analyse his area of interest, strengths, weakness, pros and cons of the possible options and then make a conscious choice. In the initial stage of the career, it’s good to try different things. Once you create your niche then it gets very difficult to change that. I think a law student should do litigation initially as it gives some basic understanding of the application of law. Subsequently, a student can choose his path.

10) Thank you so much, Sir, for talking with us. Please end it with an adage which will motivate our readers in pursuing the legal profession.

“You yourself are the Teacher, and the Pupil, you’re the Master, you’re the Guru, you are the Leader, you are Everything!

The Master of your Destiny”

It was a pleasure talking to you.