Certainly. Now I have the knowledge that I wish I had in 1st year. Seniority does count.
But yes, if you get the "ad-wise" of your seniors in your first year, you might just dig some unearthly wisdom.
Law School is all about knowing the right things from the right people
at the right time. And the right time is always the earliest one. So, I solicited my seniors to dole out some advice. Here you go!
Moiz Tundawala- was in 5th year (darn senior!) when I was in my first year. I got some of the best advises in law school from him.
Currently, he is pursuing his LL.M. at School of Oriental and African Studies, London, and was kind enough to sum up his advice:
National law school is not a special place to be in. Rather, if you belong to the lower strata of our society, it needs you more than you need it. This is not to say that others will not be welcomed, but their are just far too many of them in there already. Anyways, since you have made the mistake of joining one, remember a couple of things.
Respect your seniors, but do not let yourselves be corrupted by the culture of fierce competition they have helped create on campus. Do not prioritize pursuit of trivial pleasures, and fake and in the long run inconsequential accomplishments over your quest for knowledge and wisdom. Enjoy your freedoms responsibly, and more than anything else, do not let law school turn you into a bad person.
Abhishek Tripathy- one of the "studs" in Law School. He joined Amarchand & Mangaldas after graduating from NUJS in 2011. He forked out some gyaan from his knowledge repository- telling us the way law school transforms us and equips us with options.
The idea of legal education and law school to me has always been about multiplicity of options, at every level. Did I choose to do law because I had to be the next hot-shot lawyer? No. That was not the singular motivation. My decision to do law was to be a part of a dynamic learning place with incredible exposure. And my law school, NUJS far superseded my expectations.
Today, more than ever, being a lawyer provides one with the luxury of choice that few other career choices will. As a student, one could lead a very active life by being a part of the variety of activities that law school offers. The active and rigorous (no, I do not mean the nerdy type rigor of pouring over cases and books and what-nots alone) law school life in a good institution is, in short, life transforming. Mooting, debating, legal research including writing and publishing papers, organisational abilities, legal aid activities are all but a brief outline of the diversities a law student faces.
Lap it up, as you have but only 5 years to soak it all. Do not have mental blockades and do not limit yourself to just one thing. Each and everything that one does in a law school: curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular, contributes to shaping him/her as a person, and as a professional.
My biggest take-away from my 5 years? Let no one make you believe that there are no options in life. Have faith, believe in your abilities and do not be afraid to take risks. The sky is just where you start at, and the universe is your limit.
Tanuj Kalia- Is Founder of Lawctopus- hangout zone for lawschoolites. He agreed to dish out his advice after I promised him a treat.
Learn speed reading. That way you’ll be able to read three times what your neighbor does.
Read a lot. Reading is like a conversation with the best brains.
To make a career choice, find an intersection of your skills, passion and the market.
Experiment a lot. Success happens due to random events. So by experimenting a lot (with things where the intersection occurs), you increase your chances of success.
Learn meditation. Vipassana meditation is profound.
Listen to The Dewarists on Youtube.
You don’t matter at all.
You only matter.
If you aren’t having fun most of the time, quit.
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