Avani Pathak graduated from Amity Law School, Noida in 2017. She currently works as the Head of Corporate and Business with LiveLaw. Here is her interview with Desi Kaanoon-
Q. How would you describe yourself as a law student?
A. I was quite a nerd since my school days. My parents were particularly strict about academics, hence I had to always study hard which also made me more competitive. I was raised up with a sense of competition and ambition – a trait quite important in today’s world. Apart from academics, I was also inclined towards public speaking and mooting in my early years of law school. I come from a very small town in Madhya Pradesh, my parents are both
government officers and they always wanted me to prepare for civil services. It took me a while to convince them of my plans of pursuing a corporate career in law. Now when I look back, I think I made the right decision.
Q. How did you land up as the Corporate Head at Live Law and how has your journey been so far?
A. LiveLaw was searching for a new corporate head last year and my name was strongly recommended to the founders by a few others in the same field. One fine day I got a call from LiveLaw office asking me if I would be interested in coming down for an interview. I have been an ardent reader of LiveLaw since its inception. While I was in law school, I used to easily spend 1 hour a day just reading through the content and news updates. LiveLaw was already a big name and initially, I was a little unsure as it was a big position for someone who has just started her career. However, after a round of formal meetings and discussions with the founders I realised that this is just the right opportunity for me. I think it’s very important for young professionals to have confidence in themselves and their skills.Recruiters, in my opinion, mostly look for knowledge, confidence and hard working attitude in a candidate. CGPA is also important, especially if you do not have an NLU tag attached to you.
Q. You have previously worked as an Associate in companies like Vakilsearch and LawRato. How was the overall experience ?
A. The first few years after law school are the most crucial years in the life of every law professional. Many young professionals feel lost and confused in the highly fast paced corporate work culture. I was among the lucky few to be surrounded by extremely knowledgeable and passionate seniors at work who were always available to help with my doubts and questions. One advice which I would like to give to all the students reading this is that once you start working in an organisation, don’t be afraid to seek help from your colleagues whenever you are stuck. Not asking for help will only make your work more difficult and slow down your growth as a professional.
Q. How do you like to spend your spare time? Do you have any specific hobbies?
A. I have been a Bibliophile since my childhood. I really enjoy reading about world economic history and politics. I am currently reading “ The Rise and Fall of Great Powers” by Paul Kennedy. The book explores the shifting political and economical balances of great powers from the 15th Century. I also enjoy reading about the historical landmark judgements and have recently completed a book by Raghu and Pushpa Palat which discusses the details of the famous case O’Dwyer versus Nair in the King’s Court in England.
Q. What do you believe is the role of right mentorship in the peak years of a law student’s career?
A. Proper guidance and mentorship is crucial for succeeding in the legal field. The field of law has widely expanded in the past few years and many new domains such as Legal Writing and Legal Journalism are attracting more and more talent from all areas. Hence, it’s important for students to understand what their strengths and weaknesses are so that they can make an informed decision while choosing their career path. An experienced mentor will not only help them in understanding the practical aspects of law but will also help them in identifying their calling and guiding them towards the right career prospect for them.
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