In this blog post, Mr Pathik Arora, Head – Legal, Secretarial & Estate Management, InterGlobe Hotels Pvt. Ltd and a Mentor at Project Abhimanyu provides advice to a student on how to become an In-house Legal Counsel. Project Abhimanyu acts as an external placement cell that guides a student about the available career options and job opportunities as well as helps them apply for internships and jobs. 

Query: I would like to seek guidance how to start a legal career and the scope as an in-house counsel.

Answer: 

Having gone through your CV, I understand you have completed quite a few diploma/certification courses (in varied fields) in addition to your LLB. So I would like to understand if there is any particular stream that is of interest to you where you would like to lead your professional career to.

In-house roles surely have lot of scope and at the same time, these days such roles are equally demanding as roles with law firms (unlike earlier days) considering the role of in-house counsels is evolving in India and we would like it to be seen as one of business enablers.

Having said that, considering you have undergone courses in IPR, banking & finance, securities, etc., I must tell you that these are niche areas for now and are right there for budding lawyers to explore and make a great career in those. I am happy to help you deliberate more on this thought in case you so desire.

I would also recommend that you consider devoting first few years to hardcore litigation (in the field of your choice) under a senior or a reasonably sized litigation practice law firm, this experience would always be handy when you then intend to take an in-house role.

I hope this would give you some food for thought. Please feel free to write to me and good luck to you in all your endeavours!