Tell me about yourself:

I am from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. I graduated from the West Bengal National University of
Juridical Sciences, Kolkata in 2019. I worked at Kohli & Kohli Law Associates which is a
boutique law firm specialising in real estate matters, where I was responsible for drafting
complaints for homebuyers under Section 31 read with Section 18 & 19 of the RERA Act.
Thereafter, I worked at Utkarsh Associates from November 2020 to November 2021.
At Utkarsh Associates, I dealt with wide variety of matters pertaining to civil, commercial
and consumer disputes.

Tell me about your education:

I completed my schooling from Kendriya Vidyalaya, IIT Kanpur. I maintained a consistently

excellent academic record in school and participated in many extra-curricular activities such
as debates and sports. I was also made Vice-president in class XI.

I went to the National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata. To be fair, I cannot talk
about how NLUs are better or not from other colleges and universities as I do not have
experience of studying in them. I am sure there are many universities in the country apart
from NLUs, which are offering quality legal education such as ILS College in Pune, Delhi
University, GLC, etc.

What I liked best about my college experience was the diverse set of students I met, from all
parts of the country. For instance, some of my batchmates have participated in national and
international MUNs whereas when I first went to college, I did not even know what an MUN
was. So, going there, it exposed me to so many opportunities I could never have envisaged
before and inspired me to work harder.
I believe more important than any technical knowledge I gained in law school, were the soft
skills I learned such as working and achieving results under pressure, conducting legal
research, and combing through voluminous textbooks to understand concepts. The College
taught me how to apply my knowledge, how to work hard and in a disciplined manner, how
to set goals and achieve it.
Activities in College and CGPA

My CGPA was 4.05 out of 7. Besides academics, I participated in various debate

competitions, conferences and seminars organised by the University.

Favourite Legal Subject/ which area of law do you see yourself working in?

My favourite subject was:

1. Information Technology Law

Corporate Insolvency Law: My primary motivation behind choosing a career in

commercial law is the idea of combining analytical thinking, business sense, with the
letter of law. I have always nurtured a keen interest in the business world, and my father,
being a business man, would involve us discussing business deals, or how the stock
market was falling- and in this way I was constantly exposed to the business world.

In law school, I have learnt of the crucial role the lawyers play in this global business
world- how instrumental they were in the commercial sphere. I realized that the biggest
business deals have the lawyers shaping not only the legal and regulatory aspects but also
the financial side of deals. This fascinated me to pursue a career in commercial law. So,
taking that into consideration in law school, I took various subjects and internships that
furthered my interest in commercial law. Also, I think by nature, I am a person who
works in a very methodical and analytical way- and I think the profession of commercial
law is a perfect way to channelize these skills.

Interest in Higher Education:

I do not plan to go for higher education. I am more interested in getting practical knowledge
while working and considering the advancement in technology, today there are multiple ways
to gain more knowledge as opposed to the formal university education as was prevalent
before.

I know educating yourself consistently is necessary to keep up with the changing legal
sphere, so, in addition to on-the-job learning, I also follow various websites and newsletters
to increase my knowledge. I also try to be updated with the latest developments in the field.

Why Law:

I have always been interested in understanding how the things are as they are, basically how
the world works, and I think law is the best medium through which to gain that knowledge.
To understand how the laws are made, what goes behind the process, how they are
implemented helped me gain better understanding of the world. Going to college only
confirmed my belief. There was so much to learn from every class, I got to understand
different perspectives. The analytical and argumentative nature of law intrigued me and
taught me important skills such as logical analysis, critical thinking and command over
language.

I am very happy with the decision as my education has provided me with the tools to succeed
and taught me how to apply myself in a job.

Varied experience/internships?

Law school is a platform where you are exposed to so many opportunities and there are so
many intriguing and appealing avenues. While I have always nurtured an interest for the
business world- but I wanted to make an informed choice before I decided what I would like
to take up.
Further, in hind sight, I thoroughly enjoyed the wide experiences I gain. And even if I were
certain of my decision to pursue a career as a commercial lawyer, I still would have liked to
be exposed to those area- simply because of the sheer knowledge and exposure I gained from
them.

Would you like to specialisation or an all-round practitioner?

I would eventually like to specialise in an area of law but I believe that right now exposure to
multiple area of law is absolutely crucial at this stage of my life. Only then can an area for
specialisation be chosen.

Opinions on Job Security?

Everyone wants security but I understand there are no guarantees in life. The only true
security comes from making a meaningful contribution in your job. As long as I am
challenged by my work and respected by those around me, I am confident that I will be able
to continue getting the work done properly and efficiently.

You graduated in July 2019, and started your job in February. Why wait for such a
long time?

I had spent 5 years away from home for my college so I took some time off to spend with my
family.

How (do/did) you like working for your (current/previous) supervisor?

It was a great experience. He was extremely dedicated and hardworking. From the time I
began working at the firm, he used to take time to explain concepts and court procedures to
us. I have learned so much personally and professionally from him. What I liked the best was
that he was very specific and meticulous about things and expected the same of us which
helped us grow a lot as a professional.
He also encouraged us to perform better and showed confidence in our abilities when we
were having doubts. I’ve been fortunate to work with and learn from someone who trusted
and believed in me. That trust gave me the confidence I needed to be successful.

Why are you leaving your current position?

Even though I learned a lot in my previous position, my firm primarily specialised in real
estate matters, and I did not want to limit myself to an area of practice so early in my career. I
want to expand my knowledge further to other areas of law, and I believe this firm would
offer me right opportunities to do so.

I am flexible in my career goals. I definitely make plans but I also believe there are so many
factors you cannot anticipate in life, that by being rigid it is possible to lose a more viable
opportunity. Thus, it is best to modify them as we progress and learn more about new
opportunities and work. Career planning is an ongoing process and for it to work, there needs
to be flexibility built in it.

What did you learn from last experience?

Since Kohli & Kohli Law Associates was a relatively new firm, I was involved in all the
steps up to filing of the matter in the relevant courts and Authorities. This involved client
counselling, addressing their concerns and doubts, research on substantive laws and relevant
cases, drafting of plaints and written statements, court procedures like filing, etc. This
experience exposed me to litigation practice.

The most important aspect of litigation was client counselling. It is not sufficient to just have
an expertise in the law, it is also important to have an understanding of the objective of the
client and devise a strategy by keeping that into consideration.

What references would your (current/previous) employer give you?

I’m confident that all my references will be favourable and will confirm what we’ve
discussed here today.

What do you consider the single most important task you performed in your previous
job?

I have drafted many petitions, notices, written statements in my previous job for
homebuyers’, but the most important case which I handled at my previous job is one in which
the Builder challenged the notification issued by the Haryana government in 2019 amending
Haryana Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Rules, 2018 in the Punjab & Chandigarh
High Court.

More specifically, this notification empowered the authority to entertain Execution

applications for the order passed by them. This power was previously vested in the
Adjudicating Officer of the Regulatory Authority. In this matter, the builder challenged this
notification. We were arguing for the allottee, filing written statement for them in the Court.

Why do you want this job/ at this company?

Because of the challenge and the opportunities, I had at Kohli & Kohli Law Associates, I’m
well qualified for it, and this is exactly the kind of _________________________
(competitive/creative/ progressive/technically oriented—use an adjective appropriate to the
company and type of work) atmosphere I’ve been looking for. My career goal is
_____________, and this job would allow me to develop my potential further while actively
participating in that kind of work.

Why should we hire you?

Even though I might not have years of experience in this profession, I have the knowledge
necessary to make an impressive start and the willingness to learn and improve. I have the
skills required by this position. I learn quickly and will work hard to prove myself.

What do you picture yourself doing (five/ten) years from now?

Well, I’m definitely really excited about the associate position at ……………….., and I can
see myself growing professionally in this role. In 5 years, generally speaking, I hope to firstly
have found or at least started developing my specialization in a particular area of law. I
believe that specialization is a matter of experience, interest and practical knowledge, and
hopefully in 5 years I will starting working towards developing my skills and expertise in a
particularly area of law.
Also, in 5 years, I see myself in a role with substantial responsibilities- firstly with regard to
clients; I hope to have skills to give my clients sound commercial advice independently. Also,
I hope to be mentoring my juniors- and passing to them values that were passed onto me.

In 10 years, I see myself to be experienced enough to lead an entire team and supervising
them.
Further, I hope to start building my clientele- as an asset to the firm who not only executes
work but also starts bring in new business and clients.
Further, I see myself having a team under me, substantially training my juniors.
I definitely hope to have developed my expertise in a specialization- and have a firm hold of
the very nuances of that law.

Do you get bored doing the same job over and over again?

Not really. It is my responsibility to get the job done, and it is always possible to learn
something every time you do a job repetitively. I understand work cannot be always
entertaining and to be able to do a job over and over again successfully is a component of
almost every job.

Do you prefer working in a team or would you rather work alone?

I think both are equally important. team work is extremely important for the successful
completion of any project. There are so many opportunities to learn from working with
different kind of people. In the past, I have worked with a team on multiple occasions,
especially in my previous job, where my team was responsible for looking over the real estate
matters of the firm.
At the same time, having the ability to work alone shows that one has the skills to take
incentive and work independently. I think important element to consider here is what is the
best way to complete the given task. Either way, I believe I have the necessary skills required
to work in both situations.

How do you handle criticism?

I would like to take some time to reflect on the criticism. If the criticism is regarding a
mistake I have made, I would want to know as soon as possible so that I can rectify the
mistake or if the criticism is regarding a misunderstanding, then I would like to clarify the
same. Constructive criticism can help one grow and I would take it as a feedback on my
actions and not as a rejection of me as a person.

What do you do when you have trouble solving a problem?

One thing I don’t do is ignore it and hope it will go away. I’m not afraid to ask questions or to
look for the answers myself. There is a solution to every problem. Sometimes, it just takes
creative investigation. I’m a problem solver by nature. Nothing puzzles me for long—if it
does, I just keep working until I find the solution.

Do you have a competitive nature?

Yes, a competitive nature is essential to be successful in job but it does not necessarily mean
that one has to pull anyone down to succeed. I believe it is great to have people around
you who are doing better so that it inspires you to do better, and if that leads to a bit of
competition, such competition then is healthy
.
What is your idea of success?

To wake up in the morning and feel good about what I am going to achieve in a day, to meet
new challenges, to learn something new, to be able to continuously develop my abilities.

Delegation?

Delegation is essential as sometimes time is limited and it is not possible to do everything by

yourself. However, it is important to follow up on the delegated tasks and review them.

How do you deal with stress/pressure?

There are several techniques I use such as meditation, mindfulness and yoga. A routine and
healthy diet goes a long way in ensuring minimal stress. I believe that time management is
the best solution to deal with stress. If you complete your tasks within the deadline, there
would be no reason to go through any stress.

However, I understand in this profession, stress is inevitable, but if considered in right

perspective, it can help us learn and grow. And no stressful situation lasts forever, so as long
as one can keep their head down and work on finding solutions, any stress can be overcome.

Would you be in a position to work overtime if required?

Absolutely. A job is a lot more than a pay check—it’s a responsibility. when I’m given a task
to complete, I do so as soon as possible, even if it requires that I work overtime. When I’ve
been given the responsibility for a job, I take it seriously.

If you could be anyone, who would you like to be? Ideal Person, dead and alive? Ideal
Person in the legal field?

Strengths:

1. Dedicated - everything I do, I believe in investing all my time and interest. Whether it
be a project, a moot, teaching or even painting. Passionate about each activity
2. Efficient worker- put a lot of effort into all my tasks- and do them with precision and
meticulously
3. What I see as one of my greatest strengths- is my ability to manage time well and
remain calm under high stress situations. My ability to prioritize my work, and the
fact that I invest all my interest and attention to what I do, makes me a proficient
worker, even under high stress situations. I have never let my academics fall, and still
engaged in various activities.

Weakness:

1. I deliberate too much over decisions to be made, take actions

2. When I first started college, I was a pretty horrible public speaker. I knew this was
something I wanted to overcome, so I promised myself to speak up more in small
groups. Later, I took it a step further and took a public speaking class. Now, even
 though it doesn’t come naturally to me, I think I’ve made some big improvements. In
fact, I recently presented at a student conference to an audience of over 100.

Salaries:

Though I’m very excited about the job and the professional opportunities it holds, I am
disappointed in your offer. I’m currently making $__________, which includes _________,
_________, _________, and _________, and to make the move, I’d need to increase that by
at least ____ percent

Based on what I made in previous role, I am looking for something between ………. To
………..

Feelings about working is companies of size:

a. Large sizes Organisations: It is great to work in well known company as the offer
valuable resources and great potential for advancement that is not available while
working in smaller companies.

b. Medium sized Organisations: It is great to work in a medium sized company as it

offers the best of both worlds. They offer more security and at the same time has not
become impersonal ….

c. Small sized Organisations: It is great to work in a small company as you get to have
more responsibility, more exposure to all aspects of an organisation. There’s a hands-
on involvement that brings a sense of accomplishment not available in a larger, more
established organization.

The type of opportunity and challenge I seek are here. My skills and experience match what
you’re looking for. I’ve researched my options thoroughly, and this company comes out
on top for me. That’s why I’m here.

Do you feel confident in your ability to handle this position?

Absolutely. I’m familiar with the basic job requirements, and I learn quickly. It should take
me only a short time to become familiar with this company’s procedures and methods. If I
don’t have the answer to something, I find it. The sooner I learn what is expected of me,
the sooner I can excel in the job. I don’t like to waste time when there’s a job to do. It
undoubtedly will require extra time and effort on my part in the beginning; but I’m more
than willing to devote that time and effort because it enables me to do the job right the
first time.

When can you start?

I am excited for the opportunity to join your team. I have several projects to wrap up in my
current role at [Company]. I plan to give them [number of weeks] notice to make a
smooth transition for my co-workers and will be happy to come onboard with the team
here after that time

Miscellaneous:

1. Visualise what a good candidate would wear, how they would walk, and how would
they present themselves. Make sure your hair looks professional. Show warmth.
Ensure eye contact, and sit comfortably but attentively.
2. To enlist this feeling, try this exercise: Sit and close your eyes, and dive into how it
feels when you’re firing on all cylinders. Check in to see where that feeling lives in
your body—maybe in your stomach or your chest or your fingertips. Imagine that
place in your body being the source of this energy, this flow, this power, this ease.
Then, when you need it, just focus on that place in your body, and you’ll return to
your best.
3. Practice mindful meditation and deep breathing before interview and try to be present
and not worry about what will happen in interviews.
4. Smile, and greet everyone. Maintain self-awareness.
5. Start with a smile, a direct eye contact and then introduce yourself – ‘Hi, I am
Avantika. It is a pleasure meeting you.’
6. A firm handshake. Practice it.
7. If there is more than one person, interact with all of them. Try to pull all of them into
discussion.
8. A good interview is an exercise of confidence. Do not be insecure, and do not try to
pre-empt questions by admitting your faults or weak points on your resume
9. Your answer must demonstrate thoughtfulness, confidence, your good fit within the
firm, and your genuine desire to work there
10. Most of the interviewees in our field share a similar profile. you must take every
interview as an opportunity to distinguish yourself from the rest of the crowd in some
way, whether it is by your level of preparation, your witty charm, or your strong
communication skills.
11. if you are having difficulty relating to the interviewer, imagine that he or she is some-
one you care deeply about, such as a beloved aunt or uncle. Every time you answer a
question, remind yourself that you really like this person. Not only will this help you
relax, but it will also help you exhibit interest and attentiveness.
12. Approach every interview with the utmost confidence in your ability to get the job
13. Professional looking hair, earrings, a pendent, watch and a ring
14. Questions to ask beforehand – technical/hr, is there anything should bring?
15. Bring extra copies of your CV for the team.
16. Carry handkerchief
17. Have notes for interview, just in case you need them
18. Try to mirror them carefully
19. Be conscious of length, pace and tone of your arguments
20. Show positive attitude
21. Know how to complete tasks and take independent decisions.
22. Candidate should be open to constructive criticism and learns from mistake, show
responsibility, Know your subject matter
23. Ask questions of interviewers that shows you are interested in them as people to
establish a real relationship
24. Ask questions such as how you will fit in with the team, how the teams work together,
etc. Show them you can fit in with the team
25. Demonstrate clarity of thought
26. Conduct a background research related to company, interviewers, clients. Ask those
questions which you couldn’t find answer to. Also take time to find out information
on competitors
27. Bring up side projects
28. Make them remember you. Tell them what can you do for them
29. Show them that you can handle pressure and bad situations
30. Show when you have taken initiative in the past
31. Act like you are already in
32. Do more than what is expected from you
33. Refrain from interjecting your sentences with filler words, it is no sin to take a pause
and gather your thoughts.