In Conversation With Pallavi Kumar, Senior Associate, JSA

Tell us a bit about yourself. What made you choose a career in law? 

I did my schooling from The Mother’s International School in New Delhi. As a student, I had keen interest in Economics. After graduating school, I pursued Bachelor in Economics from Shri Ram College of Commerce at Delhi University. Even though my father was an in-house counsel, it wasn’t until the final year of my Bachelors that I realised that I too wanted to pursue a career in law. I immediately started working towards that goal and applied to some of the best law schools in the country. Having successfully cleared the entrance test, I enrolled at Campus Law Centre, Faculty of Law at Delhi University. 

Throughout my time at law school, I made it a point to look for internships in different areas of law. The intention was to understand varied domains of law and shortlist a niche to pursue in future – litigation, corporate or in-house. For this reason, I interned with different lawyers, law firms as well as legal departments of multinational companies. It was during these internships that I realised my true love for litigation! I knew I wanted to be a lawyer on the ground and experience the thrill of arguing.

At law school, I also engaged in multiple extra-curricular activities and tried to excel in them. I am an avid basketball and badminton player. I strongly believe that playing sports not only keeps one fit but also improves one’s mental well-being, ability to concentrate, and reduces stress. 

I am also a trained classical dancer. I regularly practice my dance and have done multiple stage performances. I have training of more than 15 years in Bharatnatyam and Kathak - the transition from Bharatnatyam to Kathak was one of the most challenging but fulfilling experiences I have had.

If you could suggest one reform in the legal education system, what would it be?

One reform I want to suggest is to revise and update the curriculum in law schools. Law schools should adopt a curriculum that recognises the necessity to impart technical skills to new entrants to the profession. Newer sub-disciplines of law should be incorporated for students to get a holistic learning experience. For instance, most law schools do not have the option of teaching insolvency law or competition law. These subjects are important for students who are inclined to specialise in these fields.

Please tell us about your specialization and the array of work you handle in your current role.

I have 6 years of experience in civil commercial litigation and arbitration. In these 6 years, I have been fortunate to work both at a law firm as well as in the chambers of Senior Advocate Mr. Amarjit Singh Chandhiok. I have been part of landmark cases under IBC, where the constitutional validity of some of the provisions of IBC was under challenge. Other than insolvency, I have extensive experience in arbitrations, both domestic and international. I have represented clients in arbitrations relating to a wide range of sectors, including construction and engineering, and real estate and infrastructure.

What advice would you give law students seeking the best internships in their area of interest?

There is no doubt that internships play a significant role in one’s career. My advice to students is to use internships to discover their areas of interest.

There are many ways of applying for internships. The best way to get a suitable internship is through the placement cell of your law school. Students can also apply through online platforms, such as LinkedIn, Internshala or by directly getting in touch with the HR department of the company, firm or chamber they are interested in applying to.

How do you foresee the Future of Insolvency Law in India?

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, of 2016 has changed the shape of Insolvency Law in India. Prior to the IBC, there were multiple overlapping laws and adjudicating bodies dealing with corporate and individual insolvency in India. The IBC has now consolidated these laws governing the insolvency resolution of companies, partnerships as well as individuals. Till now, the IBC has been quite successful in achieving its objective of insolvency resolution in a time-bound manner. From rank 136th in 2015, India’s ranking has improved by 67 places after the introduction of the IBC as per one of the World Bank Doing Business reports.

Looking at the future of Insolvency Law in India, I can think of two very significant changes that India is getting ready for. First, cross-border insolvency and second, personal insolvency. Implementation of both is extremely important for the proper working of the IBC.

Is a masters degree in law important for a successful career in your desired practice area? Have you done your LL.M, if yes, please mention the specialization and college or your future plans of further studies or other important certifications useful for lawyers in this age and time, if an?. If no, please share your views on why LL.M is not the answer to mastering a subject. 

I often tell people that lawyers never stop studying! Law is such a diverse profession; the learning is never-ending. 

I believe that irrespective of the practice area, it is always useful for a lawyer to pursue higher courses after LLB, whether it’s an LLM or a Post-Diploma Course. I, too, have completed a Post-Diploma Diploma on Alternative Dispute Resolution from NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad. I had enrolled in this course in 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic had hit us. This was a distance education course, and the classes were held virtually. It was an extremely enriching experience for me, and I got an opportunity to learn many new concepts and developments in Alternative Dispute Resolution, particularly in arbitration. In fact, I secured first position in this course out of the total batch of 320 students.

It is extremely important for lawyers, whether in the litigation or corporate sector, to enrol for courses in their interest area. 

Many Congratulations on joining the BW Legal World Elite 30 Under 30 Club of Achievers 2021. What to your mind has helped you get to where you are and what advice would you have for others who want to set off in a similar direction?

Thank you. I think what worked for me was that I love my work. Once you enjoy what you are doing, things tend to fall in place. I also try to push myself to think out of the box to cater to the needs of my clients. I would offer the same advice to others. Work hard, enjoy your work and success will follow!

As a final note, would you please recommend to our readers your favourite book that left a lasting impression on you?

The Alchemist is one book which left a lasting impression on me. The essence of this book is to follow your dreams and that your journey is more important than your destination. The book is extremely inspiring and has taught me some valuable lessons, which I try to implement in my life. One of the most inspirational messages from this book was that the only thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve is the fear of failure. Overall, I found the book to be extremely motivational.