When National Law School of India University (NLSIU) graduate Namrata Shah walked up to claim her rich haul of 16 gold medals, even Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal was vocal in his astonishment.
Ms. Shah, a native of Gujarat whose family is based in Mumbai, secured the first rank and was also adjudged the best outgoing student.
“My rise is not sudden, it is gradual. I wasn’t even in the top 10 in my first year,” said the 47th rank holder in the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), beaming with pride.
Having declined offers from foreign firms, she has chosen to work as an associate with a law firm in Mumbai. Perhaps sharing her businessman father’s acumen, she wants to pursue company law.
Hot favourite
In fact, corporate law seems to be the flavour of the season, beckoning NLSIU’s crème de la crème. Second rank holder and winner of five gold medals Rishi Shroff too said the nitty-gritty of company laws excited him.
The Bangalore boy, an alumnus of Mallya Aditi International School who made it to NLSIU with a CLAT rank of 30, was allured into the legal profession by a 100-year-old law firm owned by his mother’s family.
Pointing out that the Companies Act, 2013, was heralding a host of changes, he said he hoped to see the implementation of “progressive ideas” waiting to be translated into law.
Anupama Kumar, who took home two gold medals, is on her way to pursuing her Rhodes scholarship dream. She is choosing a different path — “I will be pursuing a one-year postgraduate course in civil laws.”
A different path
Another double gold medal winner, Raag Yadav, has been working under a judge in the High Court of Delhi for the past two months.
His too is a different path: “I am helping generate academic content on climatic change negotiations for the Centre for Policy Research,” he said.
