Five Qualities of Corporate Lawyer

 


Why corporate law? And how is it to be a corporate lawyer?

When I started the company which is now an eternity back, after completing my law school graduation at the top university in India. From my very early days, I was always curious to know the world of corporate law, which back in the day was in a relatively new stage in India, and I decided to do a specialisation in it.

When I was recruited by the organization, I was very certain that I wanted to be a corporate lawyer. And today with the additional benefits I am getting in my career, I am delighted that I took that decision to go for the new world of corporate law. Frankly, if I was to repeat this all over again, I would not do it any differently.

I am delighted and grateful to be a part of an exceptional organisation and in particular an internationally renowned corporate practice. Every day is a new experience and new learning.

We have an incredibly talented, and internationally respected, pool of partners and it is a treat to get a chance to learn from them and see them in action on a daily basis.

Working in a firm like Vidhinyas comes with many benefits, the main one being: you get a chance to advise top quality international clients. For me personally, I find it extremely satisfying to know that the advice I am providing is not only being valued and appreciated by very sophisticated clients but also that I am able to contribute to the growth of so many world’s best businesses.

If someone was to ask me how difficult is to become a corporate lawyer, I would say that it is not at all difficult. But what is difficult is to become a good one! And to be able to achieve that you need to start early.

The question then is, what does it take to become a good lawyer in corporate world? Well, I am not an expert at this but based on my relatively short experience of about five-six years in this space, I am convinced that there are some qualities that are required to become a great corporate lawyer. My top five picks are as follows (and these do not appear overnight — these have to be developed over a period of time, so the earlier one starts the better).

1. Technical: Knowing the law

The most essential quality is knowing the law thoroughly and possess conceptual clarity . There is no alternative to this. If one is looking to be successful in the business world, it is essential to know the corporate law, one needs to be technically sound in particular in contract law, Companies Act and other corporate laws (e.g takeover code and listing rules).

2. Attitude: Ready to make that extra effort

The life of a lawyer in corporate world (like many other field top professions) might look glamorous to many, but it requires a lot of hard work. There are times when one would have to sacrifice weekends and nights for clients and other team members.

3. Keenness to learn more and taking up new challenges

The world of corporate law is always evolving (and sometimes faster than one expects), which makes it fun. Every now and then, you have new corporate laws, legal structures and products being introduced in the market. One needs to be keen to learn (and at times, unlearn) and take up new challenges.

4. Attention to detail is indispensable

It is essential to pay attention to every detail. Because of the nature of work that firms such as mine perform have, there isn't any margin of error. Small mistakes could significantly cost our clients (and the firm) and therefore it is a must to ensure that one works on this quality from the start.

5. Commercial awareness puts you ahead

A lot of trainees and junior associates are focused on learning the law and performing the tasks they are assigned, and tend to not pay attention to the most recent developments in commercial law. They believe that it's the responsibility of partners and senior associates. I don't believe this is the right way to go. If you want to stay ahead of their competitors and peers commercial awareness is essential. Being aware of the commercial developments is a matter of habit, the earlier one starts the easier it gets later on.

Location: India

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