'Not Making It To NLUs Not The End': In Conversation With CLAT-PG 2022 Topper Samriddhi Mishra

Live Law: Hello Samriddhi! Thanks for speaking to Live Law. First of all, congratulations on securing AIR 1 in CLAT PG 2022. How are you feeling? Tell us about your background, your education, and your family members.

Samriddhi: Thank you! I think it's overwhelming and securing AIR 1 proves that hard work is the key to success. My family is from Basti district of Uttar Pradesh. Now, we live in Lucknow. My father is a first-generation lawyer. He practices at Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court. My mother is a teacher and a social worker. I have one elder brother, who is an engineer by profession.

I did my schooling at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Aliganj at Lucknow, and thereafter, went for an Integrated LL.B. course from the Faculty of Law, University of Lucknow. I have also done LL.M. in Constitutional and Administrative Law from Banaras Hindu University. I took this exam for placement in public sector undertakings.

Live Law: What prompted you to pursue law?

Samriddhi: My father is the first influence I had. School teachers also played an important role. I was mediocre in academics but actively participated in co-curricular activities like debate, youth parliament, etc. The study of fundamental rights, the Indian political system, etc. in political science drew my interest further.

Live Law: Since you have already done LL.M, how important do you think it is for Law students?

Samriddhi: LL.M. is post-graduate course in law. I have pursued my LL.M. from the Faculty of Law, at Banaras Hindu University in the year 2020-22. Due to the global pandemic of COVID-19, I completed it online. However, the teachers were so accessible that it didn't feel so. It was a great learning experience. It improved my research skills, which form a very important aspect of any legal profession, whether one opts to go in academics, law practice, judiciary, or anything else.

Law is not at all taught at school. And the law is such a vast and evolving subject that the undergraduate course only introduces to its dimensions and basics. LL.M. allows a student to go deeper into their area of interest. During the dissertation, you get to analyze a real legal issue and work out its probable solutions.

Moreover, it brings many career opportunities as well.

Live Law: Tell us about your CLAT PG preparation strategy in detail. How did you prepare for each subject?

Samriddhi: I was preparing for multiple government exams related to law. The CLAT pattern is a bit different from those. It is comprehension based and tests analytical skills more than memory. I already had a conceptual clarity, which I owe to my teachers in LL.B. I used my undergraduate notes thoroughly.

I prepared for CLAT PG on my own. I actively prepared for it for 3 months only, in which for the first two months I had allocated 2 hours for studying judgments. I utilized the SCC Online subscription given by BHU for it. I made short notes of judgment in the pattern of issues involved, arguments, analysis by the bench, judgments relied upon and final opinion.

I was studying other subjects for other exams during the rest of the day, which helped me in CLAT as well. For Jurisprudence and International Law, I revised my class notes only.

For Contract, Transfer of Property, Criminal Law, and other subjects based on Enactments, I read the bare text and only the leading cases.

Since the weightage of Constitutional Law is more, I gave more time to it. I especially focused on areas that form the base for the chronological development of precedents like Reservation, Amendment powers, Repugnancy, Appointment of Judges, Article 21, the interplay of fundamental rights and directive principles, government contracts, minority institutions and right to education, etc.

I studied the new Parliamentary bills, the debate around hate speech, sedition, marital rape exception, and other issues which remained in news throughout the year. There were some subjects in which I did nothing more than studying recent judgments like environmental law, the law of taxation, labor law etc.

Live Law: Are coaching classes quintessential for CLAT PG Exam preparation?

Samriddhi: So far as coaching is concerned, for this exam, I think coaching is not required. However, this is purely my personal opinion. I think the language and financial constraints of the CLAT exam itself serve as a barrier for many potential aspirants, we do not need to add any more. The exam is really simple and can be cracked by self-study easily.

Live Law: How has Live Law helped you in your preparation for CLAT PG?

Samriddhi: It played a very important and crucial role in my preparation. I went through the 100 judgments of 2021 video on the YouTube channel of Live Law and selected those that were related to subjects in the syllabus of CLAT PG. To cover the judgments of 2022, I did a similar exercise on weekly round-ups published by Live Law. This reduced my burden and I had to read only 60 judgments in total.

Live Law: What was your reaction to your CLAT PG AIR 1?

Samriddhi: I had given the exam the previous year as well. I got AIR (Gen) 138, and AIR (EWS) Rank 7 then. I was expecting to be in the top 20, but AIR 1 was unbelievable. I straight up went up to my brother and told him about the result. He was very elated. The entire family was overjoyed.

Live Law: What would be your parting advice to law aspirants?

Samriddhi: Firstly, I would congratulate them to have chosen this noble profession. There are some misconceptions about it which I would like to break. The legal profession is for all. Anybody from any background may make a career in it. Girls can. People from non-legal backgrounds can. People not from metropolitan cities can. Students not from any English medium or Convent School can. So, do not restrain yourselves if the profession attracts you.

Also, not making it to an NLU is not an end. I studied at State and Central Universities. I have met many students from colleges whose insights have surprised as well as inspired me in many ways. So, just keep working on your goals. Make the best use of what you have at hand and your hard work will definitely pay.