In this conversation with CLATalgoue, Oishika Banerji reflects on her law school journey from Amity, Kolkata to NUJS and her overall experience as a law student.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
Hi, I am Oishika Banerji from Kolkata. I am currently pursuing my Masters of Law (LLM) from The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences. I completed my BA.LLB(H) from Amity University, Kolkata in 2023. Having a keen interest towards Intellectual Property Rights, I decide to extend my law school journey and get specialization in the same.
How did you start your journey in the field of law?
My law school journey started from 2016 after completion of my 10th grade examination. I had humanities in my 12th and therefore like every other child, thinking to have an aim, I appeared for all possible examinations that a humanities student can appear for. CLAT UG was one of them.
Although I was not much satisfied with the results, there used to be a section in the examination dealing with legal reasoning back in 2018 which did help raise my inquisitiveness about this field.
As we are always taught to aim higher and for the best, the NLU I was allotted to (back then) went against this philosophy and therefore I took admission in Amity University Kolkata, beginning my law school journey for which I will always be grateful. Following five years of law school, I appeared for CLAT PG in 2022 with an intent to pursue higher education.
How were your initial years in the law school?
My law school journey was primarily about observing, learning, growing and processing. Law school has a lot to offer you in terms of self-growth. In Amity Kolkata, there use to be weekly events ranging from moots, trial advocacy, club-related events to that of debates and panel discussion.
Where to intern and how to apply, were frequent questions among students in the initial years which is a general concern irrespective of your law school. I was into blog writing as well from the beginning of my days at law school which gradually helped me become a freelance writer by the time I had completed half of my journey.
What motivated you to pursue law as a career?
I got motivated to pursue law as a career after I joined law school. When the Law of Contracts followed by Torts, IPC, CRPC, Constitution, Administrative and Evidence law were being taught one after the other by our dearest faculties, I got inspired to dive deeper into the world of law. Many students who are determined from before as to what they want to go ahead with are lucky, but those do not have a set plan or goal, are definitely not unlucky.
Tell us a bit about your experience while taking the entrance test for admission into LLM courses. How was that experience different from the time you took the entrance test for UG?
CLAT PG tests your ability to answer what is the law and whether or not you have conceptual clarity based on what is taught in your college during your UG stint. In UG, the test is generally designed for students irrespective of their stream in their 12th grade because of which the focus is more on aptitude which needs regular practice.
For the PG exam, more than practicing the questions, it is the application of the law that needs emphasis. I was more prepared for CLAT PG as opposed to CLAT UG as I had a clear idea of what I wanted, what I had studied and thus, had more confidence.
What were your top 3 sources of information while preparing for the law entrance exam? Did you prepare for the exam all by yourself?
For CLAT PG, I had referred to the following (You Tube Channels) along with my law school notes:
1. Finology Legal
2. Legal Edge
I did prepare myself for the examination but I also got a lot of guidance from my beloved professors of law school.
What would you say sets apart your story from others?
The prime mistake which law students seem to be making these days is always trying to stand apart. This is reflective in their internship choices, activities in law school, etc. It is immensely required to know how to stand with all and help move others as well, without being influenced by the group. I want my story to get connected with many others in the same fraternity instead of telling something that remains completely unrelatable as my story is that of many others who found their calling much later than others.
Any advice you’d like to pass on to law school aspirants and law students?
For law school aspirants: If you do not know whether law is for you or not, it can only be determined after you enter the law school. The subject does not require you to just mug up and remember as many say, but to understand, learn and apply.
For law students: Law is a subject which cannot be defined by a particular syllabus therefore, do read beyond both in your UG and PG.
This interview is a part of our series #MyStory where we interview law students and legal professionals.
Source: Lawctopus
