Adv. Writika Dutta completed her B.A.LL. B (Hons.) from the Department of Law at Calcutta University and her LL.M from Surendranath Law College (Calcutta University). She has done her schooling (10+2) from Nadia in Pure Science.
She is currently practising in Consumer Forums at the district, state, and national levels, as well as practising civil matters in district courts. She runs her own legal coaching institute, Indian Legal Studies (ILS), where she teaches students for their semester exams and prepares entrance students for the Calcutta University Law Entrance Test (CULET).
Additionally, she conducts practical workshops such as court visits, drafting contracts, affidavit sessions, and more. She also has a YouTube channel, “Indian Legal Studies,” where she shares updates on entrance examinations and discusses various legal topics. She takes both online and offline classes. Overall, she has a great personality and is always there to help students with their difficulties, providing proper guidance.
Please Introduce yourself to our readers.
Hello, this is Adv. Writika Dutta. I have completed my B.A.LL. B (Honours) from the Department of Law (Calcutta University) and LL.M from Surendranath Law College under Calcutta University. I have completed my 10+2 in pure science, including biology, physics, chemistry, and mathematics. Many students believe that if they come from a science stream, they cannot pursue B.A.LL. B, which is absolutely wrong. Feel free to enter the legal profession.
I now practice in Consumer Forums at the district, state, and national levels, as well as in civil matters in district courts. Additionally, I have my own institution where I teach law students for their semester examinations and entrance students for the Calcutta University Law Entrance Test (CULET).
The name of my institution is “Indian Legal Studies” (ILS), with the aim of providing proper advice to all students and newcomers in this profession. Over the years, many students have benefited from this institution as well as from my YouTube channel, Indian Legal Studies (ILS).
What inspired you to pursue a career in law?
Once, I came across a news article in ‘Ananda Bazar Patrika’ when I was in class 9. That particular article inspired me, and from that day, I intended to study law and pursued it rigorously.
Can you tell us about your academic and professional journey in the field of law?
From the very beginning, I wanted to join the judicial service. As I mentioned, I came across an article regarding judicial service, which sparked my journey of pursuing law. During this time, I searched for a knowledgeable person who could guide me on what to do and what not to do to become part of the judicial service.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anyone to provide proper guidance on the matter. I knew that if you want to become a judge, you have to study a lot because judges are considered “chalta firta libraries.” I followed this rigorously and always indulged myself in long hours of study.
As for my coaching institution, I am doing pretty well compared to others or my batchmates because, during my college days, I dedicated myself to studies, which helped me a lot. Regarding my professional journey, I started my internship in the 8th semester. Before that, I had never been to any court.
What are the problems you faced as a first-generation lawyer.
See, it’s not just about being a first-generation lawyer; whenever anyone enters this field without a proper mentor, guide, or family member in the profession, they face a lot of problems.
What motivates you to start a YouTube channel and then creating your own centre for educating law students?
So, my experience wasn’t very good. As I mentioned earlier, I always wanted someone to guide me properly, but there was always a lack of that. When I was in my 4th and 5th year of college, I realized that I had learned a lot and knew what it took to succeed in this profession. From that day, I decided that if I ever had the opportunity to share my knowledge with juniors or newcomers, I would guide them properly.
This realization inspired me to start my academic journey because when you are new or a novice in this profession, you need proper guidance from someone who has already been in your shoes. This motivation led me to start my YouTube channel and my academic career.
I founded my institution, which is running well because I believe that if you are honest and can provide guidance to others, people will believe in your words. You should guide them in a proper manner.
You are an advocate as well as teacher. How do you balance between these two professions.
Yeah, it gets very difficult sometimes, and it becomes impossible for me. Sometimes I think, “No, I should quit one of them.” But difficulties will be there. You have to manage; you have to balance. Just as we have to balance our professional life and personal life, I always balance my teaching life or academic area and my practice in career.
For that, you should have a proper team on whom you can rely. Luckily and fortunately, I have a team. Although I never discuss that team with anybody, I have a team with whom I can work happily and harmoniously. The most important part is that I have reliable loyalty. Without my team, it would never be possible for me to balance everything.
So, 50% of the credit for how I balance everything goes to them as well. But yeah, if you want to manage and do anything, then you can do it. For that, you have to devote a lot of time and make a lot of sacrifices. I have sacrificed many family functions and many tours with my family. So yeah, these are the sacrifices you have to make. But if you want to do something, you will make a way.
If you have taken any responsibility, as I have with my students and clients, you have to balance both sides. So yes, “If there is a will, there is a way.”
What strategies do you use to make complex legal concepts accessible to students?
There is no proper strategy to make things easy you have to read a lot. So yeah, I read a lot to make complex things too simple and to make it short, that’s it. There is no way to make any shortcut, smart work you can do but for that you have to do hard work first. So, to make shortcuts you have to do a lot of hard work so that you can make proper shortcuts.
Can you provide examples of innovative teaching methods you have used or plan to use?
If you pursue an LLM, you will get a subject in your LLM that is ‘Teaching Aptitude,’ and that subject will teach you the methods you should apply while teaching. So, I personally feel that there is no particular way or method because, in a classroom with 30 to 50 students, you can’t apply whatever you have learned from theory.
The legal aptitude subject can’t be applied directly in my class because there are many students with various requirements. You have to understand the needs, the situation, and the topic you are explaining to the students. For that, you have to read a lot, both within and outside of the syllabus.
What according to you should be the focus of the law students at law school?
Law student at school should focus on their study first of all. If their English is not good, they should have a good knowledge in the English and good command on their language.
All the students must have knowledge on International Relations on politics and whatever going on in our society, in our country as well as and the most important part is that one must take their academic seriously.
What skills, do you believe, law students should aim to gain to pursue a career in academics?
The number one skill as a law student or a person pursuing law must have is research skill. This is a must have skill. If you can’t research a lot you can do anything and to do proper research you have to read a lot.
There was a myth about legal profession that ‘Lawyers Are Just In It For The Money’. Please comment on this.
See if you are willing to have plenty of money in the beginning of your career you can’t sustain here. You have to be dedicated; you have to do a lot of hard work without any money. In your initial days in your starting days of internship you cannot earn huge amount of money, it takes time and experience. Money will come definitely money will come but not immediately.
When you complete your course after 2 or 3 years then money will start coming to you and day by day you will be able to earn more.
What would be your advices to the law students entering this profession?
The thing I will suggest to all the students who are entering into the Law School please keep it into your mind that mathematics is not there in law. Don’t rush and grab law because it’s more difficult to sustain in this profession then mathematics.
So you have to read a lot, keep that in mind. Start reading and start practicing reading a lot. The next part is if you are weak in English make a command in your English because it’s a necessary skill in this profession and don’t be shy, please don’t be introvert. Even if you are an introvert, there is no issue —start talking to your friend and that will help you a lot in your profession.
This Interview is a part of our Star Student/Faculty interview series wherein our campus leaders interview the star student/faculty of their college. Stay tuned for more!
Source: Lawctopus
