Whatever percent this picture may be true, we, ergo have courses in INDIA after engineering to still be able to land in diverse jobs facilitating the equilibrium of professions.
You know the options available after an undergraduate in engineering. But do you know them ALL?
As a kick start to the idea seed ‘This is not the end’, we present to you a colloquy with Justina Mathew, an alumni of the ECE department, batch of 2015. Her next 3 years will be in, for and about:
Institute: Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law (RGSOIPL), IIT Kharagpur
Programme: LLB (Hons) in Intellectual Property Law
Programme objective: It offers a 6-semester, 3-year full-time residential programme leading to a Bachelor degree in Law with a specialization in Intellectual Property Rights with the requirements of the Bar Council of India.
LAW AS AN OPTION
1. Why do you want to be a lawyer?
I’ve always had a certain passion for speaking and an inclination towards legal affairs, and these interests, mainly, helped me to come to the conclusion of being a lawyer.
2. Is this stream indeed a part of your original plan?
It was never my initial intention to pursue a career in law. However, during my first year a family friend, who is a respected Patent Attorney in the US, introduced me to the field of technical law for which I gained interest and knowledge over the rest of my course. Finally, I realized that both engineering and law could be integrated seamlessly.
3. What particularly made you deviate from electron tubes and semiconductor devices?
Being a Patent Lawyer does not make me deviate from my engineering background, but rather allows me to use the knowledge I’ve obtained in a different manner, one about which people have seldom thought.
4. How much more lucrative do you think is a career in patent law and procuring rights than one in a mainstream engineering job (one in R&D or production or design of MNCs)?
Through the years I spent at CEG, I have spoken to many people about the jobs they’re currently working in. I understood that what really matters in a profession is not about how lucrative it might be, but rather loving what you do.
Thus, being from one of the core courses the hard gained engineering knowledge will not only serve as a backup plan but also as a foundation to pursue law!
GETTING IN
5. When did you begin preparing for the exam?
I began my preparations six months before the examination which was held in April.
6. To what extent do grades obtained in college affect one's chances to admission in this stream?
The basic criteria for appearing for the examination is to obtain a minimum of 65% aggregate throughout the course.
7. Tell us about your preparation strategy. (Time management and Training centers, if any)
Being new to the field, I definitely faced some difficulties in the initial stages of my exam preparations which I finally overcame with the help and support from the RGSOIPL faculty.
8. How was your final interview of the exam? Could you tell us a little about your experience
The screening process that candidates have to go through to be admitted into the law school consists of a two hour test followed by a rigorous cross-questioning session by the faculty of the institution. The experience was unlike to that of any other interview that I have appeared for owing to the fact that only a handful of students would finally be selected (50 out of 300+ students).
DESTINATION
9. Why choose RGSOIPL based at IIT, Kharaghpur? Your reasons…
A normal law course would take a total of five years to become a certified lawyer. RGSOIPL is one of the few institutions in the world that offers a three year course that I think would be ideal in my case.
10. What were your other options in line?
Since I had come to the conclusion that I wanted to become a Patent Lawyer, I decided that if I did not get through the entrance examination in my first attempt, I would accept my college placement and work for a year after which I would appear for the examination again.
11. Regarding the score bar for RGSOIPL?
The screening of candidates was carried out in an autonomous fashion; hence, the candidates were not aware of their scores, but only the final result.
SHE
Justina was more popularly known as the President of Literary Club’15 and was a part of the Basketball team till 2014; participated in Agni and Techofes under Group Dance category.
12. Did you, given that Anna University has a premium placement cell, sit for job interviews?
Yes. I did sit for the college placements and I got placed in a prestigious organization.
13. About your time at CEG?
During my time at CEG, I have been provided with several opportunities and chances to use my abilities in developing an open platform such as LitFest’15 through which students could gain appreciation for their talents. My college life was filled with the best of friends and colleagues who, in a nutshell, made the past four years memorable.
“LAW in India as a career option is a path of 5 year integrated course in BA.LLB after 10th/12th (or) a 3 year course in LLB after a BE/BTech/MSc/MBA.”
Bottom line: This is another door for us in scope after 4 years here!
