Hi,

You need to quickly figure out what are your advantages and disadvantages. Once you know this, you can work on turning around your disadvantages, and playing according to your strengths. However, doing this assessment dispassionately and honestly is critical. If you lie to yourself about your disadvantages, or overestimate your advantages, or even underestimate your chances and give up prematurely – none of that is of any help. You need to keep in mind while doing this exercise that you can overcome every disadvantage. provided that you can recognize them, have the courage to acknowledge, and admit them. Then you can work on them so that you rise above the hoi polloi.

The pursuit of getting into the top law firms is not easy. It requires a long term strategy and steady execution of that strategy. Most people do not have the discipline to execute it. It is not about how much talent you have, but how much you develop yourself and how gritty you are in the face of setbacks.

Here are the usual advantages you need :-

• Perfect English – ability to speak, write and communicate.
• Proximity to law firms, courts, arbitration institutes etc.
• Practical Knowledge and skills.
• The timing is very important.

Remember that as far as top law firms are concerned, it is very difficult to get a job towards the end of your final year. In fact, it is next to impossible because the seats are filled up much earlier. So if you wake up too late, your chances of getting a job in a top law firm in that year in miniscule.
You have to get a PPO towards the end of your fourth year, or right at the beginning of your fifth year if you are in a 5 year law course. If you are in a 3 year law course, then you have to land a PPO by the end of your 2nd year or beginning of 3rd year, not at the end of your 3rd year.
This is where most law students make a huge mistake. They delay the beginning of their preparation.

Hope this helps.

Good luck.