The Alliance Centre for Intellectual Property Rights (ACIPR), Alliance School of Law, and Alliance University, in collaboration with the Office of Career Advancement and Networking (CAN), hosted a guest lecture titled “Road Ahead: Navigating Life After Law School.” The event focused on preparing law students for academic and professional transitions after graduation. Over 200 second and third-year BA LLB (Hons) and BBA LLB (Hons) students participated. An interactive session was also held for ACIPR members.

Legal Career Planning: Insights from Practitioners
The session featured Mr Arkadeep Pal, Advocate at the Karnataka High Court, and Mr Paarth Samdani, Associate at Trilegal, Mumbai. Mr Pal spoke about the importance of engaging in university centres and participating in legal events. He highlighted the role of peer-reviewed journal writing and academic publishing in legal education. The value of participating in external moot court competitions was discussed as a means to strengthen legal reasoning, research, and presentation skills.

Mr Samdani focused on academic preparation, particularly the need to master core legal subjects in the early years of law school. He discussed how academic clarity supports better performance in internships and recruitment processes. The growing relevance of intellectual property (IP) law was explained, along with opportunities in litigation, corporate law, and advisory services. Internships were identified as essential for developing a professional network and gaining practical experience.

Institutional Initiatives in Intellectual Property Law
The session introduced students to ACIPR-led platforms aimed at enhancing legal scholarship and engagement. These included the ACIPR Newsletter, which covers developments in IP law, the Alliance Journal for Intellectual Property Law (AJIPL), a peer-reviewed publication, and a student blog initiative encouraging contributions on current IP issues. These initiatives provide students with structured opportunities to explore specialised legal topics and contribute to ongoing academic dialogue.

Key Takeaways
Engaging in university centres and academic events enhances both legal understanding and professional development. Academic writing and contributions to peer-reviewed publications help strengthen research and analytical skills. Participation in moot court competitions improves advocacy and legal communication. Building a strong foundation in core legal subjects during the early years supports better performance in internships and placements. Intellectual property law offers a range of career opportunities across emerging legal sectors. Internships from the third year provide valuable industry exposure and practical learning. Student-led academic platforms encourage writing, collaboration, and active participation in legal discourse, contributing to overall academic and professional growth.

Conclusion
The guest lecture helped students understand the requirements of the legal profession and the steps necessary for career preparedness. Focus was placed on academic planning, skill-building, and strategic participation in university initiatives. The event concluded with a Q&A session, followed by the felicitation of guest speakers by Dr V Shyam Kishore, Interim Dean, Alliance School of Law. The lecture reinforced Alliance University’s objective of bridging academic learning with professional growth through meaningful engagement and expert-led dialogue.