Profile: Kushal Gandhi
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“It’s important to appreciate that the legal profession is service-orientated and that a commercial law firm is a business not a charity.”
Name:
Kushal Gandhi
Firm: CMS Cameron McKenna
Position: First-year trainee solicitor
Degree: Law
University: Durham
Where did you study the LPC? College of Law, London
Hobbies: Using the latest gadgets
Department: Commercial litigation
Why did you decide to train as a solicitor?
As a lawyer, the learning never stops. More importantly you have the opportunity to learn not just about the law but also build on your general knowledge and commercial awareness, empowering yourself with knowledge of a wide range of issues (for example, the economics behind the credit crunch).
Why did you choose commercial law?
As a commercial lawyer you get the opportunity to be part of and work with organisations that make or break the economy.
What has been the highlight of your training contract so far?
Winning third place in the CMS Cameron McKenna Trainee Solicitor of the Year 2007 awards.
What does your typical day involve?
My typical day involves drafting documents, conducting research, liaising with clients or other lawyers to obtain documents and attending meetings or conference calls, as well as occasionally attending training sessions on either legal topics or soft skills (for example, presentation skills).
What are the most enjoyable aspects of your job?
Working on deals and high-profile cases that get reported in the media.
What are the worst aspects of your job?
A deal for which you have burnt the midnight oil crashing (for commercial reasons) moments before closing.
How is law in practice different to studying law?
Law in practice is about understanding the clients objectives and applying the law to achieve them. The focus is on finding the most efficient legal route to achieve the clients goals and not just to state the law.
Whats the biggest misconception of the legal profession?
Lawyers are liars.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a career in law?
A legal career isnt just about the black letter of the law its also about understanding the clients operations and objectives and applying the law to the facts of the situation. Its also important to stay focused, have attention to detail and be willing to learn and develop further skills to suit the needs of the profession.
What are the biggest pitfalls students should try to avoid when pursuing a legal career?
It’s important to appreciate that the legal profession is service-orientated and that a commercial law firm is a business not a charity.
What are the common attributes of successful candidates?
Ambitious, logical, focused, willing to learn, have attention to detail, initiative and good communication skills.
What are your career goals?
To become a successful, respected and reliable lawyer whose opinions have authoritative value along with being a full equity partner in a leading international law firm.
But do you know what working as a lawyer actually involves? And are you sure of the steps you have to take to qualify as a solicitor or barrister?
Readers' comments (10)
IHateBPP | 16-Jun-2010 8:51 am
"How is law in practice different to studying law?
Law in practice is about understanding the clients objectives and applying the law to achieve them.
"
I assume that should have read " client's " or
" clients' "
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Gary | 16-Dec-2010 11:28 pm
Q: "How is law in practice different to studying law?"
A: "There are more pedants."
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Anonymous | 22-Dec-2010 3:33 pm
Is this profile for real?!
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Law student | 28-Dec-2010 10:52 pm
"Working on deals and high-profile cases that get reported in the media."
shouldn't that be "which get reported in the media" ?
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Beth | 4-Jan-2011 4:46 pm
@ Law Student
No, "that" is correct as it's an unrestrictive clause. Only use "which" to introduce a restrictive clause (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_relative_clauses#Restrictive_or_non-restrictive)
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Mike | 21-Jul-2011 3:33 pm
This guy sounds like the dullest man in the world, and I've just qualified at Freshfields, which has it's fair share of anoraks!!
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S. Ahmed | 28-Oct-2011 9:53 am
@Beth above.
Firstly, it is "non-restrictive", not "unrestrictive".
Secondly, it is difficult to say whether or not Kushal meant this clause in a restrictive or non-restrictive way. Does he mean that he only likes working on high profile cases which also get reported in the media? Or does is the meaning of the sentence that he simply enjoys working on high profile cases (and that such cases sometimes get reported in the media i.e. describing the previous fragment but not restricting it).
Kind regards
S. Ahmed
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Anonymous | 9-Dec-2011 5:17 pm
"Biggest misconception of the legal profession?"
Reading some of the above comments: the profession's reputation for attracting boring, pernickety types who offer nothing other than criticism to boost their own ego, certainly doesn't appear to be a misconception.
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Misha | 20-Dec-2011 0:02 am
Signing off your comments with Kind Regards?!?
Kind Regards,
MK
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DV | 19-Jan-2012 1:13 pm
If this guys fails as a lawyer, tell him to join graduate recruitment because he sounds like a text book trying to recruit lawyers! What a bore!
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