|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
Q I have been practicing as a lawyer for the last four years. I want to know what is the scope for Indian lawyers abroad, particularly in the UK? What sort of remuneration do they get? — Gopal Mendiratta A Of late, global law firms have been recruiting lawyers from India in a big way — luring them with plum jobs and pay cheques in pounds and dollars. The so-called Magic Circle, a league of top six coveted law firms in London, are now competing for the best recruits from India not only at the graduate level but also at the "lateral" entry level. Two of these firms, Clifford Chance and Linklaters, together hired 60 graduates from the National Law School in Bangalore and the National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS) in Kolkata this season (as recently as two years back, the figure barely touched five). Some of these firms even pay their new recruits in the region of 65,000 pounds annually, excluding bonuses. Indian lawyers are being hired because the standard of education here is comparable to that in UK and both countries share a common legal system and a common language. Also, there is a shortage of skilled lawyers in the globalised operations of these firms. Transactional lawyers with experience in capital markets, corporate, finance, funds and projects are the most sought after.
Interest in IGNOU Q Can you please tell me something about the new master’s programme in education offered by IGNOU? — Nalini Tiwari A IGNOU’s Master of Arts (Education) Programme is an innovative programme that provides a wide and comprehensive understanding of education covering a variety of areas ranging from understanding the concept of education to understanding how knowledge is generated in education. The course will help you acquire a higher level of specialization in a specific aspect of education: A. Higher Education B. Distance Education C. Educational Technology D. Educational Management Objectives of the Programme is to produce of well-trained professionals who are knowledgeable in education and its various dimensions. More specifically, it intends to: a) provide learning-experience, which will enable you to understand and appreciate knowledge structures and paradigms of education; b) develop
professionals for effective participation in different areas of c) create a community of scholars adequately equipped for participation in educational discourse. Total number of credits: 68. You must cover 34 credits each year. The Dissertation work in year-2 carries 10 Credits Eligibility: A Bachelor’s Degree (any discipline) with/without a Degree in Education. Duration: you can complete the programme in a minimum of two years and in a maximum of five years. The medium of Instruction: English Fee: Rs. 10,000 for the entire programme (in one installment). The Multi-media instructional mode combines self-instructional print material, audio/video components, assignments, counselling sessions, teleconferencing, Interactive Radio Counselling, and dissertation work. IGNOU’s School of Education also offers courses in following four disciplines: Ph.D. in Education, MA in Distance Education, Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) PG Diploma in Distance Education, PG Diploma in Higher Education, PG Certificate in Professional Development of Teachers, PG Diploma in School Leadership & Management, Diploma in Primary Education, Certificate in Primary Education, Certificate in Elementary Teacher Education. The following academic programmes are under development: M.Phil. in Education, PG Diploma in Educational Technology, and PG Diploma in Educational Management & Administration Details and application form: www.ignou.ac.in. The application deadline is November 15. Fair chance Q I am interested in starting my own business. The business world is a male-dominated world. Can a woman like me make it in the health and beauty segment? — Naina Bagga A Women entrepreneurs have created a mark of excellence in setting up and successfully running all kinds of business establishments — be it health, beauty, fashion, real estate, entertainment, publishing or production. Successful women entrepreneurs like Shahnaz Hussain, Vandana Luthra of VLCC, Vinita Jain of Biotique, Dr. Sonal Shah, Blossom Kochhar of Aroma Magic and Pivot Point have made their mark in the health and beauty segment. And there are several others. The most important pre-requisite for initiating a business is investment. The company is either financed by venture capital, private investment, loans or personal funds. The central government today offers schemes for Women Entrepreneurs. It provides them with adequate support and encouragement. A loan of Rs. 1,000,000 can easily be procured from the government by aspiring women entrepreneurs. No doubt, juggling career and motherhood and home and marriage is a demanding business. But as far as women being able to make it in a man’s world, let me leave you with my favourite quote: "Whatever women do, they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not at all difficult." So, go for it. And remember, nothing ventured, nothing won! Sea of options Q I am doing MSc oceanography. After finishing this course what jobs can I get? What are the industries providing job for my degree? — Pandiaraj. D A Most openings for oceanographers are in organisations handling environmental conservation and protection. Industries involved in the packaging, marketing or export of marine products also provide employment to oceanographers. Besides oil exploration petroleum and petrochemicals industries such as Essar Oil, Reliance Industries, ONGC, and government bodies like the GSI and National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, which is involved in ongoing frontline research. Oceanographers spend months of their time in data processing, computer programming, analysis, writing, budgeting, planning, and conferring. Also since most of the time is spent outdoors (although not necessarily at sea), the job demands physical fitness and adaptability to variations in the work environment. Laboratory work demands precision, computer savvy, and ability to consolidate data. Communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team are also essential. Depending upon the subject you major in (i.e. Physical Oceanography, chemical oceanography, marine biology, marine geology), you can be working in the respective research departments of institutes like NIO or their research stations. Besides the satisfaction of working in a growing profession, people who love the sea get to experience the exhilaration of actively doing something about conserving and protecting ocean life and its environment. The world’s coastal ecosystems are currently in an critical condition and there is no accurate record of their history. Just as doctors have a better chance of saving the patient’s life if they know his medical history, scientists would be better equipped to help reverse the dwindling marine population and restore the balance of marine ecosystems if they know the history of these environments. Most research jobs are usually filled by those who have doctorates in the subject. As a fresh PG, be prepared to carry out routine jobs in the beginning. If you are deterred by vast amounts of paper work, and mathematics, then oceanography might not be your cup of tea (or saline water). Also be prepared: this line of work requires constant travel. Pray, is there a place for me? Q I want to join the Army as a religious teacher. Can you please tell me what the necessary requirements are? What will be my rank and what is the retirement age? — Raghu Sharma A The Indian Army recruits graduates in any discipline with relevant religious qualifications and robust physical and mental health between 27-34 years of age as Junior Commissioned Officers (Religious Teacher). As a Religious teacher you will preach religious scriptures to troops and conduct various rituals at regimental/ unit religious institutions. Your duties will also include attending funerals, ministering to the sick in hospitals, reading prayers with the convalescents, visiting soldiers undergoing sentence, giving special religious instructions to the children and enlisted candidates besides attending to the religious instruction and welfare of the officers, soldiers and their families. Depending on your religious ties, you can join as a pandit, a granthi, a Buddhist monk, a padre or a maulvi. To join the Army as a pandit, you need to be a graduate with a Madhyama in Sanskrit or a Bhushan in Hindi or its equivalent standard in the regional language concerned. You are also eligible if you have passed BA with Sanskrit/ Hindi as an elective (main) subject, but have not done Madhyama in Sanskrit or Bhushan in Hindi. Selection is on the basis of a Physical Fitness Test; Screening; Written Exam and Interview. Upon successful completion of training, you will be commissioned as a Religious Teacher in the Naib Subedar. As a JCO (RT), your minimum pay scale will be Rs 5620-140—8140. In addition, you will be entitled to DA, free accommodation, ration for yourself, clothing, free medical and leave travel concession for yourself, your family and dependants, canteen facilities and other regular army allowances. After 10 years of service, you will be eligible for paid acting promotion to the rank of Subedar/Raisaldar. The normal superannuation age for JCOs (RT) in the rank of Naib Subedar/Subedar is 57 years. As a Subedar Major, you will retire on completing 4 years of or at 57, whichever is earlier. Application Deadline: 24 November 2007 (See this week’s Deadlines Column in this paper) Integrated MBA Q I am currently in Class XII. I am thinking of joining a 5-year integrated MBA programme. Does an integrated MBA have the same value as a regular MBA? Should I pursue B.Tech instead? — Atree Ghosh A While integrated courses are fine, they are not of much value unless done from a top-notch institution. It may be better to do your graduation first, particularly if you are a science student and contemplating a B. Tech anyway. Work for a while to gain some practical experience and then try for an MBA from a really good B-school that offers excellent placement facilities. This is a better option than tying yourself down to a mediocre 5-year course. Moreover a techno-management qualification is highly rated in the job market. The writer is a noted career consultant Please send in your query, preferably on a postcard, along with your full name, complete address and academic qualifications to: Editor, Jobs and Careers, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh-160030, or at careers@tribunemail.com
|
Steptoe &
Johnson LLP, a US-based law firm with a significant Indian
practice, has announced the addition of six highly-experienced
attorneys to the firm's transactional and corporate practices
in order to "enhance" its service to the growing
needs of Indian clients.
