From Classrooms to Courtrooms: USLLS Alumni Share the Secrets to Judicial Success 

The Internship and Placement Cell (I&P Cell) of the University School of Law and Legal Studies (USLLS), Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, organised a special guidance session on 'Judicial Examinations - Tips and Experience' on April 25, 2025 featuring Ms. Samridhi Talwar, B.B.A., LL.B. (Batch of 2017–2022), and Ms. Raghavi Govil, B.B.A., LL.B. (Batch of 2014–2019). This session was specially organised for students aspiring to join the judicial services, providing them with an incredible opportunity to learn about the success stories of USLLS alumni and their top-notch strategies for cracking the judicial examinations. The session featured two distinguished speakers: Ms. Samridhi Talwar, who secured All India Rank 1 in the Delhi Judicial Services Examination, 2023, and All India Rank 58 in the Rajasthan Judicial Services Examination, 2024; and Ms. Raghavi Govil, who secured All India Rank 14 in the Delhi Judicial Services Examination, 2023, and had previously achieved All India Rank 16 in the Rajasthan Judicial Services Examination, 2024, in her very first attempt. Their perseverance, brilliance, and commitment to the field of law serve as an inspiration for every law student. Both speakers discussed their own journeys and shared with the students the preparation strategies they used so as to encourage and assist future candidates willing to pursue a similar path. 

Welcome Note and Felicitation

Prof. (Dr.) Queeny Pradhan, Dean of USLLS, commenced the event with a welcome note addressed to a gathering of more than 200 students from various institutions, setting the tone with her thought-provoking views on the topic of Law and Opportunities. She extended her heartfelt congratulations to the I&P Cell, the faculty coordinators, and the organising team for their efforts in creating a highly relevant and impactful session. She welcomed guest speakers with great pride and respect, applauding their achievements as successful judicial officers. She felt delighted and proud to witness her students doing what they initially dreamed about and attaining it with poise and determination. The guests were then felicitated by Prof. (Dr.) Queeny Pradhan and Prof. (Dr.) Deepshikha Aggarwal, Chairperson of I&P Cell.

Guidance Lectures by Esteemed Speakers

The felicitation was followed by a guidance lecture delivered by Ms. Raghavi Govil, who began by reminiscing about her college days, recalling how she once sat in the very chairs occupied by the audience just ten years ago, and expressing how surreal it felt to now be on the other side of the stage. She went on to express her gratitude to USLLS, as well as to the faculty and students who have shaped the institution into what it is today. Ms. Govil then reassured the students by recalling how she too had been uncertain during her initial years of law school regarding her future in the legal profession. She emphasised the importance of internships, explaining how interning at courts and with litigation teams led to the realisation of her interest in the actual courtroom aspect of law. By sharing her journey from a judicial aspirant to a serving judge, Ms. Govil made her experience relatable to the students. She went on to provide tips that she had learned and applied during her own preparation. She advised students to be well-versed with bare acts, highlighting the invaluable help she received from PYQs (Previous Year Questions) and her college lecture notes, and emphasised the importance of attending college classes. She also shared valuable insights on tackling the interview stage of the examination and reiterated the importance of learning how to handle failure in case the exam is not cleared. In total, she offered suggestions on all aspects of the judiciary exam. 

Ms. Samridhi Talwar then took the mic and shared her insights on preparing for the judicial services exam. Like Ms. Govil, she began by reminiscing about her time at USLLS as a student. She expressed her gratitude to the institution and the supportive environment it provides. Ms. Talwar went on to share her journey from a judicial services aspirant to becoming the topper of the Delhi Judicial Services Examination. She spoke about how, in the beginning, she appeared for the judicial services exams of Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh to get a sense of the exam environment. Ms. Talwar openly discussed how she dealt with failure after the Himachal Pradesh Judicial Services Examination results, reiterating the importance of knowing how to cope with disappointments. When discussing exam preparation strategies, she emphasised a holistic approach focusing on "Material, Mindset, and Practice." She was clear about the significance of PYQs and mock tests, stressing their importance. Additionally, Ms. Talwar shared two mobile apps that she personally used during her preparation. She assured students that preparation strategies may vary for each aspirant and encouraged them to adopt the plan that works best for them. Acknowledging the potential monotony of judicial exam preparation, she advised maintaining balance as the best way to combat it. 

Q&A Session

After the inspiring and helpful lectures, the guests benevolently answered the questions posed by the attending audience.  All the students actively participated in the Q&A session, indicating their excitement.

Few Important questions put forth along with their answers are as follows:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS PUT FORTH BY THE ANCHORS

Q1. How did you efficiently balance college academics and coaching for judicial preparation simultaneously?

A1. Ms. Raghavi Govil recommended setting weekly goals as a way to stay consistent and on track without feeling overwhelmed. Both speakers stressed the importance of focusing on one's own journey rather than constantly comparing progress with others. They emphasised the value of preparing at one's own pace, free from the pressure of competition. Regular attendance in classes was also highlighted as being crucial, as classroom learning helps build essential skills for judiciary aspirants. Students were encouraged to actively apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios, reinforcing both their understanding and preparation simultaneously.

Ms. Samridhi Talwar also shared that she used productivity apps, such as the Forest app to track her study time and maintain discipline, and the Anki app to create and update flashcards, which helped her retain key details effectively. Both speakers emphasized that while proper preparation was essential, attending regular college courses helped break the monotony and kept them connected to a semblance of an academic routine. They stressed the importance of judiciously prioritising tasks, balancing college and judicial preparation, and focusing on strategies that best suited individual needs.

Q2. Do you believe that making three years of legal practice mandatory before eligibility for judgeship is necessary?

A2. The speakers stated that the issue is sub judice, i.e., it is under the consideration of the court and is awaiting the final verdict by the court. As the matter has not been decided, the speakers refrained from expressing personal opinions and emphasised that the ultimate decision rests with the court. However, Ms. Raghavi Govil later remarked that, even if such a requirement is implemented, it could be viewed positively. The initial years post-graduation often overlap with preparation periods, and gaining practical experience alongside studying could be beneficial for aspirants both academically and professionally.

QUESTIONS PUT FORTH BY THE PARTICIPANTS 

Q3. How did you approach answer writing for the Mains examination to ensure the answers were both concise and comprehensive within the restricted time?

A3. Ms. Samridhi Talwar described how a perfect answer needs to address all of the key points and strategies for the question without being wordy. She stressed the need to keep to a clear format while making sure that all elements of the question were covered within the limited time frame. She emphaised that precision and specificity are crucial. Aspirants must focus strictly on the question asked and should avoid unnecessary elaborations. If a question asks for "X," the response should address "X" directly, without digressing into related or unrelated topics. AAt first, whenever she practiced for the Mains examination, her answers typically exceeded the allotted time. But by regular practice and a conscious attempt to master her time management skills, she came to acquire the skill to complete her answers in the time available. She stressed that practice is a crucial element, not just for Mains, but for all stages of the judicial examination process. In terms of preparation strategies, she underlined her effective use of the Anki app for creating and modifying flashcards, which helped her memorise key legal principles, case laws, and important terminologies. Alongside this, she always prepared personal notes by reading editorials from newspapers, extracting glossaries, and writing down complex legal terminologies and new developments. She primarily relied on the bare acts, her coaching class notes, and self-study material. She stressed that practicing PYQs was a crucial component of her strategy, as it helped her understand the exam's pattern and expectations while also improving her answer-writing skills. In addition to this, speakers further advised that for Prelims, one can purchase an OMR booklet, easily available on online stores, and practice in a way they would do in reality. Apart from gaining real experience in handling OMR sheets, one's probability of making errors while filing it during exams is further reduced.

Q4. What efficient strategies helped you remain concentrated and avoid being overwhelmed during preparation, especially when it becomes monotonous?

A4. Ms. Raghavi Govil pointed out that it is important to pay attention to one's own journey and not let oneself get sidetracked by the speed of others. She emphasised the need to remain consistent, practice self-discipline, and not overload oneself with too much study material, as that could cause a burnout. Being positive, steady, and self-oriented was an important aspect of preserving motivation during the preparation process. They stressed that although bare acts and coaching notes were the building blocks of their preparation, mental discipline was a large part of their overall game plan. 

Adding to this view, Ms. Samridhi Talwar mentioned that, to deal with the drudgery and stress of the judiciary exam process, she made a conscious effort to take breaks by spending time with her family, having conversations with friends, taking walks, and even watching movies at times. These little but significant things helped her refresh her mind and keep things in perspective while preparing. Therefore, both speakers emphasized that although limited and dependable study materials are enough, it is the correct attitude and regularity that actually make one successful.

Q5. What helped you successfully achieve and perform well in the last stage of the examination, i.e., the interview stage?

A5. Ms. Raghavi Govil pointed out that there is a need to stay well-balanced and grounded while undergoing interviews, as arrogance has a serious negative impact on a candidate's performance. She stressed that the interview phase is not only a test of legal knowledge but also a measure of how effectively a candidate can use that knowledge in a practical and calm way. She also pointed out the necessity of practising several mock interviews to gain confidence and familiarity with the process.

Ms. Samridhi Talwar also shared that, besides mock interviews, she repeatedly watched YouTube videos to understand how the interview environment works and practised potential questions she might be asked. She prepared herself to answer anticipated questions, such as what her college’s name represents and why she had chosen the judiciary as her career path. For her, expecting and preparing oneself for simple yet important questions proved effective in keeping calm and vocal during the interview. The two speakers were unanimous in saying that a gentle, humble, and reflective personality leaves a lasting impression, quite often deciding the final choice. 

Q6. How to efficiently remember landmark case laws and sections that assist in answer writing during the mains examination?

A6. Ms. Samridhi Talwar conveyed that a structured approach significantly assisted in remembering landmark judgments and key provisions. She chiefly utilised apps such as Anki to make flashcards, whereby revision could be done regularly and specifically. Also, she used handwritten notes in which she had key pointers for all possible topics.

Ms. Raghavi Govil added that, as far as landmark cases are concerned, one should classify them under particular subjects such as Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, etc. She insisted that, under each subject, a few major landmark cases should be learned, rather than attempting to recall all the cases. She also advised that there is no need to memorise all the details; recalling the essence of each landmark judgment is much more helpful. This concentrated effort, along with short note-taking, proved very beneficial to her both while writing answers and while preparing.

Q7. What is the ideal year of law school, in your opinion, to begin the preparation for judicial examinations?

A7. Both speakers advised that the best time to start preparing for the judicial examinations is in the fourth or fifth year of law school. They highlighted the fact that, by this point, students tend to have a basic idea of the main legal subjects.

Q8. Apart from bare acts and self-help notes, would you advise preparing from additional books or resources?

A8. The speakers urged that it is not necessary to refer to books or external material beyond the bare acts, self-study notes, newspaper editorials, glossaries, and PYQs. They underlined that limiting and concentrating the preparation material is more productive. However, they agreed that if a certain concept is difficult to comprehend, referring to a standard reference book can prove useful. Books can also be utilised to practise additional questions, but the primary dependence should remain on Bare Acts, self-made notes, and regular practice of previous papers in order to avoid information overload and stay clear-headed during preparation.

Q9. What advice would you give to students in their first to third year, and what should one preferably aim for in terms of extracurriculars, especially during the initial years of law school?

A9. The speakers advised the students to strive to maintain regular attendance in their classes, as a strong academic foundation is essential. They reiterated that, although enjoying college life to the fullest is important, a balance must be maintained between academics and extracurricular activities. Active engagement in both areas helps create a well-rounded individual. Ms. Samridhi Talwar explicitly stated that she prepared for at least two moots annually, which kept her abreast of reading judgments and comprehending legal principles in greater detail.

Q10. How should one deal with failure after an unsuccessful attempt at the judicial examination?

A10. Failure is an integral part of the journey towards success. Aspirants must view failure not as a setback, but as an opportunity to identify and address their weaknesses. It provides crucial insights that can refine future preparation strategies. Ms Samridhi Talwar shared her personal experience of initially facing failure in the Chhattisgarh Judicial Services Examination, which ultimately helped her recognise the gaps in her preparation and work diligently to overcome them. She emphasised the importance of allowing oneself time to recover, taking a brief break if needed, and then recommitting with renewed focus and determination.

Conclusion

Our esteemed Faculty Coordinator, Dr. Zubair Ahmed Khan, concluded the event with his insightful words in the vote of thanks. He addressed the audience and underlined that discipline and hard work are the true foundations of achievement in the field of law. He applauded the remarkable achievements of USLLS alumni and reminded the students that success is built upon constant effort, perseverance, and resilience, advising them never to lose heart. He once again extended his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to both the alumni and the participants. The session concluded with a group photo of the guest speakers, faculty members, volunteers, and students—capturing a moment of learning, inspiration, and community spirit. It marked the end of a truly unforgettable guidance session, which will serve as a lasting reminder of the incredibly informative session conducted by two very successful alumni of our law school.

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