Justice Harnam Singh Thakur (Retd.) Addresses RGNUL Students at 'Campus to Corporate' Event

Justice Harnam Singh Thakur (Retd.), Judicial Member of NCLT Chandigarh guided the students at the “Campus to Corporate: Charting a Career in Corporate Law” event held at Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Punjab, with the objective of introducing law students to the corporate legal sphere and guiding them on how to prepare themselves for the demands of the legal industry.

The event was graced by the esteemed presence of Mr. Vikash Kumar Jha, Partner at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas; Mr. Pratika Shankar, Partner at Talwar Thakore & Associates; Mr. Gautam Bhargava, Partner at CMS IndusLaw; Mr. Uttkarsh Bhatnagar, Partner at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Mr. Soham Banerjee, Counsel at Khaitan & Co; and Ms. Tamanna Bansal, Legal Associate at the Centre for WTO Studies. The Vice-Chancellor, in his address, spoke about the dynamic nature of the legal profession and the diverse career avenues available to law graduates today. He said that the University encourages students to explore their interests across all branches of the profession, whether in the corporate sector, litigation, academia, or public service. Drawing inspiration from the careers of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Vikram Nath, he remarked that while the corporate world offers excellent opportunities, success in any domain ultimately depends on one's dedication and perseverance. Dr. Shiva Satish Sharda, Faculty Coordinator of the Internship and Placement Cell, also addressed the gathering. She emphasised the importance of research in all facets of the legal profession - be it the Bench, Bar, Corporate, or Academia. She encouraged students to make the most of the opportunity and reassured them that the University, under the leadership of the Vice Chancellor, is committed to supporting students in their professional endeavours.

Justice Harnam Singh Thakur, in his address, fondly recalled his college days at Himachal University, Shimla, where he was appointed as an Assistant Professor after competing his LLB and LLM , before being selected for the Haryana Judiciary. Sharing his experiences, he said that the field of law offers abundant opportunities and that success ultimately depends on one's hard work and persistence. Citing Justice Surya Kant's journey, he reiterated the importance of Swami Vivekananda's Three Ds - Determination, Discipline, and Dedication, along with the Three Ps - Purity, Patience, and Perseverance.

He congratulated the organisers for conceptualising and successfully implementing the event and ended his address with words from the Katha Upanishad: “Arise, Awake, and Stop not till the goal is achieved.” The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Ms. Ivneet Kaur. She fondly reminisced about her days as a postgraduate student and shared her past interactions with some of the speakers, many of whom are proud alumni of RGNUL. She expressed that the event was even more special as it brought together the University's alumni who have gone on to excel in various facets of the corporate legal world. She extended heartfelt thanks to Justice Harnam Singh Thakur, the Vice Chancellor, the distinguished speakers, the faculty members, the student convenors, the supporting staff, and the housekeeping team for their collective efforts in making the event a grand success.