Ms. Nupur Sony is presently employed as an Assistant Professor in the department of Legal Studies, Invertis University, Bareilly. She had done graduation from I.T. College, Lucknow, affiliated with Lucknow University and post-graduation in Pol. Sc. from Lucknow University itself. She pursued her LLM again from Lucknow University. She has been teaching for the last ten years at Invertis University, Bareilly.
1. Mam, Please Tell Us Something About Yourself to Our Readers.
Since my father was an Assistant Engineer in the irrigation department of U.P. Govt., he used to get transferred from one place to another very frequently, so I couldn’t remember a single school till the time I reached in Class lXth. Thus, I received my secondary education from GGIC Basti, U.P. as no other better option was there.
2.What Inspired You to Choose Law as Your Career? Why Law and Not Engineering or Medical Studies?
Truly speaking, even though I was a diligent student but I was never having an aptitude for science subjects and was more keen to study humanities. Hence, Engineering and medical courses never excited me and I went ahead with the insightful study of social science. However, later on, my father-in-law, who himself was a Professor of Law, encouraged me to pursue LLB and LLM course as he believed that legal professionals are problem-solvers and innovators and Law as a career is more intellectually challenging and personally fulfilling besides, giving financial security as well. So, I took up Law as my career and I feel that it was a right decision.
3.Tell Us About Your Law School Journey.
Initially, when I started the study of Law, It didn’t appeal me much and I could not satisfy my intellectual curiosity and I found it as very dry and boring. But gradually, I developed my interest in the Law subjects and carried out an extensive study of all the subjects relating to Law. During my LLB period, I acted as a mediocre student but when I got admitted in LU for LLM course, it was life –changing and turning point of my life. I learnt a lot from the Professors of law campus of LU, especially Awasthi Sir, Manish Singh Sir, C.P. Singh Sir, Shefali Yadav ma’am etc, who helped immensely in broadening my mental horizon. Furthermore, I was never interested in going for the preparation of judicial services. I was always determined and clear that I would opt teaching of Law as my profession.
4.Tell Us a bit About Your Ph.D Experience.
The whole journey of completing my PhD has been an enriching one. I have done my PhD under the supervision of Late Prof. A.B. Kafaltiya Sir, who was the great source of inspiration for many. He provided me with personal attention which I looked for while pursuing advanced education. He made me understood the fundamental concepts and ideas and enabled me to successfully defend my thesis to earn doctoral degree.
5.What Do You Like Best About Teaching? What Is the Best Thing About Being A Professor and What’s the Worst?
Teaching profession is one of the noblest professions of the world as it enlightens countless people. Being a teacher , I can make a person better human being.
Out of all professions teaching is considered best because it enlightens many people and paves right path for life. As teaching is an interactive process, it not only facilitates the students but also helps the teacher to learn new things and remain updated about the recent developments taking place in all the arena of life. It is respectable, creative, and decent profession because teacher plays a multiple role in the life of students as a motivational speaker, guide, critic, and a taskmaster and even friend at times.
The bad aspect about teaching is that now-a-days, the teachers are overworked and they are compelled to carry out clerical nature of tasks as well which has a very demoralizing effect on the personality of teachers.
As far as I am concerned, I am contented with this profession as it gives me an extreme satisfaction while teaching.
6. Any Tips for Budding Legal Writers? How Can Law Students Develop Good Writing Skills?
In this regard, I would suggest that extensive and wide-ranging reading should be done by the students as it will aid in enhancing the writing skills; It ie well-known that reading provides with so much of quality content and generate new ideas and thinking among the students, so the students should not only read academic stuff but at the same time newspaper, articles, literature or fiction should also be taken up by them for widening their perspectives.
7.How Should Law Students Go About Selecting Topics for Research Publications?
It is of key importance for the Law students to choose a relevant, interesting and appropriate topic for research publication so that the research article may be fruitful in providing profound knowledge and logical analysis of the current socio-legal problem. Similarly the landmark judgments of higher judiciary must also be analyzed by the student to further expound the substantial point of law raised by court decisions. One thing must be kept in mind that in order to write a research paper, sufficient reading should be made. Only then, an excellent manuscript can be produced and be submitted for publication in esteemed journals.
8.Do You Feel That the Legal Profession Has Significantly Changed from When You Decided to Study Law?
No doubt, legal profession has undergone several changes from the time when we opted for the study of law. Previously, the students pursuing law degree, were left with only two options – either to crack Judicial examination or to practice bar. But now, better opportunities are coming up for law students and they have variety of options for future life. Another development which has taken place now is the emergence and growth of Private Law Schools and National Law University. They provide a wide platform for sharpening their skills and expanding their knowledge base of their students for exposure and all round development of personality.
9.Do You Feel That There Are Differences Between Students Of ‘Elite’ Law Schools and Students from Other Law Colleges and Traditional Universities?
I am of the opinion that there are many differences between rich-elite Law University and traditional universities which are noteworthy. Firstly, NLUs have superior infrastructure and placement facility which place their students on better position. They focus on both conceptual and practical aspects of law subjects. On the other hand, the traditional universities are dedicated to conceptual and theoretical study of the law subjects. Besides this, the traditional universities are facing several challenges in the form of lack of infrastructure, dilapidated condition of library and shortage of quality books there, Access to legal database is also not available. However, we can still rectify the situation and traditional universities can also be equally good, if the whole approach towards the university should get changed.
10.The Best Experience and Success Habit You Would Like to Share with Law Students to Encourage Them.
I have been teaching since 2011 and since then, there have been quite a lot of interesting and enriching experience which have shaped my personality and made me more mature. As far as I can recollect, the finest experience has been the one where the first batch of final year students in their farewell admired and praised me and tagged me as the best teacher of the world. They gifted me and displayed their love and affection towards me.
Frankly speaking, each and every achiever has their own success tips. As far as I am concerned, I would only suggest staying focused and believing in you. Make extensive reading and generate thinking abilities in yourself.
About the author –
This interview has been conducted by Yashman Kaur, Second year B.com LL.B Student at Invertis University, Bareilly(U.P).
