Anecdotes from our Beloved Students
Reema Jain, Batch of 2020-2025
The prime quality that sets Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad apart from other colleges is the zeal to impart knowledge and experience that the college has internalized. Educational institutions tend to cocoon first year students in a comfort zone which starkly goes against the pulse of the legal field. This field is challenging and the environment induced by the college is just that. Although getting a moot proposition within two weeks of law school starting was overwhelming, it was the start of something that helped us grow. To begin law school and complete a year from home was not what most of us wished had happened. However, the opportunities ranging from publications to competitions that the college helped us with, never fell short. The achievements of the students of this institution in external competitions, do reinforce my belief that I will be trained in a manner that I would forever cherish and be grateful for.
It is true that having research assignments to submit while juggling with internships and online classes did feel a little more than I could take. But in hindsight, I am thankful for it. I could learn how efficiently time had to be managed and I could capture a glimpse of what future would look like. Despite the barrier of online classes being unprecedented for college, apart from minor drawbacks which are a part of any organization, nothing felt haphazard. The faculty was always there to respond to our doubts and always understood when we needed more time or instructions. The open-house system clearly reflects that the institution makes consistent efforts to hear and understand the concerns of the students. The internship breaks and the internships provided by the training and placement cell are praise-worthy. The concept of having multiple cells has helped us to only understand the area of law we are inclined towards, but also in networking and gaining exposure. Every institution has cells and societies but the fact that these cells work round the semester and creatively put their best foot forward, makes them set a different tone and standard. From what I’ve heard, campus life is fascinating and students are always on run in campus. As someone who has never lived in a hostel before, this is something I am looking forward to. I have met some really wonderful people through this institution and I cannot wait to meet more people on campus. We may have missed some fests, seminars and live moot-court competitions, but I hope the time we do get on campus, makes up for it. While meeting your batch-mates for the first time is always a refreshing and nervous experience, it would be a breather to finally see the faces that we are acquainted with and yet not so familiar with, at the same time!
Varun Agarwal, Batch of 2019-2024
Dear reader, warmest greetings! I am Varun Agarwal, a third-year BBA LLB student at Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad (SLSH) and my journey here began back in 2019 when I was then nothing but a wide eyed, curious student keen to learn about this institution- one of the best law schools in India.
I remember stepping onto this beautiful, lush green campus for the first time on the 30th of June 2019 and feeling a rush of emotions, excitement and awe being the most prominent. Not a little while later I had to set up my bed in one of the best hostel facilities available in the country. The availability of the housekeeping staff and helpful wardens made sure we felt clean, safe and at home. Coming to the food part of the experience, we had access to a mess that serves us warm food four times a day (and yes, we are served chicken every alternate day!), a canteen and two general stores. And these were apart from the many food trucks that came to visit us during the various seminars/workshops/fests that the college hosted quite frequently.
To keep us active and healthy, the college provided us with a recreation room, a dance room, a music room, a football field, a basketball court, a volleyball court, a cricket ground and a properly equipped gym (with trainers!). Apart from this, the college also has a good number of societies and cells each of which focuses on a particular field of law such as the Centre for Corporate and Competition Law (CCCL). These cells not only help in the holistic development of their members, but also actively host events regularly, they are the reason we have a wide array of competitions and seminars/webinars, all targeted at honing our skills as soon to be lawyers.
Academically, one is guaranteed quality education at SLSH. All the faculties here are highly qualified and are well versed in the subjects they teach. They provide the students with their utmost support and are always willing help the students during office hours.
The pandemic has indeed been hard on all of us and the institution has done everything in its power to make sure the students did not feel the pressure of the same while simultaneously making sure that we did not missing out on our education. Two of the biggest perks available to us as law students of the institute during the pandemic is the access to various legal databases via our e-library and access to Microsoft applications as Teams is the platform we conduct our virtual classes on.
While I do miss being on the campus right now, all I can say is that I am glad and proud to be a part this institution.
Anandapadmanabhan VP, Batch of 2018-2023
College, an institution where young minds are groomed, it’s a place where we get ready for the real world. Along all of these, it is an emotion for the students. Then there is law school. Five years of intense toil, sleepless nights, competitions, examinations, celebrations, bonding and many more indescribable experiences. The transition from being a school student to a college student is intense, and the institution we go to determines our career trajectory, professional horizon, skill set, adaptability and much more. In 2017, I set foot into our sprawling campus, ready to face any challenge that comes my way. There were many like-minded budding law students, each coming with their own stories to tell, different backgrounds, different viewpoints. I was fortunate enough to befriend some of them and am happy to say that they have been an important part of my journey till now and shall continue to be so.
Being an on-campus resident has its share of pros and cons, but for me, the pros certainly outweigh the cons. The initial impressions are that it is about the freedom, the new routine, the camaraderie, the exposure, fun and more. However, for me, the experience was an eye-opener. With the benefits came responsibilities, and taught me discipline, independence, self-reliance, co-operation and gratitude. There were difficulties, where the comforts of one’s own home were dearly missed. However, that made me realise the value of such luxuries and how protected an environment we as children grow up in, and how the real world is completely different from it.
Classes, assignments, exams, and core studies were all part of the everyday schedule. But our college concentrated on skill honing, improvisation, overall development and growth. Competitions, conferences, paper presentations, publications, quizzes etc were not just an addition to the curriculum, but a very important aspect of it. They gave me an opportunity to find my areas of interest in the vast legal world. Research, discussion, critique and takeaways helped me greatly. Being a part of the college Cells and Centres occupied a great deal of my time, and is one of the most cherished memories of my time at Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad. From my first member badge to my journey as Vice President for two of the most active and diverse centres, to now being on the advisory board, I have enthusiastically given my heart and soul to each event, conference, discussion, meeting and more. I shall miss those days and my fellow members greatly. A plethora of opportunities were presented to me, and I endeavoured to seize each one. Be it the joyful time when being a member of the committees organising Syminaret or the meeting the crucial deadlines whilst a national Cyber Law Seminar is ongoing, I shall remember each one.
Looking back at the time I had, I wish I could have had more time to do all of it again. The pandemic especially brought out the love I had for the campus and its life while I sat at home, away from it. Every professor, peer, friend, foe, has helped me reach the stage at which I am today. I am forever indebted to my college, and it’s not just a law school, to me it helped me make my dreams come true.
Rupal Chhaya, Batch of 2017-2022
Questions like why law, how’s the college, how are the teachers are very common to pop up during a conversation with anyone from the legal fraternity. Here I, Rupal Chhaya, a student of 5th year (BBA LLB) would like to share my experience at the college so far.
I was always of the opinion that teachers are the biggest contributors and back bone to a student’s well being. It is their efforts and cooperation which ultimately reflects in a student’s performance. And I must say that Symbiosis Hyderabad didnt disappoint me at all. All the faculties at the college are absolute gems, not only are they passionate about their teaching abut are always ready to extend a helping hand to anyone in need. It was all because of them that I could come this far professionally.
The college also provided us with great amount of exposure, not just academically but also in the various co-curricular and extracurricular activities. Being a part of the Centre at the college contributed to my personal well being. It taught me time management, organisational skills and gave me a greater level of confidence. The numerous moot court competitions, mock trials, conferences, seminars and short term courses gave me the avenue to explore the most of myself.
A law students life isnt limited to academics alone as the college administration would say. Celebrations of pan India festivities, fests, DJ, weekend outings and ethnic day made us all feel at home. However, the pandemic didnt stop the college and they made every possible effort to keep us engaged during the trying time. The small events, competitions and webinars gave us time to keep up the spirits during the gloomiest of times.
I would like to thank all of the faculties at the college and the administration for having me excel in research, debates, writing, oratary skills and providing me the best of the intern opportunities. For my college was and would always be my sevond home. Home sweet home.
