Your Students Graduate.
Do They Know How to Practise?

• Opening argument structure — how to frame the case in 3 minutes
• Responding to judicial questions — the most feared moment for any student
• Cross-examination technique — using the opposing affidavit against itself
• Rebuttal arguments — answering opposing counsel's strongest points
• Citing authorities under pressure — producing the right judgment at the right moment

• Students who are not afraid of judicial questions — because they have answered 500 of them in training
• Moot court teams that win — because they have practised against a system that knows every counter-argument
• Graduates who can appear in court from Day 1 — not after 3 years of watching seniors
• AIBE candidates who pass — because AIBE is easier than ARIA Arena
• Lawyers who find clients — because confidence in court is visible, and clients choose confident lawyers

S.138 NI Act — creates the criminal liability for cheque dishonour. Conditions that must be satisfied: (1) cheque drawn on a bank account; (2) for discharge of a legally enforceable debt or liability — not a gift, not a security deposit that was not yet due; (3) cheque returned unpaid; (4) payee sends a written demand notice within 30 days of dishonour; (5) drawer fails to pay within 15 days of receiving the notice. If any condition fails — especially if the cheque was given as security and the debt was not yet due — the case under S.138 fails entirely.

S.142 NI Act — limitation: complaint must be filed within 30 days of expiry of the 15-day notice period. S.143A NI Act — interim compensation up to 20% of cheque amount payable by accused during trial. S.148 NI Act — appellate court can direct deposit of minimum 20% of fine/compensation on appeal. CrPC S.357 / BNSS S.395 — compensation order on conviction. Order XXXVII CPC — summary suit for recovery running parallel to the criminal case.

Original cheque (original, not photocopy); bank’s dishonour memo; proof of delivery of demand notice (speed post / courier tracking); proof that 15-day period has expired; invoice or agreement proving the debt was legally enforceable. Defeating facts to anticipate: defence of “cheque given as security”, “signature not mine”, “amount filled in later without authority” — each of these must be addressed in the complaint itself.

Forum: Judicial Magistrate First Class — where the cheque was presented for payment (bank branch location). Earnings: S.138 NI Act is one of the highest-volume practice areas in India — over 35 lakh cases pending. A junior lawyer handling 15–20 cheque bounce cases per month earns ₹60,000–₹1.2 lakh/month within 2 years of practice. Senior specialists charge ₹50,000–₹2 lakh per case at the High Court revision stage.

HMA S.24 — Interim Maintenance (Pendente Lite): either spouse with no independent income can claim maintenance and litigation expenses during the proceedings. Conditions: (1) applicant must have no independent income sufficient for support; (2) marriage must be subsisting (not yet dissolved). Defeating conditions: if the wife is employed and earning sufficiently, S.24 is defeated. If she has suppressed income (rental income, business income), the court will reduce or deny the claim. HMA S.25 — Permanent Alimony: after divorce is granted. The court considers conduct of parties, property of both, and standard of living.

S.125 CrPC / S.144 BNSS — parallel maintenance petition in Magistrate court; faster than Family Court in many jurisdictions. PWDVA 2005 S.20 — if there is domestic violence, monetary relief (maintenance + medical + loss of earnings) is available as an interim measure within days. Guardian & Wards Act S.17 — child custody and child maintenance. Limitation Act S.5 — condonation of delay if maintenance arrears are claimed after one year. Income Tax Act — husband’s ITR is the primary evidence of income; salary slips, Form 16, and bank statements are Aiding Law evidence tools.

Marriage certificate; husband’s salary slips (last 6 months), ITR, Form 16, bank statements; wife’s income proof (or absence thereof); child’s school fee receipts; house rent paid by wife; medical expenses. Defeating facts to anticipate: husband will claim wife is employed — obtain her Form 26AS to verify. Husband may claim he has loans and EMIs — courts deduct genuine EMIs from gross income before calculating maintenance. Standard of living during marriage is the benchmark — document it.

Forum: Family Court (where parties last resided together, or where wife resides). S.125 CrPC → JMFC / Family Court. PWDVA → Magistrate. Strategy: file S.24 HMA in Family Court for interim maintenance simultaneously with S.125 CrPC — two parallel tracks increase pressure on the husband. Earnings: Family law is the most consistent income stream for junior lawyers — ₹8,000–₹25,000 per case at trial level; ₹50,000–₹2 lakh at High Court. A lawyer with 20 active matrimonial files earns ₹80,000–₹1.5 lakh/month within 3 years.

IBC 2016 S.7 — Financial Creditor’s petition for Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP). Conditions: (1) applicant is a “financial creditor” as defined in S.5(7) — bank, debenture holder, bond holder; (2) there is a “financial debt” as defined in S.5(8) — money disbursed against consideration for time value of money; (3) there is a “default” — non-payment of debt when due, minimum ₹1 crore (post-2020 amendment). Defeating conditions: if the debt is disputed and a pre-existing suit is pending, NCLT may reject; if the default is below ₹1 crore, petition is not maintainable.

IBC S.14 — Moratorium: on admission of petition, all suits/proceedings against the corporate debtor are stayed. IBC S.17 — management vests in Interim Resolution Professional (IRP). IBBI Regulations 2016 — procedural rules for filing, timelines, and IRP appointment. SARFAESI Act 2002 — parallel enforcement of security interest (bank can simultaneously proceed under SARFAESI for secured assets). Limitation Act S.18 — acknowledgement of debt in balance sheet restarts limitation. Companies Act 2013 S.230 — scheme of arrangement as alternative to CIRP.

Loan agreement; sanction letter; disbursement records; NPA classification date; bank’s CIBIL/credit report; company’s balance sheet (to check if debt is acknowledged); demand notice sent; default date. Critical check: Is the company’s debt reflected in its own balance sheet? If yes, limitation is extended. Is there a personal guarantee from promoters? If yes, S.95 IBC personal insolvency can run parallel.

Forum: NCLT — bench having jurisdiction over the registered office of the corporate debtor. Appeal → NCLAT → Supreme Court. Earnings: IBC is the highest-paying litigation area for junior corporate lawyers. Briefing fees for NCLT appearances: ₹15,000–₹50,000 per hearing. Resolution Professionals earn ₹2–10 lakh per assignment. Senior IBC lawyers charge ₹5–25 lakh per matter. A junior with 2 years of NCLT experience commands ₹18–30 lakh CTC in law firms.

RERA 2016 S.18 — right to refund with interest or compensation for delay in possession. Conditions: (1) project must be registered under RERA; (2) allottee must have a registered agreement for sale; (3) promoter must have failed to give possession by the date specified in the agreement. Defeating conditions: if the agreement contains a force majeure clause and builder invokes it for COVID period, courts have allowed partial deduction of delay period. If the buyer is in default of payment instalments, S.18 is weakened.

RERA S.18 read with Rules — interest at SBI MCLR + 2% on the amount paid, from the date of default to date of refund/possession. Consumer Protection Act 2019 S.35 — parallel consumer complaint for deficiency of service (compensation for mental agony, litigation costs). IBC S.7 — if multiple buyers are affected, a class of allottees (≥100 or 10% of allottees) can file CIRP against the builder. Registration Act 1908 — registered sale agreement is primary evidence. Specific Relief Act S.10 — suit for specific performance (possession) in civil court as alternative.

RERA registration number of the project; registered agreement for sale; all payment receipts (amount paid, dates); promised possession date in the agreement; builder’s communications (or absence thereof); RERA project page showing revised completion date. Check: Is the buyer’s payment schedule complete? Any default by buyer weakens the claim. Has the builder obtained an occupation certificate? If OC is received, possession must be taken even if delayed.

Forum: State RERA Authority (primary). Appeal → RERA Appellate Tribunal → High Court. Parallel: Consumer Forum (District/State/National depending on value). Earnings: RERA is a high-volume, high-value practice area. Lawyers charge ₹15,000–₹50,000 per RERA complaint. With 70,000+ RERA cases filed annually across India, a specialist earns ₹1.5–4 lakh/month within 3 years. Consumer forum parallel track adds ₹8,000–₹20,000 per case.

IDA 1947 S.25F — mandatory conditions before retrenchment of a workman with ≥1 year continuous service: (1) one month’s written notice or wages in lieu; (2) retrenchment compensation @ 15 days’ wages per year of service; (3) notice to appropriate government. If any condition is not met, the retrenchment is void ab initio. Defeating conditions: if the worker is a “fixed-term contract” employee under the new labour codes, S.25F may not apply. If the establishment has fewer than 100 workers, S.25N (prior government permission) does not apply but S.25F still does.

IDA S.25G — last-come-first-go rule for retrenchment; if violated, gives additional ground. IDA S.25H — right of retrenched workman to be re-employed if employer re-hires. IDA S.10 — reference of dispute to Labour Court / Industrial Tribunal. IDA S.11A — Labour Court’s power to set aside dismissal and award reinstatement with back wages. Payment of Wages Act — recovery of unpaid wages. EPF & MP Act — employer must settle PF dues on termination; failure is a separate criminal offence.

Appointment letter; salary slips (to establish “workman” status and wages); termination letter (or absence of one); service record showing continuous service ≥1 year; proof that no notice/compensation was paid; EPF account statement. Critical check: Is the worker a “workman” under IDA S.2(s)? Supervisory/managerial employees are excluded. Was a domestic enquiry conducted? If not, even a valid misconduct termination is procedurally void.

Forum: Conciliation Officer (first) → Labour Court / Industrial Tribunal (on reference by government) → High Court (writ under Article 226) → Supreme Court. Earnings: Labour law is a steady, high-volume practice. Unions retain lawyers on annual retainers of ₹3–10 lakh. Individual workman cases: ₹10,000–₹30,000 per case. Management-side labour law (HR compliance, domestic enquiries) pays ₹25,000–₹1 lakh per assignment at senior level.

SARFAESI Act 2002 S.13(2) — secured creditor can enforce security interest without court intervention. Conditions: (1) bank/financial institution is a “secured creditor”; (2) the debt is a “non-performing asset” (NPA) as per RBI norms; (3) the security is a “security interest” (mortgage, hypothecation, pledge); (4) demand notice under S.13(2) served, giving borrower 60 days to repay. Defeating conditions: SARFAESI does not apply to agricultural land. If the security is not registered, enforcement is problematic. If the borrower files a S.17 application before DRT, enforcement is stayed pending hearing.

SARFAESI S.13(4) — after 60 days, bank can take possession, manage, or sell the asset. SARFAESI S.17 — borrower’s right to challenge before DRT within 45 days. RDDBFI Act 1993 — bank can simultaneously file OA (Original Application) before DRT for personal decree against borrower. Registration Act — mortgage deed must be registered; unregistered mortgage cannot be enforced under SARFAESI. Transfer of Property Act S.58 — defines mortgage types; only mortgage by deposit of title deeds and registered mortgage qualify. IBC S.7 — if borrower is a company, CIRP is an additional parallel track.

Loan agreement; registered mortgage deed; NPA classification letter; RBI NPA norms compliance; S.13(2) demand notice with proof of service; borrower’s response (or silence); property valuation report; encumbrance certificate. Critical checks: Is the property agricultural? Is the mortgage registered? Has the 60-day notice period expired? Has the borrower filed a S.17 DRT application? Each of these determines which enforcement track is available.

Forum: SARFAESI enforcement — no court required (self-help remedy). Borrower challenge → DRT. Bank’s recovery suit → DRT (for debts above ₹20 lakh). Appeal → DRAT → High Court. Earnings: Banking and NPA recovery is the highest-paying junior practice area. Banks retain law firms on panel — panel lawyers earn ₹8,000–₹25,000 per DRT appearance. In-house bank legal officers start at ₹12–18 lakh CTC. Senior DRT specialists charge ₹1–5 lakh per matter.

Trade Marks Act 1999 S.29 — infringement of registered trademark. Conditions: (1) plaintiff’s mark must be registered; (2) defendant uses an identical or deceptively similar mark; (3) use is in the course of trade; (4) use is in relation to goods/services for which the mark is registered. Defeating conditions: if plaintiff’s mark is not registered, S.29 does not apply — must rely on passing off (common law). If defendant uses the mark in a different class of goods, infringement may not be established. If defendant’s mark was registered before plaintiff’s, priority defeats the claim.

CPC Order XXXIX Rules 1&2 — interim injunction (most critical first step — stop the infringement immediately before trial). Trade Marks Act S.135 — relief in infringement suits: injunction, damages or account of profits, delivery up of infringing goods. Consumer Protection Act 2019 S.2(47) — “unfair trade practice” — parallel consumer complaint for misleading consumers. Copyright Act S.51 — if the packaging design is also copied, copyright infringement runs parallel. BNS S.318 — criminal complaint for cheating consumers (adds pressure on defendant).

Trademark registration certificate (plaintiff); date of first use of mark; samples of defendant’s infringing product; side-by-side comparison of marks; evidence of consumer confusion (complaints, social media); defendant’s sales volume (for account of profits). Critical check: Is plaintiff’s mark registered in the correct class? Has plaintiff been using the mark continuously? Gaps in use can be used by defendant to challenge validity of registration under S.47 (non-use cancellation).

Forum: District Court (for infringement suits) or High Court (if defendant’s turnover exceeds ₹2 crore or if the matter involves passing off with complex issues). Commercial Court (if the dispute is a “commercial dispute” under Commercial Courts Act 2015). Consumer Forum — parallel track for consumer-facing deception. Earnings: IP law is the fastest-growing practice area. Junior IP lawyers in Delhi/Mumbai earn ₹15–30 lakh CTC at law firms. Trademark filing and prosecution alone generates ₹3,000–₹15,000 per mark per year in retainer income. Infringement litigation fees: ₹50,000–₹5 lakh per matter.