Law schools see pre-placement offers taking precedence over Day Zero job opportunities
India's leading law firms are increasingly favouring Pre-Placement Offers (PPOs) over traditional campus placements, as this approach offers a more holistic and sustained assessment of candidates.
Firms like Khaitan & Co. and Trilegal are heavily relying on PPOs for their fresh talent, with Khaitan & Co. hiring nearly 80% of their new hires through PPOs. This strategy ensures hires are not only legally proficient but also culturally aligned after having proven themselves during internships.
Cyril Shroff, Managing Partner of CAM, recruits 150 to 200 fresh graduates annually from a broad range of institutions. Similarly, Chetana Lal, head of the Mumbai-based BITS Law School's industry interface & career advancement office, states that Trilegal hired 42% of its 128 fresh hires from the top 24 law schools across the country via PPOs.
The shift towards PPOs has been facilitated by the postponement of Day Zero, which was previously held at the end of the eighth semester in April, to the ninth semester around the end of July or early August. This change has provided students with more internship opportunities, thereby increasing the number of PPOs.
Nidhi Buch, head of placements at Gujarat National Law University, explained the change, stating that it allows students more time to gain practical experience and improve their chances of securing a PPO. Data from top law schools shows a growing importance of PPOs, with as many as 35 students from the graduating batch of 2025 at NLSIU Bangalore securing PPOs, more than double the previous year's number.
PPOs offer several benefits over traditional campus recruitment. They provide a more comprehensive evaluation of skills and fit beyond quick campus assessments. Candidates get the chance to demonstrate their capabilities over time during internships, reducing the stress of compressed one-day hiring marathons. Moreover, PPOs offer higher guaranteed alignment with firm culture and expectations.
This shift reflects evolving recruitment practices prioritizing quality and candidate experience over speed and convenience. Akanksha Antil, Head of Navigator at Vahura, stated that the industry's hiring focus has shifted from speed hiring to sustained assessment.
To support new hires, firms like Khaitan & Co. and DSK Legal have implemented mentorship programmes, where seniors guide freshers during their initial years. DSK Legal has almost stopped dependence on Day Zero hiring, with some firms like Luthra & Luthra doing the same.
In conclusion, the trend towards PPOs in India's top law firms signifies a move towards a more sustainable and comprehensive recruitment process, benefiting both recruiters and candidates alike.
- Financial institutions might consider adopting Pre-Placement Offers (PPOs) in their recruitment strategies, as this approach offers a more thorough evaluation of candidates' skills and cultural alignment.
- In the realm of education-and-self-development, understanding and mastering skills in Decentralized Finance (defi) could potentially enhance one's career-development prospects, especially in the legal sector.
- As PPOs become increasingly popular in the Indian legal market, it might be beneficial for law graduates to engage in skills-training programs focusing on areas such as market analysis and sector competencies, in addition to legal expertise.
