The Reality of Indian Courts | What 10 Years in Litigation Taught a First-Gen Lawyer | TLOI Talks

What does a decade of actually practising law in Indian courts teach you that law school never can? In this conversation, we sit down with **Tanu Singhal, Founder of De Integro Law Firm**, to discuss the ground realities of litigation and building a legal career as a first-generation lawyer. Having spent nearly a decade in the profession, Tanu takes us beyond the textbook understanding of courts and legal practice to discuss what young lawyers actually encounter once they enter the profession — particularly in Delhi’s trial and district courts. We discuss starting from scratch without a family background in law, finding your feet inside the courtroom, working with clients, learning procedure through actual practice, building credibility and professional relationships, the financial realities of litigation, courtroom culture, the challenges faced by women lawyers, and eventually building an independent legal practice. More importantly, this is a conversation about the lessons that only years inside the profession can teach. How do you survive the initial years of litigation? How do first-generation lawyers find opportunities? How important are networks and mentors? What is dealing with real clients actually like? How different is the practice of law from what students imagine while studying it? And what should a young lawyer know before deciding to enter litigation? For **law students, young advocates, first-generation lawyers and anyone considering litigation as a career in India**, this conversation offers a grounded look at the profession from someone who has spent nearly ten years living it. *Guest:* Tanu Singhal *Founder:* De Integro Law Firm Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:47 Academic Background 04:29 Difference b/w NLU & Non-NLU Students 11:14 How to Choose: Litigation v. Corporate Firm 18:01 Are You Wired For The Courts? 25:02 District Court v. High Court: Where to Start 29:32 Skills to Develop: Learn like a MUNSHI 36:32 How to Find a Mentor/Senior 41:02 Toxic Scenarios: Red Flags to Watch Out For 49:02 The Agnipariksha: 3 Phases of Struggle 1:01:21 How To Get Your First 5-10 Clients 1:08:51 Fee Mechanics & Clients Ghosting: How to Ensure Payment 1:12:29 Generalised v. Specialised Practice 1:14:18 Do Not Run After Panels 1:16:40 Is Fluent English Necessary for Success? 1:21:04 Insight on Practice-Clause Judgement 1:23:53 When to Go Independent: Cues 1:28:23 Modus Operandi: Starting Your Own Firm 1:29:00 Need For Non-Legal Socialising 1:32:20 Women In Law: Bias & Overcoming It 1:37:27 Emotional Burnout & Client Trauma 1:39:41 Parting Words For First Gen. Lawyers *Courtroom by TLOI* #TanuSinghal #DeIntegroLawFirm #Litigation #IndianCourts #FirstGenerationLawyer #DelhiCourts #TrialCourts #LegalCareer #WomenInLaw #LawStudents #IndianLawyers #LegalProfession #TLOI