I am currently in my final year at a Tier-2 law school, and over the past year, I have developed a strong interest in finance, compliance, and regulatory law. Through my internships and coursework, I have realized that these areas interest me much more than traditional litigation or general corporate practice, and I hope to build my career in one of these fields after graduation.
However, many opportunities in finance, compliance, and regulatory law seem to be concentrated in leading law firms, consulting firms, financial institutions, and large corporations. Coming from a Tier-2 law school, I sometimes wonder whether I am already at a disadvantage and what I should be doing to make myself a competitive candidate.
Which skills, internships, certifications, and practical experiences should I prioritize during my final year to improve my chances of securing opportunities in finance, compliance, and regulatory law?
Dear Mentee,
Thank you for sharing this thoughtful question. First and most importantly, being from a Tier-2 law school is not a dead end. In compliance and regulatory work, employers care much more about demonstrated interest and practical skill than about which college logo is on your degree. This field rewards people who can show they understand how rules actually work in practice, not just people with a fancy pedigree.
Here is what I would suggest focusing on during your final year:
- Build Subject– Matter Depth, Not Breadth
Don’t try to know “a little about everything.” Pick 2–3 areas and go deep:
l SEBI regulations (if interested in securities/finance)
l RBI/banking regulations (if interested in fintech/banking)
l Companies Act compliance (Registrar of Companies (ROC) filings, board governance)
l Data protection (DPDP Act, 2023) — a hot, growing area right now
l Anti-Money Laundering (AML) / Know Your Customer (KYC) frameworks, if you like financial crime-adjacent work
Read the bare acts, follow recent circulars/notifications from SEBI, RBI, or Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), and understand why a rule exists, not just what it says.
- Internships– Prioritize Relevance Over Brand Name
l A compliance internship at a mid-size Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), fintech startup, or boutique regulatory law firm often teaches more hands-on work than a corporate desk internship at a big firm.
l In-house legal/compliance teams at companies (even smaller ones) are often more open to Tier-2 students and give real responsibility.
l Compliance officers at brokerages, asset management companies, or payment companies are worth approaching directly, cold emails work more often than students expect.
- Certifications That Actually Add Value
l A short certificate course in Anti-Money Laundering (AML)/ Know Your Customer (KYC) or Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) compliance
l Data privacy certifications (short courses on DPDP Act compliance are now available)
l A basic National Institute of Securities Market (NISM) certification (SEBI-run), if inclined toward finance broadly
Don’t over-invest money in certifications — one or two focused, relevant ones are enough. Employers care more about what you can do with the knowledge.
- Build a Visible Track Record
l Write short articles or LinkedIn posts analyzing recent regulatory changes (a new SEBI circular, an RBI guideline, a DPDP Act update). This is one of the most underrated ways to get noticed.
l Participate in moot courts or competitions focused on corporate/securities law, if your school offers them.
l Assist a professor or practitioner on any compliance-related research or publication, where possible.
- Network Deliberately
l Reach out to compliance professionals on LinkedIn, most are approachable and happy to have a short call with a genuinely curious student.
l Alumni from your own college working in compliance roles (even at smaller companies) are often the easiest and most useful connections.
- Mindset Shift
Think of yourself as someone solving a specific, needed problem, helping companies follow rules and manage regulatory risk, rather than as someone “settling” for a non-litigation path. Confidence in interviews often comes from genuinely understanding the why behind regulations, not from where you studied.
Bottom line: Depth in 2–3 regulatory areas, relevant (even if small) internships, one or two focused certifications, and visible writing/networking will matter far more than your school’s tier. Many strong compliance professionals in India today come from exactly this kind of background.
