From Classroom to Courtroom 1.0: Hands-on Training on Client Counselling & Negotiations

The Internship Committee, School of Law, in collaboration with the Centre for Placement and Career Guidance (CPCG), CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Pune Lavasa Campus, organized a two-day workshop titled "From Classroom to Courtroom 1.0: Hands-on Training on Client Counselling & Negotiations" on 25–26 September 2026. The workshop was designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical legal practice, with a particular focus on developing students' skills in client counselling, communication, negotiation and professional decision-making. The sessions provided students with an opportunity to engage with experienced practitioners and understand how legal concepts are applied in real-world professional settings.

While the academic curriculum lays a strong foundation in legal principles and processes, the legal profession demands much more, the ability to interact meaningfully with clients, understand their concerns, and negotiate effectively to work towards practical solutions under real-world constraints. These competencies, client counselling and negotiation alike, are best nurtured not through textbooks, but through direct exposure to practitioners who navigate such situations on a daily basis. It was with this objective that the workshop was conceptualised, offering students a rare opportunity to step beyond theoretical learning and engage with the practical realities of legal practice.

The workshop featured two distinguished resource persons from Khaitan Legal Associates. Mr. Dhiraj Mhetre, Partner, Khaitan Legal Associates, brought over 15 years of experience in dispute resolution, commercial litigation, arbitration, insolvency and intellectual property. He heads the firm's Dispute Resolution and Restructuring practice in Mumbai and has represented domestic and international clients before various High Courts, the Supreme Court, tribunals and international forums. He was also recognised as an Asia Super 50 Disputes Lawyer by Asian Legal Business in 2022. The second resource person, Adv. Satyasrikant Vutha, Senior Associate, Khaitan Legal Associates, is a member of the firm's Dispute Resolution and Advisory team. His practice encompasses commercial disputes, criminal litigation, arbitration and insolvency, with experience before High Courts, National Company Law Tribunals and District Courts. He has represented corporate clients, banks, financial institutions and individuals across a range of disputes.

The first day of the workshop included dedicated sessions on client counselling and negotiations, while the second day featured an interactive session led by both resource persons. Students were introduced to the essential stages of client interaction, beginning with effective interviewing techniques, active listening, and appropriate questioning to accurately identify client concerns and expectations. The sessions further explored how legal options and associated risks are communicated to clients, along with the ethical responsibilities that accompany such interactions. On the negotiation front, students gained insight into the importance of thorough preparation, understanding competing interests, managing opposing perspectives, and adopting strategic approaches suited to varied negotiation scenarios.

A key highlight of the workshop was the role-play exercises conducted as part of the sessions. The resource persons themselves enacted mock client-counselling and negotiation scenarios, demonstrating professional techniques, body language, and strategic responses to real-life situations with clarity and precision. This was followed by role plays performed by the students along with the resource persons, who took on the roles of clients and lawyers respectively in simulated scenarios, applying the concepts they had just learnt. These exercises allowed students to practise active listening, questioning, and negotiation strategies in a controlled setting, while receiving direct feedback from the resource persons on their approach, communication style, and decision-making. The interactive and discussion-based format allowed students to actively engage with the resource persons, ask questions, and relate the concepts to real case scenarios shared by the practitioners. This hands-on orientation helped students move beyond passive learning, encouraging them to think critically and respond to practical challenges with greater confidence.

Through the expertise of the resource persons and the active participation of students, "From Classroom to Courtroom 1.0" provided a valuable platform for students to develop practical competencies essential for their transition from legal education to professional practice. The workshop reaffirmed the School of Law's continued commitment to experiential learning, ensuring that students are not only academically sound but also professionally prepared for the dynamic demands of legal practice.