The Placement Cell of St. Joseph’s College of Law, Bangalore organised an interactive session with Ms. Himali Sylvester on May 5, 2026 at the AV Room, Old Building, SJCL. The session was conducted for selected students from the 3rd, 4th, and 5th years in an invite-only interactive format. The purpose of the session was to provide students with practical guidance regarding careers in technology law, networking, legal writing, and the future of legal practice.

Ms. Himali Sylvester is an alumna of St. Joseph’s College of Law and currently works as an Associate in the AI and Emerging Technologies practice at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. (SAM), one of India’s leading law firms. Before joining SAM, she worked at Ikigai Law where she advised multinational technology companies on matters related to cybersecurity, data protection, fintech, telecom, cloud services, and digital regulations.

During the session, Ms. Sylvester spoke mainly about the field of TMT (Telecommunications, Media, and Technology) law and explained how the area has developed within Indian law firms. She discussed the growing importance of AI law, data protection, and digital governance in the legal profession. She also explained the type of work handled by TMT lawyers, including advisory work, regulatory compliance, policy matters, and legal support for technology companies.

Ms. Sylvester advised students not to begin their careers with excessive specialisation in niche areas such as TMT law. Instead, she encouraged students to first build a strong general legal foundation before moving into specialised fields. She also highlighted the opportunities available for students interested in AI law and mentioned that the current batch of students has an advantage due to the growing importance of artificial intelligence and technology regulation.

A major part of the session focused on networking and legal writing. Ms. Sylvester explained practical methods of networking with professionals and emphasised the importance of maintaining genuine professional connections. She encouraged students to engage with legal professionals through thoughtful questions and regular interaction on platforms such as LinkedIn.

She also stressed that strong writing skills are one of the most important qualities for law students and young lawyers. According to her, clear and concise writing helps students stand out during internships and job opportunities. She further discussed the role of artificial intelligence in legal practice and stated that lawyers who understand how to use AI tools effectively will have an advantage in the future legal industry.

Overall, the session provided students with valuable exposure to modern legal practice, especially in the field of technology law and AI regulation. It also gave students practical insights into networking, career planning, and professional development.