Hi! Is anyone here with law optional?
So guys after a lot of debate about Upsclawoptional.in here I am writing an informed review of the same.
I took their test series for mains 2020.
Pros - decent answer sheet evaluation, made some good points wrt presentation
Cons - no synopsis, copy evaluation takes a lot of time.. At times more than 10 days and this with repeated reminders. I don't know how it would have worked out without constant reminders, evaluated copy focuses more on presentation less in content.
I have written 5-6 tests for them. Post that no test papers have been uploaded. Yes, this when exams are starting in next 20 days.
Ofcourse, question can be raised why I am taking effort to write this so close to mains - because it's frustrating. I have clearly wasted my money and don't want others to do the same or go through this irritation.
Also, it's not just me who is experiencing this but I know someone else also having similar experience.
Please make an informed choice and don't fall prey to false marketing gimmicks.
Upsclawoptional.in notes are very average, nothing extraordinary. You cannot substitute them for your books. Dukkis are the bare minimum you need to read, and there is no getting around that.
Some of their notes are extremely outdated. For example, Plea Bargaining notes do not mention the CrPC. Evaluation is okay, quite detailed. However, more emphasis is given on presentation rather than content. I do not get the feeling that the evaluators are updated on recent developments. Quite bookish.
Test series does not have new questions, but only PYQs. PYQs are extremely relevant during preparation; if you can be honest with your prep and do them on time, nothing like it. Otherwise, through their test series, you can cover them.
@fortarach63 @Joeyisthebest @12akshita96 @PP1204 @Agog
First of all I wud say this was not my first mains with law. Hence the challenge was to compile the study notes/materials and to focus on answer writing. So I kept my materials short and had done revision at least 3 times for most of the topics in law. The materials I relied upon during this attempt are as follows:
1. Constitution & Ad law: upsclawoptional.in notes + my previous study notes (supplementary)
2. IL: upsclawoptional.in notes + google - for topics like UN and Intl organisations
3. IPC: upsclawoptional.in notes
4. Torts: Bangia and my previous notes
5. Contract: my previous notes for contract act and upsclawoptional.in notes for the mercantile law portion i.e. contact of indemnity till arbitration.
6. CLD: upsclawoptional.in notes + google. (for each topic upsclawoptional.in notes was the basic material supplemented by 2-4 articles from google)
Answer Writing: 21 tests of upsclawoptional.in and 4 from lawxperts. On the basis of feedbacks I reviewed my answer writing very carefully and focused on presentation as my content was more or less ok.
Current affairs relating to Law: upsclawoptional.in + google and livelaw whenever I was relatively free...just scrolled through their pages.
In my last mains I scored 246 and cud nt make it through to the PT only because of below average score in optional. Lack of revision and less focus on writing was the reason. Hope this year my score turns out to be much better.
Once again plz appreciate that I have only cleared Mains and nothing has been achieved as yet. Since Many of you requested in my inbox I shared my sources/strategy. Everyone must analyse their strengths and weaknesses in their own way. All the best to everyone !! Stay safe.
Upsclawoptional.in review.
Cons:
1. Not responsive.@Reticent can corroborate.
2. The evaluation for the tests that I gave were more or less done within a week. However, no value addition. Comments focused on presentation more than anything else. Draw a chart here, draw a spider web there, improve your handwriting, you get the gist.
3. I needed notes for a few subjects which yield low returns wrt time invested. These notes were not uploaded until yesterday, 2 weeks before the exam.
4. Notes were substandard. For paper 2, a number of modules did not mention section numbers. For eg, the module on Plea Bargaining did not include the provisions in CrPC, the only codified law regarding the same.
5. Notes did not include any case laws whatsoever for most parts of Paper 2.
6. These substandard notes were not uploaded until after an extremely stern and unpleasant conversation.
7. Further, these notes were prepared in a shoddy manner and it is obvious that the content creator was pressed for time. Considering it was done in the past week, most of the content is actually taken verbatim from the first google result. For example, I could match the "Trial by Media" module word for word with a legalserviceindia article which appears as the first google search result.
8. Full Length Tests haven't been uploaded on the portal despite multiple requests.
9. The 5-6 tests I bothered to write, questions were only from PYQs. Except for one question on COVID-19 and Force Majeure.
10. Extremely rude when I criticised them for their shitty service.
11. Extremely high cost. At 18k.
Pros:
1. Constitutional Law and International Law notes are okay if you want to just touch the surface of it. (No alternative to standard books in my view)
2. Good notes on Negotiable Instruments Act. (No case laws for the most part, but my standards are low considering the above cons)
All in all, it left an extremely bitter taste in my mouth. Felt more disappointed than anything else. Would recommend joining a more established institute.
can we form a group and try making structures of pyq?
Based on my personal experience, please don't join Defacto Law. It is a total waste of money. This review on Quora is very relatable - https://www.quora.com/unanswered/How-is-Defacto-Law-Aditya-Tiwari-for-preparing-for-the-law-optional-in-CSE?ch=10&share=072c4e0e&srid=EmMM6
Also, don't takevideo lectures of lawxpertmv classes. Their lectures are pure imitation of their notes. Though you can consider their notes and test series.
Rest I believe, if you are a law graduate, then self-study + any exclusive test series of law optional (not the ones which provide both for judiciary and UPSC), would be enough to sail through.
dont waste your money guys,full marketting is going on.
beware of defacto law also/he is more dangerous than upsclawoptional.
talked to some serious frnds who cleared mains with law,they suggested only self study and books can help you in mains and not any coaching notes.
hope it helps
Any comments on Nirvana IAS? Material quality and coverage. Last i saw their material, i thought it was below average. However, the institute has consistently churned out rankers from law optional.
The materials are photocopy of class notes (handwriten) of a student. Though that is concise, you can supplement with materials of ambition and AK Jain.
However, if anyone is planning to join classes over there- Please reconsider.
Its a waste of your time and money.