In a world full of toppers and rankings, it’s easy to forget that behind every “AIR 1” is a person — someone who doubted, struggled, tried, failed, and still showed up. That’s the story we wanted to tell through this blog — not a typical Q&A, but a shared reflection between two law students navigating the highs and lows of legal competitive exams.
We at Team NJLRII had the privilege of sitting down for an open and insightful conversation with Ms. Sunidhi Sachdeva, who secured All India Rank 1 in CLAT PG 2025. But her journey isn’t defined by a single success — it’s a tale of long-term dedication, thoughtful preparation, and the courage to show up again and again.
From Saharanpur to Jamia Millia: The Legal Journey Begins
Sunidhi hails from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, a city not traditionally associated with big-name coaching or legal hubs. But what she lacked in proximity, she made up for in persistence. After securing a place at Jamia Millia Islamia University, Delhi, she began her formal legal education — a five-year integrated BA LL.B course that she completed in 2022.
Her journey, however, didn’t start in her final year. By the third year, she had already made up her mind: she wanted to appear for Judicial Services Examinations. Unlike many of us who begin exploring options in the final semesters, Sunidhi had a clear vision early on — and that made all the difference. Her foresight and strategic planning are truly inspiring for all aspiring law students.
Early Aspirations: Judiciary at Heart, CLAT PG by Strategy
What impressed me most during our conversation was how balanced yet ambitious her approach was. Sunidhi has always had her eyes set on the judiciary, and has actively pursued that path, even appearing in interviews for various State Judicial Services after clearing both prelims and mains.
But her decision to also prepare for CLAT PG was not out of confusion — it was strategy.
She understood that competitive exams are unpredictable. While judiciary remained her primary aspiration, she took CLAT PG as a parallel route to academic and professional security. It was about building options, not abandoning goals.
Interestingly, this was not her first attempt. In CLAT PG 2024, she secured an impressive AIR 50. Instead of being content, she used that as fuel to improve, and one year later, she topped the CLAT PG 2025 with AIR 1.
The Balancing Act: Judiciary and CLAT PG Together
Managing two rigorous exams is not a joke. The judiciary demands subjective depth and descriptive answers, while CLAT PG requires strong reading ability to solve the passages.
But as Sunidhi explained, the core laws remain the same — Constitution, IPC, Contract, Torts, Jurisprudence, etc. What changes is the approach, not the syllabus.
Her strategy?
- Study core subjects thoroughly once, and tweak the method depending on the exam.
- For the judiciary preparation, master legal reasoning and concepts.
- For CLAT PG prep to focus on previous year papers, landmark judgments, and pattern familiarity.
- This smart alignment helped her prepare efficiently without burnout.
What Worked: Her Tools and Techniques
Sunidhi kept her preparation simple but sharp. She didn’t fall into the trap of hoarding material or trying to cover everything. Here are the key takeaways she shared with us:
1. Bare Acts are Your Best Friends
She strongly recommended going back to the Bare Act for every subject — not just skimming, but truly understanding the structure, exceptions, and provisos.
2. Understand, Don’t Just Memorize
Whether it's Jurisprudence or Constitutional Law, she stressed the importance of understanding the “why” behind the law, not just mugging up definitions.
3. Analyze PYQs Like a Researcher
She repeatedly went through previous year CLAT PG questions, analyzing not just what the correct answer was, but why that question was asked in the first place. This helped her predict trends and spot recurring concepts.
4. Focus on Judgments, Not Just Headlines
Many students read case names without context. Sunidhi advises a deeper dive — read summaries, ratio decidendi, dissent (if any), and the larger constitutional relevance of each judgment.
She followed updates through reliable sources like LiveLaw, The Indian Express for legal-political context.
Mock Tests: The Game Changer
Sunidhi emphasized the role of mock tests in shaping her confidence and timing. She practiced mocks through KFA Legal and is now also associated with them.
Mocks, she said, were not just for practice — they were for:
- Learning time management
- Understanding weak areas
- Dealing with exam anxiety
Her advice?
“Before sitting for CLAT PG, make sure you’ve sat through various mocks. And don’t just solve them — analyze them deeply.”
Exam Day Advice: It’s Just You and the Paper
When asked about how she handled the final day, her response was beautifully simple:
“Forget everything else. Just focus on the paper. No panic, no second-guessing. You’ve done the work — now just trust yourself.”
It’s the kind of clarity that only comes from preparation and peace of mind.
For CLAT PG 2026 Aspirants: Her Message
Sunidhi’s advice to future aspirants is grounded, realistic, and deeply practical:
- Stick to the basics — Bare Acts, PYQs, landmark judgments.
- Maintain consistency — even if it’s just 2–3 hours a day.
- Don’t follow trends blindly — not every resource is for everyone.
Focus on understanding law, not just collecting material. Sunidhi's advice is a beacon of light in the sea of resources available to law students. It's not about how much you study, but how well you understand the law that matters.
Final Reflections: Beyond AIR 1
Sunidhi Sachdeva’s journey is not defined by a rank — it’s defined by her mindset. In a world of shortcuts, she chose depth. In a space of anxiety, she chose calm. And in a crowd of competition, she chose clarity. For those of us walking the path of competitive legal exams, her story isn’t just inspiring — it’s a roadmap. A reminder that success doesn’t come from perfection, but from consistent, focused effort.
Special thanks to Ms.Sunidhi Sachdeva for this enriching and inspiring conversation.
Interviewer: Vidushi Gupta
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