Prof. (Dr.) Amita Dhanda started her professional career in 1984 as a researcher at the Indian Law Institute, New Delhi. Due to her research capabilities, Justice Bhagwati the then Chief Justice of India selected her to clerk for him till 1986. Her stint at the Supreme Court happened when the institution of research clerks was viewed with scepticism and suspicion and hence making a space for the position was an uphill task. Even so the learnings on judicial culture and psychology are irreplaceable. After her return from the Court in 1987, she worked at the Indian Law Institute till 1999, where she had the hands on opportunity to learn to research, write, edit and teach in association with renowned scholars. The Supreme Court Commission to investigate the condition of persons with mental illness in the jails of West Bengal; chairing the Committee to suggest amendments to the Disability Act of 1995; and co-editing a festschrift in honour of Prof. Lotika Sarkar were heart-warming work assignments; and negotiating employee entitlements as President of the Employee Welfare Association brought home to her difference between the rhetoric and reality of law.

In 1999 Prof. Dhanda joined NALSAR as its first full time professor. Since she had pre-dominant experience in research, she had the enthusiasm of a fresh recruit towards teaching, which coupled with the authority of seniority, allowed experimentation. Her enthusiasm was re-doubled by the fact that as a single discipline university, there were easier protocols for floating courses, amending curriculums and experimenting with evaluation. She has taught like a researcher and her courses do not impart existing information but dwell on questions that need further investigation.

She is currently continuing with NALSAR as a Professor Emerita.