The most appropriate answer or suggestion would have to be found out and decided upon by your friend herself. That is because every student's journey is oneself's own and so you cannot really decide on fixed or generalised assumptions. There are a lot of other factors that influence the articleship period as well as the preparation for Final term.
However to emphasize on your query, it would be a welcome idea to go for the option that would provide financial support to your friend. That would be a good option to go for, specifically if your friend actually needs some financial support. If she doesn't need it, then it would make much sense to go for another option.
The point is, to consider the whole and sole importance of the Final exams and the preparation necessary to clear it. When you consider the kind of struggle that CA aspirants are going through these days for every little and big thing, you would realize that nothing else matters more than the time you put in for further exam preparation.
Having said that, it is inevitable to think in terms of your friend's personal situation as well. As in, which of the two options would ensure the minimum level of comfort for your friend in the context of the pending Final term? Would attending regular office affect her study sessions? Or would she end up wasting time if she takes dummy and doesn't have to attend daily office?
Many people from the CA fraternity keep saying that think about the CV, the importance of learning hard work during articleship and similar things. While you may like and get convinced by what they tell you, but remember, that these people won't be there with you when you feel lonely and pressured trying to cope with the syllabus for upcoming exams. They won't be there with you to fight for you aand your intellectual capacities against the ICAI's stupid marking criteria and the anonymous checkers' marking habits. People who advise you blindly without knowing your personal circumstances and limitations and scenarios, will never be there with you to feel the social, moral and personal pressure of having failed again and again. This is because of the hard core herd mentality and generalising behaviours that have thrived within the CA community in this country. People act like they really want you to get the degree, but they really don't care.
Coming to the CA regulations.. There is no doubt, that, CA aspirants in India already have been violating CA regulations in some or the other way. In fact, there are so many overlapping regulations, that it becomes difficult to abide by each and every one of them. To suggest on the same in the context of your question, I think it would be best if you or your friend discussed this particular aspect with some senior person who is within your family or relative-community. People do both - regular articleship as well as the other option that you mentioned. But it is best to do some research on your own, through direct sources; in this case such sources would be CAs whom you know personally and peers who have recently faced a similar dilemma.
Remember that even dummy works for a lot of aspirants in the long run. It is not the case that you will be able to become an established CA only on the basis or foundations of your articleship experience. People will tell you "Bohot kaam seekhne ko milta hai". That is not a universal or a homogenous truth. Most principals and firms who conduct and provide artcleships don't participate in a student's struggle at all. They end up in trying to use them up in the disguise of academic morals and corporate culture. Even after you become a CA, you have to work hard. And it pretty much goes on. So as much as a regular articleship sounds like a good option, do not outrightly ignore the dummy option. We are in a community where people will care when you clear the exams in first attempts, or secure a rank, or belong to a family of A-level CAs consisting of your father/uncle and others who are addicted to the label of CA. Otherwse, no one really cares until you eventually get the degree.
The most realistic suggestion would be for your friend to weigh in all aspects of both options, after taking into account her personal lifestyle, her academic comfort zones, her study pace and environment, her sudy approach, the time she needs for a good preparation, her positivity towards attending office and dealing patiently with her seniors and principal's work requirements - all of this matters.
Here is the link of a query related to Auditing answers, to which I had provided my insights - /forum/details.asp?mod_id=370789&offset=1
Feel free to check it out if you have any similar queries.
Good luck to you and your friend.
CAclubindia
