Greetings Legal Eagles! Recently I was watching a Netflix series called ‘Mamla Legal Hai’ where I heard a very intense meaning dialogue which was and I quote, “Lawyer banne mein tou umar guzar jaati hai.” It was a thought-provoking dialogue for me. Now to decode this dialogue let’s understand the meaning of Lawyer. So, the literal meaning, as defined by the ‘Oxford Dictionary’ of Lawyer is a person who has a certificate in law and gives legal advice/ help and Advocate is a lawyer who defends somebody in a court of law. This blog discusses the insights from CJI D.Y. Chandrachud and emphasizes the importance of having a broader vision dedicated to justice to rather than merely focusing on winning the case.
The definition of these two terms is slightly different from the legal perspectives though. In the legal world, a Lawyer is someone who practices law and an Advocate is someone who has cleared the bar exam and enrolled in state bar council. So, according to this explanation, you become a lawyer first then an advocate. But the definition of a Lawyer is broader than what I just mentioned.
Who is a Lawyer?
A well-known Lawyer, Honourable Late Nani Palkhivala ji, through his speeches, remarked, ‘The practice of law is a noble profession. To be a lawyer is to be a defender of justice and a seeker of truth.’ John Rawls in his book ‘A Theory of Justice has emphasized that the role of a lawyer extends beyond mere legal practice; it involves a commitment to the principles of justice and fairness, ensuring that legal processes align with the ethical standards of society. So, to be an advocate you have to pass the exam and enroll yourself in the bar council but to be a Lawyer, you have to be an advocate of justice and pursuer of truth.
But how to become a Lawyer? During a felicitation ceremony organized by the SC Bar Association a year ago, the Chief Justice of India recounted an experience from his earlier career. So, Let’s try and understand, how we can become lawyers from the experience of our present Chief Justice of India.
Vision Rather Than Efficiency
Our hon’ble CJI described a moment when he was engaged in arranging books in the lunch tower in Court number 1 and Hon’ble Late R.K Garg came, slapped his back, and asked, “What are you doing? Haven’t you had your Lunch?” To which Mr. Chandrachud responded that he was arranging briefs for his senior. Late Mr. Garg then remarked, “This the problem with you Bombay Lawyers, you only focus on efficiency but where will the vision come from if you only focus on the cases? Look beyond the immediate briefs that you are called upon to argue.”
Many great lawyers such as Honourable Nani Palkhivala and Fali S. Nariman, through their speeches, interviews, and writings have always emphasized that the true role of a lawyer is to be a guardian of the Constitution and the rule of law, which is the pillar of democracy. It is not merely about winning cases but about upholding justice and ensuring that the legal system serves the greater good. Hon’ble Mr. R.K Garg’s remarks to our present CJI, the then Young Lawyer, conveyed a similar message. Vision is the long-term goal, which is to ensure justice. Whereas efficiency refers to concentrating only on winning the present case.
So, to conclude, what R.K. Garg wanted to convey is that a lawyer should have a broader vision to ensure justice for every individual rather than focusing only on the cases he is handed over to argue upon. Think about the greater impact you can create on the legal system and society if your daily activities align with your vision to uphold the rights of individuals and ensure justice is done, not only done but also seen to be done.
Comments