Be Loyal To Your Senior, Learn To Be A Little Tough: Message From Delhi High Court Judges To First Generation Lawyers

Judges of the Delhi High Court on Friday urged the first generation lawyers to be loyal to their seniors and to learn to be a little tough in order to excel in the legal field.

Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna were speaking at the third coffee chat organized by Delhi High Court Women Lawyers Forum on the topic “Challenges faced by first generation lawyers and systemic solutions to level the field: Judges perspective.”

“One message to all of you, with whom so ever [Senior] you are, maybe for one day or five days or one month or one year, you should always be loyal and honest to your senior,” Justice Kait said.

When asked about how much hard work a young first generation lawyer is expected to do considering the potential lack of family guidance and networks, the judge said,

“Initially when I started the independent practice, it was a big question, how to get cases? Someone suggested me that in every big occasion, like every new year, you send your card [visiting card] to all your contacts. The message will go that you're an advocate. Second occasion is Diwali. Third is when there's a gathering of your community, participate and if you have some time, then speak.”

He added, “Paise jeb me kuch na ho, lekin card zaroor rakhna. Agar koi puche kya karte ho, batane se pehle card dedo…Usse ye hoga ki jitno ko bhi card diya hain, koi do chaar toh phas hi jaenge. Uske bad wo multiply hoga.”

Justice Kait also advised the first generation lawyers to work hard and be sincere to their seniors. “My request to seniors is that...majority [of the lawyers] are first generation lawyers like me. A first generation lawyer is fine like anything. Because he will work very-very hard.”

Justice Krishna began by speaking about the difference in the legal field in the 90s and the present day. She said that there were a large number of dropouts back in the 90s, when she studied law, largely because legal profession was not considered as an easy profession back then.

“But as sir [Justice Kait] said, we should march forward. World may think whatever, but it is I who has to think for myself,” she said.

The judge added, “We should stop talking the language of a man and a woman and should start talking the language of individuals…In this profession, you can't succeed on inheritance. Every individual is required to prove their own merit.”

Justice Krishna said that if a young first generation lawyer has merit, then nothing can stop the individual from succeeding. “There's nobody who can stop your march to success. If your hardwork is there, if your heart is there….unless you're passionate about your work, you can't succeed……But it’s also a fact that some of us have to work doubly to prove ourselves,” the judge said.

Addressing the issues faced by women in legal field, Justice Krishna said that there is much more acceptability now as compared to earlier and that now “all are working as equals.”

“There may be some who aren't much accomplished. They may not be able to match the others. But it's important for us to form a circle and hold hands…I have been sitting with sir [Justice Kait] on the bench and the way he has an eye on everyone and everything in court, it makes you feel encouraged,” she said.

Justice Krishna also gave a “mantra” to first generation lawyers, especially women, to be followed in the occasions when people will be rude to them.

“….there may be times when we feel we aren't being heard, which can hurt us. What's the mantra? Learn to be a little deaf. Learn to have your strong filters. Whatever doesn't appeal, shouldn't enter your head,” Justice Krishna said.

She added, “It's easy said than done but we for our own mental sanity, and physical existence, we must learn this art. Learn to be a little tough. We aren't going to be worried with people around us.”

She also said, “In a woman's life, there are four compartments. Married life, personal life, office life and social life. Somebody told me a long time back that when you focus only on one compartment, you wouldn't be able to compensate what you've lost and thus, try to balance all four compartments. In the race of excelling, don't miss out other things in life. You also have your family. We would not have been here without the support of the family.”