'Training Makes A Lot Of Difference': Gujarat High Court Directs Advocate General To Establish Judicial Academy For Aspiring Lawyers

This directive comes in response to two Public Interest Litigations (PILs) addressing various issues related to the conduct and training of lawyers within the court.

The matter was being heard by a division bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha P. Mayee.

During the proceedings, Senior Advocate Kamal B. Trivedi, the Advocate General, emphasized the need for an in-house scheme. Chief Justice Aggarwal expressed concern for young counsels facing challenges in sustaining themselves, particularly those from small towns lacking the financial means to join legal chambers. The Chief Justice underscored the necessity of an institution to address the unique needs of individuals entering the court system from rural areas.

The Chief Justice said, “Our concern is actual training sessions and programs. The young counsels who don't want to join chambers because some of them are not able to sustain themselves. They come from small towns, they have to pay rent and they need money and normally chambers are not in the situation to pay that much money.”

“And then they do not have resources and connections either so that they can go to the chamber or approach someone. So the individuals who are coming to the court premises for the first time, and do not belong to the city, but belong to a rural area, for them this kind of establishment is necessary,” she added.

The Chief Justice highlighted that there exists a draft of the constitution to constitute this kind of institute where such kind of training can be provided and said that she would pass that on to the advocate general.

Chief Justice Aggarwal urged the advocate general, as the most senior member of the Bar Association of Gujarat, to address this matter with the state government.

She emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in finalizing the institute's scheme, stating, "What we expect is that you being the advocate general, and the senior most member of the Bar Association of Gujarat you can take up this issue with the state govt and whatever efforts in finalization of this scheme of this institute - we will be providing.”

Furthermore, Chief Justice Aggarwal advocated for the implementation of training programs in specific legal domains. She proposed that senior lawyers, retired judges, and sitting judges could contribute by conducting training sessions at the institute.

Emphasizing the potential significance of such an initiative, she remarked, “It would be a great step.”

She further stated, “We can always criticize the young lot, saying that they do not want to join chambers, they do not want to work under a senior lawyer. We can always do that because we have the privilege of getting the chamber of someone and some kind of support but now those young lots who do not have any support - they look towards you, they look towards me, but they do not have any courage to approach you or approach someone else.”

The Advocate General proposed that senior lawyers should consider accommodating as many junior lawyers as possible.

However, the Chief Justice responded, expressing doubts about the feasibility of this suggestion, stating that it would be challenging for senior lawyers to afford such arrangements. As an example, she pointed out the high cost of living in Ahmedabad, where a minimum of 20,000 would be required for basic rent, sustenance, and travel expenses for just one room.

The Chief Justice emphasized the need for academies to support those children who leave their homes for legal education. She suggested establishing such academies and suggested pro bono involvement of senior lawyers in training programs.

Following a brief discussion with Justice Mayyee, the Chief Justice remarked, "What my learned brother says is perfectly justified that you may get a very good talent, great talent from that academy coming out.”

Drawing a parallel with the evolution of Bollywood, she noted the absence of formal training in its early days, and actors would simply venture into the industry and learn on the job. However, she emphasized the transformative impact of structured training and cited the current crop of exceptionally bright and young talents emerging from Bollywood due to institutionalized training.

“Training makes a lot of difference. And then when the training is structured, institutionalized, then it is not someone's wish or will. So the whole idea is to institutionalize this,” Chief Justice Aggarwal emphasized.

In response, the advocate general assured the bench that concrete steps would be taken to address the matter.