Though I had to face inevitable struggles in legal profession even after having the required qualities to succeed in profession, I always feel that the legal profession is one of the noble professions which can contribute alot to the society apart from the personal development of that particular professional. When it comes to law, I always felt that it is not important as to which college one studies, and it all depends upon the encouragement provided by few faculty members and alot depends upon the interest of that particular student to excel in his studies. I have had the privilege of associating with highly talented students even in ordinary law colleges or Government Law Colleges in this Country. It is true that a law student requires some guidance and he should have good understanding of the legal profession and the requirement of possessing certain basic qualities like drafting, thinking, logical thinking, hard-work, planning etc.
Even an ordinary student, who has neglected his studies all along, can succeed in his pursuit of law. Everyone is aware of the success story of Stephen Hawking and as to how he was determined to succeed while he was on death-bed. Something should strongly touch us if we need to excel in a particular area or studies. A student lacking the experience should have the guidance of experienced to some extent and he should be made to believe that ‘nothing is impossible’. I always feel that, when it comes to pursuing law, acquiring some basic qualities are necessary rather providing the world-class faculty. When I was a student, I had to focus on the complications in widening the scope of Part-III of Indian Constitution and I have done it on my own and with my own thinking and I had to look into the subject of ‘legal jurisprudence’ while studying the concept of ‘right’ and the difference between ‘right’ and ‘fundamental right’ as explained in our constitution and later in our Human Rights Protection Act. When I was a student, I had to focus on the ‘Law of Contempt’ on my own and I can do all this only because of my interest into the subject, my enthusiasm, quality of thinking which leads to creativity in the words of Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam. Likewise, for a law student, it is important to posses or develops certain essential qualities without which he can not succeed in legal profession or field later.
I always had a great admiration for younger generation and I always like to look into the thinking of young minds. I have recently had a privilege of attending one orientation class for fresh law students conduced by School of Excellence in Law (SOEL). After providing the required information, the management or the faculty of the college, wanted the young brains to express their thinking and as to why they have chosen to pursue Law. Then, I had the privilege of listening to wonderful brains with lot of confidence and even having the confidence of saying that they will one day become ‘Chief Justice of India’. Their language, their presentation, their analysis of legal profession and system; everything is beautiful. I am beyond doubt that some of these young minds can contribute enormously to the society at one point of time in future. This is where; I have also seen the difference between the Top Law Colleges or National Law Schools and the ordinary Government Law Colleges. The main difference I see is that the Top Law Colleges or the National Law Schools take only brilliant students through cut-offs and entrance examination while every student can easily get into the ordinary or the Government Law Colleges. I don’t give credit to the Top Law Colleges or the National Law Colleges for producing some brilliant legal minds and now we can remember the comment made by the Cabinet Minister Mr.Jayaram Ramesh recently saying that IIT’s and IIM’s are not world-class, but, the students of IIT’s and IIM’s are world-class; and I completely agree with his views though there can be very few exceptions. If we think logically then, few small and ordinary colleges are world-class when they produce world-class students. I don’t think that the Top Law Colleges can offer so much to the students. Because, every student now is having access to Internet, good in ‘google research’ and we don’t have world-class faculty in our Law Colleges with great respect to the few available world-class faculty in our Law Colleges across India. Infact, this syndrome is unfortunately not confined only to Law Colleges, but, infact, to many colleges in India. This is an area of concern requiring our urgent attention. We need to have so many world-class institutes and it is not enough having few big colleges and universities with good infrastructure.
Coming back to my subject, when I have listened to the young brains in the School of Excellence in Law (SOEL), immediately, I felt as to whether our legal profession can embrace this young talent. The situation now is really pathetic unless some has some financial support and people to back them. It is true that we have big Law Firms and Corporate requires young legal minds. But, what about society and Court practice? I would like to see brilliant young minds practicing and arguing cases in our Courts.
I always feel that we require many legal reforms and judicial reforms. There is need to have a complete focus on our legal system. Our legal system should be hassle-free, litigant friendly, corruption-free and should completely transparent and there should not be unreasonable delay in disposal of justice. We need to achieve this in future; otherwise, irreparable loss is caused to our society. Dispensation of justice plays a very important role in our Democracy and infact, the ‘quality of justice’ shows the quality of our ‘democracy’.
As a citizen and as a member of proud legal profession in India, I am worried at our legal profession and system in India. But, I also have belief that our younger generation can change everything and I never underestimate them in their ability. This younger generation makes this great country not only a Super Power, but, as a happy and prosperous India as wished by our former President of India Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam.
Note: the views expressed are my personal and made only public interest and in the interest of students and nothing more.
Author:
V.DURGA RAO, Advocate, Madras High Court.
Email: vdrao_attorney@yahoo.co.in
Dear Sir,
I fully agree with your point of view… you have rightly said that all young minds need guidance, a channel to demonstrate and fructify to contribute to the society, nation etc… all this is possible only if someone or team takes initiative to give such a guidance… It only happens for a person to take the first step .. a tipping point… just the way it is going on with Lokpal Bill..
Sharma