Unless you train with seniors, you won't know 'niceties' of profession: SC to young lawyers

Unless you train with the seniors, you will not know the niceties of the profession, the Supreme Court on Friday advised young members of the Bar.

A bench of justices B V Nagarathna and Augustine George Masih observed that young members of the Bar should know what to speak and what not in a court of law.

"Today, I am told that some youngsters are straight away starting their own office without any training. That is really not good at all. Unless you train with the seniors, you will not know the real skills of advocacy, the real tricks of the trade," Justice Nagarathna said.

The observations came from the bench which was hearing a plea arising out of an order of the Bombay High Court.

‘Niceties’ passed from generation to generation

Justice Nagarathna said that young members of the Bar must go to the seniors, who would guide them.

"We know youngsters are ambitious nowadays. But unless you train with the seniors, you will not know the niceties of the profession. That is how it is going on from generation to generation. The niceties of the noble profession and the good practices are being transferred," she said.

The bench observed that youngsters are getting degrees and establishing their offices soon.

"But where are the soft skills? You may have the hardware, soft skills have to be developed every day. From a senior, you have to learn or sit in the court and observe," it said, adding, "We are concerned about the Bar, the future of the Bar."

Justice Nagarathna recalls early days as advocate

Justice Nagarathna said by observing the court, young members of the Bar would know what mistakes should not be made.

Recalling her earlier days as an advocate, Justice Nagarathna said, "See earlier, we all trained with our seniors. Then we started our own office. Then we grew slowly."

"When we were young, we would have only one matter here or there, one mentioning that's all. Then we would go and sit in some of the court halls, especially of tough judges, to get ourselves immune to the toughness because next time you have a case there, you are already immune by observing the judge, how to answer, what to say," she said.