This article is written by Ramanuj Mukherjee, CEO, iPleaders.
Did you make the right choice by pursuing law? Or are you even planning to be a lawyer?
Studying law doesn’t really mean that you have to actually spend your life practicing as a lawyer.
And even if you do not have an LLB degree, no problem. Getting such a degree is not that difficult in this country. Quite easy actually.
The difficult part is what follows after the degree when you try to practice law.
Yesterday someone who is trying to decide if she should study law called me. She was referred to me by a colleague. So this is how the conversation went:
Her: I am trying to decide if it is the right choice for me to study law.
Me: What do you currently do?
“I am a graduate of political sciences. Right now I am teaching in a school and giving UPSC.”
“So is law your fall back option if you don’t get through to UPSC?”
“Exactly.”
“Alright. I understand. Many people make that mistake.”
“Huh? Mistake?”
“Tell me something, do you find UPSC preparation hard?”
“Yes, I have to study for many hours every day. There is a huge syllabus to cover.”
“If you become a lawyer, you will have to study like that every day, almost for your entire life perhaps, and it will be part of your work. Are you prepared for that?”
There was silence on the other side.
“That’s the kind of people who should do law. Really hard working people who never stop learning, with unlimited hunger for knowledge and skills. People who can work untiringly for days, weeks and months.”
“But my cousins are lawyers! I don’t think they spend so much time studying every day.”
“Yes, there are many such lawyers. But those are the lawyers who also crib about how there are not enough opportunities in the market, how they are not getting the right jobs, not enough clients etc.”
“Hmm”
“There are some 15 lakh lawyers in India, with about 50,000 adding to the ranks every year. An unfortunately large number of them live in poverty. But not those who acquire knowledge like they are preparing for UPSC throughout their lives.”
“What if I do corporate law?”
“Whether you do corporate law or criminal law or anything else, please remember that a lot of money or life of a person will depend on you. You are a teacher now. If you make a mistake today perhaps you can fix it tomorrow. A lawyer may never get that opportunity.”
“Wow”
“Imagine you are arguing a case or negotiating a deal, and a single mistake can cost your client 10,000 crores. It may take years to get to that critical hearing, and then you have 5 minutes to make your case. How much are you going to prepare? Equal to UPSC? More than UPSC?”
Silence. I can hear her breathing.
“That’s the life of a successful lawyer. Think of a brain surgeon. Can he make a mistake? Will you be ok with a surgeon who makes a mistake? A lawyer is also like that.”
“I don’t want my surgeon to make a mistake.”
“Yes, there are all kinds of lawyers. But it’s probably not worth doing law unless you are OK to work that hard, pursue excellence and be ready to give it your all. You can do that in any profession you choose, but if you take law I will certainly advise you that be ready to do this.”
Do you think I gave the right advice? Maybe I just scared her off.
But I am tired of law students who think they have become big lawyers because they got into an NLU, or got through their first law firm or in-house counsel job. Other stagnate too. I hope this girl never suffers from such an illusion.
I hope she does law but with the right mindset.
You can’t underestimate the effort, dedication and continuous pursuit of excellence that it takes to get to success, and then to hold on to that success in the legal profession.
You can’t do amazing work in the first 10 deals of the year and screw up the last 3. Sorry, you are only remembered by the last deal, last order, last negotiation, last argument, last screw up in this profession.
You have to keep at it. Keep getting better. Keep learning.
If you think that I am saying all these things just to sell you our courses, then good luck, I will not even try to convince you otherwise. Set a reminder on your phone for 10 years later (I know it’s a dramatic 3 idiots kind of challenge but what else can I say). I will be available on this mail. Drop me a mail and let me know if I am right or you are.
I have no doubt that only and only those lawyers who work on uplifting their skills, knowledge and reputation inch by inch continuously over the years succeed big in the long run.
Are you doing that yet? Are you dedicating time, money and resources to become a better lawyer? Or have you left it to fate, destiny or chances?
Training and development, deliberate practice and constant motivated action in the right direction is the long-term but certain strategy for a successful legal career. We can help you to get started in the right direction, and help you to build the right habits.
Let us know. We have the following courses coming up in the next 30 days:
Diploma courses
Executive Certificate Courses
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I did my LLB in 1981.i did not go to court but work as a legal help to people in distress in legal issues .I am antidowry
truly its one of the best online sites packed with informative stuff well researched and found out for people genuinely interested in the profession I find it interesting to read and read I embraced the profession over two decades ago I am a low profile lawyer I charge pea nuts I studied law from Madras University and practiced criminal law till now I find 24 hours not enough to equip myself with the right knowledge I keep on searching for the best case laws and case studies to excel. I studies law as a passion not to make money alone. I take up an appeal case at the high court or supreme court only if i am convince there are grounds and it is a fit case difficult but that is what interests me all the best to those aspiring to be the cream of lawyers do not just chase money work really hard on single case people will search for you if you have the stuff and know your subject and money will follow but, never fleece a client be reasonable in charges and you will excel god bless all the budding lawyers. prof. louis d’rose