In this article, Simran Sabharwal discusses why lawyers make good politicians.

There’s a  deep connection between law and politics. The subjects cannot be separated from each other. Although law and politics are distinguished subjects but their influence is drawn on each other. The interface between law and politics has been present in the world domain since ancient times. Law and Politics are both inevitable subjects for society. There are few lawyers who turned politicians and helped their party to grow. Also, there are few politicians who changed the field of law. Therefore, law and politics always go hand in hand.

Since the time of ancient history, many legal professionals have influenced the field of Indian politics. The development of the legal profession has seen a lot of attention from the legal scholars. As we are in the twenty-first century, the influence of law has only increased. So, the law is very important for the development of Indian Politics.

Why lawyers make good politicians

From Gandhi to Arun Jaitley, all good politicians were once a really efficient lawyer. So, what is it about lawyers that make them such good politicians. The top qualities are –

• Lawyers spend a lot of time with one problem and analyse it with every angle. Lawyers have the ability to analyse and come with unique solutions to a problem. That is very much required in the field of politics.
• Politicians have to be good and commanding speakers. When they speak, the entire world listens to them be it through Lok Sabha meetings or press conferences. Effective public speaking is required in law too. Lawyers who become advocates have the ability to persuade their points to others while speaking.
• Lawyers are used to working with people from all the classes of society. That is required when they become politicians. So the lawyer phase acts as a training period  for them. The ability leads to political success.
• Lawyers have an understanding of how laws are made, so when they get to work with legislation, it is quite a cake walk for them.

Thus, lawyers have the knack of laws which helps them to become better politicians.

During India’s Independence

• During India’s independence, there were many legal professionals that helped India to gain freedom. Without them, India would not have had the sweet taste of independence.
• In the year 1958, there were around 75,000 lawyers and 183 lawyers per million population in India. The legal professionals have contributed to the field of Indian Politics. Had they been not there, India’s independence would have been difficult.

Here’s a list of few renowned lawyers who contributed immensely in Indian Politics during Independence.

Mahatma Gandhi

• He studied law from South Africa. He shaped our independence  in a particular manner which helped Indians.
• He initiated several movements which have a deep impact on Indian Politics. The Champaran movement was the first movement in the Indian freedom politics.
• In the Khilafat movement too, Gandhi became a prominent spokesperson of the All India Muslim Conference and returned medals to India. His role became important in the Khilafat Movement and shaped Indian Politics.
• Apart from this, Gandhi was not a deep political philosopher. He only had the desire of sincere realisation of truth.
• He wanted to have Dharmic Politics. By Dharmic, Gandhi meant that politics should help in removing corruptions, influences and sectarianism. He believed that politics should be a privilege for all.
• Also, he believed in accepting new ideas so that there remain no fixed dogmas for either politics or law.
• Gandhi was a God-oriented man i.e. he believed a lot in God. For him, the truth is God. So, politics should also be a search after truth and this search should be easily understood by the general conscience of the people.
• A universal morality will emerge which will create a healthy atmosphere for political life.
• Therefore, from the Gandhian point of view, one should have the capability to rise above self-interest and develop a new kind of politics which might emerge as Gandhi envisioned.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad

• He was the first President of Independent India. His has contributed a lot to India. He was a prominent leader with Jawaharlal Nehru and Vallabhai Patel. He was a chief architect in shaping India’s independence.
• He formed the Bihari Students Conference in 1906.
• He was a representative of rural cum urban India.
• He toured major countries that helped to develop better ties with other nations.
• Under him, the famous ‘Hindu Code Bill’ was passed which ensured the reforms in Hindu Society.

Modern Times

Legal professions have pondered a lot on Indian Politics.  Even in modern times, the legal professionals are contributing immensely in the field of Politics. From Clinton to Sadiq Khan, law graduates make good politicians. There are many lawyers in politics.  The people who have contributed or are continuing to contribute are –

Salman Khurshid

• He is the senior advocate, an author and a law teacher. He belongs to Indian National Congress since the time of Indira Gandhi. Before he started his career in politics in 1981, he was a lecturer in law at Trinity College, Oxford. He has been the External Affairs Minister of India.
• He has his own law firm which has the slogan, “it is the spirit and not the form that keeps justice alive.” It helps in seeking justice amidst all the slow legal processes.
• He believes a practitioner needs a lot of calm and patience and that is required in the field of politics too. Sometimes the less sensitive part takes you to a long run.
• Also, he feels that judiciary should be independent of all other fields. He makes every effort and sometimes controversial statements to do so. Slight inconveniences should be accepted. Every concept should be reflected deeply before passing any judgement.
• The justice delivery system of civil as well as criminal cases should be developed  effectively.

Click Here

Arun Jaitley

• He is a senior advocate of Delhi High Court of India and currently serving as the Finance Minister of India.
• He has played one of the most significant roles as an opposition leader during the rule of Congress.  He has played a major role in the appointment of Narendra Modi as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Jaitley has seen the highest number of electoral polls which no other BJP member would have seen.
• Being a lawyer, he has defended BJP in various cases. He defended Modi in Gujarat riot cases.
• He is a strategic planner and helped his party win the 2002 elections. He was also offered the additional charge of defence for 3 months. He worked from home which included meetings with the officials on key issues.
• He has also written on various issues which are of national importance like the  National Register for Citizens in Assam and Rafale fighter jet deal. He also helped in the launch of Goods and Services Tax.

Kapil Sibal

• He is a politician, an Indian lawyer  and a senior leader to Indian National Congress. He has been a lawyer for more than 40 years.
• He has also been the additional Solicitor General of India and in 1994, also defended a Supreme Court Judge during impeachment proceedings.
• He has taken portfolios for both science and ocean development.
• When he was the in charge of Human Resources Development in 2009, the government passed a law which provided free elementary education to all children between the age of 6 and 14 years.
• He has done a major contribution in the field of law and justice when he was offered the additional portfolio of it in the year 2013.
• He also held the consensus to bring India’s first anti-corruption bill. Also, Information Technology Act,2000 was amended under his charge. He also brought the Internet censorship.

Ram Jethmalani

• Ram Boolchand Jethmalani’s career started from Sindh.
• In India, he appeared in the famous K.M. Nanavati case and was also called the ‘smuggler’s lawyer’ after Haji Mastan.
• After that, he became a member of Parliament in 6th and 7th Lok Sabha from Bhartiya Janta Party.
• He has served as a Law Minister of India and also as the Minister of Urban Development.
• In 1987, he announced his candidature for the post of President.
• Though in 2013 he was expelled from his party for accusing it to be silent on high corruption.