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BCI chairman SNP Sinha replies to Legally India readers' comments

BarCouncil-Sinha_th
BarCouncil-Sinha_th
Bar Council of India chairman Suraj Narain Prasad Sinha has responded to Legally India readers' comments to our interview with him of two weeks ago. He argues that top law students are depriving the bar and bench of talent by joining law firms and pleads that all lawyers should aim high in their careers.

In an e-mailed response to the 32 published comments to Legally India's interview of 29 June 2009, Sinha (pictured) addressed the commenters and said that he has "high hopes" for the profession.

He wrote: "Brilliant students of law getting degrees from prestigious universities/law schools, instead of enriching [the] bar and bench, prefer to join legal firms [and] corporate sectors to earn handsome amounts from the very beginning of their career.

"If earning money is the only goal of life and you are satisfied with the money you earn then you go ahead with your job.

"You claimed to be expert in drafting, etc. for the client, which a general lawyer [litigator] is not expected [to] do […].

"But remember, drafting, etc. is not only the profession but arguing and assisting the court of justice is one of the primary jobs of a lawyer in [the] dispensation of justice, which you cannot do in your life unless you are a practicing lawyer in court […]. You cannot be a judge of any court […]. Therefore, [against] the aforesaid background I made the said statement […].

"I expect that you will think thrice as to the distinction between you and [a] practicing lawyer in the court of justice, [who is] of course facing hardship in the beginning of a lawyer’s career.

"For a lawyer, all the avenues [are] open, either to be a lawyer, a judge, a politician, president of India, etc.

"But for you there [are] no such avenues if you continue in your job in any law firm or corporate sector.

"For a lawyer, [the] sky is the limit."

We have republished Sinha's e-mail in substantially unedited form and length. Click here to read the original interview and comments.

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