Many law firm lawyers complain that the Bar Council does not represent their interests.
Now Luthra & Luthra partner Vijay Sondhi is running for the Delhi Bar Council elections on a ticket of representing law firms and their lawyers.
But are any law firmites going to vote?
Sondhi (pictured) is running against around 128 other contestants for 25 positions. He told Legally India that he was the only candidate who is also a lawyer practising within a law firm.
"We need representation from practising lawyers," he said, "who understand the negatives and positives of the profession."
"We don't want the Bar Council to be solely a body for advocates working on the disciplinary committee - there has to be lots more importance of practising lawyers and the many issues concerning the welfare of lawyers."
Sondhi said that around 43,000 Delhi advocates were eligible to vote, of whom between 18,000 to 22,000 actually cast their votes.
"Out of this normally law firm lawyers or senior lawyers who don't go to the court, they normally decide not to even come to cast their votes," he argued.
"They see a huge line of a hundred people and they turn back."
Sondhi said that if elected he would raise the issues of lawyers' welfare, put in place systems of placements for young lawyers, take more serious disciplinary actions against lawyers, as well as discuss the entry of foreign law firms.
"I think for the betterment of not only lawyers but the Indian economy, liberalisation is most welcome and always welcome," he explained, "but it has to be done in such a manner that any and every lawyer is not adversely affected."
He said that all lawyers should have a debate on the issue, addressing concerns such as reciprocity, levelling the playing field and the rights of foreign lawyers to practice advocacy.
If elected to the Delhi Bar Council, Sondhi said that there was a "possibility" he would stand for the Bar Council of India (BCI), whose members are drawn from the regional Bar Councils.
He added that he thought he had a very good chance of making it onto the Delhi Bar Council, "provided all my colleagues come and vote".
The vote will be held at the High Court of Delhi on Tuesday 1 December from 9:30am to 12:30pm, and at the Tiz Hazari District Courts of Delhi on 2 December from 9:30am to 4:30pm.
Sondhi is campaigning on the social networking site Facebook.
So, let us know, have you ever voted?
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Blog: Do law firmites vote in Bar Council elections?
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I believe it is a good thing if foreign firms are mooted at the bar council with a law firm perspective too rather than just advocates.
The precise point of mine is that even this view of yours has to reach the Bar Council. The views of yours and mine have to be heard. leave aside the final outcome. our voices, views have to be heard. divergent they may be. I think if people like Mr. Sondhi comes out and take up leadership for the various views we can be rest assured that. our voices will be heard. prejudging a person may not be right . without giving the person an oppurtunity. an oppurtunity to make a difference.
I think we lawyers should stand united on this and say no to such practices before they become a custom. I request Vijay Sondhi to take this issue up.
I request to all colleagues to cast your first preference vote in favour of Mr. Vijay K. Sondhi and lets bring a change in our system !
Yes we must vote, but this profession is so client hungry that I feel every move by an individual out here has a sinister motive.Nobody is a fool to waste time running for elections.So for all those who are voting try and make an informed choice.
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