CJI B.R. Gavai advised law graduates not to fall for peer pressure or prestige linked to foreign LLMs, stating that a foreign degree is not a stamp of worth and loans shouldn’t become a lifelong burden.
Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai shared strong and important views about the Indian legal profession while speaking at the 22nd Convocation of NALSAR University of Law.
In his address, Justice Gavai raised alarming issues regarding structural inequality in the legal sector, the emotional exhaustion faced by lawyers, and the increasing trend among law graduates to seek validation through costly foreign degrees.
Acknowledging the mental strain often associated with the profession, he described law as both emotionally taxing and, at times, isolating.
He remarked,
“The hours are long. The expectations, high. The culture, sometimes ruthless. You will feel pressure not just to succeed, but to appear successful.”
He encouraged young lawyers to be open about their challenges, quoting Audre Lorde: “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
Referencing a 2023 study titled The Making of Lawyers’ Careers: Inequality and Opportunity in the American Legal Profession, Justice Gavai pointed out that a lawyer’s starting point in their career is heavily influenced by the law school they attended.
He noted that this trend is also present in India, stating,
“A student from a National Law School in a metro city may be seen as ‘better placed’ than one from a smaller university, not necessarily because of skill, but because of perception.”
He called for introspection within the legal community, highlighting that “structural inequality hides in silence. In the subtle comments. In the internship that never comes. In the doors that are hard to open.”
Justice Gavai also addressed the pressure on young Indian lawyers to obtain a Master’s degree abroad, viewing it as a quest for external validation rather than a well-considered academic decision.
He advised against placing financial burdens on oneself or one’s family for a foreign degree, reminding them that “a foreign degree alone is not a stamp of your worth… Don’t take this decision in a reflex of thought or under peer pressure.”
He suggested an alternative approach, saying,
“A small portion of it can be used as an investment to start your independent practice or build a chamber. And later, when you are stable, go abroad for studies. There is no age bar to learn. Go abroad not to escape, but to expand.”
Justice Gavai linked the trend of seeking education abroad to a broader issue of diminishing confidence in India’s postgraduate legal research infrastructure.
“We must ask: Why do so many feel they have to cross oceans to find intellectual stimulation, academic mentorship, or a meaningful platform for their research?”
While acknowledging the benefits of global exposure, he pointed out the lack of clear academic pathways and merit-based hiring in India. “When they return, they often find our institutions unwelcoming, under-resourced, or closed to new ideas.”
He emphasized the significance of mastering legal fundamentals as the foundation of a successful professional life: “There is no shortcut to knowing the law. There is no alternative to knowing the basics well. The Constitution, the Contract Act, the Code of Civil Procedure, the criminal law, and other core subjects are not optional subjects. They are your daily bread.”
Discussing the role of mentorship in the legal field, he candidly stated,
“Let me say this with honesty: I am here today not just because I worked hard. Yes, effort mattered. But so did the fact that someone opened a door for me. Someone saw something in me before I could see it in myself. That act of belief, of support, of sharing wisdom changed my life.”
He urged senior lawyers and judges present to commit to mentoring young practitioners.
Also Read: CJI Gavai Warns Judges: ‘No Govt Jobs or Politics After Retirement!’
In conclusion, he encouraged the new graduates to listen to their inner selves, saying,
“So, it’s okay to take a pause in life, sometimes. It’s okay to be uncertain. You don’t always have to prove yourself. Sometimes, just being is enough.”
Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai, became the 52nd Chief Justice on May 14, 2025, has assured the nation that he will stay fully committed to protecting the Constitution and ensuring justice for all.
Justice Gavai becomes the first Buddhist and only the second person from the Dalit community to achieve the country’s highest judicial office.
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