Justice B. V. Nagarathna urged aspiring lawyers to ignore the glamour around the legal profession and instead build patience, discipline, and integrity. She said LinkedIn often shows exaggerated achievements, reminding young lawyers that progress is not linear and today’s efforts may bring unexpected success in the future.
Justice B. V. Nagarathna of the Supreme Court urged aspiring lawyers to look past the glamour often attached to the legal profession and instead nurture patience, discipline and integrity.
Speaking at the valedictory function of the 22nd K K Luthra Memorial Moot Court Competition in Delhi on February 15, she addressed students about the realities of forging a meaningful legal career, sought to dispel common myths about success, and warned against the culture of constant comparison fuelled by social media.
Justice Nagarathna emphasized that becoming a lawyer depends less on visible milestones and more on values such as humility, perseverance and respect for the court.
She said,
“I implore you to cultivate respect and unflinching obedience in your duties towards the court,”
Aware that many entering the profession today hear that law is overcrowded and opportunities are limited, she reassured participants that there is still room for those who are committed.
She said,
“It is important to remember that despite the prevailing narrative that the law as a field is ‘over-saturated’ and that success is hard to come by for anyone except the already established, I would say each and every single one of you has a place in the legal profession and is capable of finding sufficient opportunities,”
She added,
“When you are assured of your own belonging and the validity of your ambitions, free of self-doubt and self-deprecation, even the systemic challenges become one that can be worked on, worked around and worked through,”
Highlighting that professional excellence grows slowly over time, Justice Nagarathna observed that success cannot be judged by instant recognition or early wins.
She said,
“Great lawyers are not born but are forged through every exam they pass, moot court they may participate in and questions they ask in class,”
She described distinguished lawyers as those who show patience, accept defeat when it comes, tolerate delays and inconveniences, learn from seniors and peers, and help juniors.
Addressing pressures faced by law students, Justice Nagarathna warned about the anxiety caused by constant comparison on platforms like LinkedIn.
She said,
“With the proliferation of platforms like LinkedIn, where there is mostly exaggeration, it may feel like nothing you do can ever measure up to the constant announcements of accomplishments and availing opportunities by others. In such times, it helps to remind yourself that progress is not linear, and that some of the seemingly futile endeavours you engage in today may actually pay off in unexpected ways in the future,”
She also stressed the ethical duties lawyers owe to clients and to the justice system, urging young practitioners to act with dignity, refuse illegal or improper methods, and follow constitutional approaches to advocacy.
Lawyers must provide competent representation, maintain confidentiality, avoid conflicts of interest and communicate clearly with clients, she said.
Encouraging a socially responsible outlook, Justice Nagarathna urged students to engage in legal aid and pro bono work, noting these matters may lack financial reward or public praise but are vital to enhancing access to justice.
She also praised moot court competitions as essential preparation for legal practice, saying participation matters even if only a few formally win.
She added,
“The importance of such an exercise cannot be overstated. In a rapidly changing and increasingly complex world that you are set to enter as lawyers, mere academic knowledge of the law, as learnt in a classroom setting, cannot adequately prepare you for the legal profession. This gap is actively bridged by participation in activities such as moot court competitions, where students are given the opportunity to hone their critical thinking, reading, writing and speaking abilities,”