![[Empowering Junior Lawyers] SC Stresses Significance of Junior Lawyers in Vacation Bench Arguments](https://i0.wp.com/lawchakra.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/image-7-1.png?fit=820%2C461&ssl=1)
Today, On 20th May, The Supreme Court emphasized the importance of allowing junior lawyers to argue before vacation benches. This initiative aims to provide them with valuable courtroom experience and professional growth opportunities. The Court highlighted that such practices ensure continuity of legal proceedings during vacation periods.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court, On Monday, emphasized the significance of permitting junior lawyers to present arguments before its vacation benches and sought the cooperation of senior advocates in this matter.
Justices PS Narasimha and Sanjay Karol, presiding over the bench, stressed the importance of creating opportunities for the professional advancement of young members of the legal profession. They highlighted the need to provide junior lawyers with a platform to enhance their legal abilities and lay the foundation for their future careers.
During the initial session of the vacation at the Supreme Court, the bench specifically addressed senior lawyers, including Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.
The bench expressed,
“We kindly ask all esteemed senior advocates to allocate vacation periods to the younger members of the bar.”
Senior lawyer Singhvi replied, showing continued support for this approach,
“I’ve consistently advocated that establishing uniform rules would simplify things for us… This is now the fifth consecutive year I’ve stated this, going into the sixth.”
The bench recognized the suggestion but noted that the decision not entirely up to them.
“It’s not for us, it’s for all of you.”
Singhvi responded,
“No, your Lordships can…collectively, you should…the issue arises when 10 colleagues show up and 10 don’t. It can’t operate that way. Please officially record my comments; I will fully support it, as I have for the past 5-7 years.”
Emphasizing the need to foster emerging legal talent, the bench stated,
“Our goal is to help the younger bar develop; that’s essentially it, the vacation was intended solely for the younger members.”
Mehta also supported the push for consistency,
“I align with my learned colleague, some of the honourable benches are not allowing this. Please, your Lordships, perhaps declare that from now on, no permission is needed.”
At this juncture, Singhvi reinforced the call for a unified approach.
“Your Lordships ought to seriously discuss this among yourselves and implement it.”
During a session on Monday, the issue of the preparedness and readiness of young solicitors discussed in front of a vacation bench consisting of justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal.
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While expressing their dissatisfaction with insufficient documentation in a particular case, senior advocate Sidharth Luthra emphasized that it is undoubtedly the duty of senior members in the Supreme Court to mentor and adequately train young lawyers, enabling them to make valuable contributions to the legal field.
According to former Attorney General and senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, while it’s crucial to provide opportunities for junior lawyers to gain experience, the involvement of senior advocates in significant and exceptional cases, necessary to uphold justice and the rule of law. Rohatgi emphasized that bail matters should be considered critical cases since they directly impact personal liberty, and individuals often struggle for months or even years to secure bail after being incarcerated.
The discussion in the courtroom on Monday highlights concerns regarding the training and growth of junior lawyers in the highest court of the country. In this environment, senior advocates play a prominent and consequential role in handling high stakes and important cases.
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