Lordship Anath Venkadesh letter to junior lawyers
[4/5, 16:44] Sekarreporter 1: [4/5, 16:40] Suda Ramalingam Advt Mhc: navj 👌👍🙏
[4/5, 16:40] Sekarreporter 1: 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 https://t.co/xwklAdLyzs
[4/5, 16:48] Sekarreporter 1: [4/5, 16:42] Sekarreporter 1: https://twitter.com/sekarreporter1/status/1246757403338526721?s=08
[4/5, 16:44] Suda Ramalingam Advt Mhc: In this fast moving world (Corona days exempted) where juniors find no time to be attached to a senior’s office or intern for long periods, it is a timely advice on how to cultivate advocacy skills.
[4/5, 16:47] Sekarreporter 1: 🌹🙏🏼
[4/5, 17:08] Sekarreporter 1: [4/5, 17:07] Sekarreporter 1: [4/5, 17:06] Sekarreporter 1: https://twitter.com/sekarreporter1/status/1246763512585580544?s=08
[4/5, 17:06] Sekarreporter 1: Judge Ananth Venkadesh sir அற்புதமான கடிதம் இளம் வக்கீல்களை ஊக்குவிக்கும. கடிதம் படித்து முடித்ததும் பயிற்சி அவசியம் என்றார் https://t.co/ykVHyys1FM
[4/5, 17:07] Sekarreporter 1: ADVOCACY- THE MANTHRA OF SUCCESS
This is an art. It cannot be taught or read from any book. This art has
to be cultivated by a junior lawyer by keen observation. There existed a system
wherein a newly enrolled lawyer joined the chambers of a senior and from them on
virtually lived life like in a Gurukulam under the guidance and mentorship of his senior.
A lot of traits for good advocacy emerged from the office that he or she joined as a
junior. When a junior lawyer stands before a court, his pedigree was traced from the
office from which he or she comes. The junior advocate used to have the advantage
of picking up skills of advocacy by closely observing their senior and many other
seniors (on the advice of their senior) when they argue in courts. These traits,
combined with the individual skill of the junior advocate, paved way for their fruition
into a fully bloomed lawyer. This trait can be acquired only by experience and
therefore, it is only natural that it takes a long number of years to acquire it.
The next question would be “why should this even be discussed and
written about, if it is an acquired skill?”. The necessity has arisen since the senior-
junior relationship seems to be slowly on the verge of its death. Law practice is taking
a different shape and we have entered an era of junior advocates entering into law
firms and starting their practice. Some even feel that they can start practice on their
own, from day one. There is a real urgency for the Bar Council to take stock of the
situation and mandate compulsory internship or experience as a Junior
Counsel/Associate with some office for a minimum period of time, as a pre-
requirement for starting their independent practice. It is very important to instill this
[4/5, 17:22] Sekarreporter 1: [4/5, 17:21] Sekarreporter 1: https://twitter.com/sekarreporter1/status/1246767329146318849?s=08
[4/5, 17:21] Sekarreporter 1: வக்கீல்கள் கட்டாயம் ஜூனியராக சீனயரிடம் வக்கீல் பயற்சி பெற வேண்டும் என்று bar council கட்டாய படுத்த வேண்டும். நான் நீதிபதியாக இருந்து இந்த குறையை கண்டேண் navj opinion
[4/5, 17:21] Sekarreporter 1: [4/5, 17:14] Nednchliyan mba advt navj 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
[4/5, 17:16] Sekarreporter 1: all-important trait of “advocacy” in the minds of junior advocates whenever we get a
chance, since the source from which they acquired this skill before is slowly closing
down.
As a judge, I watch young advocates who are otherwise smart and
sharp, lacking in advocacy. Many of them seem to have an impression that their
bookish knowledge on law and oratorical skills are more than enough to start with
their independent practice and appear before courts. They seem to be missing one
very fundamental fact, being the person sitting before them as a judge is a “Human
Being”. I thought that I can utilize this time provided by COVID-19 and write my
thoughts on this trait- “Advocacy”. Even if one junior advocate benefits out of this
exercise, it is worth the effort.
Bruce Lee once when he was asked to describe Kungfu said “It is an art
of fighting without fighting”. Similarly, “advocacy is an art of arguing without arguing”.
The art of advocacy can be understood from the two very succinctly put paragraphs
from a book written about a famous Queens Counsel Jeremy Hutchinson by Thomas
Grant called “Jeremy Hutchinson’s Case Histories”. I am extracting the same
hereunder:
“Advocacy is the art of persuasive and attractive speech.
Nowadays the student must attend many hours of ‘advocacy
training’. Indeed the main remaining role of the Inns of Court
now appears to be just that. The upholding of integrity, duty to
[4/5, 17:41] Sekarreporter 1: [4/5, 17:40] Sekarreporter 1: [4/5, 17:39] Sekarreporter 1: [4/5, 17:38] Sekarreporter 1: https://twitter.com/sekarreporter1/status/1246771524641546240?s=08
[4/5, 17:38] Sekarreporter 1: The writings of NAVJ to thoroughly learn advocacy is a very good lesson which every junior who wants to become successful in legal profession should follow it and in order to acquire the skill of good advocacy he/she should be attached with a senior office for a minimum period of 5 to 6 years and learn it.
[4/5, 17:39] Sekarreporter 1: An opinion of an advocate, having 25 years of experience in the bar and who was also a junior for a period of 8 years and learnt the art of advocacy.
[4/5, 17:40] Sekarreporter 1: 🌹🌹🌹🌹
[4/5, 17:41] Sekarreporter 1: the court, the overwhelming importance of preparation,
mastering the law and the facts, can all be taught. But, as Lord
Birkett once pointed out, how can one teach that skill that could
win from the diarist John Aubrey – when speaking of Lord
Chancellor Bacon – the comment: ‘It was the fear of all who
heard him that he would make an end’, or from Pitt the Younger,
when replying to an expression of surprise at the huge reputation
of Charles James Fox: ‘Ah! But you have never been under the
word of the magician.’ There lies the Art of Advocacy.
Like conversation or theatre, the essence of advocacy is the
impression it makes at the moment it is given voice to the
immediate audience to whom it is made. The words themselves
and the meanings they are intended to convey are only half of
the effect. Put fine words into the mouth of a poor advocate and
those words can die on the tongue. Whereas a great advocate
can conjure magic out of the proverbial laundry list.”
What are the traits that make out good advocacy? I will try to capture
them in bullet points.
• Arguing does not mean getting argumentative. This personality trait is far from
advocacy. If a judge forgets a lawyer’s face and his name, his voice and his
[4/6, 08:06] Sekarreporter 1: [4/5, 19:55] Chanduru Adv: navj Very well written 👍. I am sure his effort will achieve the purpose… As a member of Bar, I feel that Judges despite their hectic work, should help the younger lot with suggestions and listen with tolerance, so as to improve the advocacy skills…. this small effort will go a long way in moulding the future bright and resultantly benefit both the Bar and the Bench.🙏🏻
[4/6, 08:04] Sekarreporter 1: 🌹🌹
[4/6, 08:06] Sekarreporter 1: [4/6, 06:20] Adhilashmi Logomoorthy: It is very true sir , a junior Advocates life is like a penance , I attribute my success in our profession to my senior – designated senior counsel V.k. Muthusamy sir and when I entered our office in 1993-94 the present hon’ble Justice M M Sundresh ,Hon’ble Justice Bharathidasan Mr Shivapuniyam ( now practicing in UK ) Mr Babu now making his mark in lower judiciary and designated senior counsel Mr Veera Kathiravan all were my senior colleagues in our office and each one them had been my guru . My success in my chosen profession is all because of the wholesome tutelage I got in chamber no 119 and my dads close friend Advocate p pandi and R Dhanalakshmi mam also guided me and the present AAG STS Murthy sir supported …..and Iam an Ekalaivan for many senior counsels from observing them I have learnt a lot ………….it is pertinent to mention I learnt the reading and writing habits only fro my senior VKM sir . In our profession a junior ship at least for 3 years under a senior is a must ……As lordship pointed out law is a Art , it is a way of life ,it’s nunances are better understood and developed in a phased manner 🙏. Mrs. ADHILAKSHMI LOGAMURTHY
[4/6, 07:28] Sekarreporter 1: 🙏🏼🙏🏼🌹🌹🌹
