Supreme Court lawyer Vidhi Thaker topped this year’s Advocate on Record (AoR) exam..Thaker, who stood first among 198 other aspirants who cleared the exam held in June this year, has also practiced before the Bombay High Court. She is currently working with Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave..In conversation with Bar & Bench’s Aamir Khan, Thaker talks about her early days of lawyering in Mumbai, why she moved her practice to the Supreme Court, the people who helped shape her legal career and why she thinks most of the preparation for the exam happens in court..Edited excerpts follow: .Aamir Khan (AK): What does topping the AoR exam mean to you?.Vidhi Thaker (VT): On a professional level, this result gives impetus to my career as a young advocate at the Supreme Court. It marks the beginning of a new phase in my journey. On the personal front, topping the exam is my way of expressing my gratitude to my family, who were courageous enough to send a younger me from Bombay all the way to Delhi, reposing complete faith in my decisions. It is also a gift to the past version of me, who doubted the heights that I could achieve..AK: You have been working with/assisting senior lawyers in the Supreme Court for some time now. How did that shape your legal career?.VT: I am very fortunate to be mentored by Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave. He has played a pivotal role in my understanding of the practice of the Supreme Court. Assisting him in several cases has expanded my ability to deal with a wide range and volume of matters before the Supreme Court. I must lend credit to him for agreeing to mentor me on the strength of a simple e-mail. He made me realise the significance of the AoR Exam, and supported me through my decision of appearing for it. Further, working closely with other Advocates-on-Record in the Supreme Court during the past years provided a guiding light, not just for the exam, but also in my journey in the profession..AK: You studied law in Mumbai and even worked there briefly. What was that experience like?VT: Practicing in Bombay in my early years built the foundation of the professional I am today. My learning in Bombay took place not only in the High Court, but also in the Bar room on the third floor. Seniors and colleagues in Bombay were very supportive and always encouraged me to take up opportunities to argue in court. I worked with Advocate Kunal Bhanage, who was an Assistant Government Pleader at the Principal Bench of the Bombay High Court. He took me under his wing when I had just graduated law school.I got the opportunity to assist him in various matters on the original and appellate sides of the Bombay High Court. When I decided to move to Delhi, Advocate Bhanage encouraged me to explore my potential to the fullest and to make the shift to the capital city..AK: What prompted you to move to Delhi?.VT: From the time I was in law school, I would regularly stay apprised of cases that were going on in the Supreme Court. This intrigued me to learn about the practice at the apex court.I was in awe of the unlimited potential, complexity of cases and importance of questions of law which arose before the Supreme Court. Shifting to Delhi was a challenge that I always wanted to take up..AK: Why did you choose the Supreme Court over other courts?.VT: During my practice in Bombay, I undertook matters before the trial courts, and then had the opportunity of taking those matters further to the Bombay High Court. This experience taught me the basics of evidence and procedural law. After I made the decision to shift to Delhi to practice in the Supreme Court, my experience in the trial court and High Court helped me grasp matters before the Supreme Court at a quicker pace. .Coming to the Supreme Court not only broadened my perspective of social justice, but also pushed my learning of the law beyond the boundaries of my home state of Maharashtra. The challenge to maintain the highest quality of work, while handling volumes of it, excites me every single day, and is the reason for me to continue my practice before the apex court.The judges of the Supreme Court encourage juniors and are always extremely gracious to pardon our errors as young members of the Bar. The meticulous reading of scores of matters by the benches - of not only miscellaneous matters, but also chamber matters (which are listed after the usual board is complete) - is inspirational. This nurturing environment created by the bench also persuaded me in determining the Supreme Court as my place of practice..AK: How did you go about preparing for the AoR exam? .VT: Fortunately for me, the AoR Exams were scheduled during the summer vacation of the Supreme Court, about three weeks after the Court closed for the summer break. During these weeks, I spent my days reading and understanding the concepts of various subjects. I divided my days into time slots dedicated to each subject and took regular breaks. .I would also log into virtual benches of the vacation bench to observe court proceedings, since I did not want to miss out on the learnings from the courtroom. I ensured that I got complete rest, especially on the days leading up to the exams. I saw the preparation phase of the exams as an opportunity for me to dive deeper into various areas of law, and not merely for the purpose of writing the exam. .AK: Who all have supported you in your professional journey? .VT: If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants. Many such giants have contributed immensely to my professional and personal life. Most importantly, my parents [Pankaj Thaker and Amita Thaker] who unhesitatingly supported me in my decision to shift from my hometown of Bombay to the unknown city of Delhi. My sister, Damini (who practices in Bombay) was my go-to person for any doubts regarding recent developments in the law. My partner Prastut Dalvi (who is also an AoR) offered valuable tips from the perspective of preparing for the exams. Words are insufficient to express my gratitude to them..My first boss in Delhi, Justice (retired) Indu Malhotra, taught me the importance of reading a matter with utmost detail. Her work ethic is second to none. Last, but surely not the least, Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave, who continues to be an inspiration to me with his many great abilities. It is a privilege for me to work under his guidance, and have the opportunity to turn myself into a mini version of him..AK: How did you juggle work, studies and family?.VT: For the AoR exam, balancing work and studies was not a difficult task, since the work itself is the study. What better place to learn the practice and procedure of the Supreme Court than the Supreme Court itself? As a half-marathoner, running has always been my medium of ensuring a healthy mental framework. For me, running helped me find faith in my abilities, and taught me that the proverbial finish line may not always be as far as it seems. .AK: Any pro tips for future aspirants?.VT: The most important tip for AoR aspirants is to realise that most of the “studying” happens in court. From another practical angle, the lecture series held by the Supreme Court AoR Association and the notes provided by the Senior Advocates are extremely helpful to ensure thorough preparation for the exam. As an aspirant, one must change their perspective of the AoR exam from one that of a “test”, to one that of an exciting occasion to become proficient in the law, and as opportunity to cement oneself in the practice of the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court lawyer Vidhi Thaker topped this year’s Advocate on Record (AoR) exam..Thaker, who stood first among 198 other aspirants who cleared the exam held in June this year, has also practiced before the Bombay High Court. She is currently working with Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave..In conversation with Bar & Bench’s Aamir Khan, Thaker talks about her early days of lawyering in Mumbai, why she moved her practice to the Supreme Court, the people who helped shape her legal career and why she thinks most of the preparation for the exam happens in court..Edited excerpts follow: .Aamir Khan (AK): What does topping the AoR exam mean to you?.Vidhi Thaker (VT): On a professional level, this result gives impetus to my career as a young advocate at the Supreme Court. It marks the beginning of a new phase in my journey. On the personal front, topping the exam is my way of expressing my gratitude to my family, who were courageous enough to send a younger me from Bombay all the way to Delhi, reposing complete faith in my decisions. It is also a gift to the past version of me, who doubted the heights that I could achieve..AK: You have been working with/assisting senior lawyers in the Supreme Court for some time now. How did that shape your legal career?.VT: I am very fortunate to be mentored by Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave. He has played a pivotal role in my understanding of the practice of the Supreme Court. Assisting him in several cases has expanded my ability to deal with a wide range and volume of matters before the Supreme Court. I must lend credit to him for agreeing to mentor me on the strength of a simple e-mail. He made me realise the significance of the AoR Exam, and supported me through my decision of appearing for it. Further, working closely with other Advocates-on-Record in the Supreme Court during the past years provided a guiding light, not just for the exam, but also in my journey in the profession..AK: You studied law in Mumbai and even worked there briefly. What was that experience like?VT: Practicing in Bombay in my early years built the foundation of the professional I am today. My learning in Bombay took place not only in the High Court, but also in the Bar room on the third floor. Seniors and colleagues in Bombay were very supportive and always encouraged me to take up opportunities to argue in court. I worked with Advocate Kunal Bhanage, who was an Assistant Government Pleader at the Principal Bench of the Bombay High Court. He took me under his wing when I had just graduated law school.I got the opportunity to assist him in various matters on the original and appellate sides of the Bombay High Court. When I decided to move to Delhi, Advocate Bhanage encouraged me to explore my potential to the fullest and to make the shift to the capital city..AK: What prompted you to move to Delhi?.VT: From the time I was in law school, I would regularly stay apprised of cases that were going on in the Supreme Court. This intrigued me to learn about the practice at the apex court.I was in awe of the unlimited potential, complexity of cases and importance of questions of law which arose before the Supreme Court. Shifting to Delhi was a challenge that I always wanted to take up..AK: Why did you choose the Supreme Court over other courts?.VT: During my practice in Bombay, I undertook matters before the trial courts, and then had the opportunity of taking those matters further to the Bombay High Court. This experience taught me the basics of evidence and procedural law. After I made the decision to shift to Delhi to practice in the Supreme Court, my experience in the trial court and High Court helped me grasp matters before the Supreme Court at a quicker pace. .Coming to the Supreme Court not only broadened my perspective of social justice, but also pushed my learning of the law beyond the boundaries of my home state of Maharashtra. The challenge to maintain the highest quality of work, while handling volumes of it, excites me every single day, and is the reason for me to continue my practice before the apex court.The judges of the Supreme Court encourage juniors and are always extremely gracious to pardon our errors as young members of the Bar. The meticulous reading of scores of matters by the benches - of not only miscellaneous matters, but also chamber matters (which are listed after the usual board is complete) - is inspirational. This nurturing environment created by the bench also persuaded me in determining the Supreme Court as my place of practice..AK: How did you go about preparing for the AoR exam? .VT: Fortunately for me, the AoR Exams were scheduled during the summer vacation of the Supreme Court, about three weeks after the Court closed for the summer break. During these weeks, I spent my days reading and understanding the concepts of various subjects. I divided my days into time slots dedicated to each subject and took regular breaks. .I would also log into virtual benches of the vacation bench to observe court proceedings, since I did not want to miss out on the learnings from the courtroom. I ensured that I got complete rest, especially on the days leading up to the exams. I saw the preparation phase of the exams as an opportunity for me to dive deeper into various areas of law, and not merely for the purpose of writing the exam. .AK: Who all have supported you in your professional journey? .VT: If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants. Many such giants have contributed immensely to my professional and personal life. Most importantly, my parents [Pankaj Thaker and Amita Thaker] who unhesitatingly supported me in my decision to shift from my hometown of Bombay to the unknown city of Delhi. My sister, Damini (who practices in Bombay) was my go-to person for any doubts regarding recent developments in the law. My partner Prastut Dalvi (who is also an AoR) offered valuable tips from the perspective of preparing for the exams. Words are insufficient to express my gratitude to them..My first boss in Delhi, Justice (retired) Indu Malhotra, taught me the importance of reading a matter with utmost detail. Her work ethic is second to none. Last, but surely not the least, Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave, who continues to be an inspiration to me with his many great abilities. It is a privilege for me to work under his guidance, and have the opportunity to turn myself into a mini version of him..AK: How did you juggle work, studies and family?.VT: For the AoR exam, balancing work and studies was not a difficult task, since the work itself is the study. What better place to learn the practice and procedure of the Supreme Court than the Supreme Court itself? As a half-marathoner, running has always been my medium of ensuring a healthy mental framework. For me, running helped me find faith in my abilities, and taught me that the proverbial finish line may not always be as far as it seems. .AK: Any pro tips for future aspirants?.VT: The most important tip for AoR aspirants is to realise that most of the “studying” happens in court. From another practical angle, the lecture series held by the Supreme Court AoR Association and the notes provided by the Senior Advocates are extremely helpful to ensure thorough preparation for the exam. As an aspirant, one must change their perspective of the AoR exam from one that of a “test”, to one that of an exciting occasion to become proficient in the law, and as opportunity to cement oneself in the practice of the Supreme Court.
