Law practice is not just a profession; lawyers should have empathy: Supreme Court judge Justice BR Gavai

Law practice is not a just profession and empathy is an important quality which a lawyer should possess, Supreme Court judge Justice BR Gavai said on Sunday. .Lawyers play an important role in the building of nation and society and urged lawyers to imbibe the quality of empathy and not treat law merely as a profession. "Law is not a profession. Lawyer plays an important role in building society and nation. Therefore, when you practice as a lawyer or decide as a judge, the one quality that you should not forget is empathy. When you lose empathy and treat law only as a profession, then the satisfaction that you will get by arguing a case with empathy will be lost and no amount of money would compensate" the judge said..The judge was speaking at the inauguration of the Indian Law Society (ILS) Law College Centennial Celebration.While addressing the students in the audience, Justice Gavai also emphasised on the importance of Constitutional morality along with legal education."One should imbibe Constitutional morality along with legal education because that will make you better citizen and also help the nation in building a society that framers of constitution had envisioned when the prepared the Constitution of India after laborious work," Justice Gavai said. .Justice Gavai urged the students to follow the seven lamps of advocacy, given by English judge, Justice Edward Abbott Parry. The seven lamps are honesty, courage, industry, wit, eloquence, judgment and fellowship. The judge noted that 'Tact' was added as an eighth lamp by Justice V Krishnaswamy Aiyar.If the students followed these principles, they will surely be successful in the profession, Justice Gavai said..He also opined that students today have more options in their careers than before."Avenues at our times were limited. But now horizons are much wide, you get selected in campus placement itself. We had to struggle in junior days to practice. The bare survival of initial days and practice was very difficult. but now trend has changed. Even seniors pay their juniors atleast for their bare maintenance," the judge said. .ILS Law College was established in 1924 and began its centenary celebrations on June 18, 2023.The inaugural program of a year-long celebrations was presided over by former judge of the Bombay High Court and ILS president, Mridula Bhatkar.The retired judge recommended that students utilise their time wisely."If you have 4 hours in a day. Spend one hour to learn, one to read, one to write and one to relax and play," Justice Bhatkar said. .On occasion of the centenary celebrations, the centenary logo of the college, souvenirs, the Abhivyakti Yearbook and ILS law reviews were released.