Supreme Court Justice Surya Kant on Friday lamented that many talented young lawyers tend to shy away from doing pro bono and legal aid work, choosing to prioritise corporate jobs instead. .He urged young lawyers to treat law not merely as a career choice but as a higher calling since success in law is not measured merely by financial gains but by "ethical weight". “Please do not mistake the law for an ordinary vocation. It is, at its heart, a calling. And unlike most other occupations, success is not measured merely by arithmetic gain but by ethical weight,” Justice Kant said.He emphasised that law achieves its noblest purpose when it gives a voice to those who cannot afford it."Too many bright minds, full of promise, shy away from pro bono work or legal aid, dismissing it as an unprofitable or peripheral activity. They rather chase security of a corporate desk over the satisfaction of service, forgetting that the law is at its noblest when it speaks for those who can't afford its voice," he said..Justice Kant was speaking at the 3rd Convocation Ceremony of the National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam (NLUJA), held at the International Auditorium in Panjabari, Guwahati.In his speech, Justice Kant expressed concern over the evolving professional attitudes among young members of the Bar.He said he has observed “a quiet anxiety” and a “growing tendency to treat ethics as elective and integrity as negotiable.”.In recent years, I have often sensed a quiet anxiety among young members of the Bar and a growing tendency to treat ethics as elective and integrity as negotiable.Justice Surya Kant.He reminded the young graduates that professional honesty remains the cornerstone of the legal profession, far outweighing financial success or short-term applause.“Your integrity will remain always your most enduring asset, more valuable than any case you win or any zero you further add to your payslip. Cleverness may bring applause for a season, but it is the integrity that will earn respect for a lifetime and even after you are long gone,” he noted.Justice Kant underscored that a lawyer’s reputation is built over time through consistency of character rather than the brilliance of a single argument.“In the long arc of a legal career, reputation is built not only on the brilliance of argument alone but on the consistency of character,” he said..On the state of legal education in the country, Justice Kant highlighted the gaps in infrastructure in various campuses."The landscape of legal education in India remains deeply uneven. I have observed firsthand how some of campuses radiate innovation and confidence while others continue to struggle against limitations of infrastructure, faculty strength or vision.".Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.
