The Supreme Court on Friday strongly advised young lawyers to undergo structured training under senior practitioners before taking up independent cases, warning that the subtleties of the legal profession cannot be mastered without proper mentorship.
The remarks came from a bench comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Augustine George Masih while hearing a petition connected to an order passed by the Bombay High Court. During the proceedings, the Court stressed that young advocates must understand not only what they should argue in court but equally important — what should remain outside the courtroom door.
Justice Nagarathna pointed out that several young lawyers are now beginning their practice directly without any formal training or guidance. The Court described this trend as inappropriate, noting that the legal profession demands a certain level of preparedness and understanding of courtroom dynamics that cannot be acquired merely through academic study.
The judges highlighted that senior advocates possess not just substantive legal knowledge but also practical wisdom about how courts function, how arguments should be framed, and which procedural nuances matter most. Without absorbing this ground-level expertise, young lawyers risk making avoidable errors that could harm their clients' cases and their own professional credibility.
The Court's intervention adds to an ongoing national conversation about the quality of legal training and the gap between law school education and real-world courtroom practice. Many young advocates complete their degrees but lack hands-on exposure to litigation strategy, oral advocacy, and professional ethics — all areas where senior mentors play a critical role.
Legal experts have long advocated for structured internship and apprenticeship programs that would bridge this gap. The Supreme Court's latest observations are seen as a significant step toward reinforcing the importance of guided learning in the legal profession.
