Advice for Young Lawyers in Litigation

Fali S. Nariman — one of India’s most respected jurists, a Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India, President of the Bar Association of India, and a renowned constitutional lawyer — shares timeless advice for young lawyers in his book Beyond the Courtroom.

His insights are a roadmap for those who wish to build a serious career in litigation. A point-by-point summary follows:

1. Be Regular in Court

• Keep your mind alert, your wits sharpened — but not your tongue.
• At the start of your career, the less you speak, the better.
• When you do speak, be simple and clear. Law is not an elocution competition; rhetoric is rarely appreciated in court.

2. Attend Court Even When You Have No Work

• Observe senior lawyers closely — you will learn as much from their mistakes as from their successes.
• Notice what irritates a judge: a wrong phrase, an unnecessary argument, or poor preparation.
• Watching others lose can be just as instructive as watching them win.
• Over time, you will develop a sense of what not to say — and more importantly, when not to speak.

3. Be Prepared. Always Be Prepared.

• Know your references, read constantly, and keep knowledge at your fingertips.
• Senior lawyers will rely on you not out of charity, but because you are useful.
• Your reputation at the Bar will rest on your proficiency and reliability.

4. Know Your Judge

• Address the judge correctly and respectfully.
• Never discuss cases with judges outside court.
• Always work to earn and maintain the respect of the Court.

5. Develop Watchful Eyes and Sharp Ears

• Observe how judges behave, how they react, and what bothers them.
• Pay attention even to their whispers during appeals — such moments reveal where the real concern lies.

6. Be a Judge of Faces and Moods

• Ensure the judge carries a good impression of you when you rise to speak.
• Judges may forgive, but they rarely forget a poor argument.

7. Don’t Show Off. Be Humble.

• Never risk being “blackballed” by making a careless or false statement of fact or law.

8. Don’t Try to Be Funny

• Humor in court is risky. If you must, let it be self-deprecating.
• Never make jokes at the expense of colleagues, the Bar, or the judge.
• If a judge makes a joke, laugh — however ordinary it may be.

9. Be Bold, Not Rude

• Respect and boldness can go hand in hand. Cultivate that balance.

10. Never Lose Your Temper

• If you must display anger, let it be at your assistant — never at the Bench.
• Losing your temper in court will not only harm your reputation, it will also harm your client’s case.

11. Don’t Be Boring

• Once the judge has understood your point, stop.
• Whether or not the judge accepts it is their decision. Repetition only weakens your case.

The Bar is a great institution — learn from it, grow with it, and enjoy every moment of your journey.