Supreme Court Justice BV Nagarathna has highlighted the need to strengthen confidence in Bar Councils and uphold the dignity of the legal profession. Addressing graduating law students, she said lawyers have a wider responsibility toward the justice system and democracy.
She also encouraged young advocates to develop practical legal skills, use technology carefully, verify AI-generated legal material and explore mediation and other alternative methods of dispute resolution.
Justice BV Nagarathna Urges Bar Councils to Regain Lawyers’ Trust, Stresses Role of Bar in Protecting Democracy
New Delhi: Supreme Court Justice BV Nagarathna has called for a deeper review of the functioning of Bar Councils, stressing that the legal profession can remain strong only when lawyers have confidence in the institutions responsible for regulating and representing them.
Justice Nagarathna made these observations while delivering the convocation address at the 13th Convocation of National Law University, Delhi. She emphasised that an independent and responsible Bar is essential for the functioning of a constitutional democracy.
Bar Councils Need to Examine Their Role
Justice Nagarathna said Bar Councils at both the national and State levels should examine whether they are adequately fulfilling their responsibilities towards the legal profession.
According to her, the Bar should focus not only on regulating advocates but also on maintaining professional ethics, integrity, competence and respect for the justice system.
She observed that a situation where lawyers themselves do not hold their Bar Council in high regard should be viewed as a warning sign for the profession as a whole.
Her remarks come at a time when the Bar Council of India has faced criticism in connection with recent developments involving its Chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra and controversies concerning student protests and NALSAR. The developments have triggered criticism from sections of the legal community and calls for greater scrutiny of the functioning of the Bar Council.
Independence of the Bar Is Essential to Democracy
Justice Nagarathna explained that the independence enjoyed by lawyers should not be viewed simply as a professional privilege.
Instead, an independent Bar serves a wider constitutional purpose. Lawyers must be able to represent clients, question government action, make legal arguments and protect rights without being improperly influenced by external pressures.
She stressed that lawyers have a responsibility to preserve this independence and maintain the confidence of society in the legal profession.
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Lawyers Have a Larger Responsibility
The Supreme Court judge also reminded the legal fraternity of its historical contribution to India’s freedom movement and constitutional development.
She said lawyers have traditionally played an important role in protecting constitutional values. Therefore, their professional decisions and conduct can have consequences beyond individual cases and may affect public confidence in democratic institutions.
For this reason, lawyers should consider their work as a responsibility towards both their clients and the justice system.
Legal Profession Is More Than a Career
Justice Nagarathna advised young lawyers not to view legal practice merely as a commercial occupation.
A lawyer may receive instructions from a client, but professional responsibility does not necessarily end with following those instructions. If a proposed legal course is clearly improper, legally unsustainable or harmful to the broader interests of justice, a lawyer must be prepared to advise the client accordingly.
She highlighted the dual responsibility of advocates: they serve the interests of their clients while simultaneously functioning within courts and institutions that serve the public.
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Lawyers Must Adapt to Technology
Speaking to the graduating law students, Justice Nagarathna also discussed the changing nature of legal practice.
Technology and artificial intelligence are expected to make routine legal research and drafting much faster. As access to legal information becomes easier, simply knowing legal provisions may no longer be enough to distinguish an effective lawyer.
She said professional judgment, strategic thinking and the ability to understand the larger dispute will become increasingly important.
Young advocates, therefore, should learn to assess whether a dispute genuinely requires litigation, whether negotiation could provide a better solution and when a settlement may be appropriate.
Warning Against AI-Generated Fake Judgments
Justice Nagarathna also issued a caution regarding the use of artificial intelligence in legal research.
Lawyers appearing before courts must verify authorities before relying upon them. AI-generated material can sometimes contain fabricated cases, incorrect citations or non-existent judgments.
She warned young lawyers against accepting AI-generated legal information without proper verification, particularly when such material is intended to be placed before a court.
Greater Importance of Mediation and ADR
Justice Nagarathna further highlighted the growing relevance of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as arbitration, mediation and conciliation.
She noted that traditional litigation can involve significant delays, expenses and procedural complexity. As a result, lawyers need to understand when an alternative mechanism may be more effective than prolonged court proceedings.
She encouraged young advocates to develop practical skills in negotiation, settlement drafting and mediation instead of limiting their learning to statutory provisions.
She also referred to hybrid approaches such as the Arb-Med-Arb process, where arbitration may begin before the parties attempt mediation and, if mediation does not succeed, the arbitration can continue.
Bar Must Contribute to Reducing Delay and Pendency
The judge also drew attention to persistent challenges affecting India’s justice system, including case pendency, delays, litigation expenses and uncertainty.
She said the Bar should take a constructive and collective approach to these problems rather than treating them solely as issues for the judiciary.
According to her message, lawyers need to work together and develop practical solutions that can make the justice delivery process more effective.
Message for the Next Generation of Lawyers
Justice Nagarathna urged graduating students to develop qualities that go beyond technical knowledge of law.
Modern advocates, she suggested, must become problem-solvers who can understand the interests of all sides, identify practical solutions and determine the most appropriate way to resolve a dispute.
She encouraged young lawyers to observe experienced practitioners, understand how negotiations actually work and gain practical exposure to mediation and arbitration.
Her broader message was that the future of the legal profession depends not only on legal knowledge but also on professional integrity, sound judgment, independence and public trust.
Conclusion
Justice BV Nagarathna’s address placed the responsibility for strengthening the legal profession on both Bar institutions and individual advocates.
Her remarks underline that Bar Councils must command the confidence of the lawyers they represent, while advocates must protect professional ethics and the independence of the Bar.
At the same time, young lawyers entering the profession will need to adapt to artificial intelligence, alternative dispute resolution and a more technology-driven legal environment.
The central message remains clear: a strong legal profession requires independent institutions, responsible advocates and public trust in the justice system.