Aspiring lawyers are welcomed into the prestigious legal fraternity with the
opening line of their orientation program, Welcome to this Nobel
profession. A question thus arises as to why the legal profession is
considered a noble profession. There is a good discussion of the place of the
legal profession in society in KV Krishnaswami Iyer's Classic professional
Conduct and Advocacy.
The legal field is "the most brilliant and alluring of peaceful occupations,
with duties both inside and outside it, which no person carrying out any other
job has to shoulder," according to Justice Iyer. He claims that an "advocate has
to deal with the largest conceivable range of human connections and has his
mettle constantly tested from every direction" while discussing the practice of
the legal profession.
A lawyer gains enormous social standing for the same reason, which should never
be abused. Similar to that of a doctor, the fundamental ethos of the legal
profession is service to society. Protecting citizens from social diseases is
the goal.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, the definition of law as it is commonly
understood is that it is "a particular country or community's recognised set of
rules regulating the activities of its members, which it may enforce by the
imposition of penalties.
"But the law is a more complicated idea with many nuances and complications. It
reflects the established code of conduct that is openly or unofficially
recognised by the community, making it an essential component of society.
Conflict: either between people or against the community at large has
accompanied the evolution of humans. Laws were then created as mutually
agreed-upon guidelines that the society would abide by in order to maintain
social equilibrium. Law and the development of civilization have a close
relationship.
According to historical evidence, the civil code of ancient Egyptian law, which
dates back to 3000 BC, was likely divided into twelve volumes. Its foundation
was the idea of Maat, which stood for tradition, rhetorical argument, social
equality, and objectivity. The ideas of modern law and democracy were strongly
impacted by Greek and Roman philosophy.
The growth of jurisprudence as a distinct field of study demonstrates the
significance of legal philosophy. Law's origins can be traced back to Moving
from the divine law that God gave to man to John Austin's utilitarian view that
law is the sovereign's command supported by sanction. In addition, the law has
been examined from a number of perspectives, including economics, sociology,
etc.
They all agree that the law is a mirror of society and its customs and values,
which is one thing that unites them. The moral integrity that ties society
together is what legislation in society is about. As the defender and protector
of the law, the legal profession is therefore regarded as a noble profession.
Indian Council of Legal Aid and Advice v. Bar Council of India:
The Supreme Court declared that the practice of law is a pious and honourable
profession, with its primary goal being the service of humanity by supporting
the administration of justice; therefore, it is the pious duty of the Bar
Council to safeguard its reputation by limiting the inflow of numerous retired
employees who wish to practise law solely for financial gain.
Ethics of Legal Profession:
Without its principles and ethics, the legal profession would not exist. For
instance, because of the fiduciary nature of the client-attorney relationship,
lawyers have a duty of care. Young minds are taught the value of respecting the
goals and ethics of this profession in every law school's required professional
ethics paper.
This is crucial because it will help young professionals carry out their
responsibilities in the administration of justice by instilling moral behaviour.
These ethical standards are mirrored in the way attorneys deliver the parties'
arguments to the court.
The judiciary is also an essential cog in the wheel of justice, and it deserves
praise and admiration for its role in elevating the legal profession to a noble
one. There is a common thread running through the greats of Indian law. Their
pursuit of fearless justice, desire to uphold equality and regard for human
dignity are what drives them.
Justice Krishnaswamy Iyer is one of the doyens who has changed Indian law.
Supreme Court rulings and significant legal cases have altered both the practice
of law and how society is viewed. Our daily lives are affected by these Supreme
Court decisions.
Role of Courts
The many rights and obligations bestowed are necessary for maintaining human
dignity. These rights are safeguarded by the courts. As citizens' advocates, the
courts play a crucial role, as shown by the numerous court cases that take place
around the nation. Legal experts play the role of social engineers by
significantly contributing to the maintenance of these rights and obligations.
The Court is the lawyer's first allegiance, and it is his responsibility to
support the Court in dispensing justice. The arguments made on behalf of the
petitioner or respondent are submitted to assist the Court in determining
whether the problems at hand are legitimate and making an appropriate decision
that is just, fair, and reasonable.
Legal practitioners travel a difficult road. Because the scenarios are unique
from one another, each requires a different strategy to be used. In order to
meet the challenges of various legal matters with the same fervour and
persistence, attorneys must equip themselves. Over the years, with the
investment of time, sweat, and blood, this skill is gained.
The secret to success in this cutthroat industry is tenacity and hard effort.
The struggles and trials of the profession not only develop a brilliant lawyer,
but also a strong and tenacious person who can accomplish his objectives. It
cultivates a more compassionate individual who aspires to advance social justice
and is perceptive to the demands of society.
The assistance of the attorneys who construct arguments for both parties helps
the courts deal with these complex issues. Therefore, the goal of the entire
process is to sustain society's essential ideas and morals. Absolute chaos and
anarchy would result in a society devoid of morality and ideals. The altruistic
endeavours of the legal community to defend societal ideals and the unrelenting
attempts to serve society are what define the nobleness of the legal profession.
The results of this work are evident in the numerous Supreme Court decisions
that have become landmarks in law and in other instances that have had a
significant social influence.
Judges, attorneys, and other legal system participants all collaborate closely.
Concepts of justice, equity, and good conscience inspire, empower, guide, and
enrich them so that they can carry out their societal obligations with honesty
and integrity. Justice is administered jointly by the Bar and Bench and is not
primarily the responsibility of the judicial branch.
The Advocates Act, 1961
The All India Bar Committee was established in 1951, and presided over by
Justice S.R. Das of the Supreme Court of India, to further address the issues
raised by the practitioners. The committee made numerous recommendations,
including the creation of a unified bar for the entire nation, the continuation
of various classes of legal practitioners, and revisions to the laws governing
the profession.
As a result, the Indian Parliament passed The Advocates Act, of 1961, repealing
previous laws and attempting to put the committee's recommendations into
practice. Since then, this Act has overseen India's legal profession and has
also experienced numerous revisions.
Conclusion
The legal profession is referred to as the Noble Profession among all other
professions in the world.
This is so because it frequently works for good causes that benefit the common
people, and because the fundamental essence of this vocation is good. Without
the law, society would descend into anarchy as a result of its ability to
maintain order and peace through its rules and regulations. This particular law
is kept and guarded by legal professionals. As a result, they have a crucial
function in society, and with the reforms being made to the nation's legal
system, that role is poised to grow more vital than ever.
Written By: Rashie Sharma
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