What does a future law firm looks like in India?

By 

Vishal Kumar Singh, 

School of Law and Governance, Central University of South Bihar

 

About the Author:  Vishal Kumar Singh is a third year law student pursuing his five year B.A. LL.B.(H.) degree from School of Law and Governance, Central University of South Bihar.

What does a future law firm looks like in India?

When you mention a famous race horse, they always ask you, “From which stable?” The stable is important. It establishes the ancestry and the breed. When you name a lawyer who has done well, people ask you, “From which chamber/firm?’’ The chamber is important. It establishes the hierarchy and cultural tradition in which lawyer has been reared.

Legal profession has always been regarded as a noble profession across the world. In India, Lawyers were at the vanguard of the freedom movement. The practicing lawyer was given a pride place in our constitution. In the Constitution of India itself, under Article 22(1), it is proclaimed that no person who is arrested ‘shall be denied the right to consult with and be defended by a lawyer of his choice’.With the evolution of judiciary in India, practicing law as a profession has evolved itself to a greater extent. However, if we look at the lawyer-client ration in India, we will find that it is 1:1800, which is comparatively very high in comparison to the developed countries like Britain where the same ratio is 1:300.But, mere numbers and statistics do not disclose the real malady. The quality of legal education is more important than the number of lawyers. One most serious threat that the entire law fraternity is facing currently is the lack of ethics amongst lawyers. The legal professionals should never forget that it is their duty and responsibility to serve the society and provide legal aid to those who approach them.

In past few decades, the culture of Law firms in India has faced a boom in the services sector. Law firm in India is relatively a new concept, as primarily lawyers were seen as an agent of justice in India.

So, the question is what is a law firm?

In a layman’s words, “a law firm is a group /an association of lawyers litigating under one name”

Prior to the era of Law firms in India, there existed only individual lawyers litigating in their own personal capacity and professional qualification, often limited to a particular field of law. The emergence of Law firms can be said to have begun in India after the establishment of various National Law University (NLUs), which offers five year integrated B.A. Ll.B.(H.), B.B.A. Ll.B.(H.), B.Sc. Ll.B.(H.), B.Com. Ll.B.(H.), and even B.Tech. Ll.B.(H.). The Integrated five year degree course not only enables the students to gain the knowledge of law in a systematic way but also, gives them an opportunity to be specialized in the areas of their interest. These specialized lawyers gradually became the first choice of the corporate houses for the jobs like Legal Advisor and Consultant. India’s corporate law firm sector is still relatively young and includes a mix of sole proprietorships and firms of several hundred lawyers and dozens of partners.

Today, many law firms like, Amarchand Mangaldas, Anand and Anand,Khaitan and co., Luthra and Luthra are willingly approaching to the top NLUs to hire law graduates from there. This kind of curriculum based evolution of the Legal studies in India has led to the emergence of a whole new culture of Law firms in India. In coming generations, we can hope, that we are going to witness a bunch of fresh law firms in the Legal arena of the country who will significantly play a major role in each and every aspect of the citizens of India.

In future, the Law firms in India, will definitely share a major part of the service sector in India which will not only provide their clients a set of well-defined services like litigation, arbitration, mediation etc. but, also an all-around legal assistance in personal as well as professional matters.

The future law firm will focus on the Alternative Dispute Resolution system (ADRs).Under the ADRs the main objective of the parties is to get speedy justice through mediation, arbitration, reconciliation etc. The parties prefer this method of dispute resolution as, it is a fast as well as cost efficient technique of out of the court settlement. Not only this,in my opinion the future law firms will also take care of their clients, financial and income tax matters so efficiently that client will not even think of going to consult any financial advisor.

So, in other words the future law firm in India will be a complete package of services to the clients.

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Disclaimer:

This Article was prepared or accomplished by Vishal Kumar Singhin in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the view of the LawOF.in

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