Low salary and few opportunities result in few takers for profession
Advocates take out a bike rally to mark the completion of 125 days of abstaining from court work for Samaikyandhra, in Rajahmundry on Monday. - DC
Kochi: Has the legal profession lost its sheen? In an unprecedented move, several law offices in Kochi have put up boards at the high court, inviting job applications from junior advocates.
Nearly 1,000 people attend the enrollment function at the Kerala high court every year, but only 10 to 20 of them take up the profession seriously and join as junior advocates in law firms.
Lawyers point out that the low salary the young draw compared to the other professions and fewer opportunities are the main reasons for the shortage in the number of those joining the profession.
It may be noted that the Bar Council of India recently asked its state bodies to fix Rs 5,000 as a minimum stipend for young lawyers which many consider astonishingly low. In recent years too, the number of women seeking admission for the law course has increased to 80 per cent, but again, only a few take up the profession.
According to Senior Adv Nandakumara Menon, youngsters not turning up at court to practice is a serious issue.
“Most of the designated lawyers need an ‘instructing counsel’ as an assistant, but these days we are finding it hard to get a good young lawyer. Many find it hard to cope up with the pressure,” he said.
Advocate R V Sreejith, a lawyer practising in the high court, said that youngsters these days preferred other legal oriented jobs than practising in courts.
“To become a good lawyer one must practice in court under the guidance of a senior lawyer with a proven track record. It takes time for a junior to settle in and become a successful lawyer. These days youngsters have no patience and time, most of them want a quick result,” he added.
Advocate Arun Antony, 29, said, “Only 10 of my classmates are lawyers now, the rest have joined other professions. Most of these professions offer handsome salaries, which young lawyers don't get and find it hard to support themselves.”
( Source : dc )
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