Make passion and compassion your two best friends, CJI's message to law graduates

Have passion for the legal profession and compassion for fellow countrymen, said Chief Justice of India U U Lalit while addressing a convocation ceremony of the National Law University, Odisha.

Legal professionals must not only have complete passion for their profession but also have compassion for fellow countrymen, said Chief Justice of India U U Lalit while addressing a convocation ceremony of the National Law University, Odisha, on Saturday.

"As a legal professional, one must have passion for the profession, whatever you do...you must immerse yourself completely, give to the best of your ability. Apart from passion, there must be compassion for fellow human beings and fellow countrymen," said the CJI.

According to CJI Lalit, compassion will help decide the course to be adopted when there is any doubt. He opined that legal professionals should adopt a course of conduct, which will benefit fellow countrymen. "If you go by...passion and compassion, you will do tremendously well in the profession,’ said Lalit.

While addressing the young law graduates, the CJI also advised them to pursue judicial services, which he opined is the one of the most promising and satisfying career.

"One area apart from legal profession, whether corporate law or litigation, you can consider is adjudication, which is the judicial service. Judicial service will be the most promising one, most satisfying one, and the training you’ve had, you can utilise that to achieve what is called dispute resolution...," said the CJI.

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Admitting that legal aid work in the country is a bit neglected, the CJI urged young law graduates to consider devoting their time to legal aid. "Whatever you have learned, you can give it back to the society," said the top judge of the Supreme Court.