Justice Surya Kant Reminds Young Lawyers: Law’s Nobility Lies in Service, Not in Salary
(By Syed Ali Taher Abedi)
— Supreme Court Judge Addresses 3rd Convocation of NLUJA, Assam
Guwahati, October 13:Delivering a thought-provoking convocation address at the 3rd Convocation Ceremony of the National Law University and Judicial Academy (NLUJA), Assam, held in Guwahati, Justice Surya Kant, Judge of the Supreme Court of India, underscored that true success in the legal profession is not measured by financial prosperity, but by the ethical weight and moral integrity one carries through the journey of law.
Justice Kant, known for his eloquence and reformative vision for the Bar and Bench alike, struck a deeply reflective note as he lamented the growing tendency among young and talented lawyers to bypass pro bono legal service and opt instead for the comfort of corporate corridors. He observed that the spirit of legal service — once seen as a calling to uphold justice for the voiceless — is increasingly being overshadowed by commercial aspirations.
“Law achieves its noblest purpose when it gives a voice to those who cannot afford it,” Justice Kant said, urging the graduating students to treat law not merely as a profession, but as a higher moral vocation in service of justice and society.
He called upon the young graduates to revive the founding spirit of the legal profession — a profession built not merely on intellect and advocacy, but on truth, fairness, and the courage to stand for the underprivileged.
Touching upon the evolving professional attitudes among young members of the Bar, Justice Kant reminded them that professional honesty and ethical conduct remain the cornerstones of legal excellence. He remarked, “A lawyer’s reputation is not built overnight nor by the brilliance of a single argument; it is earned over years through the consistency of character, the dignity of conduct, and fidelity to the truth.”
Justice Kant also drew attention to the pressing issue of infrastructural inadequacies faced by many law universities and judicial academies across the country. He emphasized that the strength of the legal system depends not only on the competence of its practitioners but also on the quality of institutions that shape them.
“If we aspire to build a strong, fair, and compassionate justice system, our campuses must reflect the same values — integrity, equality, and accessibility,” he said.
The event was attended by legal luminaries, faculty members, students, and dignitaries from across the North-Eastern region. The ceremony marked a milestone in the journey of NLUJA, Assam — an institution that continues to contribute to the evolving landscape of legal education in India.
Justice Kant’s address, profound in its substance and stirring in its moral conviction, served as both a reminder and a call to action — that the true legacy of a lawyer lies not in wealth accumulated, but in justice delivered, truth defended, and lives uplifted.
