Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Wednesday advised newly inducted Advocates-on-Record (AoRs) of the Supreme Court to prioritise professional excellence, courtroom advocacy and ethical legal practice over social media visibility, observing that online popularity cannot be equated with professional credibility.
Addressing the felicitation ceremony for the 2025 batch of AoRs organised by the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA), the CJI said the legal profession was built on integrity, competence, rigorous preparation and the confidence earned from judges, clients, colleagues and members of the Bar.
The Chief Justice cautioned young lawyers against treating social media recognition as a benchmark of professional success. He observed that while digital platforms can make lawyers visible, enduring respect in the legal profession is earned through consistent performance inside courtrooms, sound advocacy, legal acumen and adherence to professional ethics rather than online engagement or public attention.
Advocates should focus on ensuring that whenever their name appears in a case file, the Bench associates it with well-prepared pleadings, meticulous legal research and effective advocacy, added CJI Kant.
Emphasising that an Advocate-on-Record designation was only the beginning of a legal career, the Chief Justice said professional titles may create opportunities but cannot substitute sustained hard work, competence and quality legal work. He advised newly inducted AoRs against rushing to establish law firms or expanding their practice before developing strong legal fundamentals and a reputation for excellence in litigation.
Highlighting the importance of drafting, the Chief Justice described it as the foundation and soul of the legal profession. He said pleadings constitute a lawyer’s first interaction with the Court, as judges examine petitions, written submissions and paper books before hearing oral arguments. Every petition, he said, should present facts, legal issues, statutory provisions, constitutional principles and judicial precedents in a coherent, persuasive and logically structured manner capable of assisting the Court in adjudication.
Drawing from his experience at the Bar, the Chief Justice said drafting complex matters became the cornerstone of his early legal practice. He recalled that senior advocates frequently entrusted him with preparing pleadings in intricate cases even before he had established an independent practice, enabling him to build professional credibility and expertise.
The Chief Justice also cautioned against excessive dependence on artificial intelligence while preparing pleadings and legal documents. While acknowledging that AI-powered tools can significantly assist legal research, comparative jurisprudence, case law analysis, statutory interpretation, document review and preparation of preliminary drafts, he stressed that they cannot replace a lawyer’s independent legal reasoning, professional judgement, ethical responsibility or understanding of the client’s factual matrix. He said AI should remain a secondary professional aid rather than a substitute for human intellect in drafting, strategy formulation or case preparation.
He further observed that legal representation extends beyond analysing statutes and precedents, requiring lawyers to appreciate the facts, circumstances and human dimensions underlying every dispute. According to the Chief Justice, clients engage advocates for their legal judgement, empathy and ability to exercise professional discretion, responsibilities that cannot be delegated to technology.
The Chief Justice also reminded the newly inducted AoRs that their designation carried a constitutional and professional responsibility to ensure meaningful access to justice for economically weaker sections and marginalised litigants. He encouraged them to undertake legal aid matters whenever possible, observing that sincere representation in even a single case could transform the lives of vulnerable individuals and families while advancing the constitutional promise of equal justice and effective legal representation.
CJI Kant urged the newly inducted Advocates-on-Record to pursue continuous learning, disciplined preparation, ethical advocacy and excellence in legal drafting, stating that a successful and enduring legal career was built through professional credibility earned in courtrooms rather than social media popularity. Supreme Court judges Justice KV Viswanathan and Justice Vipul M Pancholi also addressed the gathering.
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