Lawyers’ Aim Should Be Betterment of Society: CJI

Cuttack: Chief Justice of India Justice Dipak Misra here on Saturday advised aspiring lawyers to be ‘ethical’ while addressing the fourth annual convocation of National Law University, Odisha (NLUO).

Justice Misra, who is also Visitor of NLUO, said lawyers carry a great responsibility on their shoulders and noted that it was much better to be known as an ethical lawyer than a successful one. “No one can stop them from becoming both! Be innovative and unique,” he said.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Chief Justice of Orissa High Court Justice Vineet Saran also graced the occasion. A total of 145 students were conferred degrees, of which 114 were undergraduate students – 59 students of B.A L.L.B and 55 students of B.B.A L.L.B, 30 L.L.M students and one Ph.D degree were awarded.  Eighteen gold medals were given to students in the convocation this year.

Justice Misra said, “If there is indeed one profession which contributed the most in the fight for independence and played the most significant part in bringing about national awakening and political consciousness, it has been the profession of law.” Law is a noble profession founded on great traditions, he said, adding, the convocation day is an important moment not only for the graduating students, but also for their parents, teachers and each and every person who has contributed in some form to shape them- what they are today!

Justice Misra said that students must be pondering today which field of law (litigation, corporate or teaching) is more lucrative, and which direction would lead them to success. Justice Misra urged the students to think about the terms ‘lucrative’ and ‘success’. “DO not think of lucrative in mere terms of material gain, and do not restrict your mind to think of success as a status symbol. The first step is to recognise where your passion lies. Do a soul-search and decide where you can give your best in terms of betterment of the society and downtrodden-only that should be your path and destination. That should be your fundamental aim of a lawyer”, he said. Learning is a continuous process and it should not end  on the graduation day, he added.

Stressing the importance of integrity, intellect and character, vice-chancellor of NLUO Srikrishna Deva Rao quoted Dr S Radhakrishnan: “Education is the means by which we can tide up our minds, acquire information as well as values. Education is training of intellect and it requires refinement of the heart and disciplined spirit” and asked the students to follow their heart to find their life goals. He said the university follows a socially relevant curriculum and is offering innovative courses like Animal Welfare Law, Election Law, Democracy, Law on Mines and Minerals, Litigation Management in Higher Education, Copyright Law in the Entertainment Industry and will offer new courses like ICT courses for Law students, Course on Fifth Schedule of the Constitution. The university also focuses on innovative methods in teaching and learning. He said the university’s students are performing well in Moot Court Competitions. The university has set up new research centres like Access to Justice, Centre for Child Rights, Centre for Law, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Centre for Maritime Law, Centre for Film Studies. The university is also partnering with the state government of Odisha for various research projects.

Registrar of NLUO Dolly Jabbal, a host of dignitaries from the legal fraternity, parents of students, staff of NLUO were also present. Four journals – NLUO Law Journal, Human Rights Law Journal, NLUO Students Journal and Child Rights Law Journal — were released on the occasion.