SNIL Orientation Programme: Perception About Legal Profession Has Changed, Says Justice Parija

Bhubaneswar: The legal profession is no longer a poor option, as it was considered 25 years ago, and has, in fact, emerged as one of the most attractive vocations for students, offering multiple avenues for careers, former judge of Orissa High Court Justice Subash Chandra Parija said on Friday.

“The profession then was described by people as the last resort of poor students which was not attractive, but the scenario has changed today,” Justice Parija said at the 13th orientation programme for the new batch of students at SOA National Institute of Law (SNIL), the faculty of legal studies of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) Deemed to be University (SOA).

Justice Parija, who inaugurated a Moot Court complex at SNIL set up to train students in a simulated court-like environment, said that the perception has changed as students are opting to become lawyers or joining the judicial service with openings also available in the corporate sector.

Justice Parija announced that he would be donating his 50-year-old library full of legal books and reports to SNIL, and urged students to study as much as they could to enhance knowledge.

He opined that those who wanted to join the bar should be articulate and have command over language and advised parents to be patient with their children who are choosing to be lawyers as it required at least five to ten years in the profession to have a stable income.

SOA Pro-VC Prof. Sitikantha Mishra presided over the programme which was also addressed by Dean of SNIL Prof. SAK Azad, and senior professors Jayadev Pati and Prabir Kumar Patnaik.