Interview with Advocate Kulwant singh guiding Law students with his experience.

INTERVIEW

As Jeremy Bentham says “The power of the lawyer is in the uncertainty of the law.” And the power is today’s major buzz. Despite the struggle involved in this profession, every aspiring student dreams of ‘standing in the pride of a black coat in a castle shaped in a courtroom.’ So catch your dreams and make that leap.

But before you make that leap, however, it’s important to take a look at where you’ll be landing. Below is an interview we conducted with Advocate Kulwant Singh, who will guide you to the path of success.

Q1. What is the difference between studying law and practicing it?

Ans. There is a vast difference between practicing law in real life circumstances and studying it in a law school. They are like two different world, just like you learn to play a musical instrument and then you perform it on stage. While we are in college, we go through theoretical as well as practical knowledge, where a student majorly focuses on a theoretical part. But we cannot ignore the fact that theoretical and practical knowledge goes parallel. And could actually be experienced when you practice the knowledge in the court where you are been paid. You will realize that abstract knowledge is not enough but job satisfaction is also the priority. The balance between the two is the real key of excellence for a successful lawyer.

Q2. It is seen that advocates struggle years to become famous and consistent in their fields. How to reduce the time and become consistent earlier?

Ans. For all the 5 and 3 years students go through for their law degree, in the initial years, students acquire ample knowledge and experience that they can work on the initial steps of advocacy. Assistantship could be counted as one such initial step, where in the last years of their law school, student can practice in the assistance with a good advocate. And when they acquire their law degrees, soon they can work with the advocate and start their practice as law is all about experiences and polished skills. Here, practice do makes an advocate perfect!

Q3. What kind of internship should a law student do in college?

Ans. For 3 and 5 years courses, students should at least do 5 to 6 and 10 to 14 internships respectively. I would recommend that an advocate once should defiantly intern in a NGO and as internships in NGO don’t require much of legal skills, students should do it in their first year accordingly. Later, they can do their internships in courts under a qualified advocate or in a legal law firms, all through their law school years.

Q4. How does such internship benefit students?

Ans. As Aristotle says “For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.”  In the same manner by doing internship during college the most essential thing you learn out of it is discipline. Further by working under an advocate you learn the mannerism of court, when there are cases filed under the advocate you are working with, you experience the skill of dealing with such cases in future to respect of both civil and criminal matter, as you are likely involved in it.

Q5. To become a good lawyer, share your experience which defines you key to success.

Ans. I have experience of 24 years in matrimonial disputes and criminal acts and key to my success is ‘practice’. What I have learned and acquired all these years is my treasure gold which I will cherish for the rest of my life. 

Q6. Will you like to give some tips to all the blooming lawyers?

Ans. Yeah, well I’m always inspired to see the spirit of our youth generation and I’m sure that India is going to witness some excellent lawyers in the coming future. All I’ll suggest is that do have your goal fixed. Channelize your will, if you want to become an advocate do your internships in respect of it. And if you are interested in State Judicial Services, prepare for its competitive exams. Bare acts are essential law books and needed to have full knowledge of it.

Apart from all these, you should regularly take part in competitions being held during your course in law colleges like Moot court, MUN’s, Parliamentary and different types of debates, Essay competitions and many more. One more essential point is that in law college students prefer to enhance only their speaking skill but it is not sufficient. During the period of your college, try to build up your vocabulary and enhance your writing skill as well because always remember that a lawyer always deal in writing followed by speaking. Now a day, only those advocates are considered as good advocates who have good drafting skill and Drafting skill implies your strength, your command towards the language.

And most important among all is ‘Hard work never goes in vain’. So good luck to all the blooming advocates and judges.

Interviewer

Ms. Riya Kumari

ICFAI LAW School Dehradun.