The Supreme Court of India has designated five senior advocates, including two women lawyers. .While this is being lauded as a welcome move to expand the small group of lady seniors in the Apex Court, the numbers are still far from impressive. .Bar & Bench spoke to Kiran Suri, who was designated as a senior in 2013 to get her perspective over the role of gender in the profession, her thoughts on challenges faced by young lawyers and other issues. Excerpts:-.Bar & Bench: Tell us about your entry into the profession. .Kiran Suri: I belong to Delhi and graduated from Law Faculty, Delhi University in 1978. Later I shifted to Bangalore after marriage as my husband was working there. In Bangalore, I began working in the chamber of BG Naik, before shifting my practice to Delhi in 1987..Bar & Bench: Why law?.Kiran Suri: I liked the field. At that point in time, I was more focused and inclined towards legal issues. My curiosity was piqued the most whenever I dealt with consumer disputes and land disputes..Bar & Bench: What are your thoughts on the limited number of senior designations handed out to women? Does gender play a role?.Kiran Suri: Well as of now there are eight women seniors but I hope that soon we will be a group of eighty. Firstly, our percentage vis-à-vis men is very less. If we are 100, they are 1,000. So the skewed ratio also contributes to the perception that women lawyers are often not designated as seniors. Secondly, the numbers have definitely increased in the last decade as compared to the earlier days when there were very few women in the profession. If women from the next generation choose to join the profession, the club of lady seniors will only grow. So according to me, gender bias does not play a role in being designated or not being designated..Bar & Bench: What were the challenges that you faced as a young advocate? .Kiran Suri: I have to say this here that, like any other young lawyer, I faced multiple challenges during my early days. But none of them were related to me being a female advocate. Neither have I faced any discrimination as a woman lawyer. Fortunately, my gestation period as a young advocate was not very long and I began getting matters within a year of setting up my private practice..Bar & Bench: Have you faced any bias from judges (not necessarily in the Supreme Court) because you are a woman?.Kiran Suri: No. I have seen many male advocates arguing good cases and making good points but not getting a favorable order. If I am not prepared, I may feel that the judge is harsh to me. .I may put across a point thinking that it’s my best argument and the judge may not share my view. But that situation arises with every other lawyer and this is all part of the profession. There is nothing discriminatory about it. I can speak for myself and say that I have not been judged negatively for being a woman advocate appearing before the Bench..Bar & Bench: Tell us about a memorable case that you have worked..Kiran Suri: The M. Nagaraj (anti-reservation case) which went on from 1996 to 2006. Apart from that, I have appeared in mining matters frequently and I enjoy working on those cases. I feel that any case can be a good or bad case. You should get sufficient time to prepare for it. The subject can be a tricky one and the intricacies of law could take time to understand. But once you work on it, you start getting a better hold of the matter. My only concern is to work hard in whatever matter I take up..Bar & Bench: Who do you see as a role model?.Kiran Suri: I used to look up to my senior in Bangalore, BG Naik . Presently, Harish Salve is an inspiration for any lawyer..Bar & Bench: How would you describe the legal profession?.Kiran Suri: It is a great profession but it can also be a cruel profession to many because there is no scope for your emotions. You are expected to perform every day. A lackluster show in court on any single day can cost your client. But you can do wonders in the profession if you are committed..Bar & Bench: What advice would you give to young lawyers?.Kiran Suri: Be sincere and work hard. That is the only way to move ahead. It takes time for a first generation lawyer to get their first brief. But once you start working hard on your brief and display commitment towards your profession, people start noticing you. Be sincere to the client. Since you cannot advertise about your work, it is strictly word-of-mouth. So when people see you doing your work with sincerity, getting a steady stream of work is not difficult..This profession is not any one person’s asset. Anybody can make a mark. You may start on a different footing if you are the son of so and so but that is not the end. It is only the beginning. It is a highly individualistic profession so a second or third-generation lawyer may make a smooth foray but unless they perform on their own merit and prove themselves, success is not guaranteed.
The Supreme Court of India has designated five senior advocates, including two women lawyers. .While this is being lauded as a welcome move to expand the small group of lady seniors in the Apex Court, the numbers are still far from impressive. .Bar & Bench spoke to Kiran Suri, who was designated as a senior in 2013 to get her perspective over the role of gender in the profession, her thoughts on challenges faced by young lawyers and other issues. Excerpts:-.Bar & Bench: Tell us about your entry into the profession. .Kiran Suri: I belong to Delhi and graduated from Law Faculty, Delhi University in 1978. Later I shifted to Bangalore after marriage as my husband was working there. In Bangalore, I began working in the chamber of BG Naik, before shifting my practice to Delhi in 1987..Bar & Bench: Why law?.Kiran Suri: I liked the field. At that point in time, I was more focused and inclined towards legal issues. My curiosity was piqued the most whenever I dealt with consumer disputes and land disputes..Bar & Bench: What are your thoughts on the limited number of senior designations handed out to women? Does gender play a role?.Kiran Suri: Well as of now there are eight women seniors but I hope that soon we will be a group of eighty. Firstly, our percentage vis-à-vis men is very less. If we are 100, they are 1,000. So the skewed ratio also contributes to the perception that women lawyers are often not designated as seniors. Secondly, the numbers have definitely increased in the last decade as compared to the earlier days when there were very few women in the profession. If women from the next generation choose to join the profession, the club of lady seniors will only grow. So according to me, gender bias does not play a role in being designated or not being designated..Bar & Bench: What were the challenges that you faced as a young advocate? .Kiran Suri: I have to say this here that, like any other young lawyer, I faced multiple challenges during my early days. But none of them were related to me being a female advocate. Neither have I faced any discrimination as a woman lawyer. Fortunately, my gestation period as a young advocate was not very long and I began getting matters within a year of setting up my private practice..Bar & Bench: Have you faced any bias from judges (not necessarily in the Supreme Court) because you are a woman?.Kiran Suri: No. I have seen many male advocates arguing good cases and making good points but not getting a favorable order. If I am not prepared, I may feel that the judge is harsh to me. .I may put across a point thinking that it’s my best argument and the judge may not share my view. But that situation arises with every other lawyer and this is all part of the profession. There is nothing discriminatory about it. I can speak for myself and say that I have not been judged negatively for being a woman advocate appearing before the Bench..Bar & Bench: Tell us about a memorable case that you have worked..Kiran Suri: The M. Nagaraj (anti-reservation case) which went on from 1996 to 2006. Apart from that, I have appeared in mining matters frequently and I enjoy working on those cases. I feel that any case can be a good or bad case. You should get sufficient time to prepare for it. The subject can be a tricky one and the intricacies of law could take time to understand. But once you work on it, you start getting a better hold of the matter. My only concern is to work hard in whatever matter I take up..Bar & Bench: Who do you see as a role model?.Kiran Suri: I used to look up to my senior in Bangalore, BG Naik . Presently, Harish Salve is an inspiration for any lawyer..Bar & Bench: How would you describe the legal profession?.Kiran Suri: It is a great profession but it can also be a cruel profession to many because there is no scope for your emotions. You are expected to perform every day. A lackluster show in court on any single day can cost your client. But you can do wonders in the profession if you are committed..Bar & Bench: What advice would you give to young lawyers?.Kiran Suri: Be sincere and work hard. That is the only way to move ahead. It takes time for a first generation lawyer to get their first brief. But once you start working hard on your brief and display commitment towards your profession, people start noticing you. Be sincere to the client. Since you cannot advertise about your work, it is strictly word-of-mouth. So when people see you doing your work with sincerity, getting a steady stream of work is not difficult..This profession is not any one person’s asset. Anybody can make a mark. You may start on a different footing if you are the son of so and so but that is not the end. It is only the beginning. It is a highly individualistic profession so a second or third-generation lawyer may make a smooth foray but unless they perform on their own merit and prove themselves, success is not guaranteed.
