Thread by @barandbench

Delhi High Court Women's Lawyers Forum to hold a session on 'Inspiring Court Room Stories'.

Justice Jyoti Singh, Judge, Delhi HC and Kavita Jha, Partner, Vaish Associates to speak at the event.

Session to start at 5 pm today on WebEx platform.

#Webinar #CourtRoomStories

Session to begin shortly.

#CourtRoomStories #webinar #DelhiHC

Advocates Amita Kalkal and Aditi Gupta kick start the session.

Kalkal welcomes Justice Jyoti and Adv Kavita Jha.

As the topic suggestions, we will be focusing on the journey of our two Speakers. What according to them was the key to their success: Kalkal

Kalkal and Gupta introduce Justice Jyoti Singh and Adv Jha.

Justice Jyoti Singh greets the participants.

I always wanted to be a professional Bharatnatyam dancer. Law was completely default: Justice Jyoti Singh begins.

I was a botany student.. I filed up the form after my friend did it. Totally destiny I think : Justice Jyoti Singh.

When we joined the profession, there wasn't such a corporate culture. Corporate wasn't a very big option : Justice Jyoti Singh on opting to litigate.

Litigation fascinated me. For me, a lawyer meant arguing. If I had to be here, I had to be there..arguing : Justice Singh

I was a first generation lawyer. I didn't have the advantage of seeing what a high court looked like. I used to be so lost the whole day. It was my clerk and me. I would listen to the arguments and sit in the library: Justice Singh on her initial days in the profession.

I was lonely. I quit after a few days. I applied for jobs but didn't get. I get a a one day from Mr Agarwal. He said I saw you arguing one and are you ready to join.

I told him I was not meant to be in this profession. It was too boring and depressing : Justice Singh.

It was very lonely (initially). But Mr Agarwal gave me work : Justice Singh

I used to be nervous to begin with. We had some very tough judges at that time. I used to super prepared. I used to stand in front of a mirror and rehearse my arguments. First initial days, I goofed up also: Justice Singh

First four years, I went independent. I had no work, no case: Justice Singh

For three months, I had no case. I used to sit in the library till one day I got a case from someone I know: Justice Singh

I won that case and I was so excited. He gave me a dabba of halwa and said that's all I can give : Justice Singh

How did you remember handling so many cases later? You were a one woman Army. : Adv Gupta

Did I? Everyone does it. I stayed in my field ie service law. I didn't find it difficult. I had a support system. I had a junior and colleagues and friends: Justice Singh

How did life change after you were designated as a senior? : adv Gupta

I felt a lot of responsibility.. the senior gown has a weight..weight of the responsibility. The expectations are more. The Bench expects.. You have to work harder : Justice Singh

Client and briefing counsel both have expectations. They rely on you. I felt the responsibility was so much more. First day, I was nervous: Justice Singh

My first matter as a senior was terribly bad for me. My clients were in contempt. I said oh God help me. Petitioners had a battery of senior lawyers. The Judge looked at me and said "arguements heard in part. To come up next week": Justice Singh on being a Senior Adv

Mostly everyone was known to you. It was easier than I expected. Senior welcomed us: Justice Singh on becoming a Judge.

There are moments when you feel isolated. I miss the 11:30 am gate no 7 chai+coffee..I miss the Bar room. At times, there is a sense of isolation. But the transaction was good. I like to keep my courtroom light: Justice Singh

For me and all of you, the keyword is hardwork. There is no substitute. More than that, it's the determination in you. Each single day remind yourself that you are here to stay: Justice Singh

Always tell yourself that you are here to stay.. no matter what the situation. When you have no cases, be it things said to you inside or outside courts or be in domestic issues. Nothing is permanent: Justice Singh

Set yourself a goal in life. Set an impossible goal and work towards it.. whatever you give to the universe will come back to you. I see so many young girls.. be here: Justice Singh

It doesn't come to anyone on a platter, first generation or second generation.. to sustain, you have to do your own job: Justice Singh

Justice Singh talks about the time she had to begin working as early as 4 am and miss family activities.

We've all done this. There's nothing special with me : Justice Singh

Justice Singh concludes.

Adv Kalkal asks Adv Kavita Jha about her initial days in Delhi after coming from Kolkata.

I was in school when I thought of becoming a lawyer. I joined the 5- year law course from Calcutta University. I started practicing there: Adv Jha

We didn't have the corporate or internship culture then: Adv Jha

Our internship started in third year in the city civi court.. when you are watching people arguing.. it gave me an impetus. I was a lawyer by choice: Adv Jha

I aspired to be a criminal lawyer. I thought when I would graduate, there would be someone waiting with a brief for me. But life is different from theory : Adv Jha

This year I complete 20 years. My senior instilled in us commitment: Adv Jha

Calcutta is a city of joy but in Delhi, there are more opportunities and sky is the limit here: Adv Jha on coming to Delhi after getting married.

I joined Vaish Associates seventeen years ago. It is the leading tax firm in India : Adv Jha

In 2007, I became an AOR.. the firm's litigation practice also grew: Adv Jha

My first appearance, my senior asked me to take an adjournment: Adv Jha

Adv Jha speaks on being appointed as Amicus Curie in a tax matter by Justice (retd) Lokur.

Adv Jha loses her internet connection.

Don't take your focus away. If you're at home, read books, journals. Utilize your time.. I also didn't have cases for months altogether: Justice Singh on her tips to lawyers.

I don't have tips on how to prepare your matters. Maybe Geeta (Luthra) will tell : Justice Singh

You have to emulate her style and hardwork. According to me, there is no answer to hardwork. I was fortunate that my father was in the profession. But I started as a civil lawyer but I had a mentor: Senior Adv Geeta Luthra

Either way (first generation or otherwise), you have to prove your mette.. youngsters now say that they want to move to another city to move out of the family aura: Luthra

My father taught me that you have to respect the Bench..the institution: Luthra

I used to go through the entire file, line to line..I didn't leave to my memory alone and made points.. my points, counter and rejoinder. I would arrange my judgements.. I spend a lot of time on preparing my file : Justice Singh

I don't think I read too much. I don't get the time now. I read The Fountainhead a couple of times. It's my Bible. I read philosophical books: Justice Singh

I do read books on how not to lose temper: Justice Singh

I don't think I faced any such challenge. I think I was blessed. 1-2 matters were taken away because I was a woman lawyer. It was neither an advantage or disadvantage: Justice Singh on being a woman in the profession.

Too soon to say.. I don't think it's going to make much of a difference. Cases are being filed. Work is increasing..VC is a great thing. It's as good as physical..things will be back to track: Justice Singh on post-COVID litigation.

Adv Jha joins back.

My initial experience was so inspiring: Adv Jha talks about CIT vs Kelvinator.

Even if you are going for a passover or adjournment, you should be prepared even if you are not the main counsel. Never go to court unprepared: Adv Jha

Adv Jha shares her experience of arguing a matter on a Saturday, which she ultimately lost.

Every experience leaves you with something to learn. Even if you lose a matter, it's fine when you get a satisfactory heating from Court : Adv Jha

Adv Jha talks about a pro bono sec 302 criminal matter that she appeared in.

It was before Justice Sanghi. He was very patient. The matter started at 11.30 and 4.30 order was pronounced and the person was acquitted: Adv Jha

I told the father of the accused that his son had been acquitted and he asked me if he got bail.
Corporate has the cream client but when you do such pro bono matters, there you get satisfaction : Adv Jha

My son's teacher asked me if I knew a matrimonial lawyer as she had to file an appeal..the matter was an ex parte divorce. Justice Hima Kohli did complete justice to the matter: Adv Jha

After this amicable settlement, I was so happy to see it happen. When you walk out of the court with complete satisfaction.. I empanelled myself with a legal services. I do two pro bono matters a month now: Adv Jha

It's very technical and be updated with judgements, circulars etc.: Adv Jha on tax litigation

The excitement of being in court..the challenge. There are no words to describe it. I have never regretted my decision of being a litigating lawyer: Adv Jha

Adv Malvika Trivedi: Can you tell us about your calmness in Court? That doesn't come from hardwork.

I don't know if I am that calm and composed... whatever was my own state of mind, when I entered court, I would become oblivious to everything: Justice Singh

At times, I do make a conscious effort to maintain my calm (as a Judge).. I have to respect the sanctity of a Judge. I have to do justice, I have to keep my calm : Justice Singh

Whether you are a judge or a counsel, you have to keep yourself clam or composed.. no matter which profession you are in: Justice Singh

Question from Adv Suruchi Suri: How do sociable lawyers take being a judge?

It's a tough question. You give up a lot. It depends a lot on your personality. : Justice Singh

Do you prefer being a lawyer or a judge? : Question.

Both are equally good. I have 29 years of being a lawyer and I enjoyed it everyday. It was always nice to be arguing. Only difference is that as a lawyer, I had to fight for somene. If someone needs justice, now I can do it with one stroke of a pen: Justice Singh

One thing that you think should change in the profession : Question

A mechanism through which the youngsters get a pedestal when they start. A lot of us got depressed.. went back home and never came back. : Justice Singh

Session comes to an end.