Thread by @barandbench

Delhi High Court Women Lawyers Forum to shortly hold a session in view of the designation of six women advocates as Senior Advocates.

The theme of the event is "Celebrating Women's Successes in Litigation".

#DelhiHighCourt #SeniorAdvocate

The speakers for the evening are newly designated senior advocates Deepika Marwah, Garima Prashad, Neelima Tripathi, Nitya Ramakrishnan, Suruchi Aggarwal and Malvika Trivedi.

#DelhiHighCourt

Session begins.

Kritika Gupta welcomes the participants.

Today are to celebrate a very special occasion. It's a watershed moment.: Gupta

Gayatri Virmani introduces Senior Advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan.

Gupta introduces Senior Advocate Suruchi Aggarwal.

Niharika Jauhari introduces Senior Advocate Neelima Tripathi.

Virmani introduces Senior Advocate Suruchi Aggarwal.

Gupta introduces Senior Advocate Malvika Trivedi.

Jauhari introduces Senior Advocate Garima Prashad.

Question: According to you, which the case or moment that you remember the most?

Nitya Ramakrishnan: I have to return a boring answer. Most moments are memorable.

Suruchi Aggarwal: I also feel like Nitya ma'am. It has not been a bed fo roses for anyone.. as a woman lawyer and first lawyer in the family. There can't be one moment that changed my life.

You have to enjoy every moment of it. That's my learning through these years : Aggarwal

Neelima Tripathi: I would entirely agree with them. It's not just one moment. It is several of those moments. I can recollect so many moment.. when you have succeeded in a case the way you structured it.

Where you have been able to balance your personal and work life..those are the moments : Tripathi

Question: How was your experience with the system as a female litigator?

Deepika Marwah: There were more layers to it.. they were evaluating you. First it was by the work done by you.. then it came to judges to vote. The judges voted on the basis of work done in their work. It was a better system. Everybody got a fair opportunity.

Malvika Trivedi: Since we have come out successful, we would be saying yes. This is a more transparent system. A lot of out colleagues should have been there and will be there. The system will improve more hopefully. This is a million times better than what it was.

Trivedi shares her memorable moment from her career.

Trivedi narrates the incident wherein she appeared before Surpreme Court and Justice S Muralidhar was the opponent counsel.

Every single day (is memorable): Marwaha

Question: Which was the moment that left you embarassed?

Aggarwal: When you are not prepared..

Tripathi: I would say when we start our career, things like you are looking for an order and court says is the service complete and 4/9 are not served.. those are things that are earlier learnt the better.

You could be facing tough benches or doing certain panels where you are not well assisted.. those are external issues. One has to learn to cope with them : Tripathi

Marwaha: Actually my first day in court..

Marwaha narrates her experience of coming to the court.

Appreciation from bench helps you alot. One single line of encouragement that you take home.. as senior colleagues also. It does help: Marwaha

So inspiring to see young girls shaping up.. : Aggarwal

I was appearing in a very tough matter and the preparation was so last minute that some judgements were missed out.. you must know all the judgements of that particular bench. Some very important judgement was missed out : Tripathi

I had to steer in a manner that it looked that we were in tune with the judgement.. now I've made it a point that whether it's 2 am, I've to look for judgements of the bench : Malvika Trivedi

Aggarwal also shares an anecdote.

Question: How do you think landscape for women lawyers has changed especially in 2020?

I find in some HCs there are very few women lawyers like Allahabad. One good thing about Delhi has been that we have ample number of women and they do get their fair opportunity: Neelima Tripathi

Landscape has changed for the better.. yet there are challenges also. As a woman, you are always handling two fronts even if you have support at home. The faster we learn to cope with it, the faster we move : Tripathi

There are some positive aspects (re virtual hearing). It is more efficient. If your internet is good, there is greater clarity and focus. But it is a big IF. At the same time, there's a chemistry in appearing in Court : Ramakrishnan

There's a greater number of women lawyers.Values that were different at one point of times have changed : Ramkrishnan

Garima Prashad: I was told it wasn't good for ladies to come to court (in Allahabad). Then I landed in Delhi. Delhi High Court came forward as a wonderful court..aand it was such a comfortable court. I have been really very fortunate.

Never did anyone make me feel that my opinion would be lesser or that I wouldn't be given an opportunity. With ASGs as lady lawyers, scope is very high .. the future is good for all of us : Prashad

The quality of lawyers has changed in lady lawyers. Now they mean business. When we entered, they used to be around.. : Aggarwal

I only know one sermon. Every file is equal to me.. I would prepare it and then I don't look at the bench. It may be an SDM or a Supreme Court judge. I just argue : Prashad

Even if my before Bombay, Punjab or Allahabad.. judges are the same everywhere. Some of our Delhi HC judges are exceptionally good. Some Surpreme Court judges are brilliant: Prashad

Question: Networking for female lawyers.

Networking is a much maligned word.. I see it as extremely important. You know what is going on where. It pushes you to go forward. It's the presence of your peer and colleagues around you : Trivedi

It would lead you to varied kinds of cases. I encourage all young lawyers ... discuss law, economics, politics : Trivedi

If you do extend yourself.. it's sheer progress. The more you associate, you find your own weaknesses: Aggarwal

When we go to court, we go prepared in a certain way. Whenever your senior is not there, read the file and go...there are judges who very happily accomodate you : Tripathi

Networking improves your good luck: Prashad

Being from a different town.. I did network and it has been a chain reaction: Prashad

Things move only because of performing well and networking. You have to give a sustained feeling to the client: Prashad

If I'm doing a company matter and the MD gets caught in a criminal matter, you need to do that too.. don't think isse hume kya hoga: Prashad

Most important is work done well. Being in court is a different feeling. People watch you: Marwaha

You good work will get you good client. No amount of advertisment can help you. It is your discipline: Marwaha

To me my court is my temple, I want to be in court everyday. Your good work is the chain reaction. Associating with people is also important: Marwaha

I'm going to make a public statement on client acquisition. It's useful to acquire brevity in words. Play with differing perspective. I loathe to give general words of advice : Ramakrishnan

I'm not going to*

There's nothing wrong in saying that there's gender bias. When you go to meet a client unless the client is devoted to you by your work : Aggarwal

I agree that there are differences and we had to fight hard.. we are ultimately lawyers. You have so much facility today.. : Aggarwal

Work hard, play hard and give it your 100% : Aggarwal

Brutality (to client) aspect doens't come in: Aggarwal as she says she has done more or corporate matters.

I've never been affected that way : Aggarwal

Have you been personally shook by a case that you handled: Question

Parliament attack case. It had all aspects for criminal law. When there's personal liberty involved and the client even gets a death penalty, you are bound to get affected : Ramakrishnan

I feel affected. You take it home also. But I don't do criminal matters. In case of a legal question, yes : Marwaha

It affects me when law is not being rightly appreciated.. : Marwaha

Question: How do you plan to transition?

It's been one week : Marwaha (in lighter vein)

This is the most important part of being designated. It's not about having the trust and faith of briefing counsel .. that keeps the ball rolling for you : Trivedi

I feel if you want to get designated..this is your ultimate goal.. this is the most important aspect : Trivedi

We should not categorise lawyers are male or female lawyers. Only when you have the trust of your briefing counsel, that you can become a true senior : Trivedi

Most of us lady lawyers fall in the trap of filing and drafting .. he keep briefing seniors. One should not fall in that trap. One should continue doing matters.. client should have that kuch faith that they let you argue the case : Prashad

When you reach this level, you are actually doing advocacy and law : Trivedi

Also you need to weave in the law in the facts: Aggarwal

Weave in the law and marshall the facts : Aggarwal

6 in a list of 55.. one is hopeful that in the neat future, at least 50% are women : Tripathi

But only some 20-25 applied : Trivedi

Question: Is sari the safest for women?

Just dress soberly and elegantly: Tripathi

There are lawyers in Supreme Court who wear trousers and are taken seriously: Aggarwal

It's a personal choice : Prashad

I believe in wearing boring clothes. Be professionally dressed : Trivedi

Your success and achievements really inspire us : Jauhari

Event comes to an end.