The Kerala High Court has proposed that young lawyers should undergo mandatory mentoring and training for the first five years of their legal practice. The court emphasized the importance of structured guidance for junior advocates to help them develop professional competence and ensure the quality of legal services.
A Division Bench comprising Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Easwaran S. engaged with Advocate Yeshwanth Shenoy, President of the Kerala High Court Advocates Association (KHCAA), regarding the feasibility of implementing a mentoring program for junior members of the Bar.
The court suggested that KHCAA should make training sessions compulsory for junior advocates as a prerequisite for continuing membership in the association. It was also recommended that a credit-based system be introduced, wherein junior lawyers must earn credits by attending training programs conducted by senior lawyers and legal experts.
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Justice Nambiar remarked:
"Can you evolve a policy where junior members, if they have to continue membership, must mandatorily undergo training sessions? Make this a condition for continuing membership. As a condition for maintaining standards in the profession, you can enforce this for the first five years. Expecting it beyond that would be unreasonable, but at least for the initial five years, they should undergo structured mentoring. Organize these training sessions periodically and implement a credit system where junior lawyers must earn a certain number of credit points each year to retain their membership in the association. The objective is noble."
The court noted that while young advocates may have adequate legal knowledge, they often lack practical courtroom experience. It was observed that some junior lawyers appear before the court without being fully prepared, affecting the quality of their assistance to the judiciary.
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Furthermore, KHCAA President Yeshwanth Shenoy highlighted the concern that many junior advocates do not continue working under senior lawyers for an adequate period. He pointed out that some leave within three months and instead rely on digital resources rather than gaining hands-on experience.
The court's recommendation aims to bridge this gap by ensuring junior lawyers receive proper mentoring and training, ultimately enhancing the standard of legal practice in Kerala.
