Amidst the legal luminaries of the Madurai bench, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud passionately urged senior lawyers to ensure junior lawyers receive dignified compensation for their laborious hours.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court, the Chief Justice highlighted a persistent issue within the legal community: the underpayment of young lawyers. He emphasized that while juniors come to learn, they significantly contribute to the knowledge pool, often enlightening their seniors about contemporary legal realities.
“I must address a pressing concern—the remuneration of junior lawyers. It is imperative for senior members of the Bar to nurture talent by providing adequate financial support. Paying juniors as little as ₹5,000 a month perpetuates gatekeeping within our profession. This outdated approach must be discarded,” he asserted.
Quoting the Thirukkural, Chandrachud reminded the audience that “the wealth of the good must be shared with the deserving.” He noted that the young bring fresh perspectives, and even he, in his interactions with his law clerks, finds himself learning from their insights.
He critiqued the glorification of hard work when it comes without proper compensation. “Hard work and ethics are crucial, but ignoring the socio-economic barriers to success is an oversimplification. Over-romanticizing hard work without adequate pay only leads to unrealistic expectations of long hours and minimal rest. It takes the entire Bar to support the development of capable lawyers, irrespective of their backgrounds,” Chandrachud remarked.
The Chief Justice also encouraged young lawyers to remain steadfast in integrity, truth, and justice. He commended the Madurai Bar for its evolution from district court concerns to addressing diverse judicial and appellate matters.
This isn’t the first time Chandrachud has addressed this issue. He has consistently called for better pay for junior lawyers, emphasizing their valuable contributions. Recently, following a directive from the Madras High Court, the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry issued a circular to implement a minimum stipend for junior lawyers across the state.