The 5 Most Inspirational Lawyers to Follow in 2024
The 'legalese' SolutionstoAddress ProblemsofLegal LanguageinIndia
BejoyNamath, GlobalLeaderin IntellectualProperty, Momentive
Bejoy Namath
The 5 Most Inspirational Lawyers to Follow in 2024
Editor’s Note
IN PURSUIT OF SOCIETAL TRANSFORMATION
TOWARD JUSTICE
Achangedlegallandscapemarkedtheyear2024
perfectlytofindoutandemulateinspirational lawyerswhoarechangingthegame.Thequalityof technicalproficiencytheselawyershaveintheirpractice canalsocaptureintegrity,innovation,andadvocacyintheir work-lifeinterfaceforaspiringlegalprofessionalsinthese times.
Thosewhoapplyknowledgeforsocietaltransformation towardjustice.Theyhaverealizedthatlawisnotmerelya formalsetofrulesbutatoolfashionedformoulding society,thatlawyersaslitigationchampions,become catalystsinpubliccauses,ignitingactivityandstirringthe conscienceofothers.
Theyalsoleadtherestwhenitcomestoembracing technologyinthelegalprofession.Sincetheindustryis integratingintothedigitalsystem,theywillbeusingnovel toolsandplatformsthatmaketheirpracticeevenmore effectivewhileenhancingbetterclientoutcomes.The abilitytoadapttonewtechnologieswill,therefore,affect notonlyhowprocessesarestreamlinedbutalsoinspire futuregenerationsoflawyersinthedigitalizationprocess.
Theselawyersarededicatednotonlytoprofessional successesbutalsotomentorshipandeducation.Theyknow howvitalitistonurturefuturelegaltalent,andtherefore theyactivelyteach,train,andsharetheirknowledgewith lawstudentsandyoungpractitionerswithintheworkshops, seminars,andcommunityoutreach.Thus,theyempower otherpeopletocarryoutalegalcareerwithpassion, remaininganactivevoiceforjustice.
Wecanallcertainlylookforwardto‘The5Most InspirationalLawyerstoFollowin2024,’of Insights Success India,butitgoeswithoutsayingthatthese inspiringlawyersshallcontinuetoshapethefutureofthe legalprofession.Ofcourse,theircommitmenttosocial justice,technologicalinnovation,collaboration,and mentorshipisabeaconforaspiringlawyersaroundthe world.Theirjourneyscanprovideonewithvaluable insightsintohowonecandoimportantthingsinafield suchaslaw,whileholdingoneselftoveryhighstandardsof professionalismandethics.
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AmitKumarNag, Partner
AnshulSaurastri, ManagingPartner
BejoyNamath, GlobalLeaderin IntellectualProperty
The 5 Most Inspirational Lawyers to Follow in 2024
SwatiChauhan, Partner TT&A Featuring
Krishna&Saurastri AssociatesLLP
DivyakantLahoti, FounderandAdvocate onRecord LahotiAdvocates
Description
Amithasanexperienceofmorethan21years inlitigationandarbitrationpractice.
AnshulSunilSaurastriisManagingPartneratKrishna& SaurastriAssociatesLLP
Fornearly20years,Bejoyassistedtechnologyleaders, inventorsandbusinessesinsecuringtheirvaluable productsandtechnologiesbyIntellectualProperty(IP).
FoundedbyDivyakantLahoti,LahotiAdvocateshasfirmly establisheditselfasabeaconoflegalacumenandexcellence.
SwatiChauhan,aPartnerintheDelhiOffice,hasover12 yearsofexperienceinadvisinginM&A,privateequityad bankingandfinancematters.
Bejoy Namath
Fostering a Social Environment for Innovations by Leveraging IPR
We will often need to act as influencers to realize strong enforcement measures that respect hard-earned IP rights and to advocate academic and social mindset that is curiosity-driven and promotes creativity.
BejoyNamath, GlobalLeaderin IntellectualProperty, Momentive
The 5 Most Inspirational Lawyers to Follow in 2024
Inspirationisafundamentalprerequisiteforany innovationthatpropelsasocietyforwardintoabetter future.Researchersandinnovatorsgloballyadvance thisspiritbytheirgreatideas.Inthelegalarenaof intellectualpropertyprotection,suchstimuluscomesfrom IPprotectorslikeBejoyNamath,aGlobalLeaderin IntellectualPropertyandoneofthemostinspirational lawyerstofollowin2024.
Bejoy’sowninspirationcomesfromsocialandethical responsibility,whicharecrucialaspectsofthemodern knowledgeeconomy.HebelievesthatIPlawsaredesigned toprotectthecreativitythatyougeneratebeyondwhat alreadyexistsinart.Thereareoccasionswhereothershave practicedandpublishedwhatoneclaimstohaveinvented today.Beingagileenoughtounderstandthepriorwork doneinthelandscapeofcreativitythattheyoperateinwill providethemsufficientinsightsintowhattheycould rightfullyclaimandown.Further,thereareregionallegal limitationsallowedunderIPlawtoprotectterritorial interests.“We need to be cognizant of such limitations to set realistic expectations with those who reach out to us for advice on the possibilities of Intellectual property protection,”headds.
Also,accordingtoBejoy,IPhaslimitedrelevanceina societythatdoesnotvalueinnovations.IPpractitioners,he says,haveadutytopromotethespiritofinnovationand encouragelawmakersandadministratorstocreateasocial environmentthatrewardsinnovation.Headdsthattheywill oftenneedtoactasinfluencerstorealizestrong enforcementmeasuresthatrespecthard-earnedIPrights andtoadvocateanacademicandsocialmindsetthatis curiosity-drivenandpromotescreativity.Theywillalso needtoactasconduitsofknowledgeontherightprocesses, policies,andstrategiesthatwouldenableinnovatorsto protecttheircreativityfrombeingmisappropriatedby others.
RiseoftheProblemSolver
AreasonforBejoy’ssuccessishisproblem-solvingability throughteambuilding.Once,asaleaderintheworld'sIP sector,thecompanyheworkedfor,facedasevere challenge.Bejoyfoundhimselfleadinghisbusiness throughanunprecedentedcrisis—alawsuitintheUSwith claimsofover$800million.Infact,accordingtoBejoy,his companyhadneverencounteredanIPchallengeofthis scale.Thelitigationcamesuddenly,leavinglittletimefor preparation.Timelinesweretight,strategieswerecomplex, andthepressurewasimmense.Bejoyknewthiswasn’tthe timetopasstheblame.Fortunately,theyhadexisting contactstobringinforlegaladvice,allowingthemtocraft areasonablysoliddefense.However,asthelitigation progressed,theirinitialstrategiesdidnotsucceed.
Withinayear,thefirstroundoflitigationendedwitha devastatingrulingfromthecourt.Thedecisionnotonly threatenedtodecimateoneofthecompany’skeybusiness segmentsbutalsoinflatedthefinancialclaimsagainstthem. Despitethesetback,Bejoyandhisteamhadn’tbeenidle duringthatyear TheyhadaPlanBreadytodeploy,and withintwomonthsofthecourt’sruling,theywereableto presentarobustIPdefense.Thistime,theireffortspaidoff. Theysuccessfullyinvalidatedallclaimsrelatedtoa competitor’spatent,drasticallyturningthecaseintheir favour
Duringthiscriticaltime,Bejoy’steamconsistedofjustone juniormemberwithlessthantwoyearsofexperience.Yet, herresourcefulnessanddrive,combinedwithBejoy’s leadershipandtheircollaborationwithlegalcounsel, becamethecornerstoneoftheirsuccess.Asherecalls,they didn’tcareifanyonerecognizedtheireffortsbecausethey knewthatthelessonsinleadershiptheygainedwerereward enough.Thisexperiencebecameadefiningmomentin Bejoy’scareer,givinghimtheconfidenceandcourageto tackleotherchallengesthatwouldariseinthefuture.
AShiningLeadershipExample
IP laws are designed to provide protection to the creativity that you generate beyond what is already existent in the art.
ThisincidentalsosubstantiateswhyBejoy’sIPleadership styleisoftenrecognizedasaninspirationbehindhis achievements.Yet,hesayshedoesnotknowifthereisa specialleadershipstylethatsuitstheIPprofession. However,hebelievesthathavingvariedexperiencesin diverseaspectsofIntellectualpropertywillprovideunique perspectivesthatwillallowyoutoprovideeffective guidancetoothers.
Accordingtohim,threeimportantleadershipbehaviours thatworkaredisplayingaservicemindset,generatinga senseofownershipinothers,andgivingcredittoothers. Likeabilityisanotherimportantfactor.Peopleliketowork withthosewhoserve/assistthem,solvetheirproblems, valuethemandassisttheminunlockingtheirfullpotential. Bejoystronglybelievesthattheirteamisnotlimitedtothe peoplewhoreporttothembutextendstoallthosewholike toworkwiththem.
Further,hisguidingphilosophyisthatmoneyandtitle shouldnotbeapriorityattheearlystagesofany profession,especiallyinaknowledge-basedprofessionlike thatofIP.Theopportunitiestolearnbetterdeterminecareer choices.Duringtheearlyyearsofhiscareer,Bejoyrejected offerstoheadIPdepartmentsbecausehebelievedthathe hadnotlearnedenoughtobesuccessfulinsuchmore responsibleroles.Lookingback,hebelievessuchdecisions helpedhimfocusonlearningconceptual,procedural,and
legalprinciplesthatgoverntheinterdisciplinaryfieldofIP TobesuccessfulintheIPprofession,youmaysometimes berequiredtobeajackofalltradesandamasterofsome.
AFortunateInception
Ofcourse,itallcomesdowntoBejoy’sentryintothefield ofIP,whichheadmitswasnotbydesignbutbysheer coincidence.Hiscareerjourneytookanunexpectedturn whenheappliedforaPatentExaminerrolewhilepursuing hisPhDatIITBombay Thoughinitiallyhesitanttoleave thelab,hewasintriguedbytheopportunitytoworkon cutting-edgeinventions,albeitnotofhisownmaking.To hissurprise,hefoundenjoymentinevaluatingpatentability, comparinginventionswithpriorpublications,andreading patentspecifications.
ImageCredit:Consero’sGlobalIPManagementForum,2023
AI/AGI systems would also remarkably enhance the efficiency and productivity of IP services.
Apivotalmentor,aSeniorPatentOfficerinvolvedin draftingthePatents(Amendment)Actof2005,encouraged Bejoytodivedeeperintopatentlaw,introducinghimtothe renowned“TerrelonPatents.”Thisfueledhisgrowing passionforintellectualproperty(IP)law Acasual conversationwithaSeniorPatentAttorneyatanIP conferencefurtherpropelledhispathwhentheattorney challengedwhetherPatentExaminerswouldleavethe securityofgovernmentworktobecomePatentAttorneys themselves.
Bejoytookthischallengeseriously.Hetransitionedtoajob asanIPAssociateatalargelawfirm,wherehetrained underaSeniorPatentAttorneymentoredbythefamed RobertDePenning.Here,Bejoylearnedthemeticulousart ofdraftingpatentapplicationsandthevalueofmentorship inmasteringthiscraft.HelatermovedintocontentiousIP matterslikeOppositionsandLitigationsbeforejoiningthe corporateIPworld,wherehelearnedstrategicbalancein businessdecision-makingwhileworkingwithaEuropean PatentAttorneyataDutchpharmaceuticalfirm.
Bejoyreflectsthatwhileit'snotessentialtoworkinevery IProletosucceed,hisexperienceasanExaminer,Patent Attorney,andin-houseIPManagergavehimaunique perspectiveandaprofoundunderstandingofthefield. Thesediverserolesenrichedhiscareer,teachinghim invaluablelessonsintheintricateworldofintellectual property
CreatingaSuccessfulKnowledge-Economy
TheIPlandscapeiscontinuallyevolving.Whenaskedabout howheensuresthatheremainsadaptableandaheadof industrytrendsintheever-evolvingIntellectualProperty landscape,Bejoyresponded,"Fortunately, in the Intellectual Property domain, learning opportunities are many."Heelaboratedthatworkingwithpatentlawyers globallyallowshimtolearnfrominteractionsregarding changesinthelegalenvironmentacrossdifferentregionsof theworld.Bejoyalsohighlightedthewealthofresources availableontheinternet,includingIPblogs,lawfirm reports,anddecisionsfromIPoffices,tribunals,andcourts. Theseresourcesprovidevaluableupdatesonthe continuouslyshiftinglandscapeofIPlaw.
Heemphasizedtheimportanceofnetworkingwithpeersat IPconferencesasanotheravenueforlearning."I believe training others is another opportunity to continue our learning process,"headded,underscoringhiscommitment tobothpersonalgrowthandthedevelopmentofthose aroundhiminthefield.
BejoyalsobelievesthatthefieldofIPisnotjustlimitedto usinglegaltoolstoprotectinnovations.Heviewsitasan opportunitytoassistbusinessesinframingtheright strategiestosucceedinacompetitivemarketenvironment. "It is also about supporting technologists in ideation, in brainstorming sessions, and allowing them access to ideas already known in the art,"heexplains.Bejoysees numerousopportunitieswithinthisrealmandencourages theteamsheworkwithtocreateinsightfulreportstailored specificallyfortechnologistsandbusinessprofessionals alike.Additionally,headvocatesfortheestablishmentof micro-trainingplatformsdesignedtodisseminateconcepts andknowledgerelatedtointellectualproperty."If you ask for one specific example, I would say it is a platform for collaborative ideation,"headds,highlightinghis commitmenttofosteringanenvironmentofcontinuous learningandinnovation.
ATech-SmartenedIPEra
IntheIParena,technologyplaysapivotalroleinenhancing efficiency AccordingtoBejoy,thebasictenetofIP Managementistheabilitytomanagevastamountsof information.Technology(ITTechnology)assistsin simplifyingthistask.Appropriatetoolsandautomation wouldallowthemtopreventinformationandtransactional actionsfromoverwhelmingthemsothattheycouldinvest theirtimeinpromotingideationanddevisingstrategiesthat willbenefitbusinessgrowth.
Also,today,intellectualpropertygoesbeyondthephysical realm,transformingduetoaspectslikedigitalandvirtual advancements,whicharenecessities.Bejoy,too,believes
When you work with patent lawyers globally, you learn about changes in the legal environment in different regions of the world during interactions with them.
thatthesearecriticalfactorsthatmustbeaddressed.Ifyou areoperatingremotely/globally,youdonothavetheluxury ofin-personmeetingsallthetime. Havingefficientdigital tools/platformslikeMSTeamsiscriticaltoyoursuccessin transactingourbusinessinsuchscenarios.Tobeefficientin suchonlinemeetingenvironments,however,theymay oftenrequireabitofdiscipline,headds.Thisincludes sufficientpreparationaheadofmeetings,priorsharingof informationthatwillbediscussedduringthemeeting(for otherstopreparepriortothemeeting)and recording/communicatingtheminutes/summaryofthe meetingareallimportanttoensuresuccessfuloutcomes fromtheseonlinemeetings.
Whenitcomestotheimpactofemergingtechnologies, BejoyconsidersAI/AGIasanopportunityratherthanasa threattotheprofessionofIP.AIwouldassistinreducing humaninterferenceinanumberofIPprocessesthatare transactionalinnature,apartfromprovidingusefulinsights thatarecustomer-focused.SuchAI/AGIsystemswould alsoremarkablyenhancetheefficiencyandproductivityof IPservices,hesays.“However, much of the success with these AI tools will rely on how much we train them.”These toolswillnotcompletelyconsumetherealmofIPbecause theworldofIPisrichinenormouspossibilitiesfor creativityandstrategicguidancethatwillremainwithinthe purviewofhumancapability,intuition,andexperience. However,tobesuccessfulinfuture,IPprofessionalswillbe requiredtoelevatethemselvestobelesstransactionaland morecreativeandstrategicsothattheyremainrelevantin theworldofAI/AGI-assistedIPservices.
AdvisingAspirants
Alongsimilarlines,hisadvicetoyoungaspirantsisthatthe IPindustryoffersavarietyofcareeroptionsaccordingto thespecificinterestsandskillsetsofindividualaspirants.
IP has limited relevance in a society that does not value innovations.
ImageCredit:Consero’sGlobalIPManagementForum,2023
“Ifyourelishbeingatthecuttingedgeofcreativityand wantstoassistcorporationsinwinningbyprotectingsuch creativityandnavigatingtheirmarketaspirationsby mitigatingIPrisks,youcanoptfortheroleofanin-house IPcounsel.Ifyouarewillingtobeexposedtomultiple technologies,finddraftingandpracticeoflawexcitingand likeinteractingwithGovernmentIPoffices,youcouldopt foranIPdraftingandProsecutingCounselroleinalaw firm.Ifyoulikepracticingincourts,suchasargumentation andcontentiousproceedings,youcanchoosetheroleofan IPLitigator.IPalsoprovidesopportunitiestobein academia,whereyoucouldassistinstitutionsinleveraging theirIP,assistingincreatingandprotectingit.
Inalltheseroles,thereisonecommonattitudethatis requiredtobesuccessful:“Astrongdesiretomakeothers successful,beingauthentic,curious,andresourceful.”
A
Wisdom-fullTomorrow
Finally,BejoysaysthattheworldofIPisever-evolving, andtheskyisthelimit.Therearealwaysopportunitiesto advancethefrontiersofcreativityeitherindependentlyorin collaborationwithothers.HeaddsthatIPpractitionershave acollectiveobligationtoservethisplanetanditspeopleby promotinginventivesolutionsandcomplementary partnerships.ThefutureofIPRistoforgesuchpartnerships andpromoteingenuityforthebenefitofhumanity.“I will feel fulfilled if I am able to contribute significantly towards this noble endeavour during my entire career in IP,”he concludes.
The Gaming Industry and Effects of
Fromsimplepixelatedentertainment,gameshave
emergedasatrulyimmersiveexperiencethat involvesartandtechnologyandinteractive storytelling.Nowridingontheshouldersofdigital distributionplatforms,mobilegaming,andesports,the industryhasbecomeoneoftheworld'sfastest-growing sectors.Butwithgrowthcomescomplexity-thebasicsof intellectualpropertylawsthatensurethecreativeand technicalinnovationsgointothesegames.
Intellectualpropertylaw,withrespecttothescopeof innovation,creativecontribution,andinter-institutional relationsinthegamingindustry,leadstotheprotectionof rightsofgamedevelopers,artists,publishers,andcreators againstpiratingand/orunauthorizeduseandexploitation.In thisrespect,IPlawsensurethatacreatorisgivenhisproper duestogetherwithreasonablecompensationforhiswork whilefosteringahealthycompetitiveecosystem.
TheRoleofIntellectualPropertyintheGaming Industry
Intellectualpropertyencompassesabroadcategoryoflegal rightscreatedtoprotectcreativeworks,aswellas inventions.Forthevideogameindustry,theserangeto includelargecategoriesofIPlaw:copyrights,trademarks, patents,andtradesecrets.Eachplaysanimportantrolein protectingdifferentpartsofvideogames-fromunderlying codeandgamemechanicstocharacters,music,andstories.
Copyright: Videogamesarecreativeworkswithartistic elementsrangingfromgraphics,music,andstorylines. Thus,theyfallunderthecopyrightlawwhichprotects creatorsfromunauthorizeduse,theyholdexclusiverights inreproduction,distribution,anddisplayoftheirgames.
Copyrightbarsothersfromreproducinganddistributingor displayingyourgamewithoutpermission.Itisoneofthe mostimportantinstrumentsusedtoprotectthegamefrom piracyandunauthorizeduse.
Trademarks: Trademarksareimportantbecausetheyaddto theprotectionofbrandingandidentityingames.The trademarkscanbetitlesofgames,logos,orevenanameor designofthecharacter Trademarkinghelpscompanies owningvideogamesidentifytheirproductsandavoid similarmarketingfromotherpartiesthatmaybring confusiontoacustomer'smind.Forexample,thetrademark for"CallofDuty"extendsbeyondthegamenametoprotect thelogosandotherbrandmarksassociatedwiththegame suchthatnoonecandevelopasimilargameandtrademark asimilarname.
Patents: protecttechnologicalinnovationsandgame mechanics.Newgamingtechnologieslikevirtualreality (VR)andaugmentedreality(AR)assuretheirincreasing patentpowerinsafeguardinginnovativegamingmethods andsystems.Thatis,forexample,theprotectionofnew controlschemes,graphicsrenderingtechniques,orin-game physicsengines.Duetopatentsfromfirms,gaming companieshaveanedgeoverallotherrivalfirmsthat cannotreplicatetheirinventions.
Trade Secrets: embraceeverythingfromproprietary algorithmsforhowtomakegamestogamedevelopment processesorotherformsofconfidentialbusinessstrategies. Keepingthemostpreciousinformationprivatewouldhelp companieskeepacompetitiveedgebyprotectingtrade secrets.Unlikepatents,thereisnopublicdisclosureoftrade secrets,thusservingasaperfecttooltokeepconfidences overtop-secretinnovationsandeventhetechniquesfor gamedevelopment.
TheImpactofIPLawsontheGamingIndustry
IPlawshavemuchtodowithsuchagaminglandscapethat willalwayspromoteinnovationwhilesafeguardingthe interestsofitscreators.Theselawshavethefollowing effectsonthegamingindustry:
Promotion of Innovation and Creativity: Themost importantimpactofIPlawsisthattheyencourage innovation.Sincethecreatorsandcompaniesinvolved knowthattheirworkisgoingtobetakencareof,theyare likelytoinvesttimeandresourcesandevencreativityin newgamedevelopments.Copyright,patents,and trademarksgivelegalbackingtocreatorssothattheydon't letothersstealormisusetheiroriginalproductsandideas. Thismakesdeveloperstakealotmorerisksandpushthe boundariesofgamedesigning.
Combating Piracy: Piracyhaslongtargetedthegaming industry,whichhassufferedfromillegaldistributionof copiesofgamesontheinternet,bringingfinanciallossesto developersandpublishers.Copyrightlawsallowgame creatorstoprotecttheirproductsastheycanlegallytake actionagainstunauthorizedreproductionordistributionof theirgames.Thoughpiracyisstillachallengeforgame sellerstoday,strongIPenforcementremainsinstrumentalin reducingtheeffectsofillegalcopyinganddistributionof games.
Litigation and Disputes: Thus,protectionthatIPlaws affordhasalsoincreasedtheexperienceofmorelitigation anddisputesinthegamingindustry.Manyfirmsbecome embroiledinlitigationpatents,copyrights,andtrademarks. Forinstance,gamecreatorscouldsuetheircompetitorsfor infringementofuniquegameplaymechanismsand characterswhilethepublisherssueoverbrandidentity. Litigationiscostly,butitprovidesthemechanismfor resolvingdisputesandsafeguardingIPrightsfrombeing hijackedandexploitedindefenseofinnovators.
IP Enforcement Challenges: Despiteitsstrengths,the enforcementofIPlawsishighlychallengingindigitaldays. Internethasopenedupawayforpiratedcopiesofgames, especiallybeyondnationalborders.Inaddition, technologicalinnovationingamingoccurssofastthat sometimesitleavestheexistingIPframeworksbehind.For instance,itemssuchasvirtualgoods,in-gameitems,and user-generatedcontentaresomeexamplesthatare somewhatdifficulttoenforcethroughIPduetothefactthat thelegalframeworkregulatingdigitalassetsisstillnot well-defined.Morechallengescomeupincross-border enforcementcasessincecountrieshavelevelsofIP protectionandtheirownrespectiveenforcement mechanisms.
AnotherbroadareainwhichIPlawsinterferewithgaming mustbetheissueofmoddingandotheruser-generated content.Manygamesoftenincitethedevelopmentofmods orotherformsofuser-generatedcontentsomuchthatthe gameendsupbeingreallyworthwhile.However,inthis arena,IPlawscancreateatensionbetweentherightsof developersandthoseofplayers.Somecompaniesenforce intellectualpropertyinaverystrictmanner,whichmeans theydonotallowplayerstodoanythingmeaningfulwith theirgame.Othersaremuchmorelax,andthatisgoodfor fancreationssolongastheydonotinfringeonthe commercialrightsofthecompany.
You don't learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over.
Richard Branson
The‘Legalese’
Solutions toAddress Problems of LEGAL Language in INDIA
Lawisthemostpowerfulthingintheworldthatcan
createmajorimpactonvariousfactors.Spanned overmultipleculturesofIndia,interestingtoknow, theseIndianlawsareconsideredthemostcomplicated system.However,apartfromadvocates,lawyersandpeople whounderstandthelegallanguage,thecommonmanisstill unawareofmanylawsinIndia.Thefirstandforemost problemregardingthisconcernishardlegallanguage.This articlepronouncestheproblemsfacedduetocomplexlegal languageanditssolutions.
Whatis‘Legalese’?
‘Legalese’islegallanguage—specificallyconstructedfor legalpurposes,andusedinvariouslegaldocuments, contracts,laws,andcourtproceedings.Thislegaleseis specificallydesignedtohaveprecision,clarityand consistency,however,itcreatesbarriersforaveragepeople. Asmentionedabove,adiverse-culturedcountrylikeIndia oftenfacesissuessuchasthedifficultyincomprehending legallanguage.
Forlegaldocumentstoremainunambiguousandbeableto combatfuturescrutiny,legallanguageusesspecial vocabulary,long-complexsentencesandmostwordsand termsfrom Latinandarchaic.However,forlaypeople,it becomesdifficulttoaccessandscrutinisetheinformation. Moreover,duetotheinfluenceofforeignlanguagesandthe
Britishera,peoplewhoarenotfamiliarwiththelegal language,oftenstayawayfromtheworldoflawandorder.
LegalTerminologyAKATermsofArt
India’slegalregimeisrepletewithtermsandphrases,both oralandwritten,thatbearpeculiaranduniqueconnotations withinthelegaldomainanddifferfromgeneralparlance.In contractlaw,“consideration”meanssomethingofvaluea partytoacontractreceivesasabasisforenteringintoa contract;inregularusage,itmeans“thoughtfulness.” Hence,itneedsspecialknowledgetounderstandlegal documentswhichcreatesbreachesbetweenlegal professionalsandcommonpeople.
VaguenessandInterpretations
Furthermore,therulesoflawthemselvesarevaguein natureoropentointerpretationinvariousmatters.This createsanumberofcomplexitiesandmisunderstandings duetothevaguenessoftheresultant.Moreover,the translationsbetweenlanguagesinthemultilingualcontext ofIndiacompoundtheanaphoricdifficultiesinthetext.
Forinstance,anyEnglishlegalterminologymightnothave acorrespondingHindiorregionallingointerpretation.This hastheeffectofcreatinginterpretivedifferencesthatfuel legalcontroversiesandconfusionamongthepublic enhancingdifficultiesoflegalissuestocommonpersons.
Therefore,underthecurrentstructure,thereoccurbarriers intheformofprofessionallanguagecompoundedby convolutedtextwhichfloodsIndia’slegaldomain;thereby establishinganeffectivedemarcationofthelegalprofession fromthepeopleitserves.Technologiesthathelppeople overcometheshelteroflegaljargonandlanguagebarriers couldbringjusticeandmoreopenness.
WhatCanWeDotoAddressthisProblem?
AnideaforchangeintheIndiancontextistoalterwhatis writtenonlegalpapers.Thismayrefertocurrentlawsand rulesandrewritetheminsimplerlanguagethateverybody canunderstand.Forexample,someplaceshaveintroduced plainlanguageinwritinglegislationtotheeffectthatlegal documentsmustbewritteninsimple,plainlanguage.
1. Simple Language Efforts
Justificationofsimplelanguageeffortsentailsattemptsto easethecomplexityoflegalpapersandcommonmessages
bysubstitutingcumbersomelanguagewithplain,easily understandablestatements.Suchendeavourscanbeused forallmanneroflegalwritings,suchascontracts,forms andlegalnotices.
Forexample,acontractthatcanbeunderstoodeasilywould havesimplestructuredsmallsentences,nolegalterms mentionedinrelateddocumentsandclearlydefining everyone’sresponsibilitiesandprivileges.
2. Legal Education to Common People
Ifbothlegallanguageandtheformulationoflegal knowledgeitselfarepartoftheproblem,thenmore effectivewaysofteachinglawandgettingpeopleto understanditareanotherpartofthesolution.Thisincludes notonlyprogramsfortheformationofnewlawyersand judgesbutalsoprogramsfortheimprovementofthe population’sprimarylegalliteracy
Forinstance,legalaidorganizations,operatinginIndiaas anexample,canconductsessionsorprovideeducation materialtoenablepeopletounderstandsomelegalterms andconcepts.Manypeoplemightalsopartakeineducating thecommunityaboutlawbyincorporatingbasiclawinto whatschoolsteachinandevenincommunitycentres.
Conclusion
IssueswiththelegalEnglishphrasesevidentinIndiaare monumentalandaffectpeople’sendeavourstoseekjustice inmanyways.Thelegalsystemsaredevisedinsucha mannerthatthelawspassedbythegovernmentarehighly complexandpeoplearenotabletounderstandtherights whichareaccreditedtothem.Thiscanmakesenseof makingexclusionfromthelegalprocess.
Toaddresstheseproblems,genuineeffortsareexpected fromlawyers,policymarkersandteachers.Bymakinglegal languagesimpler,insistingonplainandclearlegal languageandraisingpeoples’legalliteracy,Indiacanmake lawsimplerandcanprovidejusticetothepeople.Lawmust thereforenotbethedomainofasubsetofthepopulationin thisdiverseanddemocraticnationwecallIndia.
We need to balance between democracy and LAW And ORDER.
Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal or ideal.
- Earl Nightingale