It is a pleasant world we live in, sir, a very pleasant world. There are bad people in it.....
COVER STORY
“It is a pleasant world we live in, sir, a very pleasant world. There are bad people in it, Mr. Richard, but if there were no bad people, there would be no good lawyers.”
- The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens
Good lawyers exist! Like everybody else they also work tirelessly to make this world a better place. But unfortunately, law is always last on the list when it comes to choosing career paths. The confusion over what a lawyer is, myths and stereotypes about this profession, and the fear of the long arm of law keep students away from exploring this extremely important field. So why not dive a little deeper into the world of law and educate ourselves? Qurat-ul-ain Ashraf walks us through this exciting, yet challenging world. She topped the LLB annual examinations 2017 in Karachi, and currently practices both civil and criminal law.
Tell us about your experience of studying law. What brought you into this field?
It wasn’t until I joined S.M Law College on my father’s advice that I discovered how much I enjoy studying law. As basics of law began to make sense, I felt like reading more and more on the subject. Law is such a vast field! And it was fascinating to learn how states depend on their legal system.
I used to get really angry whenever classes got cancelled because I didn't want to miss anything.
And it wasn't the black coat, or the power associated with law that brought me into the legal profession. I developed interest later on. Law books were a huge inspiration for me; I would also look up to senior lawyers who worked dedicatedly to provide justice to the common people. You come across challenges everyday! There is no way you are going to get bored or feel stuck.
I felt extremely grateful for being part of this field.
However, students will have to face many problems as they pursue law. Ironically, there is no check and balance when it comes to ensuring whether the students are taking classes regularly. This shouldn't be happening, at least in this field.
Other thing is related to theory and practical aspects of law. Sometimes it gets difficult for the students to comprehend the underlying implications of theoretical ideas because they aren't taught properly. Students have to really struggle with understanding those concepts. They are only able to grasp them completely when they begin their practice.
Law institutes should also conduct mock trials to give students an idea of how legal system works in reality.
What are some of the best law schools in Pakistan?
Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto University of Law, Karachi, Sindh Muslim Law College, L’ecole for Advanced Studies, Gov. Islamia Law College, Punjab Law College, Shaikh Ahmad Hassan School of Law (LUMS) are some of the best law schools in Pakistan. We now only have a five-year LLB programme; the three-year programme has recently been abolished by the Supreme Court.
What's the scope of law in Pakistan?
It feels really empowering when you think of how legal system is important for a country. People who study law are actually the ones who make laws for the citizens. This is a great responsibility!
There are ample opportunities for law degree holders. You will find many posts in the government institutions that need employees with legal skills. And of course, you can be advisors, advocates and judges later on as you gain experience.
You can get into the corporate sector as well. Every company or organisation has a legal department; there you can be in-house lawyers and render services. Apart from this, you can teach law subjects at various educational levels. I personally believe at some point in time everybody should be taught law. We need to know our rights and responsibilities and learn about maintaining justice in society.
With honesty, dedication and hard work, a lawyer can achieve success in a short span of time; they can do quite well in terms both monetarily and professionally.
Weird things you hear about lawyers
“Lawyers are liars” is something we get to hear every single day. The other one is: “lawyers are magicians”; people assume they can do anything.
What challenges do lawyers face?
The biggest challenge for lawyers is again clientage development. It’s very hard to find clients these days unless you have references. It’s obvious that clients prefer going to senior lawyers who are more experienced. In the initial stage, young lawyers have to struggle in order to make clients. And if they don’t get a chance to have one-on-one with the clients of seniors, they never really get to learn about clientage building.
Touts are also a hindrance. They have law degrees but are not competent enough to work in courts. They misguide clients and divert them to other counsels because they get a certain percentage from their fees. This way you end up losing clients.
Another challenge is dealing with corruption. Sometimes seniors are preferred over young lawyers who have a hard time asserting themselves.
Delayed justice is another issue. We keep hearing this: “delay defeats justice”. It’s one of the maxims of equity that relief should be prompt; sadly, nothing is done on time. Countless civil cases have been pending for years and they’re not likely to be concluded any time soon.
Then we have conflicting principles and judiciary discretions. Everybody has his/her own criterion which makes it difficult to follow standards.
Hectic routine and long working hours might be a problem for many lawyers. I have court in the morning, so I wake up at 8 and then I come home by 9 pm. And nobody can do anything about it!
Have you ever experienced gender discrimination? What problems do girls face while pursuing law?
I personally think law is tough for both genders. People do say gender discrimination exists in this field, but what I have observed so far is that if a female lawyer is knowledgeable, and assertive, no one can beat her! Judges do respond to female lawyers, and consider their arguments, if they present their case efficiently.
Female lawyers should expand their knowledge in order to excel in this field and render results. What we usually see is that if they are unable to cope up with the stressors, they either leave the profession or start teaching or join corporate sector as in-house lawyers where they confine themselves to drafting lawsuits and paperwork. They don't want to come out of their comfort zone.
Lack of mobility also stops female lawyers from making progress in the field (especially while practising criminal law). Male lawyers can have meetings with the clients anywhere, anytime. But female lawyers avoid meeting clients at late hours. A client whose relative is arrested at midnight would want the lawyer to be in the police station without delay will approach a male lawyer. Obviously, due to social constraints and security concerns, female lawyers stay behind. Mostly, you will find female lawyers solving family cases.
A lot of students don't go for law just because they are afraid of corruption, bribery, and they have security concerns, too. What do you think about it?
Corruption is a global problem! Unfortunately, it has seeped into our institutions as well. Bad people are everywhere who take advantage of others and force people to do unlawful things. But it doesn’t mean this should stop you from getting into this field. Look at the positive side! By entering into this profession, you can actually benefit people and promote justice in the society.
In conclusion, I can say that the legal profession offers many career paths. It is up to lawyers to decide what they want to do.
Essential skills for aspiring lawyers
International Court of Justice
The principal judicial organ of the United Nations is the International Court of Justice. This main body of the UN settles legal disputes submitted to it by States in accordance with international law. It also gives advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it from authorized UN organs and specialized agencies.
The International Bar Association
Established in 1947, it is the world's leading international organisation of legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies. It influences the development of international law reform and shapes the future of the legal profession throughout the world. And it also provides assistance to the global legal community.
International Development Law Organization
It is the only intergovernmental organization exclusively devoted to promoting the rule of law. Governments, multilateral organizations, private foundations and the private sector support their work. They work to enable governments, empower people and strengthen institutions to realize justice, peace and sustainable development.
