The Brilliance In Law With An Unstoppable Zeal

Q. What interests you the most in the legal profession and why?

A. The legal profession gives you the everyday thrill and new challenges. Every case with different facts and issues encourages a lawyer to exercise mentally. Also, when you believe that your client’s claim is lawful and you get relief for them from the court of law, that is the moment you realise the importance of lawyers for society. Every lawyer should also do pro bono cases for the unprivileged and poor section of society to better uplift humanity. I always encourage everyone and aim to take up cases that help a social cause whenever I can. The legal profession is the only profession where you know your rights and have the power to fight any illegal act of the state or any other person.

Q. What are the strong areas of legal profession which could be gamechangers?

A. The strongest game-changers in the legal profession are the technology, IPR, and commercialisation of legal practice. Now, the scenario differs from that of only civil property suits pending in the courts. The vast majority of commercial cases, arbitrations, etc. Cyber law is one of the branches of law with a bright future. Today, while going with the flow, everyone is connected to technology, which also gives us a lot of cyber crimes & cyber frauds. Also, very few lawyers are well versed in cyber law as of now, but in India, cyber law is a new and good branch of law with great potential.

Q. Litigations are usually slow-moving, which is a burden on the system as well as the petitioner. What can be done to rectify this woe?

A. I agree that the litigation in India is prolonged, and it takes years to decide the cases, which creates a significant burden on the litigant, both financially and mentally. But see, we should also appreciate the hardworking judges we have. Like the way our Supreme Court works, no other Supreme Court works. Our judges work for such long hours. There are various judges in every court who appreciate the fast disposal of the cases and positively work in that direction, which is commendable. Advocates should avoid the unnecessary adjournments. Also, the disposal of the cases is not only the duty of Judges; advocates should also share equal responsibility.

Q. As a Woman, has it been a challenge in the professional journey so far?

A. No doubt, as a woman, the legal profession is very challenging. Indian society still considers women as a person who should do all the household jobs and take responsibility, and the legal profession requires a lot of hard work, dedication and mental exercise. Also, in the legal profession, society’s mentality is that this is male-dominated, so in such circumstances, making your space is very difficult. In today’s world, more women are opting for the legal profession, but I clearly remember that when I joined the profession, there were a few women advocates. Today, courts have different bar rooms for women, but the ratio of lady lawyers and judges still needs to be higher. So, this profession is more challenging for women professionally and personally.

Q. Your Viewpoint on Success

A. Success could mean giving back to theworld and making a difference. It could mean a sense of accomplishment and career progression. I joined the legal profession so that I could give something back to society. Success is when you can achieve your goals while uplifting the society.

Q. About Ishanee Sharma Law OfficeA.

A. My law office is open to anyone who is ready to work hard and is passionate about the legal profession. Until and unless you love the profession, you won’t be able to give your 100%. I never discriminated against newcomers. My chamber provides ample opportunities for new lawyers. I am not restricted to any particular branch of law, so my associates always have the chance to work on different subjects. My chamber provides the associates with an environment where they can work with me and learn with me; after all, we are all students of law. I always tell my associates never to think they have learned everything because the legal profession is so vast that we understand the law daily. I remember the late Mr. F.S. Nariman always said, ‘I am a law student.’

Q. Wise Words for the New Comers

A. My advice to new lawyers is that there is no shortcut to success in the profession, and only hard work is the key to success in this profession. This profession gives you everything; you only need patience, sincerity and hard work.

Q. Message on Women’s Day

A. Since time immemorial, women have been at the receiving end of all forms of bestiality. Shurpanakha, Sita, Draupadi…. the victims of innumerable wars humanity has seen. We have normalised the unkind, unjust ways which have been lopsidedly favouring men for generations. Violence against women is so deeply engraved within us that the curse words which are used by men or at times women themselves to convey there disrespect or disdain towards another creature are illustrative of the sexual violence directed towards a close female relative of the person. And this happens all day, everyday. In a very matter-of-fact way.

Violence as we talk of it now, isn’t limited to physical violence. It’s mental counterpart is as heinous, if not more. Females in this country have struggled for their right to live, let alone the others. Equal opportunity for education is a distant dream. Equal pay for equal work, gender based malnutrition. Dowry, domestic violence. Repeated episodes of cruelty under the garb of marriage.

A girl child, In most households is taught, that the chores of the house are her duty. cooking is a gender role rather than a life skill.

She has to do all that, take care of the cattle, clean the house and excel at academics to be able to continue her basic education. And her brother, how do ever much of a dumb head he is, he is destined to work, be independent and boss around. The food distribution is uneven, the claim on ‘Garam roti’ is unfair. This little baby embraces this inequality and learns to live with it. At some point she stops questioning the injustice. It makes her married life much easier for her.

If economic independence of women is only answer to this, what do you have to say to my maid and thousands others like her, who earn to run the house, provide for her husband as well and gets beaten up almost everyday ?

It’s the independence of thought that matters. We have to stand up for all these women around us. The gender roles have to be redefined.

This deeply intrinsic discrimination has to stop. It’s 50 percent of the population of the country and the world we are talking about.

In the most gruesome of circumstances, the most grotesque of human right violations, empirical evidence suggests women are more often than not, the victims.

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