Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Sunday urged graduating law students to build their careers on collaboration, patience and professional integrity, stating that meaningful success in the legal profession depends on long-term commitment rather than short-term gains.
Delivering the convocation address at the ninth graduation ceremony of Hidayatullah National Law University, the CJI said students were entering a professional journey marked by uncertainty and responsibility, where the ability to work with others and sustain ethical conduct would determine their growth.
Addressing graduates, faculty and families, he observed that while legal education often promotes competition through examinations, rankings and placements, the legal profession itself is sustained by cooperation.
“While legal education often emphasises competition through examinations, rankings, and placements, the legal profession itself is sustained by cooperation,” he said.
Drawing an analogy, the CJI described the justice system as a river formed by multiple tributaries, noting that its functioning is the result of collective effort by juniors, seniors, colleagues and even opposing counsel.
He advised graduates to treat their peers with respect and fairness, pointing out that classmates would later become colleagues, courtroom adversaries and, in some cases, members of the judiciary. He also shared an experience from his early years at the Bar where helping another lawyer without self-interest led to lasting professional trust.
“Such acts of goodwill strengthen not only individual careers but also the credibility of the legal profession,” he said, describing law as a “long-drawn game” in which recognition and authority develop gradually over decades.
The CJI cautioned that the initial years of practice may appear slow, particularly when compared with other professions, but stressed that this phase is crucial for understanding court processes, legal reasoning and client engagement. He encouraged students not to assess progress through short timelines and emphasised that consistency, diligence and integrity ultimately earn lasting respect.
Comparing career growth to the construction of a building, he said that unseen foundations determine future strength, and urged graduates to support one another, remain connected to the professional community and maintain balance in life.
During his visit, the CJI also met Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, who presented him with a traditional gamchha and a coffee table book on the Bastar Dussehra festival, along with a bell-metal replica depicting Lord Ram and Mata Shabari.
