'Social Media Visibility Is Not Credibility': CJI Surya Kant Tells New AORs To Build Courtroom Reputation, Not Online Fame

Addressing the 2025 batches of newly qualified AORs at a felicitation ceremony organised by the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA), the CJI said that while professional titles may open doors, they do not build careers.

"Titles may open a door, but they do not build a career. What builds a career is the quality of your work," he said.

Encouraging young lawyers to strive for professional excellence, the CJI remarked that advocates should aspire to earn the confidence of judges through meticulous preparation.

"Do not worry about how quickly people recognise your name. Instead, ensure that whenever your name appears in a case file, the Bench knows it will find a well-prepared lawyer and a well-prepared paper book," he said.

Warning against equating online visibility with professional success, CJI Surya Kant observed that the growing influence of social media should not distract young lawyers from the fundamentals of advocacy.

"Visibility is not the same as credibility. Avoid the temptation to measure your success by online popularity. You are not running a television channel where you have to worry about your TRPs. The respect that truly matters is the respect you earn inside the courtroom from judges, colleagues, clients and the Bar," he said.

The Chief Justice stressed that enduring legal careers are built on sustained hard work rather than public attention.

"What sustains a legal career spanning decades is hard work, the kind built in chambers and not in social media comment sections," he added.

Describing the designation of Advocate-on-Record as more than a professional milestone, the CJI reminded the new entrants of their responsibility towards society.

"You are uniquely positioned, and duty-bound, to ensure that the poor and the marginalised are not denied representation. Whenever possible, take up legal aid matters. Sometimes one case handled sincerely can change an entire family's life. That satisfaction is something money can never bring," he said.

The Chief Justice also underlined the importance of drafting skills, describing pleadings as the first introduction of a lawyer to the Court.

"Judges read your pleadings before they hear your arguments. Long before you rise to address the Bench, your drafting has already introduced both your case and, in many ways, you as a lawyer," he observed.

Drawing from his own experience as a young practitioner, CJI Surya Kant recalled that strong drafting skills became the foundation of his early legal career. He said senior advocates regularly entrusted him with drafting complex matters, which not only supplemented his income but also established his professional reputation.

The CJI further urged lawyers to use artificial intelligence cautiously. While acknowledging its utility for legal research and comparative analysis, he cautioned against relying on AI to prepare pleadings.

"Artificial intelligence can produce a serviceable draft in seconds, and that can be very alluring. But remember, when a client engages you, the client engages you as a human being. Your own legal mind and ethics must be reflected in the draft," he said.

Concluding his address, the Chief Justice urged the newly inducted AORs to devote themselves to continuous learning, disciplined preparation and ethical advocacy, reminding them that credibility earned through professional excellence remains the strongest foundation for a successful legal career.