Seven lamps of Advocacy

The phrase “Jack of All Trades, Master of None” it means a person who has many different skills but isn’t an expert in any single one.

Generally, it’s a negative connotation, which suggests a lack of focus. But in modern days its meaning has developed in a positive manner. It also means, someone who is a versatile having a vast general knowledge.

With respect to LAW, the SEVEN LAMPS OF ADVOCACY includes:

  1. Honesty
  2. Courage
  3. Industry
  4. Wit (the ability to use words in a clever way)
  5. Eloquence (the quality of delivering a clear and strong message)
  6. Judgment
  7. Fellowship (a feeling of friendship between people who share an interest).

HCIWEJF

(HIGH COURT IS WITH EVERY JUDICIAL FELLOW)

Hence the abovementioned qualities are must in every practicing lawyer to be successful in the legal profession.

Honesty

  • Honesty is the official policy that should be used by every person while interacting with another person.
  • It should be reflected in the thoughts, words and behaviour of an advocate.
  • It is honesty that increases the personal and professional reputation of the person in a society.
  • The reputation of an advocate is the thing that includes his fame and trust with his clients and bar.
  • It is expected that an advocate shall be honest while dealing with the case making arguments and producing oral and documentary evidencein the court of law.
  • On the basis of advocate’s submission and argument for the client, the case is decided by the Judges on merits.
  • Hence an advocate should be:

Honest with his client-

Honest with opposition-

Honest to law

 Courage

  • This is the one of the important factors in the seven lamps of advocacy.
  • It means the ability to stand in front of the court without any fear.
  • During argument in any case an advocate should feel proud and confident.
  • It builds the ability of an advocate to convince the judge that his true and honest facts represent his client.
  • During the litigation many lawyers faces many problems, those who overcomes this phase, wins the race.
  • He should have the courage to stand in that case and remove these problems fearlessly.
  • He should have been ready to fight all the problems and social evils. Advocates can use courage as their weapon, but for that, they must have a deep knowledge of the law.
  • Not all cases are easy for dealing with, an advocate can get a case related to murder, marital rape, abatement, Child labour
  • He should have the courage to take every kind of case.

Industry (Knowledge of the stream)

  • Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. 
  • He must have the knowledge of the law for which he is dealing in a case. We all know that the law is like an ocean; no one can be the master of law.
  • But an advocate should know about the law used in the case in which he is dealing.
  • Advocates should have knowledge, attitude and skill while dealing with the case.
  • To get the knowledge of the law and understand the law he should have given sufficient time for that.
  • No advocate can win the case without sufficient knowledge of the law. He must have given the time for the case so that he could deal perfectly with that case and increase his chance to win the case.
  • Our law is not static; it keeps changing with the need of society every time to solve the various new problems of the society. (BNS, BNSS, BSA, New amendments)
  • An advocate should update himself with these new laws. Even if a lawyer was good enough to deal with all the cases in the previous time, and now he does not stay up to date with new laws, he will face difficulties while dealing with the case in the present time.
  • There is no way other than hard work.

Wit (the ability to use the word in a clever way)

  • Being a professional lawyer in the field of law, a lawyer should have wit and a sense of humour.
  • It is the humour that keeps us calm and active.
  • A person without a sense of humour will fight the case with anger which isn’t good for providing justice.
  • Judges also like the advocates and witnesses which help them to provide justice in a case.
  • The wit is a necessary lamp to lighten the darkness of advocacy. A wit helps the advocate to stay focused on his work and reduce the workload so that he can remain relaxed.
  • It automatically removes the mental strain of an advocate so that he can think beyond the limits of his mind.
  • A well-prepared speech by an advocate in front of the Judge will not always work.
  • An advocate has to answer the questions of a Judge and that question will check the wit and presence of mind of a lawyer.
  • The questions asked by judges check the intelligence and knowledge of advocates related to the case.

Eloquence

  • The lamp of eloquence is the art of speaking.
  • Every advocate delivers his argument in front of the judge.
  • But eloquence is the way to give the arguments in a way that holds a long-lasting effect on the judge as well as the clients and listeners in the courtroom.
  • Eloquence is an oral art that is used by an advocate for fluent and skilful use of communication that touches the soul of a judge.
  • An advocate who has a good knowledge of advocacy can use the eloquence language for fluent speaking.
  • There are some important points related to eloquence, viz:
  • An advocate should be a skilled speaker
  • He should stay confident while giving the speech in front of the judge
  • He should be fluent while giving this speech.
  • The language used by an advocate should be error-free
  • He should have the ability to pause himself at the right moment
  • This speech given by an advocate should be effective, not dramatic.
  • He should give this speech in a way that leaves an impression on the judge.
  • The language should be used in a way that should help the judge while writing his judgment.
  • The language should influence people towards the point of discussion.
  • Use of the right law phrase and law maxim.

Judgment

  • The lamp of judgement means the deep study of the present case and then make an informed opinion for that case.
  • An advocate should think from two sides of the case because it will help him to understand the consequences of the case.
  • By understanding the case from both sides, the advocates know the merits and demerits of that case.
  • It helps him to anticipate the problems and tackle the same with his other lamps of advocacy.
  • A good advocate knows what will be the consequences after representing a witness in court.
  • He should be aware of what questions can be asked by the judges and the opposite party after the witness. And he should be ready to counter these arguments and questions from the opposite party and judges of the case as well.

Fellowship

  • Fellowship is one of the most important lamps of advocacy.
  • An advocate must carry fellowship with his colleagues.
  • When an advocate takes the case and argues, he argues against an opposite advocate.
  • But it does not make them opposite to each other, they are just making arguments for the sake of justice only.
  • After finishing the argument in the court hall, the advocate should respect his opposite advocate.
  • Even while making an argument in court, an advocate should respect his opposite lawyer as well.
  • The reason is, it is not the fight between both of them but it is the fight for justice only.
  • After the judgment, even if an advocate lost the case, he should respect the advocate who wins the case.
  • If an advocate starts fighting with each and every advocate who is opposing him in the case, he will make all the advocates his enemy which is not professional ethics.
  • A case must not bother his friendly relationship with other advocates. An advocate should while referring to the opposite advocate use the term as a learned friend or learned counsel.