Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) D. Y. Chandrachud has said that while India has produced outstanding legal minds, the country’s legal education system still suffers from significant shortcomings that hinder its ability to meet 21st-century needs. Speaking at the ‘Vishnupant Adwant Lecture Series’ on the theme “Present and Future of the Legal Profession: Opportunities, Challenges, and Shortcomings,” he stressed the urgent need to modernise legal curricula beyond traditional methods. He highlighted emerging issues such as data protection, climate change litigation, online dispute resolution, and digital law, urging the inclusion of subjects like digital law, data privacy, environmental law, and artificial intelligence.
Chandrachud suggested training law students in data science, understanding AI models, detecting bias, and collaborating with technology experts. He even proposed incorporating AI-based opponents in moot courts to build students’ ability to challenge tech-driven decisions. Recalling his tenure as CJI, he noted reforms including e-filing in most states, digital case records, and paperless court operations. Offering guidance to lawyers and students, he advised ignoring derogatory remarks, focusing on justice over mere debate victories, having deep legal and factual knowledge, avoiding force-fitting cases into old precedents, maintaining decorum, and treating colleagues respectfully.
He emphasised that advocacy is a high-stress profession prone to mental health issues, depression, and substance abuse, making peer support essential. He concluded by calling for continuous skill upgrades among law students and greater participation of women in the legal field.
