Hyderabad – Chief Justice of India Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, speaking at a law convocation, struck a rare blend of honesty and humour, urging young graduates to pursue the legal profession with resilience, integrity, and balance — and, most memorably, to “be a little more like cats.”
Speaking to graduates at NALSAR University of Law, CJI Gavai’s speech offered not a grand vision of courtroom glory but a realistic, heartfelt survival guide for legal professionals.
“There is no straight path in law…It demands, and it keeps demanding,” he said, acknowledging the profession’s relentless nature. Yet, instead of foreboding, he offered coping tools — “community, clarity, books, and yes, even cats.”
A Call for Mental Health Awareness in Law
Justice Gavai candidly addressed the mental health crisis in the legal profession. Describing it as “isolating, high-pressure, and at times, even ruthless,” he urged young lawyers to seek help and connection rather than suffer in silence.
“Find your community…Share your fears,” he said. “Don’t just show up for your clients. Show up for yourself too.”
‘Don’t Take Loans to Brand Yourself Abroad’
In a strong message on foreign education, the CJI advised students to pursue overseas degrees with purpose, not peer pressure.
“A foreign degree alone is not a stamp of your worth,” he said, cautioning against ₹50–70 lakh loans for prestige. “Sometimes, building your work here is the wiser bet.”
He stressed that a portion of such funds could instead help young lawyers set up an independent practice in India.
A Nudge to Indian Legal Institutions
Justice Gavai turned the lens inward, asking Indian law schools and institutions to reflect on why many bright legal minds head abroad.
“If students go overseas for mentorship and research, what are we doing to make them stay or return?”
He called for transparent hiring, better infrastructure, and investment in imagination, not just academic output.
The Power of Mentorship
He called mentorship “a responsibility, not a favour.”
“I am here because someone opened a door for me,” he reflected, encouraging seniors — including judges, lawyers, and professors — to guide the next generation.
His advice to graduates: “Seek mentors for their integrity, not their influence — and pass it forward.”
Final Wisdom: “Be Like Cats”
Justice Gavai left the students with a checklist for a fulfilling legal career: “Don’t ignore five things — friends and family, books, hobbies, health, and imagination.”
He reminded them that:
- Books are windows and mirrors, not just exam tools.
- Hobbies are not distractions, but “a way to keep your inner world alive.”
- Success doesn’t mean being everywhere at once; it means being grounded where you are.
Quoting John Gray’s Feline Philosophy, he said:
“Whereas cats live by following their nature, humans live by suppressing theirs.”
His parting message?
“Be a little more like cats. Take pauses. Follow your rhythm. And remember that you don’t always have to prove yourself.”