I wish to talk about the profession of which I am proud and privileged to belong, the profession of law. There was a time when a lawyer was regarded as a family friend. He commanded awe and respect. And for good reasons. Prominent freedom fighters belonged to the legal fraternity and played a leading part in the framing of our Constitution. Gandhiji, Pandit Nehru, Dr. Ambedkar, Alladi Krishnaswami Iyer, K. M. Munshi to mention just a few. Lawyers gave up their practice to join the freedom movement and many of them went to jail in the cause of the freedom struggle. At present the public image of lawyers is far from flattering. They are seen as fortune seekers rather than seeking to serve, a selfish class, who, on account of their special knowledge and expertise, provide services on such terms as they please. In short, the profession of law is regarded as a money making racket. Today people are apt to agree with Dean Swift’s description of lawyers as, “a so ....