Overview

• Speaking at NLSIU’s 33rd convocation in Bengaluru on September 7, Justice Surya Kant called on new lawyers to treat the law as an instrument of transformation for underserved communities.
• He said ethical courage and integrity are a lawyer’s greatest assets, recounting an early-career episode where refusing an uncomfortable request strengthened professional trust.
• He outlined three defining junctures for legal careers: tests of ethical boundaries, choices about what success means, and a duty to lift others.
• He cautioned against practices like overbilling or prolonging disputes for fees and advised graduates to set clear non‑negotiables and lean on trusted mentors.
• The ceremony conferred degrees on 1,557 graduates and 52 gold medals, drew senior judges including Justices B V Nagarathna and Sanjay Karol and Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Vibhu Bhakru, and came as coverage noted his slated tenure as Chief Justice in November.