Career in Litigation: Interview of Mr. Raghav Sabharwal (Assistant Advocate General of Haryana)

1) Sir, please introduce yourself to our readers.

I am Raghav Sabharwal. I am a legal practitioner by the day and a political enthusiast by the evening. I am an independent counsel. I also represent the State of Haryana as Assistant Advocate General before Supreme Court of India.

2) Please tell us about your law school experience. What important lessons does one learn in law school which helps him/her in professional career?

My journey in law school was memorable. Going down the memory lane, I am reminded of how I transformed from a curious student to a mature professional.

I completed my Higher Secondary education from Delhi Public School, Mathura Road. I was always passionate about co-curricular activities. I was appointed as the Head Boy of DPS Mathura Road in Junior Wing (2000-2001) as well as Senior Wing (2007-2008).

My spirit for participation in co-curricular activities continued during my law school journey as well. During the 5 year law course at Amity Law School, Delhi (2008-2013), I enthusiastically participated in Moot Courts; Mediation and Client Counselling Competitions; street plays and theatre. I also wrote and presented research papers and won various laurels for my law school. Participation in co-curricular activities is an integral part of personality development for all law students.

I also gained experience and exposure with the practical aspects of law by interning throughout my law school journey. I initially started pursuing my law degree from ILS, Pune however, owing to scant internship opportunities in Pune, I preferred to complete my law course from Delhi. I took the initiative of learning through internships after college hours to always stay connected with the real legal arena.

3) Please tell us about your internship experiences and what type of internships one is required to do if he/she wants to excel in litigation?

My first internship was with Dr. Kiran Bedi’s NGO - India Vision Foundation where we provided legal aid to the needy by drafting criminal complaints on their behalf. I was always inclined towards litigation and therefore did not intern in corporate law firms. However, I diversified my experience in civil and criminal law by interning with various practicing Senior Advocates such as Mr. Dinesh Mathur and Mr. Arvind Nigam. I also interned with dispute teams of law firms like JSA and Luthra & Luthra Law Offices (now L&L Partners).

In my view, students should structure their internships in different fields of law. For those who are confused between litigation and corporate law, internships offer best opportunity to gain clarity. It is always advisable to follow your passion and interest. Hard work coupled with passion yields best results.

4) How significant are moots for a law student who wants to step in the field of litigation and how different moots are from actual courtroom practices?

Participation in moots is indispensable for a student who wants to pursue litigation as a career. Moot courts not only help in enhancing oratory skills but also play a key role in improving drafting. While moot courts are quite different from actual courtroom, moot courts definitely help in improving structure of arguments. I am reminded of an interesting incident from an actual courtroom in Delhi High Court. Justice Gita Mittal(Retd.) was heading the Bench and hearing arguments of a young counsel who was arguing passionately while I was patiently waiting for my matter. After he concluded, Justice Mittal enquired if he was an avid mooter in his law school days. I was asked the same question by the opposite counsel after I concluded my first final arguments before a District Judge in Tis Hazari District Court. Such remarks demonstrate how students who are devoted mooters have an added advantage in grabbing Court’s attention.

5) From completing your B.A. LL.B. (hons.) in 2013 to becoming Assistant Advocate General of Haryana Govt. is a big success. Please enlighten us about this journey of yours?

I started my Law Career as a Law Researcher with Justice Hima Kohli at Delhi High Court (now Chief Justice of Telangana High Court). It was an enriching experience to prepare briefing notes for the Hon’ble Judge on fresh matters and research on challenging legal propositions. Clerkship acted as an excellent stepping stone in my practicing career as it offered excellent opportunity to learn Court craft and articulation.

Thereafter, I was mentored by my father – Mr. Rajan Sabharwal in his chambers in Delhi High Court. I learnt the nitty gritty of litigation under his guidance. I not only got the opportunity to argue matters from an early stage but also willingly took regular trips to registries of different courts to understand practice and procedures.

I decided to gain more exposure in high stake matters by joining JSA which is a Tier 1 Law Firm. My association with JSA taught me discipline, resilience and challenged me to bring out the best in me. I never shied away from submitting deliverables with tight deadlines. I learnt a lot from the competitive environment, transparency and professionalism of JSA.

In March 2020, I was appointed as the Assistant Advocate General of State of Haryana in the Supreme Court of India.

6) Please tell us something about Assistant Advocate General of a state. What are your job responsibilities as an Assistant Advocate General of Haryana Government?

As an Assistant Advocate General of a state, one is required to represent the concerned State in matters that are marked to the officer. The officer is expected to be well acquainted with both civil and criminal law as the officer can be asked to represent the State in any matter where the concerned State has been impleaded. The officer is required to coordinate with the concerned department of the State Government to seek instructions and assist the Court. My responsibilities as an Assistant Advocate General include arguing matters before the Supreme Court and drafting Special Leave Petitions and counter affidavits

7) Since, you had worked as a Senior Associate of J. Sagar Associates. Please tell us what India's leading law firms look for while hiring a candidate?

In my view, law firms hunt for lawyers who are diligent and conceptually strong. Most of the leading law firms have international clients, therefore, command over English language is indispensable. A strong CV with internship experiences in leading law firms and good recommendations are also helpful.

8) In the words of (Hon.)Justice Suraj Govindraj of Karnataka High Court, "For the litigator, I would draw the analogy of Benjamin Button. You start old, earning less, but when you become senior counsel or you become a senior lawyer, there is no comparison at that time."

How similar or different is your experience as a lawyer?

This is absolutely true for a litigator, however, exceptions are always there. A litigator cannot expect huge pay cheques in early stage of his career and I had a similar experience too. Practicing law can be compared to wine which usually tastes better with age. Nevertheless, budding lawyers must not get discouraged with the initial struggle and must continue to follow their passion for law.

9) What are the skills which are required to excel in the career as a lawyer in India?

In my view, the skills and qualities which a lawyer must possess to excel in his career can be derived from the word “Success” itself :-

S - Steadiness (balanced approach and focus)

U - Unbridled hard-work

C - Confidence

C - Command over language

E - Eagerness to learn more

S - Sincerity

S - Socially active

10) Thank you for talking with us. Please conclude this interview with a message you would like to convey to law students who will be putting their foot in litigation.

While pursuing a career in law, you always remain a student as there is so much to learn. One must continue learning throughout their life and accept new ideas. I urge the budding lawyers to have a clear vision and plan their actions accordingly. I would like to conclude with Joel A. Baker’s inspiring words - “Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes time. Vision with action can change the world.”

***