What is the roadmap to a Supreme Court practice?

At LawSikho, we have a formula for success: Skills + Track Record + Outreach = success in anything.

Most people remain stuck at the knowledge level, and assume the rest of it will happen automatically over time. A lot of people do not develop any skills, which is very damaging. 

Skills are critical for lawyers, knowledge is not enough. Also, you must build a track record that shows potential clients that you have achieved a lot already.

Here are a few examples of how to do it:

1. Working with high-potential startups in their initial stages (even if it is free of cost), getting testimonials from them
2. Assisting other AoRs with writing articles, drafting, etc. 
3. Publishing articles related to the issues that clients face at the Supreme Court
4. Write engaging posts on your social media profile 
5. Work on improving the search results should anyone decide to Google you

Then outreach. You reach out effectively to people who need your services and show them your skills and track record.

• Reaching out to potential clients, startup founders, principal associates and partners of law firms (while doing this make sure you do not violate any BCI regulations regarding solicitation)

• Reaching out to AoRs who you want to network with on Twitter, LinkedIn, and through email, or personally meeting them

• Requesting introductions from your satisfied clients or AoRs to other AoRs and then following up with them

But outreach is just one of the tools you will use during your preparation. What are some of the others? 

Before I answer that question, I would like you to meet one of our learners who is now an AoR.

Ritika Gambhir Kohli graduated in 2012 from the prestigious Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi, and cleared the AoR exam in 2022. Currently a partner at the Delhi-based DSNR Legal, she enrolled for the ‘Crack the Advocate on Record Examination’ from LawSikho for her exam prep. 

Starting her career from the chamber of senior Supreme Court advocate Kiran Suri, Ritika became an AoR after a cumulative practice of about 10 years. As she was engaged in active practice, LawSikho helped her strategise her preparation so she could balance her work and studies. 

So she went from junior to partner, and cleared her exam in the interim. 

To get back to the question of what your preparation journey can be like:

If you have completed 4 years of practice or are a senior lawyer

• Your time to start preparing is now. Aim for the 2024 exam. Study 2 hours per day.

• Alongside your preparation, build your track record by assisting other AoRs and senior lawyers at the Supreme Court remotely, mainly with research and drafting.

• Develop corporate litigation and arbitration skills so that you can assist your clients.

• Start reaching out to some early-stage startups and networking with them. 

If are a young lawyer with less than 4 years of experience 

• You can prepare over a longer period of time, and this gives you an advantage.

• Focus on building your skills and track record for corporate litigation. Reach out to startups and assist them with contracts, compliances, and other initial work – this is a great way to build trust and could hold the key to getting a lot of your own litigation and arbitration matters in the next 2-3 years.

• Initially, the goal is not to earn money, but to build trust and prove that you can deliver. You can build a track record with about 5-10 startups in 3 months. After that, you can charge, and clients will happily pay. 

• Ideally, your goal should be to go independent as soon as possible, if you are already working with a senior – this could take you anywhere from 6-12 months. Once you are earning about INR 30,000-50,000 per month on the side, you can have the confidence to do this. Once you are working full-time, you can earn INR 1 lakh or more.

• You can also start preparing for the AoR exam – initially, focus on key topics like practice and procedure and drafting so that you can help other AoRs as well. You can also earn on the side with drafting work and later get introductions to AoRs of 10 years or more standing. 

• Double down on AoR exam preparation as the exam draws near.  

• Once you qualify as an AoR, you can earn additionally from your Supreme Court matters, higher conversions in district/High Courts and you can even charge more. In total, it is possible to comfortably cross INR 2 lakh per month.

• Plus, if you want, you can set up your own firm. Many firms will also want to hire you as a partner to set up or expand their litigation practice. 

If you are in college and it is your long term goal to become an AoR/ build a Supreme Court practice 

• Focus on corporate litigation + assist early stage startups in India, network with AoRs and help them with drafting and research.

• Even if you have recently graduated, you can do this. It will take 3-6 months to get initial results. 

• If you are in college, pursue long-term internships in college as much as possible. Intern after class hours. You can intern with lawyers who pursue arbitration, NCLT, real estate matters, tax matters, AoRs, and with litigation firms with one or more AoRs as partners. 

• It is possible to earn INR 20,000-50,000 as a student by doing this after a few months of low bono or pro bono work 

• By the time you graduate, your goal should be to be independent and earn around INR 70,000-1 lakh per month.  You could work independently, or in disputes firms. Some Supreme Court lawyers also pay this amount to their juniors. 

• You may get some opportunities to represent your startup clients in arbitration and commercial matters if they have disputes. Plus, they will be in a position to pay you well as they trust you. There could be SLPs to file as well – where you can brief seniors or get an experience of arguing yourself 

Starting early is always better as it gives you more time to prepare, and more options for the future.

Wherever you are, the best time to start is today. 

Even if you are late, it is still possible to start earning more, crack the AoR exam, build your own practice, and even join a law firm as a disputes partner – but make sure you do not lose any more time. 

Which is why we would like to invite you to join our Certificate Course on Certificate Course in Qualifying as a Supreme Court Lawyer: Crack the Advocate on Record Examination.

Important: Since this course is for AoR at the Supreme Court of India, it is open to Indian law students and/or lawyers only. The sessions will not be useful unless you are a legal professional practicing in India.

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