Module 1 OG
Module 1 OG
ETHICS AND
PROFESSIONAL
ACCOUNTING
SYSTEM
(CLINICAL)
Notes- Module 1
Module 1:
The Legal Profession:
1.1 Brief history of the legal profession in India.
1.2 Privileges and Rights of the legal profession-
distinction from other professions.
1.3 Conduct in court- Professional conduct in general -
privileges of a lawyer.
1.4 Advocacy: Judge Edward Abbott Parry, The seven
lamps of advocacy (1923)
Meaning of Professional Ethics:
• Professional Ethics refers to a collection of
guidelines that an aspiring lawyer must adhere to.
• These guidelines govern the behavior and actions
of practicing lawyers, encompassing their
interactions with themselves, clients, opposing
parties, and the court.
• Ethics generally pertains to the moral principles
that should serve as standards for a lawyer’s
conduct.
• Professional Ethics serves as a foundation for any
profession, embodying the fundamental values
upon which the legal profession is constructed.
Charter of 1726:
• The year 1726 marked the beginning of a new
phase in the evolution of judicial institutions in
India.
• The mayor's courts were established in the
presiding towns of Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras,
they were the royal courts.
• The courts heard all civil suits, and action pleas
between parties, they followed the procedure based
on English law.
• But there were no facilities to get the legal training.
Many persons who do not know the law were used
to practice before the said courts.
• The Mayor's court has no jurisdiction in criminal
cases. The criminal jurisdiction was conferred on
the governor.
Charter of 1753:
It was issued to modify the charter of 1726. This
charter also ignored significant provisions for legal
training and education relating to legal practitioners
and as such, after this charter, the legal profession was
not organized.
Charter of 1774:
• The British crown issued a charter in 1774 by
which the Supreme Court of Judicature was
established at Calcutta.
• Clause 2 of the Charter empowered the said
Supreme Court to approve and enroll advocates
and Attorney-at-law.
• The Supreme Court had the power to remove any
advocate or Attorney on reasonable cause.
• Even the Charter of 1774 didn't provide for the
appearance of the Indian Legal Practitioners to
appear and to plead before the Supreme Court.
6. Pre -Audience:
• Section 23 of the Advocate Act 1961 deals with
the pre-audience rule. This rule can be seen as a
privilege to an advocate. It is the right to be heard
before another is heard.
• In simple words, the law provides the right to
advocate who is upper in the hierarchy system.
• The advocate hierarchy system in India is as
follow:
❖ Attorney General
❖ Solicitor General
❖ Additional Solicitor General
❖ Second additional solicitor General
❖ Advocate general of the state
❖ Senior advocates
❖ Other advocates
2.Courage:
Courage in Advocacy:
- Courage is a pivotal aspect among the seven lamps
of advocacy.
- It signifies the advocate's capacity to stand
confidently before the court without fear.
- Advocates should exude pride and self-assurance
while presenting their case, aiming to convince the
judge that their arguments are based on genuine and
truthful information.
3. Industry :
Industry in Advocacy:
- Understanding the law is crucial; ignorance of the law
as an excuse is not acceptable.
- Advocates should have a solid grasp of the specific
legal aspects relevant to their cases.
- Recognizing that the law is vast and intricate, no one
can be a complete master of all legal domains.
- Nevertheless, advocates must possess adequate
knowledge about the specific area of law pertinent to
their cases.
Components of Legal Competence:
- Legal competence involves knowledge, attitude, and
skills.
- Advocates need to dedicate time and effort to acquire
a deep understanding of the law in their respective
practice areas.
- Winning cases is contingent on advocates having
comprehensive knowledge of the applicable laws and
their relevance to the case at hand.
5. Eloquence:
Eloquence in Advocacy:
- Eloquence symbolizes the skill of effective verbal
expression.
- Advocates present their arguments to the judge,
but eloquence goes beyond and leaves a lasting
impact on the judge, clients, and courtroom
attendees.
Essence of Eloquence:
- Eloquence is an oral art employed by advocates,
characterized by fluent and adept communication.
- Its purpose is to deeply resonate with the judge's
sensibilities.
Leveraging Eloquence:
- Advocates with a strong understanding of
advocacy can harness eloquence to deliver
persuasive and articulate speeches.
point of discussion.
• Use of the right law phrase and law maxim.
6. Judgement:
Judgement in Advocacy:
- The lamp of judgement signifies a thorough
examination of the current case to formulate an
informed opinion.
- Advocates should adopt a dual perspective,
considering both sides of the case, to comprehend its
implications fully.
- This approach enables advocates to discern the
case's strengths and weaknesses, anticipate potential
issues, and address them effectively using their other
advocacy skills.
Anticipating Consequences:
- A skilled advocate should be able to foresee the
repercussions of representing a witness in court.
- They must prepare for the questions that judges and
opposing parties may pose after the witness's
testimony.
- Being ready to counter these arguments and
questions from both the opposing party and judges is
essential for effective advocacy.
7. Fellowship:
Fellowship means a feeling of friendship between
people who share a common interest.
Fellowship in Advocacy:
- Fellowship is a crucial aspect among the lamps of
advocacy.
- Advocates must nurture a sense of fellowship with
their colleagues.
- Despite advocating on opposite sides of a case,
advocates are not adversaries but are both striving for
justice.
- After completing arguments in court, it's important
for advocates to respect their opposing counsel,
maintaining professionalism.
Maintaining Professionalism:
- Advocates should refrain from engaging in conflicts
with every opposing lawyer, as it goes against
professional ethics.
- A case should not disrupt friendly relationships with
other advocates.
- Advocates can refer to their opposing counsel as
"learned friend" or "learned counsel," reflecting
respect and professionalism.
Respecting Judges:
- Advocates should extend the lamp of fellowship to
judges as well.
- Respect is integral in the legal profession, even
when a judge's decision is unfavourable.
- Advocates should address judges as "Learned
Judge" or "Your Honour" to demonstrate respect and
build collegial relationships.
Components of TACT:
- TACT involves skillfully managing both people and
situations without causing offense and without
offending anyone.
- Advocates should be capable of smoothly navigating
interactions with their clients, opposing parties, and
opposing counsel.
Importance of TACT:
- Many individuals, despite their legal aptitude, have
faced failure due to a lack of tact.
- Advocates should refrain from engaging in disputes
with the court or losing their temper over trivial
matters, both in and out of the courtroom.
- Maintaining professionalism and diplomacy is
essential for advocates.