The 33rd Annual Convocation of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, witnessed a powerful and reflective address by Justice Surya Kant, Judge of the Supreme Court of India, who urged the graduating class of 2025 to anchor their professional journeys in integrity, authenticity, and service to society.
The convocation was graced by eminent personalities including T.N. Ninan, Chairperson of Business Standard and Chief Guest of the ceremony, Shri H.K. Patil, Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Karnataka, and Dr. M.C. Sudhakar, Minister of Higher Education, Government of Karnataka, along with judges from the Supreme Court and various High Courts, Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Sudhir Krishnaswamy, Registrar Prof. (Dr.) Nigam Nuggehalli, faculty, alumni, proud parents, and the graduating batch.
Extending his warm congratulations to the graduates, Justice Surya Kant reflected on the vision of NLSIU’s founder, Professor N.R. Madhava Menon, who imagined lawyers as “social engineers”. He reminded the students that their responsibility went beyond mastering the law, towards reshaping it as an instrument of justice and transformation.
Justice Surya Kant’s speech was anchored on “Three Decisions That Will Define Your Legal Career”:
The Compromise Threshold: He explained that the first decisive moment comes when young lawyers are asked to do something legally permissible but ethically questionable. Sharing his personal experience of resisting pressure to advance arguments that conflicted with his conscience, he stressed:
“Standing by your conscience does not end paths—it defines them. Ethical courage is not a liability, but the greatest asset a lawyer can possess.”
He advised graduates to identify their non-negotiables early, surround themselves with people of character, and make deliberate, not rushed, ethical choices.
Defining Success: Justice Surya Kant highlighted that many professionals drift into conventional expectations—wealth, titles, or prestige—without reflecting on what truly fulfills them. He contrasted this with those who chose authentic paths such as legal aid, research, or institution building.
“Ask yourself: Am I pursuing this direction because it excites me or because it impresses others? Discovering your definition of success requires deliberate reflection, not passive acceptance of societal standards.”
Creating a Professional Legacy: The third turning point, he noted, comes when lawyers rise in influence and are called upon to mentor, shape institutions, and open doors for others. He emphasized that legacies are measured not only in personal accolades but in opportunities created for the next generation.
“Every leader chooses between preserving the status quo and improving it. Your legacy will be defined by whether you chose comfort or progress, silence or courage, exclusion or inclusion.”
Summing up, Justice Surya Kant drew a connecting thread through the three choices, stating:
“Integrity in your early years creates the foundation for authentic success in your middle years, enabling meaningful impact in your senior years. Compromise early, and you cannot build genuine success later. Pursue inauthentic goals, and you will not find satisfaction. Choose comfort over progress, and you will leave no lasting legacy.”
He called upon the graduates to carry forward the NLSIU tradition of social justice, urging them to write their professional stories with courage, purpose, and inspiration.
The convocation ceremony concluded with the conferring of degrees on the graduating students, marking the beginning of their journey as members of India’s foremost legal fraternity.