Raja Sujith
What are the best and worst things about your job?
I would say that the best thing about my job is its dynamic nature. It never leaves me wanting for new challenges.
The worst thing about the job is the busy schedule and paucity of time for much else!
Who was the first lawyer you ever worked under? What is the most important lesson that you learnt from him/her?
The first lawyer I worked with was Mr. P. Ramankutty Menon. I learnt a most profound lesson from him - ‘to let neither success nor defeat get to your head’.
If a seventeen year old came to you and asked you whether he/she should consider a career in law, what advice would you give?
Undoubtedly, I would recommend a career in law to anyone keen on a serious profession. The legal profession presents enough and more opportunities in good as well as bad times. To succeed in this profession (or for that matter any profession), I believe that it is important to inculcate a sense of ‘ownership’ viz-a-viz your work and to step into the shoes of the client when solving any issue. I would advise youngsters to always bear this in mind and accordingly judge their suitability to the profession.
What was your first car? When did you buy it?
Hyundai Santro - 2003
Which is your favourite restaurant?
Karavalli, Taj Gateway, Bangalore
What is the best book you read in the past year?
Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Where did you go on your last vacation?
Ooty
Which historical figure would you invite for dinner? If you could only ask one question of him/her, what would you ask?
Mahatma Gandhi. I would ask “Why did you allow people wearing suits to rule our country when you were wearing only a loin cloth?”
What is the most significant change that you would make to the law school curriculum?
I believe that a solution oriented and analytical approach towards education is the order of the day. Greater emphasis should be given to the practical application of theoretical knowledge that is imparted in law schools. It will be worthwhile to have experts in the field sharing their experiences with students on a more regular basis.
What is the most significant change that you would like to see in the legal industry in the next five years?
Legal industry will become more corporatised. The entry of foreign law firms will accelerate the process. I also see a need for availability of quality legal advice to small and medium businesses in India . To achieve this, small and medium businesses should budget for legal expenses and law firms should work towards providing legal services at an affordable cost.
(Raja Sujith is a Bangalore-based partner with Majmudar & Co.)
