Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, speaking at the 'Felicitation Function' organized by the Bar Council of India, shed a light on the growing trend of "The exodus of young talent from litigation practice'' and emphasised the need to ensure their financial security.

CJI, expressed, "Today we are witnessing a concerning trend where bright young legal minds are increasingly gravitating towards corporate law firms or leaving law altogether to pursue managerial roles. While corporate practice or house roles certainly come with their own merit, we must ask ourselves- Are we, the torch-bearers of the legal community, somehow failing to guide young lawyers towards public interest work? Who will represent the common citizens in future? "

The Chief Justice advocated for the issues faced by the first generation lawyers, and emphasized the need for structural reforms.

CJI also added ''The exodus of young talent from litigation practice is not merely about personal choice rather it is symptomatic of the structural issues such as meagre financial and social security in the profession especially for the first-generation lawyers." 

Further, the CJI commended the recent recommendation of the BCI for paying a stipend or remuneration to young lawyers in urban and rural areas and regarded it as one step towards addressing the challenges of entry-level barriers.

"This would hopefully give early exposures to the young lawyers in the courtroom practice so that they can make informed career choices rather than defaulting towards corporate path." 

CJI highlighted the rapid evolution of legal markets, emphasizing how the field of law has grown increasingly specialized beyond the traditional divisions of civil, criminal, and public law. Emerging niche areas such as insolvency, intellectual property rights, and arbitration have established distinct roles within the profession. Furthermore, even within criminal and public law, complex cases involving narcotics, forensic science, and the delicate balance between fundamental rights like privacy and freedom of speech demand nuanced expertise from lawyers and observing this, CJI calls for young lawyers to embrace domain specialization and cultivate expertise in these domains.

Lastly , CJI ended his address with a quote from Sir Martin Luther King Jr, "Everyone can be great because everyone can serve" , thus reminding the significance of service in a progressive society.