A note of gratitude after five decades in the legal profession

28/09/2026

As I complete fifty years of active legal practice, I find myself looking back with a deep sense of gratitude on a journey that has been challenging, rewarding and, above all, enriched by the people I have had the privilege of knowing.
Five decades in the legal profession are not merely a measure of time. They represent countless days spent in courtrooms, chambers, libraries and offices; innumerable matters discussed; arguments heard; views exchanged; and, most importantly, lessons learned. Yet, when I look back today, it is not the number of years or cases that stands foremost in my mind. It is the people who became an integral part of this remarkable journey.
I therefore wish to place on record my heartfelt gratitude to every senior, colleague, contemporary, junior and friend who has shared this journey with me.
To my senior colleagues, I remain deeply thankful for the guidance, encouragement and affection I received during the formative years of my practice. Their wisdom, experience and professional conduct taught me lessons that no textbook could have offered. Every interaction, every word of advice and every professional experience contributed to my understanding of the dignity and responsibilities of the legal profession.
To my contemporaries, I offer my sincere thanks for the companionship that made the demanding life of a lawyer more meaningful. Over the years, we have shared professional responsibilities, challenging moments, successes, differences of opinion and countless conversations. Many professional associations gradually developed into enduring friendships, which remain among the most valued memories of my career.
I also wish to express my special appreciation to the younger generation of advocates. Their energy, enthusiasm, knowledge and determination are a reminder that the legal profession is constantly evolving. I have learned much from young lawyers, and I hope that whatever experience I have gathered over these five decades has, in some measure, been useful to them.
The legal profession belongs to every generation. Its strength lies in the willingness of one generation to learn from another and to pass on the knowledge, values and traditions that give the profession its character.
Over the years, I have come to realise that the legal profession teaches us much more than law. It teaches patience, discipline, perseverance, humility and respect for differing points of view. It teaches us to listen carefully, to examine every side of an issue and to understand that behind every legal matter there is a human story that deserves to be heard with patience and sensitivity.
I have also learned that no advocate walks alone. Behind every professional journey are seniors who guide, colleagues who stand beside us, juniors who assist us, friends who encourage us and countless well-wishers whose goodwill provides quiet strength.
There have been difficult days as well as memorable ones. There have been moments of satisfaction and occasions that demanded patience and perseverance. Through all of them, the affection, goodwill and companionship of colleagues and friends have remained a constant source of strength.
Today, after fifty years of active practice, I do not regard this milestone as the end of a journey. The law is an ocean of knowledge, and one can remain a student of it throughout one's professional life. Even after five decades, I continue to learn-both from the law and from life. Every generation brings new questions, new perspectives and new challenges, reminding us that there is always more to understand.
I am particularly grateful for the respect and affection extended to me by members of the Bar and by friends across generations. Many professional relationships have grown into lasting personal bonds, and many colleagues have become like family. Such affection cannot be adequately measured in words. It can only be acknowledged with humility and a grateful heart.
If, during these fifty years, I have been able to assist a colleague, encourage a young advocate, share some experience or contribute even in a small way to the profession, I consider myself fortunate. At the same time, if I have ever unknowingly caused inconvenience, disagreement or hurt to anyone during the course of professional life, I sincerely seek their forgiveness and hope that such moments may be left behind with the passage of time.
As I look back, I carry with me memories of innumerable people, courtrooms, conversations, friendships and experiences. Each has contributed something to the person and professional I am today.
My gratitude, therefore, is not confined to this milestone or to a single occasion. It comes from the heart after five decades in a profession that has given me an identity, knowledge, friendships, experiences and memories that I shall always cherish.
To every senior, contemporary, junior, young advocate, old friend and colleague who has been a part of this journey, I simply wish to say:
Thank you for your cooperation.
Thank you for your companionship.
Thank you for your trust.
Thank you for your kindness.
And, above all, thank you for the love and affection you have shown me throughout these fifty years.
Whatever lies ahead, I shall carry these memories and relationships with me with great affection, humility and gratitude.
With warm regards and heartfelt thanks to each one of you,
A.K. Sawhney
Advocate

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