MASS CALL 2024: A NEW CHAPTER
Hundreds of new members enter the flock this week at a time of continued transformation for the legal profession.
Few moments are as memorable as one's call to the Bar. The feelings vary, with some joyous about the end of formal education while others experience trepidation about the path ahead. The 439 individuals being called to the Bar at this week's Mass Call are transitioning to a new phase of life—just as their chosen profession, too, is adapting to a new way of working, thanks to Generative AI.
In his welcome remarks, The Honourable the Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon spoke at length about the "paradigm shift in lawyering" that the technology would bring. He devoted the second part of his address to the role and importance of community in the profession, pointing to the many relationships one forges—and leans on—along the way.
CJ Menon also highlighted new initiatives around these themes. Noting that "lawyers will need to have at least a basic understanding of how the technology works and how they can effectively apply it in their daily work", he introduced new resources that will be rolled out by SAL and Microsoft, including a prompt engineering guide. Similarly, foundational courses will introduce members to the basics of AI and its applications in a legal context. The guide will be launched at next month's TechLaw.Fest, while details of the courses will be announced soon.
New members will also be reminded of the finer points of court etiquette through an updated edition of A Civil Practice – Good Counsel for Learned Friends, first published in 2011. This edition is styled as a journal, providing practical guidance on professional courtesy and etiquette, and also offering a space for self-reflection.
Photos of Mass Call 2024 follow. To all our new members, a warm welcome to the profession!
Families of the new Advocates and Solicitors had the honor of pinning ceremonial pins on their gowns during the Mass Call
Newly admitted Advocates and Solicitors pose for a photo with CJ Menon
Photobooths drew long queues for newly admitted Advocates and Solicitors to take photos at the Mass Call
