Suits and Maamla Legal Hai – two shows offering starkly different portraits of a lawyer’s life – recently found their way into a lecture by Supreme Court Justice Sanjay Karol, who urged National Law Institute University (NLIU) students to look beyond corporate corridors and engage with the human side of justice. “We often see shows like Suits , but when it comes to the justice delivery system in India, things are totally different at the ground level. A large number of students from prestigious institutions are aspiring to become lawyers as we see in Suits , and not lawyers as ought to be in Maamla Legal Hai ,” Justice Karol said.He told students that the legal profession in reality is far removed from the over-glamourised depiction seen in such shows and praised others like Panchayat and Maamla Legal Hai for presenting an honest picture of a system often marked by confusion and delays – realities that textbooks rarely prepare students for. Legal shows have a massive audience, including lawyers.Lawyers said that while such portrayals are often dramatised, they have helped draw attention to the profession. Though there’s no consensus on accuracy, many agree that even if real life differs greatly, legal dramas have helped glamorise the field over the past decade.‘Litigation is nuanced, but on screen everything is distilled into a few dramatic hearings’Lawyers say that legal dramas, whether Indian or international, walk a fine line between authenticity and entertainment. Lawyer Safir Anand shares, “While many shows today are far more researched than before, there are still gaps between what is portrayed on-screen and the reality of a lawyer’s life. The most common inaccuracy is the compression of time. In reality, litigation is nuanced and goes through many stages – filings, adjournments, evidence, and final arguments. On-screen, however, everything is distilled into a few dramatic hearings. A show like Suits captures the intensity of legal strategy well, but the speed at which deals close or cases turn around is very different from reality.”Lawyer Chandrima Mitra says, “Among Indian shows, Guilty Minds comes closest to depicting reality. And among international shows, it’s Boston Legal and The Good Fight. They show the process more accurately instead of the glamorous world of Suits .” Lawyer Medha Banta says, “I think the shows that get legal stories right are Suits , Maamla Legal Hai , Law & Order and Boston Legal .”‘The profession now sees a lot of style and fashion’Lawyers say that while they have always had an affinity for pens and stationery, their lifestyles have grown more glamorous over the last decade. In India, senior counsels are now almost like film stars. The legal profession also has its superstars. The profession has become really glamourous. It is no longer just a black-and-white profession,” shares Ameet Naik, Founder and Managing Partner of a legal firm. He adds, “ The profession now sees a lot of style and fashion – luxe suits, ties, glasses, cufflinks. Massively expensive watches are a big thing among lawyers – all the big brands. But it’s not all urban. It doesn’t mean lawyers in smaller cities don’t do it. Lawyers are into expensive pens and stationery. Of course, Montblanc is there, but it doesn’t stop there.”‘There are many Harvey Specters in India’Several lawyers agree that Suits is pretentious and far removed from the reality of courtroom litigation. Yet, it remains a favourite among lawyers because it’s snappy, funny, and often absurd.Senior lawyer Ameet Naik, says, “I believe Suits is the most apt. It shows the culture of a law firm – camaraderie and work.” Naik confides, “Let me tell you, in both respects there are many Harvey Specters in India. I think there is more power-dressing among lawyers in India now compared to ten years ago. It is not just black coats anymore.”Lawyer Tarun Khurana calls the show a legal fantasy. He says, “It’s a magnificent television show but from a procedural standpoint, a legal fantasy. Cases resolve after a sharp one-liner, million-dollar disputes wrap up in a single hearing, and hearings never seem to need a second date. Harvey strolls in, and his matter is called immediately, no cause list, no waiting for three hours while fifty matters are called before yours. He talks over judges, lectures the bench, and cross-examines like he is picking a fight. If I tried half of what Harvey Specter does, I’d be facing contempt proceedings by noon . And it is not just the courtroom. I wish my transactions team could close due diligence overnight the way Mike Ross does. The rest of us mortals need at least a few weeks and a lot more caffeine.”‘A lot of Maamla Legal Hai scenarios happen – but it’s not comedy, it’s just our regular day’Most of the shows rely on monologues when it comes to legal shows. Lawyer Tarun Khurana says lawyers in real life get interrupted mid-sentence. He shares, “Cross-examination is a question-andanswer exercise, not a monologue. In a real courtroom, the judge would cut you off within a minute and ask you to ‘put your question to the witness.’ No advocate gets to deliver uninterrupted speeches while the judge/bench watch admiringly. In my experience, you are often interrupted mid-sentence, often by the judge, by opposing counsel, or by the next matter being called. Maamla Legal Hai won’t teach you trial procedure, but it will show you what it is like to stand in a district court corridor watching your matter get adjourned because the file is missing. I have literally had my junior dig through a client’s office recently to put one back together. That’s not comedy. That’s practice. That’s my Tuesday.”