Ajay Awasthi, a litigator practicing in the Supreme Court of India, spoke to the firm’s young associates on the ‘Art of Brief Preparation for Arguments’ in an interactive webinar organized by ALG on July 24, 2020. Ajay has previously worked in the chambers of Senior Advocates Mr. Pravin H. Parekh and Mr. Ram Jethmalani.
He shared practical pointers on factors to be kept in mind while arguing a matter before the court, including the manner in which to maintain one’s brief, with all orders and applications maintained chronologically, with flags and pagination to enable speedy identification of the right documents while arguing.
He shared with the audience that the brief must be read cover to cover, with a critical approach, and that one should try to anticipate as much as possible the arguments that may be raised by the opposite party or the court. He mentioned how in his experience reading the brief multiple times can help discovering fresh aspects.
Ajay mentioned that the importance of thorough research could not be over emphasised, particularly the importance of ensuring familiarity with all case laws which may potentially support the other side’s case. He talked about how best to present one’s arguments in the limited time that may be available, and how one can be well-prepared.
He also shared some interesting anecdotes from his own years in Court, and shared his views on the challenges anticipated in virtual cross-examinations in video conferencing hearings, including the possibilities of witness tutoring.
ALG thanks Ajay for taking out the time to share his thoughts and experiences.