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Lawyers’ Fraternity Tamil Nadu (LFTN), an initiative of Legal Action Advocacy Service (LAAS), Madurai has been successful in bringing out an initiative for those advocates and associated members to vent out their crisis and circumstances they have faced during the lockdown season. LFTN in association with Indian social institute (ISI), Bengaluru has prepared a report "Corona unlocks: The Vulnerabilities of Advocates".
In the past the LAAS has been bringing together the concerns of advocates related to socio-political and legal issues. As per the surveys conducted before formation of this report, a considerable percentage of lawyers’ fraternity were facing issues related to financial vulnerability and impact on legal profession.
The report was released by Justice D Hariparanthaman, former Judge of the Madras High Court. This report is prepared by Dr Adv Joseph Xavier SJ and Adv Santhanam SJ to highlight the report on financially distressed advocates and put forth recommendation in order to cure this situation.
The report begins by stating certain objectives which basically includes the financial impact, the adaptation of e filing and videoconferencing facilities during the lockdown, the steps taken by the bar council and the Tamil Nadu government to improve the current situation.
Further the report mentions about the survey conducted between the age and gender gaps in the lawyers’ fraternity which stated out of 170 respondents about 145 were male advocates and only 25 were women. This survey was conducted to put forth serious questions arising regarding the gender biased professionalism.
There are bar diagrams in the reports stating the financial and earning vulnerability report which stated About 113 (66.5%) respondents stated that they were independently earning through their professional services; whereas 30 (17.6%) respondents received monthly or periodic payments as they were attached to law offices, firms, and banks or worked as counsels to institutions.
About 27 (15.9%) were appointed as juniors without regular income, as they survived on small tips received from clients for court filings, case follow up etc.
The main concerns were raised while projecting the survey on how these advocates are surviving this corona phase as the physical attendance of courts are suspended and how are they responding to the process of online court proceedings through video conferencing and e filing of court fees.
Many of them although with limited resources have successfully adapted to these changes and about 29.4% have survived by taking loans and selling jewellery to sustain their livelihood.
The report further gores on by stating the efforts taken by the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (BCTN&P) and has stated few recommendations for the state and advocates fraternity to take serious majors for the same.
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