‘Don’t wait to be chosen’: Judiciary, academia, Bar urge women in law to rewrite the rules

“Break the mould, claim the stage, and define your own path.”

This was the united message from the judiciary, academia and Bar at a thought-provoking panel discussion on ‘Unconventional Advocacy and the Path Ahead for Women’ held at Law Bhawan on Saturday. Judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, senior academics and advocates called on women in law not to wait for traditional routes or institutional nods, but to seize space, trust their merit, and reshape the legal profession through bold visibility, unflinching self-belief, and collective upliftment.

The panel comprised Justice Meenakshi I Mehta, Justice Vinod S Bhardwaj, Justice Pankaj Jain, Dr Shruti Bedi (Director of the University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS), Panjab University) and advocate Rameeza Hakeem. The session was organised by the Indian Women Commercial Dispute Resolution (IWICDR).

Justice Mehta delivered a deeply personal address, recalling her appointment as the first woman judicial officer posted in Sirsa at a time when women, especially from marginalised backgrounds, were barely seen in robes.

“One does not have to choose between personal fulfilment and professional ambition,” she said. Urging women lawyers to embrace non-traditional roles, she stressed the importance of creativity, confidence, and balance.

“Balance is not just possible — it is essential,” she said.

Justice Bhardwaj turned the lens on men in the legal ecosystem, urging them to be “active agents of change.”

“Change begins at home,” he said, adding that gender equality in law means trusting women with the same risks, responsibilities, and leadership roles as their male peers.

“To uplift is to trust,” he said, calling for mentorship and confidence-building.

Justice Pankaj Jain addressed the pressing issue of visibility.

“Be more present. Step forward,” he told women lawyers, revealing that several of the amicus curiae he has appointed have been women.

“Don’t call her a great female lawyer,” Justice Jain added. “Say she is a great lawyer — period.”

Dr Shruti Bedi underlined the role of educational institutions in dismantling biases. She detailed initiatives at Panjab University that ensure gender-neutral platforms for legal reasoning and leadership.

Advocate Rameeza Hakeem spoke of institutional faith finally shifting in favour of women in law.

“There were days I wanted to walk away. But I stayed headstrong,” she said, striking a chord with many young lawyers in the audience.

She adviced, “The ground will hold you — if you hold your ground.”

The event concluded with a question and answer session, marking the discussion as both a mirror and a roadmap for the future of women in Indian advocacy.