Young lawyer pens practical drafting guide for beginners

A year after completing her BBA-LLB from Bennett University, Meher Sachdev has authored a practical handbook for young lawyers stepping into courtrooms. Titled Court Ready: Drafting Edition, the book serves as a ready reckoner offering a wide range of draft formats and practical insights drawn from real cases.

A third-generation lawyer, Meher launched her book last week in the presence of her parents—lawyer couple Mandeep Sachdev and Samrata Sachdeva. “Even my grandfather, Gurdeep S Sachdev, was a renowned lawyer. With three lawyers in the family, I feel the law is ingrained in me,” she said.

Meher has been practising in the district courts and the Punjab and Haryana High Court over the past year. It was during this period that she noticed a common struggle among young members of the legal fraternity—drafting case documents. “Good drafting is the foundation of any case,” she noted. “I realised my college had trained me well in drafting, unlike many other institutions in the region. That became the motivation for writing this book.”

The book includes specimen drafts for various types of criminal, civil and matrimonial cases. “The formats cover almost all types of applications, many of which are actual tried-and-tested drafts. I’ve also included terminology used in revenue cases, which can be particularly useful for young lawyers,” Meher explained, adding that it took her eight months to complete the manuscript.

In addition to being a practising lawyer and author, Meher has also been delivering guest lectures on legal topics at various law schools. “I was especially honoured to deliver a lecture at my alma mater. That was a special moment for me,” she shared. “I’ve sold 400 copies in just one week,” Meher said. “Lawyers from Jalandhar, Patiala, Chandigarh and Amritsar Bar Associations have purchased the book. My publisher, Paramjoti Publications, is currently in talks with several institutes to include the book in their curriculum.”