Indian Lawyers Association
300 chapters nationwide representing 1.3 million lawyers
The World’s Largest Lawyer Organization
Amit is President for ILA Pune and Prayank is Vice President for ILA Pune
A hearty welcome to ILA,
The Indian Lawyers Association (“ILA”) is a voluntary professional organization for the legal professionals of India. Membership is open to lawyers, judges, professors, law students, and others interested in the law and the legal profession. The ILA has been formed to shape the future of the legal profession throughout India.
As an essential ally and advocate for members of the legal profession, the ILA is committed to enable opportunities for quality professional development, support the enhancement of equality in the legal profession, promote the delivery of justice, facilitate effective law reforms, and advance the rule of law throughout India.
ILA aims to support the legal profession by offering access to practical resources for legal professionals to help improve the administration of justice, establish ethical codes, and develop a professional network. ILA promotes an exchange of information between the hundreds of ILA Chapters nationwide.
Growth of the ILA has been spurred by the tremendous growth of the Indian economy and the legal profession. As companies and businesses worldwide become more deeply involved in the Indian economy, they require expert legal assistance and guidance from lawyers in India as well as from Indian lawyers across borders. The ILA helps lawyers to keep abreast of business and legal developments that affect their clients. More importantly, the ILA offers valuable opportunities for business lawyers to network with each other and with other lawyers and professionals in related fields of practice and business.
The ILA Chapters hold a monthly meeting third Thursday of every month at 6 PM in their respective cities. These monthly meetings are an opportunity for local members to meet up and discuss ideas and thoughts and listen to guest speakers. Such meetings afford ILA members the opportunity to become acquainted with the Indian legal systems, lawyers and key leaders in the country.
The ILA organizes an Annual General Meeting and Conference which provides a unique opportunity for lawyers to discuss legal, business and policy issues affecting India and cross-border business involving India, in a manner that fosters collegiality and development of relationships to enhance the legal practice through professional networking. These annual meetings and conferences are held in different jurisdictions.
Aims & Objectives of ILA
Goal I: Serve Our Members.
1. Provide benefits, programs and services which promote members’ professional growth and quality of life.
2. To provide mentorship and support for our regional chapters, and its members.
3. To provide a platform for networking and professional development opportunities for individual law students and lawyers.
Goal II: Improve Our Profession.
1. Promote the highest quality legal education.
2. Promote competence, ethical conduct and professionalism.
3. Promote pro bono and public service by the legal profession.
4. Raise the repute of the profession of Law
Goal III: Eliminate Bias and Enhance Diversity.
1. Promote full and equal participation in the association, our profession, and the justice system by all persons.
2. Eliminate bias in the legal profession and the justice system.
Goal IV: Advance the Rule of Law.
1. Increase public understanding of, and respect for, the rule of law, the legal process, and the role of the legal profession at home and throughout the world.
2. Hold governments accountable under law.
3. Work for just laws, including human rights, and a fair legal process.
4. Assure meaningful access to justice for all persons.
5. Preserve the independence of the legal profession and the judiciary.
6. Provide access to a network of pro bono services.
ILA is governed by its Executive Committee
1. President
2. President-Elect
3. CFO
4. General Counsel
5. Vice-President, Annual Convention
6. Vice-President, Membership
7. Vice-President, Chapters (North)
8. Vice-President, Chapters (East)
9. Vice-President, Chapters (South)
10. Vice-President, Chapters (West)
11. Vice-President, Chapters (Central)
12. Vice-President, Technology
13. Vice-President, Committees
14. Vice-President, Special Events
15. Vice-President, Publicity
16. Vice-President, Law Students
COMMITTEES
The substantive work of the ILA is undertaken by its various committees. The members of ILA have the opportunity to contribute to the development of the organization and its initiatives. ILA members can choose to join up to three committees on which to participate. New committees may be formed as legal practice areas emerge or evolve or organizational development occur.
ILA has specialist committees covering all areas of law that members can join:
1. Anti-Corruption and the Rule of Law
2. APEC
3. Arbitration & ADR
4. Aviation Law
5. Banking, Finance and Securities
6. Bankruptcy
7. Competition Law
8. Corporate Law
9. Criminal
10. Cross-Border Investment
11. Employment Law
12. Energy & Natural Resources
13. Environmental Law
14. Family Law
15. In House Counsel
16. Infrastructure
17. Insurance
18. Intellectual Property
19. International Construction Projects
20. International Trade
21. Judges
22. Law Students
23. Legal Development and Training
24. Lobbying
25. Mergers & Acquisitions
26. Marketing Your Practice
27. Maritime Law
28. Practice Management
29. Pro Bono & Legal-Aid
30. Scholarship
31. Supreme Court Practice
32. Tax Law
33. Technology, Media & Telecommunications
34. Women Lawyers
CHAPTER GOVERNING COUNCIL
Each chapter will have its own Governing Council as follows:
1. President
2. President-Elect
3. Vice-President Monthly Events
4. Vice-President Membership
5. Vice-President Pro Bono
6. Vice-President Committees
7. Vice-President Publicity
8. Vice-President Special Events
9. Vice-President Annual Conference
10. Vice-President Advancement of Law
11. Vice-President Continuing Legal Education
12. Vice-President Website
13. Vice-President Young Lawyers
14. Secretary
15. Treasurer
16. Law Students Coordinator
EVENTS CHAPTERS HOLD
1. Monthly event on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 6 PM
2. Law firm mixers hosted by a member at their firm
3. Weekend lunch or dinner hosted by a member
4. Meet with a Judge evening
5. Chai & Samosas hosted by a Corporate Counsel at his or her work place
6. Weekday lunch at a restaurant, for a group of attorneys that work close to each other
7. Continue Education on new laws
8. Summer Picnic
9. Weekday evening cocktails
10. A debate on a current or relevant topic
11. Social dinner and dance
12. Republic Day January 26
13. Independence Day August 15
14. Constitution “Law” Day event November 26
15. Pro bono clinic
16. Free legal seminars on topics of general interest to the community
17. Holi, Diwali, New Year & other festival get together
18. Meetings with visiting dignitaries
19. Meetings with General Counsels
20. Meetings with Guest Speakers on a variety of topics
21. Mentor Mentee meetings
22. Helping hand to a local charity occasion
20. Joint events with other nearby chapters
23. Regional Chapters (East, West etc) joint event – once a year
24. Joint events with other associations, eg FICCI, CII, Assocham, Nasscom, TiE
25. Event to raise funds for scholarships to deserving law students
26. Annual One Day Long Seminar with keynote and panel speakers 5
27. Annual banquet & award ceremony
Indian Lawyers Association
Questions & Answers
Why Indian Lawyers Association?
At the end of the day it’s the law that creates a society. We are a large country with 1.3 billion people living in a diverse culture with many religions, languages, customs and practices. For us to live together as a society, we must have a very strong law and order system. For us to become a successful society where everyone is literate, no one is poor, businesses prosper, Governments function, there must be fairness, equality, and speedy justice for all. Law is the neutralizing force. Enforced law unclogs the arteries of commerce. Law allows entrepreneurs to take risks because at the end of the day they will be treated fairly. Laws followed allows the poor and unfortunate to become human beings. Law allows all 1.3 billion people of India to take care of their lives and become the caretakers to look after their society and surroundings and ultimately their country. It is law that keeps the three branches of the government in check and functioning optimally.
Since law plays such an important role in our society, it is equally important that the 1.3 million lawyers have an organization that unifies them and provides a platform in 100 plus cities where the members can network, exchange ideas, get a job or to hire someone, learn and teach, learn ways to create more wealth, and have a lot more fun in life.
How is ILA organized?
ILA is a society in India with its headquarters in New Delhi. ILA has 100 plus chapters in India. ILA has a professional board with a president, president-elect and many other board members. Each chapter of ILA has its own board, with a president, a president-elect and a dozen board members.
ILA Board Members
In ILA and its chapters, we get true professionals who want to help the legal profession of India. We need to uplift the image of lawyers, we want it to be a profession that youngsters want to join. We want it to be a profession of high ethics and morals. A profession that helps the society and upliftment of the country. ILA leaders are givers and donate their time and money to make the legal fraternity of their city stronger. Anyone can apply and get on the board of the ILA Chapters. Best way to get on the board is to first give to the chapter: volunteer and help the chapter with raising money, finding speakers, arranging events, mentoring youngsters, doing pro bono work, and serving on the committees of the chapter.
ILA is a professional body representing 1.3 million lawyers of India, and is run in a professional manner with absolute integrity and honesty. ILA leadership reflects the mature character of ILA. Our leaders are good lawyers that care immensely for the legal profession in India. Our leaders believe in giving and contributing back to the society.
What is the role of a Chapter President?
The ILA president’s term is of a short tenure. One year as president-elect and one year as president. The presidents come in and give their 110%, and step aside and make room for others to carry the torch. The president is responsible for overall supervision and control of all functions of the Chapter, and ensure that the Chapter stays very active. One of the prized jobs in a nonprofit is that of a past president as they remain ambassadors of ILA and can do as much or as little as they want. A sign of a good organization is when all the past presidents are involved to ensure the continued success of the organization that they love.
The president leads the board which includes a president-elect, a secretary, treasurer, and a vice president for each one of the functions of ILA.
How often will the Chapters meet?
The chapters have full freedom to schedule their meetings as often as they would like. The only thing that ILA National requests of its chapters is that they must meet on the third Thursday of every month no matter what. Whether it’s three lawyers meeting or 300, whether it is at a hotel or restaurant or in the park or someone’s home or office, but a meeting must happen. Monthly meeting keeps the oxygen flowing for the organization and the most beautiful thing is that the 1.3 million lawyers of India know that on the third Thursday of every month at 6 PM in their city, a party will go on no matter what.
ILA Chapters do many more events besides monthly meetings. ILA Chapters capitalize on every opportunity to hold a meeting. The committees of the ILA chapters hold their own meetings. The ILA website has 30 potential meeting ideas that every chapter can use as a guide. Some ILA Chapters do one-day conferences every quarter and annually.
Monthly Meetings
One of the ways some nonprofit organizations become ultra-successful is that they do their monthly events on a fixed schedule. The success comes from the fact that the organizations that don’t do their meetings on a planned basis end up having a meeting to just decide when, where and how to do the next event, and then end up doing only two or three events a year with low attendance.
With ILA, we will do an event on the third Thursday of every month at 6 PM for the next 100 years. Every lawyer in India – all 1.3 million of them – can put this monthly event on their calendar forever.
Third Thursday of every month
Business networking events are best done on weekdays and not weekends. Then it is the experience of most business organizations that the event not be done on Mondays and Fridays. Mondays because it’s a busy working day and Fridays because people start to have social commitments with their significant others and families.
That leaves us with Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. It’s our experience that Thursday is the best because people are generally already getting into the mode of a weekend and so the Thursday evenings are generally more pleasant and fun. The time of 6 PM was chosen because there are some people that would rather come early evening and be done before late evening and get home at a time that’s close to the time they generally get home. And those that want to come late can come later, and the meeting would still be going on.
Committees
Throughout the year the various committees of each ILA chapter and ILA National function independently and focus on the substantive practice areas and carry on the mission of ILA.
The committees allow lawyers from each city that have common interest to work together to exchange ideas, to benefit from each other ‘s experiences, and enjoy the social and professional exchange.
The committees are self-governing autonomous bodies and decide their own rules, procedures, and methods of communication. They also learn from the procedures laid out by the committees of other ILA Chapters.
We envision that close to 20,000 lawyers will be participating in the various committees across our hundred plus chapters.
Legal aid At times life is unfair, and bad things happen to everyone. The rich have access to law, lawyers, and the court system. The poor and illiterate do not even know about the protections of law, let alone have access to lawyers and the court system. ILA changes all of this. All 100 chapters of ILA have a pro bono division which informs the people of their city about the various laws and the protection the laws offer. And, each chapter has an army of lawyers who are committed to make their city the best in the country by providing access to law to the poor and the unfortunate. Anyone who cannot afford a lawyer will be provided a lawyer through their local ILA chapter. We are extremely grateful to the hundreds of lawyers who have decided to donate and devote a part of their life to help the unfortunate members of their society.
ILA and professional development
The local chapters of ILA provide many continuing education opportunities. They do monthly, quarterly, and annual seminars providing learning in every area of law.
Experienced lawyers, judges, motivational speakers, and guest speakers speak on a variety of topics related to every aspect of business.
What kind of support can young lawyers get from ILA?
The younger members of the profession are huge fans of ILA because it is the only place in their city where they can rub shoulders with senior members of their profession. At ILA they can find mentors, get suggestions, learn from others who have blazed the trail before them, and find full time work or temporary assignments. They can find others to start their practice with. They can find motivation, and secrets of the trade.
ILA will work with the universities and law schools to coordinate mentoring of students. ILA will also work with law schools and help their students find internships. ILA also welcomes interns and young lawyers to participate in ILA on a volunteer basis.
ILA Membership Dues
ILA is a membership organization and each Chapter will decide its membership dues.
Ultimately, most ILA Chapters should have a membership fee. Each ILA Chapter needs to figure out what works for them because every city in India is so different. So, feel free to experiment, ask lawyers in your city, ask your board, and try a few different things.
To begin with maybe take it easy, and build up a database of a few lawyers, and maybe do the first year at no charge, or keep a reduced fee.
A lot of lawyers’ associations also have a lifetime fee. One flat amount and no more billing. Some have 2-year, 5-year fixed rates.
There are some arguments in favor of not having any membership dues in this new world. Some associations complain that the amount of money they collect on membership is not worth the effort it takes to have a membership fee, and then to invoice members, collect, process and to remind members to pay the invoices every year.
Also, the issue is that whenever the lawyers’ associations do an event, only 2-3-4-5% of the membership shows up. And if the membership is not large, then the events are not well attended, and if the events are not well attended, then the speakers are not happy. So to drive attendance, have no membership fee; every lawyer in the city is a member by default; invite everyone and then make each event financially self-sustaining.
Finances
The ILA and its chapters will generate their revenue from membership dues, advertisements on their website, national sponsors, local sponsors, and monthly-quarterly-annual events, sponsorships of events, and the annual convention.
ILA National convention December 7-9, 2018
ILA’s first annual convention is on December 7-9, 2018 in New Delhi. ILA will feature keynote speakers, plenary sessions, and 21 breakout sessions on the following topics: corporate law, tax, intellectual property, real estate, media and entertainment, Litigation, bankruptcy, banking, family law, franchising, private equity transactions, criminal law, in house counsel session, pro bono & legal aid, how to run your law practice, how to become a partner, how to become a judge, how to market your law firm, how to succeed in politics, Supreme Court important decisions of 2018, and how to become a successful lawyer. And, of course the ILA convention will have lots of food and drinks, and entertainment.
ILA Members
The lawyer members of ILA live by a shared values and beliefs as follows:
1. Taking care of their clients is the first duty.
2. Honesty and integrity before anything else. ILA members maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct, and encourage other lawyers to do the same.
3. Honest and transparent billing and charges to clients, with fee agreements in writing.
4. Act pleasant and dignified, and refrain from all illegal and morally reprehensible conduct.
5. Be respectful to judges, the courts, opposing counsel, and opposing parties. Every person should be treated with respect and dignity.
6. Doing everything possible to resolve current matters that are stuck in court for years and reducing the backlog of 27 million cases. ILA members are treating this as an emergency and committed to resolving all 27 million pending cases by 2022.
7. Settling legal disputes as much as possible by using alternative dispute resolution methods before seeking the intervention of courts and clogging the Indian court system even more.
8. Dedicating their life to learning and uplifting the profession of law
9. Committing to a life of giving and sharing. To whom much is given much is expected in return.
10. Rendering required legal services to those who cannot afford to pay.
