K Enatoli Sema shares insights for aspiring advocates

1. K Enatoli Sema
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• DIMAPUR — Having grown up in an environment where courtroom conversations and legal jargon were part of daily life, 45-year-old K Enatoli Sema’s journey into law felt more organic than planned. 
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• She began her schooling at Little Flower School, Kohima, before moving to Kohima English School (now Mezhür Higher Secondary School), where she studied till Class 8. She then attended the Convent of Jesus & Mary, Shimla, for classes 9 and 10. 
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• For her pre-university studies, she joined Mount Carmel College, Bangalore, while considering an application to National Law School. Unsure about pursuing law at the time, she opted for a BA at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, and later enrolled at Campus Law Centre to study law.
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• Having grown up surrounded by leather-bound law reports and conversations about courtrooms, lawyers, and circuit benches, the idea of pursuing law was always in the background for her. Her decision to join Campus Law Centre (CLC) was more organic than intentional. Like many teenagers of that time, she also considered the civil services and took a gap year after joining CLC to prepare for the examination and reflect on her future path.
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• After a year of reflection, she realised that a career in the civil services was not something she truly envisioned for herself, which led her to return to CLC. However, it was only after she began practising as a lawyer that she felt certain of her calling. 

Also read: Dr. Sosang Longkumer’s take on mushroom farming as a career

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• Her first case as a law graduate involved representing a woman from the north-east who had been denied entry to a lounge based on her identity. It was likely the first case of its kind challenging racial profiling, drawing public support and media attention. 
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• During her university years in the late 1990s and early 2000s, discrimination against people from the north-east was widespread but largely ignored or accepted. This case offered her a first glimpse of the law’s power as a tool for change.
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• It was, however, a tragic race-based attack that led to the death of a youth from Arunachal Pradesh which marked a turning point. The Delhi High Court took up the case suo motu, leading to landmark reforms in the NCR region. As a result of the court’s intervention, individuals and communities from the north-east continue to benefit from dedicated services such as special units of the Delhi Police, an exclusive helpline, and several other positive measures, including access to legal aid.
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• Now serving as the Standing Counsel for the State of Nagaland in the Supreme Court of India, Enatoli, in this interview with Eastern Mirror, offers insights into the legal profession for young readers aspiring to study law.
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• How would you explain the role of an advocate to young readers interested in law?
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• I am sure many have heard and read that law is a noble profession, and I would like to reiterate that old saying. Advocates are an integral part of the justice system. Justice is not a vague concept; it is the role of advocates to make justice a reality and give life and meaning to this idea. When a person has been wronged and approaches an advocate with their case, it is the advocate's responsibility to be their voice and present the case to the best of their ability.
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• What educational qualifications are needed to become an advocate?
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• There are two options available: one can pursue law after completing the 12th standard examination or after obtaining a BA degree.
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• Which subjects or disciplines in school would you recommend students focus on if they want to pursue law later?
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• There is no hard and fast rule since law is a dynamic subject. Normally, a person in the humanities stream would opt to take up law. But that does not stop a student from the science or commerce background from also considering studying law. There are advocates I know who have studied engineering and have studied law after their degree. There are also many chartered accountants who have decided to study law after getting their CA certification. I also know of many who, after retirement, have studied law. Law as a subject is accommodating; what is important is the interest in the subject.

1. At the Supreme Court library.

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• What is the admission process like for law colleges, and how can students prepare for it?
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• Most, if not all, colleges have entrance exams. The national law schools have a common entrance exam which is akin to the entrance exams for medical and engineering courses.
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• What are some common misconceptions about being an advocate that you would like to address?
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• It is not mandatory for every advocate who obtains a degree to practise in court; in fact, litigation is one of the many areas available for a legal professional. There are several career options available: one can join a firm that does purely corporate work; there are many NGOs who require the services of an advocate; the other option is to join companies as legal consultants; and a law graduate also has the option of joining international organisations like the UN.
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• How has technology changed the legal profession, and what digital skills should students develop?
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• Technology has certainly changed the entire canvas of the modern world, and the legal profession is no exception. Almost all courts in the country are moving towards becoming digital. One will have to equip oneself to know basic computer skills, to adapt to using soft copies of documents as opposed to physical files, and to learn basic skills, from setting up online meetings to scanning documents.
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• How do you stay updated on new laws, amendments, or legal precedents, and how can students cultivate this habit?
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• The internet has come a long way in bridging the gap when it comes to availability of information. The issue perhaps is overload of information and exercising discretion while making the choice. There are apps like Live Law and Bar & Bench that focus primarily on everyday legal reporting. One can also subscribe to platforms like the Supreme Court Observer (SCO), which does in-depth reporting of cases being heard or handled by the Supreme Court on a weekly basis.
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• What key message would you like to leave with students who dream of becoming advocates?
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• Like any serious profession, law is demanding, but it is also fulfilling. To study law, your heart must be in the right place. To pursue and practice law, you will have to be convicted of your calling and willing to go the extra mile. For a state like Nagaland, where the concepts of rule of law, justice delivery system, and judiciary as an institution are evolving and at a nascent stage, there is a great need for young minds who are committed, hard-working, and passionate. If one has the desire to play a part towards the progress and development of a matured society, to create a more equitable society where there is more law and order and less disorder and chaos, the legal profession can forge that path.

1. With colleagues outside the High Court building in Aizawl.

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• RAPID INSIGHTS
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• If you could master any musical instrument instantly, which would it be?
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• Cello because I find jazz soothing.
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• Which fictional character from a film or book inspires you the most?
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• The character of John Keating played by Robin Williams in the movie Dead Poets Society.
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• Do you have a personal motto or mantra that keeps you motivated?
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• Romans 8:28-29.