Adv. Anugya Jain
Q. Could you take us back to the beginning of your journey? What inspired you to pursue law, and what eventually led you to practice in the Delhi Courts and appear before the Supreme Court of India?
I didn't come to law through one big moment. I came here from many small ones: watching people around me feel helpless because they didn't understand a notice, a police procedure, or their own rights. For most, these are frightening, mostly because nobody explained it to them. I kept noticing that the law and the lawyer existed to protect people, but most people were scared and apprehensive of it. That gap stayed with me.
During law school itself, I started litigation practice in Delhi through internships; that was my real education. Delhi is probably the toughest and the most diverse place to learn in the country. In a single day, you can be in a Family Court in the morning, arguing a criminal matter in the High Court by afternoon, and drafting for the Supreme Court at night. That variety shaped me. Over time, my practice grew across matrimonial and family law, criminal law, consumer disputes, civil, and property matters. Appearing before the Supreme Court came as a natural step, but my foundation is still the trial courts, because that's where people's lives actually change.
Q. You describe yourself as a "Lawyer by Profession, Changemaker by Purpose." What does being a changemaker mean to you?
For me, a changemaker is not someone who makes grand speeches. It's someone who makes the system a little less intimidating for the next person.
In practice, that shows up in simple ways. That means explaining every step to my clients so they aren't just signing papers they don't understand. It means taking up pro bono matters when the purpose runs far deeper than any fee could ever reflect. It means working outside the courtroom too, through speaking on alternate measures of dispute resolution, spreading awareness on legal rights, and contributing to the meaningful work carried out by many NGOs.
The law is a tool. To me, being a changemaker means making sure that tool reaches people who need it, and not only those who can afford it.
Q. What inspired you to take your legal knowledge to social media and what has this journey taught you?
It was the realisation that I faced the same questions from different clients, again and again. Can the police refuse my FIR? What do I do with a legal notice? What are my rights if I'm stopped on the road? What do I do after I graduate law school? If thousands of people have the same question, one reel can answer it better than a thousand individual conversations.
So I started @advocate_anugya with a simple rule: be accurate first, engaging second, but always both. My series like "How to Sue Someone Correctly" walk people through the actual civil process, step by step, and "Main Hoon Na" takes everyday problems and breaks down the law behind them. I also focus on creating content for law students and young lawyers to navigate them in their journey forward.
The biggest lesson has been that people genuinely want to understand the law, as long as you speak their language. The second lesson is responsibility. When lakhs of people watch something, a wrong section or a careless claim can mislead someone in a real crisis. So I check every word as carefully as a court filing.
Q. What legal rights or misconceptions should young people be more aware of?
The young today are breaking ceilings and making us proud. They are building startups, leading movements, and speaking up in ways my generation hesitated to. Yet something is still missing: most of them meet the law for the first time only after a crisis, never before.
The biggest misconception I see is that law is only for lawyers, courtrooms, and just somebody else. It isn't. The law is present in the rent agreement you sign, the post you share, the job offer you accept, and the choices you make about your own life and relationships. When you don't know your rights, the cost isn't just legal. You lose confidence, you stay silent when you should speak, and you sign things you should have questioned.
The other misconception is that asking makes you look weak or difficult. It's the opposite. Someone who asks "what are my options?" is not being difficult. They are being informed.
I don't expect young people to memorize statutes. I want them to carry one belief: you are allowed to ask, to say no, and to seek help early, before a small problem becomes a big one. Awareness is the first form of protection; and it costs nothing. Know the law and you'll find you have far more space than you thought.
Q. What has litigation taught you about confidence, persistence and finding your voice?
The courtroom teaches you very quickly that confidence doesn't come from sounding loud. It comes from preparation. When you know your file better than anyone in the room, your voice steadies on its own.
Persistence is the other half. Litigation is slow. Matters get adjourned, dates shift, and some cases run for years. You learn to show up with the same energy on the fiftieth hearing as on the first, because your client is counting on you.
Finding my voice meant accepting that I don't have to be anyone except myself.
My advice to young lawyers: read the file, respect the court, stand your ground politely, bring your own style, don't imitate anyone, and never feel you have to earn your seat. You already have it.
Q. Is there a book, film, series, or content you would recommend?
The Key to Indian Practice by Mulla. Every civil suit in India is won or lost on procedure long before on merit. This book breaks those rules down into something a young lawyer can actually understand and use in court the very next morning.
Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai (2023). I loved watching this. It shows how a single lawyer, armed with preparation and persistence, can change someone's life when that person needs a voice most. It's a reminder that this profession is, at its heart, about standing up for someone who doesn't need to stand alone.
Suits (S1 & S2). Though I must admit, Harvey and Mike make practice look far easier and glossier than it is, and the real Indian courtroom is nothing like it. But it's the show I watched as a young law aspirant and it excited me about this path. Sometimes that spark matters more than accuracy. The real work then teaches you the rest.
@advocate_anugya on Instagram & YouTube. Because it's made with heart and you will walk away feeling a little more of a lot of things. Together, they show all the sides of this profession: the reality of the system, the individual journey, the aspirational practice, and the purpose behind it all.
BIO
Advocate Anugya Jain is a litigation counsel practicing before the Supreme Court of India, Delhi High Court, and various trial courts across criminal, matrimonial, consumer, and civil disputes. A dedicated legal educator, she uses her digital platform to demystify Indian law, break down procedural rights, and mentor law students and young practitioners. Through pro bono advocacy, public speaking, and digital outreach, she works to make legal awareness accessible and empower people to understand and claim their rights.
Interviewed By Ritika Tawar
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