In conversation with Advocate Talha Rahman on his book In Chambers and Beyond

“Advocacy is a demanding profession. There is only so far and so many people I can reach physically, but a book can travel where I cannot.”

Introduction

From the lanes of Faizabad to the halls of Oxford and the courts of Delhi, Advocate Talha Abdul Rahman has charted a remarkable journey to become a distinguished Advocate-on-Record at the Supreme Court of India. A proud alumnus of National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) University of Law, Hyderabad, where he graduated with multiple gold medals, he went on to pursue the prestigious Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) at Oxford University as a Shell Chevening Scholar, adding a global perspective to his practice and emerging as one of the most dynamic voices in the Indian legal fraternity.

Beyond his illustrious litigation career, he is also an accomplished author. His book, In Chambers: A Young Lawyer’s Guide to Practice, Ethics and Advocacy, serves as a practical and insightful handbook for budding lawyers entering the world of litigation. With a foreword by former Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium, the book demystifies the functioning of courts and chambers, while offering young practitioners valuable guidance on professional ethics, courtroom conduct and client interactions.

1. Please introduce yourself to our readers.

I am Talha Abdul Rahman, an Advocate-on-Record at the Supreme Court of India — and a perpetual student of law. My journey from a small town of Faizabad (now Ayodhya) to Delhi, via NALSAR-Oxford and now to the courtroom, has been shaped by curiosity, gratitude, and a constant desire to learn.

2. From Faizabad to Oxford to Delhi — how has geography shaped your understanding of justice and access to law?

Growing up in Faizabad, I witnessed firsthand how politics can divide communities while people’s struggles remain the same: access to dignity, livelihood and fairness. That early exposure taught me empathy and the emotional intelligence that now fuels my passion for law. My time at Oxford expanded that perspective, showing me how justice systems worldwide grapple with similar challenges, while my practice in Delhi reaffirmed that what binds people is their faith that law can heal, and that justice, if made to work, can transform lives.

3. You have been running your chambers for quite a while now, where you have mentored a number of juniors. How did you come to identify your personal calling to stand for the people who do not find a seat at the table? And what is that one thing that keeps you going?

Very early in my life, I saw how the law often overlooks those who need it the most. From Faizabad to Delhi, that reality never changed and people at the margins rarely have a seat at the table, yet they carry the greatest faith in justice. If I give up, they will too. It is something that keeps my chin-up every single day.

Mentoring juniors and interns — and building a chamber that takes on such causes was never a strategy; it was a calling shaped by those experiences.

What keeps me going is the belief that even if I can make a positive impact on just one life, it matters. Despite odds, I have the hope that the law can still heal and uplift, and it is that faith that drives me every single day.

4. Was there ever a moment in your career when you felt utterly lost, and how did you navigate out of it?

Yes, there were several moments. I started from scratch in 2009 at AZB, again in 2012 when I moved to Lucknow, and once more in 2013 when I shifted to Delhi. Each transition was daunting, but resilience and hard work kept me steady. Along the way, I was fortunate to find generous mentors who guided me, teaching me that rebuilding is not failure — it is growth in disguise. My immense faith keeps me going. Me, teaching me that rebuilding is not failure — it is growth in disguise. My immense faith keeps me going.

5. If you could rewrite one rule in the Bar Council Code of Ethics, what would you change and why?

I would not rewrite a rule — I would add one. Too much of our profession is steeped in quiet sycophancy: lawyers choosing their briefs, selecting their words, even their silences, to please. A lawyer is first and foremost an officer of the court — and a representative of his client, and that independence is too precious to compromise. I would add explanations to the rule that expressly encourage advocates to speak truthfully, take up any brief without fear of perception, and criticise even judicial actions when warranted — because the integrity of justice depends on a fearless Bar.

6. What inspired you to write “In Chambers: A Young Lawyer’s Guide to Practice, Ethics and Advocacy”? What did the writing process look like for you, and how did you balance your advocacy with writing?

The inspiration came from the many conversations I have had with young lawyers and students who felt unprepared for the realities of legal practice. I have often thought — what if someone had told me these things early on? That gap between legal education and actual courtroom experience is vast, and In Chambers is my effort to bridge that divide.

The writing process was less of a linear task and more of an accumulation — drawn from long nights, reflections on cases, mistakes made, lessons learnt, and interactions with juniors in chambers. I wrote in fragments and stitched everything together.

Advocacy is a demanding profession. There is only so far and so many people I can reach physically, but a book can travel where I cannot. It allows me to share what I have learnt, at scale, and in a manner that lasts. Despite its limitations, a book can speak when I am not in the room — and that is what keeps it alive.

7. In the opening chapters, you focus on the courtroom mindset. What made you choose this to be a starting point for your book?

I began with the courtroom mindset because it is the mental and emotional space where a young lawyer either builds their foundation or breaks down. It is the foundation of the life ahead. If you enter with the right mindset, one that values observation, preparation, and patience then you begin to understand that advocacy is not about loudness but clarity, not about appearances but substance.

Besides, the profession is a long-term relationship with resilience and hard work.

8. Your book “In Chambers: A Young Lawyer’s Guide to Practice, Ethics and Advocacy” talks about bridging the classroom and courtroom — what is one habit every law student should drop immediately, and one they should pick up?

One habit to drop is the constant urge to multitask or having “hustles” — it scatters focus that the law needs. Multitasking fractures your thinking — you cannot build a clear chain of thought or anticipate counterarguments if your mind is split between tasks. Constant interruptions or frequent breaks erode the deep focus needed to truly understand a case or strategy.

One habit to pick up is deep work: doing one thing at a time and giving it your complete attention, whether it is reading a judgment, drafting, or simply observing a courtroom. That discipline builds clarity and mastery.

9. In your book, you offer a practical roadmap for young and first-generation lawyers entering the profession. From your perspective, what are some of the most common mistakes that young lawyers make in the profession?

One of the most common mistakes young lawyers make — especially those from non-legal backgrounds — is trying too hard to prove themselves too quickly. There is an urgency to be seen, to get a “big matter”, to speak in court, to impress. But litigation is a slow discipline. It requires patience, consistency, and most importantly, the ability to listen before speaking.

Second, many young lawyers underestimate the value of deep work. In an age of multitasking and constant distraction, they struggle to sit with a file long enough to truly understand its structure, its weaknesses, and what it demands of them. Reading case law is not the same as understanding it in context. Building the ability to think clearly, to write coherently, and to construct arguments slowly is what makes a good lawyer. It is not glamorous, but it is essential.

Third, some confuse advocacy with aggression. Civility, humility, and respect for the institution are not signs of weakness. The courtroom is not a theatre of ego, but a space of persuasion. Judges remember lawyers who are prepared, courteous, and precise far more than those who are loud or performative.

Lastly, there is a tendency to think one must have it all figured out early. But this is a profession where you grow into your voice. The first five years should be spent learning — absorbing styles, watching arguments, and developing judgment. Mistakes are inevitable. What matters is whether you have the humility to learn from them.

10. Looking back at your career, what have been your most fulfilling moments and challenging experiences? How did these shape your professional growth?

Some of the most fulfilling moments in my career have come from the quiet victories — when a family avoided eviction, when a wrongly accused person walked free, or when a court order offered dignity to someone the system had ignored. These may not always make the headlines, but they remind me why I chose this path. Knowing that the law can still protect, still empower, is deeply affirming.

The most challenging experiences have involved helplessness: standing before a Judge and realising that the law, however strong on paper, is being disregarded in spirit. The unwillingness of the Judge to hear, because he made up his mind while reading the brief at his residence, is what hurts the most.

My experiences have shaped me in two ways. First, they have sharpened my sense of responsibility. It is not just to represent a client, but to bear witness. Second, they have humbled me. Law is not always about winning. Sometimes, it is about holding the line, even if you are the only one standing there. What sustains me is the belief that even a single act of fairness can ripple outward.

11. What is one piece of advice you would give to legal professionals intending to get into writing?

Keep it simple. Legal writing often slips into the trap of performance, where clarity is sacrificed for cleverness. Resist that. If your writing feels honest, accessible, and grounded in lived experience, it will always find an audience. Also, I feel that writing is therapeutic, and writing brings a lot of clarity. Try it.

“The courtroom is not a theatre of ego, but a space of persuasion. Judges remember lawyers who are prepared, courteous, and precise far more than those who are loud or performative.”

Advocate Talha Rahman, Author, In Chambers and Beyond