Shillong: Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere challenged law students to look past big paychecks. She spoke Tuesday at North-Eastern Hill University in Shillong during the 3rd NEHU National Moot Court Competition, 2026. The event drew 36 teams from 18 states to the Golden Jubilee Auditorium. She told the crowd, "Do not aim to be only successful lawyers but useful lawyers. Success follows, but usefulness remains."
Dere pressed students to commit to pro bono work and hold firm to their constitutional duties. She pushed them to scrap rote memorization in favor of sharp, fearless reasoning. Keep it brief. Stay humble. Advocacy demands strict discipline and etiquette, she noted. The Chief Justice reminded the room that the law is a public service, not just a way to make money.
Justice Hamarsan Singh Thangkhiew echoed these sentiments. He listed punctuality, integrity, and focus on detail as the building blocks of a career. He warned students against leaning too hard on artificial intelligence. They must sharpen their own analytical skills, he said, because "This profession always rewards persistence."
Acting Vice Chancellor Prof S.K. Barik praised the value of sincerity in legal training. Dr. R.K. Mishra, head of the law department, noted that moot courts give students vital courtroom experience. The NEHU Moot Court Society organized the event under Student Convenor Martin Warjri. Preliminary rounds start on September 30.
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