"A Loss for the Business, A Gain for the Profession"

We have recently welcomed a new intern, Mr. Ayman Ziyad. He is currently awaiting univeristy to publish his results and the Bar Council of Kerala’s election of new members and the announcement of the next enrollment schedule, hoping to be admitted as an advocate in the near future. Interestingly, from the day he joined law school, he maintained a backup plan: to shoulder the responsibilities of his family business.

It is by sheer coincidence that he became part of the core research team at the Project Complete Lawyer (PCL) Foundation, where we are researching and preparing a protocol for training undergraduates and fresh graduates. A question that immediately arises is: what is the role of a young law student in the preparation of a training manual? Is this not traditionally the domain of law scholars, legal practitioners, or seasoned professionals?

Whenever this question is asked, we categorically emphasize a vital point: if the protocol is designed to train undergraduates, then Ayman—as an undergraduate in the process of graduating and enrolling—has a key role to play. What truly matters is the unique perspective he brings to the table; that is the core of his contribution.

I vividly remember my first conversation with Ayman, specifically when he spoke candidly about his "backup plan." On the surface, it seemed perfect: his family business involves the export of marine products—a robust and established enterprise.

However, I posed a question that caught him off guard: "What would your specific contribution be to the business?" I pointed out that if his role was merely "management," the family already employed both internal family experts and hired professionals. "How would you add unique value?" I asked. I saw him searching for an answer, which led us into a deeper conversation to unpack exactly what I meant by professional contribution.

I pointed out that in the modern era, a lawyer’s role has evolved into that of a protector of investment. Historically, litigation was the undisputed core of legal practice; over time, that focus shifted toward becoming dispute resolvers, and eventually, dispute avoiders.

As a protector of investment, a lawyer must understand the entire spectrum of laws governing a business. To ground this concept in reality, I gave Aymen a foundational assignment: identify the legal architecture that supports and restricts a marine export business in India. He returned with a comprehensive list of statutes, including:

• The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) Act, 1972

• The Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act, 1963

• The Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSAI), 2006

• The Customs Act, 1962 (and the 2026 Amendments)

• The Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992

• International Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures

Looking at the thoroughness of his research, I wondered if he had utilized AI tools to assist him. Even if he did, I have no complaints. In fact, I believe the responsible use of these tools is vital to the professional development of a young lawyer today. The ability to leverage technology to surface complex regulations quickly—provided one has the judgment to verify and apply them.

While the first assignment was comparatively easy, the second proved to be far more challenging. I asked him to identify the specific legal service opportunities embedded within those identified statutes.

This task required much deeper research and, more importantly, practical insights from various stakeholders in the industry. Ayman was eager to explore the field; he was no longer just looking at a list of rules, but at a map of professional possibilities. I believe that through this exercise, he finally found the answer to my original question: he now understands exactly how he will add unique value to his family business—not just as a manager, but as a specialized legal strategist.

A month has now passed since Ayman became deeply involved in the professional activities of our firm and the PCL Foundation. His roles have been diverse: at times he acts as a tutor, at others an assistant clerk, and frequently he serves as a coordinator for our foundation’s initiatives. He has been an integral part of several clinical programs organized by the PCL Foundation, including our recent course where we specifically included a session on Law Firm Management.

Ayman was particularly inquisitive about the logic behind including management in a legal curriculum. To lead this session, we invited Mr. Pauls, a Chartered Accountant who also holds a law degree. His presentation had an excellent impact on the students at Government Law College (GLC), Ernakulam, but it was Ayman’s persistent curiosity that compelled me to engage him in a deeper conversation about the "business of law."

I spoke to Ayman about Professor Madhava Menon’s visionary speech regarding the establishment of rural law firms. In this vision, Professor Menon envisioned undergraduates becoming "practice-ready" through rigorous training in the practical skills of law.

He expected such trained lawyers to not only join the profession but to actively promote and build law firms. Through a spirit of mutual cooperation with senior practitioners, these young lawyers could develop viable legal enterprises. In such a scenario, the legal profession becomes a tool for social change, allowing the country to finally achieve the constitutional goal of providing justice to all—not just in the cities, but in the heart of our rural communities.

Ayman is a remarkably fast learner; he has already begun translating these abstract concepts into concrete plans, complete with numbers and projections. He recently shared a striking realization: if he were to establish a law firm specifically focused on the marine product industry, he would not only be protecting his family’s business but could potentially serve the entire sector. It was clear he already had an execution plan in mind.

I have always maintained that training undergraduates in industry-specific legal practice is vital. They need to identify exactly where their "piece of cake" is and when they will be ready to claim it. In our rapidly changing world, the future belongs to the specialist and the specialized firm.

While I knew Ayman was planning something, I didn't realize how far he had gone until his brother Mr Aalim Ziyad visited us a few days ago. He opened the conversation with a startling sentence: "We almost lost Ayman."

I smiled and replied, "A loss for the family business may very well be a gain for the legal profession."