When the world shifted to virtual hearings during the pandemic, many thought that lawyers would finally be free from endless travel between courts. On paper, it looked like the perfect solution: efficient, digital, and time-saving.
But the reality, at least for litigators in India, has been quite different.
Even with virtual courts, physical presence is still required in many situations — filing documents, coordinating with clients, attending matters where hybrid systems don’t function smoothly, or handling jurisdictions where infrastructure is limited.
A lawyer may argue virtually in the morning at one court, rush physically to another jurisdiction in the afternoon, and end the day preparing briefs for the next city.
The result? Travel stress is still very real.
I remember days when I argued a matter in Delhi, boarded a flight to Bangalore, and as the aircraft moved south, I looked out of the window thinking of Mumbai — wishing I had the time to stop home. That’s how stretched and scattered a litigator’s day can become.
In the beginning, I would often take an early morning flight, argue my cases, and return the very same night. It seemed efficient, but my seniors soon advised me against it. The constant back-and-forth was taking a toll on my health. In litigation, stamina is as important as strategy — without it, you cannot sustain.
And through all of this, one reality never changes: you must look presentable, appear fresh, and most importantly, be ready with your brief the moment you stand before a judge. No one in the courtroom sees the miles you traveled or the sleepless night you had — they only see your preparation and performance.
Trains, flights, traffic jams, waiting hours outside courtrooms — they remain part of a litigator’s daily grind. Virtual hearings have reduced some pressure, but not eliminated it. Instead, they’ve sometimes doubled the load: juggling both physical and digital appearances on the same day.
This hidden aspect of litigation is rarely spoken about, but it affects lawyers’ health, efficiency, and family life. Yet, we keep going because the profession demands it. Justice cannot wait, and presence — whether virtual or physical — remains our duty.
Perhaps the real solution lies not only in adopting technology, but also in reimagining systems where efficiency, accessibility, and well-being of lawyers are equally valued.
Because at the end of the day, a lawyer who is stretched thin by travel and stress cannot serve clients at their best.
Virtual or physical, the courtroom journey is demanding. And behind every judgment, there is always a lawyer who has traveled miles — on the road, online, and within themselves.
#LawyersLife #Litigation #VirtualHearings #TravelStress #CourtroomWisdom