How to Succeed as a Criminal Lawyer | Manu Sharma on Ram Jethmalani, Jessica Lal & 2G Scam | Fazal

What does it actually take to succeed as a criminal lawyer? In this conversation, Manu Sharma takes us through his journey in criminal law, from getting his first job and learning under senior lawyers to working with Ram Jethmalani, handling the Jessica Lal case, building an independent practice, and eventually taking on the A. Raja 2G case. We talk about what it takes to build a criminal law practice, how young lawyers get their first cases, why the first few years can be difficult, how much a young lawyer can expect to earn, and why patience, preparation and detachment from results matter so much in litigation. The conversation also goes beyond individual cases into the realities of criminal law: media trials, court delays, adjournments, preparation, the responsibility of lawyers towards the court, and why there are still relatively few women in criminal litigation. A detailed conversation about the profession, the cases, and what it really takes to build a career in criminal law. In this episode: • Working with Ram Jethmalani • Lessons from Ram Jethmalani • How Manu Sharma got his first job • Choosing criminal law • The first 5–10 years of litigation • Building a criminal law practice • How young lawyers get their first cases • The Jessica Lal case and media trial • Leaving a senior's chamber and going independent • His first independent murder case • His first legal fee and pro-bono work • How the A. Raja 2G case came to him • His most difficult case • Dealing with pressure in high-profile cases • Detachment from the result • The Bhagavad Gita and litigation • Why facts must be at your fingertips • “Process is the punishment” • Why criminal trials get delayed • Adjournments and the role of lawyers • Is criminal law really dangerous? • Women in criminal law and litigation If you are a law student, young lawyer, aspiring criminal lawyer, or simply interested in India's most high-profile legal cases, this conversation offers an inside look at the profession. 00:00 How Do You Actually Succeed in Criminal Law? 02:32 What Does It Take to Become a First-Generation Lawyer? 03:05 How Did He Get Into Ram Jethmalani’s Chamber? 06:26 Why Great Lawyers Read Beyond the Law 08:46 “I Became a Lawyer by Accident” 12:44 When Do Clients Actually Start Coming? 13:40 Why the First 5–10 Years Can Be Brutal 16:36 How Did the Jessica Lal Case Come to Him? 21:01 When Is It Time to Go Independent? 26:44 How Did His First Murder Case Find Him? 28:15 Why Even Great Lawyers Lose Cases 29:42 How Did the 2G Case Actually Reach Him? 33:25 Can Justice Really Rise Above a Media Trial? 34:59 How Do You Actually Build a Legal Practice? 43:57 “Process Is the Punishment” Subscribe for more long-form conversations.