Legal confidential by Ranjeev C. Dubey

​"Legal confidential" by Ranjeev C. Dubey -  World of law, or is it?

This book was published by Penguin books India  in 2015 and has 312 pages.

Ranjeev is a small time lawyer plying his trade in Teeshajari court. One day he joins Shanx and Deo in their law firm ‘City law’. Here begins his roller coaster ride in the world of law. 

Why does Ranjeev join City Law? Does he grow professionally? Does he become partner? How does a law firm work?

This is a story narrated by a lawyer in first person. It’s narrated not as pure story but a combination of story, drivel, thoughtful insights and philosophy. Readers become wise to the functioning of a law firm as the protagonist becomes worse with experience. From the outside, hotshot lawyers impress everyone. Their apparent comradery with their colleagues and partners and their working as a team impresses us. But in reality it’s a dog eats dog world. There is a cut throat competition. There is exploitation. There is politics. There is undercutting. 

Author doesn’t mince words in criticizing emergency, Indira Gandhi, politicians and bureaucrats. He also doesn’t hesitate in naming them. Author is severely critical of the lawyers, courts and Justice system. He is even cynical about their effectiveness and  the real Justice. 

The story is semi interesting. It’s Uninteresting because it’s a series of events, not really a homogeneous story. Author’s personal life is practically nonexistent in the story. His wife has very little role to play in the story.  It’s interesting because readers want to know if he leaves the law firm that exploited him, that didn’t recognize his efforts, that even undermined him, that didn’t give him what was rightfully his. How he leaves it and what happens next. Well at the end they are disappointed. The story ends at a cross road where anything can happen and readers don’t get their answer. Probably author has left the story at such a juncture to stretch reader’s curiosity for the sequel, but the sequel hasn’t come in last seven years. 

Author has good command over English and uses several anecdotes and quotable quotes. Here is my collection of quotable quotes from this book:

It was the ultimate triumph of optimism over common sense.

Freedom really is another word for nothing left to lose. 

You fought to kill and lived to fight. 

A clear intention is not the same thing as clear objective.

The gin was pregnant with longing. 

Deo was more thorough in his work than Mother Superior was in her moral policing. 

He mixed charm, wit and dollops of optimism, and served it to me in a cocktail called ‘Desire’. 

To choose to be a lawyer is to explore the sewers of human perversity. 

Why did I read this book? Blurb . 

What I didn't like? Semi interesting narration. 

What did I like? Quotable quotes. 

Read if the review interests you.