Being in the legal profession is challenging. It needs a sharp mind to deal with tricky situations and unexpected twists and turns in a lawsuit or sections of law. Providing solutions in black and white while being surrounded with the grey is an uphill task. Besides, giving timely results in a country that has staggering number of cases pending in the courts of law is another monumental task. Here is where Prasad Vijay Kulkarni is trying to make a difference by striving to provide timely and efficient results to the clients.
He is a Commerce graduate from Sir Parshuram College of Commerce (SP college), Pursued law from Symbiosis Law College and passed in the year 2003. He is a visiting faculty at DESNF Law College (Fergusson, Pune) since 2008 and teaches Indian Evidence Act and Code of Criminal Procedure. He has judged many moot court competitions on invitation of law colleges. Mr. Kulkarni joined Pune Bar in the year 2003, practicing in Pune District Court on criminal cases.
He worked with Mr. Shrikant Shivade (eminent criminal lawyer) as his junior from 2003 till 2009 and started with independent practice in the year 2009 and since then has been practicing criminal law. Mr. Kulkarni appeared and argued in the Sessions and Magistrate Courts and has appeared and argued various bail applications in the Session’s Court. He is also conducting session’s trial and criminal trials in Pune and outside Pune. The eminent lawyer represented 300 farmers in the Wadgaon-Maval firing case and has been felicitated for the same with a testimonial of appreciation.
He has appeared for Mr. Ekbote in the latest Koregaon Bhima riots case. Mr. Kulkarni has appeared in the MPID Case: State of Maharashtra vs Mr. Deepak S. Kulkarni (DSK) on behalf of a few accused, handling the case of Bhaichand Hirachand Raisoni MPID case. He also has a good experience in handling various criminal matters of reputed companies. Associated with law firms and companies for criminal matters.
Mr. Kulkarni has conducted cases for poor people through legal aid references. He was invited to a conference conducted by CID on need for stringent laws (UAPA and NIA) and had represented the defence side. He was felicitated by Rotary club for “Professional Excellence Award for Contribution in Legal Profession (Criminal Laws). Mr. Kulkarni had also been invited by Tax Bar Association to deliver a lecture on GST Laws and its criminal repercussions.
Inspiration to Step into the Legal Industry
Mr. Kulkarni’s late grandfather Mr. K. E Kulkarni was a leading practitioner at Barshi, Solapur and his father Mr. Vijay K. Kulkarni had pursued law but joined financial services and then served in banking sector. Mr. Prasad believes he has law in his genes and hence he is pursuing it. His mother Mrs. Rekha V. Kulkarni as a housewife has put her utmost efforts in his upbringing. His sister Mrs. Radhika L Oswal is an interior decorator and has put her efforts to maintain the office and chamber.
Distinct Areas of Practice
Mr. Kulkarni is an exclusive criminal practitioner. In 2018, he lost his father-in-law Adv. Vinayak N. Abhyankar a senior lawyer practicing on civil law in Pune (Ex-President Pune Bar Association). As his mother-in-law Mrs. Meghana Abhyankar is a housewife, hence Mr. Kulkarni had to attend his civil cases and is still doing so with the help of his wife Adv. Devayani P. Kulkarni, some senior friends, and colleagues.
Utilizing Technology
Technology has its own effects and side effects; and Mr Kulkarni says that they are fortunate enough to get access to technology thereby making the work quite easier. He has lots of software on law and mobile applications which he can access anytime and anywhere, thereby making it easy and as per his convenience. But he works in the office till late, yet he never carries home his work or workload.
E-court Platforms and Digitization
E-court platforms and digitization platforms will make life easy, but it will take considerable time to make it part of life. “One main reason is that judicial process initiation does not need any eligibility hence we have to consider entire strata in the society,” said Mr Kulkarni.
Eradicating Legal Illiteracy Among Common Citizens
The well-experienced lawyer observes that legal illiteracy can only be eradicated by promoting or making common people understand not to involve into litigation and try and resolve the dispute by rational thinking. Only in this manner the cases which actually require judicial conscience will reach the judicial system thereby lowering the load on judiciary and giving apt attention to deserving disputes.
Advice for Budding Lawyers and Entrepreneurs
The one and only advice Mr Kulkarni gives is – be honest with yourself and your profession, your integrity, hard work, focus should be defined because IQ level, reading, drafting, legal research, presentation, vocabulary, oratory, manners, etiquettes differ from person to person, but honesty remains common. The later part is to be developed towards betterment with hard work and dedication.
It is always advisable to have a legal consultant on board but again the expertise differs depending upon the legal situation. In such cases, expert legal opinion is required to understand the issue/dispute. It is wrong to expect all legal avenues to be explored and concluded by a single person. Study and expansion of law is too vast and fast growing hence legal expert depending upon the area of consultation should be considered.
Mr. Kulkarni has seen that many companies have a legal consultant on board for limited purpose and thereby they consult experts as per the requirement of the situation and such legal consultant is expected to have contacts with other lawyers in individual/firm practice in the respective area of expertise.
Reach Out to Him at: Adv. Prasad Vijay Kulkarni, Mobile: 9822622410, Office: 020-25535708. E mail: prasadvijaykulkarni@gmail.com
