Mr. J.H. Jafri is a Partner at Diwan Advocates and a stalwart of trial court advocacy. Born in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, he completed his law degree from the University of Delhi and was enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1983. He was subsequently registered with the Supreme Court Bar Association, High Court Bar Association, and the Delhi Bar Association.

A first-generation lawyer, Mr. Jafri began his career handling matters across forums, including writ petitions, appeals, and special leave petitions, appearing before the Hon’ble Supreme Court and various High Courts. He later chose to dedicate over four decades to trial court practice, a decision reflecting his deep commitment to grassroots justice and the belief that no court is small. His experience in trial courts honed his skills in advocacy, time management, and understanding the lived realities of litigants.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Jafri has handled more than 1,000 cases, including extensive pro bono work, ranging from the Supreme Court to revenue courts. Alongside practice, he has contributed significantly to legal education as a visiting faculty at the University of Delhi, GGSIPU, and other institutions, and has delivered lectures at the All India CBI Academy, Ghaziabad.

In recognition of his contributions, he was conferred the Lifetime Achievers’ Award 2024 by the Association of Lawyers and has twice served as an Election Commissioner appointed by the Delhi Bar Association. Invited under the U.S. Government’s International Visitors’ Programme in 1999, he represented India among a select group of judges, professors, and advocates.

Mr. Jafri’s advice to young lawyers is simple yet profound: be well read and fearless, not aggressive, but confident through knowledge. He believes consistent reading, at least one judgment a week, is essential to becoming a competent advocate.