At 100, PB Menon has no retirement plans. I have a trial
Retirement has yet to find a place in PB Menon’s vocabulary. At 100, a Palakkad lawyer proceeds to court with a brief letter in hand, nearly eight decades after donning the black coat for the first time. For him, practicing law is not a career that has taken off, but a profession that continues to give him meaning in life.
Mr Menon, who turned 100 on Saturday (October 10, 2026), holds the Guinness World Record for the longest career as a legal practitioner. Three years ago he completed 73 years and 60 days in practice, breaking the record held by Gibraltar lawyer Louis Triay, whose career spanned 70 years and 311 days. Mr. Menon has since continued to practice and has extended a record based on extraordinary commitment to the profession.
He celebrated his centenary with family and friends on Saturday (October 10, 2026). Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among those who greeted him and appreciated his contribution to the legal profession and his service to the people over several decades.
“A century is a remarkable milestone. Devoting your time and energy over such a long period to the service of the people is even more inspiring,” Mr. Modi said in his message. He pointed out that Mr Menon had helped hundreds of people in their quest for justice and expressed confidence that his achievements and experience would be an inspiration to generations of lawyers.
A group of lawyers congratulated PB Menon on the eve of his 100th birthday. Photo: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
But for Mr. Menon, the value of a lawyer was never determined by the number of years spent in court or the number of cases handled. What is important is the trust that clients place in him and the responsibility that comes with representing them.
He graduated from Government Victoria College, Palakkad in 1947 and went on to study law at Madras Law College (now Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College), Chennai. He began his career at the Madras High Court where he served for two years before returning to Palakkad to set up his practice.
A meeting with a senior judge at a divisional court in Kochi proved to be the turning point. After Mr. Menon won a criminal case as a paralegal, a judge advised him to concentrate on civil law.
“That was a turning point in my career and life. I start my days with the memory of that high judge,” he recalled.
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Civil law subsequently became his life’s content. Over the decades, he has earned a reputation for careful preparation, succinct arguments, and fair judgment of cases. He believes that a strong case does not necessarily require lengthy arguments; far more important is a thorough understanding of the matter and the ability to anticipate the opposing party’s arguments.
PB Menon (right) with former Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions P. Premnath. Photo: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
P. Premnath, a former deputy public prosecutor, sees much more in Mr. Menon than just a lawyer with an extraordinary record.
“It is a phenomenon, a legal institution that today’s practitioners can learn a lot from,” Mr Premnath said.
E. Krishnadas, a lawyer and BJP state treasurer, describes him as a legend in his own right. “His nearly eight decades in legal practice are a testament to his dedication, perseverance and extraordinary lifelong commitment to the profession,” he said.
Mr. Menon never considered a case too small to deserve his undivided attention. His daughter Subhadra Muraleedharan says he approaches every assignment with seriousness, with the pursuit of justice for his client at the fore.
His home, Rose Land at Puthur in Palakkad, has long been a meeting place for lawyers and clients. Younger practitioners found in him a mentor willing to share the lessons of his life at the bar.
While many of his contemporaries became judges, Mr. Menon chose to remain a practicing lawyer. According to him, the greatest reward is the trust of the client, who considers him reliable and values his honest opinion.
At 100, with no plans to retire, Mr. Menon continues to find meaning in the work he has been doing for nearly eight decades. His track record can be measured in years, but his legacy rests on something less easily quantifiable: the trust he earned, one client at a time.
Published – 10 Oct 2026 12:33 IST