Recognising 200 Hukumonline subscribing lawyers as ‘most influential lawyers’ is a bold move for Hukumonline. We are aware that the title of 'most influential lawyers' can be quite dramatic and may raise some eyebrows: What does 'influential' really mean? Why is such a title given to these 200 names?

The Hukumonline team also undoubtedly faced these questions while compiling this list since no single metric can fully capture the diverse ways in which lawyers influence the legal landscape. Despite the team's best efforts to carefully complete the list, we recognise that the task of identifying 'influential lawyers' is anything but simple and straightforward.

Should an 'influential lawyer' be someone well-known and frequently featured in the media? Is an 'influential lawyer' one who contributes to law reform and promotes the rule of law in Indonesia? How about most lawyers who devote time and energy to representing their clients in court? Aren't these lawyers, working in offices or courts for the smooth operation of the legal system, considered influential in their own ways? Even though there are no definitive ways of identifying 'influential lawyers', there are exemplary and perhaps idealistic characteristics of influential lawyers that we might aim to search for.

Ideally, influential lawyers are not merely representatives of their clients, but they are also willing to go above and beyond to contribute to society's greater good. These ideal lawyers understand that their services lie not only to their clients but to the legal system and the broader public interest. As our history has told us - and we will return to some of those historical episodes in a little bit - lawyers can create positive and long-lasting impacts on society, especially in a place like Indonesia where the issues of the rule of law, protection of human rights, and access to justice remain challenging and still in need of comprehensive reform.

Understanding that ideal lawyers cannot simply arrive from nowhere but must be encouraged and inspired by the social and legal environments in which they live and work, Hukumonline believes the list of the 200 Most Influential Lawyers could be the first step and a small contribution to fostering the environments in which such ideal lawyers could emerge.

The ultimate of the list, therefore, is not to celebrate the past achievements of these lawyers but, most importantly, to offer a moment for reflection on the role of lawyers in Indonesia and what should be the ideal traits of the 'influential lawyers'. It is by creating the environment in which society, together with lawyers, could come together to think, debate, and discuss the role of lawyers that the so-called ideal characteristics of lawyers could be cultivated and realised. The goal of the list, therefore, is to create a public space for the roles of lawyers to be discussed, and we hope both lawyers and society who engaged in the debate could reflect on their own roles.

We acknowledge that this publication still has many shortcomings and requires some improvements. We understand that there are many other ‘influential lawyers’ beyond this list whose practices are equally praiseworthy and inspiring. However, more often than not, the path of the pursuit of justice is often lonely, lacking public attention, and distant from the spotlight. As a result, those lawyers on this solitary path are hardly included in any award lists or events.

Hukumonline hopes that this publication can invite discussions or at least spark conversations regarding lawyers' roles and commitment to the rule of law. Some important questions have already been prompted but should be continuously discussed among the Indonesian legal community: 'What is the role of lawyers in upholding the rule of law?' or 'Is there - or has there ever been - the rule of law inIndonesia?'.

Indonesian lawyers, or for contextual accuracy, better referred to as 'Indonesian advocates (advokat)', have a long history of ups and downs fighting for justice in Indonesia. Daniel S. Lev, in the foreword to the book 'Advokat Indonesia Mencari Legitimasi' (Kadafi et al., PSHK, 2001), provides insight into the history of Indonesian advocates.

Lev describes how, among the early generation of Indonesian advocates, some were active in the independence movement, led political parties, and defended the rule of law and human rights (Lev mentioned names such as Mr. Besar Mertokoesoemo, Sartono, Ali Sastroamidjojo, Wilopo, Muh. Roem, Ko Tjay Sing, Muh. Yamin, Iskaq Tjokrohadisuryo, Loekman Wiriadinata, Suardi Tasrif, Ani Abbas Manoppo, and Yap Thiam Hien).

These advocates, Lev continues, encountered challenging circumstances during the era of Guided Democracy (Demokrasi Terpimpin). Nevertheless, they overcame those difficulties and emerged as Peradin (Persatuan Advokat Indonesia) in the 60s. In his foreword, Lev gives a glimpse of this courageous episode in our history. Lev also explains that during the New Order (Orde Baru) era, some Peradin advocates became figures who defended human rights and fought for the rule of law.

Reflecting on those historical notes, we can say that the history of the advocates in Indonesia is indeed built on a strong foundation of supporting the struggle against regimes that stood in opposition to the people. They succeeded in such danger by reaffirming their commitment to the rule of law and gathering their support by defending the rights of the weak and marginalised.

The moral of the history of the Indonesian advocates is that successful legal advocacy could not be founded on the showing off of luxurious lifestyles, appeasing powerful elites or oppressing the weak. Being an Indonesian advocate, as history tells us, requires a strong resolution - one that will return us to being the defenders of human rights and the rule of law without succumbing, if not submitting, to the politics of the day.

I encourage all readers to view this recognition presentation as more than a mere event to recognise Indonesian lawyers' specific achievements. Instead, please consider this recognition as an invitation from Hukumonline to the Indonesian legal community to revive discussions about lawyers' roles in promoting the rule of law and shaping legal practice in Indonesia.

Lastly, I congratulate the 200 individuals who received this 'Most Influential Lawyers'. I hope this recognition encourages the recipients and inspires hope throughout the legal community for the advancement of the rule of law in Indonesia.