Jethmalani, whose name was suggested by physicist and University of Mumbai MSc student Niranjan Sankaran, leads the poll on the site with 158 votes as of going to press:

Ram Jethmalani (smuggler’s lawyer):- Is most controversial highest paid lawyer in India.

Some of his high profile controversial cases are

• Defence of Rajiv Gandhi’s killers in Madras High Court in year 2011.
• Defence of Indira Gandhi’s killers
• Harshad Mehta’s defence in stock market scam
• Ketan Parekh’s defence in stock market scam
• Underworld don Haji Mastan
• Defended death sentence of Afzal Guru
• L K Advani’s defence in Hawala Scam
• Manu Sharma’s defence in Jessica Lall murder case
• Amit Shah’s (Gujarat’s former Minister of State for Home) defence in Sohrabuddin fake encounter case.
• Amit Jogi’s defence (son of Ajit Jogi) in the case of Ramavatar Jaggi murder case.
• Kanimozhi’s defence in Spectrum 2G case
• Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy’s special leave petition on stay for CBI probe on money laundering in his companies.
• Yeddyurappa’s case on illegal mining scam
• A. G. Perarivalan, T Suthendraraja alias Santhan and Sriharan alias Murugan - convicted in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.
• Ramdev’s defence on use of force on the followers of Baba Ramdev at Ramlila gounds on June 4, 2011.

”I charge high fees, but 90% of my practice is free. But from the remaining 10%, who are rich, why shouldn’t I make money?” Ram Jethmalani

Jethmalani leads in the “badass” stakes - an American slang term denoting respect - over a number of US lawyers on the community-driven site such as:

Judith Clarke [102 votes] - She’s the greatest lawyer you’ve never heard of … but I’m willing to bet you’ve heard of her clients. She is — in my opinion — proof that there are amazingly brilliant and ethical lawyers practicing law without regard for personal gain or agrandizement. She doesn’t fight to “get her clients off”, she accepts their guilt by and large, she merely dedicates herself to preventing her clients from seeing the electric chair. She works mostly pro bono. She is brilliant to the point where she could make millions, but lives on a tiny salary, any extra money she earns she dedicates to various charities and to the indigent. She’s so completely hated in some states for her skill and technique, that some states have even passed laws preventing “out of state lawers” from defending criminals in their state … all because of her. Her client list is the “who’s who” in notorious criminals in the past several decades.”

Other Indian lawyers on the list include BR ‘Father of the Indian constitution’ Ambedkar (31 votes with an honourable mention for Indira Jaisingh, suggested by IIT Bombay alum Sai Kulkarni). Also getting a nod with 21 votes is Indian-born Preetinder Singh “Preet” Bharara – the “US Attorney for the Southern District of New York known for busting Wall street insider trading activities”.

Nine votes went to “I’m surprised that no one mentioned Nanabhoy ‘Nani’ Palkhiwala (Nanabhoy Palkhivala). The man can veritably be credited with saving the Indian Constitution several times. As mentioned in the wiki article, he was not just a lawyer but also a jurist and an economist. He was probably the most broadminded and forward Indian advocate.” (suggested by self-styled “amateur mathematician” Jaidev Deshpande).

Also getting many upvotes: Mahatma Gandhi (36 votes, suggested by “cultural designer” Brian Fey, who found “the movie inspiring”) and “Pakistan’s Quiad-i-Azam” Muhammad Ali Jinnah (24 votes).

[more on Quora, requiring free sign-up to read all answers, via LegalCheek]

Who do you think is India’s “most badass” (in a good way)? Please leave comments below.