Bar Council of India to Filter Lawyers with Mandatory Certificate of Practice

Now, a law degree and enrolment with respective state Bar Councils will not be enough to be a practising lawyer. Wary of the tendency of law graduates to switch careers after being enrolled, the Bar Council of India (BCI) has introduced a new rule mandating a certificate of practice for advocates i.e. BCI Certificate and Place of Practice (Verification) Rules, 2015.

The BCI, at a joint meeting of the representatives of all state bar councils, had  expressed concern over the growing exodus of lawyers, many of them who shift to other jobs without informing the professional body.

An Advocate would not be entitled to practice law unless he holds a valid certificate of practice issued either under BCI All India Bar Examination Rules or the newly amended BCI Certificate and Place of Practice (Verification) Rules, 2015.

The Certificate of Practice has to be renewed once every five years. According to the BCI, the legal profession is slipping out of the hands of practising advocates. The various welfare schemes floated for practising advocates are enjoyed by those who have left the practice.

It would improve the standards of legal profession. The lawyers, who fail to obtain the certificate of practice, will be included in the list of defaulting advocates to be published under the title of non-practising advocates. A person included in the list will be barred from appearing in courts and tribunals. Such a prohibition will be continued till resumption of practice, by filing application with prescribed fee. New rules also constitute a practice fund for improving the facilities in Bar Associations.

BCI Certificate and Place of Practice (Verification) Rules, 2015