ENROLLMENT INQUIRY

Section 24 of the Advocates Act specifies the qualifications of a person entitled to be enrolled into the Bar. The section states that subject to the provisions of this Act, and the rules made there under, a person shall be qualified to be admitted as an advocate on a State roll, if he fulfills the following conditions:

(a) He is a citizen of India, although a national of any other country may be admitted as an advocate on a State roll, if citizens of India, duly qualified, are permitted to practise law in that other country, subject to other restrictions.

(b) He has completed the age of twenty-one years.

(c) He has obtained a degree in law after the 12th day of March, 1967, after undergoing a three years course of study in law from any University in India which is recognised for the purposes of the Advocates Act by the Bar Council of India. In some cases, a lawyer who has obtained a degree from any University outside the territory of India, if the degree is recognised for the purpose of this Act by the Bar Council of India, he may be admitted.

(d) He fulfills such other conditions as may be specified in the rules made the State bar Council under this Chapter;

At present, a person who wants to get enrolled as an advocate has to first clear Bar Council of India exam. Thereafter the person can enroll himself/ herself under any State Bar Council.

Eligible persons are admitted as advocates on the rolls of the State Bar Councils. The Advocates Act, 1961 empowers State Bar Councils to frame their own rules regarding enrolment of advocates.

The Council’s Enrolment Committee may scrutinise a candidate’s application. Those admitted as advocates by any State Bar Council are eligible for a Certificate of Enrolment. All applicants for enrolment as advocates are required under Section 24 (1) (f) of the Advocates Act, 1961 to pay an enrolment fee of Rs. 600/- to the respective State Bar Council and Rs. 150/- to the Bar Council of India. These payments should be made using separate demand drafts.

Different state bar councils have formulated their own rules regarding enrollment as an advocate. However, most of the State Bar Council requires the candidate to submit an application along with the degree of law and marksheets along with judicial Stamp paper and requisite fees.

However, the amount of money is not confined to the Rs. 750-/ as far as the different state bar councils are concerned. There are several other fees, insurance premiums, Gazette Notification costs, Advocate's Card costs etc. involved, which brings the total amount required close to Rs. 4000/- to Rs. 5000/-, depending on the state where one gets enrolled. Separate information on some of the councils will be forthcoming soon.