State Bar Council opposes written test rule for law practice

State Bar Council opposes written test rule for law practice

The recently introduced rule of Bar Council of India, asking fresh law graduates to pass a written test for being eligible to practice law, has faced opposition from as many as 11 state Bar councils all over the country.

This was disclosed at a press conference in Mumbai on Tuesday by Jayant Jaibhave, Chairman Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa, a body of over one lakh lawyers from the two states.

The Chairmen of 11 Bar Councils from various states, in a meeting at Hyderabad on 31st July, unanimously decided to oppose the 100-mark examination sought to be conducted every six months by the Bar Council of India to sharpen the legal acumen of those entering the profession, Jaibhave said.

The first such examination in Maharashtra shall be held on 5th December either at Mumbai or Nagpur, he said, adding that those law graduates who have enrolled up to 30th September will be entitled to appear for the test.

The state Bar Council is of the opinion that subjecting law graduates to such test would not help in improving legal acumen or skills as desired by the apex body of the advocates, Jaibhave said.

"We shall oppose along with other state Bar Councils and, if necessary, would move the Supreme Court," Jaibhave said.