23,000 law grads take mandatory BCI test

In a major legal reform, around 23,000 law graduates on Sunday appeared in the first-ever mandatory exam conducted at 44 centres across the country in 10 languages, the result of which will determine whether they would be eligible to practice as lawyers in Indian courts.

In a major legal reform, around 23,000 law graduates on Sunday appeared in the first-ever mandatory exam conducted at 44 centres across the country in 10 languages, the result of which will determine whether they would be eligible to practice as lawyers in Indian courts.

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The Bar Council of India (BCI), regulator for legal profession and education in the country, which conducted the exam, said the exam was peacefully conducted throughout the country except Chennai and the result would be declared within a month.

Till now, a law degree from a recognised university or a law institute was the sole eligibility criterion for getting registered with the BCI as a lawyer, but following a Supreme Court suggestion the regulator had last year decided to make the aspiring lawyers walk an extra mile.

“The high attendance for the All India Bar Exam reflects the support and acceptance for the exam amongst the legal fraternity in the country,” BCI chairman Gopal Subramanium said.

There are already more than a million lawyers in India “and we need to raise the standard of the profession”, he said.

Candidates will have to score a minimum of 40 marks to qualify this exam, but there is no limitation on number of chances for a candidate to pass this test.