Bar Council of India

The Bar Council of India (BCI) is constituted under the Advocates Act, 1961. Its members are the Attorney-General and the Solicitor General (ex officio) and one member elected by each State Bar Council. The State Bar Councils maintain rolls and enrol advocates; the BCI sits above them.

Its functions include laying down standards of professional conduct and etiquette, laying down the procedure for disciplinary committees, safeguarding advocates' rights, promoting legal education and recognising universities whose law degrees qualify for enrolment (in consultation with universities), and conducting the All India Bar Examination. It hears appeals from State Bar Council disciplinary committees, and a further appeal lies to the Supreme Court.

Example

A law college that admits students without the Bar Council of India's approval risks its graduates being refused enrolment as advocates.

In Indian law

• Section 4, Advocates Act, 1961 (Bar Council of India)
• Section 7, Advocates Act, 1961 (functions)
• Section 38, Advocates Act, 1961 (appeal to the Supreme Court)

See also

advocate · All India Bar Examination · professional misconduct · legal ethics

Read more in the study notes

• The rule against bias (Administrative Law)
• Client counselling, court-room situations and communication games (Business Communications)
• General principles of drafting (Drafting, Pleading and Conveyance)
• Legal words and their usage: Kidnap to Witness (English)
• Mandatory and directory provisions; enabling, codifying and consolidating statutes (Interpretation of Statutes and Principles of Legislation)
• Aims and objectives of legal education (Legal Education and Research Methodology)