Indian National Graduating From Foreign University
Any Indian who obtains his LLB degree whether through a 5 year course or a 3 year course from a foreign university which is recognised by the Bar Council Of India [BCI] is eligible to write the All India Bar Examination [AIBE] and practice in any Indian Court. The necessary conditions for his enrolment into a State Bar Council are as follows:
- The degree has been obtained after regularly pursuing the course for a period which is not less than three years in case the degree in law is obtained after graduation in any branch of knowledge or for a period of not less than five years if admitted into the integrated course after passing +2 stage in the higher secondary examination or its equivalent (High School);
- The University is recognized by the Bar Council of India.
List of Universities recognised by the Bar Council of India
[Source: www.barcouncilofindia.org]- Australia
- UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
- NATHAN CAMPUS, GRIFFTH UNIVERSITY, BRISBANE
- SCHOOL OF LAW, BOND UNIVERSITY, GOLD COST
- QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, BRISBANE
- THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH WALES, SYDNEY
- THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY., CANBERRA
- UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE
- UNIVERSITY OF FLINDERS
- UNIVERSITY OF MONASH
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CROSS
- UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
- UNIVERSITY OFÂ TASMANIA
- UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY SYDNEY
- Bangladesh
- RAJASHAHI UNIVERSITY
- DACCA UNIVERSITY
- CHITTAGONG UNIVERSITY
- Canada
- SASKAT CHEWAN UNIVERSITY
- UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
- UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR, ONTARIO
- Myanmar
- RANGOON UNIVERSITY
- Nepal
- TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY
- Pakistan
- KARACHI UNIVERSITY
- PUNJAB UNIVERSITY, LAHORE
- UNIVERSITY OF SIND
- Poland
- UNIVERSITY OF STAPHEN BATROI, IRWILUS
- Singapore
- UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE
- South Korea
- HANDONG INTERNATIONAL LAW SCHOOL, HANDONG GLOBAL UNIVERSITY, POHANG, SOUTH KOREA
- Uganda
- MAKARERE UNIVERSITY, KAMPALA
- United Kingdom
- BUCKINGHAM UNIVERSITY
- CITY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
- COUNCIL FOR NATIONAL ACADEMIC AWARDS
- HULL UNIVERSITY
- INNS OF COURTS SCHOOL OF LAW
- LEEDS UNIVERSITY
- LEICESTER UNIVERSITY
- LONDON UNIVERSITY
- OXFORD UNIVERSITY
- CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY
- THAMES VALLEY UNIVERSITY
- UNIVERSITY OF WALES COLLEGE OF CARDIFF
- UNIVERSITY OF BRIMINGHAM
- UNIVERSITY OF BRIMINGHAM
- UNIVERSITY OF HEARTFORDSHIRE
- UNIVERSITY OF DURHAM
- UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL
- UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
- UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL
- EAST ANGLIA UNIVERSITY
- NOTTINGHAM UNIVERSITY
- UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
- * BANGOR UNIVERSITY
- * KINGSTON UNIVERSITY, LONDON
- * UNIVERSITY OF WOLVERHAMPTONÂ SCHOOL OF LEGAL STUDIES
- * SCHOOL OF LAW, UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD, U. K.
- * KENT LAW SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY OF KENT, CANTERBURY
- * SCHOOL OF LAW, UNIVERSITY OF EAST LONDON
- * SCHOOL OF LAW, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON
- * UNIVESITY OF WESTMINISTER
- * BRUNEL LAW SCHOOL, BRUNEL UNIVERSITY, WEST LONDON
- * SCHOOL OF LAW, BIRMINGHAM CITY UNIVERSITY
- * NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
- * LANCASHIRE LAW SCHOOL, UNIVESITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE, PRESTON
- * SCHOOL OF LAW, SWANSEA UNIVERSITY, SWANSEA, U. K.
- United States of America
- CORNELL LAW SCHOOL
- GEORGE TOWN UNIVERSITY
- SOUTH WESTERN UNIVERSITY
- UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
- UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
- MARSHALL THE SCHOOL OF LAW OF THE COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY, VIRGINIA, USA
- SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW, NEW YORK
- WIDENER UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, WILMINGTON
- CLEVELAND-MARSHALL COLLEGE OF LAW, CLEVELAND STATE UNIVESITY
- UNIVESITY OF PENNSYLVANIA LAW SCHOOL, PHILADELPHIA
- UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
- UNIVESITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY
- FORDHAM UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK
- SCHOOL OF LAW, LOYOLA UNIVERSTIY, CHICAGO
- SCHOOL OF LAW, SANTA CLARA UNIVERSTIY, CALIFORNIA
- SCHOOL OF LAW, HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK
- Zambia
- UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA
Note:The following conditions are applicable for Universities which are marked with
“*” in the list given under United Kingdom.
- Three years’ LLB degree only if taken after a three years’ bachelor degree course in any subject ( that is after obtaining BA / BSc /B.Com /BBA); or
- Three Years’ LL.B. course followed immediately by 1 year whole time LPC/BVC and followed by a contract of service with a Law Firm for two years to be entitled to be enrolled as a solicitor or take pupillage for a year in a Chamber of a qualified Barrister to be a Master, or
- Four Years’ of LLB jointly with another subject like Finance, Accounts, Management or a Language to be immediately followed by one year full time LPC/BVC from a College of Inns of courts/ Solicitors Society or a Master degree in Law.Â
How can an university get a degree to be recognized by Bar Council of India?
A foreign University can apply to the Bar Council of India for the recognition of a degree in law. The matters is placed before the Legal Education Committee which gives recommendations to the Bar Council of India. The application for the recognition of degree contains the following details:
- History of the University
- Prospectus or brochure describing the courses of study
- University’s standing in the accreditation list made officially or by any recognized private body
- Any other information that the Bar Council of India may prescribe from time to time and subject to inspection by the Bar Council of India of the University, if necessary.
[Source: http://www.ibanet.org/PPID/Constituent/Student_Committee/qualify_lawyer_india.aspx]
Can Foreign Nationals Practice in India?
Any foreign national whether he obtained his degree from an Indian University or a foreign University cannot practice in India. He/she may engage in legal academics or legal research but is prohibited from practising law in India.
Not just foreign nationals but foreign law firms are also not allowed to practice law in Indian territory. The Bombay High Court in Lawyers Collective v. Bar Council of India held that  the practice of law by foreign firms in India is illegal and  that “the practice of law” under the Advocates Act in India encompasses all forms of practice, not just litigation practice in court but also corporate practice, advisory practice, mergers and acquisitions and the whole works.
Researched by: Satyaditya Singh Dhakare, NLIU Bhopal
