BCI draft bill hikes advocate enrolment fee, overhauls legal education
The Bar Council of India has proposed a significant increase in advocate enrollment fees from Rs 750 to Rs 22,500 in a new draft bill. The proposal also includes comprehensive reforms to legal education and institutional oversight.
Why it matters
The fee hike has sparked debate regarding the accessibility of the legal profession, while the proposed educational reforms could fundamentally change how lawyers are trained in India.
NEW DELHI: The Bar Council of India (BCI) has proposed increasing the statutory enrolment fee for aspiring advocates from Rs 750 to Rs 22,500 under the Draft Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which has been released for public consultation. The proposal also outlines a series of reforms covering legal education, advocate training, institutional oversight and professional development.Under the draft, Section 24 of the Advocates Act, 1961 would be amended to revise the enrolment fee to Rs 18,000 payable to the concerned State Bar Council and Rs 4,500 to the Bar Council of India.
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