The Bar Council of India (BCI) has published the Draft Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposing a series of significant changes to the Advocates Act, 1961. Calling it a "profession-first reform," the BCI says the draft aims to modernise legal education, improve advocate welfare, strengthen the functioning of Bar Councils, and introduce a structured regulatory framework for both Indian and foreign law firms.

The BCI has invited comments and suggestions from stakeholders until 31 July 2026, after which the draft will be submitted to the Central Government for further consideration.

1.Law Firms Receive Statutory Recognition

One of the most notable proposals is the introduction of several new definitions under Section 2 of the Advocates Act. Terms such as Bar Examination, Foreign Lawyer, Foreign Law Firm, Indian Law Firm, Legal Practitioner, and Law Graduate have now been formally defined.

For the first time, Indian law firms are proposed to receive statutory recognition under the Advocates Act. The draft also lays down a separate regulatory framework governing the registration and operation of foreign lawyers and foreign law firms in India.

2. Mandatory Registration of Indian Law Firms

The Bill introduces a new Chapter VIIIA (Sections 28A and 28B), making the registration of Indian law firms mandatory with either the Bar Council of India or the respective State Bar Council.

The proposal also authorises the Bar Council to maintain an official register of recognised law firms, giving them formal legal recognition under the Act.

 3. Enrolment Fee Proposed to Increase

A major financial change proposed in the draft relates to advocate enrolment fees. Under the amended Section 24, applicants would be required to pay ₹18,000 to the State Bar Council and ₹4,500 to the Bar Council of India, taking the total enrolment fee to ₹22,500.

However, applicants belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and persons with benchmark disabilities who are unable to pay because of financial hardship would only have to pay one-fourth of the prescribed fee.

4. Greater Focus on Advocate Welfare

The draft also seeks to give statutory backing to advocate welfare. Proposed amendments to Sections 6 and 7 empower both the Bar Council of India and State Bar Councils to establish welfare funds and trusts.

These funds may be used for insurance, pensions, medical assistance, financial aid, social security, professional development programmes, and welfare schemes for advocates, advocates with disabilities, and their dependants. This is among the most significant welfare measures included in the proposed reforms.

5. Significant Changes to Legal Education

The Bill proposes major reforms in legal education by expanding the Legal Education Committee under Section 10B from seven members to twenty-five members.

The expanded committee would include representatives from the judiciary, the Attorney General for India, the Solicitor General, the University Grants Commission (UGC), law universities, and eminent academicians.

The BCI would also receive wider powers to prescribe admission standards, conduct entrance examinations, recognise foreign law degrees, and regulate legal education institutions across the country.

6. Foreign Lawyers Cannot Practise Indian Law

The draft makes it clear that foreign lawyers and foreign law firms will not be permitted to practise Indian law or appear before Indian courts, tribunals, or statutory authorities.

They may, however, be allowed to advise clients on foreign law and participate in international commercial arbitration, subject to registration and compliance with conditions prescribed by the Bar Council of India.

The Bill also proposes removing the existing reciprocity-based enrolment provision to ensure that foreign citizens cannot obtain enrolment as advocates in India merely because they possess a foreign law degree.

7. Election Tribunals and Verification of Practice

Another important proposal is the insertion of Section 15A, which provides for the establishment of Election Tribunals headed by retired Supreme Court judges or former Chief Justices of High Courts to resolve disputes relating to Bar Council elections.

The draft also introduces Section 19A, empowering the Bar Council to periodically verify an advocate's place of practice and the validity of enrolment.

8. Other Key Amendments

The Bill proposes several additional reforms aimed at improving governance and professional accountability.

Women advocates would receive greater representation in State Bar Councils through reserved elected and co-opted seats under Section 3.

A new Section 24C would empower the Bar Council to remove the name of an advocate from the State Roll upon conviction for offences involving moral turpitude, subject to the safeguards provided under the Act.

The draft also seeks to speed up disciplinary proceedings by reducing the time limit for disposal of professional misconduct cases from three years to one year.

The Draft Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2026 represents one of the most extensive proposed reforms to the Advocates Act since its enactment in 1961. By formally recognising law firms, strengthening advocate welfare, reforming legal education, and introducing new regulatory measures, the Bill aims to modernise the legal profession while preserving the exclusive right of Indian advocates to practise Indian law.

The proposals are currently open for public consultation, and the final legislation may undergo further changes based on the feedback received before it is placed before the Central Government.

Stakeholders have been invited to submit suggestions by 31 July 2026 at draftadvact2026bill@gmail.com