Relief for New Lawyers as Bar Council Extends Deadline for AIBE by One Year

What happens if AIBE is not cleared in 3 years?

If the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) is not cleared within three years of provisional enrollment with a State Bar Council, the following consequences apply, based on the BCI rules and the recent one-year extension of the deadline.

• Inability to Practice Law: You will be barred from practising law in India until you pass the AIBE and obtain the Certificate of Practice (COP) from the Bar Council of India (BCI). The provisional enrollment becomes invalid for practising law, meaning you cannot represent clients in courts, file vakalatnamas, or issue legal opinions.

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• Requirement to Re-Enrol: If you fail to clear the AIBE within the three years, you may need to re-enrol with the State Bar Council to appear for the AIBE again. This process could involve paying registration fees again and completing enrollment formalities again.

• No Limit on Attempts: There is no restriction on the number of times you can attempt the AIBE. You can continue to take the exam until you pass, even after three years, but you cannot practice law until you clear it.

• Career Implications: Without a COP, you cannot legally practice as an advocate, which may limit career opportunities in litigation or roles requiring active legal practice. However, you can still work in non-practice legal roles or assist senior advocates without directly practising law.