Law students with low attendance can also become advocates; BCI grants major relief..

BCI: The Bar Council of India (BCI) has provided significant relief to certain law students facing difficulties in enrolling as advocates due to attendance shortfalls. The BCI has approved a one-time special arrangement ensuring that eligible law graduates—covered under the protection of the Supreme Court—will not be denied enrollment solely on the grounds of insufficient attendance.

This arrangement applies to students whose academic sessions were ongoing at the time of the Delhi High Court's judgment dated November 3, 2025, and who subsequently received protection under the Supreme Court's order dated July 21, 2026. However, candidates must still fulfill all other legal requirements for enrollment.

The BCI's decision follows representations made by students from the Faculty of Law at Delhi University. The students had reported that, due to disputes regarding attendance, their universities were unable to issue standard attendance or attendance-cum-character certificates, thereby hindering their enrollment as advocates.

Enrollment will not be stalled solely due to attendance shortfall.

The BCI has clarified that if a candidate falls within the category protected by the Supreme Court and the relevant academic session, their enrollment application will not be rejected, withheld, or kept pending solely based on an attendance shortfall during that protected period.

The rationale is that an attendance shortfall—despite which a student was permitted to take exams and obtain an LLB degree under legal protection—should not subsequently be used against them during the enrollment process.

Which students will benefit?
To avail the benefits of this special arrangement, a candidate must have completed an LLB program from a BCI-recognized university and an approved Centre of Legal Education. They must have been permitted to appear for the final or supplementary examinations in accordance with the rules of the relevant protected academic session and must have passed the examination to obtain a valid LLB degree. Additionally, candidates must fulfill the requirements set out in Sections 24 and 24A of the Advocates Act, 1961, as well as other applicable enrollment rules.

**System to be implemented nationwide**
The BCI has clarified that this relief is not limited to students from Delhi University. Any candidate falling within the protected categories and academic sessions covered by the Supreme Court's order dated July 21, 2026—and who meets the other legal conditions—may avail themselves of this provision.

The university will not be required to alter such a candidate's past attendance records or reclassify them as having had regular attendance. Instead, the institution may certify that the student's admission was valid, that they were part of the relevant protected session, were permitted to take the examinations, completed the LLB course, and hold a valid degree.
The BCI has also clarified that this decision is a one-time, exceptional, and transitional measure. This means it does not grant any relaxation in standard attendance rules for future batches or other academic sessions.

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