LLB Admission: You can now pursue a law degree at any age; BCI has removed the age limit..

There is welcome news for candidates aspiring to study law. The Bar Council of India (BCI) has abolished the upper age limit for admission to three-year and five-year law courses. Candidates of any age can now seek admission to LLB and integrated law programs. The BCI informed the Supreme Court of this decision on Friday. This move will benefit those who were previously unable to pursue legal studies due to age restrictions. Following this decision, the Supreme Court has also disposed of the petition that challenged the age limit.

The General Council of the Bar Council of India decided to remove the upper age limit for admission to three-year LLB and five-year integrated law courses. Previously, there were specific age caps for entry into these programs, which prevented many older candidates from pursuing a legal education. With this new decision, individuals of any age are now eligible to apply for admission to these courses.

What was the upper age limit previously?
Under the BCI’s former regulations, the upper age limit for candidates from the General category applying for the five-year integrated law course was 20 years. For candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and backward classes, a two-year relaxation was provided, setting the upper age limit at 22 years. Additionally, the upper age limit for admission to the three-year LLB course was set at 45 years. The BCI has now removed all these restrictions.

The 2016 circular was challenged in the Supreme Court.
In 2016, the BCI issued a circular reinstating Rule 28 of Schedule III of the Legal Education Rules, 2008. It was this rule that established the age limits for admission to law courses. Rishabh Duggal had challenged this decision in the Supreme Court. In March 2017, the Supreme Court stayed the Bar Council of India’s (BCI) decision to impose an upper age limit. Legal proceedings regarding this matter have been ongoing since then.

Supreme Court disposes of the petition
On September 25, the Supreme Court asked the BCI whether it was willing to remove the upper age limit for admission to the five-year integrated law course. Subsequently, on Friday, Radhika Gautam, the counsel appearing for the BCI, informed the court that the General Council had decided to lift the age restriction.

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