Aarambh 2026 was organised by the Faculty of Law at Parul University. The senior law students were formally presented with the advocates’ band. Each law student has one question: How exactly do you become an advocate in India? Read ahead to learn about the routes and entry points and how you can become a successful lawyer!
Step 1: The Law Degree
The first stepping stone begins with a law degree as recognised by the Bar Council of India. Interestingly, there are two common routes—a 5-year integrated program by studying BA LLB after 12th or a 3-year LLB course with any bachelor’s degree. Both of them are designed with constitutional, criminal, civil, and commercial law in sync with practical training, moot courts, internships, and an end-to-end process of drafting. A recognised degree is the first foundation on which everything is built!
Step 2: Enrolment With a State Bar Council
A law degree alone does not confer the right to practice. After graduating, a candidate must enroll as an advocate with a State Bar Council under the Advocates Act, 1961. Enrollment formally admits the graduate to the roll of advocates and is the gateway to appearing in court. It is at this stage that the profession’s rights and responsibilities, and its code of conduct, begin to apply.
Step 3: The All India Bar Examination (AIBE)
To practice law in India, an enrolled advocate must clear the All India Bar Examination (AIBE), conducted by the Bar Council of India. The AIBE is designed to test an advocate’s basic knowledge of the law and readiness to practice, and it is typically an open-book examination covering core subjects and professional ethics. On qualifying, the advocate is awarded a Certificate of Practice, which confers the right to appear and argue before courts across the country. The examination acts as a nationwide quality benchmark for entry into active practice.
Step 4: The Certificate of Practice, and Beyond
With the clearance of AIBE & enrollment, a law graduate can practice advocacy and is entitled to represent clients. From here, they can go to litigation before trial courts or work in high courts or the Supreme Court and corporations & law firms. Besides this, they can even explore legal academics, roles in policy, compliance, and public service as well.
Addressing students at Aarambh 2026, Justice Sandeep Mehta of the Supreme Court said, “Begin in trial courts; learn and explore under an experienced senior; and build your foundation from there. Work on real cases because ground-level experience will shape you into a better lawyer!”
The Advocates’ Band: What Does It Symbolise?
The white bands at the ceremony are beyond a uniform. Dr Rajendra Parikh, Dean of the Faculty of Law, said it’s a symbol of integrity, dignity, and core accountability of the profession. It’s a reminder that an advocate serves the root cause of justice and not just a client. Dr. Devanshu Patel, President of Parul University, said, Character & integrity are the true foundations of a legal career. For students, adorning this band is both an honour and a commitment to ethics.
The band is not decoration. It is a daily reminder of the responsibility an advocate carries.
– Dr. Devanshu Patel, President of Parul University
FAQs
How to become an advocate in India?
You can earn a law degree from the Bar Council of India by doing a 5-year integrated LLB or a 3-year LLB course. Besides this, you can become an advocate with the State Bar Council under the Advocates Act of 1961 and can clear the AIBE examination to receive a certificate of practice.
How to clear AIBE?
The AIBE is a national examination, exclusively conducted by the Bar Council of India. It’s a mandatory exam for practicing law in India. It tests basic knowledge and ethics, and on that basis, the lawyer is rewarded with a Certificate of Practice. Hence, it’s strongly recommended that aspiring legal students clear this examination, as it’s mandatory in India!
What is the primary difference between a lawyer and an advocate?
A lawyer is a generic term for anyone with a law degree, but an advocate is a lawyer who has enrolled with the Bar Council and is entitled to represent clients and argue in court. It’s even mandatory to clear the AIBE examination to obtain a Certificate of Practice!
