Law Ministry outlines draft for equitable law internship regulations, informs Parliament about BCI's initiative
Bar Council of India Drafts Model Code for Legal Internships
The Bar Council of India (BCI) is currently drafting a Model Code of Legal Internships, aimed at ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability in the structure and administration of internships offered by legal practitioners, firms, and institutions. 1, 2, 3
Regarding stipends for law interns, the Central Government has stated that it does not plan to mandate minimum stipends or honoraria for law interns in any regulatory framework. 1, 2, 3
Earlier in October 2024, the BCI had issued non-mandatory guidelines recommending a minimum stipend for junior advocates. The recommended minimum stipend is set at ₹20,000 per month in urban areas and ₹15,000 per month in rural areas. This recommendation applies to junior advocates assisting senior advocates, law firms, and independent practitioners for a minimum period of three years from the engagement date. 2, 3
To summarise:
| Aspect | Status | |-------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------| | Model Code of Legal Internships | Currently being drafted by BCI, pending implementation | | Regulatory mandate for stipends | No current government plan to mandate stipends | | Recommended minimum stipend | ₹20,000/month (urban), ₹15,000/month (rural) for junior advocates (non-mandatory) |
Thus, while BCI is taking steps to regulate and formalize internships through the Model Code, the issue of minimum stipend for law interns remains voluntary guideline territory without statutory backing or government mandate. 1, 2, 3
The drafting of the Model Code of Legal Internships by the Bar Council of India (BCI) emphasizes the importance of education-and-self-development and learning experiences for aspiring lawyers during their internships.Despite BCI's non-mandatory recommendation for stipends for junior advocates, the absence of regulatory mandate from the Central Government hinders the implementation of fair financial support within the legal internship structure.
