Continuing Legal Education For Advocates Necessary : Supreme Court Urges BCI To Establish National Legal Academy

The Supreme Court on Tuesday underscored the urgent need to institutionalise Continuing Legal Education (CLE) for advocates, observing that lifelong professional learning is essential to maintain competence, ethical standards and public confidence in the justice delivery system. The Court directed the Bar Council of India (BCI) to initiate and institutionalise CLE programmes and to constitute a team to examine the establishment of a National Legal Academy (NLA) for lawyers on the lines of the National Judicial Academy for judges.

A Bench of Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe issued the directions while allowing an appeal filed by advocate Ajay Vijh, whose name had been included in the Indian Banks' Association's (IBA) Caution List over an allegedly negligent legal opinion. While setting aside the inclusion of his name in the list, the Court used the occasion to make wide-ranging observations on strengthening professional standards and accountability within the legal profession.

The Bench observed that maintaining professional competence required much more than prescribing rules of professional conduct and disciplinary procedures.

"There is a glaring dearth in institutionalised learning for advocates after enrolment," the Court noted, pointing out that laws, judicial precedents, regulatory frameworks and technology continue to evolve, requiring lawyers to constantly update their legal knowledge, advocacy skills and ethical standards.

Referring to jurisdictions such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Canada and Australia, the Court noted that structured continuing legal education had become an integral component of professional regulation in many countries. It also recalled that both the 184th Report of the Law Commission and the proposed Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2003 had recommended institutionalising continuing legal education, though those reforms were never implemented.

The Bench said India must evolve its own model suited to its legal profession.

"Continuing Legal Education should not be viewed as a mere regulatory requirement, but as a professional commitment to excellence and service," the Court observed, adding that such programmes could bridge the knowledge gap between urban and rural practitioners while improving advocacy skills, technological competence and professional ethics.

The Court further emphasised that continuing education was necessary to pass on the legal profession's unwritten traditions of fairness, courtesy, respect for courts and service to clients to younger generations of lawyers through structured mentoring and training.

National Legal Academy proposed

Highlighting the need for institutional reforms, the Court said episodic seminars and conferences must give way to sustained learning through a dedicated institution.

"It is necessary to establish a full-time academy, which may be called the National Legal Academy (NLA) for lawyers, like the National Judicial Academy that has been established for training and capacity building for Judges," the judgment said.

According to the Court, such an institution would provide structured post-enrolment learning, improve professional competence, enhance ethical awareness, increase technological adaptability and facilitate long-term planning and collaboration within the legal profession.

Accordingly, the Court directed the BCI to constitute a team comprising senior and junior advocates, along with experts experienced in establishing academic institutions, to consider and develop the proposal for creating the National Legal Academy.

Expressing confidence that the Bar Council would "rise to the occasion", the Bench asked it to inform the Court of its decision.

Performance audit of disciplinary mechanism

Apart from continuing legal education, the Court also directed the Bar Council of India to undertake a comprehensive performance audit of its disciplinary framework and that of the State Bar Councils.

Noting concerns over delays, pendency and lack of transparency in disciplinary proceedings against advocates, the Bench directed the BCI to constitute a committee to objectively assess the effectiveness of its self-regulatory mechanisms, identify systemic weaknesses and consider reforms. The BCI has been asked to place on record the action proposed or taken after considering the committee's report.

The matter has been listed on August 31, 2026 for considering the issues relating to institutionalising Continuing Legal Education and establishing the proposed National Legal Academy, with the BCI directed to file an affidavit indicating the progress made a week before the next hearing.

Also from the judgment - Banks Association Cannot Blacklist Lawyers By Putting Them In Caution List : Supreme Court