New Delhi: The Bar Council of India (BCI), the regulator for the legal profession in the country, has recently come up with a directive making it mandatory for the law degree graduates to undergo an entry level exam before actually practicing it.

It is from this September that the aspiring lawyers would have to first appear for the examination before donning that black robe.

In its recommendation, the Directorate of Legal Education set up by the BCI stated that, "The Directorate has initiated steps to conduct a qualifying bar examination in August-September 2010 to ensure maintenance of standards in the legal profession. Framing appropriate rules for the smooth conduction of the exam is being done."

Confirming the move, Directorate chief, professor V. B. Coutinho said that, "We hope to implement the decision within next four months while the announcement is expected anytime."

The move towards maintaining standards while imparting legal education came with the suggestions provided by the Supreme Court asking the BCI to take care of the level of the legal education and the profession.

Last year, a three member panel was formed by the SC to look into the issue.

Solicitor General, Gopal Subramaniam, elected the BCI chairman this month, is keen to start the exam.

The government too has thrown its weight behind the BCI.

According to a blue print approved by the Union Cabinet in December, "The Advocates Act, 1961, may need to be re-visited in consultation with the senior member of the Bar to consider reintroduction of mandatory apprenticeship and introduction of a qualifying exam ...before admission to the bar."

For getting registered as a lawyer, an aspirant presently has to have a law degree from a recognised university or a law institute after which the respective state bar councils affiliated to the BCI grant licences.

According to the latest figures, there are over 10 lakh registered lawyers with the BCI.