Centralised registry of lawyers, law firms soon

The Bar Council of India (BCI) is in the process of preparing a centralised registry of all law firms and lawyers to establish a democratically elected, pan-India organisation of Indian law firms, the lawyers' governing body said.

- BHAVINI MISHRA

"This organisation will ensure that voices from every region and practice level are included in the policy dialogues," BCI said.

The Council was responding to the Society of Indian Law Firms'(SILF's) opposition to the entry of foreign lawyers and law firms into the country.

In its press release, the BCI said SILF did not represent the broad spectrum of Indian law firms. "It functions primarily as a closed group dominated by a few large, well-established firms. Its stance and actions do not reflect the concerns or aspirations of more than 90 per cent of India's smaller or emerging law firms," the BCI said in a press note.