**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer to a parliamentary question regarding stipends for lawyers, addressed on December 5, 2025. The Minister of State explains the facilities provided by the Union Government, references a Bihar state stipend scheme for young advocates, and details the Bar Council of India's recommendations for minimum stipends for junior advocates. Key action is that Senior Advocates/ Law Firms and Advocates are recommended to pay a minimum stipend to junior advocates.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Union Government Facilities for Lawyers:**
* The Bar Council of India has issued a circular No. BCI:D: 5383/2024 dated 15.10.2024, in response to directions from the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi.
* The circular recommends that Senior Advocates/Law Firms and Advocates pay junior advocates a minimum stipend of Rs. 20,000 per month in urban areas and Rs. 15,000 per month in rural areas.
* **Financial Assistance to Advocates:**
* The Advocates Act, 1961, the Advocate Welfare Fund Act, 2001, and State Welfare Acts empower the Bar Council of India and State Bar Councils to provide financial assistance to advocates.
* Section 6(2) and 7(2) of the Advocates Act, 1961, give the State Bar Council and Bar Council of India the power to create funds for financial assistance and welfare schemes for advocates.
* **Bihar Government Stipend Scheme:**
* The Government of Bihar has launched a stipend scheme for advocates in Bihar.
* Eligibility criteria:
* Advocates enrolled on or after January 1, 2024, with the Bihar State Bar Council are eligible for the scheme for the next three years.
* The advocate must be a member of a Bar Association in Bihar courts.
* The Bar Association must certify that the advocate is in "active legal practice."
* Eligible advocates will receive Rs. 5000 per month for three years.
* The Bihar Advocates Welfare Trust Committee will disburse the stipend.
**Impact Analysis**
**Senior Advocates/Law Firms and Advocates**
* **Impact**: Expected to provide minimum stipends to junior advocates.
* **Action Required**: Implement the recommended minimum stipend amounts.
**Junior Advocates**
* **Impact**: May receive a minimum stipend from Senior Advocates/ Law Firms and Advocates, and may be eligible for the Bihar stipend scheme.
* **Action Required**: Determine eligibility for stipends and welfare programs and apply as required.
**Bihar Advocates enrolled on/or after 01.01.2024**
* **Impact**: May be eligible to receive Rs. 5,000/- per month for the next three years
* **Action Required**: Enrol in the Bihar State Bar council, become member of a Bar Association, seek certification of active legal practice, and apply for the stipend.
**Bar Council of India and State Bar Councils**
* **Impact**: Responsible for providing financial assistance to advocates.
* **Action Required**: Utilize the powers granted by the Advocate Act 1961 and Advocate Welfare Fund Act 2001 and create funds and set up mechanisms to assist advocates financially.
**Bihar Advocates Welfare Trust Committee.**
* **Impact**: Responsible for disbursing the Bihar Government Stipend Scheme
* **Action Required**: Ensure efficient disbursement of the Rs 5,000/- per month to eligible applicants.
Key Entities Referenced
Advocates Act, 1961: A law governing the legal profession in India, empowering Bar Councils to create welfare funds.
Advocate Welfare Fund Act, 2001: An act enabling the creation of welfare funds for advocates.
Bihar (state): The state where a stipend scheme for young advocates has been launched.
Bar Council of India: A statutory body regulating and representing the legal profession in India.
Bihar Advocates Welfare Trust Committee: Committee responsible for disbursing funds in Bihar's stipend scheme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 986
TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 05.12.2025
STIPEND TO LAWYERS
†986. Shri Sunil Kumar:
Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:
(a) the kind of facilities being provided by the Union Government to lawyers across the
country;
(b) whether the Government is aware that the State Government of Bihar has recently launched
a stipend scheme to young Advocates in Bihar;
(c) if so, the details thereof including the eligibility criteria, and the number of advocates
benefited from this scheme, so far; and
(d) if not, whether the Government is likely to consider the proposal sympathetically?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW
AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)
(a) to (d): As informed by the Bar Council of India, that in pursuance of the directions of
the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi in W.P. (C) No. 10159/2024, a circular no. BCI:D: 5383/2024
dated 15.10.2024 has been issued by them recommending the Senior Advocates/ Law Firms
and Advocates that a minimum stipend amount may be paid to the junior advocates as Rs.
20,000/- per month in urban areas and Rs. 15,000/- per month in rural areas.
It is further submitted that under the Advocates Act,1961, the Advocate Welfare Fund Act,
2001 and respective State Welfare Acts, Bar Council of India and State Bar Councils are
empowered to provide financial assistance to advocates in various exigencies. As per the
provision of section 6(2) and section 7(2) of the Advocates Act, 1961, the State Bar Council
and Bar Council of India (BCI) respectively have power to constitute one or more funds in the
prescribed manner for the purpose of giving financial assistance to organize welfare schemes
for indigents, disabled or other advocates.The Bar Council of India has further informed that the Government of Bihar has recently
launched a stipend scheme for the advocates in Bihar for their welfare. The eligibility criteria
for the scheme are as follows: -
i. Advocates who are enrolled on/or after 01.01.2024 with the Bihar State Bar
Council are entitled to the welfare scheme for the next three years.
ii. The advocate must be a member of any Bar Association in the courts of Bihar
and the Bar Association must also certify that the advocate is in 'active legal
practice'.
iii. Such eligible advocates will be paid Rs. 5000/- per month for the next three (03)
years
iv. The amount shall be disbursed by Bihar Advocates Welfare Trust Committee.
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