The Bar Council of India (BCI) has informed that it had permitted and recognised evening LL.B. courses offered by certain universities and law colleges under the Rules of Legal Education, 1989. However, with effect from the academic year 2000–2001, through the Rules of Legal Education, 1999, the BCI discontinued the recognition of evening law degree courses across all States. The BCI has maintained that LL.B. is a regular, full-time professional course as per the Rules of Legal Education, 2008, requiring prescribed daily and weekly classroom hours, minimum attendance, and a fixed academic teaching window between 8.00 a.m. and 7.00 p.m. No State-wise recognition of evening, night-school, part-time, weekend, holiday, online or distance LL.B. courses exists or has existed since 2000–2001. LL.B. degree holders who completed their law degree through evening classes till the academic year 1999-2000 are entitled to be enrolled as an advocate. This information was given by 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 in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today. This release was posted on February 5, 2026, at 1:00 PM by PIB Delhi with release ID 2223642 and Visitor Counter 1504.
Key Entities Referenced
Bar Council of India (BCI): The main regulatory body for legal education and the legal profession in India, responsible for recognizing and regulating LL.B. courses.
Rules of Legal Education, 1989: Earlier rules under which the BCI permitted and recognized evening LL.B. courses.
Standards of Legal Education and Recognition of Degrees in Law (Rules): Rules of Legal Education, 1999 that discontinued the recognition of evening law degree courses.
Rules of Legal Education, 2008: Rules of Legal Education that mandate that LL.B. is a regular, full-time professional course.
Delhi: A location relevant to the recognition of LL.B. courses.
Ministry of Law and Justice
RECOGNITION OF LLB DEGREE
Posted On: 05 FEB 2026 1:00PM by PIB Delhi
The Bar Council of India (BCI) has informed that under the earlier Rules of Legal Education, 1989, the
BCI had permitted and recognized evening LL.B. courses offered by certain universities and law colleges,
including institutions in Delhi and some other States, subject to compliance with the then-prevailing
standards. However, with effect from the academic year 2000–2001, the Bar Council of India, through the
Rules of Legal Education, 1999 referred to that time as Standards of Legal Education and Recognition of
Degrees in Law (Rules), discontinued the recognition of evening law degree courses across all States.
The Bar Council of India has consistently maintained this position under its Rules of Legal Education,
2008, which mandate that LL.B. is a regular, full-time professional course requiring prescribed daily and
weekly classroom hours, minimum attendance, and a fixed academic teaching window between 8.00 a.m.
and 7.00 p.m. Accordingly, no State-wise recognition of evening, night-school, part-time, weekend,
holiday, online or distance LL.B. courses exists or has existed since 2000–2001, a position reiterated by
the Bar Council of India through statutory rules, circulars.
The LL.B. degree holders who had completed their law degree through the evening classes till the
academic year 1999-2000 are entitled to be enrolled as an advocate, as stated above and not thereafter.
This information was given by 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 in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha
today.
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Samrat/
(Release ID: 2223642) Visitor Counter : 1504
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