Authors: – Oshin Beniwal and Devesh Pratap Mall*

The legal profession in India is on the verge of major change in opening up with the introduction of the Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The new law seeks massive changes to the Advocates Act, 1961, especially in redefining who is a legal practitioner and broadening the means of practicing law.

At the center of these reforms is a massive expansion of the term “legal practitioner.” The proposed definition goes beyond what traditional court-practicing advocates are supposed to be. Yet, it extends to law graduates who work in a variety of capacities within the legal profession. This more inclusive definition aims to embrace legal professionals working in private and public organizations, statutory bodies, domestic and foreign law firms, and corporate entities.

The amendment presents a clear shift from the traditional perception of legal practice as mainly court-oriented. Presently, the only enrolled advocates are seen as legal practitioners. The amendment seeks to recognize changing fashions in legal services in the 21st century, with legal input required most in corporate forms, policy-making, and advisory roles, which might not have court appearances involved.

One of the most important aspects of the bill is its recognition of corporate lawyers and in-house counsel. This acknowledgment is a response to an enduring demand from lawyers in the corporate world, who, while integral to the running of businesses, have existed in a kind of limbo regarding their status as legal practitioners.

The bill also envisages significant reforms with regard to documentation and verification of legal experience. A new provision in Section 2(i) lays down an all-encompassing framework concerning certification of experience. Certificates issued by, among others, state bar councils, bar associations, courts, and tribunals, as well as private organizations, will constitute valid evidence of a person’s legal practice under this provision. This is an essential development in adding some clarity and relief to the hitherto chaotic manner in which experience is certified in the legal profession.

The amendments also see a step into the modernized world of the law graduate definition under Section 2(h) of the Advocates Act, 1961. Under the proposed definition, “Legal Practitioner” means any advocate or law graduate engaged in the practice of law before courts, tribunals, or quasi-judicial forums or doing legal work in any private or public organization, including but not limited to statutory and autonomous bodies, domestic and foreign law firms, and corporate entities. The new definition, expanding beyond the traditional Bachelor’s degree in law, accommodates both the three-year and five-year law education programs while making provision for courses of another prescribed duration. This flexibility reflects the diverse nature of legal education in contemporary times to ensure that graduates of various recognized programs can join the practice of law.

The bill’s reforms are timely, as the legal sector is developing rapidly. The boundaries of legal practice are becoming increasingly fluid, following the globalization of legal services, the emergence of corporate legal departments, and the fast-growing importance of legal technology. The proposed amendments certainly acknowledge that reality and provide a legal framework that accommodates these changes.

These reforms will, however, have bigger implications. For law graduates working in corporate settings, the amendments probably lay the foundation for legitimatization of their role and the possibility of enhanced future career. Organizations, in turn, will benefit from a wider definition of who qualifies as a legal practitioner: this could pave the way towards more flexible terms of hiring and reduced compliance costs. The internal standardization of experience certification may also make it easier for legal professionals moving around practice areas.

However, it does raise important questions about regulation and oversight. With the widening of the definition of legal practice, it becomes imperative to ensure consistency of professional standards and ethical constraints across a wide spectrum of different practice settings. Whether these reforms succeed will depend almost entirely on their implementation and on setting up an appropriate framework for regulatory oversight.

The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2025, is a deemed step toward the modernization of the legal profession of India. This is to recognize the multifaceted nature of the roles of legal professionals when standardization in experience certification is made in favor of a more inclusive and functioning legal sector. As the legal fraternity engages in the debate over these proposed changes, the focus will be placed upon ensuring that the reform will enhance the quality of legal services while maintaining professional standards and ethical practices.

*Devesh Pratap Mall, Fourth year student at National Law University Jodhpur.