How can one become a Senior Advocate?

The Advocates Act, 1961, empowers the Supreme Court and high courts to designate lawyers senior advocates. Different courts have evolved different criteria. In the Supreme Court, a lawyer should have been practising for at least 10 years and his or her name is also expected to be recommended by a minimum of five sitting judges. In some high courts, the minimum number of judges for recommendation of a candidate is two and the designation also requires a lawyer to have a minimum number of courtroom appearances. Some high courts also prescribe a minimum income.

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Hello Everyone, Well, the new guidelines for designation as a Senior Advocate have been recently given in-Indira Jaising vs Supreme Court Of India wherein a committee headed by CJi with 2 High Court or Supreme Court judges as the case may be and Attorney General or Advocate General as the case may designate a person as a Senior Advocate. Also, the criteria shall include work for last five years and the committee shall decide thereupon. Also, the provisions for review and recall of designation have also been ordered.

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According to section 16 of the Indian advocates act, 1961 there are two classes of advocates that is senior advocates and other advocates. 16 (2) of the act says that An advocate may be designated as senior advocate if the Supreme Court or a High Court is of opinion that by virtue of his ability [standing at the Bar or special knowledge or experience in law] he is deserving of such distinction. Order IV Rule 2(a) of the Supreme Court Rules 2013 gives power to the chief justice and other judges (full court) to designate an advocate as senior advocate if the court feels that he is deserving. The criteria for designation has been stated to be standing at the Bar, special knowledge or experience in the bar, it is unclear who should be appointed. In 2015, Indira Jaising, a Senior Advocate filed a PIL in the Supreme Court seeking guidelines for the designation of Senior Advocates. In 2017 the apex court issued the judgement of the PIL and issued certain guidelines for appointment of senior advocates. You can read full guidelines and procedures here: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://blog.scconline.com/post/2017/10/12/163114/" style='word-wrap:break-word;'>http://blog.scconline.com/post/2017/10/12/163114/</a>

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