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/