UP Makes Six-Month Internship Mandatory for New Advocates from November 1, 2026

Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: The Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh has reportedly made a six-month internship with a senior advocate mandatory for newly registered advocates before they can obtain a Certificate of Practice (CoP). The new rule is scheduled to come into effect on November 1, 2026, according to a newspaper report.

The decision means that newly enrolled advocates covered by the new requirement will have to complete practical training under an experienced advocate before applying for their Certificate of Practice. The proposal was reportedly passed at the Bar Council's general meeting held on October 10, 2026. Council Secretary Arke Shukla provided information about the decision.

Six-Month Training with a Senior Advocate

Under the reported arrangement, candidates will have to work as trainees under a senior advocate for six months after registration and before applying for the Certificate of Practice.

The senior advocate supervising the training must have at least 10 years of legal practice experience and must hold a valid Certificate of Practice. The requirement is intended to provide newly enrolled advocates with practical exposure to legal work before they begin independent practice.

Certificate Required for CoP Application

After completing the six-month training period, the senior advocate will issue a certificate on their letterhead confirming that the candidate has completed the required training.

The certificate must be verified by a member of the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh. Candidates will then have to upload the verified certificate to the designated portal while applying for their Certificate of Practice.

According to the report, the CoP will not be issued without the required training certificate.

Bar Council Restricts the Number of Trainees

The Bar Council has also introduced restrictions to prevent the misuse of training certificates. Under the reported rules, a senior advocate will be allowed to issue training certificates to a maximum of two trainee advocates in a calendar year.

Issuing certificates to more than two trainees in a year may result in disciplinary action against the senior advocate. The restriction is intended to ensure that the training requirement is followed properly and that the internship represents genuine practical training.

New Rule to Apply from November 1, 2026

The six-month internship requirement is scheduled to take effect on November 1, 2026. However, the newspaper report states that the arrangement has been introduced pending approval from the Bar Council of India.

Candidates who applied for their Certificate of Practice before November 1, 2026, will reportedly not be covered by the new requirement.

Newly enrolled advocates should check official notifications issued by the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh and the Bar Council of India for confirmation of the final rules, eligibility conditions and application procedure.

Key Highlights

• Authority: Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh
• Mandatory training: Six months with a senior advocate
• Effective date: November 1, 2026
• Minimum experience required: 10 years of legal practice for the supervising senior advocate
• Training certificate: Required for the CoP application
• Verification: Certificate must be verified by a member of the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh
• Annual limit: A senior advocate may issue certificates to a maximum of two trainees per calendar year
• Exception: Candidates who applied for CoP before November 1, 2026, are reportedly exempt
• Approval status: The reported arrangement is pending approval from the Bar Council of India

 

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