In recent times, Bar Councils have taken stringent steps to improve the standard of both legal education and the legal profession. The introduction of Bar Vocational Courses, the revamp of the LLB curriculum, and mandatory screening tests before and after LLB (i.e., LAT and GAT) are undoubtedly steps in the right direction. The Punjab Bar Council went a little further in this regard. It mandated that the degrees be verified by the Higher Education Commission to be eligible for a license. Fair enough. To practice as an advocate, one must have a verified qualification that enables him to practice law. All these steps converge on a single goal: tighten entry into the profession so that only verified and (maybe) competent advocates are admitted. However, what shall happen to those who, after overcoming all these hurdles, manage to enter the profession? There is no clear answer. To remove the sugar-coating, there is no answer at all.

Regulatory bodies are more prone to regulating entry into the profession rather than striking at the heart of the problem, i.e., financial survival, as a result of which some young lawyers are forced to find not-so-great ways to earn their livelihood. Accepting a case for a meagre fee (sometimes forced pro bono), filing frivolous petitions/applications, touting, and........

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