In an era of globalisation, the legal fraternity in India is still waiting for big boom. It is unable to cater to the increasing BPO, KPO and LPO markets overseas due ban on their advertisement and putting their websites on the Internet.

An Assocham study indicates that India’s share in international trade in legal service is just 2 per cent of a $20 billion global market. The study projects that India’s share in global trade legal service can grow to 20 per cent in next five years. This can be achieved if the government allows advertisement of legal services and their websites on the Internet.

For which the government will have to amend the Advocates Act and Bar Council Rules. About 8 lakh lawyers in the country, majority of whom are just about earnings survival income, can go global by lifting of these bans. Though globalisation has created a lot of opportunities for Indian legal professionals, clients overseas don’t have access to their services.

The Assocham study also suggests that there should not be any restrictions on the number of partners for domestic law firm. In the present scenario, number of member of a law firm cannot exceed 20. However, in several other countries there is no such restriction.

But the Bar Council of India stands by its rule which prohibits an advocate or a law firm to advertise or to put website on Internet. Speaking to The Indian Express, Bar Council of India chairman, Jaganath Patnaik, stated, “There should be level playing field among lawyers. All advocates cannot afford to market their services. The council does not want commercialisation of this profession. The matter is already sub-judice in some High Courts.”

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