The Bar Council of India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bar Council of England and Wales and the Law Society of England and Wales. The purpose of this MoU is to establish an exchange program for lawyers and law students, enabling them to receive training and learning opportunities in each other's jurisdictions.

According to the MoU, the Bar Council of India has been given the authority to recommend young lawyers to the Law Society and the Bar Council of England & Wales. These recommendations aim to provide the recommended lawyers with the chance to gain experience and receive training in international law firms, reputable law offices, and English law courts. However, it should be noted that the lawyers recommended by the Bar Council of India will not have the right to practice law in the UK under the terms of the MoU. The main objective is to facilitate learning and experience exchange between the two jurisdictions.

Likewise, the Bar Council of India will recommend selected law students to undergo internships with the Bar bodies of the United Kingdom.

The MoU also includes provisions for extending training facilities to solicitors and barristers from England and Wales. However, these trainee solicitors and barristers will not be allowed to practice law in any form in India under the terms of the MoU. The 90-day program will solely focus on training and learning activities.

The signing of the MoU took place on June 5 during a meeting in London, attended by the Chairman of the Bar Council of India, the President of the Bar Council of England and Wales, and the President of the Law Society of England and Wales.

During the meeting, the Chairman of the Bar Council of India, Mr. Manan Kumar Mishra, informed the delegates that certain crucial changes were needed regarding the entry of foreign lawyers in India. The Vice-Chairman, Mr. S. Prabakaran, mentioned that the Bar Council of India has received representations from Indian law firms and a section of the Indian bar. The opinions of foreign bodies on this issue will also be welcomed.

The Bar Council of India clarified in a press release that the MoU does not cover the practice of foreign/UK lawyers in India or vice versa, including in international commercial arbitration or non-litigious areas governed by the laws of their respective countries. These matters are subject to the Bar Council of India Rules for Registration and Regulation of Foreign Lawyers and Foreign Law Firms in India, 2022. The Bar Council of India intends to revisit these rules to address the concerns raised by law firms and some lawyers from India and abroad.

The delegation from the Bar Council of India included several members, such as the Vice-Chairman, Chairman of the Executive Committee, Co-Chairmen, and other members of the Bar Council of India.