FINALREPORT - The Bar Council of India

Qualitative Improvement of the Legal Profession 38In the early history of the US, there was no requirement to qualify a Barexamination for enrolling with the Bar, as admission to the Bar incolonial America was determined by the local courts. 7Usually thisadmission was based upon a candidate’s completion of an apprenticeshipof indeterminate length.Additionally, in some colonies if one wasallowed to practice in the highest court, then he or she would be allowedto practice in all lower courts of that colony. However, with progressivedevelopment of the society, it was felt that admissions to the Bar weregenerally elitist and contrary to the ideals of democracy. Thus, the publicviewed the legal profession as an upper class profession that exclusivelycontrolled entry and favored applicants who were well-connected andwho could easily secure apprenticeships.After the Civil War, there was a growing demand for expert legal adviceto assist clients during the increasingly legalistic and regulatory society ofthe Industrial Revolution. 8 Thus, the idea of law schools was created withthe ideal that it would raise standards of admission and cure largedisparities in admission requirements that existed among the States. Post1870, the concept of ‘diploma privilege’ was applicable for admission to7Hansen, Daniel R., The Bar Examination: Justifications and Alternatives, (45) CaseWestern Law Review 1193 (1994-1995)8Id at 1997.REPORT OF 3-MEMBER COMMITTEE ON REFORM OF LEGAL EDUCATION