The Supreme Court on May 20, 2025 passed a landmark decision on the long debated topic of whether law graduates should be allowed to appear for entry level judges post. Every year, approximately 60,000-80,000 law graduates enter the legal profession in India. Many of them aim for the judiciary as their best option, and want to become judges at an early age. The recent decision of the Supreme Court overturned a decision of 2002 where it was held that a 3 year minimum practice is not a prerequisite anymore for law graduates to appear for judiciary examination. To be eligible for judicial services, a candidate should practice for at least 3 years at the bar, and will be required to submit an experience certificate of a lawyer with at least 10 years of practice at the Bar. However, this decision will not be applied retrospectively to the State Bars, who are in the middle of the recruitment process, or where the recruitment has already been done but will be implemented for future recruitments in the judiciary.
The complaints of law graduates being appointed judges at an early age was contested that they should not be vested with so much power and responsibility without actually having the practical experience of the profession. The decision has vastly affected law graduates across the country, and their reaction towards the decision questions whether the apex court was right in passing the decision. While some Veterans of the profession saw this judgment as a welcome step in strengthening the judicial system, some contested that this judgement has potentially wasted years of preparation of a law graduate.
While the law colleges train law students on various aspects of law, many law colleges across India lack practical composure of students, and do not bridge the gap between theoretical and practical knowledge. The Court cited that recruitment of law graduates as entry level judges has not been a thriving experience for the High Court for the past 20 years. A candidate with experience understands the intricacies of law better than that of a graduate, and exposure to practicality of litigation acts as a plus point.
The judiciary is seeing this as a wake up step for the betterment of the next generation, and storing the faith of citizens of India in the judicial system.
