The Legal Education - Law Commission of India

116senior counsel in these big cities to increase the number of ‘placementstudents’. The senior counsel cannot be overburdened by sending a largegroup of students nor will senior counsel agree to take a large number. TheBar Council has, therefore, to take care of the students who cannot getentrance to the chambers of seniors in big cities and indeed, who cannotafford financially to stay in the big cities for the purpose of placement. Astudent in a remote college in Madhya Pradesh, North East or Gujarat orBihar or from the South cannot go to these big cities or get placement. TheLaw Commission is, therefore, of the opinion that ‘placement’ is not asubstitute for ‘apprenticeship’. Further, placement in chambers of seniorsin Supreme Court or High Court does not always give an insight of what ishappening at the grass-root level in the trial courts. Students must getsufficient knowledge and experience of courts at various levels. That iswhy, placement procedure, which cannot cater to the needs of studentsfrom all the 400 law schools and odd, - cannot be an effective substitutefor one year apprenticeship.12.14 In this connection, we may point out that in several countries acrossthe world, a graduate from the Bar is not permitted to get enrolled andpractice straightaway. There is a period of training between one year ormore. In some countries it even extends to 5 years. Today, an advocate inIndia, once enrolled, can directly address even the Hon’ble Judges in theSupreme Court of India. We do not think that in India we should allow thelaw graduates to address any Court straightaway without further trainingand a Bar examination.