Islamabad – February 08, 2025 The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has issued a notification amending the Pakistan Legal Practitioners & Bar Councils Rules, 1976, introducing a strict dress code for law students and apprentices, along with new restrictions on election participation. The changes take effect immediately.
Under the new rules, male law students must wear a white shirt, gray coat, and maroon tie, while female students must wear a maroon dupatta, shawl, or scarf with a gray coat. Apprentices must follow a similar dress code but with black coats instead of gray. The regulation aims to distinguish students and trainees from practicing lawyers.
Additionally, law students and apprentices are now barred from campaigning or participating in any Bar Council or Bar Association elections. Violations can result in an extended apprenticeship period—up to 12 months if penalized by the Bar Council or 18 months if the law school upholds the complaint. Complaints will be resolved within 15 days of filing.
The move has drawn mixed reactions, with some praising it for promoting professionalism, while others criticize it as overly restrictive. The PBC maintains that the rules are necessary to uphold discipline and decorum in the legal profession.
