Having recently gone through the process of enrolling in the bar council, I’ve noticed that many law graduates struggle with the enrollment procedure. Therefore, I’ve penned down all the guidelines in the hope of assisting others in a similar situation.

When you’ve completed your law degree, the next significant step is to acquire a license through enrollment in your respective provincial Bar Council. It’s like the key to officially start your career as a lawyer.

The enrollment procedure in Bar councils is almost the same across the country, but let’s specifically discuss the process for enrollment in the Sindh Bar Council.

To become enrolled as a lawyer in the Sindh Bar Council, there is a requirement to complete a 6-month intimation period, during which you are required to work as a pupil/intern with a senior lawyer having at least 10 years of standing in courts.

 

Intimation Period:

Ideally, after finishing your last semester exams (or year in the case of annual systems), you can submit your first intimation to the Bar council before receiving your results or even passing the LAW-GAT.

By the time you submit your second intimation, your results will be out, and you’ll have cleared the LAW-GAT, ultimately saving your precious time.

 

First Intimation Fees:

The total amount of fees for the first intimation is Rs. 13,500, consisting of Rs. 6,000 as the intimation fee, Rs. 4,000 for the verification of educational documents from the concerned department, Rs. 3,000 for the Sindh Bar Council building fund, and Rs. 500 as the form fee.

 

Payment Structure:

The fee amount is to be deposited in the ‘Collection Account of Sindh Bar Council’ at Habib Bank Limited.

You can pay Rs. 13,500 at once or in two installments: half with the first intimation and the remaining half with the second. It solely depends on your choice and budget.

Here’s a list of documents you’ll need to provide for First Intimation:

1. Two sets of attested photocopies of:

   -Matriculation and Intermediate Certificates (or O+ Level, A+ Level certificates).

   -Graduation degree (If the degree has not been received yet, submit transcripts of all completed semesters and the admit card for the last semester/year with pending results.

2. The payment slip for the 1st intimation fee.
3. A photocopy of the identity card of your senior lawyer, issued by the Sindh Bar Council, with whom you are working as a pupil or intern.
4. A photocopy of the applicant’s CNIC.
5. An affidavit, the format of which is provided on the back side of the first Intimation form.

 

Second Intimation:

After completing the 6-month period of intimation/pupilage, you can submit your second Intimation to the Sindh Bar Council.

 

Here’s what you’ll need to submit for your second Intimation:

1. Matriculation Certificate
2. Intermediate Certificate
3. LL.B Degree or Provisional Certificate issued by the University (photocopies)
4. Any other degree (if applicable)
5. Two character certificates from senior Advocates with at least 10 years of standing, excluding your direct senior.

   Format  of a character certificate:

   

6. An undertaking stating your intent to become a member of the concerned Bar Association in Sindh within one month after your enrolment.
7. A list of ten cases where you assisted your senior, signed by both you and the senior, describing the nature of each case.
   1. 1. List of Ten Cases
8. 

This is how you should list the details of cases where you assisted a senior lawyer.

8. Six recent passport size pictures in professional dress. (Pro tip: Include two 1×1 size photos for a better look on the card)

9. Two Affidavits, following the format provided in the second Intimation form.

10. Photocopy LAW-GAT result card

11. Photocopy of the Bar Vocational course certificate issued by the Sindh Judicial Academy ( (If you haven’t completed the Bar Vocational course, you can still submit the second intimation, and the training certificate can be submitted afterward)

12. Any other relevant document which you hadn’t submitted during the first intimation, such as the 10th-semester transcript, etc..

Second Intimation Fees:

The Second Intimation fee varies due to the Benevolent Fund, which is age-dependent. If you’re below thirty, the fee is 10,000; if you’re under thirty-five, it’s 15,000, and so on.

Assuming you’re under thirty, your total Second Intimation fee comes to 19,200, covering enrollment, license, Benevolent Fund, Age Limit fees, and more.

 

What’s Next?

Wait for the interviews conducted by the Sindh Bar Council, obtain your license, and you’ll learn the rest on your own. Wishing you all the best.

 

Written by:

Abdul Qadeer Chachar