SC Restores 3-Year Practice Rule for Judicial Services Exam

On 20th May 21, 2025, the Supreme Court(SC) reinstated the requirement of three years of legal practice for law graduates to apply for civil judge (junior division) posts, reversing its 2002 decision.

Key Points

Practice Requirement Reinstated: Law graduates must now complete a minimum of three years of practice before appearing for the judicial services exam.
Why the Change?: The Court emphasized that firsthand courtroom experience is irreplaceable and critical for judicial efficiency and competence.
Certification Needed: Candidates must get their practice certified by a lawyer with at least 10 years of Bar experience. Law clerkship will also be counted.
Training Mandate: Newly appointed judges will undergo a one-year training before presiding over a court.
Past Experience Cited: The bench noted that appointing fresh graduates without Bar experience over the past 20 years had not yielded successful results.
Transition Clause: High courts that have already started the civil judge recruitment process are exempt from implementing this rule for that cycle.
Judicial Insight: The Court highlighted that judges deal with life-altering matters from day one—experience equips them to handle such responsibility effectively.