¹[(1)] The functions of the Bar Council of India shall be

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(b) to lay down standards of professional conduct and etiquette for advocates;

(c) to lay down the procedure to be followed by its disciplinary committee and the disciplinary committee of each State Bar Council;

(d) to safeguard the rights, privileges and interests of advocates;

(e) to promote and support law reform;

(f) to deal with and dispose of any matter arising under this Act, which may be referred to it by a State Bar Council;

(g) to exercise general supervision and control over State Bar Councils;

(h) to promote legal education and to lay down standards of such education in consultation with the Universities in India imparting such education and the State Bar Councils;

(i) to recognise Universities whose degree in law shall be a qualification for enrolment as an advocate and for that purpose to visit and inspect Universities ³[or cause the State Bar Councils to visit and inspect Universities in accordance with such directions as it may give in this behalf];

⁴[(ia) to conduct seminars and organise talks on legal topics by eminent jurists and publish journals and papers of legal interest;

(ib) to organise legal aid to the poor in the prescribed manner;

(ic) to recognise on a reciprocal basis foreign qualifications in law obtained outside India for the purpose of admission as an advocate under this Act;]

(j) to manage and invest the funds of the Bar Council;

(k) to provide for the election of its members;

(l) to perform all other functions conferred on it by or under this Act;

(m) to do all other things necessary for discharging the aforesaid functions.

⁴[(2) The Bar Council of India may constitute one or more funds in the prescribed manner for the purpose of--

(a) giving financial assistance to organise welfare schemes for indigent, disabled or other advocates;

(b) giving legal aid or advice in accordance with the rules made in this behalf.

⁵[(c) establishing law libraries.]

(3) The Bar Council of India may receive any grants, donations, gifts or benefactions for all or any of the purposes specified in sub-section (2) which shall be credited to the appropriate fund or funds constituted under that sub-section.]

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1. Section 7 re-numbered as sub-section (1) of that section by Act 60 of 1973, s. 7 (w.e.f. 31-1-1974).

2. Clause (a) omitted by s. 7, ibid. (w.e.f. 31-1-1974).

3. Added by Act 70 of 1993, s. 3 (w.e.f. 26-12-1993).

4. Ins. by Act 60 of 1973, s. 7 (w.e.f. 31-1-1974).

5. Ins. by Act 70 of 1993, s. 3 (w.e.f. 26-12-1993).