Rule 36 of the Bar Council of India Rules, in Part VI, Chapter II, says an advocate shall not solicit work or advertise, directly or indirectly. It names circulars, advertisements, touts, personal communications, interviews not warranted by personal relations, furnishing or inspiring newspaper comments, and producing photographs to be published in connection with cases the advocate has handled.
Read quickly, that sounds like a ban on being known. It is not. It is a ban on asking for work and on praising yourself in public. Most of what builds a lasting reputation in the law sits comfortably outside it.
Why the rule exists
The prohibition reflects a view of law as a profession rather than a trade: that clients should choose advocates on merit and reputation, not on the strength of their advertising, and that the dignity of the profession depends on lawyers not competing for work like merchants. Whether or not one agrees with every aspect of it, it remains binding on advocates in India.
What the 2008 amendment allows
In 2008 the rule was amended to allow advocates to maintain websites. The permitted information is limited: name, contact details, email address, professional qualifications, areas of practice and enrolment details, along with a declaration that the information is accurate. That is a narrow list, but a well-designed site can present it with clarity and dignity.
What the Bar Council said in 2025
In March 2025 the Bar Council again warned advocates against promoting their services online. It asked for violating advertisements to be withdrawn, barred the use of celebrities and influencers to promote legal services, and warned of suspension or cancellation of enrolment for breaches. Courts have also taken a firm view of online platforms that list and promote advocates.
Where reputations can still grow
- Published thinking on law, policy and judgments you were not involved in.
- Teaching and speaking, through lectures, panels, workshops and moot judging.
- Independent recognition from directories and awards run by third-party researchers.
- Books and practice guides, the oldest form of legal reputation and still one of the most respected.
- Professional service, through bar associations, committees and legal aid.
What to avoid
Superlatives about yourself, promises of outcomes, fee offers, calls to engage you, testimonials, win counts, and any press comment or photographs about your own matters. A useful test: if a line would read as a sales pitch printed in a newspaper, it will read the same way on LinkedIn or a website.
Firms and organisations
The rule binds advocates. Law firms, which are made up of advocates, are generally treated as subject to the same restrictions in practice. Law schools, legal-tech companies and in-house teams are in a different position, although anything they publish about individual advocates should still respect the rule.
This article is general information about professional conduct rules, not legal advice. Advocates should rely on their own reading of the Rules and consult their State Bar Council on specific questions.