Lawyers enrolled to practice law at lower courts will have to pass a preliminary test, aside from the written and viva voce in order to practice law in the High Court from now on.

Earlier, lower court lawyers had to qualify in only a written and an oral test for practicing law in the High Court Division of the Supreme Court. 

Bangladesh Bar Council, a statutory body regulating the country’s lawyers, issued a notification to this effect on Sunday saying that the next High Court permission preliminary exam will be administered in Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) format.

“The MCQ examination will be of 100 marks, with a required qualifying score of 50,” the notification said, adding that the duration of the exam will be one hour.

Form fill-up of the preliminary (MCQ) examination for permission to practice in the High Court Division will continue from March 1 to March 31, says the notification.

It said, “Advocates (having a valid registration card) who are entitled, under Article 21(1) and Rule 65A (i) of the Bar Council Order and Rules, 1972, to be permitted to practice in the High Court Division may apply in the prescribed form along with a payment fee of Tk 12,000 and form fee of Tk 1,500 in favour of Bangladesh Bar Council”.