Back to the Bar: Supreme Court Restores Experience as the Gateway to the Judiciary

The Supreme Court’s decision to reinstate mandatory legal practice before entry into the lower judiciary marks a decisive reset in India’s judicial recruitment philosophy. This intelligence product by Global Eye Intelligence explains why experiential competence has been prioritised over purely academic credentials—and what this shift means for the future of justice delivery in India.

After two decades of allowing fresh graduates direct entry into judicial service, the Court has concluded that courtroom exposure is indispensable for judging effectively. The analysis unpacks the rationale behind the ruling: judges without litigation experience often struggle with procedural realities, human context, and practical decision-making under pressure. By restoring a minimum period of legal practice, the judiciary is signalling that legal temperament, maturity, and lived exposure to advocacy are non-negotiable pillars of judicial quality.

This product also evaluates second-order effects. While the reform is expected to improve adjudicatory standards and reduce procedural errors, it raises access concerns for young graduates, women, and candidates from modest backgrounds who may find extended early-career practice financially challenging. The report maps likely implementation pathways across states, risks of uneven compliance, and the scope for policy innovation through mentorship, stipends, and clinical legal education.

Why this matters now: judicial reforms rarely reverse course unless institutional costs are high. Those who track this shift early will understand how India is recalibrating the balance between access and excellence in its courts.

Follow Global Eye Intelligence to stay ahead of legal reforms that quietly reshape India’s justice system before their impact becomes irreversible.