Govt. plans 35-year age limit for lawyer enrolment

A proposal to set 35 as the maximum age for enrolment as a lawyer in Bangladesh has sparked mixed reactions, with supporters saying it could improve professional standards while critics warn it may disadvantage people entering the legal profession later in life.

Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman announced the initiative at a Supreme Court event on October 13. On the same day, Attorney General and Bangladesh Bar Council Chairman Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal said the age limit was planned to take effect on January 1, 2030.

According to a resolution adopted at a Bar Council meeting on August 19, the council unanimously agreed to set the maximum enrolment age at 35. The resolution followed a recommendation from the council’s Legal Education Committee, which cited the need to enhance the profession’s dignity and competence, ensure long-term professional engagement and make the sector more dynamic.

However, the proposal has drawn criticism from some aspiring lawyers, who argue that academic session delays and unsuccessful attempts to secure government jobs can lead people to pursue law later in life.

Imam Hossain, an apprentice lawyer at a lower court in Dhaka, told Bangla Tribune that he was disappointed by the decision. He said delays in completing education could push students beyond the proposed age limit and called for the decision to be revised, warning that aspiring lawyers might launch a movement if it remained unchanged.

Kazal said the initiative aimed to strengthen professionalism, competence and the prestige of the legal profession while ensuring long-term involvement in the field.

Under Article 27(1) of the Bangladesh Legal Practitioners and Bar Council Order, 1972, applicants must be at least 21 years old and meet the prescribed educational and examination requirements. The existing provision does not specify a maximum age for enrolment.

Barrister Sanjid Siddiqui, an executive member of the Supreme Court Bar Association, supported the proposal, citing the growing number of lawyers and limited facilities for training, research, libraries and seating arrangements.

He estimated that around 18,000 lawyers practise at the Supreme Court, about 40,000 at the Dhaka Bar Association and approximately 80,000 across the country. He said the proposed age limit could help prioritise those committed to law as a long-term career, although he acknowledged that countries such as England do not impose a similar age restriction.

Supreme Court lawyer Manjila Jhuma said a standardised, merit-based selection process, effective practical training and continuous assessment of professional competence were needed to improve the quality of legal practice.

She urged the authorities to consult lawyers, the Bar Council, legal academics and other stakeholders before introducing an age limit. She said any policy should encourage talented young people while ensuring fairness for those who enter the profession later because of their educational backgrounds or personal circumstances.

Jhuma added that an age limit alone would not safeguard the profession’s standards. Quality legal education, effective training, professional accountability and strict enforcement of ethical standards were also essential to improve legal services and access to justice.

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