What is a Certificate of Practice? Can a law graduate practice law without the CoP? Where can I download or collect the certificate? In this article, we discuss all these and much more.
The Certificate of Practice (CoP) is a mandatory certification that law graduates need to practice in a court of law. According to the Bar Council of India (BCI) regulation, all lawyers need to obtain the certification within two years of provisional enrollment.
The CoP will be issued to the candidates after they qualify in the All India Bar Examination (AIBE). The CoP can be collected from the respective State Bar Councils or through the AIBESCOPE mobile applications.
The CoP certification process starts with the law graduate enrolling with a State Bar Council on a provisional basis. The candidate next has to appear in the AIBE exam, and if they qualify in the exam can obtain the CoP.
Note that the CoP is typically issued within three months after the declaration of AIBE results.
Latest Updates:
- AIBE 2024 Result (OUT) – Download Link, Important Updates
- FINAL answer key of AIBE XIX (OUT) – Download Here
Table of Contents
Update on AIBE (19) XIX Exam 2024
The BCI declared the results of the AIBE XIX exam on March 21, 2025.
The AIBE (19) XIX 2024 exam was conducted on December 22, 2024 (10 am – 1 pm). On the day of the exam, the candidate needs to bring the admit card and a valid ID proof.
Earlier, the final answer keys of AIBE 2024 was released on March 6, 2025.
AIBE (18) Certificate of Practice Released
The BCI released the AIBE (18) CoP on August 27, 2024. The candidate can collect the Certificate of Practice from the respective State Bar Councils.
How to get the AIBE XVIII CoP
- Register with BCI
- Fill in essential details like name, email ID, etc. Also, upload the AIBE XVIII scorecard, law degree certificates, address and ID proof.
- Pay the registration fee
- Pay the CoP issue fees
- Submit the form.
The BCI will verify the details entered by the candidate and issue the AIBE XVIII Certificate of Practice (CoP) to verified candidates.
AIBE 19 Cut Off
The cut-off marks for the AIBE (19) XIX 2024 exam are given in the table below.
| Category | Total Marks | Cut-off Percentage | Cut-off Marks |
| General/ OBC | 93 | 45% | 42 |
| SC/ST | 93 | 40% | 37 |
Total marks adjusted in AIBE 2024 exam
The BCI has informed the withdrawal of 7 Questions, and as a result is based on 93 questions instead of 100 questions. For the General/OBC category, the passing mark is calculated as 45% of 93 marks, which rounds up to 42 marks. For the SC/ST/disabled category, the passing mark is calculated as 40% of 93 marks, which rounds off to 37 marks.
How to obtain COP from the State Bar Council?
The BCI will notify candidates about the release of the Certificate of Practice (CoP) on its portal – allindiabarexamination.com.
The candidate can collect the CoP from the State Bar Council where they have enrolled. Note that the State Bar Council will not send soft copies of the CoP to the candidate.
To obtain the CoP from a State Bar Council, the candidate will have to submit an application in the proper format.
Can I download the CoP
Yes, there is now an option to download the Certificate of Practice (CoP) online.
In 2021, the BCI launched a mobile application – AIBESCOPE. The candidate can log-in to the portal and download a digital copy of their COP until a hard copy is provided to them.
How to download CoP Application Form
The candidate can collect the CoP application forms from the respective State Bar Councils.
| Name of the State Bar Council | Link to download CoP application form |
| Delhi Bar Council | https://delhibarcouncil.com/how-to-apply.php |
| Uttar Pradesh State Bar Council | http://upbarcouncil.com/AdvocateOnCop.aspx |
| Bar Council of Gujarat | https://www.barcouncilofgujarat.org/download.aspx |
| Bar Council of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim | https://www.barcouncilofassam.org/downloads/ |
| State Bar Council of Haryana and Punjab | https://bcph.co.in/ |
| State Bar Council Tamil Nadu and Puducherry | https://www.bctnpy.org/info/apply-for-cop |
| State Bar Council Andhra Pradesh | https://barcouncilap.org//cop-details/ |
| State Bar Council of West Bengal | http://wbbarcouncil.org/ |
| Bar Council of Jharkhand | https://jharkhandstatebarcouncil.in/how-to-apply/ |
| State Bar Council of Chhattisgarh | New High Court Premises, Bilaspur, Bodri, Chhattisgarh 495225 |
| Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa | https://www.barcouncilmahgoa.org/v2/services/ |
| State Bar Council of MP | http://www.sbcofmp.org.in/ |
| State Bar Council of Odisha | https://www.odishabarcouncil.org/enrollment.php |
| State Bar Council of Rajasthan | https://barcouncilofrajasthan.org/ |
| Bar Council of Uttarakhand | https://www.barcouncilofuttarakhand.org/ |
| Bar Council of Kerala | https://www.barcouncilkerala.org/advocate-member-services |
| State Bar Council of Himachal Pradesh | Bar Council of Himachal Pradesh, 4, The Mall, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh 171 001. Secretary, 2620015 (Res) 2812017 (Off) 2657455 2658071 |
| State Bar Council of Tripura | https://slsa.tripura.gov.in/ |
| State Bar Council of Manipur | https://hcmimphal.nic.in/Kotishwar.html |
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How to Submit Application to State Bar Council for Obtaining CoP
The candidate needs to follow the steps mentioned below to duly fill in and submit the CoP application form to the State Bar Council.
Step 1: Download or obtain the COP application form from the State Bar Council Website or address.
Step 2: Duly fill in the CoP application form. You will be required to enter details like academic qualification, bar council enrollment, and AIBE qualifying status
Step 3: Attach or upload the Enrollment form with the required documents
Step 4: Pay the application fee. The application fee may vary from one State Bar Council to another. So, check the details thoroughly before submitting the form.
Attach/ Upload the following documents:
AIBE Result
Academic Qualification Documents
Three passport size photographs (colour and recent)
Caste certificate
Photograph and signature
Other certificates, as mentioned in the application form
State Bar Council Enrollment Charges
The enrolment fees for the Bar Council of Delhi is INR 600. The candidate will have to obtain the enrollment application form from the Office of Bar Council of Delhi on payment of INR 1000.
The registration and other fees for the Bar Council of Delhi are given below for reference:
| Particulars | Fees for 3-year LLB applicants (in INR) | Fees for 5-year LLB applicants (in INR) |
| Enrolment Fees | 600 | 600 |
| Identity Card | 100 | 100 |
| Building Fund | 4,000 | 6,900 |
| Library Fund | 3,000 | 4,400 |
| Indigent | 2,900 | 4,300 |
| Welfare Fun Fee U/R 40 BCI | 3,000 | 3,000 |
| Advocates Welfare Fund Bar Council of Delhi | 700 | 700 |
| Bar Council of India Fund | 150 | 150 |
| Total | 14,450 | 20,150 |
Enrollment Fee for Retired Persons of Age 45 and Above
| Particulars | Fees for Retired Persons of Age 45 years and Above |
| Enrolment Fees | 600 |
| Identity Card | 100 |
| Building Fund | 11,900 |
| Library Fund | 9,400 |
| Indigent | 9,300 |
| Welfare Fun Fee U/R 40 BCI | 3,000 |
| Advocates Welfare Fund Bar Council of Delhi | 700 |
| Bar Council of India Fund | 150 |
| Total | 35,150 |
How to enroll with State Bar Councils for AIBE exam?
Candidates who want to obtain the Certificate of Practice (CoP) must get enrolled with their respective State Bar Councils.
The enrollment number will be required for filling out the AIBE exam application form. If the candidate doesn’t get enrolled with a State Bar Council, they won’t be able to appear in the AIBE exam.
The CoP certificate is issued to candidates only if they qualify in the All India Bar Examination.
Please note that the enrollment is done at a state level, so if you are from Delhi, get enrolled with the Delhi Bar Council. Likewise, if you are from Bihar, enroll with the bar council of that state.
Is AIBE qualification required for candidates who have passed graduation before 2000-2010?
If you have passed the 3-year or 5-year LLB program before 2009-2010, you don’t need to take the AIBE exam to practice in a court of law.
Key points related to State Bar Council Enrolment
Here are few key points related to the State Bar Council Enrolment that candidates need to know:
- Without a state bar council enrollment number, you cannot apply for AIBE exam
- Candidates who have completed 3-year and 5-year LLB programs can get enrolled with state bar councils
- The bar council enrollment process can be either online or offline. Visit your State Bar Council website or office to learn about the enrollment process.
- If an online enrollment process is available, you simply need to go to the enrollment portal, get registered and complete the formalities online.
- As part of the State Bar Council enrollment process, you may need to fill in personal, academic, and contact details. Also, pay the enrollment fee and upload all mandatory documents.
- Advocates Act, 1961 has entrusted the state councils with the powers to frame their own rules for advocate enrollment.
- Once your enrollment is complete, your are eligible to fill out the AIBE 20 (XX) 2025 application form
- Certificate of Practice (CoP) – If you qualify in the AIBE XX exam, you will be issued the CoP certificate, which makes you eligible to practice in a court of law.
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