What happened (Supreme Court decision on experience requirement)
The Supreme Court upheld its May 2025 judgment requiring legal practitioners to apply for entry into judicial service. In review petitions, the Supreme Court majority reduced the required prior legal practice experience from three years to one year for eligible candidates.
The Supreme Court majority stated that candidates with at least one year of legal practice could undergo one-year intensive training at the relevant State judicial academy. After academy training, candidates would complete one further year of law clerkship with senior judicial officers and High Court judges.
The Supreme Court majority also fixed the effective timing of the one-year prior practice requirement. The Court stated that the one-year prior practice rule would take effect in earnest from April 1, 2027.
Background and earlier position (May 2025 framework)
The Supreme Court’s May 2025 judgment required legal practitioners to apply for entry into judicial service. Review petitions were filed for reconsideration of the experience requirement and the treatment of candidates during the period between May 2025 and the later operational start date for the new experience rule.