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3 year Practice Mandatory For Judiciary Exam[Civil Judge Exam] in 2025: Latest News
May 20, 2025
Overview: In a major development affecting thousands of law graduates and judicial aspirants across the country, the Supreme Court of India has ruled that a minimum of three years of legal practice is mandatory to be eligible for entry-level judicial service exams, specifically for the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division).
Realizing the Problem: Is 3 Years Practice Enough for Judiciary Exams?
It's important to appreciate that the practice of law is one of the most challenging and demanding activities in the legal field. As we know, being a lawyer is also as tough as becoming a judge. It takes dedication and years of experience to acquire the skills of locating, analyzing, and presenting cases in court. This leads to the problem of mandatory practice for judicial candidates.
The issue of 3 years of mandatory practice has been the subject of discussion for months now, drawing attention following a Supreme Court case. However, it is hardly a new discussion, going back as it does to 1993, when the Supreme Court initially introduced the requirement of 3 years of practice for judicial aspirants.
It remained a rule for many years and was only revoked in 2003 following the recommendations of the Shetty Commission when the rule of mandatory practice was abolished. And yet here we are again, debating the application of this requirement in view of the current discussion and cases relating to judicial remuneration and demand for experience.
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The Realities of Practicing Law: It's Not All Books and Exams
Practicing law is not reading books and studying for exams. It's working with real life problems—handling cases, getting to know clients' issues, and making strong cases in court. Without experience, it is difficult to comprehend the complications of court procedures and interpretations of the law.
Ground Realities of Court Operations
For fresh judges, particularly those joining the bench in transition from the role of a lawyer to that of a judge, ground realities of court functioning can be quite intimidating. It is important to learn the court’s working, handle the cases, and keep the bench-bar relationship in perspective. Experience in this can come solely through practice.
The Supreme Court’s decision to make 3 years of legal practice mandatory for appearing in judicial service exams (like Civil Judge, Junior Division) has created a new timeline for aspiring judges. But don’t worry — this delay doesn’t have to be a dead end. In fact, with the right plan, you can use these 3 years to become a more confident, experienced, and exam-ready candidate.
Below are solutions and strategies for current students, fresh graduates, and judiciary aspirants to make the most of this mandated period:
For Final-Year Law Students & Fresh Graduates
If you're in the final stretch of your law degree or have just graduated, the most important step is to start practicing law without delay. As per the Supreme Court’s ruling, you’ll be eligible for judicial service only after completing three continuous years of active legal practice, typically post-enrollment with a State Bar Council.
Immediately after graduation, enroll with the Bar Council of your state and begin working under a senior advocate or in a law chamber that deals with civil, criminal, or constitutional matters.
The goal here is not just to “wait out” three years, but to gain hands-on experience with drafting, filing, client consultation, argument observation, and court appearances. This exposure forms the foundation of what will be expected of you as a future judge.
In parallel, make it a point to document your work experience meticulously.
Maintain a record of cases you’ve been involved in, daily tasks completed, court visits, and legal drafting work. This documentation will not only help when validating your practice during the application process but will also be an important self-evaluation tool as you grow professionally.
How to Prepare for Judiciary with 3 Year Practice
Just because you're not eligible for the exam during these three years doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare. In fact, the smart move is to combine practice with preparation.
Judiciary coaching institutes like Judiciary Gold are already designing hybrid models where young advocates can study in the mornings, evenings, or weekends — without compromising their court duties.
Start with strengthening your command over core subjects such as the Constitution, Indian Penal Code, CPC, CrPC, Evidence Act, and Contract Law.
Develop a habit of reading bare acts thoroughly, supplemented by case law, legal maxims, and landmark judgments. Allocate time for current affairs, particularly those related to law, policy, and judiciary. As you move into the second year of practice, begin attempting sectional and full-length mock tests regularly to build exam temperament.
You can structure your 3-year period into three strategic phases:
- Year 1: Focus on building concepts, reading bare acts, and learning practical aspects of procedure.
- Year 2: Incorporate answer writing, subject-wise tests, and mains-specific preparation.
- Year 3: Simulate actual exam scenarios with full mocks and interviews.
By the end of your practice period, not only will you have real-world legal experience, but you’ll also be thoroughly prepared for both Prelims and Mains — giving you a competitive edge.
For Students in 3rd–5th Year (5-Year Program) or 2nd–3rd Year (3-Year Program)
If you are in the middle of your law degree, this ruling offers you time to plan your future judicial journey with clarity.
Start by orienting your internships and academic focus toward courtroom exposure, instead of corporate or policy-based work. Intern with district court lawyers, NGOs handling litigation, and government legal aid centres to get a feel for the structure of trial courts.
You can also start preparing through foundation-level judiciary batches that slowly introduce you to important subjects, legal terminology, and exam trends.
This slow-burn approach will pay off once you begin practice. Additionally, invest time in building key skills like judgment writing, legal translations, comprehension in both English and Hindi, and concise answer structuring — skills that are critical in judiciary mains exams but often underdeveloped during college.
The earlier you begin developing a disciplined approach to law and legal writing, the more confident and focused you’ll be when your 3-year practice period begins.
For Students with Financial Constraints
One of the major concerns with the 3-year mandate is financial. Many students rely on quick placement or immediate government job exams for income, and prolonged low-paying practice can be discouraging.
To address this, consider working part-time in legal education, as a content writer, test question developer, or teaching assistant in online judiciary coaching platforms.
These roles allow you to stay in touch with the syllabus, learn while you earn, and build subject clarity in parallel. Many Bar Councils and law colleges also offer scholarships or practice stipends, so make sure you explore those options.
When selecting a chamber or senior lawyer to work with, try to find mentors who offer a small stipend along with mentorship and courtroom exposure. Even if the monetary returns are modest, the learning and recommendation you gain are worth far more in the long run.
Conclusion:
The 3-year practice rule undoubtedly changes the timeline for aspiring judges — but not the goal itself. In fact, it offers a rare chance to gain depth, maturity, and clarity before taking on one of the most responsible positions in the legal system.
By approaching this phase with strategy, support, and discipline, you can become not just exam-ready, but role-ready.
The judiciary needs judges who understand not just what the law says, but how it’s lived and experienced in real courts. This rule, if navigated smartly, will help you become exactly that.