Only five candidates out of 160, or 3 per cent, have passed the latest Bombay Incorporated Law Society (BILS) solicitors exam.
No first time test takers passed this time, said BILS examiner in charge Dawood Mandviwala, adding that out of the five who did pass, four had barely passed on the “border line with some grace marks”.
Grace marks are awarded by the examiner when nearly no candidates pass an exam. This is done after consultation with the committee and approval from the presiding BILS high court judge, explained Mandviwala.
“I believe that most of the articled clerks signed their articles during their course of their employment with the individuals or the solicitors firm and usually they don’t get exposed to the type of work required during the articled period,” commented Mandviwala about the reasons for the low rate. “And since they are in employment they do not get six months leave recommended by the Society. The sum total is low grade performance.”
Recent years’ results to the gruelling exam have ranged between 2 and 6 per cent, with grace marks also having been awarded in some previous years.
The exam covers six subjects, including litigation, tax and commercial laws.
Comments
[quote name="Recommendation"]The AORs examination must also be made this challenging, and to weed out the rejects that have crept in over the decades, all AOR's must be made to requalify by writing an exam every 10 yrs, with mandatory pro-bono service and attendance in certain lectures on contemporary subjects and issues..[/quote]
[quote name="Sachi Baat"]Why AORs should requalify exam every 10 yrs? If "Recommendation" is so necessary, all advocates must requalify Law exam after every 10 years.[/quote]
Down with the BILS exam...
Simon...go back!
Before someone jumps and says what proof do I have to say there were revaluation cases, I might as well admit that I don't have any proof, however even in the past Bils has cleared people in revaluation rounds but their names have never been disclosed.
I am not here to lay blame and say that the system is tainted since there are fair number of cases without mom and pop contacts who have cleared, but a little more transparency never killed anyone.
I have stated and clarified enough.
BTW, u a solicitor? Or just a public gyanee?
Take it as a rumour, but would be great if kian could do an official follow up of this article and check with Bils and let them come on record to say that no one cleared on revaluation.
I don't have anything against the exam because in spite of rumours of people passing because of influence there are genuine ones also who have cleared.
Good luck to those preparing or planning to take the exam.