Gujarat High Court sets 45 as minimum age for senior advocate title

The Gujarat High Court has issued new rules for conferring the designation of senior advocate, fixing the minimum age at 45 and requiring at least 20 years of legal practice.

According to the notification, formally titled the “Gujarat High Court (Senior Advocates Designation) Rules, 2025,” candidates must also have mentored two to three junior lawyers—those with less than three years’ experience—by guiding them in legal practice and courtroom procedures.

Applicants must show a record of professional competence, specialised knowledge, and recognition earned through practice. They are expected to have contributed to pro bono legal programmes and to demonstrate integrity and good standing in the profession.

Restrictions on courtroom conduct

The rules place limits on what senior advocates may do during judicial proceedings. They will not be permitted to handle routine mentioning of cases or to seek adjournments, underscoring the court’s view of the designation as a mark of distinction rather than a procedural role.

Annual selection process

A permanent Secretariat, constituted by the Chief Justice, will oversee the designation process at least once a year. Each application must carry the endorsement of two senior advocates with a minimum of 10 years’ standing at the bar and include copies of the applicant’s judgments from the previous five years.

For lawyers practising outside the Gujarat High Court, the Secretariat may seek information from judicial officers. All applications will be placed before the Full Court, whose decision—whether unanimous or by majority—will be final.

If an application is rejected, the candidate may reapply only after two years. The Full Court also retains the authority to withdraw or revoke the designation in cases of professional misconduct or for other recorded reasons.

Conditions for good standing

Candidates must not have been convicted by any court, found guilty of offences involving moral turpitude, or held in contempt of court. They must also have no record of disciplinary action by the Bar Council of Gujarat or the Bar Council of India.

With the notification of these rules, the changes have come into immediate effect, prompting wide discussion among members of the bar and the wider legal community.