The BCI prohibited the making of unauthorised reels using court proceedings and reminded law interns to maintain confidentiality.
The Bar Council of India (BCI) has issued a detailed code of conduct regulating the social media activities of law students and interns, prohibiting them from posting content relating to court proceedings, chambers and client work during internships and requiring them to execute written undertakings before commencing internships.
The directions form part of the BCI’s comprehensive circular issued on July 17 to regulate the use of social media by advocates, law students, interns and legal educators in order to preserve professional ethics, client confidentiality and the dignity of courts.
Stating that internships are meant for learning discipline, humility and professional ethics rather than social media visibility, the BCI said every law student must furnish a separate undertaking before every internship in addition to an undertaking executed at the time of admission to the law course. The undertaking will become part of the student’s institutional record.
The circular directs law students and interns not to record, photograph or publish any content relating to court proceedings, client conferences, case files, pleadings, briefs, legal discussions, judicial data, chambers or court visits. They are also prohibited from posting photographs or videos revealing case files, client documents, courtrooms, judges, advocates or chambers, unless expressly authorised by law or applicable court rules.
Interns have also been asked not to create reels, vlogs or posts claiming or implying access to court proceedings, judges, senior advocates or confidential legal work. The BCI specifically bars interns from publishing content such as “day in a chamber”, “internship reveal”, “courtroom drama” or “lawyer life” if it tri
The circular further prohibits interns from using internship access, court corridors, chambers, robes or the identity of working under an advocate, judge, tribunal, law officer or law firm for social media projects or personal branding. Posting photographs or videos in robes, court buildings, corridors or chambers in a manner contrary to professional decorum has also been prohibited.
The BCI has additionally restrained interns from making or circulating AI-generated images, deepfakes, voice clones or synthetic content depicting judges, advocates, litigants, witnesses or court proceedings. It also prohibits them from publishing client names, case details, pleadings, briefs, chamber strategy or any information obtained during internships that may compromise confidentiality.
The Do’s and Dont’s prescribed in the Circular
All Centres of Legal Education are requested to immediately sensitise their students and interns that they must not:
i. make reels or videos inside Court premises, chambers or law offices unless they are subject to applicable court rules, and in the absence of court rules, with written approval of the Court/ Registrar General and are as per the guidelines of this circular;
ii. record hearings, virtual proceedings, client conferences, chamber discussions or professional interactions;
iii. disclose names of clients, case details, pleadings, briefs, chamber strategy, research assignments or confidential work;
iv. publish “day in Court”, “day in chamber”, “internship reveal”, “case file”, “courtroom drama”, “lawyer life” or similar content which tri
v. use internship under an Advocate, Judge, Tribunal, Law Officer, Senior Advocate, law firm or public authority for social media projection;
vi. post photographs or videos in robes, corridors, Court buildings or chambers in a manner contrary to professional decorum.
The Council observed that the concern was particularly serious during internships, where students gain access to confidential legal work. Referring to the Supreme Court’s 2025 judgment in In Re: Summoning Advocates who give legal opinion or represent parties during investigation of cases, the BCI noted that professional communications between advocates and clients enjoy absolute confidentiality under Section 132 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023. It said that if even investigating agencies cannot compel disclosure of privileged communications, interns, juniors, associates, clerks and staff certainly cannot record, dramatise or publish chamber discussions, client details, pleadings, drafts or case strategy on social media.
In this backdrop, the Circular stated :
“Internship is meant for learning discipline, humility, research, drafting, observation, court craft, professional ethics and responsibility. It is not meant for social media display, self-promotion or dramatisation of Court life. A further undertaking shall be obtained before any student is permitted or recommended to commence internship with any Court, Judge, Tribunal, Advocate, Senior Advocate, Law Officer, law firm, chamber, statutory body, public authority, corporate legal department, legal aid body or other legal institution. All Centres of Legal Education shall, in addition, obtain a separate standardised written undertaking from every student at the time of admission to LL.B., LL.M., Ph.D., certificate, diploma and every other law related course. Such undertaking shall not be buried within the general admission form and shall be executed as a standalone document in the format annexed, or in a substantially similar format approved by the institution consistent with this circular.”
Law colleges, universities and Centres of Legal Education have been asked to incorporate a compulsory module on “Digital Ethics, Court Decorum, Confidentiality and Professional Responsibility” in legal education. They have also been directed to maintain a register of undertakings signed by students before internships and to conduct sensitisation programmes on professional ethics and digital conduct.
The circular requires internship coordinators, Bar Associations, law firms and chambers to frame internal protocols ensuring that interns and junior staff do not record, photograph or circulate any material relating to court work, client matters or chamber activities without express permission. Senior advocates and advocates-on-record have also been requested to mentor interns on ethical use of social media and professional responsibilities.
Warning of consequences for violations, the BCI said breach of the undertaking may result in withdrawal of internship opportunities, reporting to the concerned Centre of Legal Education or State Bar Council, and other disciplinary measures permissible under law. The Council said the measures are intended to ensure that future members of the Bar imbibe professional discipline from the very beginning of their legal careers.
Click here to read the circular
Also Read –BCI Issues Circular To Regulate Advocates’ Social Media Use, Warns Against Promotional Reels & Solicitation
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