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Only 1 of 160 pass latest Bombay solicitors exam outright (4 more slip through on grace)

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.

Some previous exam papers

Another sample paper.

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