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Gov't to create IAS/IFS-style Indian Legal Service (ILS) to attract 60 top law grads

Delhi
Delhi

The law ministry is planning to start up an Indian Legal Service (ILS) styled along the lines of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in a bid to entice top law graduates away from high-paying corporate law firms.

Law minister Veerappa Moily will shortly announce a scheme to introduce a national written and oral exam styled along the lines of other civil services entrance exams, according to Indian national papers Indian Express and the Financial Express.

Moily told the Indian Express: "Our wish is to have the best young legal brains working for the government in different capacities. Not all bright lawyers want to join law firms and shun courts. The ILS will give such lawyers an opportunity to work for the government in good positions."

An unnamed law ministry source told the Financial Express: "The law ministry has already finalised the framework for the ILS. The UPSC will hold a written exam, followed by viva voce on the same pattern as the civil services examination. Our aim is to have at least 60 ILS officers every year,” said a law ministry functionary."

"Basically, the aim is to have these officers be our lawyers in various courts as well as give tender legal advice to the government. In order to make the service more lucrative, we also hope to provide for a way for ILS officers to join the higher judiciary on the same pattern as district and sessions judges," added the source.

ILS officers would have the opportunity to become legal advisers to the central and state governments.

The papers did not report on whether pay-levels of ILS officers would be on par with private practice.

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