In the October 2011 session two out of seven candidates cleared the exam in their first attempt.

However, the most recent pass rate of 4 per cent is a return to traditional territory, after the April 2011 sessions saw 7 per cent pass – a higher rate than any reported by Legally India since December 2009.

“April 2011 exams results were a bit better then previous exams - out of 215 candidates 16 were declared successful,” confirmed Bombay Incorporated Law Society examiner in charge Dawood Mandviwala.

October 2010 witnessed an all-time reported low in pass rates, which dropped to 2 per cent (four out of 205 candidates, including two first-timers).

In April 2010 the figure was at around 6 per cent again, with 11 out of 171 lawyers having passed.

Mandviwala added that new initiatives would take place in future. “I have proposed to begin with orientation programmes and conduct seminars especially designed for articled clerks, which will give guideline and imparts in-depth knowledge of the subject in which they are to be examined.”