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No first timers pass latest Bombay solicitors exam; Could you? Download the test paper

Test
Test
Eleven out of 171 candidates - or 6 per cent - passed April's examination of the Bombay Incorporate Law Society to become Bombay solicitors, as none of the 30-odd first-time test takers managed to clear the exam. Read on to download and try your hand at the most recent test paper.

Out of a total of 171 candidates only 11 have passed, which is approximately the same ratio as in October 2009 when 11 out of 186 candidates passed. In the same exam exactly one year ago 11 per cent or 14 out of 129 test-takers passed.

A total of at least 30 first-time solicitors exam candidates appeared between 19 and 30 April 2010, of whom none passed. Results were announced last week.

The top mark was 373 marks out of 600 maximum points, with the other 10 passing grades scattered between the pass-mark of 360 and 369.

Bombay Incorporated Law Society secretary and examiner-in charge Dawood Mandviwala said that the performance this year was not very good. "Mostly people are going for corporate work but they are not very good in practice and procedure and litigation."

"And hardly 5 to 10 per cent of people want to do taxation work - they lack in taxation," he added, explaining that the maximum number of people had failed the taxation section of the exam for which a basic knowledge of taxation was required.

All papers contain a mix of theoretical and practical questions, such as how to deal with clients.

Sitting the solicitors exam requires taking an articled clerkship of three years under a law firm solicitor who has been qualified for at least five years.

Could you pass the Bombay solicitors test?

Sample question corporate: "Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act 1956. What remedy is available to an investor in respect of an order passed by a recognised stock exchange for delisting of securities in a recognised stock exchange?"

Conveyancing: "Distinguish  between the following  (any three):
(a) Sale and Assignment
(b) Lease and License
(c) Probate and Letters of Administration
(d) Part performance and Specific performance"

Click here to download complete paper 1 (practice and procedure), paper 2 (corporate laws) and paper 3 (conveyancing).

Sample question tax: "What does  the expression "charitable  purpose" mean under the [Income Tax] Act [1961]? Discuss  briefly the provisions  regarding  income of a charitable trust with special  reference  to accumulation of income."

Tax: "Discuss the provisions relating to taxation of Limited Liability Partnership."

Commercial laws: "Describe 'Sound Mind' and 'Free Consent' for the purpose of
contracting? Discuss in detail all five elements affecting free consent."

Click here to download complete paper 4 (taxation), paper 5 (commercial laws) and paper 6 (general acts).

Each paper carries 100 marks with a time limit of three hours.

If there is interest we will aim to publish model answers also in due course.

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