Govt move to cap lawyers’ entry age draws support

A government move to bar people aged over 35 from entering the legal profession has drawn support from several academics, while others have called for further study of its implications.

Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman said on Tuesday that a decision had already been made to prevent people from becoming lawyers after the age of 35. “We want to bring the profession to a certain standard,” he said.
He was speaking at a programme marking the completion of the second batch and the induction of the third batch of interns under the Attorney General’s Office–UNDP Internship Programme, jointly organised by the Attorney General’s Office and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Bangladesh.

“People working in the administration or other jobs often begin practising law late in life after retirement. An initiative has been taken to stop this practice,” the minister said. “We have asked for an initiative to close this path.”

Describing lawyers as “social engineers”, he said they should have knowledge of economics, sociology, political science and anatomy, alongside law. He also stressed the need to strengthen public trust in lawyers, saying their professional identity should be defined by their knowledge, wisdom and contribution to justice. The proposed restriction has raised questions about its impact on people seeking a career change, former judicial officers and those who study law later in life. Experts said the proposal’s scope, legal basis and implications for existing eligibility rules required further consideration. 

Prof Dr M Jafar Ullah Talukder, dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Chittagong, welcomed the proposal, saying its benefits would outweigh the drawbacks.

He said legal education used to take longer, as students often had to obtain another degree before pursuing an LLB, making the absence of an age limit reasonable at the time.

“Now, students can study law immediately after completing their HSC. Almost every university offers legal education in diverse sectors, so an age limit is more justified in the current context,” he said.

He said the measure could encourage young people to enter the profession, adding that opportunities must be created for the younger generation.

Prof Christine Richardson, former dean of the Faculty of Law at Jagannath University, emphasised the quality of legal education.

 “Where someone studies is an important factor. Educational institutions might also impose age restrictions,” she said. However, she noted that lawyering was an independent profession and called for further study before reaching a conclusion.

Quazi Mahfujul Hoque Supan, an associate professor of law at the University of Dhaka and a former member of the Judiciary Reform Commission, also backed the decision. He said the commission had made several recommendations to restore the dignity of the legal profession, which were gradually being implemented.
“We must move away from this situation and restore the dignity of the legal profession,” he said, referring to negative public perceptions of the profession.

He called for standardising questions in Bar Council enrolment examinations, expanding the range of subjects covered and setting an age limit for entry. He added that similar practices existed in other countries.

Dhaka Bar Association President Md Anwar Zahid Bhuiyan pointed to a possible rationale for the restriction, citing concerns about people joining the bar after leaving other jobs to seek financial benefits.

Referring to a High Court case, he said the full verdict noted that some people had enrolled as lawyers after the age of 35, having retired from or been dismissed from other jobs. He also alleged that some lawyers joined the bar for financial gain, while others deceived clients.

Supreme Court Bar Association Secretary Mohammad Ali called for an assessment of the proposal’s effectiveness before implementation. He cited judicial service officers who resign or are dismissed at around 40, saying they would be unable to enter the legal profession under the proposed restriction.