IGNOU–ICAI B.Com (A&F) Eligible for 3-Year LL.B: BCI as the legal regulator has formally clarified the long-standing eligibility issue related to admission into the three-year Bachelor of Laws programme. The clarification, issued in December 2025, applies uniformly to all law colleges approved by the Bar Council of India and resolves confusion that had persisted for over a decade among aspirants.
BCI Clarification on IGNOU–ICAI B.Com (A&F) Degree
The Bar Council of India has confirmed that candidates holding a B.Com (Accounting and Finance) degree awarded jointly by Indira Gandhi National Open University and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India are fully eligible for admission to the 3-Year LL.B programme, provided the law degree is pursued in regular mode. As per the clarification, degrees obtained through distance or open education remain valid for LL.B admission if the candidate has completed Class 12 through a regular schooling system. However, candidates who pursued either Class 12 or graduation through an open system without the basic preceding qualification are not eligible.
Rules of Legal Education and Background of the Issue
Under the BCI Rules of Legal Education, 2008, graduation degrees obtained through correspondence or distance education are permitted for admission to law courses, subject to fulfilment of foundational academic requirements. In the past, inconsistent interpretation of these rules led to varied admission practices across universities. While some institutions granted admission to IGNOU–ICAI B.Com (A&F) graduates, others rejected applications, and in certain cases, students faced difficulties even after qualifying professional examinations. The latest clarification standardises eligibility criteria nationwide and ensures that IGNOU–ICAI B.Com (A&F) degree holders are no longer denied admission to the 3-Year LL.B programme at BCI-approved institutions. This decision is expected to bring certainty to aspirants from commerce and accounting backgrounds seeking legal education through the three-year law course.
