The Bar Council of India has introduced new regulations governing social media use by advocates, aiming to curb misleading legal content. Advocates and law students must disclose their status and the use of AI tools when sharing legal content.
BCI's New Social Media Regulations for Advocates
The Bar Council of India (BCI) has released a circular imposing stringent regulations on advocates regarding their usage of social media platforms. This move is aimed at addressing the proliferation of misleading legal content that has become prevalent on these platforms.
As per the circular, institutions must assign Social Media Ethics Nodal Officers responsible for overseeing compliance with these regulations. Legal content creators, including advocates and law students, are required to explicitly declare their professional status when publishing legal material. Furthermore, they are prohibited from promising specific legal outcomes or guarantees in their posts.
“It is essential for legal professionals to maintain a standard of integrity in their communications, particularly on social media,”
states the BCI circular. Additionally, those utilizing AI tools must disclose such usage clearly, ensuring transparency when engaging with the public online.
This comprehensive regulatory framework reflects the BCI's commitment to maintaining the dignity of the legal profession while promoting responsible social media practices among its members. Practitioners should familiarize themselves with these new requirements to avoid potential disciplinary actions when sharing legal insights or advice on social media.
Citations
- Bar Council of India Circular (2026) BCI 01
