ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) the top body of lawyers in the country has decreed that the degree of Legum Baccalaureus (LL.B.) will be awarded after five years of educationinstead ofthe three yearsin vogue.

In a letter to the registrars of all universities and law colleges, PBCannounced the promulgation of the PBC Legal Education Rules 2015, as well as the PBC (Recognition of Universities) Rules 2015, regarding the affiliation of law colleges.

The council, taking note of the deteriorating standard oflegaleducationin the country, now requires the universities to complete the LL.B. course in five years and has asked institutions not to grant further admissions to the current threeyear LL.B. programme.

Those currently enrolled in three-year programmes will not be affected, but the three-year programme will be discontinued in three years.

The new rules also state that the number of students admitted to first year LL.B. must not exceed 100. Only morningsessions will be permitted and evening classes have also been disallowed under the new rules.

However, afternoon or evening classes currently being conducted will be allowed to continue until the completion of the education of currently enrolled students.

Under the new rules, universities or law colleges intending to impart legal education at the postgraduate level, i.e. LL.M.

or Ph.D., will have to seek permission or approval from both the PBC and the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

Institutions already offering LL.M.

Ph.D. programmes will have to seek approval of their syllabus from PBC and HEC within six months of the promulgation of these rules.The new rules say that no universities or degree awarding institution will affiliate any law college after the enforcement of these rules.

Degree awarding institutions imparting legal education will certify and inform PBC at the start of every academic year that each and every private law college affiliated with them is implementing and adhering to these rules in letter and spirit, the letter said.

No institution will be allowed to impart legal education under international/external/distance learning programme of any foreign university without first obtaining a No-Objection Certificate (NoC) from the council.

Those already doing so will have to obtain NoCs within six months.