Kerala Govt Sanctions Stipend For Junior Lawyers [Read Circular]

The Government of Kerala has approved stipend for junior lawyers. Lawyers aged less than 30 and having less than three years of practise, with annual income less than Rs. 1 lakh are entitled to stipend. The stipend amount is Rs. 5,000 per month.

The stipend is disbursed out of the Kerala Advocates Welfare Fund constituted under the Kerala Advocates Welfare Fund Act 1980. Section 9 of the Act enables the Trustee Committee to grant stipends to junior lawyers with less than 30 years of age and less than three years practise at such rates as notified by the government.  The Advocate General, who is the ex-officio chairman of the trustee committee, sought for sanction of the government to pay stipend at the rate of Rs.5000 per month. Accordingly, the government issued order dated 09.03.2018 (Friday), sanctioning stipend.

Those desirous of availing the benefit should submit an application in the prescribed form through the Bar Association in which he/she has taken membership. The junior lawyer needs to submit periodic certificates every three months from his senior advocate (having not less than 15 years of practise) or the concerned Bar Association to the effect that he/she continues to be in active practise of law.