CHAPTER I — PRELIMINARY

1. Title and Commencement

• These rules shall be called the Advocate Council of India (ACI) Act, 2023.
• They shall come into force from the date of adoption by the Board of Trustees.

2. Objectives
   The objectives of this Act are:

• To establish uniform rules for the administration and operation of the ACI Trust.
• To promote legal education, professional development, and access to legal services.
• To ensure compliance with applicable Indian laws and ethical standards.

CHAPTER II — GOVERNANCE & ADMINISTRATION

3. Structure of the Trust
   The Trust shall be administered by:

• Board of Trustees — consisting of the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Secretary.
• Executive Committees and Operational Wings as defined by the Board.

4. Committees
   The following committees shall function under the Trust:

• Members of Executive Committee
• Legal Services Committee
• Advisory Committee
• Welfare Committee
• Online Legal Course Committee
• Legal internship & placement Committee
• Special Committee and as when required

5. Meetings

• The Board shall meet at least four times a year.
• All decisions shall be minuted and recorded. 

CHAPTER III — MEMBERSHIP

6. Categories of Membership

• Student Members
• Professional Members
• Corporate / Law Firm Members
• Honorary Members

7. Eligibility Criteria

• Student Members: Enrolled in recognized LLB, BALLB, or LLM programs in India or equivalent foreign institutions.
• Professional Members: Practicing advocates, in-house counsel, legal professionals, academics.
• Corporate Members: Law firms, corporate legal departments, and legal service providers.
• Honorary Members: Eminent jurists, educators, or professionals invited by the Board.

8. Rights and Privileges of Members

Student Members:

• Access to free and discounted online courses, study material, and certification programs.
• Participation in student workshops, webinars, competitions, and mentorship schemes.
• Eligibility to post internship requests, apply for internships, and engage in ACI student projects.
• Opportunity to contribute articles, case notes, and research papers to ACI publications.

Professional Members:

• Full access to all legal courses and training resources.
• Ability to upload their own courses and earn revenue.
• Verified listing in the Legal Relief Portal for client referrals.
• Right to post jobs, internships, and share firm vacancies.
• Opportunity to participate in ACI research, panels, and publications.

Corporate Members:

• Organization-wide access to ACI resources and compliance tools.
• Verified profile in the Legal Relief Portal for institutional clients.
• Ability to post multiple jobs and internships.
• Branding and collaboration opportunities with ACI.

Honorary Members:

• Lifetime access to ACI resources.
• Recognition on official platforms.
• Invitation to serve as mentors, advisors, or speakers.

9. Duties of Members

• Adhere to the ACI Code of Conduct and this Act.
• Comply with all applicable laws, including the Advocates Act, IT Act, and BCI Rules.
• Maintain professionalism, confidentiality, and integrity.

10. Suspension and Termination

• Membership may be suspended or revoked for misconduct, non-payment, or breach of rules.

CHAPTER IV — LEGAL EDUCATION & TRAINING

11. Educational Initiatives

• The Trust shall develop and offer online courses, certification programs, webinars, and workshops in various branches of law and legal practice.

12. Member Contribution to Education

• Professional Members and approved Student Members may contribute content for ACI’s educational platform.
• Revenue-sharing agreements shall govern payouts for course enrollments.

13. Certification

• ACI shall issue certificates for approved courses and maintain verifiable records.

CHAPTER V — LEGAL SERVICES & CLIENT REFERRAL

14. Legal Relief Portal

• The Trust shall maintain a platform where members can offer professional legal services on a paid basis.
• All engagements must comply with the Advocates Act, BCI Rules, and applicable law.

15. Client Data Protection

• All client data shall be handled in accordance with the IT Act and Privacy Rules.

CHAPTER VI — JOBS, INTERNSHIPS & VACANCIES

16. Job and Internship Posting

• Professional and Corporate Members may post job and internship opportunities.
• Student Members may apply for such opportunities through the platform.
• Members may earn referral incentives (where compliant with law and ACI policy) for successful placements.

CHAPTER VII — DATA PROTECTION & PRIVACY

17. Data Compliance

• The Trust and members shall follow IT Act, 2000 and IT Rules, 2011 regarding data protection.
• ACI shall maintain a privacy policy accessible to all members and users.

CHAPTER VIII — FINANCIAL GOVERNANCE

18. Accounts and Tax Compliance

• ACI shall maintain audited accounts and file returns as per the Income Tax Act and GST laws.

19. Membership Fees and Charges

• The Board shall prescribe and revise membership and service fees.

CHAPTER IX — CODE OF ETHICS & DISCIPLINE

20. Code of Conduct

• Members shall act with integrity, avoid prohibited advertising, and deliver services professionally.

21. Grievance Redressal

• The Ethics & Grievance Committee shall address complaints within 60 days.

 CHAPTER X — MISCELLANEOUS

22. Amendments

• The Board may amend this Act by two-thirds majority at a duly convened meeting.

23. Dissolution

• Dissolution shall be governed by the Trust Deed and Indian Trusts Act.

24. Applicability of Law

• All activities of ACI shall be subject to Indian law, including but not limited to:
  • The Indian Trusts Act, 1882
  • The Income Tax Act, 1961
  • The Advocates Act, 1961
  • The IT Act, 2000
  • The Consumer Protection Act, 2019
  • Copyright Act, 1957
  • GST Act, 2017