Bar Council of India (BCI) is the apex constitutional body, established by Government of India under Advocates Act 1961 with the aim to lay down the standards of professional conduct and etiquette and also standards of legal education. The State Bar Councils does enrolment of advocates and enforcement of discipline is part of the obligations of the State Bar Council and the Bar Council of India exercises appellate jurisdiction.

Although it comes under the purview of Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India, Bar Council of India is a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power to acquire and hold property, both movable and immovable, and to contract, and may by the name by which it is known sue and be sued.

BCI comprises of 18 members out of which the Attorney General of India and other Solicitor General of India are ex-officio members. The other 16 members represent the 16 state bar councils in the country and these members are elected for a period of five years and the BCI elects its Chairman and Vice Chairman for a period of two years.