Bar Council of India performs a list of functions at par with section 7(1) of the Advocates Act 1961 which states:
•    To lay down standards of professional conduct and etiquette for advocates;
•    To lay down the procedure to be followed by its disciplinary committee and the disciplinary committee of each State Bar Council;
•    To safeguard the rights, privileges and interest of advocates;
•    To promote and support law reform;
•    To deal with and dispose of any matter arising under this Act, which may be referred to it by a State Bar Council;
•    To exercise general supervision and control over State Bar Councils;
•    To promote legal education and to lay down standards of such education in consultation with the Universities in India imparting such education and the State Bar Councils
•    To recognize Universities whose degree in law shall be a qualification for enrolment as an advocate and for that purpose to visit and inspect Universities or cause the State Bar Councils to visit and inspect Universities in accordance with such directions as it may given be in this behalf;
o    To conduct seminars and organize talks on legal topics by eminent jurists and publish journals and papers of legal interest;
o    To organize legal aid to the poor in the prescribed manner
o    To recognize on a reciprocal basis foreign qualifications in law obtained outside India for the purpose of admission as an advocate under this Act;
•    To manage and invest the funds of the Bar Council;
•    To provide for the election of its members;
•    To perform all other functions conferred on it by or under this Act;
•    To do all other things necessary for discharging the aforesaid functions;