Legal Profession


The legal profession is a prestigious profession recognized by society. That is why many people are eager to enter the legal profession.Lawyers are professionals who have contributed to change the social trajectory of Sri Lanka and in many countries of the world.

Prior to 1833, there was no definite method of recruiting lawyers in Ceylon. By the Charter of 1833 delegated the power to recruit lawyers to the Supreme Court. The Law College is governed by the Council of incorporated Legal education and was established in 1873. The Council of Legal Education was incorporated by the Legal Education Board Ordinance No. 2 of 1900. The Law College was established in 1874 and is the only institution in Sri Lanka that provides Professional education in law.


Considerations in recruiting as lawyers under the Charter of 1833 and the Judicature Act No. 2 of 1978.


  • Good Character
  • Competent Knowledge
  • Ability

Administration of Justice Law, No. 44 of 1973 abolished the existing division between Advocates and Proctors.  and established the "Legal Profession" and formed the Bar Association.


Ways to enter the legal profession

  • Law College Entrance Examination
  • Open University LLB Degree Entrance Examination.
  • To the Law Faculty which records the highest Z score of GCE (Advanced Level) (Colombo / Peradeniya Jaffna)
  • LLB degree from a private university.

The greatest figures in the world who were lawyers


  • Mahatma Gandhi (India)
  • Nelson Mandela (South Africa)
  • Abraham Lincoln (USA)
  • Barack Obama (USA)
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt (USA)
  • Margaret Thatcher (England)
  • Mohamed Ali Jinnah (Pakistan)
  • Joe Biden (USA)

Great lawyers of Sri Lanka

  • Ponnambalam Ramanathan (The first educated Sri Lankan to be elected to the Legislative Council in 1910)
  • Ponnambalam Arunachalam (First Sri Lankan to join the Civil Service)
  • S.W.R.D Bandaranaike (Prime Minister and Founder of the Freedom Party)
  • Dudley Senanayake (Prime Minister)
  • J R Jayewardene (First Executive President)
  • Mahinda Rajapaksa (President)
  • Ranil Wickramasinghe (Prime Minister)
  • Lalith Athulathmudali (Founder of Mahapola)
  • Lakshman Kadirgamar (Foreign Minister)

Career opportunities you can choose as a lawyer


  • Counsel
  • Instructing Attorney
  • State Counsel
  • Company Secretary
  • Legal Officer
  • Human Resources Manager
  • Public Notary
  • Appointments higher posts in the government..
  • Judge