What Law Interns Can and Cannot Post on Social Media: BCI Guidelines Explained

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has issued a code of conduct regulating how law students and interns use social media during internships. The guidelines prohibit interns from recording or sharing content connected with court proceedings, chambers, client meetings, case files and confidential legal work.

The directions are part of a wider circular issued on July 17, 2026, to regulate social media use by advocates, law students, interns and legal educators. The BCI stated that internships are meant to teach professional ethics, discipline, research, drafting and court craft—not to provide content for personal branding or social media visibility.

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What Law Interns Cannot Post on Social Media

The BCI has specifically directed law students and interns not to publish the following types of content:

1. Reels or Videos Inside Courts and Chambers
   Interns cannot make reels or videos inside court premises, chambers or law offices without permission under the applicable court rules. Where no specific rules exist, written approval from the Court or Registrar General may be required.
2. Recordings of Hearings and Professional Discussions
   Court hearings, virtual proceedings, client conferences, chamber discussions and other professional interactions must not be recorded or circulated.
3. Confidential Client and Case Information
   Interns cannot disclose client names, case details, pleadings, briefs, legal drafts, chamber strategies, research assignments or other confidential work received during an internship.
4. ‘Day in Court’ or ‘Lawyer Life’ Content
   Posts, reels or vlogs such as “day in court”, “day in chamber”, “internship reveal”, “case file”, “courtroom drama” and “lawyer life” are prohibited when they trivialise court work or compromise professional confidentiality.
5. Internship-Based Personal Branding
   Interns cannot use their association with an advocate, judge, tribunal, law officer, senior advocate, law firm or public authority for social media projection or personal branding.
6. Improper Photographs in Court Premises
   Photographs or videos in legal robes, court corridors, court buildings, chambers or law offices must not be posted in a manner that goes against professional dignity and court decorum.
7. AI-Generated Court or Lawyer Content
   Interns must not create or circulate deepfakes, voice clones, synthetic videos or AI-generated images depicting judges, advocates, litigants, witnesses or court proceedings.

What Law Interns Can Post on Social Media

The BCI circular mainly focuses on prohibited content and does not provide a detailed list of permitted posts. However, law students may generally share responsible and educational content that does not disclose confidential information or misuse access obtained during an internship.

They may post:

• General reflections about the skills developed during an internship, such as legal research, drafting, time management and professional communication.
• Educational content explaining general legal concepts, judgments or developments based on publicly available information.
• A simple internship completion announcement mentioning the organisation or advocate, where permission has been obtained and no confidential details are disclosed.
• A certificate of completion or appreciation, provided it does not contain sensitive information and the concerned organisation permits its publication.
• General career guidance for other law students based on personal learning, without revealing client matters, chamber discussions or internal work.
• Publicly available photographs from officially organised seminars, conferences, workshops or institutional events.
• Posts expressing gratitude to mentors, advocates or organisations, provided the content remains professional and does not exaggerate the intern’s role or access.
• General information about internship application procedures, eligibility requirements and publicly available opportunities.

Even permitted content should remain professional, accurate and respectful. Before publishing any internship-related post, students should ensure that it does not reveal confidential information, identify clients, display case documents or create a misleading impression about their professional position.

Written Undertaking Before Every Internship

Every law student will now be required to submit a separate written undertaking before beginning each internship. This will be in addition to the undertaking executed at the time of admission to a law course.

The undertaking will form part of the student’s institutional record. A violation may lead to withdrawal of internship opportunities, reporting to the law college or State Bar Council, and other disciplinary action permitted under law.

Responsibilities of Law Colleges and Chambers

Law colleges and universities have been asked to introduce a compulsory module on “Digital Ethics, Court Decorum, Confidentiality and Professional Responsibility”.

They must also maintain records of undertakings submitted by students and organise sensitisation programmes on professional ethics and responsible digital conduct.

Internship coordinators, Bar Associations, law firms and chambers have been asked to create internal protocols preventing interns and junior staff from recording or circulating material concerning client matters, court work or chamber activities without permission.

What the Guidelines Mean for Law Students

The circular does not completely prohibit law students from discussing their internship experiences online. However, any content that reveals confidential information, creates an impression of unauthorised access or uses court premises for personal branding may invite consequences.

General educational posts about lessons learned, legal research skills or career experiences may remain possible, provided no client details, case information, court proceedings or confidential professional interactions are disclosed.

The BCI’s message is clear: entry into the legal profession carries ethical responsibilities from the internship stage itself. Social media visibility cannot take priority over client confidentiality, court dignity and professional discipline.