Non-Advocates cannot give legal opinions: HC

Foreign Law Firms are not eligible to open liaison offices or to practice law in India. Even giving an opinion on a legal matter amounts to “practise of law”. Non-Advocates cannot practice law.  White & Case, a foreign law firm, was granted permission by the RBI u/s 29 of FERA to open a liaison office in India. A PIL was filed contending that such permission was in contravention of s. 29 of FERA as well as s. 29 of the Advocates Act. HELD upholding the challenge: (i) The liaison offices opened by the foreign law firms to act as a coordination and communications channel between the hea...