The Advocates Act, 1961, is the primary legislation that governs the legal profession in India. It was enacted to amend and consolidate the law relating to legal practitioners and to provide for the constitution of Bar Councils and an All-India Bar. The Act received the assent of the President of India on the 19th of May, 1961, and was published in the Gazette of India on the same day, marking its date of commencement.