Since then there were two groups of legal practitioners in Sri Lanka before 1974 as advocates and proctors, when the Administration of Justice Law (No.
Proctors would maintain offices or establish legal firms (as partnerships) that clients would directly access.
The instructing proctor would conduct litigation and engage the services of an advocate to represent their clients in court, by providing them with a brief.
As in England with barristers and solicitors, advocates practice case law from their chambers with limited access to clients and acted on instructions of a proctor, having rights of audience in the higher courts.
Counselor are retained by instructing attorneys on behalf of their clients and manages the case work.
[5] Members of Parliament may gain admission to the Sri Lanka Law College to qualify as lawyers.
Attorneys are regulated by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, with a preliminary inquiry under taken by a disciplinary committee appointed by the Chief Justice per the Judicature Act.