The modern legal education in Sri Lanka dates back to 1833 when the Supreme Court was allowed by Section 17 of the Charter of 1833, to "admit and enrol as Advocates and Proctors, persons of good repute and of competent knowledge and ability upon examination by one or more of the judges of the Supreme Court."
In 1874, the Colombo Law College was established to carry out formal legal education.
This is achieved by passing law exams at the Sri Lanka Law College which are administered by the Council of Legal Education and spending a period of six months under a practicing attorney of at least eight years' standing.
Prospective attorneys can register in the Sri Lanka Law College through an entrance exam and follow a three-year program of legal study undertaking exams on each legal subject at the end of the year.
Graduates who have gain an LL.B from a local or foreign university, may gain admission in the Law College and undertake these exams without attending lectures at the Law College.