Bihar State Bar Council is set to introduce a pension scheme for practicing lawyers from January 14.

“The pension scheme would be a first-of-its-kind in the country. In November, Bar Council of India gave its nod to our proposal to give monthly pension,” council chairman Akhouri Manglacharan Shrivastva told The Telegraph.

He added that the council is trying its best to get the scheme launched by chief minister Nitish Kumar, his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi or education minister P.K. Shahi, who is an senior advocate of the high court.

The scheme would benefit practising advocates, Shrivastva said, adding that there are about one lakh registered lawyers across the state.

According to the scheme, a lawyer would get Rs 5,000 per month as pension either after attaining the age of 65 years or after 30 years of practice.

“The amount would be enhanced in future if the council starts getting financial assistance from the state government,” said Shrivastava. “We are trying to get some funds from the state government. We will also get some help from all the three bar associations of the high court.”

To avail of the benefits of the scheme, a lawyer would have to be enrolled with the state bar council by making a one-time payment. Lawyers below the age of 30 years would have to pay Rs 7,000 while those above would have to contribute Rs 10,000. Senior advocates of the high court would have to shell out Rs 15,000.

There would be a lock- in period of 10 years: The members would have to stay invested for at least a decade. In case of death of a member, his/her dependant or nominee would be paid Rs 2,500 every month.