LEGAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN INDIA: INNOVATION WITHIN INSTITUTIONAL CONSTRAINTS AND EMERGING PATHWAYS FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
Abstract
Legal entrepreneurship in India has developed within a regulatory framework that preserves professional exclusivity and restricts non-lawyer ownership, capital infusion, and commercial advertising. Unlike jurisdictions that have embraced structural deregulation through alternative business structures, India represents a model of institutional continuity coupled with incremental innovation. This article examines the development of legal entrepreneurship under the Advocates Act, 1961 and the regulatory authority of the Bar Council of India. Through authenticated examples—including the rise of insolvency boutiques following the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, the expansion of legal technology platforms such as SpotDraft and Vakilsearch, and the segmentation of the legal value chain through managed legal services—this article argues that India demonstrates a constraint-driven innovation model. While this model preserves professional autonomy, long-term sustainability requires calibrated regulatory clarification and ecosystem strengthening. The Indian experience contributes a distinct perspective to global debates on commercialization, professional governance, and the future of legal services.
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