Engagement of Law Clerk-cum-Research Associates

Online applications are invited for the "Scheme of Engaging Law Clerk-cum-Research Associates on a Short-Term Contractual Basis in the Supreme Court of India”. The purpose is to create a panel of approximately 90 candidates to be engaged as Law Clerk-cum-Research Associates for the term 2025-2026.  

Date of Examination 

• Written Examination in connection with engagement as Law Clerk-cum Research Associate to be held on 09th March 2025. 

Terms and Conditions 

• This will be a purely contractual assignment with an initial consolidated monthly remuneration of ₹80,000.  
• Selection will be based on the fulfillment of the specified essential qualifications and eligibility criteria. 
• It is important to note that the engagement as a Law Clerk-cum-Research Associate is a full-time, contractual position.  
• It does not grant the selected candidates any entitlement to a permanent position or continuation of service within the Supreme Court of India.  
• The engagement may be terminated by the Registry at any time with appropriate notice.  
• During the assignment term, Law Clerks are prohibited from accepting any other assignments or practicing as an Advocate in any Court of Law. 

Registration of Application and Payment of Fee 

• Eligible candidates must apply online through the link provided on the Supreme Court website. 
• Online registration began on 14.01.2025 and will close on 07.02.2025 at 23:55 hours. Candidates can pay the Application/Test Fee through online mode only. 

Essential Qualifications 

• The candidate must be a Law Graduate (prior to taking up the assignment as a Law Clerk), holding a bachelor's degree in law (including an Integrated Law Degree) from any institution in India that is established by law and recognized by the Bar Council of India for enrollment as an Advocate. 
• Candidates currently in the fifth year of the Five-Year Integrated Law Course or the third year of the Three-Year Law Course (after completing an undergraduate degree in any discipline) are also eligible to apply, provided they can submit proof of obtaining their Law qualification before starting the assignment as Law Clerk-cum-Research Associate. 
• The candidate must possess strong research and analytical skills, excellent writing abilities, and proficiency in using computers, including the ability to retrieve relevant information from legal research tools and databases such as e-SCR, Manupatra, SCC Online, LexisNexis, Westlaw, etc. 
• The candidate must not be below the age of 20 years and above 32 years as on 07th February 2025.  

Method of Selection

The selection process will be conducted in three phases: 

Paper I

• Total Questions: 100 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), each carrying 1 mark. 
• Duration: 2 ½ hours. 
• Mode: Online 
• Question Categories: 
• (a) Reading Comprehension: A passage in English, followed by objective-type questions related to the passage. 
• (b) Analytical Questions: Objective-type questions testing the candidates' ability to understand and apply law, including: 
  • Constitution of India, 1950 
  • Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 
  • Civil Procedure Code, 1908 
  • Indian Penal Code, 1860 
  • Indian Evidence Act, 1872 
  • Indian Contract Act, 1872 
• (c) Recent Legal Developments: Objective-type questions on recent developments in law and jurisprudence in the past year. 
• Negative Marking: A deduction of 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer. 
• Inclusion of Statutory Provisions: MCQs may include relevant provisions of the statute, where applicable.  

Paper II

• Duration: 3 ½ hours (including 30 minutes of reading time) 
• Total Marks: 300 
• Mode: It will be visible on Computer Screen and candidates(s) have to write answers in pen-paper mode. 
• Question Breakdown: 
  • (A) Question 1 - Brief Preparation: 
    • Task: Prepare a brief synopsis or precis of a case file (max 750 words, approximately 2 pages). 
    • Material: A copy of a Special Leave Petition, Civil/Criminal Appeal, or Writ Petition will be provided. 
    • Judging Criteria: 
      • Identification and organization of relevant facts. 
      • Recognition of legal issues before the High Court/Appellate Tribunal. 
      • Comprehensive analysis of the issues addressed by the High Court in the impugned decision. 
      • Understanding of the ratio of the impugned decision. 
      • Relevant grounds before the Supreme Court. 
      • Ability to condense information and structure the document logically. 
      • Clarity and brevity. 
  • (B) Question 2 - Preparation of a Draft Research Memo: 
    • Task: Prepare a draft reasoned memo (500-750 words, approx. two pages) based on a factual dispute, relevant statutes, and precedents, along with some irrelevant decisions that modify the precedent. 
    • Judging Criteria: 
      • Use of relevant legal sources. 
      • Application of legal language. 
      • Exposition and analysis of the law. 
      • Application of law to the facts. 
      • Structure and clarity of the opinion. 
  • (C) Question 3 - Analytical Question: 
    • Task: Answer one out of five analytical questions (350-500 words). 
    • Judging Criteria: 
      • Presentation and development of a reasoned argument with examples. 
      • Coherence and structure of the answer. 
      • Proper sentence construction and grammar. 

Paper I and Paper II shall be conducted on the same day in two sessions at twenty-three (23) cities across India. 

Results 

• Candidates who do not achieve the minimum qualifying marks of 40% (or any specified cut-off for Paper I) will be automatically rejected. In such cases, their answer sheets for Paper II will not be assessed by the Examination Board. 
• To qualify in Paper II, a candidate must secure at least 50% marks (or any specified cut-off). 
• After evaluating the answer sheets for Paper II, the Registry will prepare the final results based on the combined marks obtained in both Paper I and Paper II. 
• Individual scores will be made available on the registration portal where candidates submitted their online application. 
• A list of candidates, along with the cut-off score, who are eligible for the interview will be published on the Supreme Court website based on their performance in Paper I and Paper II. 

Interview

• Candidates qualifying for the interview will be asked to submit a preference list, in order of their choice, of Judges’ offices where they wish to work.