Advocate-on-Record Examination 2025: Supreme Court Releases Official Notification – Exam Scheduled in June, Apply by April 30
The Supreme Court of India has officially released the schedule and detailed notification for the Advocate-on-Record (AoR) Examination 2025, a significant and exclusive qualification process for advocates seeking to file and act independently before the apex court. As per the circular issued on April 9, 2025, the examination is set to take place on June 16, 17, 20, and 21, and will be held in New Delhi. Aspiring candidates must ensure that their application is submitted by 5:00 PM on April 30, 2025.
What is the AoR Examination?
The Advocate-on-Record (AoR) designation is a unique and prestigious qualification granted by the Supreme Court, which authorizes advocates to act and file on behalf of clients directly in the apex court. Only Advocates-on-Record are entitled to practice independently before the Supreme Court, and the exam, conducted under the supervision of the Supreme Court Registry and Board of Examiners, is known for its rigor and high standards.
Application Process
The application process for the 2025 examination has been made flexible but comes with clear requirements. Applications can be submitted in person at Room No. 307, 3rd Floor, B-Block, Administrative Buildings Complex, within the Supreme Court of India premises. Alternatively, candidates can provisionally email scanned copies of their filled applications to advocate-on-record@sci.nic.in. However, this must be followed by the mandatory submission of the hard copy via post or courier.
The examination fee is ₹750, payable at UCO Bank, Supreme Court Compound, New Delhi. A copy of the bank receipt must be attached with the application form to validate fee payment.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the AoR Examination 2025, candidates must meet the following conditions:
- Must be a practicing advocate enrolled with a State Bar Council.
- Should have completed one year of continuous training under a registered Advocate-on-Record by April 30, 2025.
- A Certificate of Completion of Training issued by the supervising AoR must be submitted along with the application.
- The applicant must not have exceeded five permitted attempts. However, as a one-time relaxation, the Supreme Court has declared that the December 2021 examination will not be counted towards these five attempts.
- Candidates who have appeared in earlier attempts and qualified in some but not all papers may, under Regulation 11(i) or 11(ii), choose to reappear only in the paper(s) they failed or sit for the entire exam afresh.
Also, those who have just completed their AoR training or have completed their education and are within the six-month limit from their result date are eligible to apply.
Examination Pattern and Syllabus
The AoR Examination 2025 will be conducted in pen-and-paper format, and attendance in all papers is compulsory. Absence in any paper post roll number issuance will be taken as a lack of preparation, resulting in the candidate being barred from taking future exams unless they obtain specific permission from the Board of Examiners.
The examination consists of four papers, each designed to test practical skills, knowledge of law, and professional ethics:
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Paper I – Practice and Procedure
Tests candidates’ understanding of Supreme Court Rules, procedures, filing processes, and case management. -
Paper II – Drafting
Includes practical drafting of various legal documents such as:- Special Leave Petitions (SLPs)
- Plaints
- Written statements under Article 131
- Review petitions
- Transfer petitions
- Contempt petitions
- Interlocutory applications including bail and condonation of delay
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Paper III – Advocacy and Professional Ethics
Covers topics such as:- Professional conduct and ethical behavior
- Duties of advocates
- The Advocates Act
- Concepts of confidentiality
- Mediation and adversarial systems
- Current legal profession developments
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Paper IV – Leading Cases
A revised list of 86 landmark Supreme Court judgments has been prescribed for 2025. In the examination, candidates will be provided with Head Notes related to these cases in the hall. These notes must be returned at the end of the exam and must not be marked or highlighted in any way.
Important Instructions and Restrictions
- There will be no provision for re-evaluation of answer scripts post the result declaration.
- Candidates must ensure clarity, legibility, and completeness of applications. Any incomplete or illegible submissions will lead to automatic disqualification.
- Applicants must strictly follow instructions issued by the Registry to avoid disqualification.
The Advocate-on-Record Examination is not only a test of legal knowledge but also a measure of an advocate's readiness to carry the responsibility of filing and acting in the most significant court of the country. For many legal professionals, clearing this exam is a major milestone in their career. With the schedule and guidelines now officially out, eligible advocates are advised to begin preparations and submit their applications well before the deadline to avoid last-minute issues.
Click here to read the official notice
For updates and clarifications, candidates can reach out via the official email: advocate-on-record@sci.nic.in.
Stay connected for further announcements and resources related to the AoR Examination 2025.
| Title | View / Download |
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| Notification regarding AOR Examination to be held on 16th, 17th, 20th and 21st June, 2025 along with Application Form (Last date to fill the Application Form – 30.04.2025) | Accessible Version : View (203 KB) |
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