The Supreme Court Law Clerk-cum-Research Associate Examination selects eligible law graduates for judicial research assignments in the Supreme Court of India. Selected candidates assist judges and the Registry with legal research, case summaries, judicial proceedings and preparation of legal documents.
The Supreme Court issued its latest verified recruitment advertisement on 20 January 2026, announcing a panel of approximately 90 candidates for the 2026–27 assignment term.
The advertised consolidated remuneration was ₹1,00,000 per month. The written examination was held on 7 March 2026.
As of 10 November 2026, a separate recruitment advertisement for the 2027–28 assignment term had not been identified on the official Judicial Clerkship page.
Candidates preparing for the next examination should therefore use the 2026 recruitment scheme as their current reference.
This guide explains eligibility, examination pattern, syllabus, descriptive writing, interviews, remuneration and authentic previous-year papers.
Supreme Court Law Clerk Examination: Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Examination | Law Clerk-cum-Research Associate Examination |
| Conducting authority | Supreme Court of India |
| Recruitment cycle | 2026–27 |
| Advertisement date | 20 January 2026 |
| Advertised panel | Approximately 90 candidates |
| Monthly remuneration | ₹1,00,000 |
| Age limit | 20–32 years |
| Educational qualification | Recognised LL.B. degree |
| Selection stages | MCQs, descriptive examination, interview |
| Written examination | 7 March 2026 |
| Application fee | ₹750 plus applicable bank charges |
| Nature of engagement | Short-term contractual |
| Official website | sci.gov.in |
These figures relate to the 2026–27 recruitment cycle and should not automatically be applied to subsequent advertisements.
What Is the Supreme Court Law Clerkship?
The Supreme Court judicial clerkship provides an opportunity to participate in legal research within India’s highest constitutional court.
Law Clerks work on assignments involving judicial proceedings, statutory interpretation and case-law analysis.
According to the official clerkship scheme, their responsibilities may include:
- Preparing summaries of fresh admission matters.
- Preparing synopses of regular hearing matters.
- Attending hearings and recording legal arguments.
- Researching legal questions for draft judgments.
- Assisting with speeches and academic papers.
- Preparing judgment headnotes when required.
- Undertaking other judicial research assignments.
The assignment may involve work in a Judge’s office, chambers, residential office or the Supreme Court Registry.
The engagement is contractual and does not create a right to permanent government employment.
Supreme Court Law Clerk Recruitment 2026: Important Dates
The 2026 recruitment was governed by Advertisement No. F.21(LC)/2026-SC(RC).
| Event | Official date |
|---|---|
| Recruitment advertisement | 20 January 2026 |
| Online applications commenced | 20 January 2026 |
| Last date for applications | 7 February 2026 |
| Written examination | 7 March 2026 |
| Scheduled model answer key | 8 March 2026 |
| Objection deadline | 9 March 2026 |
| Written results and interviews | As notified separately |
The Supreme Court subsequently issued scorecard, interview-shortlisting and reserve-pool notices.
Candidates can consult the official Judicial Clerkship announcements for the recruitment history.
The 2026 registration window is closed.
Supreme Court Law Clerk Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility is determined under the official advertisement and the amended clerkship scheme.
Educational qualification
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from an institution established by law in India and recognised by the Bar Council of India for enrolment as an advocate.
Both three-year LL.B. graduates and five-year integrated law graduates are eligible.
The advertisement did not prescribe a general minimum graduation percentage.
Candidates must nevertheless satisfy all applicable qualification and verification conditions.
Can final-year law students apply?
Yes.
Students studying in the fifth year of a five-year integrated law programme or the third year of a three-year LL.B. programme were eligible to apply in 2026.
However, they were required to furnish proof of obtaining their law qualification before joining.
This provision permits final-year participation without dispensing with the ultimate degree requirement.
Age limit
For the 2026 examination, candidates were required to be:
- At least 20 years old.
- Not older than 32 years.
The relevant age-calculation date was 7 February 2026.
The applicable age and reference date for any future recruitment must be verified from its own notification.
Research and computer skills
The Supreme Court requires strong analytical abilities, research competence, writing skills and computer knowledge.
Candidates should be familiar with legal research systems such as e-SCR, SCC Online, Manupatra, LexisNexis and Westlaw.
Practical research ability is essential because the examination tests legal analysis rather than memorisation alone.
Supreme Court Law Clerk Application Process
The 2026 recruitment accepted applications through the online registration link published by the Supreme Court.
The process involved registration, personal information, academic details, photograph and signature uploads, and online payment.
Candidates were required to pay a non-refundable examination fee of ₹750, excluding applicable bank charges.
The fee was payable through the designated online payment gateway.
After submission, candidates received an application number for subsequent examination communications.
The Court advised candidates to retain their application records and verify all particulars before final submission.
Future applicants should use only the registration link published on the official Supreme Court website.
Supreme Court Law Clerk Selection Process
The selection scheme provides three stages:
| Stage | Nature | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Part I | Objective examination | Comprehension and application of law |
| Part II | Subjective examination | Legal writing and analytical skills |
| Part III | Interview | Assessment for judicial clerkship engagement |
Part I and Part II are conducted on the same day in separate sessions under the notified scheme.
Part I: Multiple-Choice Examination
Part I assesses legal knowledge, judicial reasoning and reading comprehension.
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Questions | 100 MCQs |
| Maximum marks | 100 |
| Duration | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Correct answer | +1 mark |
| Incorrect answer | −0.25 marks |
| Minimum qualifying standard | 60%, or another notified cutoff |
The examination comprises English comprehension, analytical legal questions and recent developments in law.
For the 2026 cycle, the objective paper was conducted online.
Candidates should practise identifying legal principles from judicial extracts.
Part II: Subjective Written Examination
Part II examines legal drafting, judicial research and analytical writing.
| Component | Maximum marks |
|---|---|
| Case brief or synopsis | 150 |
| Research memorandum | 75 |
| Analytical question | 75 |
| Total | 300 |
The prescribed duration is 3 hours 30 minutes, including 30 minutes of reading time.
The minimum qualifying standard is 50%, or another cutoff specified by the Court.
Candidates who fail to satisfy the Part I qualifying requirement may have their Part II answers excluded from evaluation.
Where large numbers qualify, the examination scheme permits further shortlisting.
The 2026 advertisement contemplated evaluation of Part II papers in a ratio of 1:10 against tentative vacancies, where applicable.
Candidates qualifying the written stages could subsequently be shortlisted for interviews.
Part II: How to Prepare Each Question
Question 1: Case brief preparation
The candidate receives a legal case file, such as a Special Leave Petition, appeal or writ petition.
The task requires preparing a concise case synopsis within 750 words.
The answer should identify:
- Material facts and procedural history.
- Issues considered by the lower court or tribunal.
- Relevant findings in the impugned judgment.
- Ratio decidendi of that judgment.
- Grounds raised before the Supreme Court.
- Important questions requiring judicial consideration.
Candidates should avoid copying lengthy factual narratives.
A strong brief separates essential facts from procedural details and presents legal questions logically.
Question 2: Research memorandum
The research memorandum requires a reasoned legal opinion based on a factual dispute.
Candidates receive relevant statutory provisions and judicial precedents.
The materials may also include decisions requiring careful examination or distinction.
Under the amended scheme, the memorandum should ordinarily remain within 500–750 words.
A useful structure is:
Issue → Applicable law → Judicial authorities → Application → Conclusion.
The candidate must explain why a particular precedent governs the dispute.
Merely reproducing judgments without applying them does not demonstrate research competence.
Question 3: Analytical question
Candidates answer one question from five alternatives.
The prescribed length is 350–500 words.
The examiner assesses argument development, reasoning, examples, coherence, structure and grammar.
An effective answer begins by identifying the precise legal issue.
It then explains relevant principles, competing considerations and a reasoned conclusion.
Supreme Court Law Clerk Part I Syllabus
The amended examination scheme identifies the following principal subjects:
| Subject | Preparation areas |
|---|---|
| Constitutional Law | Fundamental Rights, constitutional remedies, judicial review |
| Criminal Procedure | CrPC, BNSS, arrest, bail, investigation and trials |
| Criminal Law | IPC, BNS, offences and criminal liability |
| Civil Procedure | Jurisdiction, pleadings, appeals and execution |
| Evidence Law | Indian Evidence Act and BSA |
| Contract Law | Contract formation, obligations and remedies |
| English Comprehension | Reading, inference and legal reasoning |
| Recent Jurisprudence | Important legal developments from the preceding year |
The syllabus expressly refers to older and newer Indian criminal enactments.
Candidates must therefore understand the relationship between the IPC and BNS, CrPC and BNSS, and Indian Evidence Act and BSA.
A careful approach is to study the current law while remaining familiar with historical provisions discussed in judgments.
The syllabus is not confined to memorising sections.
It tests comprehension, application, interpretation and legal reasoning.
Important Supreme Court Judgments for Preparation
For the 2026 examination, the Supreme Court published an illustrative list of relevant judgments.
The list included decisions dealing with constitutional law, criminal procedure, civil remedies, arbitration, family law and other areas.
Examples included:
| Judgment | Citation |
|---|---|
| State of M.P. v Balveer Singh | 2025 INSC 261 |
| Gayatri Balasamy v ISG Novasoft Technologies | 2025 INSC 605 |
| Shilpa Sailesh v Varun Sreenivasan | 2023 INSC 468 |
| Priya Indoria v State of Karnataka | 2023 INSC 1008 |
| Sita Soren v Union of India | 2024 INSC 161 |
Candidates can access the official 2026 list of relevant judgments.
The list was expressly illustrative and not exhaustive.
A future recruitment cycle may prescribe a different judgment list.
When reading judgments, candidates should identify the legal issue, ratio, relevant statutory provisions and practical implications.
Part III: Supreme Court Law Clerk Interview
Candidates shortlisted after the written examinations undergo the subsequent selection process.
The amended scheme provides for preferences concerning Judges’ offices.
Candidates may be considered by Judges’ offices according to ranking, preferences and available requirements.
The scheme also provides a separate Registry interview process for selecting candidates for the reserve pool.
That Registry interview carries 150 marks with a qualifying requirement of at least 50%.
The interview arrangements for engagement in a Judge’s office and the Registry reserve pool should not be confused.
How to prepare for the interview
Candidates should develop confidence in discussing:
- Their academic background and research interests.
- Important Supreme Court judgments.
- Constitutional principles and procedural law.
- Legal research methodology.
- Case briefing and judgment analysis.
- Professional ethics and confidentiality.
Candidates may also be asked to explain research projects, internships or legal writing included in their applications.
Answers should demonstrate independent understanding and careful reasoning.
Supreme Court Law Clerk Salary and Tenure
The amended scheme provides a consolidated remuneration of ₹1,00,000 per month for the initial assignment.
Where the assignment is extended after twelve months, the scheme provides ₹1,10,000 per month for the extended term.
No additional allowances or perquisites are prescribed under these remuneration provisions.
The initial assignment generally runs from reopening after summer vacation until the end of the following year’s summer vacation.
Extension depends on the relevant approval and requirements.
The engagement is not a permanent appointment.
Restrictions during clerkship
Law Clerks cannot practise as advocates during their assignment.
They must maintain confidentiality concerning information obtained through judicial work.
The amended scheme also restricts appearance before the Judge to whom a Law Clerk was attached for two years following the assignment.
Candidates should carefully examine these professional restrictions before accepting an offer.
Supreme Court Law Clerk Previous-Year Question Papers and Answer Keys
The Supreme Court maintains an official archive of previous Law Clerk examination papers.
The following papers are authentic documents linked through its website.
| Year | Part I: Objective | Part II: Descriptive |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Official Part I paper | Official Part II paper |
| 2024 | Official Part I paper | Official Part II paper |
| 2023 | Official Part I paper | Official Part II paper |
The Supreme Court also provides older papers from 2015 onwards.
Candidates can access the official previous-year question-paper archive.
For Part I answer-key corrections, candidates should consult the official Judicial Clerkship notices for the relevant examination year.
The 2026 archive includes a notice concerning changes to the Part I answer key for the examination held on 7 March 2026.
How to analyse previous-year papers
Attempt Part I within the prescribed 150 minutes.
Review legal comprehension, statutory interpretation and analytical errors.
For Part II, practise drafting complete answers under examination conditions.
Compare the older descriptive formats with the amended scheme because the number and structure of questions have changed across recruitment cycles.
Previous-year papers are useful for understanding examination expectations. They do not guarantee repetition.
Preparation Strategy for Supreme Court Law Clerk Examination
Phase 1: Strengthen substantive legal knowledge
Begin with Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Civil Procedure, Evidence and Contract Law.
Study current statutory provisions alongside important judicial decisions.
Focus on application rather than isolated memorisation.
Phase 2: Develop judgment-reading skills
Read selected Supreme Court judgments regularly.
For every judgment, prepare a short note containing facts, issues, legal reasoning and ratio decidendi.
Practise distinguishing binding principles from incidental observations.
Phase 3: Practise legal writing
Prepare case briefs, research memoranda and analytical answers each week.
Follow the prescribed word limits strictly.
Use concise headings and avoid unnecessary quotations.
Phase 4: Attempt examination papers
Complete full-length objective and descriptive papers.
Analyse mistakes after every attempt.
Maintain separate revision notes for statutory errors, case-law misunderstandings and writing weaknesses.
Phase 5: Prepare for interviews
Revise recent constitutional and procedural developments.
Practise explaining legal issues without reading from notes.
Review your own academic work and legal research experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Supreme Court Law Clerk salary?
The amended scheme provides ₹1,00,000 monthly during the initial assignment.
2. Can final-year LL.B. students apply?
Yes. Eligible final-year students may apply, provided they obtain their law qualification before joining.
3. Is there negative marking?
Yes. Part I deducts 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer.
4. What are the qualifying marks?
The scheme prescribes 60% for Part I and 50% for Part II, subject to notified cutoffs.
5. Is the Supreme Court Law Clerk examination conducted annually?
The scheme permits annual recruitment. Candidates should follow official advertisements rather than assume fixed examination dates.
6. Is the position permanent?
No. It is a short-term contractual judicial research assignment.
7. Can a Law Clerk practise as an advocate during the assignment?
No. The scheme prohibits legal practice during the clerkship assignment.
8. Where can candidates download official previous-year papers?
The Supreme Court’s official question-paper archive contains Part I and Part II papers for multiple examination years.
Official Resources
- Supreme Court of India
- Judicial Clerkship announcements
- Official 2026 recruitment advertisement
- Amended Law Clerk selection scheme
- Official previous-year papers
- Official 2026 judgment list
Conclusion
The Supreme Court Law Clerk-cum-Research Associate Examination requires strong legal knowledge, independent research ability and precise written reasoning.
Candidates must prepare for objective legal questions, case briefing, research memorandum drafting and interviews.
The amended scheme and official previous-year papers provide a reliable preparation foundation.
Applicants should monitor the Supreme Court’s Judicial Clerkship page for subsequent recruitment notifications and changes to the examination pattern.
Last updated: 10 November 2026. The examination information is based on the verified 2026–27 recruitment advertisement and the amended Supreme Court Law Clerk Scheme.
