The Department of Legal Affairs has issued guidelines for empanelment of advocates as Panel Counsel for the Union of India.
About Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice
Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice is responsible for the conduct of litigation on behalf of the Union of India before various courts, tribunals and forums. For this purpose, the Department empanels advocates as Panel Counsel, generally for a period of three years.
The guidelines provide for empanelment of advocates to represent the Union of India before the Supreme Court, High Courts, District and Subordinate Courts, Tribunals and other forums.
About the Opportunity
The Department of Legal Affairs is inviting applications for empanelment of advocates as Panel Counsel representing the Union of India before various courts, tribunals and forums.
Selected advocates may be empanelled to conduct litigation assigned by the Department. The allocation of cases, briefs and legal matters will remain entirely at the discretion of the Department, and empanelment does not guarantee a minimum number of assignments.
The empanelment tenure will be for three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier, with the performance of empanelled advocates subject to annual review.
Practice Areas
Advocates with experience in special laws, including Income Tax, Customs, GST and PMLA, may be considered for specialised panels representing the Union before courts, tribunals and quasi-judicial forums.
The application form also seeks information regarding experience in Constitutional, Service, Tax, Criminal, Civil, Arbitration and Special Laws.
Eligibility Criteria
- The applicant should have a Bachelor’s degree in law from a university or college recognised by the Bar Council of India.
- The applicant must be enrolled with the respective State Bar Council in accordance with the Advocates Act, 1961.
- The applicant must have qualified the All-India Bar Examination (AIBE) and obtained a Certificate of Practice (CoP).
- Applicants must fulfil the required legal practice experience applicable to the court, tribunal or category for which empanelment is sought.
- Advocates with previous experience of 10 years of legal work during Government service may be considered based on their area of expertise.
- The applicant’s overall performance track record, conduct and integrity may also be considered.
The minimum experience requirements vary according to the court, tribunal and category of Panel Counsel. For example, the prescribed experience ranges from 3 to 5 years for different categories before the Supreme Court, while several High Court categories require between 4 and 10 years of legal practice. Separate experience requirements are prescribed for tribunals, district courts, arbitration matters and other forums.
Roles & Responsibilities
Litigation Support
Panel Counsel will conduct litigation assigned to them on behalf of the Union of India before the relevant courts, tribunals and forums.
Case Management
Empanelled advocates must comply with instructions and directions issued by the Department of Legal Affairs in connection with their empanelment and legal matters. They must also ensure the orderly handover of pending matters when required.
Legal Representation
Advocates may be empanelled across different categories for the Supreme Court, High Courts, District and Subordinate Courts, CAT, AFT, arbitration matters, the National Green Tribunal, special courts and other specified forums.
Remuneration
Professional fees will be admissible to Panel Counsel for the conduct of litigation assigned to them. The professional fees will be governed by the fee schedule approved by the Department of Legal Affairs, as amended or revised from time to time.
Contact
Email: panelcounsel-dla@gov.in
The application should be addressed to the Deputy Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice.
ALSO READ: Recruitment at Regional Rural Banks through IBPS CRP RRBs XV
Application Procedure
Interested candidates may apply through the following:
Email: panelcounsel-dla@gov.in
Applicants must submit the prescribed application format provided as Annexure-II in the above notification and address the application to the Deputy Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice. Applications may be sent by email.
The application should include the required information and documents, including:
- Duly signed application in the prescribed format.
- Applicant’s bio-data containing contact details, educational qualifications, professional experience and Bar Council Enrolment Number.
- Self-attested copies of certificates and testimonials supporting educational qualifications and relevant credentials.
- Copies of previous empanelment orders issued by Government Departments, Public Sector Undertakings, statutory bodies or other organisations, where applicable.
- Signed undertaking agreeing to abide by the applicable terms and conditions, including the fee structure.
- Declaration regarding criminal convictions and disqualification, debarment or prohibition from practice.
The prescribed application form also requires details of professional enrolment, legal practice, areas of practice, experience, significant cases, previous empanelment and professional conduct.
The listed enclosures include signed bio-data, educational certificates, Bar Council Enrolment Certificate, Certificate of Practice where applicable, experience certificates or supporting documents, and required self-declarations.
