Vacancy for Law Research Associates in NCLT (Remuneration: Rs. 60,000 per month)

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has announced an excellent opportunity for Indian nationals to join as Law Research Associates. This role offers a unique chance to work closely with the Hon’ble President and Members of the NCLT, providing crucial assistance in complex legal matters related to Company Law and Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.

Key Information at a Glance

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the position of Law Research Associate at NCLT, candidates must meet specific criteria:

• Educational Background: You must be a Graduate in Law, which includes integrated degree courses (10+2+3+3 or 10+2+5 patterns), with a minimum aggregate of 50% marks. Your degree must be from a School/College/University/Institute established by law in India and recognized by the Bar Council of India for admission as an Advocate or Attorney.
• Academic Performance: Candidates must have passed all examinations within the duration of their course to be eligible.
• Recent Graduation: Your Law Degree or LLM should have been obtained not earlier than two years as of June 19, 2025, or any other date specified in the advertisement.
• Current Students: Even if you are currently studying, you may be eligible. Candidates in the fifth year of a Five-Year Integrated Law Course or the third year of a Three-Year Law Course (after graduation in any stream) can apply, provided they furnish proof of acquiring their law qualification before taking up the assignment.
• No Conflicting Commitments: Candidates pursuing a Post Graduate Degree in Law or any other programs that require compulsory attendance during the expected period of engagement are not eligible. Similarly, you must not be engaged or appointed elsewhere on an honorarium payment basis. This is a full-time engagement, and you cannot enroll in any regular course during the assignment period.
• Age Limit: Your age must not be above 30 years as of the last date of receipt of applications, which is July 18, 2025.
• Essential Skills: You must possess strong research and analytical skills, excellent writing abilities, and the capability to retrieve desired information from various legal search engines such as eSCR, Manupatra, SCC Online, LexisNexis, and Westlaw.
• Technical Proficiency: A good knowledge of computer operations and skills in using common software like MS Office are essential.
• Legal Expertise: Requisite knowledge of Company Law with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) is a mandatory requirement.
• Disqualifications: Candidates will be disqualified if they have been involved in any criminal case (pending or convicted for an offense involving moral turpitude) or are facing any disciplinary proceeding before the Bar Council of India, Bar Council of the State, Institutes, or any other authority. Candidates must also demonstrate absolute integrity, honesty, and good moral character.

Roles and Responsibilities

As a Law Research Associate, you will play a crucial role in assisting the Hon’ble President and Members of the NCLT. Your duties will encompass a wide range of legal research and support functions:

• Case Preparation: This includes reading case files, preparing case summaries and notes, and creating chronologies of events.
• In-depth Research: You will conduct research on facts and law for cases pending before the Hon’ble President/Member you are attached to. This involves extensive research in both printed and electronic forms, covering statutes, resolutions, and legal texts, and reporting the results orally or in writing. You will also analyze factual and legal facets involved in cases.
• Judgment Support: Your responsibilities will include research work on case laws, articles, and papers, as well as assisting in the preparation, correction, and editing of judgments.
• Legal Updates: You are expected to conduct necessary research in the Tribunal’s library, residential libraries, or through the internet, and must keep abreast with important rulings of the Supreme Court, High Courts, and particularly the Tribunal and Appellate Tribunal, to provide maximum assistance.
• Court Proceedings: You will be required to attend the court of the Hon’ble President/Member, take notes of counsel arguments, and conduct research on citations.
• Order Verification: If asked, you will verify the final order prepared by the Hon’ble President/Member to ascertain any omissions regarding arguments or errors in facts, grammar, or sentence construction. It will be your duty to bring such omissions or errors to their attention.
• Citation and Quotation Checks: You will verify the citations of precedents, compare party names, and confirm the correctness of quotations from documents or judgments as set out in the final order.
• File Management: Maintaining and organizing case files is also a key responsibility.
• Academic and Administrative Support: This role also involves preparation of research or academic papers, assistance with speeches for important conferences, awareness of court procedures (filing, case movement), and preparing statistical reports on timely judgment delivery.
• General Support: You will be responsible for maintaining books and other research materials, and performing any other work entrusted by the Hon’ble President/Member.

Remuneration & Contract Terms

The engagement as a Law Research Associate is purely contractual. Here’s what you need to know about compensation and the terms of your assignment:

• Salary: The remuneration for Law Research Associates in both the Guwahati and Kolkata Benches is Rs. 60,000/- per month.
• No Additional Allowances: It’s important to note that LRAs will not be entitled to any Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), residential accommodation, or any other allowance.
• Contract Period: The initial contract period will be one year. This can be extended further, one year at a time, based on performance and requirement, with the concurrence of the Hon’ble President/Member and approval of the Engaging Authority. The maximum period of engagement will not exceed three years in total. LRAs are required to give an undertaking to serve for a period of 3 years.
• Termination: The assignment may be discontinued even before the completion of one year with two weeks’ notice if services are found unsatisfactory. If an LRA intends to leave within the first year, a prior notice of at least six weeks is required. After two years, you will have the option to give up your assignment with one month’s advance written notice, which the NCLT President can waive.
• No Regularization Claim: This contractual assignment does not confer any right or claim for regular appointment or continuance beyond the engagement period. LRAs will not be treated or deemed to be regular employees of the Tribunal.
• Conduct and Restrictions: During the assignment, LRAs must maintain high standards of devotion, morals, reputation, and integrity. Utmost secrecy must be maintained regarding all matters. You are prohibited from accepting any other assignment or practicing as an Advocate in any court of Law, Tribunal, or Authority during the term. It is obligatory to inform the concerned Bar Council in writing that you will not practice as an Advocate as long as you continue with the assignment. Furthermore, LRAs cannot practice as an Advocate for a period of three years from the date of completion of the engagement term in the NCLT court(s) where they worked or before the member(s) with whom they were attached. However, you are free to appear in any other court of NCLT without restraint. LRAs will also be governed by the Indian Penal Code and the Indian Official Secrets Act, 1923, as applicable to public servants.
• Leave: LRAs are entitled to one day of Casual Leave upon completion of one calendar month, which can be carried forward up to a maximum of 12 days in a Calendar Year.

The Application & Selection Process

• Application Method: Interested candidates must submit their applications online through the link provided in the advertisement: https://nicforms.nic.in/nicforms_designer/nic_form_selector.php?form_id=enRhYmxlNjg1M2I3MDU3ZTg4ZTIwMjUwNjE5Nzc=.
• Required Documents: You need to accurately fill out the online form and upload your CV with a recent passport-size photo, along with documents of your educational qualification and experience.
• Deadline: The last date for receipt of applications is July 18, 2025, at 17:00 hrs. The online form will be disabled precisely at this time.
• Important Note on Submission: No applications will be entertained if received at NCLT HQ, by post, or by email; such applications will not be considered. Current Law Research Associates in NCLT Benches must apply through their office and also via the online link. Applications received after the due date, incomplete applications, unsigned applications, or those not in the prescribed format will be summarily rejected.
• Selection Process: Selection will be based on a Written Examination and an Interview.
• Interview Focus: During the interview, questions will primarily be asked on the Companies Act, 2013, the Insolvency Bankruptcy Code, 2016, and other relevant allied laws. General knowledge will also be assessed.
• Skills Evaluation: Candidates will be subjected to tests to evaluate their research skills specifically on Company Law, Corporate Insolvency Law, and allied laws. These tests also assess legal research skills and aptitude to work.
• Shortlisting: In case of a very large number of applicants, shortlisting may occur based on qualifications, experience, and other relevant parameters. Only shortlisted candidates will be called for the interview, and no TA/DA will be admissible for appearing in the interview.
• Verification: Your candidature can be rejected at any stage if the information provided in your application is found incorrect upon subsequent verification. If engaged, the contractual assignment will be terminated forthwith if discrepancies are found.

Official Notification

Click Here for the Official Notification.