The Central Information Commission (CIC), the apex body constituted under the Right to Information Act, 2005 to adjudicate second appeals and complaints, has invited applications to prepare a panel for the engagement of Legal Consultants on a contract basis at its office in New Delhi. This is a good opportunity for young law graduates with courtroom or quasi-judicial experience to work with the country’s highest RTI adjudicatory body. Applications must reach the Commission within 30 days of publication of the advertisement (dated 20 July 2026) on the CIC website.
Overview
- Recruiting body: Central Information Commission (CIC), New Delhi
- Post: Legal Consultant (empanelment on contract basis)
- Engagement period: One year, extendable subject to satisfactory performance and requirement
- Location: New Delhi
- Remuneration: ₹60,000 per month (fixed), with a ₹5,000 increment after one year subject to performance
- Application mode: Offline (sealed cover, by post / in person)
- Last date to apply: Within 30 days from the date of publication of the advertisement on the CIC website
Eligibility criteria
Essential qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Law (LL.B.) from a recognised University/Institution with an aggregate of not less than 50% marks.
- Qualified in the All India Bar Examination (AIBE).
- Minimum 1 year of work experience in the Courts, or Judicial or Quasi-Judicial Authorities.
Desirable qualifications:
- An LL.M. or Ph.D. degree in Law, with research experience.
- Working knowledge of MS Office, Excel and web-based AI tools.
Age limit: The candidate must not have attained the age of 35 years as on the last date for receipt of applications.
Remuneration
The empanelled candidate will be paid a consolidated fee/remuneration of ₹60,000 per month (fixed), as and when engaged. An increment of ₹5,000 will be considered after one year of engagement, subject to satisfactory performance. The engagement carries no allowances such as DA, transport, accommodation, CGHS or medical reimbursement, and no TA/DA is admissible.
Nature of duties
The Legal Consultant is expected to prepare case summaries for the Information Commissioner, draft case briefs, identify legal issues for adjudication, appreciate other laws/Acts bearing on a case, carry out legal research on precedents of the Supreme Court, High Courts and various Commissions, prepare counters for writ petitions where necessary, and undertake such other legal work as assigned by the Commission from time to time. The engagement is on a full-time basis and the consultant may not take up any other assignment during the period of consultancy.
Method of empanelment
- Applications will be screened for eligibility and shortlisted by a Screening Committee.
- Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by a Committee constituted for empanelment.
- The Commission’s decision will be final and binding; only candidates found suitable will be intimated. The panel so prepared will be used for engagement as per the Commission’s requirements from time to time.
How to apply
- Interested candidates must submit their application in the prescribed format (Annexure-I) along with self-attested photocopies of the requisite certificates.
- The application must be sent in a sealed cover superscribed “Application for empanelment as Legal Consultants in CIC”, addressed to the Deputy Secretary (Admn.), Central Information Commission, Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka, New Delhi – 110067.
- Applications that are not in the Annexure-I format, are incomplete, or are not received in time will be summarily rejected.
Important dates
- Date of advertisement: 20 July 2026
- Last date to apply: Within 30 days from the date of publication of the advertisement on the CIC website
Important links
- Official Advertisement (PDF): Click here
- Official Website: cic.gov.in
Why this matters for law graduates
Empanelment as a Legal Consultant at the Central Information Commission offers early-career advocates rare exposure to RTI adjudication, legal research and drafting at a national quasi-judicial forum, working directly with Information Commissioners on second appeals and complaints. With a fixed monthly fee of ₹60,000 and the chance to build expertise in information law and constitutional writ practice, it is a valuable engagement for AIBE-qualified law graduates below 35 with some court or quasi-judicial experience. Eligible candidates should prepare their Annexure-I application and supporting documents and ensure their sealed application reaches the Commission within the 30-day window.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is based on the official Central Information Commission advertisement dated 20 July 2026 for empanelment of Legal Consultants. It is not legal or career advice. Candidates must read the official advertisement carefully and rely only on the official CIC website (cic.gov.in) for authoritative details before applying.
— Akinchan Aggarwal, Advocate
