Law Jobs update by Akinchan Aggarwal, Advocate — B.A. (Hons.) Gold Medalist, LL.B. (University Rank 2), LL.M. (Dispute Resolution), UGC-NET, Ph.D. (Pursuing)
The Employees' State Insurance Corporation, Regional Office Bihar, has invited applications for the empanelment of advocates to represent the Corporation before the courts and tribunals at Patna and across Bihar. There are 24 slots in all.
This is not a salaried post. Read it as what it is.
Empanelment means being placed on a panel of advocates to whom the Corporation entrusts its briefs. You continue in independent practice; you are paid per case in accordance with the Corporation's schedule of fees, not a monthly salary.
For a practising advocate, that is the attraction. A standing government panel gives regular institutional work and steady court exposure without any bar on the rest of your practice.
The last date is 25 August 2026, and applications go by Speed Post or Registered Post — there is no online route.
Key Details at a Glance
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), Regional Office Bihar |
| Engagement | Empanelment of Advocates (panel counsel) |
| Total Slots | 24 |
| Location | Patna, and district courts across Bihar |
| Qualification | LL.B. |
| Age Limit | Not specified in the advertisement |
| Mode of Application | Completed application form by Speed Post / Registered Post to the address in the notification |
| Last Date to Apply | 25 August 2026 |
Forum-wise Distribution of the 24 Slots
| S. No. | Court / Tribunal | No. of Advocates |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | High Court of Judicature at Patna | 6 |
| 2 | Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Patna Bench | 5 |
| 3 | Employees' Insurance Court (EI Court) | 6 |
| 4 | Civil Court, Patna | 5 |
| 5 | Civil Courts, all districts of Bihar (except Patna) | 2 |
| Total | 24 |
What the Work Actually Involves
The spread of forums tells you a good deal about the brief. Three streams of litigation dominate ESIC's docket.
Employees' Insurance Court matters are the specialised core, and the largest single allocation at six slots. The EI Court is constituted under Section 74 of the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948, and it decides questions such as whether an employee is covered, whether an establishment falls within the Act, the rate of contribution payable, and claims to benefit. Section 75 sets out the matters to be decided by it, and it is worth remembering that a civil court's jurisdiction is barred in respect of matters within the EI Court's competence.
Recovery and prosecution work before the civil courts, arising largely from unpaid contributions by employers, accounts for another seven slots between Patna and the districts.
Service matters before the CAT Patna Bench account for five, ESIC being a statutory corporation whose employees' service disputes go to the Tribunal.
The six High Court slots will cover writ petitions and appeals arising out of all of the above.
How to Apply
- Download the application form from the official notification.
- Send the completed form to the address specified in the notification by Speed Post or Registered Post.
- The application must reach the Regional Office on or before 25 August 2026.
- Official notification: ESIC — Advertisement for empanelment of advocates, Regional Office Bihar
- Official website: esic.gov.in
Who Should Apply
This is aimed squarely at advocates already practising in Bihar — at the Patna High Court, before the CAT Bench, or in the district courts. Empanelment of this kind is one of the more reliable ways for a junior or mid-level practitioner to build a steady institutional practice, and panel work for a statutory corporation carries real weight on a professional record.
Two practical points. First, the allocation for civil courts outside Patna is only two slots for the whole of Bihar, so the competition there will be sharpest even though the field of applicants is widest. Advocates in the mofussil districts should apply on the strength of local presence rather than assume distance is an advantage.
Second, the EI Court and CAT slots reward specialisation. If you have appeared in ESI Act matters or in service litigation, say so specifically and give particulars of the cases. A general civil practice profile will not distinguish you for those eleven slots.
Since the notification did not specify an age limit, and the terms of engagement, the years of practice required and the schedule of fees are matters set out in the advertisement itself, candidates should read the official PDF in full before applying.
For more panel and institutional openings for advocates as they are notified, see our Law Jobs section.
Disclaimer: This post is published for information purposes only. The particulars above — including the number of slots, their forum-wise distribution, the qualification and the last date — are as reported from the ESIC advertisement for empanelment of advocates at Regional Office Bihar. The official notification PDF could not be independently read at the time of writing, and candidates are therefore advised to download and read it in full from the ESIC website, and to satisfy themselves as to eligibility, the terms of empanelment, the schedule of fees and the correct postal address before applying. Lawizard is not connected with the recruiting organisation and does not charge any fee in relation to any recruitment or empanelment. Please read our Disclaimer for more details.
