Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), Regional Office, Chennai has issued a Notice dated 25.08.2026 inviting applications from practising advocates for empanelment as Panel Advocates to represent ESIC before the Madras High Court, NCLAT/NCLT, Central Administrative Tribunal, Employees’ Insurance Courts, Consumer Fora, Magistrate Courts and other judicial fora across Tamil Nadu. A total of 132 advocate slots (tentative) are proposed across 14 court locations in the State, and applications must reach the Regional Office at Nungambakkam, Chennai on or before 08.09.2026. Advocates already on the existing ESIC panel must also apply afresh, as the current panel ceases to exist once the new panel is constituted.
⚡ QUICK FACTS
🎓 Eligibility
LLB + Bar Council enrolment
📌 Vacancies
132 (tentative)
💰 Fees
ESIC notified fee schedule
🗓️ Last Date
08.09.2026
Recruitment Overview
Post Name
Panel Advocate (Empanelment of Advocates)
Organization
Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), Regional Office, Chennai — Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India
Notification / Advertisement No.
Not specified in notification (Notice Inviting Applications for Empanelment of Advocates, dated 25.08.2026)
Location
Tamil Nadu — Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Salem, Trichy, Tirunelveli, Vellore, Cuddalore, Erode, Tirupur, Nagercoil, Thoothukudi, Kumbakonam (Thanjavur) and Hosur (Krishnagiri)
Total Vacancies
132 (tentative, across 22 court entries in 14 locations)
Qualification
Bachelor Degree in Law (LLB) from a recognised Indian University, enrolled with Bar Council of India / State Bar Council and in active practice
Experience
Minimum 10 years for the High Courts in Tamil Nadu and CAT Chennai Bench; minimum 5 years for district level courts and other fora
Age Limit
Not specified in notification
Selection Process
Scrutiny of applications → Shortlisting by Committee → Interaction / Interview (no TA/DA) → Empanelment
Fees / Remuneration
As per the ESIC fee schedule notified vide Office Memorandum dated 25.03.2026 (No. T-11/15/12/2016-Vol-II); no retainer fee payable
Tenure of Panel
3 years, subject to periodical performance review
How to Apply
Offline only — send Annexure-B (fresh applicants) or Annexure-C (existing panel counsels) by post or in person to ESIC Regional Office, Nungambakkam, Chennai – 600 034
Last date for receipt of applications at Regional Office, Chennai
08.09.2026
Date of interaction / interview
To be communicated individually by registered post and/or e-mail
Application Fee
Category
Fee
All applicants
Not specified in notification — the notice does not prescribe any application fee
Vacancy Details — Court-wise Proposed Empanelment
Name of the Court / Judicial Forum
Location / Bench
Proposed Empanelment
Principal Bench of Madras High Court
Chennai
30
Madurai Bench of Madras High Court
Madurai
10
National Company Law Appellate Tribunal and National Company Law Tribunal
Chennai Bench
2
Central Administrative Tribunal
Chennai Bench
10
State Consumer Forum and District Consumer Forum
Chennai
2
District Consumer Forum
Madurai
1
Metropolitan Magistrate Court and Fast Track Court
Chennai
7
Employees’ Insurance Court (Principal Labour Court)
Chennai
11
Employees’ Insurance Court (Labour Court)
Vellore
3
Employees’ Insurance Court (Labour Court)
Cuddalore
2
Labour Court
Madurai
10
Magistrate Court
Madurai
5
Employees’ Insurance Court and Judicial Magistrate Court
Salem
6
Employees’ Insurance Court and Judicial Magistrate Court
Trichy
3
Employees’ Insurance Court and Judicial Magistrate Court
Thanjavur District (Kumbakonam)
2
Employees’ Insurance Court and Judicial Magistrate Court
Krishnagiri District (Hosur)
2
Labour Court, Additional Labour Court, Judicial Magistrate Court-II, Judicial Magistrate Court-III, Additional Munsif Court, DM and JM Court Madukkkarai
Coimbatore Court Complex
6
Additional Court-II
Erode
1
Tirupur Court
Tirupur Court Complex
1
Employees’ Insurance Court and Judicial Magistrate Court
Tirunelveli
8
Employees’ Insurance Court and Judicial Magistrate Court
Nagercoil
5
Employees’ Insurance Court and Judicial Magistrate Court
Thoothukudi
5
Total
—
132
Note as per the notification: the proposed empanelment shown above is tentative. Merely applying for empanelment at a particular location does not confer any right on an applicant to seek or claim empanelment for that location, and the decision of ESIC Regional Office in this regard is final and binding.
Eligibility Criteria
Criterion
Detail
Educational Qualification
At least a Bachelor Degree in Law (LLB) from a recognised University in India
Enrolment
Must be enrolled / registered as an advocate with the Bar Council of India or a State Bar Council, and must be in active practice at the Bar
Experience — High Courts and CAT
Minimum 10 years of professional experience for the Hon’ble High Courts in Tamil Nadu and the Hon’ble CAT, Chennai Bench
Experience — District level and other fora
Minimum 5 years of professional experience
Subject knowledge
Well versed in the Code on Social Security, 2020 (ESI Act, 1948 since repealed), labour law, Civil and Criminal procedure and other relevant Acts and Codes; regular practice and standing at the Bar, preferably with labour law cases handled
Office infrastructure
Must have an accessible office / chamber with staff and communication facilities at the city or town where the court is located, and must have an office at the place where empanelment is sought
Age Limit
Not specified in notification
Application restriction
Advocates already on the existing ESIC panel (Regional Office Chennai and Sub Regional Offices at Salem, Coimbatore, Madurai and Tirunelveli) must apply afresh in Annexure-C; the existing panel ceases to exist on constitution of the new panel
Disqualifications
Ground
Detail
Disciplinary proceeding
Any disciplinary proceeding pending, or an adverse order passed by the Bar Council affecting professional conduct
Criminal case
Any criminal case involving moral turpitude pending, or a conviction recorded
Suppression of facts
The advocate has suppressed material facts or submitted false information
Conflict of interest
There is an actual or potential conflict of interest with ESIC
Past performance
Past performance with ESIC is found unsatisfactory
Selection Process
Stage
Details
Stage 1 — Receipt and scrutiny of applications
Applications in the prescribed format (Annexure-B for fresh applicants, Annexure-C for existing panel counsels) received by post or in person at the Regional Office, Chennai on or before 08.09.2026 are scrutinised for completeness, eligibility, qualification and experience. Applications in any other format will not be entertained, and applications reaching after the last date will not be entertained.
Stage 2 — Shortlisting
Depending on the requirement and the number of applications received, ESIC reserves the right to shortlist candidates to be called for interaction. Shortlisting is done as per criteria adopted by a Committee constituted for the purpose, and the decision of the Committee is final. Mere fulfilment of the eligibility criteria confers no right to be called for interaction or to be selected.
Stage 3 — Interaction / Interview
Shortlisted advocates may be called for a further interaction or interview before finalisation of empanelment. The date, time, venue and mode will be communicated by registered post with acknowledgment due and/or e-mail (SMS may be used additionally), so applicants must give a valid e-mail ID. Applicants may be required to bring original documents. No TA/DA is admissible for attending the interaction.
Stage 4 — Empanelment
Advocates selected for empanelment may be issued electronic or written communication by ESIC separately. The decision of ESIC regarding shortlisting and selection is final. Canvassing in any form will be treated as a ground for disqualification and the candidature cancelled forthwith.
Fees, Tenure and Terms of Engagement
Component
Detail
Professional fees
Governed by the fee schedule notified by ESIC vide Office Memorandum dated 25.03.2026 (No. T-11/15/12/2016-Vol-II), available on the official ESIC website
Retainer fee
No retainer fee is payable to any panel advocate merely because the advocate has been empanelled
Tenure of panel
3 years, subject to periodical performance review; empanelment may be terminated at any time at the sole discretion of the Competent Authority
Allocation of cases
Cases are usually allocated on a rotation basis at the discretion of the Competent Authority; empanelment confers no right to be entrusted with any case or legal work
Ministry of Labour matters
Where the Ministry of Labour and Employment is to be represented on the request of the Union of India, no extra fee is payable to the advocate
Private practice
Permitted, provided it does not interfere with or conflict with duties as an ESIC panel advocate; the advocate must not advise any party or accept any case against ESIC during empanelment
Delegation
Empanelled advocates must handle cases themselves and cannot delegate them; refusal to take up an ESIC matter without proper justification entails cancellation of empanelment
How to Apply
Download the official notice along with Annexure-A (terms and conditions), Annexure-B (application form for fresh applicants) and Annexure-C (application form for existing panel counsels) from the ESIC Regional Office Chennai website.
Fill in the correct annexure completely in block letters — Annexure-B if you are not currently on the ESIC panel, Annexure-C if you are an existing panel counsel. Applications in any other format will not be entertained.
Clearly mention the name of the court(s) and the location for which you are applying, affix a recent passport size photograph on the form, and sign the undertaking.
Attach self-attested copies of all supporting documents listed in the Documents Required table below, including the Bar Council enrolment certificate and proof of professional experience.
Send the complete application by post, or submit it in person, to: Regional Director (I/c), ESI Corporation, Regional Office, No. 143, Sterling Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai – 600 034, so that it reaches on or before 08.09.2026.
Note: This is an offline application only — there is no online application portal for this empanelment. Applications received after the last date will not be entertained, and incomplete applications or applications in any format other than Annexure-B / Annexure-C will be rejected.
Documents Required
Document
Format / Notes
Degree in Law and other qualifications
Copy of LLB degree and certificates / mark sheets from graduation onwards
Bar Council enrolment certificate
Copy of valid enrolment / registration certificate issued by the Bar Council, with enrolment number
Bar Association identity card
Copy of the identity card issued by the Bar Association
Government ID proof and PAN
Copy of a Government-issued ID proof and PAN card
Resume (CV)
Including professional experience, areas of practice and important cases handled
Income tax returns
Copies of ITRs for the last two financial years
Passport size photographs
Two recent passport size photographs (one to be affixed on the application form)
Copies of judgments
Copies of judgments, if any, in labour law related cases where the advocate has appeared
Experience certificates
Supporting documents evidencing years of professional experience and standing at the Bar
Undertaking and declaration
Signed undertaking regarding conflict of interest, secrecy, acceptance of terms and the ESIC fee schedule (part of Annexure-B / Annexure-C)
Assuming your existing ESIC panel membership carries over — existing panel counsels at Chennai, Salem, Coimbatore, Madurai and Tirunelveli must apply afresh in Annexure-C or they will drop off the new panel.
Using the wrong annexure — Annexure-B is only for fresh applicants and Annexure-C only for existing panel counsels; an application in any other format will not be entertained.
Not naming the court and location you are applying for — the notice specifically asks applicants to clearly mention the court(s) and location, and a vague application risks rejection.
Applying for a High Court or CAT slot with less than 10 years at the Bar — district level courts and other fora need 5 years, but the Madras High Court benches and CAT Chennai need a full 10.
Posting the application too late — it must physically reach Nungambakkam, Chennai by 08.09.2026, so allow for postal transit rather than mailing on the last day.
Forgetting the supporting papers — missing ITRs for the last two financial years, the Bar Council enrolment copy or the signed undertaking makes the application incomplete.
Canvassing in any form, which the notice says will get the candidature cancelled outright.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the last date to apply for ESIC Tamil Nadu advocate empanelment 2026? Applications in the prescribed format must reach the ESIC Regional Office, Chennai on or before 08.09.2026.
2. How many advocates will ESIC empanel in the Tamil Nadu region? The notice proposes a tentative empanelment of 132 advocates across 22 court entries covering 14 locations in Tamil Nadu.
3. What qualification is required for ESIC advocate empanelment? At least a Bachelor Degree in Law from a recognised Indian University, with enrolment as an advocate with the Bar Council of India or a State Bar Council and active practice at the Bar.
4. How many years of experience do I need? A minimum of 10 years of professional experience for the High Courts in Tamil Nadu and the CAT Chennai Bench, and a minimum of 5 years for district level courts and other fora.
5. Is there an application fee? The notification does not prescribe any application fee for this empanelment.
6. Can I apply online for this ESIC advocate panel? No — the application in Annexure-B or Annexure-C must be sent by post or submitted in person to the Regional Director (I/c), ESI Corporation, Regional Office, No. 143, Sterling Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai – 600 034.
7. How will I be selected and what fees will I get? Applications are scrutinised and shortlisted by a Committee, shortlisted advocates may be called for an interaction with no TA/DA payable, and professional fees are governed by the ESIC fee schedule notified vide Office Memorandum dated 25.03.2026 (No. T-11/15/12/2016-Vol-II).
8. I am already an ESIC panel advocate — do I still need to apply? Yes, advocates on the existing panel at Regional Office Chennai and the Sub Regional Offices at Salem, Coimbatore, Madurai and Tirunelveli must apply afresh in Annexure-C, because the current panel ceases to exist once the new panel is constituted.
Disclaimer: The information above has been compiled from the official notification for the convenience of job seekers. Candidates are advised to verify all details from the official website before applying.
