Supreme Court AOR List is an official list maintained by the Supreme Court of India which contains details of all registered Advocates on Record (AORs) authorized to file cases before the apex court. This guide explains how to access the AOR list online or download the official PDF, verify advocate credentials using AOR codes, and understand what details the registry includes about each advocate.

Need to file a case in India’s Supreme Court? 

There’s one critical resource you must know about and it contains just  3,789 names out of India’s 20 lakh advocates. 

The Supreme Court AOR List is your gateway to finding the exclusive group of legal professionals who hold the only key to accessing India’s highest court. 

Whether you’re a litigant seeking representation for a constitutional matter, an advocate verifying credentials, or a law student charting your career path, understanding how to access and interpret this authoritative directory can make the difference between finding the right legal representation and facing procedural roadblocks.

In a nation with over 2 million registered advocates, only 0.002% have their names on one particular list, a list that determines who can legally file cases before India’s Supreme Court.

This isn’t just any legal directory. 

The Supreme Court AOR List represents the most exclusive professional registry in Indian law, maintained directly by the apex court itself. 

When it comes to Supreme Court representation, trust isn’t optional; it’s essential. 

How do you verify that the advocate claiming to represent you before India’s apex court actually has the legal authority to do so? 

The answer lies in the official Supreme Court AOR List, the only authoritative registry of Advocates on Record maintained by the Supreme Court Registry itself. 

This comprehensive directory goes beyond basic contact information, offering verified credentials, registration histories, professional designations, and current practicing status for every advocate qualified to file cases in India’s highest court. 

Understanding how to access and decode this list empowers you with the transparency needed to make informed decisions about Supreme Court representation.

For law students and practicing advocates, getting your name added to this exclusive registry represents one of the most significant career milestones in Indian law.

It signals specialized competence validated by the Supreme Court itself, unlocks access to India’s most complex and high-stakes litigation, and opens pathways to Senior Advocate designation and even judicial appointment. 

Before you can join this elite group, though, you need to understand what the list represents, who’s on it, and how the qualification system works.

List of AOR in Supreme Court of India: Where to access it?

The Supreme Court of India maintains an official, comprehensive list of all Advocates on Record (AORs) qualified to practice before the apex court. 

This authoritative directory serves as the primary reference for litigants seeking representation, legal professionals verifying credentials, and anyone needing to confirm an advocate’s status to file cases in India’s highest judicial forum.

You can access this list on the Supreme Court’s official website, where you must click on “Advocates” in the main menu, then select “Advocate on Record” from the dropdown options. 

This takes you to a page with two key features: a search form and a link to download the complete PDF list.

Understanding how to access and interpret this list is essential if you’re planning Supreme Court litigation or verifying professional credentials. 

Supreme Court AOR List: Official Website

As discussed above, there are two key features. 

You can either search by entering the advocate’s name in the “AOR Name” field, or if you already know their unique identifier, you can search using the “AOR Code” field. The system also offers a “Starts With” filter that helps narrow results when you’re unsure of the exact spelling or want to browse advocates alphabetically.

When you submit a search query, the results display the advocate’s full name, AOR code, registration details, chamber address, and contact information where available. The search interface requires JavaScript to function, and you’ll need to complete a CAPTCHA verification before viewing results. 

The second feature is to directly download the PDF. As of the most recent update, the document is titled “List of AOR’s as on 09.10.2025” and can be downloaded directly. This PDF serves as the official, authoritative record of all registered AORs in India.

This PDF format is particularly valuable when you need to analyze the complete AOR population, conduct research on geographic distribution, or cross-reference multiple advocates. 

Unlike the online search tool, which shows individual results, the PDF allows you to browse the entire list, identify patterns, and make comparisons across the full registry of practicing AORs.

What does the Supreme Court AOR List Contain?

The Supreme Court AOR list is a comprehensive registry that goes far beyond simply listing advocate names. 

Each entry contains multiple data fields that serve different practical purposes, from helping litigants contact advocates to enabling court staff to verify credentials and track professional status changes. 

Understanding what information appears in the list helps you extract maximum value from this resource.

The list structure follows a standardized format maintained by the Supreme Court Registry. Every AOR entry includes identification details (name, codes, numbers), location information (chamber and contact addresses), temporal data (registration dates, status effective dates), and categorical notations (professional designations, status changes, special remarks). 

When you examine an AOR entry, you’re looking at information verified and maintained by India’s apex court itself. 

The Supreme Court Registry updates the list based on exam results, registration approvals, designation orders, judicial appointments, and death or removal notifications, ensuring accuracy and legal validity.

Contact and Identification Details

Every AOR listed in the Supreme Court directory can be identified and contacted through specific details that serve both administrative and practical purposes. 

These contact and identification fields help litigants reach advocates, enable court staff to route correspondence correctly, and allow legal professionals to verify credentials. 

AOR Registration Number

The AOR code is a number assigned to each advocate upon registration as an Advocate on Record with the Supreme Court.

Chamber Address and Location Details

The list includes each AOR’s chamber location within the Supreme Court premises, typically identifying the specific block (such as M.C. Setalvad Block, C.K. Daphtary Block, A.K. Sen Block, or Lawyers’ Chamber Blocks) and chamber number. 

Additionally, many entries include the advocate’s registered office address, which must be within a 16 km radius of the Supreme Court as per registration requirements under Order IV of the Supreme Court Rules. These addresses serve as the official correspondence points for all court communications related to the advocate’s cases.

Phone Numbers and Email Addresses

The list includes contact phone numbers and email addresses for most registered AORs, making it significantly easier for litigants and fellow advocates to establish communication. 

These contact details are verified during registration and updated when advocates notify the Supreme Court Registry of changes. 

You’ll find both mobile numbers and email IDs in the directory, enabling direct outreach for case consultations, collaboration discussions, or client inquiries without requiring intermediary referrals.

Understanding Registration Dates and File Numbers in Supreme Court AOR List

The temporal information in the AOR list, specifically registration dates and file numbers, provides crucial context about each advocate’s Supreme Court practice journey. 

These dates aren’t merely administrative notations; they offer insights into professional experience, qualification timing, and career progression. Understanding how to interpret these temporal markers helps you assess an advocate’s Supreme Court practice maturity.

What Registration Date Indicates About Experience?

The registration date shows when the advocate was formally registered as an AOR after passing the examination and completing all requirements. 

An advocate with a registration date of, say, 15/10/1995, has potentially practiced before the Supreme Court for nearly three decades, suggesting extensive experience with apex court procedures, case law, and judicial practices.

While the registration date doesn’t guarantee active practice volume, it provides a baseline indicator of how long an advocate has held Supreme Court filing rights.

File Number Format and Tracking System

The file number associated with each AOR entry follows the Supreme Court Registry’s internal documentation system. 

This number corresponds to the physical or digital file maintained by the Registry containing the advocate’s registration application, examination results, training certificates, office proof documents, and clerk registration details. Court staff use this file number to cross reference registration records when processing case filings or verifying advocate credentials.

How do Registration Details Help Verify Authenticity?

When someone claims to be an Advocate on Record, you can verify their authenticity by cross checking their provided AOR code and registration date against the official Supreme Court list. 

Genuine AORs will have matching details in the list, including their exact name spelling, registration date, and AOR code. 

This verification is particularly important for litigants to ensure they’re engaging qualified advocates, and for law firms conducting due diligence when considering AOR hires or collaborations with Supreme Court practitioners.

Decoding the Remarks Column in Supreme Court AOR List

The remarks column in the AOR list contains the most dynamic information, notations about professional status changes, designations, career transitions, and registration status. 

Understanding how to interpret these notations helps you assess an advocate’s current status and career trajectory.

“Designated as Senior Advocate”: What Does This Mean?

When an entry shows “Designated as Senior Advocate w.e.f. [date]” in the remarks column, it indicates the advocate has been conferred the prestigious senior designation by either the Supreme Court or a High Court. 

Senior Advocates cannot file cases directly (they must work through an AOR) but are recognized for exceptional expertise and typically command premium fees.

“Elevated to High Court/Supreme Court Judge” Entries

The remarks “Elevated as Judge, [Court Name], on [date]” mark advocates who transitioned from AOR practice to the judiciary. 

Notable examples include former Justice Indu Malhotra, who was an Advocate on Record before her judicial appointment. These entries remain in the list for historical record keeping, showing the career progression of prominent legal professionals and demonstrating the AOR system as a pathway to judicial elevation.

Status Indicators: Expired, Suspended, Removed

Several status notations indicate an advocate is no longer actively practicing as an AOR. “Expired on [date]” sadly indicates the advocate passed away, providing a historical record while removing them from the active practitioner pool. 

These entries help maintain the integrity of the registry by clearly marking when advocates are no longer available for representation.

“Removed on own request” or “Removed vide order dated [date]” indicates the advocate voluntarily withdrew their AOR registration or was removed due to disciplinary action. “Suspended from practice” may indicate temporary suspension pending disciplinary proceedings. 

These transparent notations protect litigants from inadvertently engaging advocates who cannot currently represent them before the Supreme Court.

How to Confirm Current Practicing Status?

To confirm an advocate is currently authorized to practice as an AOR, check that their list entry lacks any negative status remarks like “expired,” “removed,” or “suspended.” 

Additionally, you can use the Supreme Court’s online search tool, which typically displays only currently registered advocates, filtering out those with inactive status unless specifically queried by AOR code.

Understanding the Court Code in the Supreme Court AOR List

The Court Code (CC Code) is an internal identifier used by the Supreme Court’s case management and registry systems. 

While this code appears in the official AOR list, it’s primarily relevant for Supreme Court administrative staff rather than public users. Understanding its basic function helps you recognize that it’s part of the court’s filing and tracking infrastructure.

Significance of Court Code (CC)

The CC code enables the Supreme Court Registry to cross reference AOR entries with internal case filing systems, correspondence databases, and chamber allocation records. 

When court staff process case documents filed by an AOR, they use this code along with the AOR code to verify credentials and route documents correctly.

 For most users, litigants, advocates, and researchers, the CC code is informational rather than actionable, but its presence in the list reflects the comprehensive nature of the Supreme Court’s advocate tracking system.

Who is on the Supreme Court AOR List?

The Supreme Court AOR list represents an elite subset of India’s legal profession with advocates who have demonstrated specialized competence in Supreme Court practice, procedure, and case law through a rigorous examination and training process. 

Unlike general advocate enrollment maintained by State Bar Councils, inclusion on the AOR list requires clearing additional qualification barriers specifically designed to ensure Supreme Court practice excellence.

The list encompasses advocates from across India, though Delhi based practitioners form a significant proportion due to the Supreme Court’s location in New Delhi. 

You’ll find AORs ranging from recently qualified young advocates in their late twenties to veteran practitioners with 40+ years of Supreme Court experience. 

The diversity includes solo practitioners, law firm partners, specialized litigation boutiques, and advocates who maintain hybrid practices combining Supreme Court and High Court work.

What unites everyone on this list is their exclusive right under Order IV of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, to file cases before India’s apex court. 

This filing monopoly, no case reaches the Supreme Court without an AOR’s involvement, makes this list particularly significant. Even the most renowned Senior Advocates arguing landmark constitutional cases must engage an AOR to file the actual petitions and handle procedural compliance.

How Many AORs Practice in India?

The total number of registered Advocates on Record has grown steadily since the AOR system was formalized in 1966. 

This growth reflects both the increasing volume of Supreme Court litigation and the system’s success in maintaining high qualification standards. Understanding current AOR statistics helps contextualize the exclusivity of this status within India’s broader legal profession.

Current Count: 3,789 Advocates on Record

As of the most recent Supreme Court registry update, there are approximately 3,789 registered Advocates on Record in India. 

This number appears in the official AOR list maintained by the Supreme Court and represents all advocates who have successfully cleared the AOR examination, completed registration requirements, and maintain active status. 

To put this in perspective, India has over 20 lakh (2 million) registered advocates across all State Bar Councils, meaning AORs constitute less than 0.002% of India’s total legal profession.

Annual Additions Based on Exam Pass Rates

The AOR list grows annually based on the Supreme Court AOR examination, typically conducted once per year. 

Recent statistics show significant variation in pass rates: 

In December 2022, the Supreme Court conducted the AOR examination, where 815 candidates appeared, and 260 advocates successfully qualified, representing approximately a 32% pass rate. 

The June 2024 examination saw 356 advocates qualifying for the AOR designation, which represents a significant 37% increase in successful candidates compared to 2022. 

These newly qualified advocates, after completing post exam registration requirements including office proof and clerk registration, are added to the official list within a few months of their exam success.

How to Use the Supreme Court AOR List?

The Supreme Court AOR list serves multiple practical purposes depending on your role in the legal ecosystem. 

Litigants use it to find representation for Supreme Court cases, lawyers consult it for professional collaboration and case referrals, and researchers analyze it to track legal profession demographics. 

Knowing how to extract relevant information based on your specific needs maximizes the list’s utility.

The key to effectively using the AOR list is understanding what questions it can answer. 

Can you find AORs specializing in constitutional law? Not directly, as the list doesn’t categorize advocates by practice area. 

Can you verify if someone claiming to be an AOR is legitimate? Absolutely, their name, AOR code, and registration details will appear if they’re genuine. 

Can you contact an AOR directly for case consultation? Yes, if their contact details are included in their entry.

Your approach to using the list should align with your objective. 

If you’re a litigant needing representation, you’ll focus on contact information and location. 

If you’re an advocate seeking collaboration, you’ll look at registration dates to identify experienced practitioners. If you’re a researcher studying legal profession trends, you’ll analyze the aggregate data patterns in the complete PDF list.

For Litigants: Finding an AOR for Your Supreme Court Case

When you need to file a case in the Supreme Court, whether it’s a Special Leave Petition against a High Court order, a Writ Petition under Article 32, or any other matter within the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction, your first practical step is engaging an Advocate on Record. 

The AOR list is your starting point for identifying potential advocates, though you’ll need additional research beyond the list to assess their specific expertise and suitability for your case.

When Do You Need an AOR?

You must engage an AOR whenever you want to file any case, application, or petition before the Supreme Court of India. This includes Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) challenging High Court or tribunal orders, Writ Petitions, Transfer Petitions, Review Petitions, or any interlocutory application in pending Supreme Court matters. 

Even if you plan to hire a Senior Advocate to argue your case, that Senior Advocate cannot file the case; only an AOR can prepare, file, and sign the vakalatnama.

How to Search for AORs by Practice Area?

The official Supreme Court AOR list doesn’t categorize advocates by practice area or specialization, so you cannot filter directly for “constitutional law AORs” or “tax law AORs” within the list itself. 

However, you can use the list to identify AORs and then conduct additional research, checking their published case records on the Supreme Court website, reviewing their professional websites, or seeking referrals from High Court advocates, to determine their practice focus. 

Many AORs mention their specializations on their chambers’ websites or professional profiles.

Verifying Current Practicing Status

Before engaging an advocate you found through the list, verify they’re currently authorized to practice by checking their entry for any negative status remarks. 

Look for notations like “expired,” “removed,” “suspended,” or judicial elevation, which would indicate they cannot currently represent you. 

If their entry shows only their name, registration details, and contact information without negative status markers, or if they appear in the online search results, they’re likely active and authorized to take on your Supreme Court case.

For Lawyers: Professional Networking and Collaboration

Advocates practicing in High Courts, District Courts, or specialized tribunals often need to collaborate with AORs when their clients’ matters reach the Supreme Court. 

The AOR list facilitates these professional connections, helps you identify training opportunities for your own AOR qualification journey, and enables verification of credentials when considering collaborations. 

Understanding how to leverage the list for professional networking strengthens your practice’s Supreme Court capabilities.

Finding AORs for Supreme Court Case Collaboration

When your High Court case is going to the Supreme Court, either because your client plans to file an SLP or the opposing party has filed one, you need an AOR to handle the Supreme Court proceedings. 

Use the list to identify Delhi based AORs or those from your region who might be more accessible for coordination. 

Look for registration dates indicating at least 5-7 years of experience and reach out via the contact details provided to discuss case collaboration.

Identifying Training AORs for Exam Preparation

If you’re planning to take the AOR examination yourself, you’ll need to complete one year of training under a registered AOR before becoming eligible to appear for the exam. 

The AOR list helps you identify potential training advocates by showing their registration dates (look for those registered 10+ years ago who might be willing to mentor), chamber locations (if you plan to be Delhi based during training), and current practicing status. 

Contact multiple AORs to discuss training opportunities, as requirements and availability vary significantly among practitioners.

For Law Students and Aspiring Advocates

Law students and junior advocates exploring career pathways can use the AOR list to understand the Supreme Court practice landscape. Analyzing the list helps you grasp the exclusivity of AOR status, identify potential internship opportunities with Supreme Court practitioners, and plan your career timeline if you aspire to Supreme Court practice. 

The list transforms from a simple directory into a career planning tool when you understand how to extract insights about the profession’s structure.

Understanding the Exclusivity of Being on This List

With only 3,789 AORs compared to over 2 million advocates in India, being listed as an Advocate on Record places you in the top 0.002% of the legal profession. 

This exclusivity stems from rigorous qualification requirements: four years of practice experience, one year of training under an existing AOR, clearing the challenging AOR examination (with pass rates typically 20-30%), and meeting post exam requirements like establishing an office within 116km of the Supreme Court. 

Understanding this exclusivity helps you appreciate that an AOR qualification represents a significant career milestone.

How AOR Status Impacts Legal Career Trajectory?

Being on the AOR list fundamentally changes your career trajectory by giving you exclusive access to India’s highest court for case filing. 

This status opens doors to high stakes constitutional litigation, enabling you to build a Supreme Court focused practice commanding premium fees.

Even if you maintain a High Court or District Court practice, AOR status adds significant professional credibility and expands your service offerings to clients.

Rewards of Being on the Supreme Court AOR List

Appearing on the Supreme Court AOR list represents more than administrative registration, it signifies elite professional status within India’s legal hierarchy. 

The career implications of AOR status extend beyond the technical right to file Supreme Court cases to encompass enhanced earning potential, professional prestige, expanded client opportunities, and distinctive career advancement pathways including Senior Advocate designation and judicial appointment.

The exclusivity of the AOR system creates inherent professional value. 

When clients seek Supreme Court representation, they must choose from the limited pool of 3,789 registered AORs rather than the broader population of 2 million advocates. This concentrated demand, combined with the complexity and high stakes of Supreme Court litigation, enables AORs to command significantly higher professional fees than advocates practicing solely in lower courts.

Beyond financial considerations, AOR status carries professional recognition throughout the legal community. 

Being listed signifies you’ve demonstrated specialized competence in Supreme Court procedures, case law, and legal drafting through the rigorous AOR examination. 

This validation by India’s apex court itself differentiates you from general practitioners and establishes credibility that attracts high-quality cases and clients.

Why Being an AOR is Professionally Prestigious?

The professional prestige of AOR status stems from multiple factors: the mathematical exclusivity of the qualification, the Supreme Court’s role as India’s constitutional court and final appellate authority, and the system’s historical association with legal excellence. 

Understanding these prestige drivers helps contextualize why appearing on the AOR list significantly elevates an advocate’s professional standing.

Exclusivity – Only 3,789 Out of 2+ Million Indian Advocates

The most quantifiable prestige factor is pure exclusivity: being one of 3,789 AORs among India’s 20 lakh+ registered advocates means you’re in the top 0.002% of the legal profession. 

This scarcity isn’t artificial; it results from genuinely challenging qualification barriers, including the AOR examination’s 20-30% pass rate, mandatory training requirements, and post-qualification infrastructure needs. 

When you introduce yourself as an Advocate on Record, you’re signaling membership in this highly selective group, immediately establishing professional credibility that generic Bar Council enrollment cannot convey.

Supreme Court Filing Rights as Career Differentiator

The exclusive right to file cases before India’s highest court creates a professional moat that differentiates AORs from all other advocates. 

No matter how brilliant a non AOR advocate might be, they cannot independently access the Supreme Court for their clients.

This monopoly on Supreme Court access, enshrined in Order IV of the Supreme Court Rules, means litigants, law firms, and even Senior Advocates must engage AORs to access India’s apex court. 

This structural necessity ensures sustained demand for AOR services and reinforces the professional significance of appearing on the AOR list.

Professional Recognition and Client Perception

Beyond technical filing rights, AOR status shapes how clients, fellow advocates, and the judiciary perceive your professional capabilities. 

Clients seeking Supreme Court representation view AORs as specialists qualified to navigate India’s most complex legal forum. 

Fellow advocates refer Supreme Court matters to you, creating networking opportunities and case flow. The judiciary recognizes AORs as officers of the Supreme Court held to high professional standards. This multi dimensional recognition translates into reputation building that extends beyond individual cases to define your career trajectory.

Income Implications of AOR Status

The financial benefits of AOR status constitute a significant career consideration. While the Supreme Court prescribes fee schedules in the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, actual market rates for AOR services substantially exceed these prescribed amounts, reflecting the specialized expertise and restricted supply of qualified practitioners. 

Understanding the income implications helps advocates assess whether pursuing an AOR qualification aligns with their financial goals.

AOR Fee Structures

Filing Fees

As a new AOR, you’ll typically charge ₹10,000-15,000 just for signing the vakalatnama and completing the filing formalities with the Supreme Court Registry. This might seem like a lot for what appears to be a simple signature, but clients understand they’re paying for your qualification, your filing rights, and your responsibility as the advocate on record for the entire duration of the case.

Within 3-4 years of practice, your filing fees typically increase to ₹20,000 for standard matters. By the time you’re a senior AOR with 10+ years of experience, you might charge higher for signing and filing, depending on case complexity and client profile. Corporate clients, in particular, understand the value of an experienced AOR and don’t negotiate much on these fees.

Drafting fees

In your first 2-3 years as an AOR, you’ll charge ₹20,000-25,000 per petition for straightforward SLPs or writ petitions. This is for a complete draft, legal research, issue identification, ground formulation, precedent citations, and the actual petition drafting. 

Your drafting income can be substantial even as a new AOR if you build the right network. Many High Court senior advocates need Supreme Court matters filed, but don’t have AOR qualification themselves. If you connect with just 3-4 such seniors who send you 2-3 cases per month each, that’s 6-12 petitions monthly at ₹20,000-25,000 each, ₹1.2-3 lakh per month just from drafting work for other lawyers.

After 3-5 years of AOR practice, your drafting fees jump significantly. You’re now charging ₹50,000-75,000 for standard petitions and ₹1-2 lakh for complex constitutional, corporate, or tax matters. This isn’t arbitrary pricing; your track record, your understanding of Supreme Court practice, and your ability to craft persuasive legal arguments justify these rates.

Complex matters require extensive legal research, analysis of multiple precedents, and crafting sophisticated legal arguments. A constitutional writ petition challenging a legislative provision might take 40-50 hours of research and drafting work. At ₹1.5-2 lakh, you’re essentially charging ₹3,000-5,000 per hour, reasonable for specialized Supreme Court expertise.

Appearance fees

As a new AOR, you’ll charge ₹30,000-50,000 per appearance for most matters. If the case requires extended arguments or multiple benches in a single day, you might charge ₹50,000. This is per appearance, not per case. If a matter is adjourned and comes up again next month, you charge appearance fees again.

With 5-10 years of AOR experience, your appearance fees increase to ₹50,000-80,000 for standard hearings and ₹1 lakh for complex arguments or final hearings. You’re now known for your courtroom skills, judges recognize you, and clients specifically request your presence in court rather than briefing junior advocates.

Senior AORs with 15+ years often charge ₹1.5 lakh+ per appearance, especially for high stakes matters. These are advocates whose arguments can genuinely influence case outcomes, who have argued landmark cases, and whose strategic insights during hearings add significant value. At this level, you’re charging for expertise that comes from decades of Supreme Court practice, not just the appearance itself.

Some top tier AORs charge daily rates rather than per-appearance fees. For complex constitutional cases requiring week-long hearings, they might charge ₹2 lakh + per hearing. This is because of the high-value commercial disputes or major public interest litigation where the stakes justify premium legal representation.

How to Get Your Name on the Supreme Court AOR List?

Appearing on the Supreme Court AOR list requires completing a specific qualification pathway established by the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, and the Regulations regarding Advocates on Record Examination. 

This journey from aspiring AOR to listed practitioner typically spans 5-6 years from Bar Council enrollment (4 years practice + 1 year training + exam + registration). Understanding this pathway helps advocates plan their career trajectory toward Supreme Court practice.

AOR Exam Qualification Process Overview

The qualification journey begins with basic eligibility: you must be enrolled as an advocate with any State Bar Council and must have completed four years of practice as an advocate. 

After meeting this threshold, you must secure training with a registered AOR for one year, demonstrating to the Supreme Court that you’re seriously pursuing AOR qualification. 

Following this training year, you become eligible to appear for the AOR examination conducted annually by the Supreme Court, testing your knowledge of Supreme Court practice and procedure, leading cases, drafting, and professional ethics. 

You can refer to my article on the AOR Exam Syllabus to check out the detailed syllabus.

You can also refer to this guide to learn tips on cracking the AOR Exam.

Post-Exam Registration Requirements

Passing the AOR examination doesn’t immediately add your name to the list; you must complete additional registration requirements. 

You need to establish a registered office within a 16 km radius of the Supreme Court building in New Delhi, providing office proof (lease agreement, ownership documents) to the Supreme Court Registry. 

You must register a clerk with the Supreme Court who will assist with your practice. After submitting your registration application with all required documents and paying the registration fee (currently ₹250), the Chamber Judge of the Supreme Court reviews your application and, upon approval, registers you as an Advocate on Record.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court AOR list represents far more than a simple directory; it’s the authoritative registry of India’s most specialized legal professionals, those uniquely qualified to access the nation’s highest court. 

Whether you’re a litigant seeking Supreme Court representation, an advocate verifying credentials, a law student planning your career trajectory, or a researcher studying India’s legal profession, understanding how to access and interpret this list empowers you with critical information about Supreme Court practice.

With 3,789 Advocates on Record serving a nation of over 140 crore people, the exclusivity and significance of appearing on this list cannot be overstated. 

The list is your gateway to finding qualified representation, verifying professional credentials, understanding career pathways, and recognizing the elite subset of advocates who hold the keys to India’s apex court. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I download the latest Supreme Court AOR list?

You can download the latest Supreme Court AOR list from the official Supreme Court of India website at sci.gov.in. Navigate to the “Advocates” section, select “Advocate on Record,” and you’ll find a link to download the complete PDF list titled “List of AORs as on [date],” with the date indicating the most recent update (as of this writing, the October 2025 version is available).

How many Advocates on Record are registered in India?

As of the most recent Supreme Court registry update, there are approximately 3,789 registered Advocates on Record in India. 

What is an AOR code and why is it important?

An AOR code is a unique alphanumeric identifier assigned to each Advocate on Record upon registration with the Supreme Court. This code permanently identifies the advocate in all Supreme Court documents, case filings, and official correspondence.

How do I verify if someone is a genuine AOR?

To verify if someone is a genuine Advocate on Record, search for their name in the official list. A genuine AOR will have an entry showing their name, AOR code, registration date, and contact details. If they claim to have an AOR code, you can search specifically by that code to verify it matches their name and registration details.

Can I search for AORs by practice area specialization?

No, the official Supreme Court AOR list does not categorize advocates by practice area or specialization.

What does “designated as Senior Advocate” mean in the AOR list?

When an AOR list entry shows “Designated as Senior Advocate w.e.f. [date],” it means that the advocate has been conferred the Senior Advocate designation by either the Supreme Court or a High Court in recognition of exceptional legal expertise and professional standing. 

How often does the Supreme Court update the AOR list?

The Supreme Court updates the official AOR list periodically, typically multiple times per year, with each version clearly dated (e.g., “List of AOR’s as on 09.10.2025”). Major updates occur after each AOR examination cycle when new advocates who passed the exam complete registration requirements and are added to the list. The list is also updated when advocates’ status changes due to Senior Advocate designation, judicial elevation, death, or removal.

Why do some AOR entries show “expired” or “removed” in remarks?

The notation “expired on [date]” indicates the advocate passed away, while “removed” indicates the advocate either voluntarily withdrew their AOR registration (“removed on own request”) or was removed due to disciplinary action. These notations maintain the historical record while clearly indicating the advocate is no longer available to practice as an AOR, protecting litigants from engaging advocates who cannot represent them.

Do I need an AOR to file a case in the Supreme Court?

Yes, you absolutely need an Advocate-on-Record to file any case, petition, or application before the Supreme Court of India. Under Order IV of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, only registered AORs have the legal authority to file documents with the Supreme Court Registry. Even if you hire a Senior Advocate or other counsel to argue your case, that counsel cannot file the case; only an AOR can prepare, file, and sign the vakalatnama.

How can law students use the AOR list for career planning?

Law students can use the AOR list to understand the exclusivity of Supreme Court practice (only 3,789 AORs vs. 2+ million total advocates) and identify potential mentors for future AOR training by noting experienced advocates registered 10+ years ago.

What is SCAORA and how is it related to the AOR list?

SCAORA (Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association) is the official professional association of Advocates on Record, comprising AOR as its members. SCAORA represents AOR interests, facilitates professional development, and advocates for AOR related policy matters, but the Supreme Court’s official list is the primary source for verifying AOR status.

Can AORs practice in High Courts as well?

Yes, Advocates on Record can and often do maintain practices in High Courts and District Courts in addition to their Supreme Court practice. Being an AOR doesn’t restrict an advocate to Supreme Court-only practice; it adds Supreme Court filing rights to their existing Bar Council enrolment.