ESIC Advocates Recruitment 2026 Notification Out – Apply Offline for 366 Posts

The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), a Statutory Body under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, has invited applications for empanelment of Advocates to represent ESIC, Regional Office-Maharashtra, before the Hon’ble High Court of Bombay (including Nagpur, Aurangabad, and Kolhapur Benches), Hon’ble EI Court, Hon’ble CAT-Mumbai Bench, CAT-Nagpur Bench, Hon’ble MM Court-Mumbai, and various other courts and judicial/quasi-judicial forums across Maharashtra, for the period 2026–29. The notice, File No. T-11/12/2/2016-Legal, is dated 10.08.2026.

Practicing Advocates registered with the Bar Council of India or a State Bar Council can apply for empanelment as Panel Counsel/Advocates. Interested and eligible Advocates must submit their applications in the prescribed format (Annexure-II for fresh applicants, or Annexure-III for existing panel Advocates) to the office of the Regional Director, ESIC, Regional Office-Maharashtra, Mumbai, on or before 28th August 2026, up to 1700 hours. The indicative number of empanelment positions across all courts and tribunals in Maharashtra is 366, though ESIC has stated this figure may change as per requirement.

• ESIC Advocates Recruitment 2026 Notification PDF

ESIC Empanelment of Advocates 2026 Overview

ESIC Empanelment of Advocates 2026 Important Dates

ESIC Empanelment of Advocates 2026: Court-wise Vacancy Position

The table below lists the indicative number of empanelment positions, court/tribunal-wise, as given in the notification. ESIC has clarified that these numbers are indicative and may be changed as per requirement.

Adding up all 74 court/tribunal-wise entries gives a total of 366 indicative empanelment positions across Maharashtra (this total is computed by summing the notification’s table and is not separately stated as a grand total in the source document).

The notification also states that Advocates currently on the existing ESIC RO-Maharashtra panel will cease to be on the panel once the new panel is finalized, and are therefore required to apply afresh under this notice as well.

ESIC Empanelment of Advocates 2026 Eligibility Criteria

• The Advocate should hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from a recognized University in India.
• The Advocate should be enrolled/registered as an Advocate with the Bar Council of India or a State Bar Council.
• The Advocate should have an office at the place where empanelment is sought, with adequate infrastructure (accessible office, chambers, library, manpower, etc.) and excellent communication skills.

Court-wise Minimum Experience (as on 01.07.2026)

The Regional Director, ESIC RO-Maharashtra, may relax the prescribed experience or specify any additional qualification or condition as deemed fit.

ESIC Empanelment of Advocates 2026 Fee Schedule

No application fee is mentioned for submitting the empanelment application. The professional fee payable to empanelled Advocates for handling ESIC’s cases is as prescribed by ESIC vide Office Memorandum No. T-11/15/2/2016-Vol-II/T-11/15/12/2016-Vol-II dated 25.03.2026; the exact fee amounts are not specified in this notification and applicants must agree to this fee schedule as part of their undertaking. No retainer fee is paid to any Panel Advocate merely for being empanelled.

ESIC Panel Advocate Tenure

The panel is ordinarily constituted for a period of 3 years (2026–2029), in the interest of continuity and stability. The panel can be discontinued before expiry of the term for reasons recorded in writing, and the process for constituting a new panel is started before expiry of the existing one. If a panel is reconstituted before the existing one expires, the existing panel continues until the new panel is constituted, so that ongoing litigation is not affected; the tenure of the existing panel may also be extended until the new empanelment process is completed.

ESIC Empanelment of Advocates 2026 Selection Process

• Applications must be submitted in the prescribed format only (Annexure-II for fresh applicants, Annexure-III for existing panel Advocates); no other format will be entertained.
• ESIC reserves the right to shortlist applications based on the requirement and the number of applications received. Fulfilling the eligibility criteria alone does not confer any right to be called for interaction or selected.
• Shortlisted Advocates may be called for further interaction before empanelment is finalized. No TA/DA is admissible for attending such interaction.
• The Selection Committee consists of the Regional Director, ESIC RO-Maharashtra, and two external members of eminence from the legal field.
• Date, time, venue, and mode of interaction will normally be communicated by e-mail or letter; SMS may be used as an additional mode of communication in exceptional circumstances.
• Applicants may be required to bring original documents at the time of interaction.
• Canvassing in any form will be treated as disqualification, and the candidature of such applicants will be cancelled forthwith.
• The decision of ESIC regarding shortlisting and selection of candidates is final.
• The list of selected Advocates will be published on the ESIC website, https://romaharashtra.esic.gov.in, and selected Advocates may separately be issued electronic or written communication confirming empanelment.
• The application for empanelment does not confer any right or assurance of being empanelled on the ESIC panel.

ESIC Empanelment of Advocates 2026 Documents Required

Advocates must furnish the following documents along with the application form:

• Copy of Law Degree and other qualifications
• Copy of Registration Certificate issued by the Bar Council
• Copy of Identity Card issued by the Bar Association
• Copy of ID Proof
• Copies of Empanelment Letter(s) issued by other Authorities/entities in favour of the Advocate, if any
• Resume with a brief profile of experience, background, education, list of clients, and nature of cases dealt with
• Two recent colour passport-size photographs
• Copy of Income Tax Returns for the last two financial years
• Copy of Aadhaar Card
• Copy of PAN Card
• Undertaking and declaration regarding conflict of interest

How to Apply for ESIC Empanelment of Advocates 2026

1. Download/obtain the prescribed application form: Annexure-II (for fresh applicant Advocates) or Annexure-III (for existing panel Advocates), from the ESIC website https://romaharashtra.esic.gov.in/ (recruitment list).
2. Fill the form in block letters, providing personal details, educational qualification, current empanelment status with other bodies (if any), details of associated junior Advocates (if any), number of ESIC-related cases handled earlier, details of any landmark case, bank/PAN/Aadhaar details, and disclosures regarding any disciplinary or criminal proceedings.
3. Attach self-attested copies of all required documents listed above.
4. Sign the undertaking confirming that the information furnished is true and complete, and agreeing to the ESIC fee schedule and confidentiality requirements.
5. Send the application along with all supporting documents to the Regional Director, Employees’ State Insurance Corporation, Regional Office-Maharashtra, 5th Floor, M.G.M. Hospital, Dr. S.S. Rao Road, Parel, Mumbai – 400012, superscribing the envelope with “Application for the Empanelment of Advocates for Hon’ble High Court of Bombay/ Hon’ble EI Court/Hon’ble CAT Mumbai Bench/ Hon’ble MM Court/Various other Courts in the State of Maharashtra”.
6. Ensure the application reaches ESIC, Regional Office-Maharashtra, on or before 28th August 2026, up to 1700 hours.

Key Terms, Duties and Conditions of Empanelment

• Empanelment confers only a right to be considered for legal work and does not bind ESIC to award work to any empanelled Advocate at any time.
• Allocation of cases is at the sole discretion of authorized ESIC Officers; empanelled Advocates must handle cases themselves and must not delegate them.
• Empanelled Advocates cannot use ESIC’s name, logo, or designations such as “Legal Advisor of ESIC” on their letterhead, signboard, or other materials, and cannot represent themselves as ESIC’s Standing Advocate unless specifically authorized.
• Advocates must act only on ESIC’s instructions, report on the proceedings of every hearing, and furnish copies of court orders, failing which ESIC may not settle bills.
• Advocates must not seek adjournments unless ESIC deems it necessary; unattended matters are treated as a serious violation that may lead to de-empanelment.
• Performance of each empanelled Advocate is subject to periodical review, and strict confidentiality of ESIC’s cases must be maintained.
• Advocates cannot advise any party against ESIC or accept any case against ESIC during their empanelment.
• Advocates retain the right to private practice, provided it does not conflict with their duties as an empanelled Advocate.
• Grounds for cancellation of empanelment include: furnishing false information, failing to attend hearings without sufficient reason, acting against ESIC’s instructions, threatening or abusing ESIC staff, leaking case information to opposing parties, seeking frequent adjournments, frequent absence from proceedings, and poor performance as assessed by ESIC RO-Maharashtra.
• ESIC may terminate an Advocate’s empanelment with one month’s written notice without assigning any reason; an Advocate may apply for termination by giving three months’ notice.
• ESIC reserves the right to accept or reject any application without assigning any reason, and to postpone or cancel the entire empanelment process at its sole discretion.

ESIC Empanelment of Advocates 2026 Important Links

• Official Notification PDF: Click here
• Official Website: Click here 
• Application Submission Address: Regional Director, ESIC, Regional Office-Maharashtra, 5th Floor, M.G.M. Hospital, Dr. S.S. Rao Road, Parel, Mumbai – 400012