The term AOR refers to an Advocate on Record. It is a special category that involves special persons who have been officially sanctioned to practice and represent their clients in the Supreme Court of India. To become an AOR, there are certain stipulations that one has to meet and pass a difficult exam conducted by the Supreme Court. The role, responsibilities, and importance of becoming an Advocate on Record (AOR), along with the qualifications to achieve this prestigious title, will be explored in this article.

AOR Full Form – Advocate on Record

An advocate on record is a lawyer who has all powers, enabled to file cases and to represent his or her clients directly in the Supreme Court of India. Only such title holders can submit motions and other request petitions to the Supreme Court. The AORs serve as a liaison between the clients and the Court, ensuring that all procedural formalities are satisfied. In the Indian judicial framework, they play an important role in that they facilitate further legal action in the Supreme Court.

Qualifications of AOR

One must fulfill the requirements of education and training provided for by Order IV Rule 5 of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013 to be considered an Advocate on Record (AOR):

• Enrollment as an Advocate: He/she must have been enrolled with the State Bar Council as an advocate practicing.

• Minimum Experience: Four years of consecutive practice as an advocate may be required before he can apply to become an AOR.

• Training Requirement: The applicant, during his initial year of training under an existing Advocate on Record, shall learn the procedures and practices of the Supreme Court for a minimum period of 1 year.

• AOR Examination: After the training, the candidate must appear for and qualify for the examination intended by the Supreme Court as provided for in Rule 12 of the Supreme Court Advocate on Record Regulations, 1976. The examination is undertaken to ascertain how well an advocate on record knows the procedures, rules, and regulations of the Supreme Court. Drafting and legal ethics, however, also form part of the examination.

• Registration with the Supreme Court: Once the candidate gets through with passing marks in the examination, they are entitled to apply for registration as an Advocate on Record with India's Supreme Court.

• The Advocate is required to have an office in Delhi within a radius of 10 miles from the SC house and give an undertaking to employ a clerk, who shall be a registered clerk, within one month of being registered as an advocate on record

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How to Become an AOR?

To become an Advocate on Record, one has to meet specific eligibility criteria and undergo a rather cumbersome process:

• Eligibility Conditions: An applicant needs to have five years or more of practice as a practicing advocate to appear for the AOR examination.

• Training: The applicant has to train under an already enrolled AOR for one year, thus exposing hands-on practice in procedures in the Supreme Court.

• AOR Test: The advocate needs to clear the Advocate on Record test. This will check knowledge about the practices, procedures, and rules of the Supreme Court.

• Application Process: On clearing the test, the advocate can apply for his registration as an AOR to the Supreme Court of India.

Is it Worth Becoming an AOR?

While not mandatory for all lawyers, it is of great interest to those who expect to appear in Supreme Courts. Only an AOR has the exclusive right to file cases in Supreme Courts. It is one of the high-profile and most important constitutional benefits. When an advocate attains the stature of becoming an AOR, it enhances the credibility and professional stature of an advocate in the eyes of the legal fraternity. It offers a career progression path for more glorious careers, which run from senior advocate ranks and high judicial positions up to.

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Role & Responsibilities of an AOR

The role and responsibilities of an Advocate on Record involve many aspects that are required for the smooth running of court procedures in the Supreme Court:

• Drafting and filing petitions, writs, appeals, etc. by the AORs before the Supreme Court.

• Client Representation: The AOR is primarily the representative of the clients in contacting the Court. They represent the cases with precision and dedication.

• Observance of Court Rules: AORs make sure that all documents and proceedings in courts fulfill the rules and regulations defined by the Supreme Court.

• Junior Supervision: In many cases, they supervise the junior advocates and legal trainees as well regarding the complexities of cases before the Supreme Court.

Salary & Earnings of an AOR

The salary of an advocate on record is variable with experience, case nature, and the reputation of the advocate.

• In respect of very fresher AORs, the salary may go in between ₹3 to ₹5 lakhs per year depending on the number of cases and their complexities. 

• For AORs more experienced or having experience with specializations in a specific area of law, then earnings could be much more substantial at ₹15 to ₹30 lakhs per year or more.

• High-Profile Matters: An AOR may collect large sums on high-profile matters relating to corporate clients or constitutional issues.

Exams to Become an AOR

The AOR Exam conducted by the Supreme Court of India is meant to assess broad-based competence. The following gives you an overview of what you need to know.

• Subjects Covered: The exam covers subjects like Supreme Court Rules, professional ethics, drafting, advocacy, and procedure.

• Format: It is a pen and paper test that comprises paper sets held on different topics on Supreme Court practices.

• Passing Criteria: The candidate needs to score at least 50% marks in each paper besides an aggregate of 60% to clear the examination.

• Frequency: The AOR Examination occurs once every year, and candidates are given multiple chances to clear the examination.

Conclusion

To be a Supreme Court Advocate-on-Record is considered an honor to every aspirant advocate in India. It is a strictly specialized job that requires hard work, knowledge of Supreme Court procedures, and professional competence at high levels. Becoming an AOR not only contributes to good career prospects for an advocate but also critically assists in maintaining the standards and integrity of the judicial system. A career in law is vast, and students, freshmen, lawyers, advocates, and judges all have some options to do more.

AOR Full Form FAQs

1. What is AOR? 

AOR stands for Advocate on Record—a title bestowed on advocates who are certified to practice in the Supreme Court. 

2. Is the facility to become an AOR open to all advocates? 

No, only some advocates after clearing the AOR examination can turn out to be the Advocate on Record.

3. What is the AOR exam? 

The AOR exam tests knowledge of Supreme Court procedures and practices and must be undertaken to become an Advocate on Record.

4. How long does it take to be admitted as an AOR? 

It will take a minimum of six years to become an AOR; five years of practicing, with one year of training by working under an AOR.

5. What does an AOR ensure?

 There are two advantages when an advocate becomes an AOR. He/she obtains sole rights to file cases in the Supreme Court and increases his/her professional credibility.