Who is an Advocate on Record?

India’s legal system is a pyramid structure; the supreme court is the highest court of the country —the highest court of appeal and the court of last decision. The Supreme Court established the Advocate on Record (AOR) system in Rule 2, Rule 4, and Rule 6 of the Supreme Court Rules 1966.

An Advocate on Record is entitled to practice in the Supreme Court. The distinction between an advocate’s expertise and knowledge.

According to Supreme Court Rules 2013, an AOR needs to file or argue on behalf of the parties in the Supreme Court. An advocate must be registered as AOR to become a Supreme Court advocate if he meets the criteria established by the Supreme Court Rules, 1966.

Eligibility for Advocate on Record

The following qualification to practice as an Advocate on Record in the supreme court:

• The advocate must have five years of experience as an advocate.
• After that, he or she must notify the Supreme Court that he or she has begun training under a senior Advocate on Record.
• After completing one year of training, the advocate must appear for an examination organised by the Supreme Court.
• After passing this exam, an advocate must have a registered office within a radius of 10-mile of the Supreme Court building. Following this, he will be recognised as an Advocate on Record and be eligible to practice in the supreme court of India.

Role of Advocate on Record

• On behalf of the party, an Advocate on Record can file a petition, draft an affidavit, file a Vakaltnama, or any other application at the Supreme Court. A registered clerk assists him with all parts of a case’s procedural aspects.
• An Advocate on Record may practise anywhere in India; however, if they wish to practise in the Supreme Court of India, they must have additional qualifications.
• The Supreme Court must deal with every subject that comes before it. So, it’s good that an experienced and learned person deals with such matters, which is why an Advocate on Record is assigned.

Difference between advocate and Advocate on Record

The Advocates Act of 1961 establishes the legal framework for the legal profession. The State Bar Council and the Bar Council of India are also part of it. An advocate on Bar means a person enrolled under the Advocate Act of 1961 and can practise law anywhere in the country.

Advocates of the Bar of one State Bar Council cannot get registered with that of another state. Senior Advocates and other advocates are of two types. Any advocate with expertise or experience in law is designated as a Senior Advocate by the High Court or Supreme Court.

After Senior Advocates, Advocate-on-Record is the next most powerful position in the Supreme Court. He is an advocate who must pass the Supreme Court’s qualification exam. The advocates who have been enrolled with the Bar Council for at least five years and trained for one year under an Advocate on Record with five years of Supreme Court experience are eligible to appear in this exam.

Conclusion

As we learned from the previous research, Advocate on Record is also an advocate, but they only operate in the Supreme Court—the highest court in the country. Anyone who wishes to file a case in the Supreme Court should do so through an Advocate on Record. An advocate or solicitor with higher powers and experience is often known as an advocate or Solicitor on record.