ESIC Empanelment of Advocates 2026 Notification for Tamil Nadu Region

The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has invited applications from eligible Advocates for empanelment in the Tamil Nadu Region.

The panel will be used to represent ESIC before different courts, tribunals and judicial forums in Tamil Nadu and elsewhere, as assigned by ESIC. The notice covers the Madras High Court, CAT, NCLT/NCLAT, Consumer Forums, Employees’ Insurance Courts, Labour Courts, Magistrate Courts and other judicial forums.

This is not a regular government job or recruitment for a salaried post. It is an empanelment opportunity for practising advocates.

The notice is dated 25 August 2026. Eligible advocates must submit the prescribed application form with supporting documents on or before 8 September 2026. Applications can be sent by post or submitted personally at the ESIC Regional Office, Chennai.

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ESIC Advocate Empanelment 2026 – Overview

Important: The figure of 124 is the total of the proposed empanelment numbers listed for different courts and locations in Annexure-A. ESIC clearly says these numbers are tentative. They should not be treated as 124 guaranteed vacancies.

Court-Wise Proposed Empanelment

The notification gives the following proposed numbers for different courts and locations.

The notification states that the proposed empanelment numbers are tentative. Applying for a particular court or location does not give an advocate any right to demand empanelment there. The final decision of ESIC Regional Office will be binding.

Who Can Apply?

This opportunity is meant for practising advocates.

The basic requirements include:

• A Bachelor Degree in Law from a recognised University in India.
• Enrolment/registration as an Advocate with the Bar Council of India/State Bar Council.
• The applicant must be in active practice at the Bar.
• The advocate should have the required professional experience.
• The advocate should have regular practice and standing at the Bar.
• Experience in handling cases, preferably labour law-related cases, is desirable.
• The advocate should have an office at the place where empanelment is sought.

Experience Required

The experience requirement depends on the court or forum.

The notification says applicants should have regular practice and standing at the Bar. Supporting documents and judgments may also be required to show their experience.

The Competent Authority may relax the experience requirement or prescribe additional qualifications or conditions where considered necessary.

Areas of Legal Knowledge

Applicants are expected to be well versed in the Code on Social Security, 2020.

They should also have a general understanding of the Acts subsumed in the current Social Security Code, labour law, civil and criminal procedure and other relevant Acts and Codes, wherever applicable.

The notification also expects applicants to have:

• Good professional reputation
• Good communication skills
• Adequate office infrastructure
• Accessible office/chamber
• Staff and communication facilities

Disqualification

An advocate may be considered ineligible if any of the following conditions apply:

• Disciplinary proceedings are pending before the Bar Council or an adverse order has been passed affecting professional conduct.
• A criminal case involving moral turpitude is pending or conviction has been recorded.
• False information or suppression of important facts.
• Actual or potential conflict of interest with ESIC.
• Unsatisfactory past performance with ESIC.

Documents Required

The notification lists documents that may ordinarily be required with the application.

Applicants should keep the following documents ready:

• Law Degree and other qualification certificates
• Valid Bar Council enrolment/registration certificate
• Bar Association identity card
• Government ID proof
• PAN
• Updated Resume/CV
• Details of professional experience and areas of practice
• Copies of Income Tax Returns for the last two financial years
• Two recent passport-size photographs
• Judgments in labour-law-related cases, if any
• Undertaking and declaration regarding conflict of interest

The applicant should provide supporting documents for the claims made in the application.

Application Form

There are two prescribed application formats.

For Fresh Applicants

Advocates who are not presently on the existing ESIC panel must use Annexure-B.

For Existing Panel Advocates

Advocates who are already on the ESIC panel must use Annexure-C.

Important: The notification specifically states that existing panel advocates must also apply afresh. The existing panel will cease to exist when the new panel is constituted.

No application in any other format will be entertained.

How to Apply

The application process is offline.

Eligible advocates should:

1. Download the prescribed Annexure-B or Annexure-C application form.
2. Fill in the form completely.
3. Clearly mention the court and location for which empanelment is sought.
4. Attach the required supporting documents.
5. Check the application and documents carefully.
6. Send the application by post or submit it personally.
7. Ensure that the application reaches ESIC on or before 8 September 2026.

Address for Submission

Regional Director (I/c)
ESI Corporation, Regional Office
No. 143, Sterling Road, Nungambakkam
Chennai – 600 034

Applications received after the last date will not be entertained.

Selection Process

Meeting the eligibility conditions does not guarantee empanelment.

ESIC may shortlist applicants according to the criteria decided by the Competent Authority.

Shortlisted advocates may be called for further interaction/interview before final empanelment.

The date, time, venue and mode of such interaction will be communicated through letter and/or email. SMS may also be used in exceptional circumstances.

No TA/DA will be paid for attending the interaction.

Panel Tenure

The panel will ordinarily remain in force for three years.

However, ESIC can terminate the empanelment before the completion of three years for non-compliance with the terms and conditions.

Performance of empanelled advocates will also be reviewed periodically.

Is There Any Salary or Fixed Monthly Payment?

There is no fixed monthly salary mentioned in this notice.

The fee payable to empanelled advocates will be governed by the fee schedule notified by ESIC through Office Memorandum dated 25 March 2026.

The notification also clearly states that no retainer fee will be paid merely because an advocate is empanelled.

Therefore, applicants should not consider this opportunity as a regular salaried government job.

Allocation of Cases

Empanelment does not guarantee that an advocate will receive cases.

Cases will normally be allocated on a rotation basis, subject to the discretion of the Competent Authority.

ESIC may also assign a case to a particular advocate depending on the nature of the case, performance or specialisation.

The decision of the Competent Authority regarding case entrustment will be final.

Duties of Empanelled Advocates

An empanelled advocate will have to properly represent ESIC in the cases assigned to them.

The duties include:

• Attending every hearing of entrusted cases.
• Conducting cases on behalf of ESIC.
• Avoiding unnecessary adjournments.
• Filing required affidavits, petitions and documents.
• Collecting case papers and coordinating with ESIC officers.
• Sending hearing/status reports after each hearing.
• Keeping ESIC informed about important developments.
• Obtaining certified copies of judgments when required.
• Giving an opinion on appeal/review in appropriate cases.
• Maintaining strict confidentiality of ESIC matters.

The advocate must not advise or appear against ESIC during the period of empanelment and must immediately disclose any conflict of interest.

Important Dates

The notification does not provide a fixed date for interaction/interview.

Application Fee

No application fee is mentioned in the notification.

Therefore, applicants should not assume any fee unless ESIC issues a separate instruction.

Important Points for Applicants

• This is an advocate empanelment process, not a regular government recruitment.
• The proposed court-wise numbers are tentative.
• Existing ESIC panel advocates must also apply afresh.
• Only the prescribed application format should be used.
• The desired court and location should be clearly mentioned.
• Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee selection.
• ESIC may shortlist candidates for interaction/interview.
• No TA/DA is payable for the interaction.
• Empanelment does not guarantee allotment of cases.
• There is no fixed monthly retainer fee merely for being on the panel.
• The normal panel tenure is three years.
• ESIC can terminate empanelment for violation of conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is ESIC Advocate Empanelment 2026?
It is an opportunity for eligible practising advocates to be included on the ESIC panel for representing ESIC before different courts and judicial forums.

2. What is the last date to apply?
The application must reach ESIC on or before 8 September 2026.

3. How should the application be submitted?
It can be sent through post or submitted personally at the ESIC Regional Office, Chennai.

4. What is the minimum qualification?
A candidate must have a Bachelor Degree in Law from a recognised University in India and must be enrolled with the Bar Council.

5. How much experience is required for High Court empanelment?
A minimum of 10 years of professional experience is prescribed for the High Courts in Tamil Nadu.

6. How much experience is required for district courts and other forums?
The prescribed minimum is 5 years of professional experience.

7. Can existing ESIC panel advocates apply?
Yes. Existing panel advocates are also required to apply afresh under the current notice.

8. Is there a fixed salary?
No fixed monthly salary or retainer is mentioned. Fees are governed by the ESIC fee schedule.

9. How long will the panel remain valid?
The panel will ordinarily be constituted for three years.

10. Does empanelment guarantee cases?
No. Empanelment does not give any right to receive cases. Case allocation depends on ESIC’s requirement and the decision of the Competent Authority.

Official Notification

Official ESIC Notice PDF: Download ESIC Advocate Empanelment Notification 2026

Official ESIC Website: Employees’ State Insurance Corporation

Note: This article is based on the 22-page ESIC notice dated 25 August 2026. The court-wise numbers are described by ESIC as “Proposed Empanelment” and tentative, so they have not been presented as confirmed job vacancies.