Resources / Starting legal practice

New Advocate Guide

From enrolment to your first court routines. A Delhi-focused starting point, with official sources for the steps ahead.

Sources checked: 31 October 2026. Requirements can change; use the latest form and notice issued by the relevant authority.

Understand the four separate processes

Process	Authority	Purpose
Advocate enrolment	State Bar Council	Admission to the state roll, subject to applicable requirements.
Association membership	Individual bar association	Membership of that association under its rules.
Court access and digital accounts	Court administration / registry	Entry credentials and authorised use of relevant court services.
AOR registration	Supreme Court of India	A separate professional registration governed by Supreme Court requirements.

A “High Court member” usually means a member of a bar association. Use the exact designation on the relevant record when describing your credentials.

Step 01

Prepare for State Bar Council enrolment

Start with the State Bar Council relevant to your intended enrolment. This guide uses Delhi as its practical example; other states have their own forms and requirements.

Collect your law qualification records, identity and address documents, photographs and the declarations required by the current form. Check employment, prior applications and any gaps against its instructions. Follow the council’s scrutiny process and retain your acknowledgement and enrolment record.

Bar Council of Delhi forms ↗

Step 02

Check AIBE eligibility and Certificate of Practice

Read the eligibility notice for the particular AIBE edition before registering. Do not assume enrolment must precede every candidate’s examination application: undertaking-based routes have their own conditions.

Match your name and qualification details across records. Follow the applicable enrolment-document submission and Certificate of Practice instructions after the result. Keep copies of the application, result and relevant notices.

AIBE notices and instructions ↗

Step 03

Choose your local bar association

Select the association connected with the court where you expect to practise. State Bar Council enrolment and association admission are separate processes.

Obtain the current membership form from the association office or official website. Confirm sponsors, supporting documents, subscriptions and approval procedures directly. Do not assume one court association’s membership covers another.

Delhi Bar Association ↗

Step 04

Apply for Delhi High Court Bar Association membership

Use DHCBA’s membership instructions and current form to prepare the application. Its membership process is separate from Delhi High Court e-filing registration and court security requirements.

Check the applicable admission category, subscription, payment method and enclosures with the association before submission. Keep the receipt and follow up on admission and the member identity card.

DHCBA membership ↗

Step 05

Separate SCBA membership from Supreme Court access

SCBA membership, a Supreme Court entry or proximity card, and Advocate-on-Record registration each have distinct procedures.

Use SCBA’s membership materials for association admission. For court access, follow the Supreme Court’s official forms and Proximity Card Registration link. Check the category that applies to you and the current supporting-document requirements.

SCBA forms and membership ↗

Step 06

Prepare for practice and explore the AOR route

Build familiarity with cause lists, case status, filing requirements, limitation dates and the court’s current practice directions. Keep enrolment, examination, membership and access records organised.

For the AOR route, use the Supreme Court’s training and examination notices. Membership or an entry card does not confer AOR registration. Read the Supreme Court and AOR Guide for training resources and previous papers.

Supreme Court AOR examination ↗

Your preparation checklist

Tick items as you prepare. This checklist is temporary and resets when the page is reloaded; print it to keep a copy. No documents are uploaded here.

Identify the correct State Bar Council and download its current formCheck qualification, identity and address records against the formConfirm current fees and submission instructions with the authorityKeep enrolment acknowledgement and certificate copiesCheck the relevant AIBE eligibility notice and COP requirementsObtain the chosen bar association’s membership checklistCheck court entry-card and e-filing procedures separatelyMaintain a diary for applications, renewals and case deadlines

Common questions

What are the exact fees?

Confirm the current fee category, payment method and notice with each authority before paying. Some official pages contain inconsistent or older figures, so this guide does not present them as a current fee schedule.

Does this website process enrolment or membership?

No. Applications go to the relevant council, association or court through its prescribed process. This page is an independent information guide.

Which documents should I keep ready?

Prepare qualification records, identification, address evidence and photographs, then use the relevant current form for the final list. Sponsors, attestations, employment declarations and other documents depend on the application.

Where do I check court access and filing?

Use the Supreme Court forms and official service links and the Delhi High Court e-filing registration page. Follow the instructions for your user category.

Explore AIBE papers → · Courts and practice →

Court Services & Case Tracking

Find official portals for case status, cause lists, orders and judgments.

Open the court services directory →