The Supreme Court of India conducts the Law Clerk-cum-Research Associate Examination 2026 to select highly skilled law graduates for a prestigious contractual engagement. Candidates preparing for this exam must clearly understand the latest syllabus, exam pattern, marking scheme, and topic-wise coverage to avoid unnecessary mistakes.
This article provides the official syllabus based strictly on the recruitment scheme, explained in a student-friendly and exam-oriented manner, along with preparation guidance for each stage.
📌 You can also check Full Vacancy Details, Eligibility & How to Apply Here
🔍 Quick Review – Supreme Court Law Clerk Syllabus 2026
- 📝 Exam Mode: Online (Part I) + Pen-Paper (Part II)
- 📚 Stages: MCQ Test, Written Test, Interview
- ❌ Negative Marking: Yes (Part I only)
- 🎯 Focus Areas: Law application, legal writing, research skills
- 🧠 Difficulty Level: Moderate to High
- 📊 Final Selection: Based on combined merit
🧠 Exam Pattern Overview
The selection process consists of three compulsory stages:
1️⃣ Part I – Objective (MCQ) Test
2️⃣ Part II – Subjective Written Test
3️⃣ Part III – Interview
Each stage tests different competencies, not just theoretical law knowledge.
📝 Part I: Supreme Court Law Clerk MCQ Syllabus
📌 Nature of Test
- Mode: Online
- Type: Multiple Choice Questions
- Purpose: To test understanding and application of law
❌ Negative Marking
- 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer
📚 Important Topics for Part I
⚖️ Core Law Subjects
- Constitution of India
- Civil Law & Civil Procedure Code
- Criminal Law & Criminal Procedure Code
- Evidence Act
- Contract Law
- Torts
- Family Law
- Administrative Law
📖 Legal Awareness
- Recent landmark Supreme Court judgments
- Constitutional amendments
- Important legal principles
📘 Comprehension & Reasoning
- Legal comprehension passages
- Case-based problem questions
- Logical reasoning related to law
📌 Preparation Tip:
Focus on conceptual clarity and application, not rote memorization.
✍️ Part II: Descriptive Written Test Syllabus
📌 Mode
- Questions displayed on computer screen
- Answers written in pen and paper
🎯 Purpose
This stage evaluates:
- Legal writing skills
- Analytical ability
- Structured reasoning
🧾 Topics Covered in Part II
🖋️ Legal Writing
- Case summaries
- Issue-based answers
- Opinion writing
🔍 Analytical Questions
- Problem-solving based on legal situations
- Application of constitutional and statutory principles
📚 Research-Oriented Questions
- Interpretation of legal provisions
- Use of precedents
- Logical structuring of arguments
📌 Important:
Candidates who qualify Part I are shortlisted in 1:10 ratio for Part II evaluation.
🎤 Part III: Interview Syllabus & Assessment Areas
🧠 What Is Tested?
- Depth of legal knowledge
- Understanding of constitutional values
- Communication skills
- Research aptitude
📌 Common Interview Areas
- Constitutional law concepts
- Recent Supreme Court judgments
- Legal reasoning questions
- Academic background discussion
📌 Interview shortlist is generally in 1:3 ratio against vacancies.
💻 Essential Skills Expected (Across All Stages)
Candidates are expected to be familiar with:
- Legal research databases (SCC Online, Manupatra, LexisNexis, e-SCR)
- Judgment analysis
- Drafting & summarisation
- Basic computer and research skills
🌐 Important Links
- Official Notification pdf download
- Official Website: sci.gov.in
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⚠️ Common Mistakes Candidates Make
- ❌ Preparing like a traditional judiciary exam
- ❌ Ignoring legal writing practice
- ❌ Not revising landmark judgments
- ❌ Assuming MCQ stage is easy
👉 This exam tests how you think like a law clerk, not just what you remember.
📌 Final Words
The Supreme Court Law Clerk Syllabus 2026 is designed to assess legal maturity, analytical depth, and research capability. Candidates who align their preparation with the actual job role of a law clerk perform significantly better than those relying on general law exam preparation.