Search the directory of enrolment-checked advocates by state, city, court, practice area and language and send your matter to the one you choose, or post it once and let advocates near you who handle that work respond. Profiles show only the facts Bar Council rules allow, there are no paid rankings, and your number is shared only with the advocate who accepts.
Need help with your your kind of matter? Book a free call back from an enrolment-verified advocate.
| Send to one advocate | Post your matter | |
|---|---|---|
| Who sees it | The advocate you picked | Checked advocates near you who handle that area, then wider if needed |
| Best when | You have a preference: a court, a language or a particular profile | You want the quickest response, or do not know whom to choose |
| Speed | Depends on that advocate's availability | Usually faster, since several advocates can see it |
| Privacy | Your number goes to that advocate only if they accept | Released to whichever single advocate takes the matter |
| Cost to you | Free | Free |
Posting is explained in detail in the guide to posting your case; calling an advocate is explained on the talk to an advocate page.
Bar Council rules allow advocates to share a limited set of factual particulars, and our profiles stick to those. Each item helps you judge fit rather than reputation.
| Profile detail | Why it helps you |
|---|---|
| Name and enrolment number | Lets you confirm the advocate with the State Bar Council |
| Year of enrolment | Shows how long the advocate has been in practice |
| Courts and forums | Tells you whether they regularly appear where your matter will be heard |
| Practice areas | Shows the kinds of matters they take up |
| Languages | Helps you explain your problem clearly and follow the advice |
| City and office area | Matters for meetings and for matters in local courts |
| Consultation fee, where given | Gives you an idea of the first meeting's cost before you call |
What you will not see: star ratings, "best lawyer" badges, success percentages or paid boosts. These are not permitted for advocates and would not tell you much about your particular case anyway.
The rules for profiles are in our advocate listing policy. You can still check the enrolment yourself, which we encourage.
Our detailed guide to choosing an advocate and the national how-to-hire guide go further.
Have a question about your own case? Talk to a lawyer who handles your kind of matter. Asking is free.
Many clients hesitate to discuss money with an advocate, and misunderstandings follow. A short, frank conversation at the start avoids them.
An advocate's fee cannot depend on winning or on a share of what you recover. See the legal fees guide.
| Compare | What to look at |
|---|---|
| Forum experience | How often each appears where your case will be heard |
| Understanding | Who explained your situation back to you more accurately |
| Plan | Who gave a clearer first step and a realistic timeline |
| Honesty about risk | Who told you what could go wrong |
| Fees | Total likely cost by stage, not only the first payment |
| Communication | Who responded promptly and clearly before engagement |
| Comfort | Who you can talk to frankly over months or years |
Raise concerns directly first. If they continue, ask for your file, change advocates and, where there is misconduct, complain to the State Bar Council.
Every advocate on Mara Vakil has had their Bar Council enrolment checked before being listed.
Every enrolled advocate may appear in any court in India, but in practice most build their work around a few forums. Matching the advocate to the forum is the single most useful filter you can apply.
| Forum | What happens there | Look for an advocate who |
|---|---|---|
| Magistrates' courts | Bail in smaller offences, cheque bounce complaints, most police cases | Is in the criminal courts of that complex most days |
| Sessions courts | Serious criminal trials and bail | Handles trials and cross-examination regularly |
| Civil courts | Property, recovery, injunction and partition suits | Drafts pleadings carefully and follows cases through execution |
| Family courts | Divorce, maintenance, custody | Is comfortable with mediation as well as contested hearings |
| Consumer commissions | Complaints against sellers, builders, insurers, hospitals | Knows e-Jagriti filing and the commission's practice |
| RERA | Home buyers against promoters | Has handled RERA complaints and their execution |
| Revenue courts | Agricultural land, mutation, division of holdings | Reads land records fluently and appears before revenue officers |
| Tribunals | NCLT, DRT, ITAT, CAT, labour and service tribunals | Practises regularly before that particular tribunal |
| High Court | Appeals, revisions, writs, bail beyond sessions | Has a steady High Court practice, not occasional appearances |
| Supreme Court | Special leave petitions, transfer petitions, constitutional cases | Is an advocate-on-record or works with one |
Every advocate in India is enrolled with one State Bar Council, which keeps the roll of advocates and hears misconduct complaints. To verify an enrolment number, contact the council where the advocate is enrolled. The main councils are listed below.
| State or region | Bar Council |
|---|---|
| Delhi | Bar Council of Delhi |
| Maharashtra and Goa | Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa |
| Karnataka | Bar Council of Karnataka |
| Tamil Nadu and Puducherry | Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry |
| Telangana | Bar Council of Telangana |
| Andhra Pradesh | Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh |
| Kerala | Bar Council of Kerala |
| West Bengal | Bar Council of West Bengal |
| Gujarat | Bar Council of Gujarat |
| Rajasthan | Bar Council of Rajasthan |
| Uttar Pradesh | Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh |
| Uttarakhand | Bar Council of Uttarakhand |
| Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh | Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana |
| Himachal Pradesh | Bar Council of Himachal Pradesh |
| Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh | Bar Council of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh |
| Madhya Pradesh | State Bar Council of Madhya Pradesh |
| Chhattisgarh | State Bar Council of Chhattisgarh |
| Bihar | Bihar State Bar Council |
| Jharkhand | Jharkhand State Bar Council |
| Odisha | Odisha State Bar Council |
| North-eastern states | The Bar Council for Assam and the neighbouring north-eastern states, and councils formed for individual states where they exist |
The Bar Council of India sits above the State Bar Councils, frames the rules of professional conduct and conducts the All India Bar Examination.
When you post a matter rather than choosing one advocate, the platform decides which advocates see it. The aim is to reach people who can actually help, quickly, without flooding you with calls.
Where a matter has to be filed in one particular court, our team may also hand-pick advocates who appear there and show them the request. Whichever way it travels, no advocate gets your phone number unless they accept the matter, and then only that one advocate does.
Online directories make finding a lawyer easier, but some practices are worth recognising, wherever you search.
Mara Vakil shows no rankings, charges clients nothing to find or consult advocates and shares your number only with the advocate who accepts.
The legal profession uses a few titles that affect who does the work and what it costs.
| Title | Meaning | When it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Advocate | Any lawyer enrolled with a State Bar Council | All matters; most cases are handled by advocates without any special title |
| Junior advocate | An advocate working in a senior's chamber or early in practice | Often attends routine dates and drafts under supervision |
| Senior advocate | A title conferred by the Supreme Court or a High Court on advocates of recognised standing and ability | Argues important matters, usually on a brief from another advocate |
| Advocate-on-record | The only kind of advocate allowed to file cases in the Supreme Court, after passing that court's own examination | Needed to file any case in the Supreme Court |
| Public prosecutor | The state's advocate in criminal cases | Conducts the prosecution; the victim may also engage a private advocate to assist |
For most matters in district courts and tribunals, an experienced advocate who appears regularly in that forum is all you need. Senior advocates are usually engaged for High Court or Supreme Court arguments where the stakes justify the cost.
Not sure what applies to you? Describe your situation and a verified advocate can call you back.
Cases in the Supreme Court must be filed through an advocate-on-record, a status given to advocates who pass a special examination and meet experience requirements. Your existing advocate can argue the case, but filing goes through an advocate-on-record. Most Supreme Court matters are special leave petitions against High Court judgments, transfer petitions in matrimonial cases, bail matters and petitions about fundamental rights. Time limits apply to special leave petitions, so act soon after the High Court's judgment. If you cannot afford representation, the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee provides lawyers to eligible people.
You need to be able to explain your problem fully and understand the advice you receive. In district courts, proceedings often run in the state's language, so an advocate fluent in it has a real advantage. The directory's language filter covers the languages advocates list, such as Hindi, English, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, Odia and Urdu. If you are dealing with a court in another state, look for an advocate who speaks both your language and the court's, or ask your advocate to arrange translations of key papers.
An advocate represents you in court on the strength of a vakalatnama, a short authority you sign for one specific case, which is what lets them speak and file on your behalf in it. Before signing, read it, note the case it covers, and keep a copy. It is also good practice to have a short written note of the fee, setting out what work is included, the amount for each stage, what costs are extra and how payments will be made. Pay in a traceable way and ask for receipts. Signing a vakalatnama does not take away your right to give instructions or to change advocates later.
Clients never pay Mara Vakil. Posting your matter and the call back are free.
Most problems with advocates come from poor communication and can be fixed by a frank conversation about updates, dates and fees. Where there is serious misconduct, such as taking money without doing the work, acting for the other side, misusing client funds or misleading the court, you can complain to the State Bar Council where the advocate is enrolled. Its disciplinary committee can hold an inquiry and impose penalties, including suspension or removal from the roll. Keep copies of receipts, messages and documents to support your complaint. If the advocate was listed on Mara Vakil, tell us too through the grievance redressal page.
Knowing the path to the profession helps you understand what an enrolment number does and does not tell you.
Enrolment confirms that a person is entitled to practise. It does not by itself tell you about experience in your kind of case, which is why the conversation matters.
A second opinion is normal and sensible in law, just as in medicine. Consider one when:
Share the same documents with the second advocate, ask the same questions, and compare the reasoning rather than only the conclusion. You can post your matter again on Mara Vakil for a second opinion at no cost.
Often the person searching is not the person with the legal problem: a parent for an arrested son, a daughter for an elderly father, a relative for someone abroad.
Your mobile number goes only to the advocate who accepts your request, not to everyone.
If most of these are missing, raise it directly. If nothing changes, you are free to change advocates.
When you post a matter or send it to an advocate, Mara Vakil uses your description, city and practice area to show the request to suitable advocates. Your phone number and contact details are released only to the advocate who accepts. Do not include Aadhaar numbers, bank details or other sensitive identifiers in your description; share those only with the advocate you finally engage, if needed. Details of how data is stored, for how long, and your rights to access, correct or delete it under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 are set out in our privacy policy.
When a case moves from a district court to the High Court, many people wonder whether to keep the same advocate. The skills needed change. Trial work is about evidence, witnesses and procedure in the lower court; appeals are about identifying errors in the judgment, written submissions and arguing points of law before a bench. Some advocates do both well, others focus on one. Ask your trial advocate frankly whether they regularly appear in the High Court, and if not, whether they can recommend or work alongside someone who does. Appeal periods are short, so start the search as soon as the judgment is pronounced, and get a certified copy quickly, because the time for appealing often runs from it.
Before engaging an appeal advocate, share the trial court record, the judgment and the list of exhibits, and ask for a short written note on the grounds of appeal and their realistic prospects. That note helps you decide whether an appeal is worth the cost, and it gives you a basis for comparing two advocates.
Indians living abroad and foreign nationals with matters in India face practical hurdles: time zones, documents signed outside India and the difficulty of attending court. Look for an advocate who is comfortable working by video and email, understands how powers of attorney and affidavits executed abroad must be attested and stamped, and, for matrimonial cases with a foreign element, knows how Indian courts treat foreign decrees and child custody across borders. Property matters usually need a trusted local representative under a registered power of attorney, while the client joins key consultations and hearings by video where courts allow. Agree at the start how documents will be couriered, who keeps originals, and how payments and receipts will be handled across borders, so that nothing is delayed when a deadline approaches.
Consent and contested divorce, alimony and custody.
Maintenance, custody, domestic violence and guardianship.
FIRs, trials, quashing and appeals.
Regular, anticipatory and default bail.
Title, partition, possession, tenancy and RERA.
Recovery suits, injunctions, contracts and cheque cases.
Builders, banks, insurers, hospitals and online sellers.
Online fraud, hacking, impersonation and defamation.
Companies, startups, contracts and NCLT.
Termination, salary dues, POSH and industrial disputes.
Income tax and GST notices and appeals.
Wills, probate and succession certificates.
Deadlines matter in your kind of matter. Book a free call back today rather than waiting.
| City | Where most matters are heard |
|---|---|
| Delhi | District court complexes across the capital and the Delhi High Court |
| Mumbai | City Civil Court, Small Causes Court, magistrates and the Bombay High Court |
| Bangalore | City Civil Court, magistrates and the Karnataka High Court |
| Chennai | City civil courts and the Madras High Court |
| Hyderabad | City Civil Court, suburban district courts and the Telangana High Court |
| Kolkata | City Civil Court, Alipore courts and the Calcutta High Court |
| Pune | Shivajinagar district courts and the small causes court |
| Ahmedabad | City civil court at Bhadra, rural courts and the Gujarat High Court |
| Jaipur | Metropolitan courts, revenue courts and the High Court Jaipur Bench |
| Lucknow | Civil court campus, revenue courts and the High Court Lucknow Bench |
See lawyers by city for a full comparison and 120 local practice guides.
Joining is free. You apply with your enrolment details, courts and practice areas; after approval you receive client requests in your area, a free case diary with hearing reminders and access to your court group. Mara Vakil takes no commission on your fees. Read how registration works and how to get clients ethically, or go straight to join as an advocate.
When you filter the directory by court, these are the names you will see most often. Advocates usually concentrate their practice in one or two of them.
| City | Main court complexes |
|---|---|
| Delhi | Delhi High Court; district courts at Tis Hazari, Karkardooma, Patiala House, Saket, Rohini and Dwarka; Rouse Avenue |
| Mumbai | Bombay High Court; City Civil and Sessions Court; Small Causes Court; family court and metropolitan magistrates |
| Bangalore | Karnataka High Court; City Civil Court; magistrates; rural district courts |
| Chennai | Madras High Court; city civil and small causes courts; metropolitan magistrates |
| Hyderabad | Telangana High Court; City Civil Court; Ranga Reddy and Medchal district courts |
| Kolkata | Calcutta High Court; City Civil and Sessions Courts; Alipore courts |
| Pune | District courts at Shivajinagar; small causes court; taluka courts |
| Ahmedabad | Gujarat High Court at Sola; city civil court at Bhadra; rural courts at Mirzapur |
| Jaipur | High Court Jaipur Bench; Jaipur Metropolitan-I and II; Jaipur District courts |
| Lucknow | High Court Lucknow Bench in Gomti Nagar; civil court campus near Qaisarbagh |
Want a second opinion? Talk to another enrolment-verified advocate, free.
Businesses need different things from an advocate than individuals do: ongoing advice rather than one case, contracts that prevent disputes, and quick action when payments stop. Look for an advocate who works with businesses of your size and sector, can draft and review agreements, and appears in the forums you are likely to need, such as commercial courts, the NCLT, arbitration or the MSME facilitation council. Ask whether they offer a fixed monthly arrangement for routine work, how quickly they can respond to urgent matters, and who in their office handles day-to-day queries. For tax matters, many businesses work with both a chartered accountant and an advocate. A short annual review of standard contracts, recovery practices and pending notices with your advocate can prevent many disputes from starting at all.
Victims sometimes assume the police and public prosecutor will handle everything. In serious matters, a private advocate can help in several ways: getting the FIR registered correctly, pressing for proper investigation, objecting to bail where justified, assisting the prosecution at trial with the court's permission, and pursuing compensation under victim compensation schemes. Look for a criminal advocate who regularly appears in the courts dealing with the police station concerned. Women, children and members of Scheduled Castes and Tribes have additional protections and may be entitled to free legal aid.
Disputes about government jobs, such as transfers, promotions, seniority, suspension, disciplinary action and pensions, are usually heard by administrative tribunals rather than ordinary courts. Central government employees go to the Central Administrative Tribunal; many states have their own service tribunals; and appeals go to the High Court. Look for an advocate whose practice is mainly service law and who appears before the relevant tribunal. Keep every order, representation and service book entry, and act within the time allowed for representations and applications.
If your matter is urgent and you have not heard back, post it again marked urgent or call 98913 43962. In emergencies, use 112, 181 or 1930 first.
Fees are agreed directly between you and the advocate. Booking the call back costs nothing.
Abstract advice only goes so far. These are common situations people bring to Mara Vakil, with the kind of advocate to look for, where the matter usually goes and what to have ready.
Look for a criminal advocate who practises in the courts attached to that police station, because bail will begin there. Find out the station, the time and, if possible, the sections. Carry identity proof of the person arrested and a surety's documents. If you cannot afford a lawyer, the legal services authority can assign one at the remand stage.
You need an advocate who handles RERA complaints or consumer cases, depending on which route suits your demand for a refund or interest. Gather the agreement, payment receipts, the builder's letters and RERA registration details. The forum is the state's RERA or the consumer commission, chosen by the value and the relief you want.
Choose a family law advocate who appears in the family court named on the summons. Do not miss the date. Bring the petition, your marriage certificate, income details and any messages relevant to the allegations. Ask early whether mediation is realistic, because it often saves years.
An employment advocate can send a notice and, if needed, approach the labour authorities or a civil court. Keep your appointment letter, salary slips, attendance records and every email about the dispute. Do not sign a resignation or settlement before taking advice.
A banking advocate who appears before the Debts Recovery Tribunal is the right fit. Strict time limits apply for objecting to the notice and challenging possession. Bring the loan documents, the notice and your repayment history, and ask about one-time settlement as well as legal challenges.
A property or succession advocate in the city where the house stands should advise. Collect the death certificate, the will if there is one, title papers and tax receipts. Partition, probate or a family settlement are the usual routes, and mediation works well among family members.
You need an advocate familiar with your state's rent or tenancy law and the forum it uses, which may be a rent controller, rent authority or small causes court. Bring the rent agreement, proof of registration if any, rent receipts and notices sent. Do not cut off water or electricity; that can backfire legally.
Call 1930 and report on the cybercrime portal before anything else. Then a cyber advocate can follow up with the police and the bank. Save screenshots, transaction IDs and the fraudster's details.
A tax advocate or a chartered accountant experienced in GST disputes should prepare the reply before the deadline. Bring the notice, your returns, invoices and books for the period. The reply builds the record for any later appeal, so it deserves care.
Look for a property advocate in the city where the flat is. A registered power of attorney lets a trusted relative act for you locally. Police complaints, a civil suit for possession and an injunction are the usual tools, and much of the work can proceed with you joining by video.
Legal emergencies do not keep office hours. The system has ways of dealing with urgent matters outside normal sittings.
When you post your matter, describe the urgency plainly, including any date and time, so advocates who can act quickly see it.
Marriage, divorce, maintenance, adoption and inheritance in India are governed partly by personal laws that depend on religion, as well as by secular laws that apply to everyone. If your matter turns on personal law, an advocate familiar with it is a real advantage.
| Community | Main laws |
|---|---|
| Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists | Hindu Marriage Act, Hindu Succession Act, Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act |
| Muslims | Muslim personal law, Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939, and the 2019 law on triple talaq |
| Christians | Indian Divorce Act, 1869, Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872, Indian Succession Act |
| Parsis | Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936, and the Indian Succession Act |
| Anyone, by choice | Special Marriage Act, 1954, with succession under the Indian Succession Act in many cases |
Laws such as the domestic violence law and maintenance under the BNSS apply to everyone regardless of religion.
Many people now research their legal problem online or ask an AI chatbot before speaking to a lawyer. That can help you prepare, but it has limits. General answers may describe the law of another country or an older version of Indian law, miss a state rule, or overlook a deadline that applies to your facts. Use online research to understand terms and frame questions, then rely on an advocate who has read your documents. If an online answer conflicts with your advocate's advice, ask your advocate to explain the difference; there is usually a reason rooted in your facts or local practice. Bring any printouts or screenshots of what you read to the consultation; a good advocate will take a few minutes to explain where it applies to you and where it does not.
Every case turns on its own facts. A verified advocate can tell you what applies to yours.
Checking enrolment before listing is only the first step. Profiles found to be misleading, advocates who ask clients to pay Mara Vakil, or anyone whose enrolment cannot be confirmed can be suspended or removed. Clients can report problems through the grievance redressal page or by email to help@maravakil.in, and every report is reviewed. The rules advocates agree to are set out in the advocate listing policy.
Many people who offer legal help are not advocates. Knowing the difference protects you from paying the wrong person for the wrong job.
| Person | Can do | Cannot do |
|---|---|---|
| Advocate | Advise, draft, file and appear in courts and tribunals | Advertise or guarantee results |
| Notary | Attest signatures and documents, administer oaths | Make a document valid where registration is required |
| Oath commissioner | Attest affidavits for use in a particular court | Give legal advice as a service |
| Document or deed writer | Prepare documents for registration in some states, under licence | Appear in court |
| Chartered accountant | Tax returns, audits, and representation before tax authorities and tribunals within their scope | Appear in ordinary courts as an advocate |
| Agent or tout | Nothing legally recognised | Represent you, and promises to "manage" officials are a warning sign |
If you cannot afford an advocate, you may still get one.
Check your eligibility with our legal aid checker.
People sometimes have practical reasons for preferring a particular kind of advocate: a woman advocate for a matrimonial or sexual harassment matter, an advocate from their own region who understands local customs, or one with experience of a particular community's personal law. These are legitimate preferences. Mention them when you post your matter, or filter the directory by city, language and court to find advocates who fit. Whoever you choose, judge them on clarity, honesty and experience in the right forum.
Ready to take the next step? Book a free call back in under two minutes.
A profile is a starting point, not a verdict. Read it for facts that matter to your case and treat everything else with healthy caution.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| When exactly did this happen? | Time limits may already be running or have expired |
| Where do you and the other side live? | It decides which court can hear the case |
| What documents do you have? | Cases are won on evidence, not on what everyone knows |
| Has anything been filed already? | Pending cases change the strategy and may bind you |
| What have you said or signed so far? | Earlier statements can help or hurt |
| What outcome would you accept? | It shapes negotiation and whether settlement is realistic |
| Does the other party have money or property? | A decree is only useful if it can be enforced |
Answer honestly, including about the weak points. What you tell your advocate in confidence is protected, and surprises later are far more damaging.
Prefer to speak to a lawyer first? Talk to a verified advocate who handles your kind of matter.
Some problems cannot wait for a leisurely search. In these situations, post your matter and mark it urgent rather than writing to one advocate at a time, and use the helplines alongside.
| Situation | What to do right away |
|---|---|
| A family member has been picked up by police | Find out which police station; note the time; ask for the arrest memo; post your matter as a bail case; call 15100 if you cannot afford a lawyer |
| A notice to appear before police has arrived | Keep the notice; do not ignore the date; post as a criminal or bail matter so an advocate can advise on anticipatory bail |
| A court hearing is tomorrow and you have no lawyer | Collect the summons and papers; post your matter with the court name and date; ask for an adjournment yourself if no one is available |
| Someone is trying to dispossess you from your home | Call 112 if there is force; keep proof of possession; post as a property matter for urgent injunction advice |
| Money has just been taken in an online fraud | Call 1930 within the hour and report on cybercrime.gov.in before anything else; then post as a cyber matter |
| Facing violence at home | Call 112 or 181; reach the nearest One Stop Centre; post as a family matter for a protection order |
Order in a directory says nothing about skill. On Mara Vakil there is no paid ranking at all.
Every listed profile carries an enrolment number you can verify with the Bar Council.
You can speak to the advocate and still decide not to engage them.
Only one advocate, the one who takes up your matter, ever gets your phone number, so there is no stream of sales calls.
Filter the directory by state, city and court, or post your matter so it goes to advocates near you first.
Yes. Open the profile and send your matter to that advocate.
Yes. Contacting advocates through the site never costs you anything; if you go on to hire one, you settle the fee with them.
Note the enrolment number on the profile and verify it with the State Bar Council. Profiles are checked before listing.
Advertising by advocates is restricted by Bar Council rules, so we do not show ratings, rankings or "best lawyer" lists.
Only the advocate who accepts your request.
Send your matter to another advocate or post it so that all relevant advocates nearby can see it.
Yes. Filter by that city, especially if the case must be filed there.
Yes. The directory has a language filter.
Yes. Filter by court to find advocates who appear before the High Court.
No. Clients can browse and send a matter without an account.
No. Mara Vakil takes no commission on advocates' fees.
No. Mara Vakil is a technology platform, not a law firm; it introduces you to independent advocates, who give the advice.
Have your documents ready? Book a free call back and share the details with the advocate.
Any advocate can argue, but filing must be done through an advocate-on-record.
A title the Supreme Court or a High Court gives to advocates of distinction; such advocates usually argue on a brief from another advocate rather than dealing with clients directly.
Your signed authority for an advocate to represent you in one particular case.
Yes. A fresh vakalatnama is filed for the new advocate, generally after the outgoing one gives consent or the court allows the change.
To the State Bar Council where the advocate is enrolled.
No. A notary attests documents; only an advocate can represent you in court.
Not in ordinary courts. Chartered accountants can represent clients before tax authorities and some tribunals within their scope.
The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana, which also covers Chandigarh.
Yes. Mention it when you post your matter or use the directory filters to find suitable advocates.
The Supreme Court Legal Services Committee provides lawyers to eligible people.
Only once you have decided to engage that advocate and understood the fee and scope of work.
Two or three conversations are usually enough to compare approach, clarity and fees.
An examination newly enrolled advocates must pass to receive a certificate of practice from the Bar Council of India.
Yes, especially when the stakes are high or you are asked to accept an irreversible settlement.
Yes. Family members commonly engage the advocate, and the accused signs the vakalatnama.
No. Share sensitive identifiers only with the advocate you engage, and only if needed.
Agree expectations at the start. Routine messages within a day or two, and urgent matters the same day, are reasonable.
Send your matter to another advocate or post it so others nearby can see it.
Many State Bar Councils offer an online search; otherwise contact the council's office with the enrolment number.
Not at all. A clear fee conversation at the start protects both of you.
No. Read and understand every document before signing it.
Only if they regularly appear in the appellate court. Otherwise consider an advocate who does, or a team of both.
Duty magistrates and vacation benches deal with urgent bail and remand outside regular sittings.
Often largely, through a registered power of attorney and video consultations, though some stages may need personal presence.
Not necessarily. Many advocates appear in several courts in the same city, but for tribunals, the High Court or the Supreme Court, check that they practise there regularly.
Yes. A victim can engage an advocate to assist the prosecution with the court's permission and to pursue compensation.
The Central Administrative Tribunal for central government staff, and state service tribunals for many state employees, with appeals to the High Court.
For advice and planning it often is, provided you share documents in advance. Court appearances and some formalities still need presence.
Courts, local laws and practice differ from city to city. Read the guide for another city:
Related services:
Practice area guides:
Free tools:
Guide: How to find a lawyer in India · Post your case online
Describe your matter in a few lines with your city, the court or office involved and any date. Enrolment-verified advocates near you who handle such matters can see it, and the one who accepts will call you. It is free for clients.
Describe your matter, freeThis page gives general information about Indian law as of 15 October 2026. It is not legal advice and is not an advertisement or solicitation by any advocate, as restricted by Rule 36 of the Bar Council of India Rules. Laws and court practice change, and the right answer depends on your facts; confirm the position for your case with an advocate before acting. Mara Vakil is a technology platform, not a law firm. Read our disclaimer.
Free, enrolment-checked profile. Client requests in your practice area, no commission on your fees, a free case diary and your court group. Apply in about 10 minutes.