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AOR Fees in Supreme Court: Complete Guide to Advocate-on-Record Charges
An Advocate-on-Record (AOR) plays a specific role in the Supreme Court of India.
Some tasks and steps in the court process are handled by an AOR.
One common question people have is about how much an AOR charges.
The important thing to know is that there’s no single fixed fee for private AOR services.The cost depends on the type of case, the work needed, like drafting and filing, the need for hearings, how urgent the case is, and the agreement between the lawyer and the client.
The Supreme Court has a published fee list for AORs and lawyers under its Middle Income Group Legal Aid Scheme.
These are legal aid rates, not the standard fees that private AORs charge.
How Much Do AORs Charge in the Supreme Court?
Private AOR fees can be different depending on the work involved.
An AOR might charge for:
- Drafting
- Filing
- Registry compliance
- Miscellaneous applications
- Conferences
- Court appearances
- Affidavits
- Rejoinders
- Procedural work
- Adjournments
Some AORs might charge a single fee for all services, while others might charge separately for things like drafting, filing, and court appearances.
Supreme Court Legal-Aid AOR Fee Chart
The Supreme Court’s Middle Income Group Legal Aid Scheme sets these rates for eligible legal aid matters:
| AOR / Advocate Service | Published Legal-Aid Fee |
|------------------------|-------------------------|
| Petitioner-side SLP/Writ drafting & filing | ₹10,000 consolidated |
| Petitioner-side final disposal/appeal hearing | ₹3,000 per day |
| Maximum petitioner hearing fee | ₹9,000 |
| Respondent-side counter affidavit and related work | ₹5,000 consolidated |
| Respondent-side final disposal/appeal hearing | ₹3,000 per day |
| Maximum respondent hearing fee | ₹9,000 |
These are legal aid honorariums, not standard fees for private AORs.
AOR Fees for SLP Filing
A Special Leave Petition (SLP) often requires a lot of procedural and drafting work.
The AOR may be involved in:
- Reviewing case papers
- Preparing or settling the petition
- Drafting the list of dates
- Preparing miscellaneous applications
- Filing the case
- Addressing Registry objections
- Preparing affidavits
- Coordinating hearings
- Handling other procedural matters
Under the legal aid scheme, drafting and filing for an SLP or writ petition is covered by a single honorarium of ₹10,000.
For private matters, the AOR may charge different amounts.
AOR Fees Per Hearing
There is no fixed private fee for a hearing.
Under the legal aid scheme, the AOR is paid ₹3,000 per day for final disposal or appeal-stage hearings, with a maximum of ₹9,000.
Private AORs may have different fee structures.
Some charge per appearance, while others include hearings in a single fee.
Does the AOR Fee Include Filing Charges?
Not always.
When discussing fees, ask whether the total includes:
- Professional drafting fee
- Filing fee
- Court fee
- Process fee
- Printing
- Scanning
- Typing
- Paper-book preparation
- Miscellaneous applications
- Appearance charges
The Supreme Court provides a separate Court Fees Calculator for determining court fees.
AOR Fees vs.
Supreme Court Lawyer Fees
An AOR and an arguing counsel may have different roles.
The AOR handles specific procedural and filing tasks in the Supreme Court, while another lawyer or Senior Advocate may be hired for arguments.
Therefore, a client might pay separate fees for:
- AOR
- Arguing counsel
- Senior Advocate
- Court or procedural expenses
The exact arrangement depends on the case and the lawyers involved.
Senior Advocate Fees
If a Senior Advocate is hired, their fee may be separate from the AOR’s charges.
Under the legal aid scheme, the published rates for Senior Advocates are:
- ₹2,000 for drafting or settlement work
- ₹5,000 per appearance at admission or after-notice stage, with a maximum of ₹10,000
- ₹7,000 per appearance at final disposal or appeal stage, with a maximum of ₹14,000
These rates apply only to the legal aid scheme and are not standard private fees for Senior Advocates.
What Factors Affect Private AOR Fees?
1.
Type of Case:
- Criminal case, SLP, writ petition, or civil matter may require different work.
2.
Complexity:
- Cases with complicated legal issues may need more research.
3.
Urgency:
- Urgent matters like bail may require quick drafting and filing.
4.
Case Record:
- A large record can take extra time to review and organize.
5.
Number of Applications:
- Many applications can increase the workload.
Hearings
If the Advocate-on-Record needs to appear on more than one date, the total cost for their services might go up.
How to Choose an AOR
The Supreme Court has an official list of Advocates-on-Record, including one that was updated on July 14, 2026.
When choosing an AOR, you should think about:
- Experience with the Supreme Court
- Their area of legal practice
- How well they handle filing work
- How clear they are with communication
- How transparent they are with fees
- How available they are
- Their experience with similar cases
Don't choose an AOR just because they offer the lowest fee.
Questions to Ask an AOR Before Hiring
Before deciding to hire an AOR, ask them:
- What is the total professional fee?
- Does it include drafting work?
- Is filing work included?
- Are Registry objections covered?
- Is the hearing fee separate?
- Are miscellaneous applications charged separately?
- Are court fees included?
- Are documentation expenses extra?
- What happens if the case needs multiple hearings?
Having a written fee structure can help avoid misunderstandings.
Conclusion
There is no single standard fee for Advocate-on-Record services in the Supreme Court.
Private AOR charges depend on the type and complexity of the case, along with the work involved in drafting, filing, hearings, and procedural steps.
For eligible legal aid cases, the Supreme Court provides a set rate of ₹10,000 for drafting and filing work on the petitioner's side and ₹3,000 per day for final disposal or appeal-stage hearings, subject to a maximum limit.
These legal aid rates are different from the fees charged by private AORs.
Before hiring an Advocate-on-Record, make sure you get a clear breakdown of all professional fees, filing work, hearing charges, court fees, and any other additional costs.
Legal Disclaimer: This information is for general knowledge and does not serve as legal advice.
Private AOR fees can vary from one case to another.Always check with the concerned advocate for the current fee structure.