HCKActive Now

Kerala High Court Research Assistant Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for 48 Law Graduate Vacancies Under Notification 23/2026

Advt No: Recruitment Notification No. 23/2026•High Court of Kerala

15-Second Executive Decision Summary

Verified key decision factors extracted directly from official notification

⏳ 28 Days Left to Apply

100% Official

Total Vacancies

HCK

Research Assistant (Temporary / Contract Basis attached to Hon'ble Judges)

Min Qualification

LLB LLM

Verify My Eligibility

Age Limit & Cut-off

22 – 32 Yrs

as on 30 Nov 2026

Pay Scale / Salary

₹35,000–₹35,000

View In-Hand Simulator

High Court of Kerala (Advt No: Recruitment Notification No. 23/2026)

Am I Eligible?Syllabus Tracker Official Portal

About this Recruitment

High Court of Kerala, Kochi has officially issued Recruitment Notification No. 23/2026 dated 29 October 2026 inviting online applications from qualified law graduates for 48 anticipatory vacancies of Research Assistant on a contract basis. Selected candidates will be assigned to assist Hon'ble Judges in legal research, case law indexing, and preparation of bench memoranda with a consolidated monthly honorarium of ₹35,000/-. Candidates possessing an LL.B. Degree from any recognized university (including final year/semester law students) born between 01 December 1994 and 30 November 2004 are eligible to apply. Selection will be based on a competitive written examination and viva-voce. Online applications are accepted from 02 November 2026 to 30 November 2026 at hckrecruitment.keralacourts.in.

✨ Copilot Highlights

48 anticipatory vacancies for Research Assistants in the High Court of Kerala, Ernakulam.
Prestigious judicial clerkship working directly with Hon'ble Judges of the High Court.
Fixed consolidated monthly honorarium of ₹35,000/- per month for a 1-year tenure (extendable up to 2 years).
Final year / final semester law students are also eligible to apply.
Age eligibility: Born between 01.12.1994 and 30.11.2004 with relaxation for SC/ST/OBC.
Online registration active from 02 November 2026 to 30 November 2026 via hckrecruitment.keralacourts.in.

Age Limit & Eligibility Calculator

Minimum Age

22 Years

Maximum Age

32 Years

* Age calculated as on: 30 November 2026

Category-Wise Age Relaxations:

Other Backward Classes (OBC) of Kerala: +3 Years

Scheduled Castes (SC) / Scheduled Tribes (ST) of Kerala: +5 Years

Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD): +10 Years

⚡ Am I Eligible? (Instant Age & Cut-off Verifier)

Select your DOB and category (Calculated as on 30 November 2026)

Your Date of Birth (DOB)

Your Category / Reservation

Save to my candidate profile for 1-click verification across all jobs

Educational Eligibility: LLB LLM

Important Dates & Timeline

+ Google Calendar

Notification Released

29 October 2026

Application Start Date

2 November 2026

Last Date to Apply

30 November 2026

Vacancy Breakdown

Post Name	Vacancies	Eligibility
Research Assistant (Temporary / Contract Basis attached to Hon'ble Judges)	48	LLB LLM

Compensation & 7th CPC Pay Matrix

Pay Scale & In-Hand Salary Simulator

Pay Level / Grade: Consolidated monthly honorarium of ₹35,000/- per month for the tenure of engagement as sanctioned by Government of Kerala

Official Pay Scale

₹35,000/- fixed consolidated

Select Posting City Tier (Calculates HRA & In-Hand):

Ministry of Finance City Classification

Covered Locations: State Capitals & cities with 5–50 lakh population (e.g. Jaipur, Lucknow, Patna, Bhopal, Chandigarh)

Monthly Allowances & Earnings

Tier Y

Basic Pay₹35,000

Dearness Allowance (DA)50%

₹17,500

House Rent Allowance (HRA)18%

₹6,300

Transport Allowance (TA)₹2,700

Gross Monthly Salary₹61,500

Standard Deductions

Statutory

National Pension System (NPS)10% (Basic+DA)

-₹5,250

CGHS / Health Insurance-₹450

Group Insurance (CGEGIS)-₹60

Total Deductions-₹5,760

Estimated Monthly In-Hand in Class Y (Tier-2 Cities)

₹55,740

/ month (take-home)

Credited directly to the candidate's salary account after statutory NPS (10%) and medical deductions.

Approx Annual Gross (CTC)

₹7.38 LPA

Verified Statutory Pay Rules & Legal Disclaimer

Statutory Rules Disclaimer: The in-hand salary figures displayed above are illustrative estimates computed under 7th Central Pay Commission (7th CPC) / State Government Pay Matrix norms (Basic Pay + Dearness Allowance + City-Tier HRA + Transport Allowance minus statutory 10% NPS and health insurance contributions). Actual net monthly take-home on the candidate's official pay slip will vary based on exact posting location, city classification, entitlement/opting of government quarters (which waives HRA), and department-specific allowances. For binding statutory terms, please refer to the official recruitment notification.

Scheme of Examination & Syllabus

Exam Pattern & Detailed Syllabus

Official exam stages, subject marks distribution & interactive preparation tracker

Download Official Syllabus PDF

Stage 1: Objective Written Examination / Computer-Based Test

Exam Mode: OMR / Computer-Based Objective Multiple Choice Examination

90 Minutes

Total Marks: 100

Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted per incorrect answer

Subject / Section	No. of Questions	Max Marks
Constitutional Law & Administrative Law	30	30
Civil Law (Code of Civil Procedure, Contract Act, Specific Relief Act)	25	25
Criminal Law (Indian Penal Code / BNS, CrPC / BNSS, Indian Evidence Act / BSA)	25	25
Legal Reasoning, Judgment Analysis & Legal Research Aptitude	20	20

Interactive Syllabus & Topic Study Tracker

Check off topics as you study — progress automatically saves to your browser.

Your Preparation Progress: 0 of 12 Topics Mastered0%

Constitutional Law & Jurisprudence

0 / 4 done

Civil Law & Procedure

0 / 4 done

Criminal Law & Evidence

0 / 4 done

Official Application Protocol

How to Apply Online: Step-by-Step Guide

Keep all required educational certificates, scanned photograph, and signature ready before opening the application form.

Step 1: Go to the High Court of Kerala Recruitment portal at https://hckrecruitment.keralacourts.in.

Step 2: Click on 'Notification No. 23/2026 - Recruitment of Research Assistant' and read the detailed instructions.

Step 3: If you are applying for the first time, click 'Step-I: New Registration' and create your profile using your mobile number and email ID.

Step 4: Login with your Application Number and Date of Birth to proceed to 'Step-II: Online Application'.

Step 5: Fill in your educational details (LL.B. marks, university, year of passing, or final-year status) and personal details.

Step 6: Upload your recent passport-size photograph, signature, and law degree/marksheet in JPEG format as per guidelines.

Step 7: Pay the application fee of ₹1,000/- online (Debit/Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI). SC/ST and unemployed PwD applicants are exempt.

Step 8: Review your submitted details, finalize the application before 30 November 2026, and print out the completed application form for future verification.

Document Upload Specifications

Verified Official Format

Passport Size Color Photograph

Clear color photograph taken within last 6 months, JPEG format, size 20 KB to 40 KB

Candidate Signature

Black ink on white paper, JPEG format, size 10 KB to 20 KB

SSLC / Matriculation Certificate

Proof of date of birth, PDF format (up to 1 MB)

LL.B. Degree Certificate / Consolidated Marksheet

Degree certificate or provisional certificate (or bonafide final-year certificate), PDF (up to 2 MB)

Community / Non-Creamy Layer Certificate

Issued by competent revenue authority in Kerala for claiming age concession, PDF (up to 1 MB)

Certificate of Character and Conduct

From the Head of the Law College / University where the candidate studied, PDF (up to 1 MB)

Need official 20KB–50KB Photo & Signature for this form?

Over 15% forms are rejected due to invalid dimensions. Crop, compress & stamp Name/DOP in 100% private 1-click studio.

Open 1-Click Photo Resizer

Application Fee Details

General / Other Backward Classes (OBC) Candidates₹1000

Scheduled Castes (SC) / Scheduled Tribes (ST) / Unemployed Differently-Abled CandidatesFree

Payment Modes: Online Gateway via Debit Card, Credit Card, Internet Banking, or UPI on HCK Recruitment Portal

Selection Process

Stage 1: Objective Written Examination / Computer-Based Test (CBT) covering Constitutional Law, Civil Procedure Code, Criminal Procedure Code, Indian Evidence Act, and Legal Drafting (100 Marks)

Stage 2: Comprehensive Viva-Voce / Personal Interview evaluating case analysis acumen, legal research methodology, and judgment briefing aptitude (50 Marks)

Stage 3: Verification of Original LL.B. Degree / Final Semester Marksheets, Bar Enrollment / Eligibility Credentials, and Character Certificates

Stage 4: Publication of Final Ranked List and Deployment with Hon'ble Judges of the High Court of Kerala

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the total number of Research Assistant vacancies in Kerala High Court?

There are 48 anticipatory vacancies notified under Recruitment Notification No. 23/2026.

Can final-year law students apply for Kerala High Court Research Assistant?

Yes, candidates pursuing the final year / final semester of their regular 3-year or 5-year LL.B. program are eligible to apply, provided they produce their final degree passing certificates and marksheets at the time of certificate verification before the viva-voce.

What is the monthly salary/honorarium for Research Assistants in Kerala High Court?

Selected Research Assistants receive a fixed consolidated remuneration of ₹35,000/- per month throughout their tenure.

What is the tenure of engagement for Research Assistants in Kerala High Court?

The engagement is purely temporary on a contract basis for a period of one year, which may be extended for a second year based on performance appraisal and administrative sanction.

What is the age limit for this recruitment?

Candidates must have been born between 01 December 1994 and 30 November 2004 (both days inclusive). Upper age relaxation is 3 years for OBC candidates and 5 years for SC/ST candidates.

What is the selection process for Kerala High Court Research Assistant?

Selection is conducted through a two-stage process: an objective written examination / CBT (100 marks) testing core legal subjects and legal reasoning, followed by a viva-voce / interview (50 marks).

How much is the application fee for Kerala High Court Research Assistant?

The application fee is ₹1,000/- for General and OBC candidates. Candidates belonging to SC, ST, and unemployed differently-abled categories are fully exempt from fee payment.