DLSA Sirmaur Recruitment 2026 has been announced for full-time contractual engagement in the Legal Aid Defense Counsel Office at Sirmaur at Nahan, Himachal Pradesh. The official notice dated 02 April 2026 invites applications for 1 Deputy Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel and 2 Assistant Legal Aid Defense Counsel posts under the Modified Legal Aid Defense Counsel Scheme, 2022.
This recruitment is meant for practicing advocates who meet the role-specific criminal law experience requirements. The notice makes it clear that the engagement is full-time and that selected lawyers will not be allowed to take private cases or any other retainership during the term of engagement. Applications have to be submitted offline to the office of the Secretary, DLSA Sirmaur at Nahan within the time specified in the official notice.
Applicants should rely on the district court recruitment page, the official notification PDF, and the attached application form and guidelines for the final version of eligibility, documents, and selection conditions. Some details, such as the exact district-specific monthly amount, are not separately fixed in the short notice and remain tied to the scheme-based honorarium structure.
Recruitment Overview
The District Legal Services Authority, Sirmaur at Nahan has invited applications for engagement of full-time legal aid lawyers in the Legal Aid Defense Counsel Office. The recruitment is for one Deputy Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel and two Assistant Legal Aid Defense Counsel posts.
The official notice is dated 02 April 2026 and states that the recruitment is being conducted under the Modified Legal Aid Defense Counsel Scheme, 2022. The posts are contractual and full-time in nature.
Vacancy Details
| Post | Number of Posts |
|---|---|
| Deputy Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel | 1 |
| Assistant Legal Aid Defense Counsel | 2 |
| Total | 3 |
The official notice does not include a Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel vacancy in this recruitment. It is limited to the Deputy Chief and Assistant categories only.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notice date | 02 April 2026 |
| Last date for submission of application | 30 April 2026 |
| Submission deadline time | 05:00 PM |
The notice clearly says that applications received after the due date shall not be considered. Candidates sending their forms by speed post should account for delivery time and not wait until the final day.
Eligibility Criteria
The recruitment is open to eligible lawyers having the required qualifications under the scheme. The detailed application form and guidelines specify different eligibility conditions for the two advertised posts.
| Post | Confirmed eligibility |
|---|---|
| Deputy Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel | Practice in criminal law for at least 7 years, excellent understanding of criminal law, strong oral and written communication skills, skill in legal research, understanding of ethical duties of defense counsel, ability to work effectively with others, experience of handling at least 20 criminal trials in Sessions Courts, and IT knowledge with proficiency in work. |
| Assistant Legal Aid Defense Counsel | Practice in criminal law from 0 to 3 years, good oral and written communication skills, understanding of ethical duties of defense counsel, ability to work effectively with others, excellent writing and research skills, and IT knowledge with high proficiency in work. |
The guidelines also state that qualifications may be reasonably relaxed in exceptional cases or circumstances with the approval of the Executive Chairman, SLSA.
Work Profile of the Posts
The Legal Aid Defense Counsel Office handles criminal legal aid work. The official guidelines describe the nature of work for both posts in practical terms.
For the Deputy Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel, the work includes conducting trials, appeals, remand work, bail applications, prison visits, filing and arguing appeals, maintaining case files, doing legal research, guiding assistants and attached law students, and handling any assigned work of the Chief Defense Counsel.
For the Assistant Legal Aid Defense Counsel, the work includes filing cases, conducting Magistrate trial cases, remand and bail work, legal research, prison and clinic visits, pre-arrest assistance, helping in defense strategy preparation, updating legal aid seekers, handling criminal law queries, and assisting the Deputy Chief and Chief Counsel in legal aided matters.
Contract Terms and Review
As per the official guidelines attached with the application form, Legal Aid Defense Counsels are engaged on contract basis initially for a period of two years. The contract may be extended on a yearly basis subject to satisfactory performance.
The guidelines further say that performance of each human resource is to be assessed every six months by the State Legal Services Authority in consultation with the concerned DLSA. This means continuation is performance-linked and not automatic.
Honorarium and Leave
The short notification does not state a separate district-specific fixed monthly amount. The attached scheme guidelines, however, provide honorarium ranges based on town classification.
| Town category under scheme | Deputy Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel | Assistant Legal Aid Defense Counsel |
|---|---|---|
| Class A towns | Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 75,000 | Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 45,000 |
| Class B towns | Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 60,000 | Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 35,000 |
| Class C towns or rest of the towns | Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 50,000 | Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 30,000 |
Applicants should treat these as scheme-based ranges rather than a separately notified Sirmaur-specific pay order.
Under the same guidelines, Chief and Deputy Legal Aid Defense Counsel are eligible for 15 days of leave in a calendar year on a pro-rata basis, while Assistant Legal Aid Defense Counsel are eligible for 12 days of leave on a pro-rata basis. No remuneration is payable for absence beyond admissible leave.
Selection Process
The guidelines say that the selection process will be fair, transparent and competitive. Selection is to be based on merit, taking into account the candidate's knowledge, skills, practice and experience.
The selection committee is to work under the chairmanship of the Principal District and Sessions Judge, who is the Chairman of the DLSA. Final approval rests with the Executive Chairman, SLSA. The guidelines also say that no person with a conflict of interest shall be part of the selection process.
The short notice does not announce an interview date, shortlist date, or result date. Those details are not yet announced in the official material available with this recruitment notice.
Documents Required
The official application form asks candidates to attach self-attested copies of supporting documents. The list is important because incomplete forms can weaken the application.
| Document | Applicability |
|---|---|
| Certificates in support of educational qualifications | All applicants |
| Bar Council enrollment certificate under the Advocates Act, 1961 | All applicants |
| Photo identity card and address proof | All applicants |
| ITR copies for the last 3 years, if available | All applicants |
| Copies of judgments in 5 Sessions cases represented as defense lawyer | For Deputy Chief applicants |
| Photocopies of at least 5 cross-examinations in Sessions cases | For Deputy Chief applicants |
The form also asks for details such as courts where the applicant is regularly practicing, Bar Association membership certificate, earlier legal aid panel experience, and whether any disciplinary case or complaint has existed before any Bar Council.
How to Apply Offline
- Download the official notice, scheme guidelines and application form from the District Court Sirmaur website or the Himachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority website.
- Fill the application form carefully for the correct post category.
- Attach the required self-attested supporting documents.
- Put the completed application in an envelope addressed to the office of the Secretary, DLSA, Sirmaur at Nahan.
- Submit the envelope either through speed post or by personally delivering it at the office of the Secretary, DLSA, ADR Centre, District Court Complex.
- Make sure the application reaches the office on or before 30 April 2026 by 05:00 PM.
The notice does not mention any online application facility. It also does not mention any application fee.
Restrictions, Code of Ethics and What Is Confirmed
The official notice clearly states that lawyers engaged under this recruitment will not be allowed to take any other private cases or any other retainership. The guidelines also say that Legal Aid Defense Counsel must devote full time to office duties and shall not engage in private practice during the term of employment.
The guidelines list termination grounds such as breach of duties, taking money or gratification from legal aid seekers, criminal conviction, political activity, unsatisfactory professional standards, failure to attend training, breach of ethics, or remaining absent without leave for more than two weeks.
Confirmed facts in the official notice include the total number of vacancies, post names, full-time contractual nature, offline mode, application address and the deadline of 30 April 2026 by 05:00 PM. Not yet announced in the available official notice are any interview schedule, shortlist publication date, or final selection date.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last date to apply for DLSA Sirmaur Recruitment 2026?
The last date for submission of the offline application is 30 April 2026 up to 05:00 PM.
How many vacancies are available in DLSA Sirmaur Recruitment 2026?
There are 3 vacancies in total: 1 Deputy Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel post and 2 Assistant Legal Aid Defense Counsel posts.
Who can apply for the Deputy Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel post?
An advocate with at least 7 years of criminal law practice and experience of handling at least 20 criminal trials in Sessions Courts can apply, subject to the other conditions in the official guidelines.
Who can apply for the Assistant Legal Aid Defense Counsel post?
An advocate with 0 to 3 years of criminal law practice and the required communication, ethics, research and IT-related skills can apply.
Can selected candidates continue private practice after appointment?
No. The official notice and guidelines say the engagement is full-time and private cases or other retainership are not allowed during the term.
Is the salary fixed in the DLSA Sirmaur notice?
The short notice does not fix a separate district-specific amount. The attached scheme guidelines provide honorarium ranges based on the town classification.
How should the application be submitted?
The filled application form with self-attested documents must be submitted offline either by speed post or by hand to the office of the Secretary, DLSA Sirmaur at Nahan.