One should start with the preparation for the exam right from the 4th year of program as it will give ample time to prepare and revise.

Therefore, the last 2 years of graduation must be taken seriously. It is because every state has different requirements regarding subjects, which subjects are considered in their major and minor, Criminal Minor Acts, local provisions, etc.

Lower Judicial Services– The eligibility criteria for appearing in Judicial Services Examination is a degree in LL.B and in some states it is required that he/she has enrolled or qualified to be enrolled as an Advocate under the Advocates’ Act 1961. In most states no experience is required, the age limit varies according to the state, which is usually between 22 to 27 years. Age concession shall be provided further for practicing advocates, which is 40 years.

Higher Judicial Services– Candidates must be graduates in law and have a minimum number of years of litigating practice; usually seven years.

Eligibility criteria for appearing in a judicial services examination varies from state to state. The age criteria in most states being minimum 35 Years and Maximum 45 Years.

 Lower Judiciary Services– The eligibility criteria for appearing in Judicial Services Examination is a degree in LL.B and in some states, it is required that he/she has enrolled or qualified to be enrolled as an advocate under the Advocates’ Act 1961. No experience is required, and final year candidates can also appear. The age limit varies according to the state. It is usually between 22 to 40 years.

 Higher Judicial Services– Candidates must be graduates in law and have a minimum number of years of litigating practice; usually seven years.

 Eligibility criteria for appearing in a judicial services examination varies from state to state. The age criteria in most states being minimum 35 Years and Maximum 45 Years.

Judicial Service Examination is held in three successive stages namely Preliminary Examination, Mains and Interview.

Preliminary Examination– The preliminary examination serves as a screening for the mains exam. It comprises of objective type questions. The marks secured in the preliminary examination are not counted for the final selection. Some states may have negative markings attached to this stage.

Mains Examination– The mains examination is a subjective type of exam. The exam comprises of three to four papers usually that includes law subjects as well as language. The marks secured by candidates are counted for the final selection. Candidates equal to three times the number of vacancies are called for personal interview.

Personal Interview– This is the final stage of selection where candidates are assessed on general interest, personality and intelligence among other factors.

Important subjects for the preparation of judicial services examinations:

Constitutional Law

Contract Law

Criminal Law (IPC, CPC, CrPC, and The Indian Evidence Act)

Civil Law (CPC, Contract Act, NÍ Act, Property law etc).

Proficiency in English,Tamil Language and Aptitude skill.

There are certain states where there is no negative marking in the examination, but certain states have a provision for negative marking.

For example- In Tamilnadu, the preliminary examination has 0.10 negative marking. Uttar Pradesh has 0.5 negative marking, Delhi has 0.25 negative marking, Gujarat has 0.33 negative marking for each wrong answer etc.

Following are the ways in which an effective study plan for judiciary can be prepared:

Analyse the syllabus of that particular state.

Go through previous year question papers of that state.

Read Bare acts multiple times.

Make brief notes of important landmark judgements.

Keep yourself updated with current legal affairs.

Make synopsis of all topics.

Go for mock tests for both pre and mains.

By reading newspapers and by following Supreme Court and various High Courts websites, one can be easily updated with the recent evolutions in law.

Solving previous year's questions is very beneficial for judiciary as:

They provide a better understanding of the examination pattern.

One can get to know about the important topics through them.

It serves as a criterion for self-assessment.

Time Management skills can be developed by practicing them.

It provides a way for planning an effective strategy for the exams.

Some of the key essentials to crack judiciary in one go are as follows:

Determination and Dedication.

Focus and Hardwork.

Time Management.

Limited Resources.

Multiple Revisions.

Practicing previous year question papers.

Following books are best for preparing for judiciary:

Constitution: J. N. Pandey

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908: C K Takwani

Indian Penal Code: K. D. Gaur, Ratanlal and Dhirajlal

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973: R V Kelkar

Indian Contract Act, 1872: Avtar Singh

Transfer of Property Act, 1882: Avtar Singh

Indian Evidence Act, 1871: Batuk lal, Avtar Singh

Hindu Law: UPD Kesari, Paras Diwan

Muslim Law: Aqil Ahmad

Specific Relief Act: Avtar Singh

Limitation Act: J D Jain

Law of Torts with Consumer Protection Act: R K Bangia

International Law: H O Agarwal

Administrative Law: I.P Massey

Jurisprudence: N V Paranjape

Multiple reading of Bare Acts should be done for preliminary examinations

With a structured approach, preparations for judicial service examination can be done in 6 months. As 6 months is a very limited timeframe, the candidate should decide the states in which they will be appearing and thereafter they should complete the entire syllabus by studying for a maximum number of hours. This should be followed by practicing previous year questions and mock test series both for pre and mains.

Fundamentals to keep in mind while reading a bare act are as follows:

Focus on the objective of framing of the legislation.

Go through the interpretation and the definition clauses.

Understand the literal interpretation of the statute.

Break sentences into various parts.

Understand the punctuation.

Read other texts related to the legislation.

Put a strong emphasis on the use of words like “may”, “shall”, “nothing in this section”, “notwithstanding”, “except” etc.

Note down the relatable sections in a notebook to refer them together while reading again.

Read important Orders with Sections while referring Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.

Revise marginal notes of the section.

Students usually remember the doctrine covered and forget the marginal note of the section.

For example, Section 10 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 is generally remembered as a provision covering the doctrine of Res Sub Judice; however, the marginal note of the section is “Stay of Suit”.

Yes, however it depends upon your preparation and how you adjust your timetable for studying while doing your job.

Your fundamental concept must be clear to hold a strong grip on major law subjects such as Constitution, Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, Code of Civil Procedure, Transfer of Property Act, Indian Contract Act, Indian Evidence Act, etc.

You must refer to the Bare Act for all the subjects.

Do not devalue minor laws as they play a key role in qualifying cut-off. The aspirant must keep minor laws like Specific Relief Act, Limitation Act, Rent Control, Partnership Act, Sale of Goods Act, etc. with major subjects.

Try to grab some leisure time in office hours to study minor laws.

Add attempting mock test and solving previous year questions in your timetable.

Aspirants must refer to a newspaper daily or can study from any monthly magazine of consolidated current affairs of a month.

As per the Bar Council of India, clearing the All-India Bar Examination is not a pre-requisite for entering judicial service.

Further, separate examinations are prescribed for entry to the judicial services in India and some states like Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh has made practice mandatory in order to appear for the state judicial services examinations.

A 7-year experience as an advocate is required for the Higher Judiciary Examinations.

Hence, if eligibility to practice law or experience as an advocate are necessary prerequisites for qualification to the judiciary, you may have to successfully clear the All-India Bar Examination.

However, all states have not made the practice mandatory, clearing the bar examination as a necessary requirement for judicial services examination depends on the eligibility criteria of the concerned state.

The tips mentioned below can be followed for improving English language for judicial services examination:

Allocate at least 1 hour for preparing English Subjects daily.

Read an English newspaper daily. (Indian Express or The Hindu can be referred)

Read Diglot Bare Acts and make notes of important words from provisions written in English and its Tamil meaning.

Start practicing essay writing on a daily basis. Focus more on socio-legal issues.

To clear your concepts in English grammar start reading “Wren & Martin”.

Practice translation on a regular basis

Law graduates can fill in the application form individually for each state they want to appear. There are no such restrictions in terms of how many states the candidate wants to appear.

Writing forms, the basis of every examination that has a Subjective Type - Mains Exam attached to it. To improve writing skills practicing Mains Exam Test Series is important.

Few points to keep in mind while writing answers in the mains exam:

Understand the question properly.

Keep the answers simple and precise.

Manage time while writing answers.

Write short sentences.

Use proper legal terms.

Mention important Case Laws.

Follow proper format while writing answers.

Avoid using many abbreviations.

Try to have a holistic approach while writing essays.

Legal translation should be done with proper legal terminology.

The promotion matrix primarily consists of the following posts (the posts may vary from state to state):

Civil Judge Junior Division

Civil Judge Senior Division

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate

Chief Judicial Magistrate

Additional District Judge / Session Judge

District Judge / Session Judge

After the abovementioned post one elevates to High Court. (The minimum years of experience for promotion to each level varies from state to state.)

The Judicial Services Interview is either conducted by the State High Court or the State Public Service Commission. The question may be classified as:

Personal - Questions based on the candidate’s educational qualification or experience or interests.

Subject Wise - Questions based on Legal Knowledge on various subjects and current Legal Pronouncements.

General Knowledge Based - Questions pertaining to National and State Level Static General Knowledge and Current Affairs. Pay attention to Current Developments on Legal and Non-Legal events on the dates immediately preceding the Interview Day.

Yes, if one applies for the Higher Judicial Services Exam which requires a minimum of 7 years of practice, he/she can directly join as an Additional District Judge/ Additional Session Judge.

The All-India Judicial Services is not yet implemented.

The Judicial Services Exam is a highly competitive exam in which coaching may aid in speeding up the preparation. Coaching provides practice series, notes of static portion, conducts mock examinations, and covers the latest evolution transpiring in the legal realm important for the examination.

The All India Bar Exam is a certificate-based examination. The qualified candidates receive a Certificate of Practice (CoP) which allows them to practice law under various courts in India.

No, it is mandatory to clear the AIBE to practice law.

The All India Bar Examination is conducted twice a year.

No, the candidate must have a LLB degree to become eligible for the bar exam.

Yes, if candidates register for the exam but do not take the test, they have to register for the next AIBE again.

Candidates must enroll themselves as an advocate with the State Bar Council to appear for the AIBE 2024.

The BCI conducts the exam in 50 cities having 140 centres.

AIBE is not an open-book exam. However, candidates are allowed to carry bare acts without notes to take the exam.

No, candidates who completed their law graduation before the academic year 2009-2010, do not need to clear the AIBE.

There is no age limit for appearing in the AIBE 2024.

Candidate must have a law degree. There are no qualifying marks required in the graduation to appear in the AIBE 2024.

Once the candidates enroll themselves with the State Bar Council as an advocate, they can take as many AIBE exams as required. However, according to a notification released by the BCI, the advocate who doesn’t clear AIBE within two years of enrollment with the State Bar Council will be barred from practising law.

The candidate must have completed their 3-year LLB or 5-year LLB degree from a recognized university.

There are no limits to the number of attempts to take the AIBE. If a candidate is not able to clear the AIBE, he/she can take the exam again.

Candidates can visit the official website, all india bar examination.com, and then click on the registration link. The registration link will lead to a page where candidates have to fill out all the required details.

Yes, the candidates must mention both OTP that they receive on their registered mobile number and email address. The OTP will consist of only three digits.

The AIBE registration fee is Rs. 3500 for the general category and OBC, and Rs. 2500 for the reserved categories.

AIBE registration fee

The AIBE is conducted in 11 languages. Candidates can choose their preferred language for the exam. The languages are English, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, and Oriya.

The exam is conducted in approximately 50 cities with 140 exam centres. While filling out the application form the candidates are asked to select three preferred exam centres. The exam centre will be allotted to candidates based on their preference and availability of seats.

If a candidate is unable to receive the OTP for AIBE registration, then the candidate should try using a different phone number or restart the device.

The total duration of the AIBE is 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Candidate should score at least 45% to clear the AIBE exam. For the SC and ST categories, the qualifying marks are 40%.

There are a total of 19 subjects in the AIBE exam 2024 syllabus. The syllabus of the exam is mentioned below.

Preparing for the apo exam requires a comprehensive approach relating to various subjects with practical approach. A consistent and regular study effective time management ensures success in judiciary competitive exams. Here are some tips to be followed.

Knowing Detailed Syllabus

Check exam pattern and syllabus for the assistant prosecution officer exams in the state or states you which to apply for. This will give you a clear understanding of the subjects, question types, and marking scheme.

Gather Study Materials

Go through textbooks, reference books, and online resources consistent your syllabus. Ensure the study materials are up-to-date and cover the latest legal developments and amendments.

Make a Study Plan

Keeping in mind your strength and weakness relating to subjects create your personalized study plan that allocates dedicated time slots for each subject.

Focussing on Core Subjects

Start preparation with core subjects such as Criminal Procedure Code, Indian Penal Code, Evidence Acts

Bare Acts Study

Regularly read and revise Bare Acts. Get over all view of bare acts including index. As section are usually asked from index portion of bare acts.

Practice Previous Year Question Papers

Regularly solve previous year questions papers. Make sure to complete the test paper in a time bound slot.

Practice Writing Answers

Practice Writing Answers: Practice writing answers to both objective type and subjective type questions under timed conditions. This will improve your writing speed, accuracy, and ability to structure well-articulated responses.

Study Landmark Judgments

Study Supreme Court and High Court Latest and landmark Judgments on regular basis. Keep updates on various amendment.

Language Profiency

Improve language profiency. Every competitive apo exam have a language paper which include translation, essay writing and precis writing portion.

Study Tamilnadu Criminal Minor Acts

Every state conducts itself own prosecution exam, so every state include its own state Tamilnadu Criminal Minor Acts in syllabus. Ignoring or not paying suffient heed to local law may be fatal for success. Keep revising local law also in regular basis.

PREPARATION TIPS FOR APP EXAMS

Preparing for apo exams requires dedication, a focused approach, and a well-structured plan. Here are some tips to guide you:

Preliminary Stage:

Choose Your States: Decide which state exams you'll target based on your preferences and career aspirations.

Analyze Previous Papers: Thoroughly analyze previous years' question papers to understand the exam pattern, weightage of subjects, and frequently asked topics.

Master Bare Acts: Focus on "shall" and "may" provisions in key bare acts like the CrPC, IPC, and Evidence Act.

Conceptual Clarity: Build a strong foundation in legal concepts through textbooks, commentaries, and online resources.

Current Affairs & General Knowledge: Stay updated on current legal developments, landmark judgments, and general knowledge topics.

Develop Language Skills: Practice writing concise and clear answers, focusing on grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary.

Mock Tests & Practice Papers: Regularly solve mock tests and practice papers to improve time management and answer-writing skills.

Self-Assessment & Evaluation: Analyze your performance in mock tests and identify areas for improvement.

Main Stage:

Subject-Specific Preparation: Deepen your knowledge in specific subjects based on the exam syllabus and weightage.

Case Studies & Problem-Solving: Practice analyzing case studies and applying legal concepts to solve problems.

Answer Presentation: Pay attention to answer format, clarity, and persuasiveness.

Time Management: Practice time management skills to effectively allocate time for each answer.

Creating a time table for app exams requires a personalized approach that caters to your individual learning style, daily schedule, and strengths and weaknesses. However, here's a general framework you can use to create your own time table:

STEP 1 : ASSESS YOURSELF

Analyze previous years' question papers: Identify the weightage of different subjects and frequently asked topics.

Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses:

Identify the subjects you find easy and difficult. Consider your learning style: Are you an early bird or a night owl? Do you prefer individual or group study?

STEP 2 : SET REALISTIC GOALS

Break down your preparation into phases:

Prelims, Mains, and Viva voce.

Set achievable goals for each phase:

Aim to complete a certain portion of the syllabus every week or month. Be flexible: Adapt your goals and schedule based on your progress and unforeseen circumstances.

STEP 3 : ALLOCATE TIME FOR EACH SUBJECT

Prioritize subjects based on their weightage and difficulty: Dedicate more time to challenging subjects and less time to easier ones. Schedule time for revision: Regularly review previously covered material to ensure long-term retention. Include time for breaks and relaxation: Avoid burnout by scheduling leisure activities and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Basic Time Table Structure:

Here's a basic time table structure you can adapt:

Morning:
5:30 AM - 7:00 AM: Wake up, exercise, and have breakfast.
7:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Study core subjects requiring high concentration.
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM: Break (refresh, have snacks).

Afternoon:
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Practice writing answers, solve mock tests, or attend coaching classes.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch break.
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Revise previously studied topics or study easier subjects. Evening:
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Break (coffee/tea, snacks).
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Study current affairs, general knowledge, or solve previous years' question papers.
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner and leisure activities.
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Review notes, clarify doubts, or work on any unfinished tasks.

Night: 9:00 PM onwards: Relax, prepare for the next day, and get sufficient sleep (7-8 hours).

TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE TIME MANAGEMENT:

Use a planner or calendar app: This will help you track your progress and stay organized. Set clear deadlines for tasks: This will help you stay focused and avoid procrastination. Minimize distractions: Turn off notifications on your phone and computer while studying. Reward yourself for achieving goals: This will help you stay motivated and on track. Be flexible: Adjust your schedule as needed based on your progress and unforeseen circumstances.

Strategic Plan for ensuring selection for app Prelims Exams is given below:

1. SPOT SUBJECTS WITH HIGHEST MARKS

Analyze the prelims syllabus and identify the subjects with the highest weightage. Allocate more time and effort to master these subjects. For example, Indian Penal Code (IPC), Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and Indian Evidence Act (IEA) often carry significant weightage in preliminary exams.

2. EXPERTISE WITH OBJECTIVE QUESTION FORMATS:

Preliminary exams consist of objective-type questions like multiple choice, true/false, and matching type questions. Practice solving a variety of objective-type questions from previous years' papers, mock tests, and other resources such as >online mock test of Judicial Competition Times Develop effective strategies for tackling each type of question, such as elimination strategies for multiple choice questions.

3. ENHANCE SPEED AND ACCURACY:

Prelims exams are time-bound, requiring you to answer a large number of questions within a short duration. Practice solving mock tests under timed conditions to improve your speed and accuracy. Learn to read questions quickly, identify key information, and eliminate incorrect options efficiently.

4. FOCUS ON CURRENT AFFAIRS AND GENERAL KNOWLEDGE:

Many prelims exams allocate significant weightage to current affairs and general knowledge. Stay updated on current events, legal news, and important national and international issues. Read newspapers, news magazines, and legal journals regularly to stay informed.

5. TIME MANAGEMENT AND REVISION:

Prelims exams often have multiple sections with varying difficulty levels. Develop a time management strategy that allows you to devote sufficient time to each section based on its weightage and difficulty. Regularly revise the key concepts, formulas, and important judgments to ensure retention.

6. MOCK TESTS AND ANALYSIS:

Taking mock tests regularly is crucial for prelims preparation. Analyze your performance after each mock test to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Focus on improving your weak areas and rectify your mistakes to avoid repeating them in the actual exam.

7. MAINTAIN A POSITIVE MINDSET:

Prelims exams can be challenging, but it's important to stay positive and focused throughout the preparation process. Believe in yourself and your abilities. Stay motivated by visualizing your success and setting achievable goals.

Preparing effective notes is crucial for success in APP Exams. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to prepare notes for Judiciary Exams:

Gather Study Materials

Understand the Syllabus

Develop a Note-Taking System

Active Reading

Organize Your Notes

Use Abbreviations and Symbols

Practice Pre and Mains Questions on daily basis

Revise on regular basis

Practice Mains Answer Writing

Indexing of Chapters for learning sections and order rule

Doubt clearance from experts and faculty

Sample Time table is given as under. You can adjust as per your own goal and need-

Preparing for the APP after completing your LL.B. requires a comprehensive approach relating to various subjects. A consistent and regular study effective time management ensures success in APP competitive exams. Here are some tips to be followed

KNOWING DETAILED SYLLABUS

Check exam pattern and syllabus for the APP exams in the state or states you which to apply for. This will give you a clear understanding of the subjects, question types, and marking scheme.

GATHER STUDY MATERIALS

Go through textbooks, reference books, and online resources consistent your syllabus. Ensure the study materials are up-to-date and cover the latest legal developments and amendments.

MAKE A STUDY PLAN

Keeping in mind your strength and weakness relating to subjects create your personalized study plan that allocates dedicated time slots for each subject.

FOCUSSING ON CORE SUBJECTS

Start preparation with core subjects such as Constitutional Law, Civil Procedure Code, Criminal Procedure Code, Indian Penal Code, Evidence Act, and TP Act and Personal Laws

BARE ACTS STUDY

Regularly read and revise Bare Acts. Get over all view of bare acts including index. As section are usually asked from index portion of bare acts.

PRACTICE PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTION PAPERS

Regularly solve previous year questions papers. Make sure to complete the test paper in a time bound slot.

PRACTICE WRITING ANSWERS

Practice Writing Answers: Practice writing answers to both objective type and subjective type questions under timed conditions. This will improve your writing speed, accuracy, and ability to structure well-articulated responses.

STUDY LANDMARK JUDGMENTS

Study Supreme Court and High Court Latest and landmark Judgments on regular basis. Keep updates on various amendment.

LANGUAGE PROFIENCY

Improve language profiency. Every competitive judiciary exam have a language paper which include translation, essay writing and precise writing portion.

Eagle Institute of Law is best coaching for APP exams. Lectures are delivered by Tamilnadu No.1 teacher for APP Exams which will ensure success in exam.