Assam Apex Bank Legal Officer (Contractual) 2026

Your Application Timeline and Age Eligibility Decoded

The 20-Day Countdown: From Publication to Deadline

The Assam Co-operative Apex Bank published this recruitment advertisement on 03 January 2026. Since this is an offline application process, the application start date is the publication date itself. You can begin preparing and submitting your application immediately. The bank has specified that applications must reach them within 20 days from this publication date. Counting forward, this makes 22 January 2026 the probable last date for submission. However, since no exact cut-off time is mentioned, it is crucial to dispatch your application well before this date to ensure it reaches the Head Office in Guwahati within the stipulated window.

A Strict Age Band Without Mentioned Relaxations

This recruitment targets mid-career legal professionals with a clearly defined age requirement. You must be at least 30 years old but not more than 35 years old as of 03 January 2026. A critical forensic finding from the official PDF is that no age relaxation for any category (SC, ST, OBC, PwD, etc.) is mentioned in the notification. The wording "NOT APPLICABLE" is used here because the PDF makes no reference to such concessions. Therefore, all applicants, regardless of category, must strictly fall within the 30-35 year age bracket on the reference date. Your proof of age document must unequivocally validate this eligibility.

The Profile: A Contractual Grade-D Level Legal Officer

A Specialist Role with Strict Citizenship and Tenure Terms

The bank is recruiting for a single, specialized position: Legal Officer on a purely contractual basis. The selected candidate will hold a rank equivalent to a Grade-D Officer within the bank's hierarchy. It is crucial to understand that this is not a permanent appointment. The initial contract is for a period of 6 months, which may be extended based solely on the bank's assessment of the officer's performance. A mandatory but implied requirement is Indian Citizenship, as the application requires submission of "testimonials in support of citizenship." This role is likely based at the bank's Head Office in Panbazar, Guwahati, and involves handling the legal affairs of a premier state cooperative bank.

Stringent Professional and Experiential Criteria

The eligibility criteria are designed to recruit a practicing legal professional. You must possess a full-time regular LL.B. degree (3-year or 5-year) from a university recognized by the Government of India. More importantly, you must be enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council at the time of application. Beyond qualification, you need a minimum of 4 years of post-qualification experience valid as of 03 January 2026. This experience can be cumulative and gathered from diverse fields like private practice, working in a law firm, serving as a law officer in any bank or financial institution, working in a reputed organization, or even as a judicial officer. Proficiency in the local language or English is also mandatory.

Understanding the Compensation Package

A Fixed Monthly Stipend Without Usual Allowances

The advertised monthly remuneration for the Legal Officer position is ₹60,000, and the bank has indicated this figure is negotiable. A critical point to note is that this is a fixed consolidated amount. The notification explicitly states that there are no other allowances attached to this contractual role. This means the salary does not include components like Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), or City Compensatory Allowance (CCA), which are typical in permanent bank positions. The offered amount is the total in-hand salary for the duration of the contract. The PDF does not specify the total number of vacancies, hence it is marked as "Will Update Soon."

Conditional Travel Allowance and the Contractual Nature

While no regular allowances are provided, the bank will pay Travel Allowance and Daily Allowance (TA/DA) as per its norms, but only under a specific condition: if the officer is required to travel outside Guwahati on official duty. This is an important conditional provision for a role that might involve court appearances or legal work across the state. Since the appointment is contractual for 6 months, the compensation structure remains simple and fixed. Candidates should evaluate the offer based on this consolidated amount, understanding that benefits like Provident Fund, Gratuity, or Medical Insurance may not be applicable under this short-term engagement model.

The Offline Application Procedure and Document Checklist

A Traditional Postal or Drop-Box Submission

Unlike many modern recruitments, this process is entirely offline. You must use the STANDARD FORM of Application as per the Assam Gazette. This form needs to be filled and sent via Speed Post, Ordinary Post, or Courier to the provided bank address. Alternatively, you can physically drop your application in the Drop Box kept at the Administration Department of the Bank's Head Office in Guwahati. The notification cautions candidates against handing applications directly to any bank official, as this will lead to rejection. The forensic extraction confirms that no application fee is mentioned in the PDF, and similarly, no official website or URL for the application is provided in the notification.

Compiling a Complete Set of Attested Testimonials

Your application must include a set of self-attested copies of all necessary documents. The mandatory list includes proofs for age, educational qualification (LL.B. degree and marksheets), Bar Council Enrollment certificate, experience (certificates showing 4+ years), Indian Citizenship proof, and current address. Additionally, you need to affix or attach 2 recent passport-size photographs. The experience certificates are particularly vital as they must clearly establish your post-qualification work history in the legal field as of 03 January 2026. Incomplete applications or those missing any of these attested testimonials will not be considered by the bank, so double-check your package before submission.

Navigating the Offline Application: A Step-by-Step Guide

From Form Acquisition to Final Submission

The first step is to procure the correct STANDARD APPLICATION FORM as prescribed in the Assam Gazette. Fill this form meticulously with all personal, educational, and experience details. Neatly attach the two passport-size photographs and organize all the required attested document copies. You then have two choices: you can seal the application in an envelope and send it via post/courier to the General Manager at the bank's Panbazar Head Office address. Your second, and perhaps faster, option is to personally visit the Head Office and drop the application in the designated Drop Box at the Administration Department. Avoid handing it to any individual, as explicitly warned in the notification.

Key Address and Official Contact Information

The singular destination for all applications is: The General Manager, The Assam Co-operative Apex Bank Ltd., Head Office, Panbazar, Guwahati-781001. It is advisable to use a trackable postal service if mailing. Importantly, the notification provides official contact details for clarification: Telephone numbers 0361-2637826 and +91-7086076584. The contact authority is the General Manager of the Administration Department. Candidates with queries should use these contacts. The notification extract does not list an official bank website portal for this recruitment, hence it is correctly marked as not mentioned in the PDF.

The Pathway to Selection: Discretion-Based Shortlisting

No Written Exam Mentioned; Interview Likely

The official notification does not detail a specific selection architecture. It does not mention a written examination, skill test, or medical examination. The process, therefore, relies heavily on the bank's discretion. It typically begins with a thorough scrutiny of all received applications against the eligibility criteria. Candidates who meet all requirements are then shortlisted by the bank. The final selection is most likely to be made through a personal interview, where the candidate's legal knowledge, experience, and suitability for the contractual role will be assessed. The entire process is designed to be streamlined for a specialized, non-permanent position.

Emphasis on Document Verification and Bank's Prerogative

A critical implicit stage is Document Verification. Shortlisted candidates will be called to present all original certificates—age, qualification, experience, etc.—for physical verification against the attested copies submitted. Any discrepancy will lead to disqualification. It is important to understand that the bank reserves the right to select or reject any candidate at any stage without assigning any reason. The number of candidates called for the interview may depend on the total applications received. Candidates should prepare for a professional interview focusing on banking laws, cooperative societies act, and general legal expertise.

• Purely Contractual with No Guarantee of Renewal: The appointment is purely contractual for an initial 6 months. Any extension or renewal is solely performance-based and at the bank's discretion, with no obligation for permanent absorption.
• Strict Submission Channel Rules: Applications must be sent by post or dropped in the designated box. Handing applications directly to any bank official will lead to rejection. In-service candidates must apply through the proper channel.
• Incomplete or Late Applications Rejected: Applications with incomplete bio-data, missing attested documents, or submitted after the 20-day window will not be entertained under any circumstances.
• Experience and Age Locked on Advertisement Date: All eligibility criteria regarding minimum experience (4 years) and age (30-35 years) must be fulfilled as on the date of the advertisement, i.e., 03 January 2026.
• No Other Allowances: The monthly remuneration is a fixed consolidated amount of ₹60,000 (negotiable) with no other allowances like DA or HRA. Only TA/DA for official outstation travel is payable as per norms.
• Bank's Absolute Discretion: The bank reserves the right to shortlist candidates, modify the selection process, or cancel the recruitment without prior notice. The decision of the bank will be final.
• Cumulative Experience Accepted: The required 4-year post-qualification experience can be cumulative from different eligible fields (practice, law firm, bank, etc.), which is beneficial for candidates with diverse legal backgrounds.
• Travel Allowance Conditional: TA/DA is payable only if the officer is required to travel outside Guwahati on official duty, not for regular commuting or local work.
• Service Bond Not Mentioned: The notification does not mention any mandatory service bond for this contractual position.
• No Transfer Policy Defined: The posting is implied at Head Office, Guwahati, and the PDF does not mention any transfer policy for this contractual role.

Essential Forensic Insights for Applicants

What the PDF Actually Says vs. Common Assumptions

This forensic audit reveals several critical details often missed. First, the application start date is the publication date itself (03 January 2026) because it's an offline process. There's no separate "start date" to wait for. Second, the PDF does not promise to update vacancy numbers later—if not mentioned, it stays unspecified. Third, no application fee is mentioned at all in the document, so candidates should not assume one exists. Fourth, any website links shared externally are not mentioned in the official PDF and should be treated as third-party information sources only.

Documentation: The Fine Print That Matters

Your documentation must be flawless. The citizenship requirement is mandatory though implied through the need for "testimonials in support of citizenship." Your Bar Council enrollment must be current—expired or lapsed enrollment will disqualify you. Experience certificates must not just show employment but clearly demonstrate 4+ years of post-LL.B. legal work. All documents are validated as of the advertisement date (03-01-2026), not the submission date. Finally, every copy must be self-attested—unsigned copies or those attested by others may lead to rejection during verification.