Find a Lawyer · RTI
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a RTI (Right To Information) Lawyer
A good first meeting with an RTI lawyer tells you almost everything: whether they really do right to information work, whether they understand your problem, and whether their fee is fair. The wrong questions waste the meeting. This is a plain checklist of what to ask an RTI lawyer before you hire, from experience and strategy to fees, the correct forum, and realistic timelines.
- Experience: ask how many RTI first appeal and second appeal matters they have handled, and how recently.
- Forum: ask whether your second appeal goes to the CIC or the State Information Commission.
- Fees: ask for a written fee for this stage and what government fees are separate.
- Timeline: ask about appeal deadlines so you do not miss a window.
- Verify: ask for the Bar Council enrolment number under the Advocates Act, 1961.
- Outcome: a good lawyer improves your chances but never guarantees the information will be released.
01Before the meeting
Bring your papers. Have your original RTI application, the RTI reply you received (or proof that none came), and any first appeal you have already filed. A lawyer can only advise well on what they can see. If your matter is simple, remember that the right to information system is built for citizens, and you may not need to hire anyone at all.
Not legal advice
This is general guidance to help you interview a lawyer, not legal advice. The advocate you choose will advise you on your own facts.
02Questions about experience
- How many RTI matters have you handled, and how recently?
- Have you argued a second appeal before the Central Information Commission (CIC) or a State Information Commission?
- Have you dealt with the kind of public authority I am up against (for example, a municipal body, a police department, or a university)?
- Have you handled cases where a public authority wrongly claimed a Section 8 exemption?
You want someone who treats RTI as real work, not an occasional favour.
03Questions about strategy and forum
- Looking at my RTI reply, what is the strongest ground for a first appeal?
- Does my matter go to the CIC or to my State Information Commission?
- Should we push a penalty against the public information officer, or focus on getting the information?
- Is a High Court writ ever likely to be needed, or can this be resolved within the information commission?
A strong answer shows the lawyer understands the right to information process, not just the theory.
If a lawyer cannot tell you whether your second appeal goes to the CIC or the State Information Commission, they may not do much RTI work.
04Questions about fees
- What is your fee for this stage, in writing?
- What is covered: just the drafting, or also appearing at the information commission?
- What government fees are separate from your professional fee?
- If this goes to a second appeal or a writ, what will that cost?
There is no single government-fixed nationwide fee for an advocate, so the only honest answer is a clear range or number for your specific matter. RTI work is often modest compared with other litigation, but confirm it in writing.
05Questions about timeline and verification
- How long does a first appeal usually take, and how long before the information commission?
- What deadlines apply to me right now, so I do not miss an appeal window?
- May I have your Bar Council enrolment number?
For realistic numbers, see how long an RTI case takes in India. On verification, every practising advocate must be enrolled with a State Bar Council under the Advocates Act, 1961 (notably Section 22). Being listed on a website, being verified by a platform, and being entitled to practise are three different things, so confirm the enrolment number yourself. The same interview approach works across areas; for a different example, see questions to ask a defamation lawyer before hiring.
06How Claw helps you find the right lawyer
Claw is an all-in-one legaltech platform for Indian advocates, law firms, and corporate legal teams, combining AI-based case search, an AI legal assistant (Legal GPT), case management, and compliance automation across all Indian courts and tribunals.
That same verification and matching technology powers Claw Find a Lawyer, a separate service for members of the public. You describe your right to information problem in a short guided chat, and Claw connects you with a verified, independent advocate who handles RTI work, in your state or city where possible, for an online or in-person consultation where you can ask exactly these questions. Claw does not hire, employ or empanel lawyers and is not a law firm. The advocate is independent and practises on their own.
There are two ways to start: a free basic request, or a Rs 99 priority request for faster, prioritised matching. The advocate's professional fee is paid directly to the advocate. Claw is a technology platform that helps you find and reach the right lawyer; it does not share the advocate's fee, in line with Bar Council of India Rule 36, it is not your advocate, and it does not give legal advice. You can begin at Claw Find a Lawyer.
07Frequently asked questions
What is the most important question to ask an RTI lawyer?
Ask them to look at your RTI reply and tell you the strongest ground for appeal, and whether your matter goes to the CIC or the State Information Commission. Their answer shows at once whether they really do right to information work.
Should I ask an RTI lawyer to guarantee I get the information?
No, and be wary of anyone who offers a guarantee. A lawyer can improve your chances by framing the first appeal and second appeal well, but the information commission decides. Honesty about this is a good sign, not a weakness.
How do I confirm the lawyer is a real advocate?
Ask for the Bar Council enrolment number and confirm it with the State Bar Council. Every practising advocate must be enrolled under the Advocates Act, 1961. Being listed or even verified on a platform is not the same as being legally entitled to practise.
What should I bring to the first meeting?
Bring your RTI application, the RTI reply you received or proof that none arrived, and any first appeal already filed. This lets the lawyer advise accurately and quote a realistic fee.
How much should the consultation itself cost?
There is no fixed nationwide figure, but a first consultation is commonly a few hundred to a few thousand rupees depending on the city and the lawyer's seniority. Ask before you book so there is no surprise.