SBI SO Law Officer Exam Pattern 2026: A Comprehensive Guide!

Overview: The SBI SO law officer vacancies for the financial year 2027-28 were announced this month. If you wish to make the best of this opportunity, it's important you understand the SBI SO Law Officer exam pattern 2026 completely.  

• The SBI SO/SCO selection process includes a written test, objective test followed by an interview for the qualifying candidates.  
• The online written test and the interview carry 100 marks each.  

Here, we discuss the SBI SO law officer exam pattern in detail!  

Looking for more details on the exam? Check out SBI SO Law Officer Recruitment page! 

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SBI SO Law Officer Exam Pattern 2026: Detailed Overview 

The SBI SO law officer exam pattern this year, includes two stages: an Online Written Test followed by an Interview.  

Particulars	Details
Advertisement No.	CRPD/SCO/2026-27/02
Posts	Assistant Manager (Law) & Deputy Manager (Law)
Total Vacancies	49
Exam Mode	Online (computer-based)
Selection Stages	Online Written Test → Interview
Online Written Test	Objective Test (50 marks) + Descriptive Test (50 marks) = 100 marks
Interview	100 marks
Negative Marking	None
Final Merit List	70% Written Test + 30% Interview
Tentative Exam Date	August 2026

• The written test carries 100 marks (Objective 50 + Descriptive 50).  
• Within the Objective Test, Reasoning and English are qualifying only. Just the Professional Knowledge paper counts toward merit.  
• There is no negative marking, so attempt every question.  
• The interview carries 100 marks, and the final merit list combines the two in a 70:30 ratio.  

Before you start preparing, make sure you check the SBI SO law officer eligibility >> 

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What is the Selection Process for SBI SO Law Officer 2026?  

The recruitment for Assistant Manager (Law) and Deputy Manager (Law) is decided in two stages:  

• Online Written Test: It’s the first stage, conducted online. It has an Objective Type Test, and a Descriptive Type Test. Candidates must qualify in both tests individually. This is the gateway to the interview. 
• Interview: Candidates shortlisted on the basis of their written-test performance are called for a personal interview carrying 100 marks. This stage assesses legal understanding, communication, and overall suitability for a Law Officer role at SBI. 
• Admit Cards / Call Letters: SBI issues call letters before each stage. They are uploaded on the bank's official website, and candidates are also notified by SMS and email about their exam schedule and venue.  

For the complete stage-wise breakdown, see the SBI SCO Law Officer exam selection process 2026.  

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SBI SO Law Officer Exam Pattern 2026: Online Written Test 

The Online Written Examination consists of an Objective Type Test and a Descriptive Type Test, together carrying 100 marks. Candidates must clear the minimum qualifying marks in each test separately.  

Objective Test   

The Objective Test has two components: General Aptitude (qualifying) and Professional Knowledge (merit-counting).  

Section	Type	Questions	Marks
Reasoning	Qualifying	25	25
English Language	Qualifying	25	25
Professional Knowledge	Merit	50	50

Note: Only the Professional Knowledge paper marks are counted toward the final merit. Reasoning and English are qualifying in nature. You must clear the minimum cut-off, but the marks are not added to your merit score.  

Descriptive Test 

The Descriptive Test evaluates your legal drafting and analytical writing skills.  

• Format: Answer any 5 out of 8 questions 
• Total Marks: 50 
• Nature: Merit-counting  

Descriptive marks count toward your final score, so this test is just as important as the Professional Knowledge paper. Practise structured legal answers within a time limit.  

Is there negative marking in the SBI SCO Law Officer exam?  

No. There is no negative marking in the Online Written Examination, for either the Objective or the Descriptive test. Since wrong answers cost nothing, attempt every question.    

Except for the English Language section, the objective test is available in both Hindi and English, ensuring fairness and accessibility for all candidates.     

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Section-wise Breakdown for the SBI SO Online Written Test   

Here's a section-wise breakdown so you can prepare for the SBI SO law exam strategically.  

Reasoning (Qualifying)   

The Reasoning section tests logical and analytical ability. Focus areas include puzzles, syllogisms, seating arrangement, coding-decoding, and logical reasoning.  

Because it is qualifying, aim to comfortably clear the cut-off without over-investing time you could spend on merit sections.  

English Language (Qualifying)  

This section checks language proficiency through reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, error spotting, and sentence rearrangement. Steady daily reading and grammar revision are usually enough to clear the qualifying bar.  

Professional Knowledge (Merit) 

This is the most important objective paper because its marks directly determine your merit rank. The indicative syllabus covers Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Financial Sector Laws, Procedural Laws, the New Labour Codes, and Principles of Statutory Interpretation and Legal Drafting.  

The syllabus is indicative only, expect current legal developments relevant to the banking sector too.   

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What is the Qualifying Criteria for SBI SO Law Officer Exam?  

Understanding what counts and what only qualifies is important to prepare a smart exam strategy. Here are the details for SBI SO/SCO exam 2026:  

• Qualifying Papers: In the Objective Test, Reasoning and English are qualifying in nature. You must score the minimum marks set by the bank, but these marks are not added to merit. 
• Merit papers: Only the Professional Knowledge paper (Objective) and the Descriptive Test contribute to your written-test score. 
• Minimum Qualifying Marks: Set by the bank for each qualifying paper; candidates must meet or exceed them to stay in contention. 
• Cut-off Marks: The bank sets the cut-offs used to shortlist candidates for the interview.    

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SBI SO Law Officer Exam Pattern: Interview Stage 

The interview is the second and final assessment stage.  

• Shortlisting: The bank decides how many candidates are called for the interview, based on written-test performance and cut-offs. 
• Interview Marks: The interview carries 100 marks. 
• Assessment Focus: Beyond legal knowledge, the panel evaluates personality, practical understanding of law, communication skills, and suitability for a Law Officer role. 
• Preparation: Be ready to demonstrate legal expertise, problem-solving, and ethical reasoning. Familiarity with banking laws, current legal developments, and SBI's role helps. 

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How is the SBI SO Law Officer 2026 Merit List Prepared?  

Here's how selection works:  

• Written + Interview Combined: The written test contributes 70% and the interview 30% to the final normalised score. 
• What Counts in the Written Test: Only Professional Knowledge (Objective) and the Descriptive Test marks feed into the written-test score, reasoning and English simply need to be cleared. 
• Merit-Based Selection: Candidates are selected from the top of the category-wise merit list, ensuring a fair and competitive process. 
• Overall Performance Matters: A strong Professional Knowledge score, solid descriptive answers, and a confident interview together secure a high rank.  

Check the pay you're working toward on the SBI SCO Law Officer Salary 2026 page.  

Before you go,  

Here are the key takeaways:  

• There are two selection stages: Online Written Test followed by an Interview  
• Written test is of 100 marks: Objective Test (50) + Descriptive Test (50); qualify both individually  
• Here's what the objective test split looks like: Reasoning (25 Q, qualifying), English (35 Q, qualifying), Professional Knowledge (50 Q, merit)  
• In the descriptive test, you need to answer 5 of 8 questions for 50 marks; counts toward merit  
• There is no negative marking, you can attempt every question  
• The interview carries 100 marks  
• The final merit list weightage is: 70% written + 30% interview  
• All sections except English are available in Hindi and English