Organized by NLU Jodhpur
The National Legal Aid Innovation Competition 2026, organised by National Law University, Jodhpur, aims to encourage law schools to develop innovative, research-driven, and implementable legal aid interventions addressing contemporary access-to-justice challenges.
The competition forms part of a broader Stakeholders’ Summit, bringing together students, academicians, legal practitioners, policymakers, and civil society organisations.
Teams must submit:
A concept note identifying an access-to-justice gap
A 2-minute video presentation explaining the proposed legal aid intervention
Shortlisted teams will:
Prepare a comprehensive empirical research report
Present their findings before an Expert Evaluation Panel
Participate in the Stakeholders’ Summit
The summit will also feature capacity-building workshops, panel discussions, presentations, networking sessions, and the valedictory and award ceremony.
Participants may develop interventions around:
Criminal Justice
Juvenile Justice
Gender-Inclusive Legal Aid
Data Governance
Bridging the Digital Divide to Ensure Access to Justice
One team of 3–5 undergraduate law students
Participants must belong to a UGC- and BCI-recognised law school
Each team must register through its institution's Legal Aid Clinic
Teams must be accompanied by one faculty coordinator
₹65,000
PositionPrize🥇 First Prize₹30,000🥈 Second Prize₹20,000🥉 Third Prize₹15,000
Shortlisted and participating teams may also receive:
Internship opportunities
Expert mentorship
Opportunity for publication of outstanding work
Participation in a national dialogue on legal aid
Exposure to legal aid practitioners, policymakers and civil society organisations
CategoryFeeCompetition Registration₹1,500 per teamStage II – Shortlisted Teams₹4,500 per teamFaculty Coordinator₹2,500
The Stage II fee of ₹4,500 per team includes accommodation, boarding, food, and internal travel.
Registration Deadline - 20 August 2026
Stakeholders’ Summit - 9–11 October 2026
Stage I: Online submission
Stage II: Presentation at the Stakeholders’ Summit
3 days for the Stakeholders’ Summit, from 9–11 October 2026.
Interested teams must register through the official registration form and complete the prescribed payment through the official payment portal.
📞 +91-9619048491 / +91-7014425032 / +91-7042668604
📧 laac@nlujodhpur.ac.in
For all the additional details and rules -https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1yYXPnYBsmw95jQRwuHVAhAMU2okXy6bE
National Legal Aid Innovation Competition 2026
NLU Jodhpur
