Justice J.S. Verma Fellowships 2026 – Supreme Court Lawyers Welfare Trust
The Supreme Court Lawyers Welfare Trust (SCLWT) invites applications for the Justice J.S. Verma Fellowships 2026, offering two fellowships to young advocates interested in building their litigation practice at the Supreme Court of India.
The fellowship is designed to recognise and support young talent in Supreme Court litigation by providing financial assistance and access to legal research resources.
About Supreme Court Lawyers Welfare Trust (SCLWT)
The Supreme Court Lawyers Welfare Trust was established in 2008 with a substantial corpus contributed by a practising Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court.
The Trust aims to support and promote professional opportunities and welfare programmes for lawyers practising before the Supreme Court of India.
About the Fellowship
To recognise and promote young talent in the field of litigation at the Supreme Court, SCLWT has instituted two fellowships known as the Justice J.S. Verma Fellowships.
The fellowship aims to support young advocates committed to developing their litigation practice at the Supreme Court of India.
Fellowship Details:
Name: Justice J.S. Verma Fellowships 2026
Number of Fellowships: 2
Duration: 2 years
Practice Area: Supreme Court Litigation
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must satisfy the following eligibility requirements:
Must be enrolled as an Advocate with any State Bar Council in India.
Preference will be given to candidates having a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 5 years of litigation practice before any court in India.
Non-litigation practice with law firms or individuals, judicial clerkships and teaching assignments will not be counted towards the required litigation experience.
Candidates having 2–5 years of litigation practice along with additional work experience in other fields, non-litigation legal roles or international organisations are also eligible, provided they demonstrate a willingness to commit to practice at the Supreme Court of India.
Applicants must be prepared to commit to a minimum of 2 years of practice at the Supreme Court of India for the fellowship to continue.
Fellowship Benefits
Each selected Fellow will receive the following benefits:
1. Monthly Stipend
A monthly stipend of ₹30,000 for a period of 2 years during their practice at the Supreme Court.
2. SCC Online Subscription
A one-time SCC Online subscription registered in the selected candidate's name.
3. Jurisphere Subscription
A single-user Jurisphere subscription registered in the candidate's name and linked to their email address.
Application Requirements
Interested candidates must submit the following documents:
Latest CV: A copy of the applicant's updated curriculum vitae.
Essay (1,000 words): An essay on a case of interest to the candidate, in which they have been involved or which they have been following.
Statement of Purpose (300 words): An explanation of why the applicant deserves the fellowship. Applicants may highlight their socio-economic background and personal circumstances in support of their candidature.
Last Date to Apply
15 November 2026
The deadline is final. Applications submitted after the deadline or applications that are incomplete will not be considered.
Selection Process
The selection process will consist of the following stages:
A panel of Trustees will shortlist 15 candidates for the final interview round.
Final interviews will be conducted by the Chairperson of the Trust along with other Trustees.
Interviews are expected to take place in December 2026 or January 2027.
Two candidates will be selected for the Justice J.S. Verma Fellowships.
The fellowship will be effective for two years from the date of award.
All shortlisted candidates will be informed via email.
Application Procedure
Interested and eligible candidates must email their complete applications along with all the required documents to the Supreme Court Lawyers Welfare Trust.
Application Email: scwelfaretrust@gmail.com
Applicants should ensure that the CV, 1,000-word case essay and 300-word Statement of Purpose are included in the application.
Application Deadline: 15 November 2026