Kerala Law Academy Law College today inaugurated the CLEA-MILAT Research Mentoring Programme (RMP) 2026, a collaborative academic initiative jointly organised by the Kerala Law Academy, the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA), and the Menon Institute of Legal Advocacy & Training (MILAT). The programme seeks to build a robust ecosystem of legal research through structured mentoring, advanced methodological training, and publication-oriented academic engagement.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by Hon’ble Mr. Justice N. Kotiswar Singh, Judge, Supreme Court of India, as the Chief Guest, while Hon’ble Mr. Justice C. S. Dias, Judge, High Court of Kerala, attended as the Guest of Honour. The programme welcome address was delivered by Prof. (Dr.) N. K. Jayakumar, former Vice-Chancellor of the National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS) , Kochi. The event marks the commencement of a three-day residential academic training designed to equip legal scholars with contemporary research skills and sustained mentorship.
In a press statement issued by Adv Nagaraj Narayanan, Director, Kerala Law Academy Law College, the institution stated that the programme represents a significant milestone in promoting excellence in legal research and academic collaboration. Prof. Anil Kumar K, Director of Administration, Students and Faculty Affairs, Kerala Law Academy Law College, noted that the programme has been conceived to foster research-oriented legal education by bringing together eminent judges, senior academicians, researchers, and young legal scholars on a common academic platform.
The CLEA-MILAT Research Mentoring Programme has been conceptualised under the academic leadership of Prof. (Dr.) S. Sivakumar, President and Trustee of the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA). Widely recognised for his longstanding contributions to legal education, research methodology, and institutional capacity building, Prof. Sivakumar has envisioned the programme as a structured mentorship initiative that moves beyond conventional workshops to create a sustained ecosystem for legal scholarship. The programme reflects his commitment to nurturing a new generation of legal researchers capable of producing rigorous, policy-oriented, and publication-ready research of international standards.
The organisers explained that, unlike conventional workshops, the programme follows a comprehensive mentoring model extending beyond classroom lectures. Participants will receive guidance in developing research proposals, undertaking doctrinal and empirical legal research, conducting literature reviews, applying modern research technologies including artificial intelligence and data analytics, maintaining academic integrity, and producing publication-ready manuscripts. The initiative also seeks to strengthen institutional research culture by fostering collaboration among faculty members, researchers, policymakers, legal practitioners, and the judiciary.
The residential programme, scheduled from 25 to 27 July 2026 at the Centre for Advanced Legal Studies and Research (CALSAR), Kerala Law Academy, features an intensive academic schedule covering a wide spectrum of research-related themes. Sessions include research proposal formulation, funding opportunities, data and text mining tools, artificial intelligence in research, legal research methodologies, policy research, multidisciplinary legal studies, review of literature, academic writing, research ethics, publication processes, comparative law, empirical research methods, citation and footnoting standards, and mentor- mentee interactions.
The programme brings together an eminent panel of nationally and internationally recognised resource persons, including Prof. (Dr.) S. Sivakumar, President of CLEA; Prof. (Dr.) A. Lakshminath, former Vice-Chancellor of Chanakya National Law University; Prof. (Dr.) B. C. Nirmal, former Vice-Chancellor of NUSRL Ranchi; Dr. Gulshan Rai, former National Cyber Security Coordinator and former Director General of CERT-In; Prof. (Dr.) K. C. Sunny, former Vice-Chancellor of NUALS; Prof. (Dr.) Gigimon V. S., Director, Amity Law School, Mumbai; and several other distinguished scholars and experts representing diverse fields of legal research and public policy.
According to the organisers, the broader objective of the initiative is to nurture a new generation of legal researchers capable of producing high-quality, policy-relevant, and internationally competitive scholarship. By integrating doctrinal, empirical, technological, and interdisciplinary approaches to legal research, the programme aspires to contribute meaningfully to strengthening research capacity within Indian legal institutions while encouraging innovation, academic integrity, and global engagement.
The programme will conclude with a Valedictory Ceremony on 27 July 2026, to be addressed by Hon’ble Mr. Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz, Judge, Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, underscoring the programme’s international academic outlook and commitment to fostering cross-border collaboration in legal education and research.
