About the Competition
The National Legal Aid Innovation Competition 2026 seeks to encourage law schools to develop innovative, research-driven, and implementable legal aid interventions addressing contemporary access-to-justice challenges.
The competition will be conducted in two stages:
Stage I – Proposal Submission
Teams will submit a concept note identifying an access-to-justice gap, along with a 2-minute video presentation outlining their proposed intervention.
Stage II – Report Submission & Presentation
Shortlisted teams will prepare a comprehensive empirical research report and present their findings before an Expert Evaluation Panel during the Stakeholders’ Summit.
In addition to the competition, the summit will bring together students, academicians, legal practitioners, policymakers, and civil society organizations through capacity-building workshops, panel discussions, presentations by shortlisted teams, networking sessions, and the valedictory and award ceremony.
Themes
- Criminal Justice
- Juvenile Justice
- Gender-Inclusive Legal Aid
- Data Governance
- Bridging the Digital Divide to Ensure Access to Justice
Eligibility
One team comprising 3–5 undergraduate law students from each UGC- and BCI-recognized law school may participate. Teams must register through the institution’s Legal Aid Clinic and be accompanied by one faculty coordinator.
How to Register?
Interested teams can register through the official registration form provided at the end of this post. The registration fee can be paid through the official Payment Portal provided at the end of this post.
Fee Structure
- Competition Registration: ₹1,500 per team
- Stage II (Shortlisted Teams): ₹4,500 per team (inclusive of accommodation, boarding, food and internal travel)
- Faculty Coordinator Registration: ₹2,500
Awards & Opportunities
- First Prize: ₹30,000
- Second Prize: ₹20,000
- Third Prize: ₹15,000
- Internship opportunities
- Expert mentorship
- Publication of outstanding work
- Participation in a national dialogue on legal aid
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Last Date for Registration | August 20, 2026 |
| Stakeholders’ Summit | October 9–11, 2026 |
Contact Details
- Contact No.: +91-9619048491 / +91-7014425032 / +91-7042668604
- Email: laac@nlujodhpur.ac.in
Click here to register!
Click here to visit the payment portal!
Click here to view the rules and guidelines!
