Gujarat National Law University is organising the 1st GNLU LSC National Essay Competition 2026 on the theme “Legal Aid and Access to Justice”.

Eligibility

• Open to all Undergraduate (UG) students across India
• Co-authorship is permitted for a maximum of two authors

Competition details

• Theme: Legal Aid and Access to Justice
• Sub-themes include Constitutional Foundations of Legal Aid in India, Legal Aid as a Fundamental Component of the Right to Access Justice, Role of NALSA, Legal Aid for Marginalised and Vulnerable Communities, Access to Justice and Socio-Economic Inequality, Legal Aid and the Criminal Justice System, Women’s Access to Justice, Child Rights, Legal Aid Clinics, Technology and the Future of Legal Aid, and Digital Divide as a Barrier to Access to Justice
• Word Limit: 1300–1500 words
• Submission must be original and unpublished
• Plagiarism similarity must not exceed 10%
• Submission Format: Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx)
• Font: Times New Roman, 12-point
• Line Spacing: 1.5
• Alignment: Justified
• Margins: 1 inch on all sides
• Hyperlinks are mandatory for all citations and sources relied upon
• Relevant authorities, cases, statutes, articles, reports and other sources must be appropriately hyperlinked within the text
• The essay should demonstrate a clear argument, critical analysis, logical structure and engagement with relevant legal and contemporary developments
• The manuscript must not contain the author’s name, institutional affiliation, contact details or any other information revealing the identity of the author
• Participants must ensure that submissions do not infringe any copyright, intellectual property or third-party rights

Event details

• Organiser: Gujarat National Law University (GNLU)
• Competition: 1st GNLU LSC National Essay Competition 2026
• Single-author Registration Fee: ₹200
• Co-authored Registration Fee: ₹300
• 1st Position: ₹8,000
• 2nd Position: ₹5,000
• 3rd Position: ₹3,000
• Last Date for Registration & Payment: 25 September 2026
• Last Date for Submission: 25 September 2026
• Declaration of Results: 9 November 2026, on National Legal Services Day

How to apply

Interested candidates may register and submit their essays by clicking here.

Click here to pay.

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