Client Connect: National Client Counselling Competition at JUSTITIA 2026, GIBS Delhi [9 October 2026; Prizes Worth Rs 26,000]

Client Connect is the national client counselling competition of JUSTITIA 2026, the 6th Annual Lex Fiesta of the Centre for Legal Studies (CLS), Gitarattan International Business School (GIBS), Delhi. It is organised by Courtroom, the Law Society of CLS, and takes place on 9 October 2026 at the GIBS campus in Rohini.

The competition simulates a law office consultation. A team of two counsel interviews a client, identifies the problem, explores the client's preferred outcome and advises on how to resolve it, before a panel of judges.

GIBS, established in 2004, is affiliated to Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) and approved by AICTE and the Bar Council of India. Its Centre for Legal Studies, set up in 2016, offers the 5-year BA LL.B. (Hons.) and BBA LL.B. (Hons.), the 3-year LL.B. and the LL.M.

• Students of a full-time 3-year or 5-year LL.B. programme at a university or institution recognised by the Bar Council of India.
• Teams of two from the same college.
• One team per college, with an authorisation letter from the college. If two teams from one institution apply, the first registered team is selected.
• A maximum of 22 teams, accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

The areas of law include Competition Law, Contract Law, Maritime Law, Company Law and POSH. The specific area is revealed by email two weeks before the competition, and the problems themselves are given on the spot.

• Preliminary round: all teams; 15 minutes of client consultation and 10 minutes of judges' questions.
• Quarter-finals: top 8 teams; 12 minutes of consultation and 8 minutes of questions.
• Semi-finals: top 4 teams; 20 minutes of consultation and 10 minutes of questions.
• Final: top 2 teams; 25 minutes of consultation and 15 minutes of questions.

Teams may use books, notes and other materials during consultation. The competition is in English.

• Establishing an effective professional relationship: 5 marks
• Obtaining information: 10 marks
• Legal analysis and giving advice: 15 marks
• Effectively concluding the interview: 5 marks
• Teamwork: 5 marks
• Client interaction and participation: 5 marks
• Post-interview reflection: 5 marks

The fee is Rs 1,800 per team and is non-refundable.

1. Register and pay through the JUSTITIA 2026 registration link, choosing Client Connect.
2. Email the payment screenshot, the completed registration and payment form, and the authorisation letter from your college to clientcounselling@gitarattan.edu.in.
3. The organisers confirm participation by email after checking the documents.

Participants wear black trousers and a white shirt; women may wear a white kurti with a black salwar. Advocates' gowns and bands are not allowed. Teams are identified by a team code, and revealing the college's name to the judges leads to disqualification.