Free Continuous Legal Education (CLE) Programme for Young Lawyers in Maharashtra at ILS Law College, Pune (6 Months, 30 Seats)

The Indian Law Society, in collaboration with the Azim Premji Foundation, is implementing the Access to Justice Project to strengthen access to justice for marginalised and vulnerable communities and to enhance the capacity of legal professionals. The project runs from 2026 to 2028 through two programmes: the Fair Trial Programme in Kolhapur and the Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Programme in Pune.

ILS Law College, Pune was founded in 1924 by the Indian Law Society and is one of India's oldest law schools. This CLE Programme is the Pune arm of the Access to Justice Project and is hosted on the ILS campus.

India does not yet have a structured system of Continuing Legal Education for lawyers. As a result, many young lawyers, especially those practising in district and subordinate courts in semi-urban, rural and remote areas, begin their careers without enough training in court procedures and advocacy skills. This affects the quality of legal representation and, in turn, access to justice for people from vulnerable and marginalised communities.

The Continuing Legal Education Programme for Young Lawyers in Maharashtra is designed to support young lawyers practising in semi-urban, rural and remote areas by strengthening their professional knowledge, practical skills and commitment to ethical practice and social justice. Through a combination of in-person and online sessions focused on practice-oriented learning, the programme aims to equip participants with the skills and confidence needed to provide effective legal representation.

By enhancing the professional competence of young lawyers, the programme seeks to improve the quality of legal services at the district and taluka levels, and to build a network of trained and socially conscious legal professionals equipped to provide timely and effective legal assistance to vulnerable and marginalised communities.

• Strengthen the professional knowledge and practical skills of young lawyers through structured continuing legal education.
• Improve the quality of legal representation by enhancing advocacy, procedural and professional competencies.
• Promote access to justice by developing a competent, ethical and socially responsible legal profession.

• Eligibility: Law graduates actively practising, or intending to practise, before courts or tribunals in Maharashtra.
• Preference: First generation lawyers from semi-urban and rural areas of Maharashtra are preferred.
• Number of seats: 30, allotted on a first-come-first-served basis and subject to fulfilment of the eligibility criteria.

• Duration: 6 months.
• Mode: 12 offline (in-person) sessions at ILS Law College, Pune, along with online sessions conducted periodically.
• Language of instruction: Bilingual, in Marathi and English.
• Teaching method: Practical, interactive and experiential learning.
• Resource persons: Former judges, renowned practising lawyers, expert academicians and social activists.

The programme is completely free of cost. Food and accommodation for participants during the offline sessions will be provided by the organisers. Travelling expenses are to be borne by the participants.

• Certification: A certificate will be provided only on successful completion of the programme.
• Attendance: Regular attendance at all sessions is mandatory. Up to 20 per cent relaxation may be granted in exceptional circumstances.
• Assignments: Timely submission of all assignments and satisfactory performance in them is required for successful completion of the programme.

Interested applicants must fill in the online registration form linked from the ILS announcement page. Because the 30 seats are allotted on a first-come-first-served basis subject to eligibility, applicants are advised to register well before the closing date.

The last date of registration is 15 August 2026.

The programme is directed by Dr. Deepa Paturkar, Professor and Additional Charge Principal at ILS Law College, Pune, with Dr. Varsha Khandagale, Assistant Professor, as Programme Head. Queries on eligibility, sessions or registration may be sent to the programme email or raised with the programme managers listed below.