About the Access to Justice Project:
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 enhance the capacity of legal professionals. The project will be implemented from 2026 to 2028 through two programmes: the Fair Trial Programme in Kolhapur and the Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Programme in Pune.
About Continuing Legal Education Programme:
India does not yet have a structured system of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) for lawyers. As a result, many young lawyers, especially those practising in district and subordinate courts in semi-urban / rural / remote areas, begin their careers without enough training in court procedures and advocacy skills. This affects the quality of legal representation, thus impacting the overall access to justice, particularly for people from vulnerable and marginalised communities.
The Continuing Legal Education 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. It also aims to build a network of trained and socially conscious legal professionals who are equipped to provide timely and effective legal assistance to vulnerable and marginalised communities.
Objectives:
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Strengthen the professional knowledge and practical skills of young lawyers through structured continuing legal education.
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Improve the quality of legal representation by enhancing advocacy, procedural, and professional competencies.
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Promote access to justice by developing a competent, ethical, and socially responsible legal profession.
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Programme Details:
Duration
6 months
Eligibility
Law Graduate Actively practicing / intending to practice before courts/tribunals in Maharashtra (Preferably first generation lawyers from Semi-Urban and Rural areas of Maharashtra)
No. of Seats
30 (on first come first serve basis and subject to fulfilment of eligibility criteria)
Mode
Offline (In-person) sessions at ILS Law College, Pune + Online sessions conducted throughout six months
Language of Instruction
Bilingual — Marathi & English
Teaching Method
Practical, Interactive & Experiential Learning
Resource Persons
Former judges, renowned practicing lawyers, expert academicians and social activists
Fees
The program is completely free of cost. Food & accommodation for the participants during offline sessions will be provided by the organisers Travelling expenses to be borne by the Participants.
Certification
Certificate will be provided only upon successful completion of programme
Attendance
Regular attendance for all sessions is mandatory (Up to 20% 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.
How to Apply: Interested applicants are requested to fill the registration form available at the link given below:
Click Here for the Registration Form
Last Date of Registration: 15th August 2026
Project Director: Dr. Deepa Paturkar (Professor & Additional Charge — Principal, ILS Law College, Pune)
Programme Head: Dr. Varsha Khandagale (Assistant Professor)
Contact Details:
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Programme Manager: Ms. Hrucha Dhamdhere (+91) 8087446542
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Assistant Programme Manager: Mr. Rohan Ranjane(+91) 7057611554
Email id: projectcle.atj@ilslaw.in
Click Here for the Brochure.
