Each applicant for the Fellowship was required to submit an application form along with essays setting out their interest in a career in litigation, and their need for the fellowship.
This year, we received an overwhelming 430 applications for the 7 Fellowship positions.
We received applications from candidates across the country with over half the candidates being from the North Zone, nearly a quarter of the candidates from the South Zone, and the remaining from the West, East, Central and North-East Zones.
Over 60% of the applications we received were from candidates who had already graduated, reflecting the challenges faced by first-generation female litigators in pursuing a career in litigation.
The overwhelming majority of the applicants displayed a strong need for the fellowship and articulated the various entry barriers they face in pursuing a career in litigation. The sheer breadth and diversity of applications received show the consistent lack of support first-generation women face in pursuing a career in litigation in India and reinforces the aim of the Indian Litigation Fellowship.
The first round of selection was carried out with the help of a Review Committee - comprised entirely of lawyers who volunteered their time and effort to review the applications in detail. The Review Committee evaluated each applicant on the basis of their eligibility for the Fellowship, their demonstrable interest in a career in litigation, their need for the Fellowship, and the clarity of their career goals. The Review Committee strongly recommended 72 applicants for the 7 Fellowship positions.
The 72 recommended applicants were then put through a second round of selection, after which 20 applicants were short-listed for interviews before the final selection.
Indian Litigation Fellows, 2025-26
Open Litigation Fellows, 2025-26
Satara, Maharashtra
Maharashtra National Law University
Ankita's interest in criminal law has been inspired by her mother - a police head constable, who she used to accompany to the police station as a child. Ankita intends to commence her independent practice in criminal law in her hometown Satara and is keen on working towards providing people from underrepresented areas with knowledge of and access to the law.
Kailmpong, West Bengal
University of North Bengal, Department of Law
Erusha comes from a small town nestled in the Himalayan foothills and is presently practising litigation in Siliguri. Erusha is interested in civil litigation, primarily involving matters before the Debt Recovery Tribunal. She is drawn to this practice since it involves balancing the interests of financial institutions against the protection of individuals' personal homes and residences.
Hosur, Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu National Law University
Mahalakshmi has a keen interest in litigation that she has pursued relentlessly through the years, undertaking numerous internships. Mahalakshmi intends to commence her litigation practice before the High Court of Karnataka in a broad array of civil litigation matters. She is also deeply committed to social justice and intends to take up pro bono matters as part of her professional journey.
Government Law College, Mumbai
Tamil Nadu National Law University
Saniya's interest in litigation began with a desire to advocate for social justice and empower marginalized communities. Saniya intends to commence her litigation career in Mumbai by practicing social interest and welfare litigation.
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu National Law University
Swetha has been practicing in Delhi since her graduation in Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, and Human Rights litigation, with a particular focus on prisoners' rights. Swetha has also been taking up a significant number of pro bono cases that seek to address the gaps in access to justice for the marginalised. In addition to her litigation practice, Swetha also engaged in legal research and writing, exploring the complex, multi-layered vulnerabilities experienced by incarcerated individuals, with a view towards identifying systemic gaps and proposing rights-based interventions that can meaningfully alleviate their suffering.
Lawyer in Residence Fellows, 2025-26
Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh
Symbiosis Law School
Anushka has consistently been an academically motivated student and has a keen interest in constitutional, consumer, and civil law. Anushka has been selected for the Lawyer-in-Residence Fellowship with Pravah Law (Litigation chamber of Mr. Shrutanjaya Bhardwaj)
Wardha, Maharashtra
Government Law College, Mumbai
Mayuri has overcome social and economic barriers to pursue her education in law and is determined to advocate for marginalized communities and work towards a more just society through her litigation career. Mayuri has been selected for the Lawyer-in-Residence Fellowship with E-23 Chambers (Litigation chamber of Ms. Mansi Sood and Mr. Vinayak Mehrotra)
