National Consultation on “Clinical Legal Education and Access to Justice in India: Strengthening Legal Aid Centres Through Community Engagement and Legal Reform”
The Consultation is being organized in collaboration with SWISSAID, co-funded by the European Union under the project ‘निर्धार समानतेचा ‘ – Project on Addressing Gender-based Violence and Discrimination, particularly Domestic Violence and Child Marriage in the Marathwada Region of Maharashtra.
ABOUT INDIAN LAW SOCIETY:
The Indian Law Society was established in the year 1923 with an aim of advancing legal education in pre-independent India. The year 2022 marked a significant milestone, commemorating the centenary of the Indian Law Society’s distinguished legacy in legal education. The Society emerged from the vision of eminent legal luminaries who recognized the critical importance of the rule of law in the upcoming independent and democratic framework of the country. They understood the pivotal role that law plays in sustaining a civil society and believed that the ultimate aim of education is the creation of a just and equitable social order that promotes enduring happiness.
In 1924, with this profound vision, the Indian Law Society formally established the Law College, Poona—now known as ILS Law College, Pune—with a focused agenda to provide socially relevant and professionally rigorous legal education grounded in scientific principles. This initiative, widely regarded as ‘Justice Education,’ was designed not only to impart comprehensive legal knowledge but also to inculcate a commitment to social justice and ethical practice among future legal professionals.
ABOUT ILS LAW COLLEGE, PUNE:
Established in 1924, ILS Law College is one of the oldest law schools in India and has been playing a pioneering role in legal education and scholarship in the country. 101 years since its establishment, the Law College has acquired the reputation of being a premier institution imparting quality legal education. The College is accredited with ‘A’ grade by NAAC and is persistently ranked amongst top 10 law schools in the country. Since its inception, ILS Law College has produced some of the most highly regarded contributors in the field of law. Three Chief Justices of the Supreme Court, Hon’ble Mr. Justice P. B. Gajendragadkar, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Y. V. Chandrachud, Hon’ble Mr. Justice E. S. Venkataramaiah, Former Governor of Maharashtra Mr. K. M. Reddy, Former Defence & Finance Minister and First Chief Minister of Maharashtra Mr. Y. B. Chavan, Former Minister of Commerce Mr. Mohan Dharia, Former Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Mr. Sushil Kumar Shinde and Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh, all are proud alumni of ILS Law College. With its illustrious history and heritage, the institution has contributed immensely to the growth of the legal profession and has upheld its tradition of producing meritorious legal scholars who dedicate themselves to public service and reform. The generations of distinguished legal luminaries who have been nurtured by this unique institution have made a seminal contribution globally to the evolution of the esteemed field of Law.
ABOUT ‘REMEMBERING S.P. SATHE’:
Professor Dr. Satyaranjan Purushottam Sathe was a distinguished legal luminary and a renowned academician in the judicial universe of India. He held various positions in Universities and Law Institutes of repute. Professor S.P. Sathe had a long association with the Indian Law Society. He was the Principal of ILS Law College from 1976 to 1991. He was also the Secretary of the Indian Law Society until 2002. He was the Founder Director of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. He was also the President of the Maharashtra People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), and a Vice President of the National PUCL.
Professor S. P. Sathe is an acknowledged authority on Constitutional and Administrative Law, within the country and abroad. He contributed extensively to the field of legal education. His work on ‘Judicial Activism’ is appreciated worldwide. More than 100 articles written by him were published in national and international legal periodicals, magazines, and journals. Books to his credit are, ‘Administrative Law’, ‘Judicial Activism in India: Transgressing Borders and Enforcing Limits’, and ‘Right to Know’. He has also written extensively in Marathi, and has made significant contributions to the Marathi Vishwakosh published by the Government of Maharashtra. He was invited to deliver lectures, and to participate in seminars as a resource person to different law Universities, institutions within and outside India. Known for his humility, Professor Sathe endeared himself to his colleagues and students alike. His commitment to Rights and Liberties of the people was deep and abiding.
Professor S. P. Sathe Foundation, set up by the Indian Law Society, organizes “Remembering S.P. Sathe” event annually consisting of Public Memorial Lecture, Moot Court Competition, and a Conference at ILS Law College, Pune on a specific theme with a view to commemorate his contribution to Indian Jurisprudence and Social Action and to encourage academic pursuit of law students. The academic year 2025-26 will see ILS holding the 20th edition of “Remembering S P Sathe” event on the theme of “Access to Justice and Legal Aid”
ABOUT ILS LEGAL AID CENTRE:
Established in 1976 by Professor Dr Satyaranjan Sathe, the ILS Legal Aid Centre has steadfastly fulfilled its mandate to integrate Clinical Legal Education with the provision of essential socio-legal services to marginalized and underprivileged communities. Over the course of five decades, the Centre has progressively expanded its scope and outreach, demonstrating unwavering commitment to advancing access to justice and legal empowerment.
The Centre maintains active collaborations with a broad array of stakeholders, including the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Pune Municipal Corporation, Deepgriha Society, Karve Institute of Social Services, local community leaders, educational institutions, and village panchayats etc.. Through these strategic alliances, the Centre effectively promotes legal literacy and facilitates community-level access to legal remedies.
The Legal Aid Centre was conceived with dual objectives: to provide free legal assistance to marginalized and economically disadvantaged sections of society, and to impart practical, community-centric legal training to law students through clinical legal education. This pioneering initiative was inspired by the landmark legal aid movement led by Justice Krishna Iyer, which revolutionized legal education by embedding social responsibility within the legal profession. The objectives of the Centre are realized through the systematic organization of a comprehensive range of initiatives. These encompass Legal Aid and Legal Literacy camps conducted across schools, colleges, and rural localities within the Pune district, operation of legal aid clinics, preparation and dissemination of accessible legal literacy materials, and the annual organization of legal aid fests. Additionally, the Centre actively participates in statutory forums such as Lok Adalats, and engages in specialized workshops, including the Regional Conference on Mediation and the Disability Assessment Workshop convened by the District Legal Services Authority.
Since its inception, the ILS Legal Aid Centre has achieved significant milestones, continuously enhancing the quality and breadth of its clinical legal education and community service programs. Its pioneering efforts have cemented its role as a leader in fostering legal awareness, social justice, and community engagement. The Centre has been honoured by the Knowledge Steez Legal Aid Award for its commitment towards strengthening the access to justice movement four times.
ABOUT NATIONAL CONSULTATION:
The constitutional guarantee of fundamental rights is rendered ineffective without meaningful access to legal aid. The right to legal aid is now firmly recognized as a fundamental right under Article 21, and is further reinforced by the Directive Principle of State Policy enshrined in Article 39A of the Indian Constitution. Notably, long before these constitutional provisions were codified, ILS Law College pioneered the cause by establishing its Legal Aid Centre in 1976 under the visionary leadership of Dr. S.P. Sathe.
For nearly five decades, the Legal Aid Centre at ILS has diligently upheld the principles and ethical mandates enshrined in the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, and the Advocates Act, 1961. Its multifaceted activities embody a steadfast commitment to the promotion of pro bono legal services and the advancement of access to justice for vulnerable populations. As we commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the Legal Aid Centre this year, ILS Law College reaffirms its unwavering commitment to socially relevant and community-responsive legal education.
In recent years, ILS Law College had the opportunity to advance the access to justice movement by supporting other law colleges and their legal aid centres in strengthening their capabilities and deepening their commitment to this cause. In collaboration with SWISSAID, the College implemented a project titled Nirdhar Samantecha, aimed at improving access to justice for women and children affected by gender-based discrimination and violence, with a particular focus on domestic violence and child marriage. In many remote areas of the country, such as the Marathwada region, victims of gender-based discrimination (GBD) and gender-based violence (GBV) rarely receive legal support grounded in a rights-based approach. To bridge this gap, the project trained a dedicated team of approximately 600 “Equality Ambassadors” consisting of law students and professors to provide legal assistance and advocate for gender justice within their communities.
Through this unique and collaborative initiative with partner law colleges in Marathwada, ILS Law College has laid the foundation for a legal aid movement rooted in partnership and community engagement. This project also serves as a heartfelt tribute to Professor Satyaranjan Sathe, the founder of the ILS Legal Aid Centre, on the occasion of the Centre’s golden jubilee.
Thus, to celebrate the golden jubilee of the ILS Legal Aid Centre and also achievements of this Project the 20th edition of Professor S. P. Sathe National Consultation is being organized on the theme of Legal Aid and Access to Justice and is titled as “Clinical Legal Education and Access to Justice in India: Strengthening Legal Aid Centres Through Community Engagement and Legal Reform” This national consultation aims to foster dialogue among stakeholders, disseminate knowledge, and formulate progressive reforms to fortify the role of legal aid in actualizing constitutional justice for all.
We invite the legal fraternity to attend this national consultation and participate in the discourse for shaping the future of legal aid and clinical legal education in India. We hereby extend our invitation for submitting research papers on any of the following themes and sub- themes. Below mentioned themes are not exhaustive and participants may choose any other topic relevant to the theme.
- Reimagining Legal Aid and Access to Justice
- Indigenous and Community-Centric Justice Models
- Transformative Justice and Intersectionality in Legal Aid
- Bridging the gap between government and legal aid centres in ensuring access to justice
- Legal Aid for Gig Workers, Climate Migrants, Disaster Victims, Refugees, Persons with Disabilities, Queer Communities, etc.
- Technology and Creative future pathways in Legal Aid
- AI, Chatbots, and Digital Tools for Legal Empowerment, Online Dispute Resolution
- Data Justice, Privacy, and Algorithmic Fairness in Access to Justice
- Art, Theatre, and Cinema as Tools of Legal Literacy
- Designing Future-Ready Legal Aid Centres: A Blueprint for 2030
- Comparative and Global Perspective
- Comparative Legal Aid Models from the Global South: Lessons for India
- Role of national organisations/policy schemes in advancing legal aid in law schools
- Role of SDG-16, international and regional organisations (UNDP, UNODC, SAARC, ASEAN) in advancing legal aid
- Making Legal Aid Sustainable
- Crowdfunding and community-supported justice initiatives
- Developing sustainable funding models for legal aid centres
- Clinical Legal Education
- Best practices in legal aid: past, present and future
- Role of various stakeholders in the education sector in strengthening legal education
- Reinventing clinical legal education through the lens of other professions
- Evaluating the status of clinical legal education in the law curriculum
Submission Guidelines:
- Abstract: 250- 300 words outlining research question, methodology, and relevance to session theme.
- Full Paper: 4,000- 6,000 words including references (Bluebook 21st edition citation format).
- Authorship: Up to two authors per paper.
- Format: Word document, Times New Roman, 12 pt, 1.5 spacing.
- Email for Submissions: [email protected]
Important Dates:
| Particulars | Date |
| Abstract Submission | 15/12/2025 |
| Notification of Acceptance | 21/12/2025 |
| Full Paper Submission | 05/01/2026 |
| Dates of Consultation (Offline only) | 10-11 January 2026 |
Registration is on first-come-first-served basis and it closes on 5 January 2026.
Eligibility:
Academics, legal aid professionals, law students, judicial officers, paralegal volunteers, researchers, NGOs, and policy practitioners engaged in access to justice work.
Publication Opportunity:
Abstracts selected by blind peer-review panel only will present papers at the consultation. Selected papers may be considered for publication in an edited volume on Access to Justice and Legal Aid Reform in India.
Fee Structure:
| Particulars | Amount (INR) (Excluding GST @18%) |
| ILS Students | |
| Without Paper Presentation | 500/- |
| With Paper Presentation | 1,000/- |
| Students other than ILS | |
| Without Paper Presentation | 1,200/- |
| With Paper Presentation | 1,800/- |
| Academicians/Professionals | |
| Without Paper Presentation | 2,000/- |
| With Paper Presentation | 3,000/- |
Contact:
Dr. Suvarna Nilakh | Dr. Varsha Khandagale | Ms. Divya Mittal
Faculty Coordinators
