Child Rights and Access to Justice Fellowship 2025–28, India

If you are a litigating lawyer passionate about defending vulnerable children and want to make a real difference in India’s juvenile justice system, the Child Rights and Access to Justice Fellowship 2025-28 by Enfold Proactive Health Trust offers a meaningful, hands-on opportunity. Spartan but richly supportive, this fellowship offers training, mentorship, legal practice, and networking designed to bolster child rights litigation. Here’s everything you must know: what it offers, who’s eligible, how to apply, and tips for increasing your chances.

Fellowship Overview

• Name: Child Rights and Access to Justice Fellowship 2025-28

• Organizer / Sponsor: Enfold Proactive Health Trust

• Duration: 30 months (i.e. 2.5 years)

• Locations: The fellowship will be implemented in Bhopal, Indore, Kalaburagi, Nainital (Haldwani), and Yadgir districts in India.

• Focus Area / Field: Law, child rights, juvenile justice. The work is about legal aid to children in conflict with the law, improving juvenile justice boards and courts, advocacy, and systemic change.

Fellowship Benefits

Being selected as a fellow brings several tangible and professional benefits:

• Monthly Grant/Stipend: ₹ 25,000 per month.

• Mentorship & Guidance: Fellows get support from senior child‐rights lawyers and mentors to build case strategy and legal skills.

• Training & Peer Learning: Opportunities like webinars, workshops, peer exchanges on legal developments.

• Networking & Litigation Exposure: Ability to litigate where needed (including High Courts), collaborate with civil society in rehabilitation support, and co-create a national child rights litigation network.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this fellowship, you must satisfy these requirements:

• You should be a practicing litigator (lawyer) with 2-3 years of litigation experience, especially with experience in social causes.

• Be self-motivated and passionate about child rights.

• Be based in one of the specified districts where the fellowship is operating.

• You must be able to dedicate the full 30 months to the fellowship program.

• There is a preference / positive consideration for applicants from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), persons with disabilities, and gender minorities.

Roles & Responsibilities

As a Legal Fellow under this program, you will be expected to:

• Provide legal aid and assistance to children in conflict with the law in your district.

• Advocate for child-centric approaches at Juvenile Justice Boards and Children’s Courts.

• Litigate in High Courts where required.

• Collaborate with local civil society organizations for rehabilitative support for children you represent.

• Work closely with a mentor to devise case strategies, improve legal skills, and enhance your knowledge in child rights litigation

• Participate in regular learning sessions, peer exchanges, webinars, workshops.

• Provide periodic reports about your fellowship work.

🗓 Key Details & Deadlines

Why Apply / Why It’s Important

• This fellowship offers an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to issues affecting children in conflict with law—a vulnerable and often underserved population.

• It combines practical litigation with systemic reform. You’re not only defending individual cases but helping build legal capacity and standards in juvenile justice.

• The mentorship, peer network, and training components will strengthen your legal skills, credibility, and experience.

• Being based in specific districts means you can work locally and see real impact in communities.

Application Tips & Best Practices

To increase your chances of being selected:

1. Highlight relevant experience: Legal cases, pro bono work, litigation on social or children’s rights issues—if you have them, make them a central part of your application.

2. Location matters: Be sure you are based in (or committed to work in) one of the specified districts. Local grounding helps.

3. Commitment clarity: Demonstrate that you can commit full 30 months. Include a plan showing how you’ll manage your workload, court schedules, etc.

4. Diversity profile: If you are from a SC/ST group, a disability, or a gender minority, mention this transparently (if comfortable), because it could be a preference factor.

5. Quality of application: Your CV, cover/motivation letter, any samples of litigation or social cause work should be clearly written, error-free, well-organized.

6. Use mentor / reference well: If you have previous senior lawyers or mentors who can vouch for your legal work, get strong recommendation letters.

Apply Now