IDIA FELLOWSHIP FOR YOUNG LAWYERS - SIKKIM

 

 IDIA FELLOWSHIP FOR YOUNG LAWYERS - SIKKIM

About the Fellowship

The IDIA Fellowship for Young Lawyers is a pioneering initiative by the IDIA Charitable Trust to build the next generation of socially committed litigators. This Fellowship supports Junior Advocates (0 – 4 years of experience from the State of Sikkim) by financially supporting them with a stipend of Rs. 20,000/- per month and placing them under the mentorship of Senior Advocates (Mentors) with a minimum of 10 years of experience in trial courts across Sikkim. Through this collaboration, young lawyers will be trained to handle real legal issues on the ground while expanding access to justice in underrepresented rural and semi-urban areas.

At its core, the Fellowship seeks to address one of the most pressing challenges in our judicial system: the growing demand for legal aid in trial courts, particularly among marginalized communities, continues to outpace the availability of lawyers for the marginalized and the institutional support needed for junior advocates to build sustainable litigation careers. The fellowship directly addresses this gap.

The IDIA Model: Building from the Ground Up

IDIA (Increasing Diversity by Increasing Access) has spent over a decade transforming legal education in India by enabling scholars from marginalized backgrounds to enter premier law schools. The fellowship builds upon this legacy—taking the mission beyond law school and into the courts.

Under the Fellowship:

• Each selected Fellow will work full-time under a mentor on litigation matters, primarily in trial courts including Judicial Magistrate, Chief Judicial Magistrate,other Subordinate courts, and District courts.
• Fellows will engage in pro bono and public interest litigation and collaborate with District Legal Services Authorities and civil society organizations.
• IDIA provides financial support through a stipend, as well as foundational training, ongoing skill-building workshops, and access to legal databases and alumni mentorship.

Why This Fellowship Matters

India’s justice delivery system suffers from an access crisis where cases are under-addressed due to a lack of legal representation. Civil society organizations face systemic challenges when trying to secure legal support for rural or marginalized communities. Meanwhile, many junior lawyers—especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds—are unable to sustain litigation careers due to the absence of financial support, mentorship, or visibility.

The fellowship is designed to serve both ends:

• Fellows gain practical legal exposure, mentorship, and income stability.
• Communities gain access to legal representation through committed, trained, and ethically grounded young lawyers.

Key Program Features

• Stipend: Rs. 20,000/- per month
• Duration: 1.5 years of active litigation support
• Geographies Covered: The fellowship is open to applicants from all districts across Sikkim..

How It Works

1. Fellows will be selected by IDIA through a competitive multi-stage process based on socio-economic background, academic record, litigation interest, and commitment to social justice.
2. Mentors with minimum 10 years’ experience are empaneled and paired with a compatible Fellow.
3. Weekly self-reporting, workshops and formal review meetings ensure regular progress tracking of the Fellows.

Call to Action

If you're:

• A junior advocate looking to build your litigation career with structured guidance, financial support and give more to the society.

This Fellowship is for you.

Applications (Sikkim) for Fellows are now open

Fellows : https://forms.gle/d4EUJNqzWztn7Qkp7

More Information

Website : www.idialaw.org

Contact: Sonam Tshering Lepcha, Fellowship Coordinator - Sikkim.

Mobile : 7427937988