About the Fellowship

The Justice Leila Seth Fellowship is a remunerated, 18-month programme which will build a cohort of exceptional lawyers who understand what it takes to create positive change in our society. Selected Fellows will work directly on litigation, research and advocacy on core social justice issues mentored by iProbono and our community of dedicated advocates.

JLSF fellows will work closely with iProbono’s child protection team, consisting of both lawyers and social workers, and have the opportunity to support our casework. They will also identify and work on specific advocacy projects. Through secondments with partner organisations, they will learn through grassroots engagements.

The foundation of the Fellowship rests on the vision and strategy designed and implemented by iProbono, which includes —

Strengthening the impact of civil society

Advancing justice for all by representing people in need

Advocating for policies that promote social equity and end discrimination

Thematic Areas

iProbono's approach is based on principles that inform a good society, such as free speech, democratic participation and accountability. Current thematic focus areas include gender equality, violence against women and children, LGBTQ+, minorities, disability, and discrimination based on race or caste. We remain responsive to broader needs of civil society, deploying our methods to enhance economic empowerment, health, education, shelter, conservation, animal welfare and a host of other cause areas.

The Fellowship will combine legal education, active litigation, and advocacy through storytelling to change hearts and minds. This philosophy gives our most vulnerable clients a voice, takes our stories to a broader audience and enhances our impact.

An integral part of the programme is education through storytelling. For example, taking stories of important legal interventions to university students to instil a rights-based sensibility and promote the ideals of a fair society as embodied by the Constitution.

Cohort

As a part of the JLSF cohort, Fellows will be given the opportunity to work on social justice issues, while promoting and developing the concept of pro bono lawyering.

The Fellowship aims to stimulate, challenge and support young lawyers who are in the early stages of their career and from varied backgrounds.

Once a Justice Leila Seth Fellow, always a Justice Leila Seth Fellow. Building relationships with the team, the clients, and the wider community of lawyers, are key elements of the Fellowship. Past Fellows will also be called upon to engage with current Fellows to enable a convergence of ideas and collaborative efforts.

Mentorship

During the 18 month tenure, Fellows will follow a supervised and structured programme. They will work at the iProbono office in Delhi, learn from iProbono’s wider community of lawyers and will also complete a secondment to select partner organisations. Senior members of the iProbono team will support the Fellows progress and to produce written material for public dissemination.

The 18-month Fellowship will include:

Working closely on iProbono’s child rights casework

Mentorship throughout the Fellowship from the iProbono team

Training in iProbono’s model of delivering pro bono legal services to civil society organisations

Secondment to an iProbono partner civil society organisation

Secondment with an iProbono panel lawyer

Secondment to a national iProbono office in India

At the completion of the Fellowship, the Fellow will prepare and present a report that provides an account of their experience.

For any queries, please get in touch with us at JLSF@i-probono.com or Apply Now.

Application

Please review the selection criteria and how to apply below. We look forward to receiving your application by 30 September 2022.

We believe that the Fellows, with varying levels of life experience, are going to be leaders of this movement. We are looking to develop a diverse cohort who seek to develop their leadership potential through this 18 month Fellowship.

Apply Now

Selection Criteria

Fellows are recruited through a competitive selection process and judged on their demonstrated commitment to social justice, knowledge of the law or other, equally, compelling experience.

The required academic qualification is an undergraduate law degree.

Fellows do not need to have experience working in human rights or social justice but must demonstrate a passion for social justice.

Applicants should be able to work with a cohort of Fellows of diverse occupational, geographic, and ideological profiles

The applicant will need to commit to an 18-month term as a Fellow commencing in 2022.

Fellows will work from iProbono’s Delhi office, with secondments to a partner organisation either in Delhi NCR or another location in India. This is a paid Fellowship, and Fellows will receive support, training and opportunities for legal interventions, along with access to professional networks. They will join a wider movement of lawyers committed to social justice.

HOW TO APPLY

Through the three-stage process detailed below, we will select candidates with the highest potential into the program.

Stage 1

Submit an application form along with a detailed CV, video cover letter and writing sample expressing interest and suitability.

Stage 2

Attend a first round in-person interview at our Delhi office.

Stage 3

Attend a virtual interview with members of the Fellowship Selection Committee.

APPLICATION TIMELINE

August 21, 2023
Call for applications
September 22, 2023
Submit the application including CV and cover letter
October 6, 2023
First shortlist of candidates
October 12, 2023
Round 1 interviews for shortlisted candidates will begin
October 20, 2023
Second shortlist of candidates announced
October 30, 2023
Round 2 virtual interview with the Selection Committee will begin
November 6, 2023
Announcement of the Justice Leila Seth Fellows
December 4, 2023
Start date