Call for Applications | JSW Centre for the Future of Law Graduate Research Fellowships (2 Positions)
September 4, 2025
The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) invites applications (two positions) for JSW Centre for the Future of Law Graduate Research Fellowship positions for a period of one to two years.
About NLSIU
NLSIU was established in 1987 to be a pioneer in legal education. Over the last three decades the University has evolved as an innovative leader in law, social sciences, humanities, and public policy education and research in India. It has also been ranked first among the law universities in the National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) for the last eight years.
About the JSW Centre for the Future of Law
The JSW Centre for the Future of Law (JSW-CFL) was established in 2024 at NLSIU, Bengaluru, with the support of the JSW Foundation. The purpose of the Centre is to expand academic learning, advance research, and inform policy debates on issues related to law, technology, and system reform. Through partnerships across academia, governments, regulators, civil society and industry, the Centre aims to promote a robust and interdisciplinary understanding of issues such as the interface between health and regulation; the environment and the law; corporate governance; and the impact of new technologies on the future of the legal system, the legal profession and legal education.
It commenced research activities during the Academic Year 2025-2026.
About the JSW Graduate Research Fellowships (2)
The Centre aims to pioneer innovative models of legal regulation and to nurture technologies that drive systemic reform and expand access to justice. Towards this end, it is pleased to announce research fellowships to support exceptional young scholars for a period of 1-2 years. To start with, applications are invited for two fellowships on the thematic priority areas of the Centre, which include:
- Law and artificial intelligence;
- Data governance and regulation;
- Health, biotechnology and ethics;
- Risk regulation and regulatory design;
- Climate, biodiversity and ecological justice;
- Technology and legal system reform.
More information about the centre and its thematic priority areas can be found here.
Responsibilities
The Fellows will be expected to:
- Develop and execute a research programme (including developing proposals, concept/background notes for workshops and seminars, and cultivating research collaborations) around a topic related to one of the centre’s thematic priority areas;
- Publish at least 1 peer-reviewed journal article each year;
- Publish at least 4 short-form pieces, such as blog articles, policy briefs, case briefs, and/or commentaries for the NLS Scholarship Repository and/or opinion pieces or commentaries in popular media each year;
- Present at a faculty seminar or research colloquium on campus;
- Assist with research in an ongoing project under the supervision of the Centre’s Directors, provided such assistance shall not be more than 20% of a Fellow’s time per month;
- Teach one elective course in their field of research each academic year (subject to the approval of the Academic Review Committee);
Fellows will need to show satisfactory progress to be eligible for the second year of the fellowship.
Other Terms of the Fellowships
The Fellows will:
- Be based out of NLSIU campus in Bengaluru and work at the JSW-CFL.
- Be guided by the Centres’ Visiting Director and Faculty Director.
- Get an opportunity to be part of NLSIU’s rich intellectual environment, participate in its workshops and seminars, avail of its extensive library and digital resources, and publish widely, including for NLS platforms (NLSIU blogs, peer-reviewed journals, and website).
Qualifications
Essential
- Bachelor’s degree in any discipline
- 1-3 years of research experience (with a Bachelor’s degree) or Master’s degree in any discipline
Desirable
- Demonstrated education or professional expertise in at least one of the centres’ thematic priority areas.
- Up-to-date understanding of the technology and its implications in at least of the centres’ thematic priority areas.
- Proven research activity, including at least one publication or equivalent output.
- Excellent writing and editing skills across academic, policy, and public-facing formats.
- Strong analytical, collation/synthesis, communication (written and oral), technical, and time-management skills.
- Self-driven and collaborative, with the ability to work independently.
How To Apply
Please use the Google form here, and include the following documents:
- An up-to-date CV
- A statement of purpose (not more than 500 words) or a short video (not more than three minutes submitted via YouTube link) outlining your research proposal and your suitability to undertake it
- A research proposal (not more than 1000 words) on one of the six themes of the centre, explaining the scope, significance, methods and timeline of the proposed research
- One writing sample, preferably a solo-authored published piece
- Contact details and designation of two referees
For any queries, please write to .
Compensation
Salary will be commensurate with qualification and experience and will be in the range of Rs. 55,000 to 70,000 per month.
Deadline
The last date for submission of applications has been extended to October 2, 2025 (5 PM IST).