The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) invites applications for a Senior Research Associate to work on the project titled “Freedom from Violence: Capacity Building of Elected Women Representatives on Legal Provisions for Safety and Security of Women and Girls”. This is a full-time role on contractual basis for a period of one year, based in Bengaluru.

The project is funded by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), Government of India, under the Nirbhaya Fund.

About the Project

The project aims to train and sensitise Women Elected Representatives (WER) throughout the country on legal provisions relating to safety and security of women and girls. To this end, NLSIU, Bengaluru will undertake the following key activities:

• Development of comprehensive training modules on legal provisions for women’s safety and security
• Translation of training modules and IEC (Information, Education and Communication) material into 8+ regional languages with the help of BHASHINI
• Training of Master Trainers through 15 workshops (three days duration each)
• Development of IEC material, short videos and digital content for dissemination
• Creating awareness on roles and responsibilities of PRI members in handling incidents of violence against women
• Covering topics including filing of FIR (online and offline), evidence collection and protection, new criminal laws, POCSO, and dealing with social issues like human trafficking, khap panchayat, honour killings, and dowry deaths
• Introduction to Community Justice System and dissemination of constitutional responsibilities
• Exploration of helpline number for counselling and legal aid services

About the Role

The Senior Research Associate will work under the guidance of the faculty Project Lead and will play a key role in coordinating research, training content development, and overall implementation of the project.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and finalisation of training modules on legal provisions relating to women’s safety and security
• Conduct legal and policy research on laws, regulations, and case law relating to violence against women, including BNS 2023, POCSO, and other relevant legislation
• Supervise and guide Research Associates and support faculty Project Leads in ensuring timely completion of research outputs
• Contribute to the preparation of IEC materials, digital content, and dissemination through short-form media and social platforms
• Coordinate translation of training modules and IEC materials and support the organisation of Master Trainer workshops and stakeholder consultations
• Design research tools, questionnaires, and training content, including materials on Community Justice Systems and PRI responsibilities
• Maintain documentation of project activities, prepare periodic progress reports, and use digital legal databases for research and knowledge resources
• Publish at least two short form pieces each year including blogs, policy briefs, and/or legal commentaries for the NLS Scholarship Repository on individual research areas of focus (in addition to the project work)
• Contribute to scholarly outputs and participate in intellectual activities on campus
• Assist faculty Project Lead(s) in drafting research reports, policy recommendations, and other dissemination outputs

Reporting

The Senior Research Associate will report to the faculty Project Lead. Dr. Sairam Bhat, Professor of Law, NLSIU will be steering this project.

Eligibility criteria:

Educational Qualifications

Essential

Master’s degree in law or social sciences, gender studies, public policy, or allied disciplines from any reputed institution.

Desirable

• Demonstrable academic interest in issues related to gender justice, violence against women, criminal justice reform, legal literacy and awareness, capacity building, and community-based justice systems
• Training in research methodology and legal/policy analysis
• Prior academic publications or research outputs in relevant areas

Work Experience

• Minimum 5 years of post-qualification experience in legal and policy research in universities, research institutes, think tanks, civil society organisations, legal aid organisations, or related institutions
• Experience in coordinating research projects, training programmes, or stakeholder consultations is desirable
• Prior experience in using digital legal resources, research databases, and legal information systems is preferred

Skills and Competencies

• Excellent research, analytical, and academic writing skills
• Strong project coordination and organisational skills
• Ability to mentor and guide junior research staff
• Digital literacy and proficiency in using legal databases, digital research tools, and online knowledge platforms
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team environment
• Commitment to advancing legal empowerment, gender justice, and capacity-building initiatives

How to Apply

Please use the Google form, and include the following documents:

• An updated CV
• A statement of purpose (500 words) outlining your interest in the position, and suitability for the role.
• Details of two professional references.

Compensation

Compensation will be commensurate with experience in the range of approx. Rs. 80,000-1,00,000 per month.

For any queries, please write to

Deadline

The last date for submission of applications is April 30, 2026 (5 PM IST).