Kartik Sharma (NLS BA LLB 2026) for the essay titled ‘What’s in a Name? Critiquing The Copyright “Owner’s” Backdoor into the House of Copyright “Society”
SpicyIP is an Indian blog/repository on intellectual property (IP) and innovation law/policy. It was founded in 2005 by Prof. (Dr.) Shamnad Basheer, an IP academic and consultant.
The HUPA Chair for Urban Poor and the Law at NLSIU, in collaboration with Writing Urban India Collective and the Urban Studies Foundation (UK), is hosting the third iteration of the Writing Urban India Fellowship in 2025.
The Writing Urban India Fellowship Round 3 (WUI 3.0) is a mentoring initiative to nurture early career scholars in writing and publishing on urbanisation in India. The initiative aims to enable candidates with the skills and knowledge required to produce a structured writing output that is academic in nature – through capacity-building workshops, seminars and one-to-one mentorship. The programme involves offline and online interactions based on feasibility. The first two iterations of the Writing Urban India Fellowship were anchored by the Centre for Policy Research.
The Idea for the Fellowship
A group of academic peers—friends and collaborators over the years—had been working together on various research projects and contributing to the review of urban affairs in the Economic & Political Weekly. Through their involvement in the field, they noticed a clear gap: a lack of writing support for researchers in India.
At the same time, the Urban Studies Foundation, which publishes the Urban Studies Journal, approached them with a concern. They had previously run a successful writing support programme in China and were interested in doing something similar in India.
The issue they faced was that while many papers were being written about India, few were coming from researchers based in India. And even when submissions did come in, the writing quality often didn’t meet journal standards—despite the fact that the ideas and data had great potential.
Building on their previous collaborations and collective experiences, a network of urban academicians came together to design and implement a unique writing fellowship to suit the Indian academic context. The writing fellowship was essentially designed to pair early-career scholars with more experienced mentors.
The first cohort launched during the COVID-19 pandemic and was conducted entirely online. Initially, the criteria for selection were broad—participants didn’t necessarily have to be pursuing PhDs or already have written drafts. However, they quickly learned that many fellows were unclear about what a ‘writing’ fellowship entailed. Some had great ideas but not enough data or material to develop it into a full paper within the fellowship timeframe.
Taking these lessons into account, the second cohort focussed on selecting participants who were further along in their research journey—those who had collected data and had clearer writing goals. The fellows formed a strong peer network—supporting each other, offering feedback, and developing complementary skills.
This experience highlighted the importance of peer learning. While mentor-mentee relationships are crucial, mentors often have limited time due to teaching and other responsibilities. In contrast, peers navigating the writing process together can provide sustained support, encouragement, and insight.
The Current Cohort (2025)
These lessons fed into the design of the latest cohort, which is the first to include in-person interactions. The programme, this year, is “bookended” by two in-person meetings: one at the beginning and one at the end of the fellowship. These sessions aim to foster a sense of community, kickstart peer support networks, and set the stage for ongoing collaborations. Participants also have the advantage of forming smaller interest-based groups, organically building connections beyond the formal structure.
Dr. Mukta Naik, Lead – Policy, Centre for Sustainable Urban Livelihoods, National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA):
“At its core, the programme remains a one-on-one mentorship model with light-touch group elements. The focus is on helping fellows improve writing structure, style, and clarity—areas that often receive less attention in traditional academic supervision. This time around, the cohort is intentionally more mature. Most participants have clear drafts and a strong sense of what they want to write.
Overall, the project is an ongoing learning experience—for mentors and mentees alike. It is as much about identifying and supporting motivated writers as it is about navigating the structural challenges of academic publishing. The stakes are high: in today’s academic world, publishing often directly affects career prospects. Fellows carry that pressure with them, and the programme hopes to ease that burden by offering thoughtful guidance, a strong peer network, and the time and space to grow as writers.”
“WUI is a great opportunity for us to listen to new ideas on urban research from younger scholars and engage with them. The five-day workshop turned out to be a great space for all of us to speak about our writing troubles, annoyances and also ways of getting around those to become better writers!”
Reflections from the Fellows
Aditi Pradhan, Doctoral Scholar, Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Paper title (working title): Processes of socio-spatial transformation in the City of Ahmedabad
“Throughout my academic journey, writing to publish has been like pulling those wobbly teeth – slow, painful, and somehow always more complicated than it should be. It’s wild how we’re expected to just know how to do it, when in reality, research writing is its own beast and rarely acknowledged as something that needs real guidance. The fellowship offered the simple but powerful recognition that “we realise writing is hard, and here’s how we can help.” My aim is to use this opportunity to better understand the craft of research writing – how to write with purpose, how to write to sharpen arguments, how to write to tell more compelling stories, and how to write to make the “excellent first drafts” (quoting Noora, my fellow WUI Fellow) turn into publishable outputs. I’m also hoping to fine-tune my intuitions and find my voice in the process, to learn how to write in ways that feel true to the work I’m doing, and to myself.
The Workshop was enriching and inspiring to say the least. The space created through interactions with mentors and fellows felt like stepping out of the usual academic haze and into something more grounded, more collaborative. It was a healthy blend of guidance by the mentors and hands-on engagement, making the experience both insightful and practical. Writing wasn’t a solitary struggle but something collective, something shared. It instilled in me a newfound confidence, empowering me to approach my writing with more assurance and clarity.”
Dr. Nisar Kannangara, Consultant, Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS)
Paper Title: Involuntary Urbanisation: Settlement Transformations among Tribal Communities in the Western Ghats
“I am a researcher trained to explore the social, political, and economic dynamics in rural and tribal settings. While working among tribal communities in the Western Ghats of Kerala—focussing on their housing and settlement transformations—I realised that understanding theories of urbanisation, particularly Southern urban theories, is essential to grasp the complexities of these changes. This realisation prompted me to apply for this fellowship. I am keen to engage with urban scholars and practitioners to better understand how urban formations are unfolding in rural and tribal geographies, particularly within the Indian context.
The first writing workshop held at the National Law School of India University from April 6 to 11, 2025, was an intellectually enriching and eye-opening experience. It exposed me to the wide spectrum of issues and themes shaping urban studies in India today. What stood out most were the sessions on reading critically and navigating the writing–rewriting process, led by seasoned scholars and practitioners. For me, it was a powerful journey of unlearning and re-learning that reshaped how I approach both reading and writing.”
Prithiraj Borah, Assistant Professor, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore
Paper title: Gender, Food, Community and Urban Space in Bengaluru
“I joined this fellowship to have a clear idea of how to approach a few of the research questions from the paper. I hope I will benefit from the mentors’ comments and suggestions.
The workshop was really thought-provoking the way the mentors and teams called for rigorous academic exercise of writing a paper on how to approach a particular area of research. It was really helpful for me.”
Ramengmawia Bawitlung, PhD Candidate, IIT Bombay
Paper title (working title): Sonic Urbanism in Aizawl: Sounding the Everyday City in Northeast India
“My PhD supervisor often tells me ‘you write too little. Be more forthcoming with your writing.’ My reason for applying to the fellowship is precisely this, I write too less. And I hope to achieve the intended flourish in my writing through this fellowship.
The workshop was eye opening in a number of ways. The sessions by Gautam Bhan (Indian Institute for Human Settlements) on the purpose of structure, tone, construction and affect in the matters of writing proved crucial so much so that I’ve become conscious and aware to incorporate them as I read and write. Anwesha Ghosh’s (NLSIU) talk on how to structure an argument unburdened the many perils of a student’s dilemma in framing a cohesive argument. Partha Mukhopadhyay’s (Centre for Policy Research) insistence on writing as sense-making and the importance of actors in ethnography has remained with me. I found Dhivya Janarthanan’s (NLSIU) lecture on working and engaging with theory so sedimented and interesting. On the whole, I enjoyed myself thoroughly as I listened with intent to the lectures and made notes to reflect on them over the intervening months. The stay, food, camaraderie, and most importantly the WUI team was wonderful. Everything was cast so supremely well.”
Shainal Vema, PhD research scholar, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi
Paper Title: Safeguarding Prerna Sthal: The Police, Dalit Women and Reproduction on Anti-Caste Spaces in The City
“Usually, research on gender and caste is confined to the disciplines of Feminism and Dalit studies, limiting its potential to tell us about ‘urban marginalisation’ and ‘urban inequalities.’ My research, an ethnographic exploration of Dalit women’s life worlds in an urban village in Delhi, contributes to the wider research on urban villages, shifting from anchors of land settlements, rural-to-urban transition, and gendered perspectives.
Through Professor Susmita Pati’s guidance, I have not only found affirmation in the scope of my work but also motivation to build on my socio-anthropological research in urban studies. I aim to publish a piece in a high-ranking journal by the end of this fellowship as a payback to the endearing faith WUI 3.0 has shown in my research on Dalit women in urban spaces.
A week at NLS under the guidance of WUI 3.0 mentors exposed us to academic hands-on tools, techniques, and affirmations to build on our research. Mentors Gautam Bhan (Indian Institute for Human Settlements), Champaka Rajagopal(Centre for Policy Research), Sushmita Pati (NLSIU), Neha Sami (Indian Institute for Human Settlements), J Devika (Centre for Development Studies), and Anwesha Ghosh (NLSIU) guided us to write in structured parts and make connections across our research. Moreover, the hospitality and care shown towards us by the team were the highlight of the fellowship for me, as it reinstated my faith in building more channels of care and community. I was able to think through my research in mind maps post-orientation week, which tells a lot about what good guidance can do for early PhD researchers. The key takeaway has been to locate my work in urban studies, how it contributes, and what are the ways I can refine this contribution for a wider knowledge production on urban studies in India. The highlight was also the bus rides to the campus every day, where fellows connected and opened our life worlds to each other, making each other understand why we do what we do and the importance of it. I am extremely thankful to NLS and the Urban Foundation for this valuable opportunity.”
The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) invites applications for a full-time Project Assistant position to work on the ‘Gender and Policing in Karnataka’ project. The position is up to December 2025 and will be based in Bengaluru.
About the Project
The gender and policing project 2025 involves working with the Karnataka State Police to strengthen the role of women in the state police. The project builds on earlier research conducted by NLSIU that documented the challenges policewomen face in service and recommended measures to enable a supportive and equitable work environment. Drawing from the findings of the research, the 2025 project involves working with the state police to design and deliver training on gender diversity mandates and principles; to strengthen the policies and processes on prevention of sexual harassment at the workplace, in compliance with the 2013 POSH Act; and to continue to build documentation of prevailing attitudes among police personnel (male and female) on mainstreaming the role of women in policing and on challenges in police station management due to increasing presence of policewomen. Overall, the project will contribute to strengthening institutional efforts at enabling gender mainstreaming in policing in Karnataka and offer insights for other state police departments in India.
Role description
Responsibilities include:
Prepare reading material for the training sessions with the police;
Input into policy briefs, papers and other research on measures pertaining to women police;
Develop outreach and awareness material on police department policies and initiatives pertaining to women police;
Coordinate the organization of the training programs with the state police and resource persons;
Maintain monthly progress reports on the activities and budget;
Manage internal administrative coordination for the project including ensuring timely internal approvals for all activities, compliance with procurement policies, coordinating all travel bookings, raising invoices and submission of accounts, and ensuring completion of reporting requirements;
Ensure timely reporting to the funders as per the agreed schedule and formats;
Assist in any other tasks as required.
A. Qualifications
Essential
Graduate degree, preferably in social sciences, law, public policy, communications or allied disciplines
Desirable
Master’s degree, preferably in law, social sciences or public policy
B. Experience
Essential
Working knowledge of excel sheets and budget documents
Demonstrable interest (academic and/or professional) in and knowledge of gender equality legal and policy frameworks, principles and concepts
Desirable
Work experience in project coordination roles
Prior experience of engaging with stakeholders, maintaining detailed records, and preparing comprehensive reports
Fluency in spoken Kannada
Flexibility in travel within Karnataka at short notice
C. Skills and Competencies
Excellent communication and writing skills
Strong execution rigour and operational skills
Strong presentation and time management skills
How to apply?
Please use the Google form here, and include the following documents:
An updated CV
A statement of purpose (not more than 500 words)
Contact details and designation of two references
Compensation
Salary will be commensurate with qualification and experience and will be in the range of Rs. 50,000 – Rs 60,000 per month.
For any queries, please write to
Deadline
The last date for submission of applications is June 9, 2025 (5 PM IST).
The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) invites applications for a full-time Project Assistant to support the ‘Witness Protection Scheme in Karnataka’ project. The position is until December 2025 and will be based in Bengaluru, with travel across Karnataka.
About the Project
Witness testimony is indispensable to India’s criminal-justice process, yet threats and intimidation frequently undermine it. Section 398 of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 (BNSS) now obliges every state to craft its own witness-protection rules. This project will:
run four stakeholder consultations – three district study visits (Belagavi, Udupi, Mysuru) and one targeted consultation at NLSIU, Bengaluru – engaging police, judiciary, KSLSA, NALSA, NGOs and think-tanks; and
produce a Stakeholder Analysis & Outcome Document that maps gaps, roles and actionable recommendations for a robust state-level witness-protection framework.
Role description
Responsibilities include:
Plan, schedule and coordinate the four consultations and related travel/logistics;
Prepare briefing notes, interview protocols and reading material for each consultation;
Liaise with stakeholders (police, judiciary, KSLSA, NALSA, NGOs) and maintain accurate contact lists;
Collect, organise and summarise consultation data; contribute to drafting the Stakeholder Analysis & Outcome Document;
Maintain monthly progress and expenditure reports; ensure compliance with NLSIU procurement and HSF reporting norms;
Manage internal approvals, invoicing and reimbursements in a timely manner;
Support any additional research or administrative tasks required for successful project delivery.
A. Qualifications
Essential
Graduate degree in law, social sciences, public policy, criminology or allied disciplines
Desirable
Master’s degree in law, criminal justice, public policy or social sciences
B. Experience
Essential
Demonstrable interest (academic / professional) in criminal-justice reform or access-to-justice issues
Working knowledge of Excel and basic budget documentation
Desirable
Prior experience in field-research or project-coordination roles
Experience engaging diverse justice-sector stakeholders and producing analytical reports
Fluency in spoken Kannada
Ability to travel within Karnataka at short notice
C. Skills & Competencies
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong coordination and time-management abilities.
Rigorous attention to detail in documentation and budgeting.
Ability to work independently.
How to apply?
Please submit your application only through the Google Form here, and upload:
An updated CV.
A statement of purpose (maximum 500 words).
Contact details and designations of two referees.
Compensation
Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and will be in the range of Rs. 50,000 – Rs. 60,000 per month.
For any queries, write to
Deadline
The last date for submission of applications is June 9, 2025 (5 PM IST).
The National Law School of India University, Bengaluru in collaboration with the Bengaluru City Police and the General Thimayya National Academy of Adventure (GETHNAA) (Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports, Government of Karnataka) has successfully concluded the Rani Channamma Training Programme for women police personnel.
This programme consisted of eight batches through which more than two hundred women police personnel have been trained on laws relating to women, senior citizens and children as well as criminal laws. The training was undertaken during the time period between December 2022 and May 2025.
About the Programme
The Rani Channamma Training Programme was aimed at training women police personnel in areas of Self Defence, Unarmed Combat, Self-Assertiveness, Gender Sensitisation, Counselling Skills, Legal Awareness and Public Speaking. NLSIU organised sessions on Legal Knowledge which were conducted by advocates and members of civil society organisations.
The training programme focused on empowering the women police personnel with key tools and information in the areas of gender-based violence and gender-based discrimination. It included discussions on gender stereotypes, criminal justice processes and relevant legislations such as the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act, Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act. The attendees gained insights into relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 including the drafting of an FIR, sexual offences based on provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and provisions of marriage, divorce, maintenance, and succession under various personal laws. Expert speakers highlighted national and international conventions, legislations and regulations, as well as best practices.
The sessions facilitated knowledge sharing, collaboration, and capacity building for the women police personnel. They also sought to promote better legal understanding amongst the attendees. The attendees engaged in interactive sessions and discussions highlighting the importance of collaboration between the police, citizens and civil society to ensure the effective implementation of various legislative measures.
We congratulate our new Co-presidents of the Student Bar Association for the Academic Year 2025-26: Siddharth Kumar, 4th Year BA LLB (Hons) student, and Avni Raonka, 3rd Year BA LLB (Hons) student. We spoke to the new Co-Presidents and asked them to share their thoughts and vision for the SBA ahead. Here’s what they had to say.
The SBA Co-President elections at NLSIU are conducted simultaneously for the two Co-President positions. The SBA election for 2025-26 was held between May 11-14, 2025. The process was completed under the supervision of the Electoral Board in accordance with SBA Constitution and Electoral Guidelines issued by the Electoral Board on May 11, 2025. We thank the outgoing SBA Co-president for services to the University in Academic Year 2024-25.
Siddharth Kumar
“Back in 2021 when I came here, NLSIU was a huge cultural shock. I felt out of place as many other first-years do. Coming from the Bahujan community, things were never easy. With time, the NLSIU community came to my rescue, and I found my place, I found my people.
As the SBA Co-President, I now wish to give back to the NLS community. I wish to bring the changes that I always wanted to see in NLSIU. My vision for NLSIU is to cultivate a community where everyone feels a sense of belonging and inclusion. During my tenure, I intend to be cooperative and collaborative, work with the university administration to address the issues faced by the student body. I am committed to building a vibrant student culture and establishing a strong system of student governance, including SBA, that is accountable, responsible, transparent, and approachable. Ultimately, I aspire to leave behind a legacy of a more connected and truly representative student community within NLSIU.”
Avni Raonka
“What is a college if not a space for growth? I truly believe that NLSIU is one of the best places for it. As the SBA Co-President, my aim is to help make that growth fulfilling for every student here. This means fostering a collaborative, supportive, and community-oriented environment — one that enriches both our academic and personal journeys.
I come from a small town in Rajasthan, and getting here was not easy. That journey has shaped me, and it’s made me deeply aware of both the opportunities and responsibilities that come with this role. For me, NLSIU is a home away from home — and I believe that building a strong, inclusive student community can significantly enhance our shared experience.
My vision is to create a campus culture rooted in empathy, accountability, and mutual respect — where every student feels heard, represented, and encouraged to thrive. NLSIU teaches you a lot — often in ways you don’t expect. I hope to make that learning journey more equitable and empowering for all of us.”
We congratulate our alumna Vibha Nadig (NLS BA LLB 2023) for being featured in the Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 Class of 2025! The list features Vibha in the Social Impact category for her work carried out through her legal aid organisation ‘OutLawed India.’
Since its inception in 2019, ‘OutLawed India’ has formed a network of legal aid trainers across India, who offer what they call ‘last mile justice delivery.’ We spoke to Vibha and asked her to share more about her journey and work.
What are your thoughts about being featured in the Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 Class of 2025?
It’s definitely exciting! I think when you’re in the impact space, you have to grapple with the complex feeling of “there is so much to be done and I wonder where this gets me,” or “will this help me grow the mission further?”. I’m incredibly excited and grateful to Forbes for this recognition, but this is one milestone in a very, very, very big mission.
Can you tell us about how OutLawed India started? Where did the idea spring from?
I started ‘OutLawed’ in 2019. It was my second year at NLS and after an especially bad exam, I remember thinking to myself that if I was struggling so much to understand the law while being at the best law school in the country, I could only imagine how inaccessible the law is to people who didn’t have access to formal legal education.
In general, I always had a passion for teaching. My grandparents were teachers. I spent a lot of time during my school years volunteering in government schools. I thought I could combine my newly acquired knowledge of the law with my passion for teaching.
I started recruiting volunteers from law schools across the country and we put them through a short training with the support of my friends at Teach For India. We would then go to places like government schools and anganwadis, and we would help raise awareness about the law — everything ranging from women’s rights to cyber laws and consumer laws.
At that point, my ‘theory of change,’ was that if you help people understand the letter of the law, it will help them access their rights and access justice. Very quickly we realised that this was not the case. We started to realise that people may know of the law; for example, if you are facing domestic violence, you could theoretically know that you need to go to the police station, but that knowledge doesn’t give you the courage to walk into a police station by yourself and get that FIR registered.
When I was in my fifth (and finaI) year at NLS, I had to take a call on whether to take the corporate route, the litigation route, or the policy route. Instead, I decided to go full-time with ‘OutLawed’ straight out of University. I was lucky enough to have people from NLS join me full time, which was a really big show of faith. This was going to be their first job as well as mine.
Just being from the NLS community is so helpful. Our first supporters and mentors were all NLS alumni. Their support really helped shape what ‘OutLawed’ is today. So, with that support we went into it full time.
What is the long-term vision for OutLawed? What do you hope to achieve in the years ahead?
Shortly after we went full time into ‘OutLawed’, we had the idea to start training members from underserved communities as paralegals, or as we call them, ‘Nyaaya Mitras.’ These individuals are trained in regional languages and they’re from the communities they serve. Our paralegals are migrants, domestic workers, factory workers, and belong to gender and sexual minorities. They are trained to provide the first point of contact for legal services. This could range from registering an FIR, or a DIR in a domestic violence case; securing an RTC (Record of Rights, Tenancy, and Crops) or khata (document that confirms the property’s legality and its status) from the sub-registrar’s office; to drafting a legal notice to your employer if they haven’t paid your wages on time.
What we hope our ‘Nyaaya Mitras’ will do is provide localised and contextual legal aid in regional languages by functioning as friendly neighbourhood paralegals. Essentially taking the law out of courts and into the homes of people who need it the most. Over the last six months, our Nyaaya Mitras have worked with over 2500 individuals; navigating complex issues from domestic violence and child sexual abuse to community level issues like water access and evictions.
We envision that one day our paralegals can be the equivalent of ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) workers in the law, who will work at that scale, at that engagement, at both the state and national level.
Is there a message you have for law students?
We need so many more initiatives to come out of law schools if we’re going to solve issues involving access to justice. However, students will need foundational support in order to do this, and I’m excited to pass on the baton to the next generation. I’m so hopeful at the kind of innovation that I know law students are capable of!
The National Law School of India University (“NLSIU”) established under the National Law School of India Act, 1986 solicits proposals from qualified bidders for Electrical and Miscellaneous Works at NLSIU in accordance with specifications and requirements mentioned in the notification below.
Date of Issue of Tender: 14.05.2025
Last Date for Submission of Technical and Commercial Bids: Up to 5.00 PM on 20.05.2025
Note: Technical and Commercial bids should be submitted separately, in separate sealed envelopes.
For more details along with the terms and conditions, please read the following:
The National Law School of India University, Bengaluru held the first edition of the NLSIU AI & Law Forum on May 10, 2025 at the NLS campus. The Forum brought together research scholars, innovative legal tech start-ups, and impactful civil society organisations that leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to address legal challenges and contribute to systemic legal reforms.
The Forum featured several engaging events, including:
Presentations: AI start-ups, research scholars and civil society organisations showcased their products and initiatives. GenAI and legal tech names such as Jurisphere, Axara AI, India Kanoon, Lucio, TrustBridge, WeVaad, XKDR Forum, Jhana.ai, among others, participated in panel discussions about GenAI in relation to the legal profession, legal research, and legal system reforms.
Workshops: A number of interactive hands-on workshops were held to equip teams of students to explore and build innovative solutions at the intersection of generative AI and law.
AI Labs: Dedicated labs were set-up to provide premium access to advanced AI platforms. Students had the opportunity to explore various AI software tools relevant to the legal domain.
Prompt Challenge: The prompts were primarily evaluated on the basis of (a) the outputs they generated through Google’s AI model Gemini 2.5, and (b) for their ability to generate summaries and judgments that were concise, well-structured, and focused on the necessary components of the respective documents. The winning prompts were able to generate the best results and maintain consistency of output quality over a couple of different iterations.
The winning entries are:
– Summarisation:Ritesh Raj (BA LLB Hons, 3rd year) – Judgment Writing (joint winners): Udit Chaudhary (BA LLB Hons, 3rd year), and Abhinav Somani B.A. LL.B. (BA LLB Hons, 2nd year), Aditya Lohia (BA LLB Hons, 2nd year), and Karthik Sunkad (BA LLB Hons, 2nd year)
Dr. Rahul Hemrajani, Assistant Professor of Law, NLSIU & organiser of the Forum:
“The NLSIU AI & Law Forum 2025 brought together law firms, practitioners, start-ups, civil-society organisations, and academics to explore the transformative applications of artificial intelligence in the legal domain. Discussions centred on AI’s capacity to revolutionise legal practice and adjudication, highlighting how lawyers, courts, and judges are already integrating these technologies into their work. The Forum also featured three intensive student workshops that provided hands-on training with AI tools, an AI Lab where participants experimented with premium general and specialised legal platforms, and a Prompt Challenge in which students competed in prompt-engineering exercises to build legal solutions. The event underscored NLSIU’s commitment to fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and preparing the next generation of legal professionals to navigate—and shape—an AI-driven future.”
Saptarshi Ghosh, Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur:
“The NLSIU AI & Law Forum was an exciting event that brought together law practitioners and AI practitioners, both from the industry and academia. I presented some of the works conducted by my research group at IIT Kharagpur on application of AI models in the legal domain. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the talks from some of the leading AI-law start-ups and academics. I believe such events are much needed to achieve effective cooperation and collaboration between the law and the AI community in India.”
Devansh Kaushik, Head of Operations, Lucio:
“It was a pleasure to present Lucio’s vision on the productisation of legal services using GenAI, and to conduct a hands-on workshop with NLSIU students on a sample advisory and a diligence matter conducted using Lucio. We also had engaging discussions on the ethical use of AI and its impact on the profession. The conference and AI Lab at NLSIU were timely, well-curated, and deeply relevant to the future of law. Returning to campus in an industry-expert capacity was nostalgic. As an NLS BA LLB graduate of the Class of 2023 and now Head of Operations at Lucio—a company created and shaped by NLSIU graduates, it’s deeply fulfilling to contribute back to the institution that shaped me.”
About National Law School of India University (NLSIU)
The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) was established in 1987 to be a pioneer in legal education. Over the last three decades the university has consistently been an innovative leader in legal education and research in India and has been ranked first among law universities in the National Institute Ranking Framework for the last seven years.
About the Role
NLSIU invites applications for a full-time, on-campus position of Assistant Editor for a period of one year (extendable). Under the supervision of the Consulting Editor, the Assistant Editor will help with the production of journals; coordinate with research teams and faculty members on various publications; support the production of reports and other scholarly publications; and copy-edit and proofread a range of academic and research outputs in the fields of law, social sciences, humanities, and public policy. The ideal candidate will have strong editorial skills, experience working in the publishing industry, a keen eye for detail, and an ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Assistant Editor will work closely with the Consulting Editor on the following:
Assist with the production process for the university’s academic journals (maintain schedulers, prepare meeting notes and agendas, etc.).
Assist with production of research and other academic publications.
Help coordinate with printers, designers, copy-editors, distributors, website developers, and other digital service providers.
Copy-edit and proofread academic articles, research publications, blog articles, and faculty publications for clarity, grammar, punctuation, style, and consistency.
Qualifications, Experience, and Skills
Essential Qualifications
An undergraduate degree in law, social sciences, humanities, public policy, or a related field.
Desirable Qualifications
A postgraduate degree in law, social sciences, humanities, public policy, or a related field.
Essential Experience
2+ years of experience in the publishing or media industry, preferably in an editorial role.
Desirable Experience
Experience working with academic writing and/or in the academic publishing industry.
Skills
Strong command of the English language.
Good verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to copy-edit various forms of writing, including research reports, journal articles, and blog posts.
Attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining high standards.
Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
Familiarity with basic software used in editing and production processes (MS Word, PDFs, MS Excel) and an ability to adapt to new kinds of digital platforms for publications.
Compensation
Starts at Rs 50,000. Salary will be determined based on qualifications and experience.
Location and Time
On campus in Bangalore, five days a week, year-round. The official working hours are 9.30 am to 5.30 pm. The selected candidate will be expected to start as soon as possible.
How to Apply?
Please fill the application form and include the following documents:
An updated CV.
A short statement outlining your interest in working with us and why you would be a good fit for the role (not more than 500 words).
Details of two referees with contact details.
Selected candidates will have to take a copy-editing test, followed by an interview.
Deadline
Interested candidates may apply by filling out this form by June 10, 2025 (5pm IST). Please have your relevant documents and certificates at hand.
NLSIU is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity at our institution.
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The National Law School of India University, Bengaluru in collaboration with the Bengaluru City Police and the General Thimayya National Academy of Adventure (GETHNAA) (Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports, Government of Karnataka) has successfully concluded the Rani Channamma Training Programme for women police personnel.
Siddharth Kumar
Avni Raonka
Since its inception in 2019, ‘
The National Law School of India University, Bengaluru held the first edition of the 
