Justice J.S. Verma Fellowship 2025: ₹30,000 Monthly Stipend for Young Supreme Court Advocates (Apply Now)

The Supreme Court Lawyers Welfare Trust (SCLWT) has announced the Justice J.S. Verma Fellowships for the year 2025. This prestigious initiative aims to identify and support promising young advocates who wish to build a litigation practice at the Supreme Court of India.

Selected fellows will receive a monthly stipend of ₹30,000 for a period of two years to support their practice. Additionally, they will receive a subscription to SCC Online. If you are a young lawyer with 2 to 5 years of litigation experience, this is a golden opportunity to establish yourself in the country's apex court. The deadline to apply is 20 December 2025.

Fellowship Overview & Key Details

Eligibility Criteria

The trust is looking for serious litigators. To qualify, you must meet the following strict requirements:

• Enrollment: You must be enrolled with any State Bar Council in India.
• Experience: Preference is given to candidates with a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 5 years of practice in any court in India.
• Nature of Work: Your experience must be in pure litigation. Work with law firms (non-litigation), judicial clerkships, or teaching assignments does not count.
• Commitment: Selected candidates must commit to practicing at the Supreme Court of India for at least 2 years during the fellowship.

Fellowship Benefits

This fellowship is designed to provide financial stability during the initial struggle of establishing a Supreme Court practice. Financial Support: A monthly stipend of ₹30,000 for two years. Resources: A one-time SCC Online® subscription registered in the candidate's name.

Selection Process

The selection is competitive and conducted by the Trustees. 1. Shortlisting: A panel will shortlist 15 candidates based on their applications. 2. Interview: Final interviews will be conducted in January 2025 (likely January 2026 based on the Dec 2025 deadline context) by the Chairperson (Justice Aftab Alam) and other Trustees. 3. Award: Three final candidates will be awarded the fellowship.

Application Requirements

Interested applicants must send an email with the following attachments:

• Latest CV: Detailing your litigation experience.
• Essay (1000 words): On a case of interest that you have been involved in or have followed closely.
• Statement of Purpose (300 words): Explaining why you deserve this fellowship. You may highlight socio-economic background or personal circumstances here.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted via email only. Send your documents to scwelfaretrust@gmail.com on or before 20 December 2025.