CLAP, NUSRL, Second Place, MacJannet Prize, Global Citizenship 2025, Law Schools
The Centre for Legal Aid Programme (CLAP) at the National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi, has been awarded second place in the internationally acclaimed MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship 2025. This recognition is conferred by the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities, in partnership with the MacJannet Foundation, and is accompanied by a grant of $7,500 in acknowledgement of CLAP’s contribution to community engagement and the advancement of access to justice. The recognition from the Talloires Network, which comprises over 400 universities in 92 countries, highlights NUSRL’s growing global footprint in engaged legal education. The prize will assist the Centre in expanding its outreach efforts, strengthening projects such as Project Saarthi (prison-based legal aid and rehabilitation), and initiating further collaboration in rural and tribal areas of Jharkhand.
The prize celebrates student-led initiatives worldwide that embody the values of civic engagement, global citizenship, and social responsibility. This recognition places CLAP among a list of international programmes working at the grassroots to bring about meaningful change. Following the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bengaluru, which secured second place in 2014, NUSRL has become the second National Law University in India to receive the award.
CLAP works in close collaboration with several institutional partners, including the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), the Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (JHALSA), and a network of civil society organisations and grassroots NGOs. These partnerships have enabled the Centre to expand its impact and reach, particularly among marginalised and underrepresented communities across Jharkhand. Over the years, CLAP has undertaken a wide range of initiatives, including the village adoption project, welfare programmes for senior citizens, and prison visits. The Centre has also actively conducted speed mentoring sessions for legal literacy, sensitisation programmes in government schools, and client counselling sessions to address the legal grievances of underserved individuals. In addition to these outreach efforts, CLAP has organised legal aid certificate courses, guest lectures by eminent legal scholars and practitioners, panel discussions, and national-level seminars to foster academic discourse and build student capacity.
For its continued work over the years, it has been recognised at the national level, including winning the National Legal Award for Legal Aid and Social Justice Activities by Knowledge Steez for two consecutive years (2023 & 2024) and securing the Best Faculty Coordinator Award at the second Prof. V. S. Mallar Memorial Legal Aid Competition organised by NLSIU, Bengaluru.
