by Amity Law School, Amity University Bengaluru
Amity Law School, Amity University Bengaluru is organising the 1st National Virtual Judgment Writing & Judicial Reasoning Competition 2026 — a first-of-its-kind competition dedicated entirely to the craft of writing judicial opinions. Unlike moot court competitions that test oral advocacy, this event challenges participants to think, reason, and write like a judge.
Participants will be given a factual scenario or proposition and will be required to draft a complete judgment based on it, submitting a single unified opinion. The competition is fully online, making it accessible to law students across India regardless of their institution's location or resources.
Organised with the goal of nurturing precision, legal empathy, and a firm understanding of the rule of law, this competition offers cash prizes totalling Rs. 12,000 along with certificates for all participants. Registration closes on 5 June 2026, with results declared by 25 June 2026.
Career significance & professional impact
Judgment writing competitions are uncommon in the Indian law school circuit, which means early participation in this format immediately sets you apart. Adding this competition to your CV — particularly if you finish as a winner or runner-up — demonstrates a specialised legal skill that most peers will not have showcased in a formal competitive context.
The Winner receives Rs. 7,000 and a Certificate of Merit, while the Runner-Up receives Rs. 5,000 and a Certificate of Merit. All participants, regardless of placement, receive a certificate of participation — making the opportunity worthwhile even if you don't place.
Beyond the prizes, the process of preparing for and writing a judgment sharpens skills that are directly relevant across a range of legal careers: judicial services examinations, clerkships, litigation practice, and legal academia all demand strong analytical writing and reasoned argumentation. Participating in a nationally recognised virtual competition organised by an established institution like Amity University Bengaluru also adds credibility to the achievement.
Judgment writing is a skill that sits at the heart of legal reasoning — and yet it is rarely taught or tested as a standalone discipline during a law degree. This competition gives you a rare opportunity to develop and demonstrate exactly that skill in a structured, competitive environment.
Whether you aspire to join the judiciary, practice as a litigator, or pursue academic legal research, the ability to reason through facts, apply the law, and articulate a coherent judicial opinion is enormously valuable. Participating in this competition signals to future employers, selectors, and mentors that you take legal writing seriously and have gone beyond the standard curriculum.
The fully virtual format also means there are no travel costs or logistical barriers — you can participate from anywhere in India. With certificates awarded to all participants and merit certificates and cash prizes for winners, even a strong showing short of first place adds meaningful recognition to your academic profile.
The competition is open to students currently enrolled in a bachelor's degree in law — this includes both 3-Year LL.B. and 5-Year integrated LL.B. programmes. Your institution must be a recognized university or law school in India. There is no restriction based on year of study, so first-year students are as welcome as final-year students.
Participation is allowed both individually and as a team of two (co-authorship). Teams larger than two members are not permitted. If you participate as a team, both members must be eligible law students meeting the above criteria.
All submissions must be made in English, in Microsoft Word format, and must adhere to the specified formatting and citation guidelines, including the Bluebook (20th Edition) citation style. Entries that do not comply with these requirements may be disqualified, so reviewing the official brochure or guidelines carefully before submitting is strongly advised.
Application Deadline
05 Jun 2026
Closed
Event Ends
25 Jun 2026
Follow these steps to register and participate in the competition:
Visit the official competition page
at Amity University Bengaluru's website: https://amity.edu/eventspg/Bengaluru/JWRC2026/. Read all guidelines, rules, and the official brochure thoroughly before proceeding.
Complete the registration form
using the Google Form link: https://forms.gle/BiaipYnhzLYye8fy5. Select whether you are registering as an individual or as a team of two.
Pay the registration fee
— for individual participants and for a team of two. Details for payment will be specified in the registration form or official brochure.
Receive your competition problem/scenario
as per the timeline communicated by the organisers after registration.
Draft and submit your judgment
in Microsoft Word format, following the Bluebook (20th Edition) citation style and all formatting guidelines specified in the official rules. The submission deadline is .
Ensure all team member details and institutional information are accurate at the time of registration to avoid any issues with certificate issuance.
Start by familiarising yourself with the structure of a judicial opinion. Read landmark judgments from the Supreme Court of India and High Courts, paying attention to how facts are stated, how issues are framed, how legal reasoning is developed, and how relief is granted. Notice the language, tone, and logical progression used by judges.
Since the competition requires Bluebook (20th Edition) citations, invest time in learning this citation style before you begin drafting. Incorrect or inconsistent citations are a common reason for losing marks, and getting this right shows attention to detail.
When you receive the factual scenario, resist the urge to immediately start writing. Spend time identifying the legal issues clearly, mapping out the relevant law, and planning your opinion before drafting. A well-structured judgment with a logical flow will score significantly better than one that is rushed or disorganised.
If you are participating as a team, ensure both members contribute to the reasoning and review the submission together — examiners can often tell when a submission lacks a unified voice. Avoid padding your judgment with unnecessary facts or repetitive reasoning; precision and clarity are prized over length. Proofread for grammatical errors, formatting inconsistencies, and citation accuracy before final submission.
A: Yes. The eligibility criteria only require that you are currently enrolled in a 3-Year or 5-Year LL.B. programme at a recognised Indian university. There is no restriction based on your year of study, so first-year students are eligible to participate.
A: Both options are available. You may register as an individual or form a team of two (co-authorship). Teams of more than two members are not permitted. The registration fee differs: ₹500 for individuals and ₹800 for a team.
A: Submissions must follow the citation style. Ensure you are familiar with this format before drafting, as non-compliance with citation guidelines could affect your evaluation.
A: All submissions must be in and must comply with the formatting guidelines specified in the official competition rules. It is advisable to download and review the official brochure from the competition page for the complete set of formatting requirements.
A: Yes. Certificates of participation are provided to . Winners and runners-up additionally receive Certificates of Merit along with their cash prizes.
The information presented here is based on details published on the official competition page hosted by Amity University Bengaluru (https://amity.edu/eventspg/Bengaluru/JWRC2026/) and cross-referenced with the listing on Lawctopus (https://www.lawctopus.com). This opportunity has been marked as Highly Verified on Lawships Discover. Content was compiled based on the structured opportunity data available at the time of editorial preparation.
The information provided on this page is for informational purposes only and is intended to help law students discover and explore legal opportunities. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, details such as deadlines, fees, eligibility criteria, and prize amounts may change without notice. Always verify all information directly on the official competition website before registering or making any payments. Lawships Discover (discover.lawships.in) is not responsible for any discrepancies between the information presented here and the details published by the organising institution.
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About the Author
Lawship Editorial
Senior Legal Editor, Lawships
NLS Bangalore, 7 years in legal content
Passionate legal editor with 7 years of experience in legal writing, research, and content curation. An NLS Bangalore graduate currently serving as Sr. Legal Editor at Lawships, committed to making legal knowledge more accessible and useful.