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Job Title: CFC Fellow
Department: RuHL (Rule of her Law)
Compensation: 6 Lakh Per Annum + benefits
Location: Shimla (Himachal Pradesh)
Reporting to: State Coordinator
Start Date: January 1, 2027
The Organisation
The Margins to Access Project (MAP), formerly the Migration and Asylum Project, an initiative of The Ara Trust, is a legal aid centre working at the intersection of migration, gender, and justice. MAP operates from the grassroots to the highest institutions to decentralise and democratise the justice system, taking the law to those who need it most. Over a billion Indians qualify for free legal aid under Articles 21 and 39A of the Constitution. For 95 percent of them it remains inaccessible. MAP's model works at two levels at once.
At the community level, direct interventions provide tailored legal assistance. At the institutional level, MAP engages duty-bearers to build systems that are more accessible, responsive, and survivor-centred. TILT is MAP's institutional strengthening programme, built on a simple premise that justice begins long before a courtroom. It begins with informed communities, responsive institutions, and
people on the ground who can provide timely support. Through TILT, MAP collaborates with State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs), judges, lawyers, paralegal volunteers (PLVs), law schools, and civil society organisations to strengthen public legal aid systems.
MAP is a growing organisation of 35+ staff, dedicated to inclusivity, accountability, mutual respect, and professional growth. For more information, visit www.maplawcentre.org
The Position
At MAP, we strongly believe that an organisation is made by its people. As a young and growing organisation, MAP is dedicated to building a team based on the ideals of inclusivity, accountability, and mutual respect, one that is committed to the organisational ethos but with a strong focus on personal development and work satisfaction.
MAP seeks 1 committed and motivated CFC Fellow to assist the State Coordinators in institutional engagement, capacity building, and programme implementation. The ideal candidate will be a dynamic legal professional familiar with litigation processes, passionate about gender justice, and eager to contribute to MAP’s mission of making justice accessible for marginalised communities.
This is a 2-year Fellowship positions with extensive in-state travel and periodic travel to Delhi. Preference will be given to candidates who have a background or connection to the State, including prior practice experience, bar certification, or relevant professional engagement within the State.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
Institutional Coordination and Capacity Building
• Support the State Coordinator in engaging with LSIs, judiciary, bar associations, law universities, and state institutions to strengthen access to justice for marginalised groups.• Assist in the implementation of existing policies, identifying systemic gaps, and supporting advocacy efforts for policy reforms.
• Coordinate and support capacity-building initiatives for institutional actors and legal aid providers, including trainings, workshops, and mentorship processes.
• Contribute to mapping and assessment of legal aid structures, with a focus on gender inclusion and survivor-centred mechanisms, to support programme strategy.Partnerships, Coalitions, and Advocacy
• Assist in building and maintaining partnerships with law schools, bar associations, CSOs, and other justice ecosystem stakeholders.
• Support the formation and coordination of state-level coalitions to strengthen access to justice initiatives.
• Help document partnership processes, advocacy outcomes, and coalition learnings for programme reporting and knowledge management.
• Facilitate stakeholder consultations, meetings, and collaborative platforms for dialogue and action.Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)
• Support the State Coordinator in implementing state- and district-level monitoring, evaluation, and learning frameworks.
• Assist in baseline, midline, and end-line assessments, as well as routine data collection and analysis.
• Maintain documentation of programme progress, case studies, best practices, and evidence for adaptive learning.
• Support the management and updating of CMS systems and programme monitoring tools.Communications, Outreach, and Events
• Assist in developing communication materials, success stories, case studies, and field learnings for internal and external dissemination.
• Support the organisation of regional events, consultations, roundtables, and cross-learning exchanges.
• Strengthen community and stakeholder outreach efforts to improve legal awareness and access to legal aid services.
• Coordinate with state and central communication teams for visibility and advocacy initiatives.Research, Documentation, and Knowledge Generation
• Support the State Coordinator in undertaking research on access to justice issues, legal aid systems, and barriers faced by marginalised communities.
• Assist in producing research documents, thematic reports, and policy briefs that capture learnings, insights, and findings emerging from field engagements with communities and institutional actors.
• Contribute to documenting evidence, case studies, and best practices to inform programme design, advocacy, and institutional strengthening efforts.Programme Operations and Administration
• Provide operational support to the State Coordinator in project implementation, reporting, and budget tracking.
• Participate in regular programme review meetings and provide timely updates on field progress.
• Support planning, logistics, and coordination for quarterly review meetings with the central project team.
• Assist with documentation, grant compliance, and administrative processes related to programme implementation.
• Ensure proper maintenance of records, reports, and administrative systems for effective programme delivery.The Fellow will be carrying out the aforementioned activities under the supervision of the State Coordinator.
Who Should Apply?
MAP is looking for applicants who are graduates of law, with 0-2 years of experience. Candidates must have a deep commitment towards human rights and access to justice issues. High-quality written and verbal communication skills (Hindi and English)
Why MAP?
Joining MAP offers an unparalleled opportunity to work at the forefront of systems change within India’s justice ecosystem. MAP is re-imagining how legal service institutions (LSIs) can function to build inclusive, accountable, and community-rooted systems that enable women justice actors to thrive. Our work bridges deep community engagement with institutional reform: strengthening
legal aid pipelines, redesigning recruitment and training frameworks, building mentorship and recognition systems, creating technology platforms, and embedding gender-responsive practices across LSIs. For someone passionate about gender justice, institutional design, and impact at scale, MAP offers a rare and ambitious platform to shape a new era of legal aid - one where
community wisdom, survivor-centric values, and structural transformation converge to shift how justice is delivered for millions.
Application Process:
Interested candidates are requested to complete the Application Form in the given link:
https://forms.gle/EriXPfWvUwmPPBGt8
The deadline for receiving applications is 5:00 pm (IST) on 31st October 2026. If you have any queries, please write to recruitments@aratrust.in with the subject line “Application for the post of CFC Fellow –HimachalMAP is an equal opportunity employer; women across marginalized sections and gender minorities are encouraged to apply
Recruitment Stages
MAP’s Recruitment process, typically takes 6 to 8 weeks to complete the process.
Due to limited capacity, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, and we are unable to
provide individual feedback to candidates. Any change in the timelines will be communicated to
the shortlisted candidates.
Volunteer with Us!
MAP runs a continuing volunteer programme under which it recruits volunteers from different disciplines to assist in the implementation of its various programmes.
Responsibilities
Volunteers will be assigned to specific project teams and will undergo the necessary training with their supervisors before commencing work. Typically, the responsibilities include:
Assisting with conducting legal research and drafting personal testimonies & legal submissions for clients represented by MAP.
Assisting the team with conducting legal outreach for displaced populations and in other legal awareness generation initiatives.
Assisting with developing legal advocacy initiatives including conducting research for issues related to migration and displacement and other programmatic support, as required.
Assisting the team in organising conferences, webinars and other events.
Coordinating and following up with the organisation’s network of CSOs, legal practitioners, interpreters etc.
Maintaining office databases and drafting office correspondence.
Assisting the team in strengthening its digital media presence and creating content for the website.
Eligibility
Recent graduates or students of Law, International Relations, or relevant social science.
Willingness to work 40 hours a week.
Willingness to travel within New Delhi
Preference will be given to those who are willing to commit a minimum of 2 months and/or candidates who have experience working with migrants / forcibly displaced persons, or other vulnerable populations.
Application Process
If you wish to apply for the volunteer programme, kindly send in your applications two months prior to your proposed start date. You are required to email a letter of interest and an up-to-date CV to recruitments@aratrust.in with the subject line “Application of Volunteer Programme for Period (Month, Year) to (Month, Year)”. Please indicate clearly your period of availability in the subject line, as indicated above. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Please note that all volunteers are paid a modest stipend to cover costs pertaining to food and travel.
Due to the high volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Please note, volunteers will be placed in any of MAPs following programmes, as per the need of the projects:
Displacement, Migration and Inclusion
Gender Equality and Empowerment
Labour, Migration and Mobility
Towards an Inclusive Legal Terrain
FAQs
All of our volunteer positions are advertised on the website, please keep checking our updates. Still want to know more? Read on!
Why intern at MAP?
MAP is a young, dynamic and unique organization that undertakes work that very few others do in the Indian sub-continent.
Our programmes balance both research and fieldwork, allowing for a holistic and comprehensive view of the issue at hand.
By working directly with vulnerable populations and stakeholders on the ground, working with MAP provides opportunities to bring about consistent and tangible change from the ground-up.
Dealing with vulnerable populations also helps develop soft skills such as confidentiality and ethics, effective communication, trust, team work, etc.
You will be given the opportunity to interact with like-minded and committed persons working in the field of forced migration and displacement in India.
What are the eligibility criteria for the internship?
MAP is committed to using fair, objective, and positive practices to promote equal opportunities and diversity in recruitment, ensuring that all employees, staff and interns are treated fairly, consistently and with respect The eligibility criteria include:
Recent graduates or students of Law, International Relations, or another relevant social science field.
Willingness to work 40 hours a week.
Willingness to travel within New Delhi
Preference will be given to those who are willing to commit a minimum of 2 months and/or candidates who have experience working with migrants /forcibly displaced persons, or other vulnerable populations.
Will I be paid for the period of my internship?
MAP will provide a modest stipend to all interns.
Can I do this internship online?
We require all of our interns to be present at the MAP office for their internship. Please only apply if you are willing and able to relocate to Delhi.
What is the duration of internship?
MAP runs a continuing internship programme under which it recruits interns from different disciplines for 6-8 weeks to assist in the implementation of its various programmes.
Can I choose the programme I want to intern with?
There are three main ongoing programmes at MAP:
Displacement, Migration and Inclusion
Gender Equality and Empowerment
Labour, Migration and Mobility
Towards an Inclusive Legal Terrain
Interns will be placed in any of them, as per the need of the projects. However, once the period of your internship finishes, you are welcome to apply again to intern with another programme, provided a vacancy exists.
Do you have any guidelines for my application?
Be honest and open in your application, and tell us why you want to intern at MAP and how you feel this would be beneficial for you in your future career. You don’t have to have things completely figured out, but we’d like to know how we fit into the picture!
Remember, however, to give careful thought to your CV and a letter of interest, we pay equal attention to both!
When can I expect to hear from you?
Once you submit an internship request with the requisite documents, your application will be added to a pool for review by the Recruitment team. Typically, a small number of applicants are selected for a preliminary online interview.
The recruitment process usually takes around 2-4 weeks. You will hear from us within 4 weeks if you have been shortlisted.
Please note, due to the high volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We will also not be able to provide you with personalized feedback in case you have not been shortlisted.
What will be the main responsibilities during the internship duration?
Volunteers will be assigned to specific project teams and will undergo the necessary training with their supervisors before commencing work. Typically, the responsibilities include:
Assisting with conducting legal research and drafting personal testimonies & legal submissions for clients represented by MAP.
Assisting the team with conducting legal outreach for displaced populations and in other legal awareness generation initiatives.
Assisting with developing legal advocacy initiatives including conducting research for issues related to migration and displacement and other programmatic support, as required.
Assisting the team in organizing conferences, webinars and other events.
Coordinating and following up with the organization’s network of CSOs, legal practitioners, interpreters etc.
Maintaining office databases and drafting office correspondence.
Assisting the team in strengthening its digital media presence and creating content for the website.
To assist in any other task assigned by the programme team.
