RMLNLU-JSA International Legal Essay Writing Competition 2026
Taxation Law | Cash Prizes Worth ₹30,000
Top 6 Authors to Present Papers at Offline Conference
The Journal Committee of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU), Lucknow, in association with J. Sagar Associates (JSA), is inviting submissions for the 14th RMLNLU International Legal Essay Writing Competition (RILEC).
The theme of the 2026 edition is “Taxation Law”. The competition invites original essays from eligible law students. The top six entries will be selected to participate in an offline conference where they will present their papers before a panel of judges.
The competition carries total cash prizes of ₹30,000, with ₹15,000 for the winner, ₹10,000 for the first runner-up and ₹5,000 for the second runner-up.
RMLNLU-JSA Essay Competition 2026 – Quick Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Competition | 14th RMLNLU International Legal Essay Writing Competition |
| Organisers | RMLNLU Journal Committee & J. Sagar Associates |
| Theme | Taxation Law |
| Eligibility | 5-year LL.B., 3-year LL.B. or LL.M. students |
| Participation | Individual or Co-authored (Maximum 2 authors) |
| Word Limit | 4,000–5,000 words excluding footnotes |
| Top 6 | Selected for offline conference |
| Total Cash Prizes | ₹30,000 |
| Submission Deadline | 6 October 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Offline Conference | March 2027, tentatively |
About the Organizers
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU), Lucknow was established in 2006 with the objective of providing legal education and promoting legal knowledge, advocacy and legal writing.
J. Sagar Associates
J. Sagar Associates (JSA) is a national law firm in India with practices covering areas such as corporate and commercial law, finance, dispute resolution, tax, regulatory affairs and intellectual property.
RMLNLU Journal Committee
The Journal Committee at RMLNLU promotes legal research and writing. It publishes the RMLNLU Law Review, the RMLNLU Journal on CMET Law and the RMLNLU Law Review Blog.
About the Competition
The 14th edition of the RMLNLU International Legal Essay Writing Competition (RILEC) is being organised by the RMLNLU Journal Committee along with J. Sagar Associates.
The central theme for this edition is “Taxation Law.” Participants are required to submit original legal essays addressing the competition theme or an appropriate sub-theme.
The competition has an additional offline component. After the submitted essays are evaluated, the authors of the top six entries will be invited to an offline conference. At the conference, they will present their papers before a panel of judges.
Theme: Taxation Law
The theme of the competition is Taxation Law. Participants may write on suitable taxation-related topics. The organisers have provided several suggested sub-themes, but these are indicative and not exhaustive.
Suggested Sub-Themes
Unilateral Digital Taxes vs. Bilateral Treaty Obligations, including the legality of India's Significant Economic Presence (SEP) Rule in the context of existing tax treaties.
Issues surrounding tax offenses and anti-avoidance law in India.
Retrospective taxation, state fiscal sovereignty and investor-state dispute settlement under bilateral investment treaties.
Exploring India's transfer pricing overhaul.
Startup taxation and valuation disputes following the abolition of angel tax.
GST on online marketplaces, e-commerce and OIDAR services.
Eligibility Criteria
The competition is open to students pursuing the following courses during the academic year 2026–2027:
- 5-year integrated LL.B. (Hons.) course.
- 3-year LL.B. course.
- LL.M. programme.
Students must be enrolled at a recognised university in India or pursuing an equivalent law degree abroad.
Team Composition and Participation Rules
The competition allows both individual participation and co-authorship.
Maximum two authors per entry.
Entries must be original and unpublished.
Multiple entries by the same authors are not permitted.
- Maximum two authors are permitted.
- Co-authors may belong to the same or different institutions.
- Multiple entries by the same authors are not permitted.
- Entries must be original.
- Entries must be unpublished.
- Plagiarised submissions are not permitted.
Essay Submission Guidelines
The essay must contain between 4,000 and 5,000 words, excluding footnotes.
Individual attachments must include the required author information and an undertaking guaranteeing originality. The required information includes:
- Author's name.
- Contact details.
- Current academic status.
- Year of study.
- Name of university.
- Undertaking guaranteeing originality.
Entries must be submitted through the submission form referred to in the competition materials.
Formatting Guidelines
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Font | Times New Roman |
| Main Text Size | 12 point |
| Line Spacing | 1.5 |
| Alignment | Justified |
| Margins | 1 inch on all sides |
| Paper Size | A4 |
| Footnotes | Times New Roman, 10 point |
| Citation Style | Latest OSCOLA, 4th Edition |
Important: Endnotes and speaking or descriptive footnotes are not permitted.
⚠️ Important Disqualification Rule
The author's name or university must not appear anywhere in the submitted entry. Any such indication will result in immediate disqualification.
Author details should only be provided in the submission form. The author's name must also not be included in the file name.
Competition Structure
- All submitted entries will be evaluated and ranked by JSA and the RMLNLU Journal Committee.
- The authors of the top six entries will be selected for an offline conference.
- The selected authors will present their papers before a panel of judges.
- Participants may use suitable presentation methods, including audio-visual aids such as PowerPoint presentations.
- The final rankings of the top six authors will be declared based on their paper presentations at the conference.
How the Selection Works
Stage 1: Essay submission and evaluation.
Stage 2: Top six entries are selected.
Stage 3: Selected authors attend the offline conference.
Stage 4: Paper presentations determine the final rankings among the top six.
Prizes and Other Entitlements
The competition provides several additional entitlements to participants and selected authors:
- The top three authors will receive a Certificate of Achievement.
- The top three authors may, at the discretion of JSA, receive an internship opportunity in accordance with the firm's Internship Policy.
- Selected entries will receive a Certificate of Merit.
- The top three entries will be published on the RMLNLU Law Review Blog.
- Selected entries may be considered for publication in the next issue of the RMLNLU Law Review Journal.
- All participants will receive a Certificate of Participation.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Last Date for Manuscript Submission | 6 October 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Offline Conference | March 2027, tentatively |
The exact dates for the offline conference will be announced later. Late entries will not be entertained.
How to Submit?
Participants must submit their essays through the official submission form referred to in the competition materials.
Submit Your Essay Online
Click Here to Submit →Submission Checklist
☑ Choose a suitable topic under the Taxation Law theme.
☑ Keep the essay between 4,000 and 5,000 words excluding footnotes.
☑ Use Times New Roman, 12-point font.
☑ Use 1.5 line spacing and justified alignment.
☑ Maintain one-inch margins and A4 page size.
☑ Use 10-point Times New Roman for footnotes.
☑ Follow the latest OSCOLA, 4th edition citation format.
☑ Ensure the paper is original, unpublished and non-plagiarised.
☑ Do not mention your name or university in the essay.
☑ Do not include your name in the file name.
☑ Provide author details only through the submission form.
☑ Submit before 6 October 2026, 11:59 PM.
Miscellaneous Rules
- The copyright for all entries will vest with the Journal Committee.
- The Committee reserves the right to modify, postpone or defer the competition and its adjudication indefinitely in case of unforeseen exigencies.
- Any direct or indirect attempt to contact the panel of judges will result in immediate disqualification of the relevant entry.
Contact Details
Email: rilec.rmlnlu@gmail.com
Contact Persons:
- Rea Agrawal: 8080309856
- Pallakshi Pandiya: 9889938676
- Aarush Mishra: 7838650561
- Eshant Kumar: 8218799160
- Khushi Jain: 7206222620
Competition Brochure
Participants should refer to the competition brochure for the complete rules and requirements before submitting their essays.
Submit Your Essay Before 6 October 2026
The 14th RMLNLU-JSA International Legal Essay Writing Competition 2026 is centred on Taxation Law and is open to eligible LL.B. and LL.M. students. The competition offers ₹30,000 in total cash prizes, publication opportunities, certificates and the possibility of an internship opportunity at JSA for the top three authors, at the firm's discretion and in accordance with its Internship Policy.
The most important submission requirements include the 4,000–5,000 word limit, OSCOLA 4th edition citations, original and unpublished work, and strict anonymity of the submitted manuscript.
Disclaimer
This article has been prepared based on the competition information provided in the source material. Participants should carefully read the official competition brochure and submission requirements before submitting an entry. The organisers may modify, postpone or defer the competition in accordance with the stated rules. Barristery.in does not guarantee prizes, selection for the top six, publication, internship opportunities or any other entitlement.
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