• 17 Jul 2026
  • 4 mins read

Research Fellow

ABOUT VIDHI

The Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy (“Vidhi”) is an independent think tank doing legal research to make better laws and improve governance for the public good. Vidhi is committed to producing legal research of the highest standard with the aim of informing public debate and contributing to improved governance. Vidhi works with Ministries of the Government of India and State Governments, as well as other public institutions, providing research and drafting support at various stages of law-making. Vidhi also conducts and freely disseminates independent research in areas of legal reform which it believes is critical to India’s future.

Vidhi is an equal opportunity employer and neither practices nor tolerates any kind of discriminatory behaviour.

ABOUT VIDHI BENGAL

Vidhi Bengal is the newest state office of the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, commencing operations in August 2026. It will work directly with the State Government of West Bengal on legislation and policy, and produce independent legal research on the questions that matter most to the state. Joining at the outset, the Research Fellow will have the rare opportunity to build a new practice from the ground up, working closely with the Lead of Vidhi Bengal.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

Vidhi Bengal is hiring one Research Fellow. The role has two sides: engaged work with the State Government, and independent legal and policy research. A strong candidate will move comfortably between the two.

Working with the State Government, the Research Fellow will:

  • Draft primary and subordinate legislation on subjects within the State’s competence under the Constitution of India.
  • Attend and present at meetings, consultations, and briefings with government officials and other stakeholders.

In independent research, the Research Fellow will:

  • Produce high-quality reports, research notes, briefs, and position papers.
  • Write op-eds, articles, and blogs, and produce podcasts and videos, to disseminate the work to a wider audience.

Throughout, the Research Fellow is expected to be organised, detail-oriented, and reliable with deadlines.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

  • Undergraduate degree in law.
  • 0-2 years of relevant work experience in public policy, litigation, or law firms. Candidates with relevant internship experience are also encouraged to apply.
  • Excellent legal research and drafting skills, and excellent communication and presentation skills.

Desirable

  • Master’s degree in law or public policy.
  • Experience interacting with government officials, civil society groups, and similar stakeholders.
  • A track record of publications in journals, blogs, or newspapers.
  • Familiarity with graphic design.
  • Fluency in Bengali, spoken and written, will be strongly preferred.  

LOCATION AND REMUNERATION

This is a full-time position based out of Kolkata. Remuneration will be competitive, in line with experience and existing structure at Vidhi.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should apply through our online portal by filling in the required details in the application form and uploading the following documents as a single PDF file under the head “Upload resume”:

  1. Latest Curriculum Vitae (CV) (not exceeding two A4 pages)
  2. Statement of motivation (in a maximum of 500 words) explaining why the candidate is interested in this position
  3. Names and contact details of two references (academic or professional)
  4. One writing sample of 1,000-1,500 words on a subject in law or public policy. This need not be written for this application. An excerpt from a longer piece works equally well, whether a research paper submitted in law school, an op-ed etc. Footnotes and any particular format are not required.

File naming format: Please ensure that the uploaded PDF file is named “FirstName_LastName_PositionName”.

The deadline to submit applications is 31 July 2026 5 PM IST. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Only applications submitted through the online portal will be reviewed. Please do not email resumes and cover letters; only queries may be sent via email to careers@vidhilegalpolicy.in with the subject line “Query – Research Fellow, Vidhi Bengal”.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Apply here
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