Kochi: The Centre for Law and Development (CLD) at the National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi, has announced the IInd National Trial Advocacy Competition (NTAC) 2026, a flagship national-level event designed to strengthen courtroom advocacy and hands-on litigation skills among law students across India.
CLD, a research and policy-oriented centre at NUALS, is known for its focus on socio-legal development and public welfare. Through initiatives such as trial advocacy workshops, mock trials, national moots, and specialised lecture series on emerging areas of law, the Centre seeks to bridge academic learning with practical legal training.
The 2026 edition of NTAC aims to offer participants an experience closely aligned with real criminal trial proceedings. Students will engage in every stage of a trial, including opening statements, examination-in-chief, cross-examination, raising objections, and delivering closing arguments. The competition seeks to enhance litigation skills, deepen understanding of criminal procedure and evidence law, and develop analytical reasoning, courtroom presence, and adaptability.
The competition will be conducted in two phases. Phase I, the online qualifier rounds, will be held via Google Meet and will involve oral interviews of researchers focusing on criminal law, procedural aspects, and hypothetical problem-solving. Based on these rounds, the top 16 teams will advance to Phase II, the offline advanced rounds to be hosted at the NUALS campus.
The advanced rounds will include preliminary rounds, quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final round. Teams will argue from both prosecution and defence perspectives, with witnesses assigned by the organisers. These rounds are structured to simulate an authentic courtroom environment under strict evaluation and time constraints.
The competition is open to students enrolled in three-year or five-year LL.B. programmes at institutions recognised by the Bar Council of India. Each team may comprise two or three members, including two speakers and one researcher, with strict anonymity rules applicable throughout the event.
NTAC 2026 boasts one of the highest prize pools among trial advocacy competitions in the country, with cash prizes and trophies awarded for best team, best advocates, and best researchers. Certificates of merit will be issued to the top 16 teams, while all participants will receive digital certificates of participation.
Registrations open on November 25, 2025, with the final date for registration set as December 25, 2025. The offline advanced rounds will take place from January 30 to February 1, 2026, at NUALS, Kochi.
