2nd National Level Trial Advocacy Competition 2026 by ICFAI University
The ICFAI University Trial Advocacy Competition 2026 is being organised by the Moot Court Committee, Faculty of Law, The ICFAI University, Himachal Pradesh. The competition will provide law students with practical exposure to trial court proceedings, including examination-in-chief, cross-examination, objections, appreciation of evidence and courtroom strategy.
The 2nd National Level Trial Advocacy Competition 2026 will follow a hybrid format. The preliminary and octa-final rounds will take place online, while the advanced rounds will be conducted physically at the ICFAI University campus in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh.
The competition focuses on “Corporate Crime, Digital Evidence and Trial Advocacy in the Age of Technology.” It is particularly relevant for students interested in criminal law, litigation, courtroom advocacy and trial practice.
Registration deadline: 15 September 2026
Online rounds: 30 September–1 October 2026
Offline rounds: 17–18 October 2026
Prize Pool: ₹61,000
About the ICFAI University Trial Advocacy Competition 2026
The ICFAI University Trial Advocacy Competition 2026 is a national-level trial advocacy competition conducted by the Faculty of Law, The ICFAI University, Himachal Pradesh. The event is designed to move beyond theoretical knowledge and give participants an opportunity to practise courtroom skills in a simulated trial setting.
Participants will work on skills such as examination-in-chief, cross-examination, re-examination, raising objections, appreciating evidence, developing case strategy and presenting arguments effectively. The competition also aims to develop courtroom etiquette and persuasive advocacy skills.
The official ICFAI University event listing confirms that the competition is scheduled for September and October 2026, while the university also launched the competition brochure in July 2026.
Theme: Corporate Crime, Digital Evidence and Trial Advocacy in the Age of Technology
This makes the competition a useful opportunity for law students who want practical exposure to criminal trials, digital evidence and contemporary corporate crime issues.
Eligibility, Theme and Team Composition
The ICFAI University Trial Advocacy Competition 2026 is open to students pursuing a full-time Three-Year LL.B. or Five-Year Integrated LL.B. programme from an institution recognised by the Bar Council of India or another competent authority. Only one team from each institution can participate.
Each team must have three members:
- Two Counsels
- One Witness
The competition will be conducted in English. The team composition generally remains fixed after registration, and any change requires prior written approval from the organisers.
The proposition deals with issues connected to corporate crime, digital evidence and trial advocacy in the age of technology. Students should therefore prepare for both substantive legal issues and practical courtroom techniques.
Registration, Fees and Prizes
Students interested in the ICFAI University Trial Advocacy Competition 2026 can register through the official registration form.
Registration:
The registration fee depends on the stage of participation:
- Online Preliminary and Octa-Final Rounds: ₹3,000 per team
- Offline Advanced Rounds without accommodation: ₹2,000 per team
- Offline Advanced Rounds with accommodation: ₹4,000 per team
The registration fee is non-refundable. Teams are required to complete the registration process and submit the required documents, including the payment receipt, institutional authorisation and student identity cards.
The ICFAI University Trial Advocacy Competition 2026 offers a total prize pool of ₹61,000:
- Winner: ₹31,000
- Runner-Up: ₹21,000
- Best Speaker: ₹3,000
- Best Witness: ₹3,000
- Best Written Submission: ₹3,000
Certificates of participation will also be provided to participating teams.
Important Dates and Competition Format
The ICFAI University Trial Advocacy Competition 2026 will be conducted through online and offline rounds.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration Opens | 16 July 2026 |
| Last Date to Register | 15 September 2026 |
| Last Date for Clarifications | 18 September 2026 |
| Release of Clarifications | 21 September 2026 |
| Written Submission Deadline | 25 September 2026 |
| Online Preliminary Round | 30 September 2026 |
| Online Octa-Final Round | 1 October 2026 |
| Offline Quarter-Final & Semi-Final | 17 October 2026 |
| Final Round & Valedictory Ceremony | 18 October 2026 |
The competition follows a knockout format. All registered teams participate in the online preliminary round. The top 16 teams then progress to the online octa-final. The top eight teams advance to the offline quarter-final, followed by the semi-final and final rounds. The offline advanced rounds will take place at The ICFAI University campus in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh.
Teams must also prepare written submissions for both the Prosecution and Defence. The submissions must follow the prescribed formatting and submission requirements in the competition rules.
Trial Proposition:
Download the Trial Proposition
Brochure and Rules:
For queries, the Moot Court Committee can be contacted at mcc.fol@iuhimachal.edu.in. The competition is a relevant option for students looking to strengthen their litigation skills through a national trial advocacy competition with both online and physical courtroom rounds.
