About the Centre
The Centre for Access to Justice (CAJ) at Vinayaka Mission’s Law School is a mission-driven hub advancing equitable access to legal remedies through community-focused services, research, and training. Rooted in social justice values, CAJ bridges the gap between legal rights on paper and justice in practice, especially for underserved communities.
Vision
To build a just society where every person irrespective of socio-economic status can understand, claim, and enforce legal rights with dignity and timely support.
Mission
Deliver practical legal assistance and quality legal literacy to vulnerable groups through clinics and outreach programs.
Train law students as empathetic, practice-ready professionals with strong ethical foundations.
Partner with government bodies, NGOs, and community leaders to scale rights awareness and remedy access.
Produce impactful, policy-relevant research that strengthens justice delivery systems.
Core Pillars
Legal Aid and Advice
Walk-in and scheduled clinics offering basic legal guidance, drafting support, and referrals under faculty supervision.
Community Outreach
Rights awareness camps on issues like wages, domestic violence, cyber safety, pensions, identity documents, tenancy etc.
Research and Policy
Empirical studies, policy briefs, and model protocols on access barriers, legal empowerment, and technology in justice delivery.
Student Training
Live-client exposure, supervised drafting, ethical interviewing, and simulation labs integrating clinical legal education.
Services Offered
Legal literacy sessions in schools, colleges and universities, local bodies, and self-help groups.
Document and application assistance (ID, pensions, welfare benefits, RTI drafting support).
Basic dispute resolution support and referrals to mediation/legal services authorities.
Help desks during community drives for grievance intake and follow-up tracking.
Focus Areas
Women and Child Rights
Domestic violence and maintenance
Labor and Livelihood
Street vendors' rights, social security entitlements and Senior Citizens and Transgenders
Citizenship & Identity
Access to schemes (ration, pensions, scholarships)
Digital Safety
Privacy awareness, and cybercrime reporting support especially among Juveniles
How Students Engage
Clinical Credits
Through rotation in the CAJ help desk and field camps.
Drafting Labs
For complaints, applications, representations, legal notices, and affidavits with faculty review.
Research Assistantships
On ongoing projects and impact assessments.
Practical Skills
Moots, simulations, and community mediation shadowing to build advocacy skills.
Partnerships
CAJ collaborates with legal services authorities, district administration, accredited NGOs, and academic centers to co-host outreach camps, referral networks, and data-driven policy initiatives that strengthen justice ecosystems.
Impact Framework
Access: Number of beneficiaries advised, documents assisted, and successful referrals completed.
Learning: Student competencies in interviewing, drafting, ethics, and community engagement.
Systems: Policy recommendations adopted, process improvements, and tech-enabled grievance tracking.
Ethics and Safeguards
All services follow confidentiality norms, conflict checks, and faculty supervision; CAJ does not provide courtroom representation but facilitates appropriate referrals and lawful remedies.
Contact
Office Hours
Mon–Fri, 10 AM–4 PM
Campus Help Desk
Legal aid clinic, VMCC Campus