Herbert Smith Freehills has today announced the launch of this year's edition of the biennial Community Engagement Awards, which support law students who create a positive impact in their communities.
The firm is calling for entries from individuals or teams across India, which highlight initiatives that are creating a sustainable impact in their communities.
Candidates are asked to submit a short film (2-5 minutes in length), supported by a note (of up to 700 words) explaining the project and how the £4,000 prize money will make a difference to the non-profit partners with whom they are involved. The deadline for entries is Monday, 15 July 2019. Winners will be selected by a panel which includes members of the firm's India Practice. Following this, they will then be invited to an awards dinner in India.
Winners of previous editions include participants from Dehradun, Pune, Hyderabad and Delhi.
Make a Difference by Being the Difference (MAD) – a student-led activist group, continues to create impact after winning the 2016 edition. MAD's aim is to keep the city of Dehradun clean and create works of art for the community.
Abhijay Negi, founder of MAD, said: "Winning the award gave us immense confidence and a morale boost. For anyone looking to make a big difference within your community, we would certainly recommend taking part in the Herbert Smith Freehills Community Engagement Awards."
Chris Parsons, Chairman of Herbert Smith Freehills' India Practice, commented:
"We are looking forward to seeing the variety of submissions again this year. The type of work law students in India are doing to create a positive impact in their communities is admirable and we are pleased these Awards allow us to work alongside some fantastically-minded law students. These Awards are not just about a cash prize, they also give us an opportunity to work alongside, advise and mentor the next generation of top lawyers and we are very grateful to have that opportunity."
To find out more about the Community Engagement Awards, please visit the website here: https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/ceaindia