Young Professional (Legal) Vacancy at National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) – Detailed Overview
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced recruitment for Young Professional (Legal) posts on a contractual basis. This is a targeted opportunity for recently qualified law graduates—especially those who have appeared for CLAT (Postgraduate) 2026—to gain high-impact experience in infrastructure law, public procurement, and large-scale highway projects.
Post Details
- Name of the Post: Young Professional (Legal)
- Number of Posts: 05 (Five)
- Nature of Appointment: Contractual
- Mode of Application: Online only
- Last Date to Apply: 08 September 2026
About NHAI and the Role’s Context
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is the apex body responsible for:
- Development, maintenance, and management of National Highways across India.
- Implementation of major highway projects under schemes such as Bharatmala and other infrastructure programmes.
- Managing complex public–private partnership (PPP) arrangements, engineering–procurement–construction (EPC) contracts, toll operations, land acquisition, and environmental compliance.
A Young Professional (Legal) in NHAI is expected to support the legal department in handling the wide range of contractual, regulatory, and litigation-related matters that arise in large infrastructure projects.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
Candidates must have:
- A Degree in Law (LL.B.) from:
- A recognized university, or
- A National Law School / Institute.
Additional Requirement: CLAT (PG) 2026
The notification specifically requires:
- CLAT (Postgraduate) Score – 2026 as part of the eligibility.
This indicates that NHAI is targeting fresh or early-career law graduates who have recently taken the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) for LL.M. programmes in 2026. Candidates should keep their CLAT (PG) 2026 scorecard and related documents ready for verification.
Likely Roles and Responsibilities
While the official notification will provide exact duties, a Young Professional (Legal) at NHAI can reasonably expect to work on:
1. Contractual and Transactional Support
- Assisting in drafting, vetting, and reviewing:
- EPC contracts
- PPP / concession agreements
- Consultancy agreements
- MoUs and collaboration documents
- Supporting negotiations with:
- Contractors and concessionaires
- Consultants and advisors
- Government agencies and stakeholders.
2. Regulatory and Compliance Work
- Tracking compliance with:
- Public procurement norms
- Contract management guidelines
- Sector-specific regulations affecting highways and infrastructure.
- Coordinating with internal teams on:
- Land acquisition documentation
- Environmental and forest clearances (from a legal documentation perspective)
- Dispute avoidance and risk management.
3. Litigation and Dispute Support
- Assisting senior legal officers in:
- Preparing briefs for courts and tribunals
- Compiling records and evidence for ongoing cases
- Drafting replies, affidavits, and other pleadings under supervision.
- Liaising with external counsel and government law officers as required.
4. Legal Research and Policy Inputs
- Conducting research on:
- Infrastructure law and PPP frameworks
- Recent judgments affecting highways, land acquisition, and contracts
- Comparative models of highway regulation and financing.
- Supporting preparation of notes, summaries, and inputs for internal decision-making.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online through the link provided in the official notice.
- Application Portal: Accessible via the “To apply online, click here”
- Official Notification: Available via the “To Access Official Notification, click here”
Applicants should:
- Read the full official notification carefully for:
- Age limit and relaxations
- Reservation policy
- Exact document requirements
- Tenure of contract, remuneration, and other terms.
- Prepare scanned copies of:
- LL.B. degree and mark sheets
- CLAT (PG) 2026 scorecard
- ID proof, category certificates (if applicable)
- Any experience certificates (if you have prior legal internships or work).
- Fill in the online form accurately and submit before the deadline.
Selection Process (Expected Framework)
For Young Professional roles in statutory bodies like NHAI, the selection process typically involves:
- Shortlisting based on:
- Academic record (LL.B. performance)
- CLAT (PG) 2026 score
- Relevance of any internships or work experience in infrastructure, corporate, or litigation practice.
- Interview / competency assessment, possibly covering:
- Basics of contract law and public procurement
- Understanding of infrastructure/PPP concepts
- Analytical and drafting skills.
The exact selection methodology, weightage of CLAT score, and interview process will be detailed in the official notification.
Who Should Apply?
This role is especially suitable for:
- Fresh law graduates (2025–2026) who:
- Have completed LL.B. from a recognized university or National Law School, and
- Have appeared for CLAT (PG) 2026.
- Young lawyers interested in:
- Infrastructure and construction law
- Public procurement and PPP
- Administrative and regulatory law
- Litigation related to large public projects.
- Candidates aiming for careers in:
- In-house legal teams of infrastructure/Engineering companies
- Government and regulatory bodies
- Law firms with strong infrastructure, project finance, or arbitration practices.
Why This Role Matters
Working as a Young Professional (Legal) at NHAI offers:
- Direct exposure to multi-crore highway projects and complex contractual structures.
- Experience with government-side legal work, which is highly valued for:
- Future roles in public sector undertakings
- Infrastructure-focused law firms
- Policy and regulatory careers.
- Opportunity to understand how law interfaces with engineering, finance, and public policy in one of India’s most visible infrastructure sectors.
Practical Tips for Applicants
- Highlight relevant exposure: In your CV and application, emphasise:
- Internships with infrastructure firms, construction companies, or government bodies.
- Work on contracts, tenders, PPP projects, or arbitration.
- Moot courts, clinics, or courses related to infrastructure, administrative, or commercial law.
- Prepare for infrastructure-focused questions: Be ready to discuss:
- Basic structure of EPC and PPP agreements
- Key legal risks in highway projects (land, environment, payment, termination)
- Role of NHAI and relevant statutes/guidelines.
- Keep documents ready: Especially your:
- LL.B. transcripts
- CLAT (PG) 2026 scorecard
- Any internship/experience letters.
Official Notification: https://nhai.gov.in/nhai/sites/default/files/vacancy_files/Detailed-Advt-YP-Legal.pdf
