Ananya Bangar, judicial law clerk at the Supreme Court of India, who has secured admission to the LL.M. programme at Columbia Law School, New York, for the academic year 2026–27 — an achievement she attributes entirely to merit, self-study and disciplined preparation.
New Delhi [India], July 08: Ananya Bangar, a judicial law clerk at the Supreme Court of India, has secured admission to the Master of Laws (LL.M.) programme at Columbia Law School, New York, for the 2026–27 academic year. She describes the achievement as the result of merit, perseverance and self-study, accomplished without expensive coaching or the support of influential professional networks.
A graduate of National Law University (NLU), Delhi, Bangar has spent the past two years assisting a sitting judge of the Supreme Court with legal research on constitutional law, criminal justice, bail jurisprudence and minority rights.
Ananya Bangar at the Supreme Court of India, New Delhi, where she has served as a judicial law clerk for two years, contributing to legal research on constitutional law, criminal justice, bail jurisprudence and minority rights under a sitting judge of the apex court.
“Every case file I work on carries life-changing consequences for the people involved. The law demands not only technical excellence but also empathy. Working at the Supreme Court has taught me that preserving the spirit of the Constitution is as important as interpreting its provisions.” — Ananya Bangar
Admission to Columbia Law School’s LL.M. programme is regarded as one of the most competitive opportunities in global legal education, attracting accomplished lawyers and legal scholars from around the world. Bangar said reaching this milestone without commercial coaching reinforces her belief that determination and disciplined preparation can overcome limited resources.
Alongside her judicial responsibilities, Bangar has pursued research on the use of artificial intelligence in the justice system, particularly its potential to improve access to justice for ordinary litigants. She previously worked with the legal-tech startup Lucio AI and studied algorithmic bias and law through a UNESCO programme. In 2023, she attended Harvard Law School and the Harvard Kennedy School as a Visiting Scholar, where she studied policy and global justice. She has also completed a Policy Writing course at the University of Chicago.
For Bangar, joining Columbia Law School carries a deeper personal significance. Dr B.R. Ambedkar, principal architect of the Constitution of India, studied at Columbia University in the early twentieth century.
“Studying at the university where Dr Ambedkar pursued his education is far more than an academic milestone. It is an opportunity to be part of an inspiring intellectual tradition that has shaped ideas of justice, equality and constitutionalism.” — Ananya Bangar
Beyond academics and legal research, Bangar has volunteered as a biology teacher for visually impaired students at the Devnar School for the Blind in Hyderabad and plans to establish a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting legal literacy and public awareness of artificial intelligence in India.
Her journey — from a law student at NLU Delhi to the Supreme Court of India and now to Columbia Law School — reflects a commitment to academic excellence, constitutional values and expanding access to justice through law and technology.
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