Internship Experience at Jharkhand State Legal Service Authority: Resourceful Internship; No Stipend

Name of the Student

Sandeep Ranjan

College and Year of Study

GuruGobind Singh Indraprastha University, 1st year

Name and Address of the Organization

Jharkhand State Legal Service Authority is located near A G More, Doranda, Ranchi, Jharkhand – 834002.

Duration of Internship

1 August 2022, to 31 August 2022

How did you Apply?

I applied for the internship by sending my curriculum vitae through email to jhalsaranchi[at]gmail.com. I received a confirmation mail regarding the same by the Member Secretary, JHALSA. I had to submit an application along with a hard copy of the Curriculum Vitae at the time of reporting to the concerned department. My documents were verified and I received a verification email.

First Day Formalities, Infrastructure, First Impression

After all the formalities of the first day (reporting, verification etc.) I was provided with the Legal Services Authorities Act, of 1987 through email. And I was given the task of studying the whole act and had to make a detailed report on it.

Our supervisors (district judges) were friendly and were very helpful to us. All the dignitaries were well-versed and were always ready to help us. I met law students from various universities who were very friendly and cooperative.

Main Tasks and Work Environment

In the first week of the internship, we were given the task of making pamphlets on burning social issues. These pamphlets were distributed to the common people who came for mediation. This helped create awareness among the people.

We were given the task to compile all the landmark judgments of the Supreme Court on issues such as domestic violence, child abuse, victim compensation relief in road traffic accidents etc. We had to mail our work to the Member Secretary.

In the second week, we got the opportunity to visit the District Legal Services Authority, Ranchi and Civil Court, Ranchi. We were given the task to listen to the hearings of cases and keep a record of the investigation process.

We visited different courts like munsif courts, family courts, permanent Lok Adalat courts, and criminal courts. We had to submit reports of everyday work to the secretary, DLSA. In the third week, we were given the task to make a report on permanent lok adalats. Also, we needed to make a report on legal aid clinic and PLVs (Para Legal Volunteers).

In the fourth week, we went on a visit to the central jails. We were warmly greeted by the jail authorities and were briefed about the whole functioning of jails. We were told about the rights of the prisoners and what is the extent of their freedom in the jail premises.

We were told about the facilities such as education, employment etc provided to the prisoners having good moral character. We also got a chance to interact with several prisoners.

Good things

The whole internship was resourceful and we got a new insight of looking at things. Since we are very busy in our academics we are not able to explore other things. But this internship provided me with a platform to explore various new things. I got to meet a wide array of people which in itself is quite amazing.

The best thing about the internship was that I was able to meet such people which made me feel like there is a rule of law existing in the nation. After reading the various landmark judgments and reports, I was in a better position to analyze the problems of society.

Bad things

There were no particular drawbacks of the internship. But I felt commotion in the court premises and there was lack of mediators in DLSA. They had too much work pressure and they worked in a very sophisticated environment.

Accommodation & Conveyance to Office 

Although it was my hometown so the accommodation was not a matter of concern for me but my fellow interns there took a room in a nearby lodge in Parastoli, Doranda. So basically they too didn’t face many problems regarding accommodation.

Stipend

None.

Anything Else?

I made new friends and we all enjoyed ourselves a lot and developed a special bond. Even today we are in contact with each other and it was all possible only because of JHALSA. I got to meet young advocates who inspired me.

Source: Lawctopus