Internship Experience under Adv. T.N. Dhande, Warora: First Hand Learning of the Court Proceedings

Name of the intern

Rukaiya Bohra

Name of your college

Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University – RTMNU’s Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar College of Law, Nagpur

Name of the course and year of study

B.A. LL.B. and 3rd year

Name and address of the organisation

Chamber of Adv. T.N. Dhande. The address: Dwarkanagri, Anandwan, Warora, Maharashtra – 442907.

Duration of internship

From: 09/08/2021 Till: 30/11/2021

How did you apply for the internship?

Through sending my resume and SOP on WhatsApp. Lastly, a personal call.

First day formalities, infrastructure, first impression

First day I was asked to dress accordingly in a proper uniform.

Sir asked me to switch off my cell, maintain silence in the court before the judge at all costs.

Infrastructure of Warora Nyaya Mandir, old courts are bad. It is almost in a ruining condition.

The files are arranged on the floor, clerks blaming others for the delay. The judge has to ring the bell quite few a times.

However, I was impressed by the arrangement of tables in the bar room .

Main Tasks

It begins around 11:30 am by visiting the court. Then I go out for adding serial numbers to a diary.

If an application is written I go out for submitting it and then wait till the first half, attend hearings, note down the dates, if dates are provided.

Then I wait for the same and collect them on the instructions of sir. When asked I also write exhibit numbers to several documents for future reference.

I proceed on writing the issues too.

Also if an affidavit is to be drafted, I assist sir in helping clients with the signatures. And get the affidavit done.

I’m also asked to a maintain diary properly. So, my internship is more than just carrying briefs and maintaining a court diary.

I have had a chance to address the court, several times. Answering on behalf of my sir obviously with his prior permission.

Work Environment

The work culture here in Warora is totally different from what I have read / heard.

I knew Warora, as ‘Dehaati’ (rural style) as you can imagine. However, the court building is newly built, so it’s quite easy to figure out courts.

The furniture and computers are also new. Clerks here are friendly, helpful and supportive, adding their piece of advices to us. 

Women advocates still lack that courage. In Warora it’s still male dominant job.

They’re kind of privileged because the judges give preference to their cases in serial numbers.

Further, they’re not taken seriously. The junior are not at all considered humans or anything by judges.

However, if you are diligent at your work, you will get noticed.

Good things

I bet I can’t learn enough from the huge amount of clerical work here.

Here you don’t need to be an advocate but also a self-serving attorney to get things done quickly.

Bad things

I was ragged by my senior, since he asked me to stand while my senior sat comfortably.

There are no separate library or room provided for the juniors other than the bar-room.

The washrooms are smelly like public buildings.

There is no canteen so one has to carry homemade food.

Stipend

None

Details about accommodation and commute

My home is nearby, so I didn’t have the need to look for an accommodation.

From my home it takes about 10 – 12 minutes to reach the court premises. 

Anything else?

Since I’m interning in a small town called Warora, it’s a city by the way.

It has four courts (working). I’m a 3rd-year law student from the five years course.

Warora is my hometown and as everyone, I was stuck here during a pandemic.

Therefore, I enrolled myself in two online courses, didn’t gain much practical knowledge though.

I was feeling engrossed, limiting my capabilities, I needed a way out. I asked my Dad to dial a few numbers.

And, boom came the phone no. of my sir – Adv. T.N. Dhande (hereafter only sir).

Warora‘s lawyer community is tightly knit.

It’s more like a family, where everyone knows about each other’s life and clients.

I’m extremely pleased and honoured by interning under Dhande sir, who besides being extreme supportive is very cool.

He understand when I am nervous and provides opportunities to learn and understand.

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Source: Lawctopus