Law students complete NSLSA internship programme

DIMAPUR — Sixty-one law students completed a one-month summer internship programme organised by the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) from July 1 to August 1.

During the culmination programme held on Thursday at the DC conference hall in Kohima, NSLSA member secretary Victo Sema encouraged law students to be perseverant and motivated in their legal profession, according to a press release.

He said that the internship programme is provided every year for law students to give them insight into various subject matters that will be relevant in their future practice, especially in different legal institutions.

Victo also spoke about the purpose of setting up legal services authorities, asserting that it is a mandate of the constitution, as outlined in the Legal Services Act, 1987. He explained that the legal services authorities exist hierarchically from national to state, district, and taluk levels.

He said that it is set up to create legal awareness and provide legal assistance, especially to uplift the poor and marginalised sections of society.

The principal district and sessions judge, Kohima, and chairperson of the Kohima District Legal Services Authority also exhorted the interns, encouraging them to be persistent and hardworking. She also congratulated the students on completing the internship.

Retainer lawyer at NSLSA, Apila Sangtam, shared her experiences in legal services and the legal profession. She emphasised that it is a noble profession where one should not compromise their integrity.

She said that legal services offer opportunities for young lawyers to start their practice by providing various platforms to explore, such as engaging in first-hand court proceedings and extending legal services. She added that it has taught her to be noble by helping people in marginalised sections of society.

The programme was chaired by Cherry Ovung, a state panel lawyer at NSLSA. Interns also presented reports on the month-long programme.

The interns undertook internships with different DLSAs and were given the opportunity to observe court proceedings at the district courts and the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench.

They also visited the Lok Ayukta, jails, various homes, the Legal Aid Defence Counsel, and other institutions.