Dimapur, Oct. 23 (EMN): Secretary (judicial) of Law and Justice department, government of Nagaland, Nino Iralu, has called upon the legal fraternity to maintain highest ethical standards by remaining independent from money power and pressure as well as be honest with one’s integrity so that the services they rendered is unquestionable and to the satisfaction of the receivers.
Iralu stated this while addressing the inaugural programme of a one-day state level training programme for retainer lawyers and panel lawyers on October 22 at SIRD conference hall in Kohima. Iralu asked the legal services lawyers to pay more attention in explaining law and legal advices to anyone who comes to them as she noted that lawyers normally do not open up when money is not involved for which public or common people become reluctant to approach or seek help of lawyers.
"When we open up, we are also uplifting ourselves," she said.
Describing legal services lawyers as harbingers of justice, she asked them to remain focused and accept responsibility to provide effective legal services to the common man especially the marginalised section of the people more so on child victims, child offenders, missing children.
Iralu felt that it was crucial for panel and retainer lawyers to spend more time with Under Trial Prisoners (UTP) whom they are representing in the court. She remarked that lack of having one-on-one interaction with their clients could give rise to ‘unversed’ presentation of facts in the case or even overlooked in the interpretation of law in relation with the case. Apart from not only presenting fact of cases better, she stated that it could open possibilities for appealing the matter again to the higher court and reach to the level of High Court or Supreme Court.
The secretary also asked senior panel lawyers, who have more experiences in the DLSA, to mentor juniors and upcoming lawyers and para-legal volunteers in professional or correct legal matters without focusing on the money aspect.
NSLSA member secretary, Victo Sema, while delivering the keynote address, reminded the paramount role that lawyers play in the legal services in disseminating about the mission of the legal services. Sema said the mission was to empower the marginalised and economically weaker section through legal awareness and legal assistance.
He, however, stated that without upgradation and enhancement of lawyer's knowledge and skill, the grassroots will not be empowered. He, therefore, asked the lawyers to be aware and conscious of their duties in fulfilling the constitutional occupation.
"No civilisation, country or society will grow and prosper when the majority of the population lives in poverty and without any access to justice," he said.
In the training session, Mezivolu Therieh, district and session judge and chairperson of Phek DLSA, spoke on ‘Constitutional perspective of legal services and the legal services authority act;’ while Seyielenuo Mezhü, chief judicial magistrate and secretary of Dimapur DLSA, spoke on ‘Lawyering skills: criminal, drafting, witness examination and arguments;’ senior advocate of Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, R Iralu, spoke on ‘Cursory glance on civil procedure code and its practices;’ Wonchibeni V Patton, chief judicial magistrate and secretary of Mokokchung DLSA, spoke on ‘Overview of cyber crimes and cyber law: types of cyber crime, legal provisions and its prevention;’ and Temjenmoa, advocate at Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench, spoke on ‘Skills development on communication with clients and counseling.’
Report stated that a total of 46 retainer lawyers and panel lawyers representing all the district legal services authorities across the state attended the training.