This internship experience has been submitted anonymously!
Name
Anonymous
Name of the Organisation
District Legal Services Authority, Kaithal, District Court Complex, Kaithal, Haryana, India
Duration of Internship
June 2025
How did you apply?
I applied by email, attaching my CV and a brief statement of purpose. Confirmation arrived within a week, and reporting instructions were sent electronically. Being a resident of Kaithal eliminated accommodation formalities.
First-Day Formalities, Infrastructure, and First Impression
- Day 1 began with an orientation by Mr Kanwal Kumar, Chief Judicial Magistrate-cum-Secretary, DLSA.
- He outlined the mandate of the Legal Services Authorities under the 1987 Act and explained the differences among Panel Advocates, Para-Legal Volunteers (PLVs), and the Legal Aid Defence Counsel (LADC) system.
- After submitting my joining form at the front office, I observed how legal-aid applications are logged, screened and assigned.
Main Tasks
Courtroom Observations
- Sat in the courts of Hon’ble JMIC Sh. Tushar Sharma, Ms. Ankita Mahajan, and CJM Sh. Vinod Kumar.
- Witnessed bail arguments (State v. Vikram), a reopening under § 319 CrPC (State v. Roshni Devi), and filing of charge-sheets.
- Shadowed LADC Advocate Navneet Kumar, gaining practical insight into strategy, filing practice, and client counselling.
Institutional & Field Visits
| Date | Institution | Key Learnings |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Jun | Protection Home | Eligibility, consent procedures, panel-advocate role; saw seven resident couples and two discharge applications. |
| 18 Jun | Permanent Lok Adalat (Public Utility Court) | Jurisdiction under §§ 22C–22D LSA Act; conciliation model for electricity, telecom, and housing disputes. |
| 19 Jun | District Jail | Observed LADC counselling; facilities, segregation, VC system. Many under-trials were unaware of case progress. |
| 23 Jun | Juvenile Justice Board & Child Welfare Committee | Rehabilitation-focused justice, § 3 JJ Act principles; CWC structure (1 Chair + 4 members). |
| 27 Jun | Old-Age Home & Child Care Institute (CCI) | Elder-abandonment issues; CCI funding gaps noted and escalated to CWC. |
Legal-Awareness Campaigns
- World Day Against Child Labour (12 Jun): Door-to-door outreach in Khurana Road slum with Adv. Jagjeet Gill; emphasized schooling and acid-attack victim relief.
- International Day Against Drug Abuse (26 Jun): Spoke to ~40 villagers in Koerak on senior-citizen rights, drug hazards, and DLSA services—my first on-ground public address.
Back-Office & Digital Systems
- Nazir Branch: Differentiated roles—Civil, Criminal, Accounts, and Summon Nazir; observed Process-Serving unit.
- Ahlmad Room: File-tagging, bundling, and daily cause-list preparation.
- Server Room (e-Courts): Briefed by System Administrator Mr. Rupesh Nizarwar on judge-wise dashboards, SMS alerts, ODR integration, and e-filing workflow.
Focused Scheme Study
- Victim Compensation Scheme (§ 357A CrPC): Eligibility, 2-month DLSA enquiry window, funding sources, and exclusions (MV Act claims).
- Role of PLVs in jail visits, camps, and referral intake.
- Distinctions between LADC (criminal-only, salaried) and Panel Advocates (rotational, multi-disciplinary).
Work Environment
Environment: Professional yet supportive; officers encouraged queries and hands-on tasks.
The work environment at DLSA Kaithal was highly professional yet extremely friendly. We were treated with respect and encouraged to learn through direct exposure—court visits, legal aid camps, and fieldwork. Officers regularly offered tea/coffee, and there was no strict timing or workload pressure.
Every aspect of the internship was well briefed, and mentors generously shared their personal experiences, offering both legal and life lessons. The staff, including CJM Sir and panel advocates, were approachable, supportive, and often accompanied us on visits. The cooperative atmosphere and personalized guidance made the internship a deeply educational and motivating experience.
Good Things about the Internship
Positive aspects
- Direct interaction with judiciary, panel lawyers and beneficiaries.
- Balanced exposure—courtroom etiquette, field advocacy and administrative mechanics.
- Opportunity to deliver community talks, sharpening public-speaking skills.
- Real-time understanding of access-to-justice challenges in marginalised communities.
Bad Things about the Internship
Negative aspects
- Court vacations limited live hearings and mediation sittings.
- Severe funding shortfall at the Child Care Institute: core concern needing government attention.
Monthly Stipend
None
Details about the accommodation and commuting to the Office
No, I am a local resident of Kaithal district, so I am commuting to the office daily.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Legal awareness, Free legal aid, and vibe of social worker.
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