Internship Experience at District Legal Services Authority, Indore

image credits- districts.ecourts.gov.in

Name of the intern- 

Hrishikesh Prakash Jaiswal 

College and Year of the Intern- 

National Law Institute University, Bhopal/ 3rd year BALLB(Hons) 

  

In which Firm/Organisation did you intern. Kindly tell us something about the firm- 

District Legal Services Authority Indore 

  

What was the duration of Internship and daily timings? 

The duration was 02 July 2021- 29 July 2021. The timings changed as per the required place in the schedule. But generally, it was 10:00 am- 4:00 pm.

 

The interns are expected to collect the internship schedule from the front office of DLSA Indore. Here, we can expect to have certain interactions with the staff of the office. The staff may then take the interns to meet the Secretary/District Judge of the DLSA Indore. The Secretary will then brief the interns about the schedule and future course of action. We met HHJ Shri Manish Srivastava Sir who is Additional District and Sessions Judge and the Secretary of the DLSA Indore. He gave us the schedule for the internship and other important details. 

 

My Co-interns were- 

• Himanshu Ahirwar (3rd year student, National Law Institute University, Bhopal). 

• Pragati Mandloi (3rd year student, National Law Institute University, Bhopal). 

• Yashwant Manothiya (3rd year student, National Law Institute University, Bhopal). 

• Devanshi Tiwari (1st year student, Institute of Law, Nirma University, Ahmedabad). 

• Ronit Rampuriya (1st year student, National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi). 

  

How did you apply and secure an internship?  

If the prospective intern visits the website of the MP State Legal Services Authority, Jabalpur, there is a separate page for internship section. There one may find the relevant details on application, schedule and activities for the internship. 

Basically, one must email the MPSLSA whether he/she wants to intern with the MPSLSA or one of the District Legal Services Authority. If DLSA, then we also must specify the district that we aim to target. The email should also read the preferred dates for the internship. The Secretary, MPSLSA then sends the permission letter via an email to the preferred DLSA and the interns are then supposed to coordinate with the DLSA officials. 

MPSLSA email Id- mplsajab@nic.in 

Indore DLSA email Id- secdlsaind@mp.gov.in 

  

What are the core areas of law dealt in the firm/organisation? 

During the internship we were required to work in various fields of law, including Criminal, Civil, Rent, Torts, Consumer affairs and Family Law matters. 

  

What were the main tasks assigned to you?  

The schedule of the internship required the students to visit, observe and work in the following bodies/organization/places: - 

·      Juvenile Justice Board, Indore; 

·      Observation Home, Indore; 

·      Child Welfare Committee, Indore; 

·      Children’s Home, Indore; 

·      Senior Citizens Home, Indore; 

·      National Lok Adalat at Indore District and Sessions Court, Indore; 

·      Central Jail, Indore; 

·      District Jail, Indore; 

·      Mental Hospital, Indore; 

·      JMFC Court, Indore; 

·      Sessions Court, Indore, 

·      Family Court, Indore; 

·      Labor Commissioner’s Office, Indore; 

·      Observe and understand the working of Front office at DLSA Indore; 

·      Indore Consumer Forum, Indore; 

·      Interaction with the DLO Indore; 

·      Interaction with the Secretary, DLSA Indore. 

  

  

How comfortable did you find the work environment? 

The people we met during the internship were very kind and helpful. We had the opportunity to closely interact with legal aid officers/lawyers and judges. The office staff and the concerned officers were very interactive and freely reachable. 

  

Were there any specific breaks given. If yes, what were the timings? 

The usual timings of the internship were 10:00 am in the morning till about 4-5:00 pm in the evening. The interns were provided the breaks as per their needs and requirements. All the staff members of the DLSA Indore office were very cooperative and supportive. 

  

Did you attend any Courts? 

Yes, our schedule required us to visit the following Courts/tribunals, 

•           JMFC Court, Indore; 

•           Sessions Court, Indore, 

•           Family Court, Indore; 

•           Labour Commissioner’s Office, Indore; 

•           Indore Consumer Forum, Indore. 

  

 
What were the perks? Was stipend provided. If yes, how much? 

No, but the experience received was priceless. I would like to specially thank Mr. Digvijay Singh (NLIU’ 06), the District Legal Aid Officer for helping us throughout the tenure of the internship. He was very prompt in helping us as and when we reached out to him. He also offered us dinner at a luxury restaurant towards the end of the internship and we are grateful to him for all the help. 

  

Were there any things that could be improved? 

Yes, the infrastructure throughout the places visited was not up to the mark, also the front office of DLSA Indore is very small and is not able to accommodate the interns properly. 

Also read- Virtual Internship Experience at Ernst & Young, India