Overview

Legal aid clubs are an integral part of law colleges in India, as they serve as a platform for law students to engage in social justice activities and contribute to the community. These clubs provide an opportunity for students to apply legal principles and procedures learned in the classroom to real-life situations, thereby enhancing their legal skills and knowledge.

The importance of legal aid clubs in law colleges can be highlighted as follows:

  • Promoting access to justice: Legal aid clubs play a crucial role in promoting access to justice by providing free legal assistance and advice to the underprivileged and marginalized sections of society who cannot afford legal services. Law students, under the supervision of faculty members, offer their time and expertise to provide legal aid to people in need, which helps to bridge the gap between the legal system and the common people.
  • Developing practical legal skills: Law students learn various legal concepts and theories in the classroom, but legal aid clubs offer them an opportunity to apply these concepts in practical situations. Through the provision of legal aid services, students develop essential legal skills such as client interviewing, case analysis, legal research, drafting of legal documents, and advocacy.
  • Creating social responsibility: Legal aid clubs create a sense of social responsibility among law students by exposing them to the various legal and social issues faced by people in society. By providing legal aid services to the disadvantaged sections of society, students understand the importance of social justice and the role of the legal profession in creating a just and equitable society.
  • Building professional networks: Legal aid clubs offer law students an opportunity to interact with legal professionals and experts from various fields. By participating in legal aid clinics, seminars, and conferences organized by the club, students can build professional networks, gain exposure to diverse legal issues, and explore career opportunities in the legal field.

Objectives

  1. To provide free legal assistance to the underprivileged and marginalized sections of society: The primary objective of a legal aid club is to promote access to justice by providing free legal assistance and advice to people who cannot afford legal services.
  2. To promote legal awareness and education: The club can organize awareness campaigns and workshops to educate people about their legal rights and obligations. 
  3. To develop legal skills among law students: The legal aid club can provide law students with opportunities to develop practical legal skills such as client interviewing, case analysis, legal research, drafting of legal documents, and advocacy.
  4. To create a sense of social responsibility among law students: The legal aid club can expose law students to the legal and social issues faced by people in society.
  5. To collaborate with legal aid organizations and professionals: The legal aid club can collaborate with legal aid organizations like the District Legal Services Authority and professionals to organize legal aid camps, seminars, and conferences.

Constitution of the Legal Aid Club

The Club shall consist of selected students who are interested in providing service to the society and have shown keen interest in the arena of legal aid.  The club shall be managed by a team of faculties. The list of the committee members include:

  • Ms Sripriya Prasad (Convenor) 
  • Mr Sunny Thomas 
  • Ms Saranya P B

ANNUAL REPORT OF LEGAL AID CLUB FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2022-‘23

The legal aid club is envisaged as a body that aims to provide hands on experience to students enabling them to be well versed in the alternate dispute resolution techniques. The club has organised and conducted programs with the same end.
   1. Legal Services Day (09/11/2022)
The Legal Services Day is observed every year on 9th of November. The day marks the importance of providing legal aid to the needy. Observance of the day enables the students to understand the importance of providing legal services. The Legal Aid Club in association with IQAC has conducted an awareness class to the students of the College. The awareness class was on the topic, “Women Empowerment”. The program was inaugurated by Ms. Roshun Thomas, Honourable Sub Judge, Thodupuzha. Felicitations were provided by Mr. Sirajudeen, Honourable Sub Judge, Thodupuzha and the Secretary of District Legal Services Authority. Dr Elsa Catherine George, the Honourable Munsiff, Thodupuzha graced the occasion with her presence. The interactive session was moderated by Adv. Ambily U and Adv. Prince J Pananal. 
   2. Awareness Class on Probation of Offenders Act (30/11/2022)
An awareness class for the students of AL-Azhar Law College was conducted by the District Legal Services Authority in association with the Legal Aid Club on 30th November 2022. The programme was conducted at KADS Village Square, Thodupuzha. Dr Lovely Paulose, Principal, Al Azhar Law College inaugurated the session. It was also graced by Mr. Sirajudeen, Honourable Sub Judge, Thodupuzha and the Secretary of District Legal Services Authority and 2 probation officers. The programme helped the students to have in depth knowledge about probation, after care and other social justice facilities that can be availed. 
   3. Lok Adalath (11/01/2023)
The legal aid club in association with the District Legal Services Authority has conducted a Lok Adalath on 11/01/2023. A total of three benches were set up in the college premises dealing with matters of different nature. People from different walks of life availed the opportunity to find effective and cost-efficient remedy to their disputes. Over a hundred cases were heard on the day. The program was a huge success as a majority of the cases called were settled and an amicable settlement was arrived at. 
   4. Awareness program on Alternate Dispute Resolution on (15/03/2023)

The legal aid club in association with the District Legal Services Authority has conducted An Awareness program on Alternate Dispute Resolution on 15/03/2023 as having in depth knowledge in ADR techniques is quintessential for the successful career building for the students. The resource person for the program was Adv. Jyothi Gopinathan, Mediator Trainer, Alappuzha. The speaker effectively and effortlessly took the students through the nuances associated with ADR techniques. 

Sripriya Prasad
Convenor
Legal Aid Club