MNLU Mumbai, Nagpur & NALSA Sign MoU To Provide Law Students With Hands-On Legal Training And Governance Exposure

An Memorandum of Understanding has been entered into between Maharashtra National Law University Mumbai, Maharashtra National Law University Nagpur and National Legal Services Authority (NALSA). Recognizing the mutual benefits of collaboration, MNLU Mumbai, Nagpur and NALSA enterd into the MoU to facilitate academic and research cooperation through an Internship Program on Legal Research, Drafting, and Practical Exposure to Governance Mechanisms.

The MoU aims to promote structured legal internships that provide hands-on experience in legal research, drafting, and governance exposure. It facilitates engagement in joint research projects focusing on access to justice, public policy, and legal services.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Justice Bhushan R. Gavai, Judge, Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman, NALSA and Chancellor of MNLU Mumbai, Prof. (Dr.) Dilip Ukey, Vice-Chancellor, MNLU, Mumbai and Mr. Shekhar C. Munghate, Member Secretary, NALSA.

As a result of the MOU, MNLU Mumbai & Nagpur and NALSA shall jointly plan and execute the internship program, ensuring a well-structured learning experience covering research, drafting, and field visits for students. The internship will include legal research assignments, drafting RTIs and PILs, preparing legal opinions, courtroom observation, participation in Lok Adalats, and legal aid initiatives.

Interns will participate in scheduled visits to various judicial and administrative bodies, including the Supreme Court, High Court, Sessions and Civil Courts, Family Court, Consumer Forums, NCLT, Arbitration Tribunal, State Human Rights Commission, State Women Commission, Cyber Cell, and Vigilance Commission.

Justice B.R. Gavai has been at the forefront of initiatives to provide law students with practical exposure before they enter the legal field. Under his leadership, the MOU has been signed to equip students with hands-on experience in legal research, drafting, and governance mechanisms. Justice Gavai congratulated the institutions on this collaboration, emphasizing that such programs will greatly benefit students by bridging the gap between legal education and real-world practice.

During the event, a comprehensive booklet titled "Internship Program on Legal Research, Drafting, and Practical Exposure to Governance Mechanisms" was also released. This publication details the program's structure, objectives, eligibility criteria, and expected outcomes, serving as a guide for participating students and institutions.

Speaking on the occasion,Justice Gavai emphasized that this internship 'embodies a greater purpose - contributing to the cause of social justice'.

In Justice Gavai's words, 'An internship at the national legal services, authority is not nearly an academic exercise, but a transformative experience. It allows the students with the experience and legal aid services for those in need, including women, children, prisoners, marginalised, communities, and victims of disasters or trafficking. It offers insight into the functioning of the legal aid institutions and practical exposure to social welfare legislation and human rights advocacy'.