Young lawyers training programme kicks off at NLU Delhi

The Union Law Ministry has launched the Rajiv Gandhi Advocates Training Programme to train young advocates practicing in Magistrate and Munsif courts. The advocates’ training programme will be launched today at National Law University, Delhi.

The Union Law Ministry has launched the Rajiv Gandhi Advocates Training Programme to train young advocates practicing in Magistrate and Munsif courts. The advocates’ training programme will be launched today at National Law University, Delhi.

According to PIB release, the initiative is in sync with the Supreme Court directive in the State of Maharashtra vs. Manubhai Pragaji Vashi case (1995) where the Court had observed that continuing and well organised legal education is absolutely essential to meet the ever-growing challenges.

Announcing the programme, Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily told the media, “The main objective of the scheme is to motivate and encourage young, first-generation, talented and meritorious lawyers, who don’t have anybody in the family to guide them in the profession, by imparting professional training to them”.

Speaking to Bar & Bench on the scheme, Additional Solicitor General of India A.S. Chandhiok said, “A lawyer continues to learn throughout his life. This is the first time that the State has thought it must add to lawyers’ knowledge by launching this scheme”.

Advocates below the age of 30, are eligible to apply to the Selection Committee. The selected candidates will have to make their services available for the legal aid programme.

Ten advocates would be selected from every state per year for the programme, which would include one month training at one of the National Law Universities (NLUs) and another month-long training under a senior advocate of the place where the candidate has been practising. They will be trained in alternative dispute resolution, plea bargaining, how to use information technology and communication in court proceedings and the art of cross-examination, among other things.

The Selection Committee consists of a High Court Judge to be nominated by the Chief Justice of the High Court, the Additional/Assistant Solicitor-General to that High Court, the Chairman of State Bar Council and the Advocate-General of the State.

The training programme will be sponsored by the Government.  During the training, candidates will be provided free lodging and boarding facility.

The scheme will also have a special focus on lawyers from the weaker sections, particularly SCs or STs.

At present, 180 advocates have been selected by the Selection Committees of 18 States. Four batches will be trained in the first phase and the training will be held from June 27 to July 23.

In the 12th Five-Year Plan, the scheme will be revised for training 50 candidates from each State.