All India Law Students Association launches essay competition; Plans to set up regional chapters, organise conferences and seminars

The All India Law Students Association recently announced the launch of the National Legal Essay Competition, a nation wide competition with more than Rs. 2 lakh worth of prizes. The competition is open to all students pursuing a law programme from a recognised University in India, with co-authoriship permitted. The last date of submission is April 15, 2014 with results to be declared on May 31, 2014. More details can be found in the document below..Bar & Bench spoke to AILSA President, Manas Dowlani on the NLEC and what AILSA plans to do in the near future..Bar & Bench: This is the first time you are conducting such an event. When did you start planning for this?.Manas Dowlani: With the advent of 2014, came a new wave of ideas and that is how I conceptualised NLEC. The idea materialised into reality with the induction of the core team. It took us nearly two weeks to convert the idea into reality and chalk out a timeline. The team worked on several aspects of law and after several sessions of discussion, we got down to wide ranging and intriguing topics. However, the job wasn’t even half done as to achieve the aim set was an uphill task. To simplify, each team member was allotted a portfolio to his/her abilities and we could see our concept taking its final shape. Today is the day, March 1, 2014, that we announce the essay and open horizons for the students to unleash their potential..B&B: There is some fairly impressive prize money involved in this competition. Where are you getting the financial support for this?.MD: At the conception itself the association wanted to make an unprecedented offering of prizes, and thus had set aside certain sum in a fund. As we progressed, AILSA with the brand name it carries had made the marketing of NLEC an interesting task. With the continuous efforts of our marketing team was able to abstract dignitaries and corporate bodies from the industry, who saw value of the offering. The prizes kept increasing with time, and have been carefully curated to make a bouquet essentials for a law student which comprises of cash, books, courses, internships, publications, subscriptions and discounts..B&B: How many students are currently members of AILSA? What are the benefits of enrolling?.MD: The All India Law Students Association is a body comprising of over 10,000 law students and increasing. Its primary concern is to form a collective of law students from all across India and help them build a strong overall personality. AILSA provides its members with various opportunities to fully exploit their calibre by organising various competitions, study tours and interactive sessions. In the past we have hosted seminars and guest lectures by eminent jurists, Parliamentarians, judges, and Senior members of the Bar. The Association has time and again partnered with several institutions and organizations, thereby helping law students get a subsidized delegation to conferences..AILSA’s membership is available to all students enrolled in courses recognized by the Bar Council of India at an annual fee of Rs. 300..B&B: Do you also see AILSA as becoming a platform for raising issues against law school administration?.MD: AILSA has given a platform for students across the nation to come together, interact and work for the betterment of the legal profession and education. It is up to us how we make the best out of this opportunity. It is my personal belief that nihilism can benefit no-one, and such matters are those with which one should proceed carefully. Students across India, have constantly been working towards the much needed reforms in the administration of law schools, and in the past AILSA jointly with Lawctopus had launched a petition to establish a two prong grievance Redressal mechanism for law students throughout India. Through trips, seminars, conferences and internships AILSA provides a programme for law students all across India to reach out to their dreams..B&B: What are your association’s plans for the near future?.MD: AILSA is filled with enthusiastic students and the association has mapped out a few plans to distribute the benefits of a student’s association and increasing its membership. In the coming few weeks, AILSA shall open its memberships for students, and is looking into opening regional chapters under the umbrella of the association. Over the next few months we plan to conduct various types of seminars, conferences and interactive sessions for our student members. We are slated to announce our Annual Journal in the month of July, and registrations for the London Study Tour are already underway.