Legal awareness programme held at Kohima Law College

KOHIMA — Law students were encouraged to be the voice of the people and to shoulder responsibility towards themselves and society at a Legal Awareness Programme organised by Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) in collaboration with Kohima District Legal Services Authority and Kohima Law College on Wednesday at Kohima Law College.

Justice Kalyan Rai Surana of the Gauhati High Court and executive chairman of NSLSA told the students that a lawyer has a responsibility towards themselves and social obligations towards society. He urged the students to spend more time reading the laws and to be well versed, which they would be acquainted with in the future.

He asked them to strengthen their roots and be well versed with the laws, reiterating that a person trying to earn through law must always be ready to learn. He further asked the students to be a useful component in society and among the needy who cannot go to lawyers because of high fees.

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Justice Y Longkumer, judge of the Gauhati High Court, opined that law is not an easy profession and that it requires lots of dedication, endless reading and commitment.

She maintained that one should pursue law not just as a career but only if they have a true calling, as that is the only way to succeed in the profession. She reminded that medicine and law are two fields in which one never stops learning, adding that when they stop updating themselves, they will become redundant.

She cited that the great change makers in history used the law not as a career but as a weapon to fight oppression and inequality, adding that lawyers play a great role in nation-building.

As a law professional, one can be the voice for the unheard and can do much for the people and the state, she said, adding that the degree is just a stepping stone towards one’s career and that at the college level students must form a solid foundation to move ahead in the future.

Further, she urged women lawyers never to leave the profession even after marriage, citing that many married women leave the profession as they find it difficult to juggle family and career.

Neiko Akami, member secretary of NSLSA, gave an overview of Nagaland State Legal Services and shared about the role of NSLSA and the various activities they carry out. He maintained that they are doing their best to give legal aid to people in need of the service.

He stated that they are also taking on various responsibilities and extending their help and legal services to vulnerable people as well as providing child-friendly services for their protection, taking care of victim compensation and giving legal aid to persons with disabilities (mental and physical). In times of natural disasters, they also meet with victims to understand their problems and bring them to the competent authorities to extend a helping hand.

Sunjib Raina, a retainer lawyer, speaking on the concept and functions of Legal Services Clinics, said that their services should reach the doorsteps. He also stressed the importance of setting up legal services and cited that a legal services clinic is a bridge between theory and practice. He encouraged the students to help people learn about their rights.