Interview by Team LawLex | NALSA Internship Experience
Q. Please introduce yourself briefly. Which law school are you from, and which year are you currently in?
Ans: I am Shreeja Rayane, a B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) student at Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai. I am currently in 1st year of my course.
Q. What motivated you to apply for an internship with NALSA specifically?
Ans: Since I am in my 1st year and this was going to be my first internship, I wanted to understand the legal world from the grassroots level. I wanted to understand the functioning of the system and the world around it. NALSA happened to offer me this experience, as well as many other opportunities.
Q. Before joining, what were your expectations from a NALSA internship?
Ans: As I mentioned, I aimed to understand the legal system, which included the functioning and proceedings of courts, legal aid machinery and access to justice, Lok Adalats, Implementation of constitutional values under Article 39A, Jails. I expected interactions between courts, executive authorities and civil society.
Q. How did you apply for the internship, and what did the selection process involve?
Ans: I applied for the internship through my law school’s internship and placement cell. The selection process required me to submit personal details, academic details, a CV, and a Statement of Purpose.
Q. What kind of work were you primarily assigned during your internship?
Ans: The initial days of the internship involved sessions and discussions on various topics, such as NALSA schemes, Lok Adalat, mediation and alternative dispute resolution, etc., with the Hon’ble Secretary of DALSA, Mr Pawan Tapadiya, and writing notices for the coming Lok Adalat.
Q. Can you share one task or project that stood out for you and why?
Ans: The project that stood out for me the most is the Paralegal Volunteer training, which involved various sessions on the rights of women, children, LGBTQIA+, senior citizens and victims. The sessions addressed family law, POCSO, Criminal law, Civil law, etc. The training also involved legal awareness camps, jail visits, interaction with undertrial prisoners and community outreach programs. The training helped me develop grassroots legal awareness, client communication, documentation, and institutional understanding.
Q. Were you exposed to any landmark schemes, initiatives, or ongoing projects of NALSA?
Ans: Yes, NALSA Initiatives were the focus point of the internship. The sessions explained to me about mediation, victim compensation, Lok Adalat, etc. One such initiative that I found interesting was the Sukoon Center which was in collaboration with the TATA Institute of Social Sciences. Sukoon Centre offered counselling services to individuals facing personal challenges, enabling them to address their difficulties with guidance and renewed hope. Sukoon Centre supported individuals in coping with challenges and working toward positive resolution.
Q. How was the guidance and supervision during the internship?
Ans: The guidance and supervision during the internship were structured and supportive. Supervisors provided clear instructions, timely feedback, and consistent oversight, which helped in understanding tasks effectively. Regular interaction ensured clarity of expectations while allowing sufficient independence to learn and apply concepts in practice. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for their guidance during the internship to Justice B. R. Gavai (Retd.), former Chief Justice of India (Endorsing Authority); Mr. Pawan Tapadiya, Secretary, DALSA; and Mr. Vedant Vaishali Jayant Mainkar, Internship Coordinator.
Q. Which skills do you think improved the most during this internship?
Ans: I developed skills in legal research and policy analysis. I refined my understanding of procedural justice and legal aid frameworks and learned a lot about the importance of Professional discipline in government and legal bodies
Q. Any advice for students who want to build a career in legal aid, public policy, or human rights law?
Ans: I might not be the best person for it as I’m also exploring and learning, but one thing I would say is that an internship at NALSA is especially valuable if you are interested in public policy, judicial services, human rights, access to justice and academia or institutional law. The internship provided valuable exposure to both the judiciary and the government’s perspectives on the functioning of the legal system, which is crucial for developing a comprehensive understanding of law in practice. By observing institutional processes, policy implementation, and judicial oversight, the internship helped bridge the gap between legal theory and its practical application, thereby strengthening analytical and professional competence.
Q. Is there anything else you would like to share that students should know before applying?
Ans: I believe that students should know that a NALSA internship is less about courtroom work and more about understanding how law actually reaches people. The work can be unstructured and sometimes slow, but it offers meaningful exposure to the legal aid system and the realities faced by vulnerable communities. Patience, empathy, and a genuine interest in access to justice go a long way in making the experience rewarding.
Q. In one sentence, how would you describe your internship experience at NALSA?
Ans: I would describe my NALSA internship as an eye-opening experience that showed me how law truly impacts people’s lives and taught me the importance of making justice accessible to all.
Interview by Team LawLex
Curated & edited by Yashika Paraswani, Managing Editor