A two-day refresher training for panel lawyers, being organised by Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA), got underway at Administrative Training Institute in Kohima on Tuesday.
In his inaugural address, Gauhati High Court Judge and executive chairman of NSLSA, Justice LS Jamir said the panel lawyers of legal services have a greater responsibility than other lawyers under any institution in understanding the problems of the underprivileged, the needy and the downtrodden. He urged the panel lawyers to work hard while preparing for cases.
Justice Jamir implored the panel lawyers of legal services not to accept any gifts from people while rendering free legal aid. He also advised them to resolve issues amicably, in case of misunderstandings over cases among them.
He further stated the refresher training for panel lawyers is targeted at various aspects, particularly the various schemes under the National Legal Services Authority and other laws.
Delivering the keynote address, Mezivolu T. Therieh, member secretary, NSLSA, said the two-day refresher training for panel layers being is organised to increase their capacity in order to render complete and quality legal services. She said the panel lawyers play an indispensable role in carrying out the activities of the legal services authority as they act as a catalyst between the people and the law.
“Quality trainings for better performance cannot be overlooked in order to achieve the objectives of access to justice,” Therieh said.
She further reminded that the legal services institution has a challenging task ahead with legal services camps, legal literacy clubs, artificial intelligence, victim compensation schemes, issues of human trafficking, rights of women and children, Lok Adalats, jails and other related programmes focusing on legal awareness towards legal empowerment.
Therieh underscored the need to come together and build up strategies and programmes so that not only the legally underprivileged but the socially and economically underprivileged section of the society benefits from their services.
Tuesday’s two sessions dwelt on NALSA schemes, various projects and programmes of NSLSA and government schemes. Panel lawyers from all the districts of Nagaland were present at the training programme.