The Union law and justice ministry is preparing a welfare scheme for training of lawyers from rural and backward parts of the country. As part of this scheme, each senior advocate in the Supreme Court and high courts will be requested to take in two fresh law graduates under their wings. The scheme, a brainchild of Union law and justice minister M. Veerappa Moily, is aimed at integrating first-generation lawyers from backward parts of the country into the mainstream.
Speaking to this paper, Dr Moily stated that the welfare measure will involve help from senior advocates and the government was currently holding talks with the Bar Council of India to make the scheme possible. “By the implementation of this scheme throughout the country we hope to train 13,000 first-generation advocates each year,” Dr Moily stated. There are about 1.1 million advocates in the country with almost 60,000-70,000 added to the number each year.
The law minister said that the initiative will be also benefit standards of law practice in the courts located in rural and backward parts of the country. “Once this initiative is implemented I have no doubt that the practice of law will have a set standard across the country with a rural lawyers also as well versed and adept in dealing with cases like their urban counterparts are considered,” Dr Moily added.
The law minister stated that the internship programme was proposed after it was felt that there was a need for special attention to address the needs of first-generation lawyers from rural and backward areas. “I have spoken to Solicitor-General and Bar Council of India chairman Gopal Subramanium and he has assured me of all his cooperation for introducing the welfare measure for the lawyers of this country,” Dr Moily added.