The Legal Services Clinic of KIIT School of Law (KSOL) is dedicated to providing pro bono legal aid to underprivileged sections of society. The clinic has established itself as one of the top pro bono service providers in Odisha. The team, led by faculty member Susmita Priyadarshini, aimed to raise awareness about the functioning, jurisdiction, and procedure involved in the three wings of the DSLA: arbitration, mediation, conciliation, and Lok Adalat. The team conducted a one-day awareness program in the District Legal Services Authority, Bhubaneswar, with the students of KIIT School of Law. The objective was to make the legal aid society members aware of the functioning, jurisdiction, and procedure involved in these wings. The volunteers had the opportunity to meet with officers, learn about their experiences, and meet the defense counsellor and assistant defense counsel. The chairman of the DSLA also briefed them on his experience and encouraged future endeavors.
The session was followed by questions from the students, which were answered by the officers. The questions included the efficacy of DSLA, who can approach the DSLA, and the process to apply in all three wings of the organization. The questions also included the remedies given to individuals who may be biased by mediators and what happens if the settlement does not result in a settlement.
The future outcomes of the partnership between the DSLA and the KIIT Legal Aid Clinic include recruiting officers to provide free legal services and advice to students, teachers, and staff members, and engaging students in internship opportunities for overall development in this field.
In conclusion, the partnership between the Legal Services Clinic of KIIT School of Law and the DSLA has demonstrated a commendable commitment to raising legal awareness and providing aid to underprivileged sections of society. By addressing legal issues through meticulously planned initiatives, the team has made a notable impact in the community.
