TGLife
In Goa, V M Salgaoar College of Law (VMSCL) pioneered first legal aid cell in 1997 at Verem,” informed Dr Shaber Ali while speaking on ‘Legal Aid’ definition and options at the BN Melvani Recreation Centre for Senior Citizens in Panaji. Currently a coordinator for PG and Research Centre at VMS College of Law, Dr Ali is LLM from National Law School of India, Bengaluru in Indian Constitutional Law and Administrative Process.
Legal aid manifested through permanent community legal clinics and also through mobile legal aid cells, paralegal services, PILs and law reform clinics. “Students of semester III join LAC in their vicinity. Every week each student does minimum two hours legal aid work at LAC. The scope of LAC includes campaigns and street plays for legal awareness, implementing welfare schemes, para legal services and public forums’ harness,” stated Dr Ali. “Students conduct programmes as advised by faculty. The first step in resolution is options’ sensitization, before getting into expensive prolonged litigation. While still learning, students get opportunity to gain practical knowledge and serve community,” he stated.
