Para legal volunteer

From Justice Definitions Project


A para-legal volunteer(PLV)  is a person with basic knowledge of the law and welfare measures with the objective of assisting their immediate neighborhood. Para Legal Volunteer is selected by the concerned Legal Services Institution and trained to improve the legal services network.   PLVs provide last-mile connectivity to the legal system.

PLVs as defined in the official Document

In the year 2009 National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) brought out  scheme called the Para-Legal Volunteers Scheme. The Para-Legal Volunteers (PLVs) are expected to act as intermediaries bridging the gap between the common people and the Legal Services Institutions to remove impediments in access to justice[1].

Who can be  PLV

The following can be selected as Para-Legal Volunteers [1]

  • Teachers (including retired teachers)
  • Retired Government servants and senior citizens.
  • Master in Social Work students and teachers.
  • Anganwadi Workers.
  • Doctors/Physicians.
  • Students & Law Students (till they enroll as lawyers).
  • Members of non-political, service oriented NGOs and Clubs.
  • Members of Women Neighbourhood Groups, Maithri Sanghams and other
  • Self Help Groups including of marginalized/vulnerable groups.
  • Educated prisoners with good behaviour, serving long term sentences in prisons.
  • Any other person whom the District Legal Services Authority or Taluk Legal Services Committee deems fit to be identified as PLVs.

Recruitment

Applications may be invited from the local residents by the respective District legal service authority(DLSA). The application form will include a dedicated section where candidates can:

  • Indicate their willingness to work as a PLV.
  • Specify their preferred work location: district-level, taluk-level, or village-level.

DLSAs tie up with other educational institutions and NGOs to recruit PLV . eg  Delhi university [2].

The Selection Committee then  Review all applications received.  Shortlist number of candidates for interviews

Training

i) Curriculum

PLVs are trained on basics of topics like Communication, Family laws , Property Laws , Criminal laws, Labour Laws, Laws relating to children, SC& ST act, Visits to Govt. Offices etc.

Training is done in three stages:

  • a) Orientation programme- upon initial empanelment the PLVs shall be given a day's orientation course.
  • b) Basic training
  • c) Refresher Course

ii) Trainers/ resource Person

PLV can be trained by these professionals depending on the subject area :

  • Member of the Bar
  • Law Professors
  • Postgraduate student of law
  • Police officers
  • Retired Judicial Officer
  • Other person whom State legal Service Authority deems fit.

Duties

  • Paralegal’s are trained to counsel and settle the simple disputes amicably.
  • If disputes are of such a nature which cannot be resolved at the source, PLV should bring such parties to the ADR Centres, Lok Adalat or Mediation Centre.
  • educate people to be aware of their right to live with human dignity
  • ensure that the victims of crime also get proper care and attention.
  • Make an effort to secure compensation for the victim as prescribed in 357-A CrPC.
  • shall report violations of child rights, child labour, missing children and trafficking of girl children to the nearest legal services institutions
  • Assist in organizing legal awareness camp.

Example

Delhi High Court directed Delhi Legal service Authority to engage Para legal volunteers at fifty police stations to to help and assist in cases concerning missing children and offences against children[3].

Honorarium

  • Minimum Daily Rate: The State Legal Services Authority, in agreement with the National Legal Services Authority, can establish a daily honorarium for PLVs working in legal aid clinics. This minimum amount, however, cannot be less than Rs. 250 per day.
  • Bringing Clients from Remote Areas: PLVs who assist legal aid applicants from faraway villages in reaching legal service institutions at the Taluk/District level or District ADR Centers are also eligible for the daily honorarium on that day.
  • Accompanying Clients (with Proof): PLVs may also receive an honorarium if they accompany individuals to various offices, including courts, for PLV-related work on a specific day. However, proof of such assistance is required.

Reports

i) Periodical reports

  • NALSA prepare yearly reports commending best PLVs, Best DLSA, SLSA etc[4].
  • Haryana state legal service authority Annual report. [5]
  • Chhattisgarh state legal service authority Annual report for 2022[6].
  • Punjab state legal service authority Annual reports[7].
  • Odhisa state legal service authority annual reports [8].
  • Delhi state legal service authority Quarterly reports [9].
  • Tamil Nadu state legal service authority Statistics report [10].

ii) Reports on Number of PLVs Engaged

  • Number of PLVs engaged per lakh people as per India Justice Report, 2022[11].
Number of PLVs engaged per Lakh population Source :'India Justice Report: Ranking States on Police, Judiciary, Prisons and Legal Aid (2022) [12]
  • NALSA publish report trained by each state and UTs[13] .
Para legal volunteer workforce nationwide (2022)[14]
  • Haryana State Legal Service Authority provide List of PLVs trained in its annual report (last published 2019)[15].
Haryana PLVs trained in 2018-19[16]
  • Chhattisgarh state Legal Service Authority provide List of PLVs trained in its annual report (last published 2022)[17].
    Chhattisgarh SLSA data on PLV trained in 2022[18]


Research engaging with PLV

Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative's report on role & duties of Para legal volunteers[19].

International Experiences

Internationally, ‘Para legal’ are trained professionals, often with academic degrees and diplomas who assist lawyers and law firms in their day-to-day work.

i) United States of America

  • In the USA paralegals play complementary role to lawyers, completing the research and administrative tasks necessary to ensure the lawyer's success.
  • US department of Justice run ‘Volunteer legal Internships’ programme which is similar to Indian PLV programme .“Every year over 2,500 volunteer legal interns serve in Justice components and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Approximately 1,000 legal interns volunteer during the academic year, and roughly 1,500 volunteer during the summer”[20].

ii)United Kingdom

  • Similar to USA , in UK paralegals are staff to law firms, law chamber and NGOs and are expected to perform administrative and legal tasks such as drafting , filing etc.  
  • There is no such government initiative similar to PLV programme of India. Bunch of Charity and NGO network come together to  Perform similar roles[21].
  • List of charities and NGOs
    • National Association for Voluntary and Community Action[22]
    • National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)[23]
    • NHS England volunteering [24]
    • Reach Volunteering[25]

iii) Australia

Department of  Justice run volunteer programmes to assist and improve Victoria’s court, legal and prison system[26].

  • Court Network : Trained volunteers provide emotional support and information about the court process to people going to court[27].
  • Independent Prisoner visitor scheme -Volunteers provide the Minister for Corrections with independent advice on prison operations from the perspective of an independent, community observer[28].

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://nalsa.gov.in/acts-rules/preventive-strategic-legal-services-schemes/scheme-for-para-legal-volunteers
  2. ↑ https://clc.du.ac.in/las-para-legal-volunteers-selection-examination-2023-2024/
  3. ↑ https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/provide-roadmap-scheme-para-legal-volunteers-police-stations-offences-children-high-court-dslsa-220064
  4. ↑ https://nalsa.gov.in/library/commendation
  5. ↑ https://hslsa.gov.in/publication-type/annual-reports/
  6. ↑ https://cgslsa.gov.in/pdf/CGSLSA%20ANNUAL%20REPORT%202022.pdf
  7. ↑ https://pulsa.punjab.gov.in/?q=annual-report
  8. ↑ https://oslsa.nic.in/statitics/
  9. ↑ https://dslsa.org/statistics/
  10. ↑ https://tnlegalservices.tn.gov.in/statistics.htm
  11. ↑ https://indiajusticereport.org/files/IJR%202022_Full_Report1.pdf
  12. ↑ https://indiajusticereport.org/files/IJR%202022_Full_Report1.pdf
  13. ↑ https://nalsa.gov.in/statistics/para-legal-volunteers-report
  14. ↑ https://nalsa.gov.in/library/statistical-snapshot/statistical-snapshot-2022
  15. ↑ https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s3100d9f30ca54b18d14821dc88fea0631/uploads/2022/06/2022062886.pdf
  16. ↑ https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s3100d9f30ca54b18d14821dc88fea0631/uploads/2022/06/2022062886.pdf
  17. ↑ https://cgslsa.gov.in/pdf/CGSLSA%20ANNUAL%20REPORT%202022.pdf
  18. ↑ https://cgslsa.gov.in/pdf/CGSLSA%20ANNUAL%20REPORT%202022.pdf 
  19. ↑ https://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/download/1510122033Workshop%20Report%20-%20Roles%20&%20Duties%20of%20Para-Legal%20Volunteers.pdf
  20. ↑ https://www.justice.gov/legal-careers/volunteer-legal-internships
  21. ↑ https://www.gov.uk/volunteering
  22. ↑ https://navca.org.uk/
  23. ↑ https://www.ncvo.org.uk/ncvo-volunteering/i-want-to-volunteer
  24. ↑ https://volunteering.england.nhs.uk/
  25. ↑ https://reachvolunteering.org.uk/
  26. ↑ https://www.justice.vic.gov.au/volunteering
  27. ↑ http://www.courtnetwork.com.au/
  28. ↑ https://www.corrections.vic.gov.au/independent-prison-visitor-scheme
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