Kerala Govt Introduces Legal Internship Programme For ST Community Law Graduates

The Kerala Government has introduced 'Unnathi', a Legal Internship Programme for 25 LLB graduates from the Scheduled Tribe community at an estimated cost of ₹1,62,00,000. The training will be with designated Senior Advocates in the High Court of Kerala.

The program is intended to support young law graduates from the community to enable them get a head-start in their careers and gain quality experience in the initial years of the profession.

The proposal for this program had been submitted by the Director, Scheduled Tribes Development Department for consideration of the State Level Working Group Committee. The Committee thereafter considered the proposal on December 19, 2022, and recommended approval for the same.

The government has now accorded administrative sanction to the funding of this program, vide the Government Order dated January 12, 2023. 

A senior officer from the Directorate, nominated by the Director, STDD, will monitor, facilitate and streamline the entire process. The Nodal Officer will be responsible for the smooth execution of the project.

According to the available information, the Director will call for applications for the program, and generate a list of interested candidates from the community following which selection will be done on the basis of their aptitude and eligibility by the Senior Advocates. Women and those candidates who are younger in age will be given preference.

The Director will thereafter coordinate with the President, Kerala High Court Senior Advocates Association to facilitate the placement of the interns with the Senior Advocates so that they gain the best exposure in varied subjects, besides training in drafting, advocacy and other aspects of legal practice.

The internship will be for a period of 3 years, and the interns will be provided with a monthly stipend of ₹18,000, which will be paid directly by the Department to the selected interns.

The Senior Advocates could also make any additional payment to the interns based on the basis of their performance. The interns will also be provided with accommodation in the multipurpose hostel under ST Development Department, at Kochi.

Every six months, a structured feedback regarding the effort and performance of the interns, apart from a self-assessment report submitted by them, shall be availed by the Director from the Senior Advocate's office. A Committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary, SCSTDD shall evaluate and approve the continuation of interns based on such modes of feedback.