Internship Experience @ Association for Advocacy and Legal Initiatives, Lucknow: Research on Rape and Murder Cases

Your Name, College, Year of Study, Email ID

Akansha Vidyarthi, City Academy Law College- 2^nd Year.

Name of Organisation, Location city, Team Strength

Association for Advocacy and Legal Initiatives (AALI), Lucknow.

Application Process with contact details

I have applied by sending by CV and recommendation letter on email id- aali@aalilegal.org

Duration of Internship and timings

2^nd January, 2017 – 25^th January, 2017.

The timing of the office was from 10:00 to 6:00. Saturday and Sunday is off.

First impression, first day formalities, infrastructure

On the first day we were given a brief introduction about AALI. The concerned person explained us about the work, timings, rules, etc. We were told that how AALI works, about its functions, purpose.I was given certain books and publications of AALI to read.

The Infrastructure was ok. The infrastructure was no great and fancy building, The location was not too good, there is no food corners nearby.

Main tasks

The office was divided into 2 units- the Case work unit and the resource unit.

Resource unit

I was allotted the resource unit. Every Intern is allotted a PC. The interns are allowed to bring their laptops at their convenience. In the resource unit, I was mainly allotted with the work in the research field.

It mainly comprises of compilation of field data, preparing matrix of different cases like rape, murder etc.

I had done the work of secondary data collection and documentation, collected and organized news and information on current affairs related to human rights with special focus on women and other marginalized group of society.

I also assisted the resource team in collecting and analyzing the assessments feedback from AALI capacity building workshops for community based organization on women human rights and law.

I also had a opportunity to attend the State Level Colloquium organized by AALI to Accelerate Action for prevention of Child Marriage in U.P. in which the DGP, SSP were invited from various States.

We had also visited the Police station, there we have an interaction with the SHO, we were told all the procedures of filing FIR, recording of Statement of Accused etc.

Case Work unit

Though I was placed in the Resource unit, but when there is no work in the resource unit, then I have done work in case work unit also.

I had assisted the case workers in interacting with survivors of domestic violence and in documentation of cases of domestic violence, matrimonial disputes, sexual violence and Right to choice in relationships.

In the Case work unit, we were made to read the case files of survivors to conduct research, analysis and study on that particular case. and we used to make brief facts of the case.

Work environment and people

The work environment was good, people there were friendly, helpful and co-operative. but sometimes we were also scolded for our mistakes.

As it is a women NGO, so all the employees are females, so it was quite a new environment for me as from the very childhood till now I had studied in co-education.

Best things

By doing Internship in AALI, my Hindi vocabulary had been improved as while compiling the data we have to do the translation.

The friendly and cooperative environment, all the interns were offered tea or coffee twice in a day, which help us to work continuously for such a long duration.

Bad things

As I was placed in the resource unit, therefore, I was basically given the research work, which was not very fruitful in law field.

Though, I had also work in the case work unit, but for a very short duration, if I would be allotted the case work unit, then this internship can be very fruitful for me. But, u are not allowed to make a choice between the 2 units. They themselves allot u any unit randomly.

Stipend

No stipend

Biggest Lessons

For the first time ever, I had worked as a intern in any office, so I had quite a new experience while working there.

I learnt many things. I learned how to work for such long duration at a working place.

Any Other Thing

Nope

Accommodation

It was in my hometown.

Office Timings

10 am in the morning to 6 in the evening. The Internship was strict. You cannot take a leave.