Sound advice: Jamshedpur Co-operative Law College on Sunday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

If litigation scares the needy, they have a friend in Jamshedpur Co-operative Law College, which offers free legal aid.

At present, two legal experts — who practise in civil court — as well as college faculty members and senior students offer free counselling at the college clinic four days a week (Monday-Thursday) from 11am to 1pm. The cradle, which collaborated with District Legal Aid Society in December 2011 for the free clinic on college campus, has so far solved seven out of 18 cases.

“Problems are a part and parcel of our lives, but everyone can’t afford a lawyer every time. We are offering free legal aid for the past 16 months, but unfortunately not many people are aware of our services,” Jitendra Kumar, professor-in-charge of Jamshedpur Co-operative Law College.

Cases at the clinic vary from family disputes to property issues and marital violence. Experts help warring sides resolve disputes outside court through mutual understanding.

Most complainants are women who accuse their husbands of torture. Such issues can be are resolved by talking to both the parties and help them reach a point of agreement. Criminal cases, however, are not entertained. They are referred to the court. But litigants get logistic help — getting hold of a lawyer and other aid.

“Our strategy to involve students, faculty and two legal experts, is a win-win situation. We provide legal aid to the masses, while our students get a first-hand experience of how to deal with a real-time case,” Kumar added.

Student volunteers are equally happy with the clinic.

“Besides academic knowledge, it is imperative to have a working knowledge of the court on campus. This clinic helps us deal with real cases and solve them with guidance from professionals,” said Sunita Singh, a fourth semester student of the law college.

From July, to popularise the service, the college will organise regular awareness camps on the institute campus and in and around Jamshedpur.

“We have decided to extend our services and organise awareness camps with our limited resources. Plans are afoot to conduct free legal aid camps and arrange court visits so that people know more about our services,” Kumar added.