 |
City lawyer undertakes role with Indian Human Rights organisation
3 months - Delhi -
|
Rachel Stephens, a qualified lawyer, travelled to Delhi in May 2007 to undertake her placement with CWW partner Human Rights Law Network (HRLN). Having worked in a well paid but stressful job with a City law firm since qualifying 2 years ago, Rachel felt she needed a new challenge. Here is how she got on...
“In Delhi, I cannot speak highly enough of how well I was treated. People knew that I had come to Delhi knowing no one and did not hesitate to invite me wherever they went with their friends, with their family…”
Rachel decided to apply to CWW because we were able to offer her the unique opportunity of volunteering her corporate and commercial legal skills with a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation.
HRLN is dedicated to the use of the legal system to advance human rights and ensure access to justice for all. HRLN provides pro bono legal services to those with little or no access to the justice system and it works tirelessly to enforce the rights of (amongst others) children, Dalits, people affected by HIV, homeless people and religious minorities.
Rachel was the first CWW volunteer to be placed with HRLN and her role was very varied. Half her workload consisted of supporting lawyers by speaking to clients and drafting legal pleadings on a variety of cases, primarily HIV/AIDS cases. The rest of her time was spent organising and facilitating “know your rights” training sessions and presentations about HIV/AIDS. Rachel researched and wrote for publications issued by HRLN and was also delighted to become involved with some work at a strategic level.
As Rachel was the only lawyer working within HRLN at the time, she was able to contribute significantly by drawing on her experience of working in an efficient, commercial office. As such, a lot of the legal work, drafting documents, talking to clients, was completed very quickly. This gave Rachel time to examine some of the systems that were in place in HRLN and ensure that momentum was created towards improving work methodology.
“People in the office were very friendly although everyone was overworked which meant I had to stand up for myself quite early on. Whilst daunting at the time, this helped me become more self reliant, something I value a lot now that I am back in London.”
Although Rachel had been to India before, spending an extended period of time there resulted in her falling in love with it. She made great friends and took the opportunity to travel to different areas.
Rachel has since decided she would like to pursue working in a field similar to that of HRLN. She has not returned to corporate law for the time being and is thinking of returning to India.
“My time overseas has made me more confident to pursue my career and life goals.”
|
|
If you are interested in doing a Placement similar to this one, contact us quoting Case Study Reference: Legal Work in Delhi
|
|
|
