The mismatch between what is learnt in educational institutions and the actual skills required at the workplace, has been a point of contention among academics and corporates. The job skills mismatch is all the more evident in a sector like law, where people skills, communication, and language are as important as one’s knowledge of legal theories and practice.
This is where Co-Draft Academy of Law steps in. Based in Chennai, this finishing school of sorts, for law students, aims to prepare law professionals holistically, by empowering them with the skills and information not commonly taught in law schools.
“Students and graduates of law often find a gaping mismatch between what they are taught in school and what the profession requires. This is especially a problem since the abolishment of the mandatory one-year apprenticeship, way back in 1962, that every student was required to do, in order to graduate in law,” feels Maheshwary Mohan, founder and course director of Co-draft.
“The option with students now is to work under a senior lawyer who may or may not have the time, resources and specialisation, to train them. And this route will take them about two to three years to become well-versed in the clinical aspects of the legal profession.”
Filling the gaps
With competition from graduates from top-tier law schools and a lack of awareness regarding the real demands of the job, Co-draft hopes to level the playing field by filling the skill gaps.
The course offered by the Academy is a combination of interactive and skill-building sessions for improved advocacy, group discussions, court management, etiquette, mock mediation and language as a tool for the lawyer.
Legal drafting: To enable professionals to be well versed and proficient in drafting legal letters. Drafting a minimum of 50 documents from legal notices, plaints, written statement, affidavits, petitions and conveyancing documents will enhance the drafting skills.
Mooting: Mooting is an essential skill which stimulates legal professionals to deal with litigations and court practises. It is a session on moot court to enhance and equip students’ professional skills in analysing the problem, research, case-laws and presentation of arguments, court etiquettes and argumentative skills.
Research: Legal research is one of the critical areas of legal profession, meant to advise clients, determine the strength and weaknesses of the case, and probability of success in the case.
Client counselling: One of the primary functions of a lawyer is to understand the nuances of the dispute. Proper client counselling is the only way a professional can render appropriate legal and ethical advice. The course will help professionals to develop their skills to understand or assess clients’ needs and expectations.
Alternative dispute resolution: Legal profession has gone through a plethora of changes which includes the opening of ADR in all fields of law. Special training in ADR, with mock training in mediation is also provided.
There will be guest lectures by retired judges, lawyers, and experts from corporate sectors. The institute also offers placements with lawyers and law firms.
For more details, look up www.codraftild.com
