Bridging the gap between theory and practice
There are gaps found in a few areas, common to law school teaching in 90% of the colleges in India. We, at USA College have studied the shortcomings of legal training not only in India, but also globally in order to offer a truly exceptional learning and training experience for our law students. Every law student has in them the potential to shine like a diamond. Law school and gaining knowledge is merely the beginning of that arduous and amazing journey. We recognise that, and hence want to give YOU, the students the best chance at succeeding in the legal profession, not only on the merit of your theoretical knowledge but also set you apart in demeanor and real world experience.
The Smart Lawyer Initiative: A special initiative of the USA college, this focuses primarily on:
1. Building your independent research and legal writing skills: It is imperative to have the discerning eye for the right sources, be able to assimilate factual information post verification and organise, disseminate it in a logically sequential structure to fortify arguments. For this, we conduct frequent training sessions to help students adhere to the de rigeurs of academic writing, so they may write well and publish in major national and international journals.
2. Training exercises for honing Drafting Skills: Understanding the nuances of drafting legal documents is crucial to drafting any legal document. Most students lack this once they are employed, and find themselves at wits end when asked to prepare a basic legal document. Either as an intern preparing briefs, memos or as a new junior associate drafting something for a client. We conduct rigorous sessions to impart upon students the importance of the nuances, how they can use it to identify and mitigate risks in legally binding agreements.
3. Client Counselling: The right approach can build a long standing relationship, while a haughty or confrontational or jargon filled approach may drive clients away. It is important for lawyers to remember that the client is primarily come to them for advice, and often hand holding through the legal maze. We train our students in client counselling with the finest legal practitioners Students will hone their research and writing skills, learn to negotiate with opposing counsel, and advise clients on a host of issues. They will learn these, and rapport building skills so they can establish a lasting relationship with clients. Students will form teams, take turns to implement their client counselling training in the form of role play exercises. Each team shall be given a predetermined time limit, within which their performance shall determine the outcome of their session. “Only by falling, do we learn to brush ourselves off and rise up” We will assist the students here, so they can walk tall when they graduate.
4. Trial Advocacy Workshops: Trial advocacy classes cover topics including: Opening statements and closing arguments, preparing witnesses for providing accurate testimony, theorizing, objections, introduction of real and documentary evidence, interviewing expert witnesses, and cross-examinations.
5. Presentation before a mock courtroom setting: One of the hurdles when law graduates get into practice is a lack of confidence on their part due to poor public speaking skills. This lack of knowledge can end up giving young lawyers social anxiety in the courts. We conduct specialized public speaking workshops, but also encourage students to work as a team to interact with the locals, go out and provide legal awareness, listen to their grievances and develop advisory skills as well.
6. Soft Skills training: What happens when you are untrained in soft skills?
➔ You are unable to retain your clients and business
➔ You are unable to meet deadlines
➔ Your professional network staggers in its growth
➔ You land meetings with potential clients, but fail to seal the deal with them
When asking firms for feedback, the most common complaint they have about interns is that they lack the right attitude. The students appear lackadaisical in their approach to work, inadvertently offend seniors and colleagues with their presumptuous and disrespectful behaviour. Because of the lacking in soft skills, they fail to convince firms that they are hire worthy, and don’t get Pre Placement Offers despite having good internships in their kitty.
Students will be trained in negotiation tactics, network building, client counselling, case presentation, conflict resolution, solution oriented communication, team work, delegation, problem solving and handling crises. This training will be sourced from some of the very best out there in the field. The approach is customised to fit every student’s needs, unique as they will be.
Organisations & Committees: USA College has a dynamic student culture, and management that work in tandem to make sure that student needs are heard and met. This includes engagement with students on social, academical systems as well as any kind of reforms that may be suggested by the student body. We have numerous committees, each with their own specific purpose, as may be self explanatory from the following monikers. Moot Court Committee, Literary and Debate Society, Cultural Awareness Committee, The Sports and Fitness Club, Student Welfare Society, Hospitality Committee, Hostel Security and Campus Welfare Society are all some of the ways in which we ensure a dynamic relationship exits between the students and the college management. Students will have a keen awareness of their rights, be able to take part in various competitions while planning and organising them, fests, take up issues pertaining to security and hospitality in an amicable fashion.
Movie screenings: We believe that it is important to go beyond the classroom, in order to reach the students. With this objective, we conduct bi-weekly screenings of movies pertinent to legal and social issues. Post movie, a discussion takes place at length where students may take the floor and debate, ideate to form new perspectives on pre - existing ones.
Committee for Law & Technology: The Committee has been formed to educate students on issues relating to Technology Law, focusing particularly on the nascent Indian legal framework pertaining to the cyber-dom. It serves as a place for students, academicians and practitioners from law and technology to discuss relevant issues. At the same time, we also provide our own perspectives, opinions and call for debates, discussions through our Committee newsletter.
Social Conscientiousness Programs: Justice lies at the heart of the legal profession. As much as we encourage students to develop an astute business mindset, we are keen on working with students to create tomorrow’s change - makers. In order to do so, every student will be assigned a team and Guide. The Guide will provide weekly/bi-weekly guidance with regard to the small, individual projects and causes/social concern that each team will be working on, in association with the UrsDay NGO as well as teaming up with other local organisations in the vicinity of the campus, to listen, help, guide, increase legal awareness, and problem solve.
Legal Aid Clinic: The Legal Aid Clinic conducts Legal Aid workshops, and Legal literacy awareness camps in various parts. These ventures involve evocative media centred around various societal issues such as sexual harassment, domestic violence, child marriage, right to education, right to information, right to equality, and more. An interactive discussion ensues between audience and performers about what they just saw, and if they can recognise what are the problems. Students then explain legal recourse for the same. Apart from evocative media, we also organise public talks, workshops so that people may come freely and seek legal guidance, understand their rights, remedial measures etc.
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