University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS) of the Panjab
University, taking a first step of its kind, is organising a National Client
Counselling Competition on Friday, February 4 at the Institute.

     The Institute has already established its reputation by organising and
hosting various national and international level moot court competitions which
provided the students with a firsthand experience on clinical legal training with the
young budding lawyers bringing laurels to their alma-mater.  The alumni of the UILS
have already placed the name of Panjab University on the international map by
excelling in moot court competitions organized at home and by other institutes of
national and international repute.  In a step further to provide our lawyers in the
making with a hands-on-experience and practical exposure to the field of law, the
national client counselling competition is being held for the first time.  

    The UILS director Prof Sangita Bhalla disclosed at a press conference today
that the focus of this competition would be on ‘Intellectual Property Rights and
Consumer Protection Laws’. The emphasis will be laid on ‘remedy sorting’ and
counselling functions of law practice. “It aims to encourage students to develop
interviewing, planning, and analytical skills and also make them proficient in dealing
with the clients. The Competition will provide an opportunity for a valuable
educational and cultural interchange between students, law teachers, and legal
practitioners”, she said.  Giving details of the event Prof Sangita said, “The
Competition simulates a law office consultation in which two law students, acting as
lawyers, are presented with a client matter. About 20 teams have already confirmed
their participation in the competition. They include, Amity Law School, Noida, Army
Institute of Law, Mohali, Baroda School of Law, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law
University, Lucknow, GNLU, Gandhinagar, ILS, Pune, KIIT, Bhubaneswar, NLIU, Bhopal,
NLU, Jodhpur, NUALS, Cochin, Praveen Gandhi College of Law, Mumbai, Rayat & Bahra
College of Law, RGNUL, Patiala, School of Excellence of Law, Chennai, School of law,
Christ University, Bangalore, St. Soldier Law College, Jalandhar, Symbiosis Law
College, Pune, Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies. The competition will be
held in three sessions. The preliminary round will be followed by semi finals and the
final round”, Prof Sangita Bhalla said.

    The coordinator of the competition Dr Jasmeet Gulati and media incharge UILS,
Dr Chanchal Narang said the valedictory function to be organized at 4.30 pm will
include a galaxy of eminent academicians, scholars and jurists. Prof R.C Sobti, Vice
Chancellor, PU will preside over the function and three Judges of Panjab and Haryana
High Court have  agreed to grace the occasion with their presence as guests of honour.
They are Mr. Justice Jasbir Singh, Mr. Justice Rajive Bhalla and Mr. Justice Mahesh
Grover.  Mr. G. K Chathrath, Senior Advocate and Dean Faculty of law will also be
present on the occasion.                                     
                                                   AK/PS