KISS-DU Organises Distinguished Invited Lecture on “Legal Empowerment through Paralegals”

The Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) and the Human Resource Development Centre (HRDC), KISS-DU, in collaboration with KIIT Law School (KLS), organised a distinguished invited lecture on “Legal Empowerment through Paralegals” on 19^th September 2024. Professor Margaret L. Phillips, J.D, Associate Professor, Director of Paralegal Studies, Daemen University, Buffalo, New York, delivered the lecture.

Professor Deepak Kumar Behera, Vice Chancellor, KISS-DU, delivered the Welcome Address and highlighted the topic’s relevance to Indigenous people. He spoke on the importance of sensitising on such topics and the possible areas wherein KISS-DU and KIIT-DU can work collaboratively. Dr. Sanghamitra Pattnaik, Associate Professor, KLS, introduced the distinguished speaker to the audience.

In her lecture, Professor Margaret L. Phillips, J.D, Leader, Educator and Collaborator, talked about access to justice, which she defined as demand and supply. The supply side includes – the availability of fair and impartial laws, enforcement and legal decision-making, and the demand side includes – the knowledge and ability to exercise legal rights. She added that access to justice equals human rights. She highlighted the global access to justice crisis, supporting the same with statistical data. Professor Margaret underscored that local empowerment means when ordinary people have the power to know and use the law. “Mediation, legal education, and community skill-building are some of the roles played by the Community Paralegals,” she added. Professor Margaret concluded her deliberation by proposing setting up a Community Paralegal Program at KISS satellite schools.

A question-and-answer session followed the talk.

After Professor Margaret’s deliberation, Dr. Tulishree Pradhan, an Associate Professor at KLS, presented “Indigenous Rights and Environment.” Dr. Shyamantak Misra, an Assistant Professor at KLS, spoke on “Customary Laws.” Professor Rose Varghese, the Director of KLS, summed up the session.

Professor Rajan Varghese, Director of Research and Innovation, KLS faculty members, KLS Senior Functionaries, Deans, Directors, Faculty Members, and Research Scholars from KISS-DU graced the occasion. Dr. Chittaranjan Bhoi, Director of HRDC, KISS-DU, proposed a Vote of Thanks.