Pratapgarh to Allahabad High Court – Devansh Dubey’s Journey at Parul Institute of Law!

For a student from a non-legal family, each move into the legal world is a different one. Devansh Dubey is a BBA and LLB student. The first-generation lawyer at Parul Institute of Law has set his trajectory in the right direction after completing two internships, one with the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Pratapgarh, and the other with the Allahabad High Court. It is a story of what you can learn in practice that can’t be learned in books.

The distance between Pratapgarh and Parul University is around 300 km. Devansh hails from Pratapgarh district, Uttar Pradesh. He was a student in the CBSE board, opted for the Arts stream, and although his father is from a business background, he opted to make a career in law. Through one of the campaigns of Parul University, he came to know about the university and enrolled himself in the 5-year BBA LL.B. program. In September, he didn’t get the orientation that usually helps new students settle in, which made it more difficult to get started. However, classes and new friendships helped him navigate the path ahead!

This is his first step into the world of the DLSA Internship. It was through this internship that Devansh got his very first experience of the profession with the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) at Pratapgarh, which took him to a world of law that most students aren’t aware of: legal aid and access to justice. He noted that the legal system can help those who can’t afford private legal counsel, and he saw mediation, which is a process in which parties settle their disputes without going to court. It brought an important realisation: It’s not just about arguing in front of a judge to be a lawyer. It also involves assisting individuals with a better understanding of their rights, advising them on legal procedures, and locating resolutions to conflicts that may be suitable

Devansh was also able to attend his first court session during the DLSA internship. It was new for someone from a family without legal experience to enter one, and ideas he had heard in books came into existence before his eyes in actual trials. He saw advocates at various stages of their careers and developed the following lesson: Legal practice is a marathon process that requires patience and perseverance.

Devansh then made a giant leap with his internship at the Allahabad High Court, a significant step for any law student. The decision was partly pragmatic, as Allahabad was close to his family. The High Court provided him with a wider perspective on litigation and professional practice. He credits the Training and Placement Cell at Parul Institute of Law for taking the students’ choice of place into account when facilitating their placements, which was a great help in his internship.

Take an insider’s look at the day-to-day activities of a high court intern. This exercise required a lot of discipline. His day at the High Court started around 0700 hours and finished around 1700 hours, when he attended the court by public transport; by which time his day, taken up with attending court, had been under the supervision of his advocate, and he had learnt the practical aspects of litigation and followed the advice of his advocate. His internship diary and assignments continued at home as well before preparing for the next day. It provided him with an authentic sense of the cohesiveness the business demanded.

Devansh served under Senior Advocate H. N. Pandey at the Allahabad High Court, who is the legal advisor to the CBSE board and a former member of the Standing Council of Uttar Pradesh at the Allahabad High Court. He says that his mentor was very helpful, and he showed him, in a friendly way, how to study cases, follow arguments, and how to observe the proceedings. That kind of guidance, for the first time in a professional court, was a lot more comfortable and productive for the student and a great way to learn the real-world aspects of the law.

In his post, Devansh shared that the internship was a valuable opportunity for him to gain practical experience in the field and deepen his understanding of the law, along with developing his analytical, legal research, and critical thinking skills, which ultimately enabled him to look at a situation from multiple angles. He expressed his gratitude to Parul University for providing him with such a wonderful platform and added that Shubhank Khare and Shambhawi Mishra have been giving him constant guidance and support during the internship.

The movie scenario of a courtroom is vastly different from reality. Courtrooms are nothing like the movies. One of Devansh’s more interesting finds was the real-world difference between what it’s like in court versus what it’s like in movies. He was not given to dramatic confrontations but rather a structured, disciplined, formal setting, a professionalism in the relationship between judges and advocates, and an emphasis on decorum. It turned his ideas about the art of advocacy on their head; good lawyers don’t shout, they are prepared, they are knowledgeable, they are patient, and they present a case in a respectful and logical fashion.

Starting days were tough for me, but later I started enjoying the atmosphere.
– Devansh Dubey

During his internship, Devansh was assigned to prepare a case brief for a serious and sensitive criminal matter, which his supervising advocate then used in the proceedings. The experience left a lasting mark. Working on grave legal matters made him realise that every case file represents a real human situation, and it encouraged him to look beyond legal provisions to the human and social dimensions of a dispute. It was a reminder that behind every file is a person and that the law carries real human weight.

His DLSA experience also gave Devansh a close look at mediation, and he came to appreciate it as an effective option when both parties are willing to resolve a dispute by mutual agreement rather than prolonged litigation. Avoiding unnecessary delays and expense, he saw, can benefit everyone when a dispute is suitable for settlement, though he also recognises that every matter is different and needs an approach suited to its circumstances. It broadened his view of the profession beyond traditional courtroom litigation.

Before his High Court internship, Devansh had mainly imagined a career in corporate law. His exposure to litigation opened another door: he now sees courtroom practice, potentially at the Allahabad High Court, as a real possibility too. Rather than choosing immediately, he is exploring both. One area increasingly draws him: corporate taxation, as he believes businesses increasingly need legal professionals who understand taxation, regulatory requirements, and the legal side of corporate operations, one of the many fields a law degree opens.

Devansh’s learning extends well beyond internships. He is associated with the Training and Placement Cell and has served on the organising core committee for major institute events, including the institute’s Law Fest, which lets students compete and interact with legal professionals, and the Parul International Mediation Competition, which brings participants and guests from around the world. Such activities, he says, complement classroom education by building communication, teamwork, organisational, and professional skills.

Reflecting on his first three semesters, Devansh names consistency as the most important habit a law student can build. His advice is simple: do not ignore classroom learning. He admits he did not always follow it early on but found that revisiting material regularly, even briefly each day, helped him retain concepts far better. For a discipline built on understanding principles, concepts, and case law, consistent revision makes a real difference. Inspired already? You too can start your law journey by discovering premium law programs of Parul University, such as Bachelor of Law (LL.B.), BA LLB Honours, and Master of Law in Business and Corporate Law (LLM).