Ready to make A strong PLEA
The development of the legal education in India has been a journey marked by significant progress and transformative reforms. It has evolved over a period of time. Owing to its global relevance, many pursue law with scholarly rigour for advocating justice, protecting rights, influencing policy, administering law and serving the social order. Whether through public interest work, human rights advocacy or legal reform, it offers a platform for evocative transformation.
Network of legal education
Today, there exists an impressive network of institutions rendering legal education across the length the breadth of India.
The growing prosperity of the legal education is evident through the three generation of edifying establishments.
The first being the traditional set-up of the government and private law colleges/ state and Central universities; the second being (post late 1980s) the National Law Universities (NLUs) with some states having more than one and also with off-centre campus. And, the third generation is through the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) opting for law programmes. Captivatingly, as a hallmark of the standards of enlightening milieu, a few of them even figure in the list of ‘Institutes of Eminence’ while others are ranked well by reputed agencies.
Ever-evolving contours
Law requires strong communication skills, analytical thinking, critical reasoning and problem-solving orientation. It attracts those who enjoy constructing arguments, interpreting complex texts and navigating abstract principles.
Emerging areas, include intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) with automation and intellectual property laws; cyber security with data management and financial law, besides interplay of different modes of alternative dispute resolution (ADR); virtual legal services and gig economy, social media and digital strategies among others.
Tech integration
As technology transforms, new tools emerge in legal education. Taking a leap from the online learning platforms/virtual classrooms to AI tools and global resources; from legal research tools/case management software to augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) legal simulation labs are coming up.
In order to train law students for the 21st century challenges in the legal profession, an AR/VR Lab is a specialised facility equipped with technology to simulate real-world legal scenarios for immersive and enhanced learning outcomes besides realistic simulation and improved skills.
Designed to revolutionise traditional legal pedagogy, it offers a unique approach to legal education and creating a more immersive learning experience, including honing soft-skills, developing court-room acumen, and engaging high-impact learning through realistic moot court and litigation simulations for students besides endorsing training / development of the faculty.
Intellectual gratification
Law as a career goal is intellectually gratifying as well as socially impactful as a law degree offers a wide range of career prospects, besides opening options for journalism, politics and the corporate milieu.
However, the financial rewards vary depending on the sector; many legal careers offer sound financial potential and job security. The varied career prospects include lawyer/advocate, judge or magistrate, legal adviser, public prosecutor or government counsel besides corporate and commercial roles as in-house counsel, compliance officers, legal analyst.
In academia one can contribute to legal scholarship through teaching and in research assignments one can work with think-tanks, NGOs, or international institutions for policy formulation and augmentation of reform.
On the front of public service and policy one can explore civil services option and be also there as a public policy adviser.
The alternative career paths embraces legal journalism, legal tech and startups, mediation and arbitration.
Last but not the least a law degree, especially with additional international qualifications, can open global options in law firms, international institutions, cross-border legal work etc.
Destination and destiny
The role of legal education is not to merely churn out graduates for feeding the diverse career options, but to accentuate on the ‘nobility’, ‘dignity’, ‘integrity’ and ‘sanctity’ of the legal profession.
The obvious role is to equip students to perform the variety of roles which legal professionals are expected to play in our society.
The passion for pursuing a career in law stems from a deep-rooted interest in understanding the legal system. The growth of a citizen as a law abiding citizen is incomplete without the proper knowledge of the laws.
Legal profession is not only a profession of being subservient to the public and community but also helps in enhancing the life-skills.
Godspeed! Have a ripper time ahead…!!
Region’s best
Jindal Global Law School, Sonepat
Estd: 2009 | Website: https://jgu.edu.in
The school has been ranked as India’s Number 1 Law School and world’s 72nd best Law School by the QS World University Rankings by subject 2024.
Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala
Estd: 2006 | Website: https://www.rgnul.ac.in/
The University has set up seventeen centres of research and a Legal Aid Clinic under the aegis of Punjab Legal Services Authority.<
University Institute of Legal Studies, PU, Chandigarh
Estd: 2004 | Website: https://uils.puchd.ac.in
The moot court competitions, client counselling sessions, quiz contests, seminars, group discussions and extension lectures etc. are a regular feature of the academic calendar of the Institute. The Institute also exposes its students to the ‘law in action’ through compulsory internships with legal luminaries.
Army Institute of Law, Mohali
Estd: 1999 | Website: https://www.ail.ac.in/
Ranked 30 in NIRF 2024, the institute is affiliated to Punjabi University, Patiala and approved by Bar Council of India. With ‘Aspire and Achieve’ as its motto, it has grown as a
Centre of Excellence in the field of legal education.
Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar
Estd.: Website: https://www.lpu.in/
Raned: 19th in NIRF, the department offers BA LL.B.(Hons.), BBA, LL.B.(Hons.), LL.B., LL.M., Ph.D. ( Law)
Institute of Law, Kurukshetra University
Estd: 1969 | Website: www.kuk.ac.in
University Institute of Legal Studies, Chandigarh University, Gharaun
Estd: 2016 | Ranking: NAAC A+ | Website: www.cuchd.in
Department of Law, Punjabi University, Patiala
Estd: 1965 | Website: www.punjabiuniversity.ac.in
Major areas of thrust in research are Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, International Law, Business Law and Family Law.
Sri Sukhmani College of Law, Dera Bassi
Estd: 2021 | Website: lawcollege.sukhmanicollege.com
Accredited A “Grade” University by NAAC
Law Department, Chaudhary Devi Lal University, Sirsa
Estd: 2003 | Website: www.cdlu.ac.in
The Department offers both undergraduate (LL.B. and BA. LL.B.) and postgraduate (LL.M. and Ph.D.) programmes. It also has a Legal Aid Clinic and a well-equipped library with a digital component.
Faculty of Law, MDU, Rohtak
Estd: 1978 | Website: http://mdurohtak.ac.in/
Khalsa College of Law, Amritsar
Estd: July, 2012 | Website: www.kclasr.org
Baba Farid Law College, Faridkot
Estd: 2004 | Website: www.bflc.ac.in
(Based on inputs from The Tribune sources)
Entrance criteria
2024 NIRF Top 10
1National Law School of India University, Bengaluru
2National Law University, New Delhi
3Nalsar University of Law, Hyderabad
4The West Bengal national University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata
5Symbiosis Law School, Pune, maharashtra
6Jamia Millia Islamia,
New Delhi
7Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur
8Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar
9Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan, Bhubaneswar
10Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow
The writer is Professor of Law, Panjab University, Chandigarh
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