COURTING SUCCESS
NLSIU Bengaluru, with its sharp focus on cutting-edge practices and small batch sizes, remains ahead of the pack
These days, lawyers don't necessarily come wearing black robes. Legal services are increasingly being dispensed by digital avatars like chat-bots and online forums. Today, the future of law is being debated around the world—more and more clients want affordable, transparent and prompt legal services and often turn to internet forums or websites for their needs. The digital revolution is even changing the courts—India saw its first virtual divorce during the lockdown, and during this time, the Delhi High Court held 270 virtual sessions. As the digital divide sets in, the law firms that are succeeding are the ones that have embraced the virtual world. At the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, the focus is on both the human value of a lawyer and the professional potential of technology. “The idea of a lawyer has evolved in the 34 years since we started out as a university,” says Sudhir Krishnaswamy, vice-chancellor of NLSIU. “We still emphasise the power of a good argument, of analysis, exploration and scrutiny—these are things technology cannot [offer] without a human interface.”
To familiarise students with digital disruptions, the institute has an LTech (law and technology) Committee, which, for the past five years, has been publishing the Indian Journal of Law and Technology, the nation’s first peer-reviewed journal in this field. Members work to increase awareness of legal issues linked to new technology, and through debate and dialogue, students learn to stay up-to-date with the latest developments. At NLSIU, webbased learning was implemented long before it became essential in 2020. The institute has a history of adopting modern practices—when it was founded under N.R. Madhavan Menon in 1986, it was one of the first universities in India to look beyond traditional teaching methods, introducing case studies and group classes.
Nonetheless, the faculty ensures that basic legal practices and approaches are not forgotten. “You have to know the basics—that is the foundation on which you add new skill sets. Simple things like how to write an argument or a legal script, or knowing the founding principles of law in India, should be common knowledge [for students and lawyers],” adds Krishnaswamy. The institute also has a background in social responsibility; it has had a centre for women and law since its inception. Not only is legal aid given to women and those from disadvantaged backgrounds, but legal awareness classes are often held as well.
It is tough to get admission to this university. NLSIU’s five-year LLB course has just 80 seats (which might increase to 120 next
"WE ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO EXPLORE AND INNOVATE IN WHATEVER THEY WISH TO DO"
Three changes made in the past three years
The university migrated to online learning in Oct 2019
The process of shortlisting PhD candidates has been streamlined; now, we offer eight spots but everyone gets a fellowship and personalised mentoring
Distance-learning programmes have been revamped. These are no longer mere pen and paper programmes but have been expanded to include alumni lectures and hybrid learning methods (between reading and taught classes)
Three new initiatives planned for the future
We hope to increase our undergraduate seats from 80 to 120 if the executive council approves of it this year
Early discussions are on with partner universities in Bengaluru for collaborative academic programmes
There will be more emphasis on policy engaged research. Some of the subjects will be legal system reforms, labour and work and climate change
Three emerging trends in legal education
Technology will be very significant as a legal specialisation but it will also grow to have many branches—AI law will be one such branch
While constitutional law has always been important, the next decade will see lawyers relive and reimagine our founding principles
COVID-19 has disrupted oral arguments--they are measured and shorter now. This will be a tremendous opportunity for young learners to contribute to legal debates over and above automated text