PURSUING A LAW DEGREE FROM REPUTED LAW COLLEGES

The study of laws, on condition they are good laws, is unrivalled in its ability to improve students                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    – Plato

Law, legal education and development have become inter-related concepts in modern developing societies which are struggling to develop into social welfare states and are seeking to ameliorate the socio-economic condition of the people by peaceful means. The same is true for India. It is the crucial function of legal education to produce lawyers with a social vision in a developing country like India. However, the legal education, in modern times is not confined to production of practicing lawyers alone. Today its scope and ambit has widened enough and its impact is felt in every sphere of human life. The law being a tool for the social engineering, legal education can be regarded as an instrument for the social design.

Martin Luther King Jr. once observed that “Injustice anywhere is threat to justice everywhere”. The statement contemplates that the lawyers and person who acquire legal education are having foremost duty on their shoulders to spread the awareness among the masses about their rights and to protect them from oppression.

Now it becomes extremely desirable that we should impart and inculcate better quality of legal education among the law students so that they can imbibe skills and ability to become the protector of people’s rights by spreading awareness amongst the masses.

The Bar Council of India

The Bar Council of India, the present regulatory body who makes rules and regulation for the promotion of legal education in India has also strengthened the system by imposing stringent measures to check and account for the credibility of professionals both during study and practice. Law degrees are given and conferred in terms of Advocates Act, 1961 which authorizes BCI to govern and regulate the conduct for both legal education and profession. Universities, Law Institutes, affiliated Colleges and National Law Schools have to confine themselves to the rules and standards prescribed by the BCI for courses of study, infrastructure requirements, eligibility for admission and are responsible for the promotion of legal studies in India. Traditionally, legal education was imparted as a three years graduate degree(unitary) after completion of Bachelor’s degree other but with increasing strength and honour attached to this profession, an Integrated Five-Year Law Program  was introduced by BCI in 1982 provided after 12th Standard as an alternative to three year course so that law aspirants can directly enrol in universities. Law being an interdisciplinary profession, students have the varied option to club the law courses with Management, Arts and Commerce depending in their area of interest.

NCU Law School

In the present scenario, if we look at the legal education system in India, we have created an infrastructure for imparting better legal education among law students. Like IIM’s and IIT’s, which aims at providing exceptionally sound education atmosphere, we are developing National Law Universities and other private Universities in India which have already begun the race for the best college for law in India. These institutions make constant endeavour to uplift Indian legal education system.  

Best Law Schools

Amongst the best law schools in India, the focus of the students is now-a-days shifted towards the Delhi-NCR region where they feel that they get better exposure which is true also. The fact that Delhi-NCR is the hub of major agencies of the State, apex judiciary, many NGO’s, World Organizations, the students get a lot of opportunity to hone their skills and intern with major law firms and advocates. They have ample access to resources to build in-depth knowledge and tend to learn from highly competent faculty and get connected to industry experts through guest lectures and seminars. Now if we critically analyse various factors which attracts law students in top law schools, then following factors comes in to consideration –

• Highly skilled Faculty
• Senior faculty members having worldwide recognition 
• Good library
• Continuous visits by legal field experts
• Close association with law firms and senior advocates
• New and innovative method of teaching
• Inclusion of emerging areas in field of law such as cyber law, health laws, maritime laws etc.
• Better placement offers for students after completion law degree

The NorthCap University Law School

The NorthCap University School of Law is one of the best emerging Law School in Haryana amongst the private universities. The students graduated from here are working with reputed law firms, started their own practice and some went for higher education in reputed Universities in London and USA. Every event hosted here is witnessed by the presence of eminent personalities from judiciary, practice and law firms.

As the time for admissions is approaching, the scenario of pursuing a law degree from not only reputed but also effective institution must be kept in mind to enable the professions to become better citizens tomorrow contributing actively in the development of the nation.

Legal Aid to Citizens of Gurugram

Dr. Praveen Kumar Lohchab

Asst. Professor (Sel. Grade)

School of Law

The NorthCap University, Gurugram

Legal aid may be taken to mean free legal assistance to the poor persons in any judicial proceedings before the Court, Tribunals or any authority. It intends to provide free legal assistance to the poor persons who are not able to enforce the rights given to them by law. Justice P.N. Bhagwati has clearly stated that legal aid means providing an arrangement in the society which makes the machinery of administration of Justice easily accessible and in reach of those who have to resort to it for enforcement of rights given to them by law. He has rightly said that the poor and the illiterate should be able to approach the courts and their ignorance and poverty should not be an impediment in the way of obtaining justice from the Courts. The constitution of India gives much importance to rule of law. In India, it is regarded as a part of the basic structure of the Constitution and also of natural justice. Free legal aid to the poor and weak persons has been held to be necessary adjunct of the rule of law.

Legal aid in India

The preamble of the Indian constitution aims to secure to the people of India justice – socio economic and political. Article 38 and 39A of the Indian constitution are notable. Article 38(1) states- the State shall promote the welfare of the people by securing and protecting the social order including justice and Article 39-A of the constitution states that the state shall in particular, provide free legal aid, by suitable legislation or schemes, to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen.

Obstacles to Legal Assistance

At present the legal aid movement in India is unorganized, diffused and sporadic. There is lack of co-ordination in it. The ideal of equal access and availability of legal justice has reached almost breakdown point. There is a wide gap between the goals set and met. One law firm recently commented in a survey, “We no longer do pro bono work; we are too busy trying to survive”. Lawyers don’t engage themselves in pro bono activities because of various reasons. There is lack of financial resources. 

Illiteracy is also a major obstacle to legal aid. Now it is common knowledge that about 70% of the people living in rural areas are illiterate and even more then that are not aware of the rights conferred upon them by law. It is the absence of legal awareness which leads to exploitation and deprivation of rights and benefits of the poor. 

In order to provide legal assistance to the citizens of Gurugram, School of Law at The NorthCap University, Gurugram is running Legal Aid Clinic since 2010. NCU Law School is amongst Top Law School in Haryana and was established in 2010. NCU Law School is a premier institution; offers 5 years integrated BBA LLB (Hons.) degree, LL.M degree and Ph.D in Law.  Hundreds of poor litigants visit NCU Legal Aid Clinic for legal assistance regarding their family disputes, land disputes, tenancy right and other litigations every year. Moreover, NCU Legal Aid Clinic organizes at least two Legal Aid Camps in surrounding regions every year. NCU Legal Aid Clinic wishes to provide legal assistance to the needy and poor people outside Gurugram also in coming future.