Globalization has completely transformed the dynamics of society as a whole. For the same reason, the whole world is recognizing the value of the knowledge economy. Similarly, globalization in the legal services industry has made a massive impact on the entire layout in law teaching and Indian legal service industry. However, specific changes need to be done in the overall law education system in India. Below is a quick review of the same.
One of the major requirements is to create a unique rating system supported by a set of criteria to evaluate the quality of all institutions teaching law as a mechanism to make sure of uniform educational quality across the country. Based on these criteria, an institution’s recognition could be either granted or withdrawn. The rating results must be reviewed, updated, and monitored regularly and made public.
Development of curriculum involves revisiting the core/compulsory and elective courses and consider the need to amplify the domain of elective courses by revising the syllabus of individual courses. The next-gen law study must integrate with other subjects and provide an integrated knowledge of bio-diversity, biotechnology, environmental sciences, public health, and other associated disciplines. Consequently, the unmet legal requirements of different sections of the society along with the impact of globalization may be addressed.
Henceforth, the students are equipped to accord to the society once they are ready for the same. In order to enable the students to do so, the legal institutions must have the freedom to choose the subject so that their students can research their preferred area or field. This interlinking of law with the connected issues can add huge worth to the academic law degree.
Similarly, the existing examination system needs to be revised and the assessment must be checked on the basis of essential analytical, writing, and communication skills. The test must be a combination of theoretical and practical problems. Project papers, project and viva exam should be informative in terms of the overall evaluation.
With the current scenario of Indian legal services industry going global, it is essential for the law students to possess knowledge of a foreign language of their choice. Law students must develop their ability to tell apart the relevant from the irrelevant and should improve the capability of applying the law according to the situation under observation.
In order to develop and nourish law students, a highly talented and capable faculty is required. Hence, they should be offered proper remuneration and incentives along with better service conditions. Furthermore, it is necessary to include the faculty members in the policy formulation of the education system of the national legal services industry. Faculty exchange programmes with the top international universities are also welcomed.
It’s high time that law academics ought to switch to a “comparative teaching methodology.” The law students should be prepared to judge the present or prospective draconian laws and take part in the discussions on the most recent developments and required amendments in the law. Moreover, clinical training must be encouraged where “justice” should be taught as the central aspect of the law study. This idea of justice education within the legal education system implies that the law curriculum should include some specific programmes such as Lok Adalats, Para-legal coaching, and Mock Trials.
Another important aspect is the creation of research tradition in law institutions. This is especially significant if India wants to become a global producer of law knowledge instead of only being a law consumer. In order to develop the research culture, the following measures can be taken:
• Emphasizing on analytical and research methodologies as an important part of the law programme
• Development of required infrastructure for carrying out research work (libraries, availability of digital assets, internet, access to latest legal journals and data)
• Properly rationalize the teaching time so that the faculty can dedicate more time towards research
• Offering incentives on the published research works
Summing up, building high-quality law institutions would require a dynamic response towards the expanding international dimensions of legal education and profession, wherever it is becoming obligatory to include more and more international and comparative views. However, in the end, it is also necessary to have an understanding of the domestic law.
