A Shortage of Lawyers Is Delaying Justice in India

Law is considered a highly honourable profession in India, yet India faces a major deficit of lawyers. In fact, this is known to be one of the biggest reasons for about 3 crore cases pending in courts, eventually delaying justice in the country. Other than several best government law colleges that have made a tall reputation for themselves, some top private law colleges in India too have joined the list and are determined to impart quality education to aspiring lawyers.

India needs lawyers and not MBAs and Engineers because apparently, there are only 15 lakh attorneys currently working in India against an essential demand of 45 lakh lawyers. Every year, about 58,000 to 60,000 students take CLAT exams, and lakhs of students apply for other law exams for private colleges. And the ones who clear the cut off marks go on to study law in various colleges across the country.

Since, law is not just limited to criminal and corporate domains, its other expanding branches like human rights law, environmental law, family law, entertainment law, intellectual property law, etc. have been seeing a steep rise in the number of applicants with time. This high demand also means that there is huge scope for law in India. The 3-Year LLB course after graduation or a 5 Year BA-LLB integrated course after 12th both hold equal importance. Every sector requires its legal department and post this course, opportunities at sectors like banking, insurance, entertainment or at big law firms, government agencies, corporate businesses, can be grabbed.

But if, after graduation, if a student aspires to cont    inue the law studies, they can take up the LLM course which is Master of Laws, a postgraduate law degree as well. This is an internationally recognized degree which is not compulsory for lawyers to practice law in India but sure is an added star. This is mostly pursued to gain expertise and advanced studies in a particular specialization, for e.g., Tax Law. Like any other Master’s Degree, this too gives you an edge over others.

The duration of the LLM course could be one year or two, varying from institution to institution. Presenting an abundance of career opportunities in law, LLM College in India like National Law School of India University (NLSIU) - Bangalore, Symbiosis Law - Pune, Indian Law Society (ILS) Law College - Pune among many others are opening doors for the ones who aim to achieve big in this service aiding profession.       

Tips on Surviving Law Schools With Ease

Pursuing a degree in law can be very demanding, competitive and stressful. You may pass the entrance exams and get into the best law universities in India, but to survive three years of college can seem a bit daunting, given the broad curriculum and internships. Students often struggle to cope up with the syllabus and the hectic routine that follows it. However, the end reward is the plethora of diverse opportunities in the field of law which can open up exciting career avenues after graduation.

As a law student, it is essential that you include efficient planning in your learning methods and follow a stringent study timetable. In an effort to put aspiring lawyers on the path to success, we have compiled a list of tips that will help you to ace law schools with ease -

Read as much as you can - It goes without saying that a career in law requires a lot of reading. Since you will be needed to cover a broad curriculum in a short time, reading just before exams or assignments are not really going to help. You should be on par with readings assigned for your courses and make sure that you don't fall behind as you may waste a lot of time catching up later.

Attend lectures regularly - Most of the discussions in class usually follow the assigned readings, and you may not feel the need to attend lectures. But there might be times when your professor may introduce new concepts that are not included in the syllabus. To ensure that you don't miss out on important information, you should attend lectures, workshops and seminars regularly.
   
Partake in moot courts - Instead of just wanting to mug up theoretical concepts, you would want to learn to apply that knowledge into practice. Participating in moot courts will help you to develop new skills which in turn will help you to excel in exams. Make sure to participate in debates and moot courts to gain valuable learning experience.

Form study groups - Interacting and studying with students who are well-prepared for class and share the same academic goals can prove to be very beneficial. You can consider building study groups with such students to increase your understanding and retention of course material.

Take notes - When you attend lectures, there may be numerous things which professors say. It is not possible to retain each and every information. Make sure to note down essential pointers during classroom discussion and review these notes before exams and assignments.

Lastly, do not stress out. Maintain a healthy sleep and diet schedule. You don't want to fall sick and miss out on important lectures. A career in law can be very exciting yet demanding. We hope this article helps to make your journey in law universities in India a fruitful and stimulating experience. All the best!

Know Why the Institute of Law, Nirma University is a Perfect Place for Law Aspirants!

With a strong vision to promote higher education and provide excellent educational facilities to students, Padmashri Dr. Karsanbhai K. Patel, the founder of the Nirma Group of Industries, established the Nirma Education and Research Foundation (NERF) in the year 1994. The Institute of Law, Nirma University, was established to offer newer dimensions in legal education with a focus on delivering high-quality law education. The university aims at incorporating international standards and create an environment for innovation. Embracing the fundamentals of legal knowledge, excellence, and professionalism, the institute imparts quality education to produce skilled new generation lawyers, leaders, and policymakers.

The institute believes that teaching law involves more than just articulating and delivering a set of rules to the public. In order to scrutinize the various intricate issues related to understanding and applying the law, it is essential to adopt a multidisciplinary approach. The institute focuses on imparting education in law, language & humanities, and management & accounting. The university offers both undergraduate programmes (BA LLB/ B.Com LLB Hons.), post-graduate programmes (LL. M. - Criminal and Security Law/Constitutional and Administrative Law), and Executive Diploma programmes along with full-time and part-time doctoral programmes.

Listed below are some reasons why a student should consider pursuing a degree in law from the Institute of Law, Nirma University-

Sterling infrastructure-

Spread across the sprawling 115-acre wi-fi enabled campus, the Institute of Law, Nirma University boasts a myriad of institutes for various fields. With smart amphitheater classrooms equipped with multimedia and audio-visual equipment, spacious seminar halls, moot court halls, and state-of-the-art computer laboratories, the university offers all necessary amenities to students. Along with educational facilities, the university also offers two ATMs, three hostel buildings with a capacity of 800 students, mess and canteen, sports infrastructure, yoga hall, gymnasium, student corner, and a well-appointed library. The college also offers a competitive exam corner for students to encourage candidates to work hard in their area of competency and make a successful career out of it.

Accreditation, Rankings, and Collaborations-

Accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), the Institute of Law, Nirma University has received the grade “A,” the highest grade awarded to an institution of higher education by NAAC. The institution meets the standards of quality set by NAAC in terms of educational methods and results, curriculum, teaching-learning, faculty, infrastructure, and other educational aspects. The institute has received many rankings and awards for its outstanding performance in education. It has been ranked fourth in best private law colleges among the western zone in India (2018) by The Week.

Along with this, it also ranked eighth in best law college among the private law colleges in India (2018) by The Week. The college also offers student exchange and research collaboration programmes to engage students in the global learning process. The institute boasts tie-ups with foreign universities and organizations like Pennsylvania State University(USA), HOF University(Germany), Chartered Institute of Arbitrators(London), and many more. This provides students an opportunity to take up skill-based courses at foreign universities that help them to gain extensive global legal knowledge.

Research Centres-

With an aim to enhance research and analytical skills in students, the institute has established various research centres for different fields. Students are divided under these research centres based on their area of interest in which they deliver research projects pertaining to different subjects. This provides students the opportunity to widen their knowledge under the guidance of skilled experts and also sharpen verbal and analytical abilities. The research centres inculcate reading habits in students that help in the growth and development of the legal domain. Engaging students in empirical and doctrinal research work in distinct areas of law, the institute empowers students to study substantial laws in-depth and identify loopholes to suggest ways for effective implementation.

Placements and Recruiters-

In addition to imparting high-quality education to law aspirants, the institute also aids in providing excellent career placements. The campus recruitment cell of the college invites reputed companies to the campus, thereby assisting students in exploring job opportunities. The recruitment cell not only helps students to build a successful career for themselves but also nurtures soft skills by conducting several workshops and personality development sessions. Along with assisting the students in finding excellent jobs in their area of interest, the institute also encourages internships and summer training to prepare students for future challenges.

Pedagogy and Curriculum-

Following a meticulously designed curriculum, the Institute of Law, Nirma University has adopted an Outcome Based Education Model to support the holistic development of students. The pedagogy ensures that students gain knowledge through a constructivist approach and not just by receiving erudition from others. Aiming to enable students to develop a multi-disciplinary perspective towards law, the institute also offers a distinctive enrichment program and professional training module that functions simultaneously with the regular curriculum right from the first year of graduation. Further, the institute also offers several workshops such as mock trials, moot courts, research writing, experiential learning, field visits, and many more to help students gain a better insight into the legal world.

The Institute of Law, Nirma University is undoubtedly the perfect place for law aspirants who wish to make it big in the legal profession. The institute aims at honing both legal expertise and soft skills in students, therefore, making them competent enough to handle the challenges of the law industry. Striving to inculcate a sense of responsibility towards society in students, the institute is surely a pioneer in delivering the highest standards of education.

Reasons you Should Sign Up for a Master of Law (LLM) Right Away

If you are just finishing up law school and are looking for rewarding career opportunities in the legal industry, a master of law might be the best option to help you move in the right direction. Today most top private law colleges in India offer the LLM program to enhance practical skills through experiential learning in students. The curriculum is specially designed to meet industry requirements and help students adopt a global perspective towards intricate legal issues.

The growing complexity of the legal industry entails the greater demand for additional training in future lawyers. Moreover, the urge to be prominent in the vast body of lawyers has resulted in the demand for LLMs in current years. Here are five reasons why you should consider pursuing a master of law-

Specialized degree- 

Most undergraduate law courses do not offer the opportunity to specialize in one particular field of law. Pursuing a master's degree in law gives you a chance to establish yourself as an expert in your chosen field. An LLM can help you in building a career in a specific area such as criminal law or corporate law, thereby helping you to differentiate yourself from competitors. The course focuses on imparting in-depth knowledge about your chosen field of law.

Travel opportunities- 

An LLM is known to nurture students with extensive knowledge about both domestic and international law. This increases a student's competitive standing and gives them an edge over candidates when it comes to employment opportunities. You can embark on a global tour with your LLM degree since the degree is globally recognized. International legal firms are usually looking for competent candidates, and the course will help you land on profitable opportunities and a chance to gain new experiences.

Build your network-

One of the most important reasons why you should consider pursuing an LLM is that it gives you the chance to make new connections in the legal world. While studying for your LLM, you will probably meet like-minded professionals, which in turn can open up new avenues for your career. Being able to associate with fellow students, educators, and industry professionals can open doors to many lucrative job opportunities in the future.

High-paying jobs- 

An LLM is an excellent way to top up your CV. It helps you acquire new perspectives on legal theory and expert knowledge that attracts leading law firms throughout the world. Companies understand that LLM nurtures the most in-demand skills in students, thereby making them ready for the evolving market. Pursuing an LLM from prestigious universities can significantly elevate your earning potential or help you to achieve a promotion in your existing firm. 

Expand your legal knowledge and research skills-

With the legal industry evolving at a rapid speed, the demand for skilled professionals is higher than usual. An LLM puts you at the fore of the newest law developments and helps you gain confidence. You may also get opportunities to write and publish legal research documents since the program is usually research-focused and actively encourages students to explore new areas of expertise. This course could be your gateway into a Ph.D. and a future role in academia.

An LLM is an excellent way to upscale your legal career. However, it requires dedication, developing valuable skills, and in-depth knowledge of the chosen specialization. Pursuing a master's degree from LLM colleges in India can help you nurture a diversified skillset. Therefore opening doors to some of the most sought-after jobs in the industry.