STUDYING LAW AN IDIA PRESENTATION WHY STUDY LAW

STUDYING LAW AN IDIA PRESENTATION

WHY STUDY LAW? Most people have the wrong idea about what lawyers do!

MEET THE MODERN LAWYER The reality is very different from our perception!

SOME GOOD REASONS TO STUDY LAW! PRIMARY REASONS: • • INTELLECTUALLY AND EMOTIONALLY FULFILLING JUSTICE & SOCIAL REFORM ADVOCACY & LEADERSHIP SKILLS SECONDARY (PERKS) • PAY PACKAGE • POWER • RESPECTABILITY IN SOCIETY

LAW IS LEADERSHIP

THE LAW SCHOOLS 914 law schools in India A significant number of these: NLUs • • Emergence of the National Law Universities (NLUs) • • Of those, around 25 have a decent standard Started with the National Law School of India (NLSIU), Bangalore Now 14 of them in various states of India • • • National Law School of India University, Bangalore (NLS) NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad (NALSAR) National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata (NUJS) National Law Institute University, Bhopal (NLIU) National Law University, Jodhpur (NLU –Jodhpur) National Law University, Delhi (NLU – Delhi) KIIT Law School, Bhubaneshwar (KLS) Gandhinagar National Law University, Gandhinagar (GNLU) Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur (HNLU) Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow (RMLNLU) Chanakya National Law University, Patna (CNLU) Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala (RGNUL) National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi (NUALS) National Law University, Orissa (NLUO) National Law University, Ranchi (NLU – Ranchi) National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam (NLUJA)

OTHER LEADING LAW SCHOOLS • • • Jindal Global Law School (JGLS), Sonepat, Haryana Indian Law School (ILS), Pune Government Law College, Mumbai Faculty of Law, Delhi University Symbiosis Law School, Pune University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun Nirma University, Gujarat Christ Law College, Bangalore Amity Law School, Noida University Institute of Legal Studies, Punjab University Calcutta University Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi

LAW SCHOOL RANKINGS Always controversial! Broad categories of ranks (based on CLAT preferences last year). Tier 1: • NLS (Bang), NALSAR (Hyd), NUJS (Kolkata), NLU (Delhi) Tier 2: • NLU (Jodhpur), NLU (Bhopal), NLU (Gujarat) Tier 3: • RMNLU (Lucknow), HNLU (Raipur), NLU (Orissa), RGNLU (Punjab) Tier 4: • CNLU (Patna), NUALS (Kerala), NLU (Assam), NLU (Ranchi)

SOME PROMINENT LAW SCHOOL GRADUATES IAS Officers ✚ Partners at top Indian and international law firms ✚ Authors ✚ Business leaders ✚ Professors at the best universities in the world ✚ United Nations officials. . .

DIVERSE CAREER PROSPECTS • • • Politician, Bureaucrat, Policeman Litigation Lawyer (Trial Court, High Court, Supreme Court): Senior Lawyer (Grand Counsels) • Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Singhvi, Arun Jaitley Law Firms (Amarchand, AZB, Khaitan, Trilegal) • Corporate/IPR/Marine law In house lawyer (TATA general counsel) NGOS (UNHCR, Greenpeace, Amnesty International) Research and Academia • Policy body (lobbying/advocacy) Law and business (legal outsourcing/legal databases) Legal journalism International Organisations (UN/World Bank/WTO)

GOOD PAY PACKAGES SECTOR AVG. MONTHLY PAY Law Firms/Companies Rs. 50, 000 – 1. 2 lakhs International Law Firms Rs. 2. 5 lakhs PSUs International Organisations Rs. 40, 000 Rs. 50, 000 NGOs Rs. 25 -30, 000 Litigation Rs. 10 -20, 000 pm

WHY AN NLU? • Environment encourages excellence • Competent faculty and excellent infrastructure • Well designed course curriculum with interactive classroom teaching (Socratic (case method) teaching) • Development of a well rounded personality

AND IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THE LAW!

PREPARING FOR THE CLAT A two-hour aptitude examination

AN OVERVIEW • • • Common Law Entrance Test (CLAT) Conducted by separate law school each year Nearing standardisation Now mainly aptitude based 4 sections • English (including Comprehension): 40 marks • Logical Reasoning: 40 marks • Legal Aptitude: 50 marks • General Knowledge (Current Affairs): 50 marks • Elementary Mathematics (Numerical Ability of the 10 th standard variety): 20 marks • 200 Questions, one mark each (no negative marking)

PREPPING YOURSELF • • • Aptitude based Best way is to practice (particularly previous papers) No memorisation Read newspapers (English + GK) Prior knowledge of law can prove disadvantageous Take the “logic” at face value (propositions are to be taken as true) • Proposition 1: All dogs are black • Proposition 2: All things black are beautiful • Conclusion: Therefore all dogs are beautiful • Sleep well on the night before the examination!

WHAT IS IDIA? Increasing Diversity by Increasing Access to Legal Education

IDIA • A movement to create diversity in student composition at NLUs • To increase access to education for the underprivileged • Opportunity to pursue law for students from all strata of society • To empower and train students selected by IDIA • Create future leaders (Community Representatives)

A DISTANT DREAM? CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) • Expensive application forms for CLAT (about Rs. 2500) • Exam centers mostly in urban areas. • CLAT tests on General Knowledge, English, Maths, Legal and Logical reasoning • Rigorous and consistent training • High participation and competition NATIONAL LAW SCHOOLS • High fees (almost 2 lakhs a year) • Cost of living (laptop, books, etc. )

HOW WE CAN HELP IDIA prepares students for the CLAT: • Aptitude test to select students • 1 -2 years training, guidance and mentoring • Collaboration with leading coaching centres (IMS) If admitted, IDIA will: • Pay college fees and expenses (about 10 lakhs per student for 5 year course): but only if admission in top law schools (fee waivers: only 2 law schools) • Mentor students and provide support to students to adjust and cope with law school • Internship opportunities

PEOPLE WHO’VE INSPIRED US Donnie Ashok hails from a poor family in Kolkata and was thrown out of school since he could not pay his fees. IDIA paid his fees and trained him for CLAT. Although he scored high enough and got into GNLU (Gujarat), he was refused admission on arbitrary grounds. He challenged it in court and won! Karthika Annamalai is an 18 -year old girl from Tamil Nadu who embodies success. She lost her mother and had to battle with a drunk uncle to realize her dream of studying in a NLU. She is now at NUJS and is winning several awards in debating and other activities!

PEOPLE WHO’VE INSPIRED US Thangminlal Haokip, or “Lalcha” hails from the village of L. Gamnom in Manipur. His father, runs a small general store in the village. At the tender age of eight, Lalcha came to Bangalore to stay in a home for Manipuri children (Hope Lion’s home). He has now secured admission to the National Law School, Bangalore. Bhimavarapu Mouli Aravind is a visually challenged student from Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. He secured a seat in WB National University of Juridical Sciences and is now in his second year. Within a short span, he has adjusted well to law school and is on his way to becoming a leading lawyer.