Slide 1

STUDYING LAW AN IDIA PRESENTATION

Slide 2

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

Slide 3

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

Slide 4

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

Slide 5

LAW IS LEADERSHIP

Slide 6

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) 914 law schools in India Of those, around 25 have a decent standard A significant number of these: NLUs Emergence of the National Law Universities (NLUs) Started with the National Law School of India (NLSIU), Bangalore Now 14 of them in various states of India THE LAW SCHOOLS

Slide 7

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

Slide 8

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)

Slide 9

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...

Slide 10

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)

Slide 11

GOOD PAY PACKAGES SECTOR Law Firms/Companies International Law Firms PSUs International Organisations NGOs Litigation AVG. MONTHLY PAY Rs.50,000 1.2 lakhs Rs. 2.5 lakhs Rs. 40,000 Rs. 50,000 Rs. 25-30,000 Rs. 10-20,000 pm

Slide 12

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

Slide 13

AND ITS NOT JUST ABOUT THE LAW!

Slide 14

A two-hour aptitude examination PREPARING FOR THE CLAT

Slide 15

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)

Slide 16

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!

Slide 17

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

Slide 18

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)

Slide 19

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.) A DISTANT DREAM?

Slide 20

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 HOW WE CAN HELP

Slide 21

PEOPLE WHOVE 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!

Slide 22

PEOPLE WHOVE 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 Lions 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.

Slide 23