Dramatic reform is must for justice
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said dramatic reform in legal education is necessary for speedy and affordable justice. Rule of law and enforceable contracts depend on quality of law teachers, advocates, corporate lawyers, judges and legal facilitators. Without improvement in scope and quality, common man will not get access. He was speaking at National Consultation for Second Generation Reforms in Legal Education. Message is clear: education is foundation for entire legal system.
Inclusion and sensitivity to marginalised
Legal education must be sensitive to needs of marginalised sections. Women, SCs and STs must be represented among students. Curriculum should inculcate empathy for underprivileged. PM quoted Dr. Radhakrishnan that law colleges did not hold high esteem then and even today little has changed. Inclusion means first generation lawyer from backward class should compete at national level. Moily proposed online national law library with district centres, internships, scholarships and fellowships to support this.
Faculty shortage and poor infrastructure
Biggest problem is lack of experts to head new law schools. Libraries are few and poorly stocked. Salaries and service conditions are not uniform. PM called for better pay and terms to attract talent. CJI KG Balakrishnan also stressed uniformity of standards and transparency in recruitment. Without good teachers, research and critical thinking will not develop. Law schools must be linked to global knowledge sources and have latest research tools.
Internships placements and continuing education
Current system is unfair. Students with contacts get best internships and placements. Talented but less resourceful students are left out. PM said internship and post-degree placements must be regulated. He also said senior lawyers and judges must attend periodic continuing education. This is normal in other countries. It will keep bar updated with new laws and global practice. Globalisation has created new legal issues and lawyers must be prepared.
Need for bar exam and excellence
CJI proposed mandatory exam for admission to Bar. Moily outlined three pillars: Expansion, Inclusion, Excellence. Expansion means multidisciplinary approach, affordable education, 4 national centres of excellence and one NLU in every state. Excellence means nurturing talent and continuous career development. If these are done, legal profession dignity will return.
Conclusion
Dramatic reform legal education manmohan singh 2010 sets agenda. It is not about degrees but about producing lawyers who serve society. Government, Bar, Bench and law schools must work together. Without quality teachers, libraries, fair placements and inclusion, reform will remain on paper.
