Strengthening the future Bench? MNLU Nagpur introduces five-year course on Adjudication and Justicing

In a first-of-its-kind, Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU) Nagpur has launched a BA LL.B (Honours in Adjudication and Justicing) undergraduate degree. .The five-year course entails exhaustive practical training, including regular internships and judicial clerkships, along with a six-month apprenticeship in the final semester under the guidance of High Court and district court judges..The course aims to equip students for a career in the judiciary. The curriculum focuses on pluralism, social integration and socio-cultural subjects of the State. .In a conversation with Bar & Bench, Vice-Chancellor of MNLU Nagpur Prof Vijender Kumar said that the course was started with an intent to refine the calibre of individuals having a passion and vision to join the judiciary. The idea was to integrate and develop parallelly the training for judiciary aspirants while formally pursuing legal education, Prof Kumar said.The top law schools in the country produce luminaries in the corporate sector and also among the Bar. And with this Honours programme, the idea is to pave the way for graduates of top law schools to join the Bench, he added.."I could dare to dream about this one-of-its-kind programme only with the constant support, motivation and vision of the founder Chancellor and former Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, Justice BR Gavai and former and sitting judges of the Bombay High Court. The 40 students admitted were selected from a pool of over 400 applications received by the University. A rigorous three-stage selection procedure including a Psychometric Test, Group Discussion and personal interview by a panel of sitting Bombay High Court judges was designed. Out of over 400+ applications received from students, 40 students made it to the first merit list along with 20 students in the waitlist. However, since the permit was only for 40 students, the remaining 20 students had to be sent back,” said Prof Kumar..On being asked who was the driving force behind setting up the course modules and resources, Prof Kumar said, “It was a collective effort of not only all the teachers of law but also included the contributions of teachers with a background in social sciences and humanities. This was crucial in formulating a holistic and well-rounded course...This was then presented before the statutory bodies at the University, after which the Course took material form. The entire process panned over a duration of two years from ideation to execution. The first batch commenced classes of the first semester in December 2020 and are already through with both semesters of their first year by the third week of June 2021.” .Prof Kumar expressed a sense of pride while lauding the grit of students, who throughout the last seven months, completed the first year without a break. He also whole-heartedly acknowledged that this was possible only because of the unflinching determination of the students and staff..He remarked, “We at NLU Nagpur are so eager to witness the outcome in 2025 when the first batch of students will complete the programme and appear for the state judiciary exams throughout the country.”.Speaking about whether the students graduating from this course will have to undergo the one-year training in state judicial academies, Prof Kumar mentioned that the University is in talks with the government to bend the rule for students pursuing this course. He said, “These students will be facilitated with mandatory internships with judges and the last semester will purely consist of six months of an apprenticeship programme ensuring that they are at par with individuals who undergo the year long training at state judicial academies.".In a concluding remark, Prof Kumar expressed his desire that programmes of this nature are introduced by other public and private law schools to strengthen the Bench..Three students - Shashank Chamoli, Somya Tyagi and Aditya Bajpai - currently pursuing the degree course, had a candid conversation with Bar & Bench on their experience thus far. Shashank said, “The course gives a broad perspective of how judicial officers should act with respect to questions of social standing, morality and ethics. The course has perfectly laid out a roadmap for us with a view to make us fine legal scholars and better judicial officers. I believe that through this intuitive mode of learning that is being followed throughout the last two semesters, a foundation has been laid for building our critical and analytical approach towards the law.”.Aditya said, “This course came as a timely option as I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in the judicial services. Apart from the uniquely designed curriculum, what sets this course apart from other undergraduate law degrees is that it focuses a lot on the practical training and the college provides internship opportunities every semester with district court and High Court judges.”.Each of the three students specifically lauded the efforts taken by the faculty members, who always made sure to be available at all times and delivered lectures beyond expectations. Apart from this, guest lectures by stalwarts were also arranged. All of this ensured that students secured merit grades throughout the first two semesters.