Time for introspection on five-year model of legal education, CJI Ranjan Gogoi

Speaking at the 7th Annual Convocation of National Law University, Delhi, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi today said that it was time for introspection on the five-year model of legal education.

. He remarked that thirty years after the five-year law course was started at National Law School of India University, Bangalore,

. “..(it is) time now for introspection…as to whether the five-year model has met its ambition.”

. Justice Gogoi, who was Chief Guest of the Convocation ceremony, also wondered aloud as to why corporate practice was the preferred career choice of young graduates.

. The Convocation ceremony was attended by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal , Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Delhi Chief Secretary, Vijay Kumar Dev. Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice DN Patel and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw were also present.

. In his address, Justice Gogoi said that the five-year model was initiated to “ improve legal infrastructure ” and shape “ socially conscious lawyers “.

. Elaborating on the purpose behind the establishment of the five-year model at the National Law Universities (NLUs), Justice Gogoi stated,

. “(the lawyers produced through this model were meant to) responsibly serve the society in the field of law by developing skills with regard to advocacy, legal services, legislation, law reforms…(to) make law and process efficient instruments of social development.”

. However, in spite of improvements on several fronts, the system has witnessed a new set of challenges, Justice Gogoi added.

. The threat to the NLU system, he said, was that it was “ becoming a victim of its own success.. “.

. “ ..with stimulated demand and renewed fate, the system might have started an unsustainable chain of unrequited expectations…perhaps, nostalgia and redundant comparison with non-NLS (i) triggering continued replication… “

. He thus remarked that it was time to question how well is the system serving the purpose it was designed for.

. Justice Gogoi also took the opportunity to speak at length on the inclination towards corporate jobs among young graduates of law.

. He stated that the purpose of law schools was to bring lawyers who would serve at the Bar and adjudicate on the Bench. However, careers in law firms and corporate offices have become a popular choice, he remarked.

. “ Five-year model…has not brought about the transformative change that was expected…my concern is of disproportionate emphasis. The highly attractive careers in the Bar and the Bench need to be highlighted.

. …learning could come only from engaging with human beings and suffering in the field of life, and not from the enclosed corporate board.”

. Justice Gogoi thus urged law schools to free themselves of “ mono-focus ” and adopt a “ multi-focus ” approach when it came to encouraging students to choose a career option.

. “Unless courses correction are made, legal profession will continue to suffer” , he exclaimed.

. Justice Gogoi also expressed his concern over the fees being charged by law schools in the country . He disclosed that the Vice-Chancellor of an eminent NLU even wrote to him to facilitate an “open debate” on the issue.

. Speaking on corporates funding the legal education of students, Justice Gogoi said,

. “ I do not want young minds to be taken over by corporates.”

. He acknowledged that although a University should ensure barrier-free access to education and knowledge, shortage of funding was a reality in the country.

. “ In a country like ours, this is nothing short of a tragedy.”

. Justice Gogoi thus called for chalking out a socially relevant, inclusive and holistic legal education system in the country.

. Concluding his address, Justice Gogoi stated that the law degree was not merely a piece of paper that defined the students’ quality of education or guaranteed their future, but was a “call of duty”.

. “ It is a call of duty…a duty for which no one will compel you…no one will thank you but you ought to do it …because you have the opportunity to do it. “

Time for introspection on five-year model of legal education, CJI Ranjan Gogoi

Aditi Singh