“Our Curriculum Is Designed To Address The Dynamic Nature Of The Legal Profession”: Abhishek Sinha, Dean & Professor, School Of Law, UPES

What is the vision and mission of UPES School of Law?

Our vision at UPES School of Law is to be a ‘new-age law school’ of global standing, contributing significantly to the evolving legal ecosystem in both society and industry. Our mission is multifaceted: develop industry-focused legal professionals with an international outlook; foster an effective outcome-based education system to bridge the gap between legal research, education, and practice; offer novel specialisations that align with emerging areas of law, including disruptive technologies and sustainability; cultivate a sense of responsibility toward upholding justice and equity; promote high standards of professional ethics and a harmonious relationship between law and society; and provide an ecosystem that supports the development of world-class teaching and research faculty.

What kind of curriculum does the School of Law offer and how does it address the needs of contemporary legal education?

Our curriculum is designed to address the dynamic and evolving nature of the legal profession in today's digital age. We offer a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes with core specialisations in Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Corporate Law, Taxation Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Energy and Environmental Law, Banking and Insolvency Laws, Investment and Trade Law, Disruptive Technologies Law, and Industrial Relations Law. Our programmes emphasise outcome-based learning, integrating new-age learning technologies, and providing international exposure through global partnerships.

Can you elaborate on your focus on disruptive technologies and energy law?

At UPES School of Law, we recognise the pivotal role of disruptive technologies and energy law in shaping the future legal landscape. Our specialisations in these areas prepare students to handle complex legal issues related to technology, sustainability, and energy. We offer courses that cover Cyber Security and Digital Laws, Environmental and Energy Law, and more, ensuring that our graduates are well-equipped to address the legal challenges in these innovative fields.

Please see below the kind of innovative courses and modules which are there for the Disruptive Technologies Law and Environmental and Energy Law Hons. Programme: 

How does UPES School of Law bridge the gap between academia and industry?

Bridging the gap between academia and industry is a core focus for us. We achieve this through several initiatives:

•    Professors of Practice from top law firms, the judiciary, and corporations bring real-world insights into the classroom

•    Strong industry-academic collaborations, providing students with hands-on experience through internships, moot courts, and legal aid clinics

•    Innovative programmes like our business incubator, Runway, encourage student-led startups, fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation

•    Global exposure initiatives and partnerships with prestigious international institutions, such as the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Queensland, among others.

Can you name the top 10 Professors of Practice at the UPES School of Law?

Certainly, our esteemed Professors of Practice include:

Justice V. K. Maheshwari, Former Registrar General, High Court of Uttarakhand; Sharad Abhyankar, Senior Partner, Khaitan & Co; Tullika Jesrani, General Counsel - Legal, Secretarial & Compliance, Member of the Board; Kimberly Clark; Anil Raturi, Former DGP, Uttarakhand; Soumava Chatterjee, Director and Assistant General Counsel, Bank of America; Amitabh Sharma, Managing Partner at North Excel Associates; Gauhar Mirza, Partner, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas; Aakanksha Joshi, Partner, Economic Laws Practice; Vineet Shingal, Partner, Khaitan & Co.; Yogesh Bhattarai, Partner, Trilegal and many more.

How does UPES School of Law ensure a robust industry and academic connect?

We ensure a robust industry-academic connect through hosting regular industry-led seminars, workshops, and guest lectures; encouraging participation in internships and practical training sessions; collaborating with industry leaders to continuously update our curriculum; providing opportunities for students to work on real-life projects and case studies; and maintaining an extensive network of recruiters and industry partners, which facilitates placements and career opportunities for our graduates.

What global opportunities are available to students at UPES School of Law?

At UPES we have more than 70 international collaborations with top universities across all the jurisdictions. We offer several global opportunities for our students, including: semester abroad programmes at institutions like the University of California, Berkeley; ULaw, London; HSE University, Russia; partnerships with international universities (such as the Ohio State University, Maurer School of Law) for academic exchanges and collaborative research, immersion programmes, articulation and master’s progression arrangements; access to global internships and placements through our international network of partners.

How does UPES School of Law prepare students for the future legal landscape?

We prepare our students for the future legal landscape by integrating technology and digital resources into our teaching methodology; offering specialisations in cutting-edge areas of law such as Disruptive Technologies and Energy Law; emphasising outcome-based learning and practical skills; providing international exposure and opportunities for global learning; and fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional development.

What are the future plans for the UPES School of Law?

Our plans include expanding our digital learning initiatives, strengthening our global partnerships, and continually evolving our curriculum to meet the needs of the legal profession. We aim to remain at the forefront of legal education by embracing innovation, fostering academic excellence, and preparing our students to be leaders in the legal field.