Curriculum Evolution, Industry Collaboration Essential For Legal Education: Experts

Legal education is one of the foundation stones of the entire criminal justice system. Just before the day when the entire legal fraternity marks the adoption of Three new criminal codes—Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)—legal experts discussed the nuances and future of legal education.

Sudhir Krishnaswamy, Vice Chancellor of the National Law School of India University, addressed the opportunities and challenges in legal education. He emphasised that legal education today is more advanced than ever but faces significant challenges due to the lack of a strong canonical set of teaching materials. "We need better textbooks and casebooks," he noted. Krishnaswamy also highlighted the necessity of experiential learning, urging law schools to adopt rigorous models of externship and internship.

Abhishek Sinha, Dean of UPES School of Law, spoke on the need for curriculum evolution. He pointed out that most law schools focus heavily on theory and stressed the importance of involving the industry as a stakeholder in legal education. "Not only the revaluation system but the entire curriculum needs an overhaul," he asserted.

Discussing industry intervention in legal education, Mukul Shastry, General Counsel at Cube Highways, emphasised the need to change the mindset that separates academia from the industry. "Industries and corporates are willing to partner with law schools, providing faculty support and real-world projects for professors and students," he said, advocating for a collaborative approach to legal training.

Kritka Krishnamurthy, Founding Partner of AK & Partners, spoke about the challenges of building a startup in the legal field. She highlighted that failures often stem not from bad ideas but from poor communication among stakeholders, leading to disputes.

From a student perspective, Pragya Parijat Singh, Advocate-on-record at the Supreme Court of India, emphasised the importance of academic freedom at universities. "It is very important to have academic freedom at the university," she stated, underlining the need for an environment that fosters open dialogue and innovation in legal education.

The event underscored the collective vision for the future of legal education, focusing on bridging gaps between academia and industry, enhancing experiential learning, and embracing technological advancements. This event Hosted by Ashima Ohri, Managing Editor of BW Legal World, the event featured insights from renowned academicians and industry leaders.

Kapil Yadav

BW Reporters The author is a trainee correspondent with BW Businessworld