In a country like India, Judiciary System receives equal importance as that of the Government. So the Legal Study and Profession enjoy a superior status in our country. Almost all verdict regarding the courses and profession in law is controlled and monitored by the Bar Council of India, BCI. This body has a major role in making the Law program consistent as well as adaptable to this present scenario. They introduce timely changes and necessary programs into the legal curriculum and thereby ensuring the quality in the legal education sector.

Bar Council of India

In the recent years some such changes proposed by the Council are revision in the criteria of law school authorization, upgrading of three year LLB program and foreword of standards followed by legal schools in the country. It also ensures the common academic calendar and also addresses the teaching quality and the need of national program in Law education.

The proposals call for an urgent attention so as to make the legal education effective and thereby support the India Legal set-up. It also aims the benefit of Indian citizen. The council looks for the support and assistance from the various bodies in the field and also looks for the acceptance of the stakeholders.

Quality control of colleges

The quality control stands for the required facilities that the institution/university should ensure for the suitable learning environment. The Council announced a set of necessary requirements for those law colleges in the country. The average numbers of colleges under BCI in this field are calculated to be 930. If any college fails to meet the requirement, the accreditation will be canceled by the BCI. Then the degree awarded by such colleges won’t come under the recognition of BCI.

Define law courses

The requirements cover the areas of infrastructure, faculty and other amenities needed for the quality education. There is a benchmark for these criteria and the institute/colleges must have to satisfy these measurement. The council periodically evaluates and monitors the quality standard of each institution.

The preference showed for the college by the aspirants and the success rate of the pass-out in the All India Bar Examination also is an evaluating criterion for the quality aspects. The availability of resources and the quality of faculty will also be constantly monitored by the BCI. The faculties are advised to do publications in the related areas and a law school must ensure to provide support for the process.

If some colleges are found to be unable to follow the requirements the council won’t show any delay in going with the cancelling of its accreditation. As according to the Chairman, it is good to have a number of quality institutions rather than having a number of institution which produce poor learning atmosphere and incapable graduates.

But the objective of the proposal is not to cut down the number of institutions in our country but to increase the quality environment in the legal sector. Also we can’t go for a cutting down of the institution because the present number is not sufficient to meet the demand for law graduates in the country. Only an appropriate implementation of the suggestion can bring the set objectives.

Standardization

In India we are opened to the five year LLB program as well as the three year LLB course. This makes a common confusion among the aspirant which one is better, though both receive the same status. So a reform is needed to define both courses. The council is looking to make a clear distinction among the courses by making the five year program as a norm in the legal education system and that of 3 year as a specialized study for respective areas. The council is also considering the huge demand for the one year LLM program in India.

They are also introducing a common academic calendar for all the colleges which instructs the appropriate time for the program to starts, what should be the time and date of exams, when should the result publish and when should be the passing out ceremony carried out etc. This is to provide a balanced opportunity for every student irrespective of college and University. This will try to minimize the problem of early pass-outs and late comer into the profession from the same batch. But for this reform the council needs the support of each and every stakeholder.

Learning

Learning is the most important concept in every program. Ensuring quality in learning means the quality in curriculum and syllabus of the program. It is every important aspect what we are learning or what the curriculum teaches the students. If the curriculum doesn’t provide a strong base and doesn’t cope with the real issues then there is no point in introducing vast infrastructure and standardized practices.

The curriculum should able to address the country’s needs and also match with the reality. If our curriculum only teaches the British Law and not addressing the basic issues of a common man in the country, the students won’t be successful and effective in standing for the people. So an overall development in the content side is necessary to strengthen the legal education.

Ensuring quality in learning

Also the learning directing has a linkage with the faculties. As the quality increases everywhere, the delivery should also be affected. The minimum pay scale for the faculties should be revised by the UGC pay commission in order to attract qualified personals into the teaching field.

The BCI also take initiative to provide relaxation in the criteria of LL.M requirement for the law faculties as to teach LL.B. But the person should have an interest in the teaching profession and should be outstanding and convincible in the teaching. To increase the teaching potential of the existing teachers BCI conducts national level training programs and looking to establish training institutes for the same. This is to provide a standard level of quality in the teaching process. The council also stands for making English as a mandatory Medium in the Law schools.

Also the legal system should teach the future lawyers to have some ethical standards and quality of life rather than going behind the means. These types of changes is not only increase the quality of legal education but also improve the face of legal profession and thereby beneficial to the common society. For a common man judiciary is the last hopes of getting fairness and the quality in the professionals are needed to keep this hope up.