Who cares for law, anyway?

Updated on: Monday, September 07, 2009

University Law College, Dharwad, once a much-sought-after institution for aspiring legal professionals in North Karnataka, is finding it hard to get students for the five-year law course. The college had to resort to starting a three-year course from this year to attract students.

In neighbouring Hubli, J.S.S. Sakri Law College, one of the oldest colleges in the area, is finding difficult to get students for the three-year course. “Last year, barely 30 students were enrolled for the first year. This year, the situation is not very different,” said Principal Veena Tonapi. Like other colleges, Sakri Law College could lose about 10 seats if the Bar Council of India’s regulation prescribing the upper age limit for first year at 30 years comes into effect. This regulation is pending before the Supreme Court.

This is a glimpse of the condition of law colleges in the State. While some have managed to run the show, there are many which have closed down. Ironically, an exclusive Law University has been set up to cater to legal education in the State.

“Not a single admission has been made in at least two law colleges,” said Higher Education Minister Arvind Limbavali. Law colleges have closed down in Shimoga, Hassan, Davangere, Belgaum and Sirsi.

“The rise in number of law colleges should also be factored in when we discuss the decline in enrolment of students for law courses,” said Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Kumar. Students would also consider the job opportunities available to them after they complete the course, he added.

Over the years, there has been a gradual decline in the number of students opting for the law courses. But the drastic fall came when number of subjects for the three-year-law course increased from 18 to 28 in the year 2000. “It turned into a full-time course with the semester-based education that focused on practicals. This is when employed persons, who found it convenient to attend the morning or evening classes, opted out of the course,” said MLC Mohan A. Limbikai, an advocate, who has been teaching law students for over a decade.

The other reason for the decline has been the number of options available for students completing the pre-university course. “The cut-off percentage for admission to law courses is 45. There are courses, including some professional ones, where the cut-off percentage is as low as 35 per cent,” said C.S. Patil, Principal of University Law College, Dharwad. “Students go for courses such as BBA, where income after completing the course is assured. But in the case of law there is uncertainty.”
Not prepared

Fingers are being pointed out at the quality of law education that is being provided. “There is no proper screening of students joining the course. You also do not find quality teachers. The attendance and the evaluation have not been strict,” said senior advocate Venkatesh Kulkarni.

Prakash Kanive, Principal of Vaikunta Baliga College of Law, Udupi, which is functioning since 1953, said the students have not been prepared to meet the global challenges.

“Little or no efforts are made to improve the communication skills of the students, particularly in colleges where Kannada is the medium of instruction. The students’ knowledge of law will also become limited if their communication skills are not improved.”

Mr. Kanive said there was lack of awareness among students and the parents about law courses. “Still, people think the traditional way of practising as an advocate. Not many are aware of the opportunities available in the corporate sector.”

J.S. Patil, Vice-Chancellor of the newly established Karnataka State Law University (KSLU), said there have not been many takers for law courses in the State during the past five years. “It’s a recession-like situation. The university is gearing up to meet the challenge. We are revamping the legal education system and preparing the students for global, national and local competitions.”

Among the steps taken to improve legal education is the updating of the syllabus for the three-year LL.B. and two double-degree integrated courses — B.A.-LL.B. and BBA-LL.B. The entire syllabus has been unitised and divided into five units. This pattern will be followed by the 90 affiliated colleges and the KSLU’s Law School.

Mr. Patil said steps were being taken to bring in uniform teaching across colleges. The university will be using experts to give orientation for teachers in topics such as research methods, sociology, political science and English. The question papers will be restructured and will be similar to the pre-university examination. From the next academic year the university will have a common entrance test for admission to law colleges.
Hybrid courses

In order to attract students, the university is introducing hybrid courses. It has introduced the BBA-LL.B course from this academic year. Management subjects will be taught in the first two years of course, while the remaining three years will be of law.

“Getting such a degree will make the student eligible for a post of a manager instead of a law officer,” the Vice-Chancellor said. As many as 40 students have enrolled for the course in the KSLU’s Law School.

The Vice Chancellor said the university will also introduce MBBS-LL.B.; B.E-LL.B; and B.Sc-LL.B courses. It has planned diploma courses of nine-month duration in 20 subjects such as Environment Law, Intellectual Property Rights and Banking Laws. “The colleges can run these courses in the morning and evening hours.” Also in the pipeline are 45 different certificate courses of three-month duration.

The university, Mr. Patil said, was also giving thrust to use of technology. “Our Law School has been developed as a model. There are hi-tech classrooms, 2.5 lakh e-books and other excellent facilities.”

The university will shortly start video conferencing with colleges. Using this facility, students can interact with eminent jurists such as V.S. Malimath, M.N. Venkatachalaiah and Shivaraj Patil on the quality of education.

Who cares for law, anyway?

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