TOWARDS AN INDIAN LEGAL EDUCATION MODEL WITHOUT ANY DISCRIMINATION
Author: Mitsu Parikh & Dikshya Koirala
Nepotism has always been a culture in the legal profession. One’s family background plays an important role in deciding the extent of struggle and need for hard work to enjoy a successful career. Well deserving and intellectual candidates are bound to face a long phase of the struggle if they lack an illustrious legal family background. In order to overcome these obstacles of discrimination in any sense in the Indian legal education system a proper legal education model must be proposed and backed by the University Grant Commission and Government of India, and be efficiently implemented in a timely manner.
Language classes or legal education in various languages can be proposed in law schools for the purpose of eliminating discrimination. Potentially providing education in some of the National languages as well as the dominant Regional languages can attempt to eliminate isolation and promote cultural harmony in the nation. This education methodology in law school would assist in eliminating discrimination on the basis of culture as students while learning other regional or international languages will start respecting the native language of other students which will enable harmony in global law institutes, wherein law faculty are engaged in academia from and around the world.
It is important for law schools to introduce mandatory training to teachers by language and cultural experts. Faculty training must include concepts of abolition of prevailing discriminatory practices including language, region, caste, outer appearances, financial disparity, family background, etc. They should further be trained by introducing mock session, practical demonstration training classes. The growth of the students should be the priority of an educator, faculty or teacher.
A strategic plan for this immediate implementation is needed to develop a sense of harmony between the students and the faculty. Every student should be considered equal and should be supported with classes pertaining to abolition of discrimination practices. Either individual teaching or working together in a team, the main goal is to educate the young and aspiring lawyers who will eventually benefit the legal profession as well as the society at large. In order to prevent discrimination in education and eradicate the hostile environment that such discrimination promotes the Indian government needs to enact and enforce statutory protections for the law schools.
In India, Clinical Legal Education is an important aspect of legal education. This concept of educating future lawyers is growing at a rapid speed and also plays a vital role in bridging the gap between theory and practice. The Bar Council, Law Commission, Government of India and other private and public authorities have recognized the importance of Clinical Legal Education
The most conducive period to learn and grow for students is during the primary education they receive in schools. Indian schools should prepare students to fight and understand the real world outside the school, colleges, and work place. Schools should bring mandatory legal education programs in their curriculum and should further work on the development and enhancement of students. A legal education model focusing on the above-mentioned areas will help in strengthening the educational base for students and the future faculty, and will further prepare them to abolish any kind of discrimination prevailing in the Indian legal system.
Mitsu Parikh and Dikshya Koirala are both working at the World of Legal Research.