Question : ROUND TABLE ON LEGAL EDUCATION

(a) whether the Government had set up a `Round Table on Legal Education`;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with its terms of reference;

(c) whether any reports/suggestions have been made in this regard and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government for implementation of those suggestions / recommendations;

(e) the current status on the proposal to make para-legal education a component of vocational education;

(f) the details of the modalities worked out in this regard; and (g) whether the Government has discussed the matter with the State Governments for proper implementation and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SHASHI THAROOR)

(a) Yes, Madam.

(b) The Ministry of Human Resource Development had constituted a “Round Table on Legal Education” in the year 2009. Its Terms of Reference (TOR) were to advise and make recommendations on transforming the legal education system in the country and implementation thereof, to consider aspects of legal education such as curriculum design and delivery as well as the examination system so that graduating students are equipped with the knowledge and the confidence to fit in a wide range of roles vis-à-vis diverse traditional and emerging opportunities.

(c): The Round Table on Legal Education recommended inter-alia that the University Grants Commission (UGC) must set up an Expert Committee to prepare a comprehensive syllabus for BA (Law); that the LLM course of one year duration proposed by the UGC be improved upon and made more comprehensive; that a Vocational Education Committee may be constituted to prepare a comprehensive syllabus for the para-legal courses and suggest the duration and the structure of the course.

(d) to (f): Based on the decisions of the Round Table, the UGC constituted an Expert Committee under the Chairmanship of Prof. Jose Verghese, Ex. Vice-Chancellor, National Law University, Raipur. The Committee finalised and submitted the report containing the scheme and syllabus for B.A. (Law) non-professional, scheme of vocational diploma programme for paralegals (2 years), scheme of vocational certificate programme for paralegals (1 year) and guidelines for introduction of one year LL.M degree programme. The report was considered and approved by the UGC.

(g): As of now no such discussions with States have been held.