The Shiv Nadar Foundation took one more step ahead by launching the Shiv Nadar School of Law on the campus of Shiv Nadar University in Chennai. The new institution has its five-year BA.LLB program tailored for aspirants for the law profession. The program, held at the inauguration ceremony, marked commitment on the part of the college to nurture the future best brains in the legal profession with quality training and resources.

Observations at the Inauguration Ceremony

There was also the hon’ble Supreme Court Justice MM Sundresh, the chief guest for the celebration. Other prominent academicians at the function were Prof. (Dr.) S.K. Bhattacharyya, vice chancellor, Shiv Nadar University; Shikhar Malhotra, trustee Shiv Nadar Foundation; Prof. (Dr.) Shiv Swaminathan, dean, Shiv Nadar School of Law; and Prof. (Dr.) Vinay Sitapati, associate dean school. Collectively, it is their vision that will bridge the gap in quality legal education which has existed for long in India.

Justice Sundresh expressed himself about the poor condition of legal education in the country at the ceremony. He commended the nation for having thousands of law colleges but regretted that most failed to fulfill the quality requirement when it came to equipping students to impact society positively. The legal field deals with societal issues more than any other profession. It is of paramount importance that we cultivate a new generation of lawyers who are equipped with the skills and ethical grounding necessary to contribute positively, he said. Student Enrollment and Future Plans

To date, 45 students have enrolled for the first batch that is set to start; it is a sign of enthusiastic interest in the program. Shiv Nadar School of Law also has ambitious plans: it is planning to increase the size of the batches to 120 students for the next academic year. This growth depicts commitment on the part of the foundation-owed institutions to expand the grounds for more quality legal education while the demand among students going to the field also increases.

To build this pool of talent, the institute offers all scholarships available, including full-tuition waivers. This scheme marks an important step in realizing the vision of the Shiv Nadar Foundation towards making legal education accessible for a wide cross-section of students and not letting monetary constraints deter any talent from furthering his dreams.

Curriculum and Educational Philosophy

Curriculum at the Shiv Nadar School of Law has been designed thoughtfully in a proactive manner to meet the theoretical and practical knowledge needs for excellence in the legal profession. Courses are framed with the contemporary challenges that the legal world faces, consisting of a combination of traditional learning along with innovative pedagogy.

It also offers the students learning by experiences through internship programs, legal clinics, and moot courts, by which they get practical experience and apply theoretical knowledge in real-life application. This prepares graduates who are well-informed about the law but competent and assured of their capacity to practice well.

Commitment to Quality and Social Impact

Justice Sundresh comments reflect a wide concern in the legal fraternity about the quality of education offered by most institutions. He told the Shiv Nadar School of Law to hold itself at least at some standards and set an example before the other law schools in the country. Quality speaks not only of the appropriateness of teaching so that students are adequately prepared in the classroom but also of making sure that they imbibe the ideals of ethical practice and social responsibility as future lawyers.

The Shiv Nadar Foundation is committed to the grooming of a new generation of law graduates who are socially sensitive and equipped to address the multifarious challenges that society faces. In this context, the school also fits into the broader goals of the National Education Policy, which aims to raise the bar for educational standards in the country.

Way Ahead

With the entering of Shiv Nadar School of Law-that now has been thrown open for enrolls-this is something that promises to radically alter the country’s legal educational landscape. What goes into it is the package of scholarships created and complemented by an aggressive curriculum with a focus on the quality of range that attracts and helps build emergent stars in the legal fraternity. With this, the institution stands ready to welcome its first cohort of students and therefore contribute meaningfully to the field of law and society at large.

There is also an imminent step in the words of a conclusion by Shiv Nadar School of Law that advances and enlarges legal education in India. With such momentum, this school can act as a leader in generating quality legal professionals who are dedicated to serving the society. The commitment of such a foundation towards giving a culture of excellence and integrity in legal education is truly commendable-to brighten further the future prospects in the legal sphere.

The eyes of the nation will be glued to how this noble institution goes about expanding its student intake and continuing in its mission.