Moily inaugurates CLEA and talks of 14 more national law schools

The Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA) held a two-day conference, in association with the National law School of India University (NLSIU, Bangalore) over the weekend in Bangalore. The emphasis was on ‘More Meaningful Legal Education in the 21st Century – stepping out of the Ivory Tower’. Veerappa Moily, Minister of Law and Justice giving the inaugural address stressed on the importance of social justice and inclusive growth in legal education. Law Minister Moily said, “Legal education becomes meaningful only when it addresses the problems of all the sections of the society equally”..The Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA) held a two-day conference, in association with the National law School of India University (NLSIU, Bangalore) over the weekend in Bangalore. The emphasis was on ‘More Meaningful Legal Education in the 21st Century – stepping out of the Ivory Tower’. Veerappa Moily, Minister of Law and Justice giving the inaugural address stressed on the importance of social justice and inclusive growth in legal education. Law Minister Moily said, “Legal education becomes meaningful only when it addresses the problems of all the sections of the society equally”..Law Minister Moily added that the Government planned to establish 14 more national law schools in the country. “There are now 14 such schools, the idea is to have one national law school in each State”, reports the Hindu. Moily urged legal educators to include elements of social justice in the legal curricula. He urged Indian lawyers not to be caged in, but to blossom on the world stage, by utilising the opportunities offered by globalisation. Law students need to be educated in social sciences so that they could serve the people, he added..Presentations by various participants on legal education were presided over thereafter. The Valedictory function of the Conference was lead by Supreme Court Judge, Justice Cyriac Joseph. Former President CLEA, Dr. Madhava Menon put forth points which resulted from the discussions of the (approximately 60) papers presented, and recommended the framing of a common syllabus for all the common wealth countries..The discussions also led to a Committee being setup under the leadership of the President of CLEA and Indian Law Institute (Delhi), Research Prof. (Dr.) Sivakumar to frame a curriculum to introduce Social Justice as a subject of specialization in the Post Graduate studies of law. Ambedkar Law University Vice Chancellor, Vijayakumar was appointed as the coordinator of the Committee. Vice Chancellor Vijayakumar highlighted the importance of teaching Ethics as a mandatory subject in all law schools. The Valedictory address was given by Dr. H.R. Bhardwaj, Governor of Karnataka..The keynote address was delivered by Supreme Court Judge, Justice H.L. Dattu quoted Amartya Sen, emphasising that legal education “promotes the quest for instrumental freedom, and acts as check on the abuse of power”. Justice Dattu also stated, “Legal education should focus on imparting knowledge, know-how and promoting social responsibility”..The conference concluded on January 30, and was attended by the crème of the legal fraternity and law students.