Speaking at an event held last week, former Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra remarked that Rule of Law can never become an unruly horse..He was speaking at an event organized by Jus Dicere at the Constitution Club of India. The theme of the event was ‘Things I Could Have Learnt in Law School’, and the speakers were former CJI Misra, Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, Vice-Chancellor of OP Jindal Global Law School, Prof. C Raj Kumar and Joint Secretary, Supreme Court Advocates-On-Record Association, Advocate Vivek Narayan Sharma..The event was attended by law students and academicians..Taking the theme of the event forward, Justice Misra also stated that students must cultivate the attitude and aptitude of ‘intellectual honesty’. Explaining the concept, he said, intellectual honesty expects one to project facts and law, “as one understands it”. He also warned the students from using the word ‘etc’, as it shows inadequacy..Justice Misra also stressed upon the usage of syllogisms while working on how to argue a case, or making submissions before the Court..“Always argue cases on propositional basis. The logic of words must match with the words of reality”, he further remarked..He also laid stress on developing analytical skills and the skill to understand precedents. Concluding his address, he advised the students to “never play the victim card“..“We must learn and proceed further and not get stuck with the past. Never play the victim card, always be optimistic”, he said..Prof. Kumar began his address by discussing the challenges faced by law schools. Talking about the lack of interdisciplinary learning when it comes to teaching law, he stated that law must be learnt through reading more widely. The three-year law course, he said, does not have enough time to bring out that perspective..He also expressed his concern over the lack of recognition to research and assignments in the legal education system. He also called upon law schools to incorporate clinical learning to enable students to grapple with real time issues..Lastly, he spoke on the “vulgar” development of “obsession towards placements”. He stated that law is about social engineering and service, and success must not be measured in terms of salaries that students get at the end of the term..Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand opined that legal education must have “some modicum of enjoyment and interaction with other facets of life”. She strongly recommended the 3+3 system to study law. The five-year system is too rushed and the anxiety and stress wear you out, she said..Advocate Vivek Narayan Sharma stated that law schools must incorporate curriculum on the science of human behaviour, social responsibility, and physical and mental fitness. He also said that law schools must facilitate “character building” and cultivate the virtues of “accountability and integrity” amongst its students.
Speaking at an event held last week, former Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra remarked that Rule of Law can never become an unruly horse..He was speaking at an event organized by Jus Dicere at the Constitution Club of India. The theme of the event was ‘Things I Could Have Learnt in Law School’, and the speakers were former CJI Misra, Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, Vice-Chancellor of OP Jindal Global Law School, Prof. C Raj Kumar and Joint Secretary, Supreme Court Advocates-On-Record Association, Advocate Vivek Narayan Sharma..The event was attended by law students and academicians..Taking the theme of the event forward, Justice Misra also stated that students must cultivate the attitude and aptitude of ‘intellectual honesty’. Explaining the concept, he said, intellectual honesty expects one to project facts and law, “as one understands it”. He also warned the students from using the word ‘etc’, as it shows inadequacy..Justice Misra also stressed upon the usage of syllogisms while working on how to argue a case, or making submissions before the Court..“Always argue cases on propositional basis. The logic of words must match with the words of reality”, he further remarked..He also laid stress on developing analytical skills and the skill to understand precedents. Concluding his address, he advised the students to “never play the victim card“..“We must learn and proceed further and not get stuck with the past. Never play the victim card, always be optimistic”, he said..Prof. Kumar began his address by discussing the challenges faced by law schools. Talking about the lack of interdisciplinary learning when it comes to teaching law, he stated that law must be learnt through reading more widely. The three-year law course, he said, does not have enough time to bring out that perspective..He also expressed his concern over the lack of recognition to research and assignments in the legal education system. He also called upon law schools to incorporate clinical learning to enable students to grapple with real time issues..Lastly, he spoke on the “vulgar” development of “obsession towards placements”. He stated that law is about social engineering and service, and success must not be measured in terms of salaries that students get at the end of the term..Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand opined that legal education must have “some modicum of enjoyment and interaction with other facets of life”. She strongly recommended the 3+3 system to study law. The five-year system is too rushed and the anxiety and stress wear you out, she said..Advocate Vivek Narayan Sharma stated that law schools must incorporate curriculum on the science of human behaviour, social responsibility, and physical and mental fitness. He also said that law schools must facilitate “character building” and cultivate the virtues of “accountability and integrity” amongst its students.
