Pic Credit: Jagan Negi

There’s constant media frenzy in surveys and polls about the national law schools in the country and law colleges abroad. But tucked away in the sprawling university campus in Delhi, however, is the Faculty of Law — less hyped, but with brilliant results and plenty of old-world charm.

Set up in 1924 as a small centre offering part-time courses in law, it has now grown to offer courses at the bachelors, masters and doctorate levels at three different centres in the capital.

The Campus Law Centre (CLC) and the Law Centre-I (LC-I) are located in the Faculty of Law building on the North Campus of the Delhi University while the Law Centre-II (LC-II) is located in the Atma Ram Sanatan Dharam College at Dhaula Kuan. All of them offer a bachelors of law (LLB) degree. The entrance exam tests you on English language aptitude, legal aptitude and analysis, as well as general knowledge.

The three-year LLB course, however, is open only to students who have a graduate or a postgraduate degree from any Indian or foreign university. This, the faculty believes, is an important difference between the Faculty of Law and other law schools which take students fresh out of school. College graduates and postgraduates, faculty members point out, are more certain than school graduates about wanting to study law. They also have a more mature understanding of the importance of legal studies.

The LLB programme, which is the most popular, provides budding lawyers with a comprehensive knowledge of all aspects of the law through compulsory subjects such as criminal law and Indian legal system, and optional papers such as labour law, international law, gender justice and human rights law.

Hands-on training

Professor S.N. Singh, head, Faculty of Law, says, “This school is the oldest and largest faculty in the country and has had some of the most renowned deans. Even today, most judges of the Supreme Court and the high courts are from this institution.”

Apart from the intense course work, the Moot Court Cell, an important part of the centre, enables students to get practical training in the field. The Faculty has also been running the Legal Aid Cell with the voluntary participation of students, teachers and lawyers. This programme aims at imparting relevant legal education as well as legal services to the Beggars Court and the Juvenile Justice Board. Delhi Law Review, a law journal, has been published by the Faculty since 1972, while, more recently, LC-II has been bringing out the National Capital Law Journal. There are also plans to form a cultural society to give students the opportunity to critique cinema from a legal perspective.

“The Faculty recognises the importance of legal education for all strata of society. CLC has students from varied backgrounds, cultures and disciplines which make for a richer classroom experience,” states professor Ved Kumari of LC-I. “The case method of teaching followed here allows students to question and therefore, become active participants in the learning process.”

Apart from the LLB course, the Faculty also offers a masters of law (LLM) programme which can be completed over two or three years. It also offers a masters in comparative law (MCL) programme for foreign students, as well as a PhD and doctor of civil laws (DCL) degrees. The Faculty even offers evening classes for those who have other professional engagements.

Flip side

Vikas, a student at CLC, says, “There is a lot of cramming to do in this course, which is why I think the centre needs to go beyond teaching legal principles. However, mooting is a good forum to meet new people and gain practical experience. There are also some improvements in the placement programme this year. But most of all, the centre has a great reputation which is a big advantage for all students.”

Apart from the job placements, many students at these centres also do internships in organisations such as the Human Rights Law Network or with individual lawyers and law firms in areas that interest them. Even though the primary emphasis of the course is on litigation, many students get into other areas of law as well.

“It isn’t as rundown as it looks!” jokes Shloka, another student. “It’s a good place to be if you’re driven and motivated enough. There is a need for a more in-depth curriculum, though.

But even with the onslaught of the five-year law schools, it continues to have a great reputation and enormous potential.”

Vital Statistics

WHAT IS IT? A law school offering LLB, LLM and PhD degrees.

WHO’S THE BOSS? Professor Nomita Aggarwal.

How to get in? There is an entrance exam.

seats on offer: Around 1,500 seats.

WHere to stay? Hostel accommodation is provided.

WHere is it? Faculty of Law, Chhatra Marg (North Campus), University of Delhi, Delhi-110007. Telephone: 011-27667725, 27667483 E-mail: lawfaculty@vsnl.net.inWebsite: http://www.du.ac.in