Symbiosis Society’s Law Colle- ge in Pune is one of the premier institutes of law in the country. If you like the idea of becoming a legal know-all and are seeking the right institute, this one should be right up your alley.

What makes Symbiosis Society’s Law College different from others? “The institute has the liberty to frame courses, keeping in mind the Bar Council of India and the UGC guidelines. Here at Symbiosis, we mainly emphasise on litigation, corporate laws, higher education and research,” says Sashikala Gurpur, principal.

The college offers two five-year integrated law courses — bachelor of business administration and bachelor of law (BBA LLB); bachelor of arts and bachelor of law (BA LLB). Admission to these courses is based on the candidate’s performance in the All India Law Entrance Test. To be eligible to appear for the exam, a candidate needs to pass his / her Class 12 exam with at least 50 per cent marks. The college also offers a two-year masters in law.

Considering the importance of corporate law in this era of globalisation, Symbiosis has included it in its curriculum. Symbiosis is one of the two colleges in the country that offers BBA LLB course to its students. Around 75 per cent of the students opt for this course, says Gurpur. Around 40 per cent of the syllabus here comprises personal management, finance and accounting, with a view to meeting corporate requirements.

“Since Symbiosis houses premier management institutes too, the law school here can respond better to the current needs of the market,” she says.

The syllabus of BA LLB and BBA LLB is almost the same. But the BBA LLB course emphasises more on corporate law. There are some compulsory and optional subjects in both these courses. However, at Symbiosis, some of these optional subjects have been deliberately included in the compulsory list, so that the students can have a better grasp of their subjects. “We take a humane approach while imparting knowledge to the students,” says Gurpur. The accentuation is more on research and community development, she says.

“The infrastructure at Symbiosis is excellent. I am quite proud to be a part of this esteemed institute,” says Arunarbhi Iyer, a student. He says he and his classmates had benefited immensely from the faculty exchange programme. They had the opportunity to interact with Prof. Rebecca from the US and Prof. Marine Boulier from France. This helped them to understand the legal scenario in these two countries. “Prof. Allen Page, a scholar from the UK, recently spoke on the English Constitution and English corporate law,” says Iyer.

These exposures have made them understand their subject better. Symbiosis also has provision for admitting international students. Und- er their collaboration programme, the college has tied up with seven different universities across Europe and one in Australia and America. Presently, 18 students from Asian and Western countries are studying at Symbiosis.

No wonder that the students from the law college have bagged good placements in several multinational companies. This year, 130 students have got placements in various organisations. Starting with an annual package of Rs 4 lakh, the highest salary has gone up to Rs 12.6 lakh, which has been offered by ONGC, a public sector organisation. Some other big names like the ICICI Bank and Amarchand Mangaldas have recruited Symbiosis students. The college has also tied up with six international law firms for placement of the students.

Symbiosis has always believed in providing quality education at reasonable expenses. The college charges an annual fee of around Rs 67,000.

The institute also makes special arrangement for students from outside the city. Although on campus accommodation facility is limited, several options are available off the campus. “The college takes the responsibility of checking out these accommodations, so that the students can get to stay on reasonable rent and their safety is ensured,” says Gurpur.

At Symbiosis, a student can not only expect to become a master in his subject, but also look for personal development. When Jayesh Chowdhury joined Symbiosis from Nanded, Maharsahtra, he could hardly speak English. He underwent special English training programme at the college to enhance his communication skills and now he can speak English fluently. “Here we not only get practical experience but also theoretical knowledge. This helps one to get a better grasp of the subject,” says Jayesh.

Vital Statistics

What is it?
A five-year integrated course in bachelor of business administration and bachelor of law.

Who’s the boss?
Sashikala Gurpur is the principal.

What is the course fee?
Rs 67,000.

Where to stay?
Both on campus and off campus options are available. The college arranges for accommodation.

Where is it?
Senapati Bapat Road,
Pune-411004.
Telephone: 020-25655114
Fax: 020-25671711

ANTARA SEN