Disinclination of Law Students for joining Academic Profession

Acknowledgement
We would like to express our heart-felt gratitude to all those who made the completion of this project possible, starting with the Lord Almighty.

We would like to express our cordial gratefulness to Dr. William Nunes and Dr. Vikash Gandhi for their valuable guidance and advice in preparing this project. We would also like to thank for providing us valuable opportunity to work with the project Disinclination of Law Students for joining Academic Profession. We would also like to thank the Director Sir, Mr. Bimal Patel, for giving us valuable opportunity of research.

Disinclination of Law Students for joining Academic Profession

Table of Content
Acknowledgement.1 Table of Content....2 Review of Literature..3 1. Introduction.4 2. Status of Legal Education in India..6 3. Analysis of Data..8 4. Conclusion..15 5. Bibliography & References.......16

Disinclination of Law Students for joining Academic Profession

Review of Literature
The Researcher finalized this topic for the presentation after consulting the faculty of our University and after going through various articles available on internet. As this Research is a Non Doctrinal Research, the researcher has prepared questionnaire and would also be relying upon a variety of secondary sources as the scope of research is limited up to Gujarat National Law University. The researchers have referred 184th Law Commission Report to get brief understanding of this project.

Disinclination of Law Students for joining Academic Profession

1. Introduction
Statement of Problem: Law is a set of principles which regulates the Human behavior. Law is a need of the society which governs the individual to behave in a particular discipline, rules, regulations, terms and conditions as prescribed by laws. But when an individual fails to obey the prescribed law, it imposes penalty. In short, law is performing a role of watchdog in the society. In the present scenario, most of the people are having awareness regarding law. Most of the students are interested to build up their career in the field of law. Many of them opt for corporate, judiciary, litigation, etc but very least student join in academics. Apart from that, there are many Traditional University which doesnt have proper infrastructure and teaching method. Looking to the previous statistics, there are many colleges (rural areas) which are not offering Post Graduate courses. But to get rid of this problem, the concept of National Law University emerged in 1986 to enhance the standard of Legal Education and Research. Not only Traditional University but also NLUs which is providing professional education in Law, it is facing the problems of proper academician. So many posts are still vacant in these Universities. Thus, in this entire project, the researcher will try to understand deeply regarding the variables, social and economic factors, etc. which affects the law students for not joining academics. Objectives: The main objective of this project is as below: 1. To find out reasons why law students are not joining academics as their profession. 2. To find out the socio-economic conditions of their family.

Disinclination of Law Students for joining Academic Profession

3. To find out whether there is any lack of sufficient infrastructure. Hypothesis: 1. There are limited colleges/institutions which provide higher legal education. 2. Corporate jobs provide better pay packages. 3. Various socio-economic factors affects towards disinclination towards joining academics. Scope of Research: The scope of the research is limited to GNLU wherein the researcher will take interview by sampling of questionnaire. 10 students will be examined from 2nd year LLM batch, 10 Faculty members and Research Associates, 10 students from 1st LLM batch. Methodology: This research is Doctrinal as well as Non-doctrinal. As a Doctrinal Research, the secondary data will be collected from various books, Law Commission Reports, UGC guidelines as well as other sources of internet. As far as Non-Doctrinal Research is concerned, the researcher will take interview in the form of questionnaire from the abovementioned samples.

Disinclination of Law Students for joining Academic Profession

2. Status of Legal Education in India

Legal study promotes accuracy of the expression, facility in arguments and skill in interpreting the written words, as well as some understanding of social values. So the Law acts as the cementing material of society and an essential medium of social change. A well administered and socially relevant legal education is a sine qua non for a proper dispensation of justice. Giving legal education a human face would create cultured law abiding citizens who are able to serve as professionals and not merely as business men. The quality and standard of legal education acquired at the law school is reflected through the standard of Bar and Bench and consequently affects the legal system. The primary focus of law schools should be to identify the various skills that define a lawyer and then train and equip its students with requirements of the fast growing field of law. It is pivotal duty of everyone to know the law. Ignorance of law is not innocence but a sin which cannot be excused. Thus, legal education is imperative not only to produce good lawyers but also to create cultured law abiding citizens, who are inculcated with concepts of human values, legal ethics and human rights. The Constitution of India basically laid down the duty of imparting education on the states by putting the matter pertaining to education in List II of the Seventh Schedule. But it now forms part of List III, giving concurrent legislative powers to the Union and the States. Legal profession along with the medical and other professions also falls under List III (Entry 26). However, the Union is empowered to co-ordinate and determines standards in institutions for higher education or research and scientific and technical institutions besides having exclusive power, inter alia, pertaining to educational institutions of national importance, professional, vocational or technical training and promotion of special studies or research.1

http://www.slideshare.net/guesta5c32a/legal-education-in-india

Disinclination of Law Students for joining Academic Profession

According to section 7 (1) (h) of the Advocates Act, 19612, the Bar Council of India is empowered to promote legal education and lay down standards of such education in consultation with the Universities imparting such education. Section 2 (f) of the University Grants Commission Act, 19563, the University Grants Commission (UGC) is also having power to exercise control over the Universities and affiliated colleges for prescribing standards of education. The BCI may prescribe standards of legal education in consultation with the universities. But in practice, it is not possible for the BCI to consult each and every University and there is no manner prescribed in the Advocates Act, 1961 for rendering effective consultation in this regard. Therefore the Commission has proposed that the University Grants Commission should constitute its Leal Education Committee consisting of various specified faculty members. The Commission has recommended that the UGC Act, 1956 be amended by providing a separate provision for constituting the Legal Education Committee of the UGC. It has also recommended that the UGC shall nominate three members out of its Legal Education Committee, for the purpose of the Legal Education Committee of the BCI. It has proposed that, the Legal Education Committee of the BCI should also have one retired Judge of the Supreme Court and one retired Chief Justice or retired Judge of a High Court to be nominated by the Chief Justice of India.4 Accordingly, it has recommended to amend section 10 (2) of the Advocates Act, 1961. The Legal Education Committee of the BCI should consult the Legal Education Committee of the UGC. It will have to fulfill the requirements of specified consultation process. The procedure for consultation is provided in the proposed section 10AA of the Advocates Act, 1961. It is also recommended to elaborate the expression standards of legal education, in the Act by amendment of section 7 (1) (h) of the Advocates Act.

2 3

http://www.vakilno1.com/bareacts/advocateact/Chapter2/S7.htm http://www.ugc.ac.in/policy/ugc_act.pdf 4 http://lawcommissionofindia.nic.in/reports/184threport-PartI.pdf

Disinclination of Law Students for joining Academic Profession

3. Analysis of Data
The researcher, as mentioned previously, had taken the sample survey of 30 people for the purpose of this research project. The detailed analysis of the data is mentioned as below: The first question is what are the future prospects by joining law as a profession? So after collecting data and making analysis, the researcher has found that the people choosing Litigation is 33.33%, for Judiciary is 13.33%, for Corporate is 23.33% and for Academics is 30%. The detailed analysis in chart form is prescribed in Image 1 as below.

Litigation Corporate Others

10 Person [33.33%] 07 Person [23.33%] 00

Judiciary Academics

04 Person [13.33%] 09 Person [30%]

The main reasons for choosing Litigation are to help the society. Apart from it, litigation is an independent job and people can earn more in this field. The reasons for the people, who are of the opinion of choosing Academics, are interest, passion, attraction, family background, to

Disinclination of Law Students for joining Academic Profession

enhance the standard of legal education, to educate the society and to get opportunity of research. The general perception of the people choosing Corporate is better pay scale and wider scope. The reasons for choosing Judiciary are high reputation and to help our Nation in reducing the backlog of cases. The Third question is what are the reasons for students disinclination for joining Academics? Thus, from the collection of data, the researcher found that 83.33% people thinks that corporate provide better pay packages, 13.33% people thinks that students have no interest for joining academics. Whereas 3.33% people think that it depends upon the situation. The detailed analysis of third answer is shown in Chart form in Image 2 as below:

Image-2
30 25 20 15 10 5 0 No interest Corporate Less number of provide better Post Graduate pay pakages Seats Any other

Image-2

No interest Corporate provide better pay packages Less number of Post Graduate seats Any Other

04 person [13.33%] 25 person [83.33%] 00 people 01 person [3.33%]

The fourth question is does time factor plays important role for not joining academics as a profession? [LLB (5yrs) + LLM (2yrs) + PHD] or [Graduation (3yrs) + LLB (3yrs) + LLM (2yrs) + PHD]. 47%

Disinclination of Law Students for joining Academic Profession

people had replied positively and 53% people replied negatively. The detailed analysis is shown in Image 3 as below:

Image- 3
17 16 15 14 13 yes No Image- 3

Yes

14 people [47%]

No

16 people [53%]

The fifth question is does economic factor affects decision for not joining academics? 46% replied positively, 26.66% replied negatively and another 26.66% also replied that they have their personal opinion and is based on situation. The analysis is shown in Image 4 as below:

Image-4
15 10 5 0 Yes No Personal Opinion Image-4

Yes No Personal Interest

14 people [46%] 08 people [26.66%] 08 people [26.66%]

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Disinclination of Law Students for joining Academic Profession

The sixth question is does Social factor affects decision for not joining academics? 23% replied positively, 63.33% replied negatively and 13.33% replied that they have their personal opinion and is based on situation. The analysis is shown in Image 5 as below:

Image- 5
20 15 10 5 0 Yes No Personal Opinion Image- 5

Yes No Personal Interest

07 people [23%] 19 people [63.33%] 04 people [13.33%]

The seventh question is how do you see at academic as profession? 13.33% replied it is highly reputed job, 56.66% replied it is responsible job, 20% replied it is stable life and 10% replied that it is tedious job. The analysis is shown in Image 6 as below:

Image- 6
20 15 10 5 0 Highly Responsible Job Reputable Job Stable Life Tedious Life Image- 6

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Disinclination of Law Students for joining Academic Profession

Highly reputable job Responsible job Stable life Tedious life

04 people [13.33%] 17 people [56.66%] 06 people [20%] 03 people [10%]

The eighth question: are there sufficient numbers of law colleges offering higher education (LLM, PHD)? 56.66% replied negatively while 43.33% replied positively. The analysis is shown in Image 7 as below:

Image- 7
20 15 10 5 0 Yes No Image- 7

Yes No

13 people [43.33%] 17 people [56.66%]

The ninth question Is Higher Education expensive in India? 53.33% replied positively while 46.66% replied negatively. The analysis is shown in Image 8 as below:

Image- 8
17 16 15 14 13 Yes No Image- 8

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Disinclination of Law Students for joining Academic Profession

Yes No

16 people [53.33%] 14 people [46.66%]

The eleventh question Does number of qualified faculty in various law colleges affects the students interest? 83.33% replied positively while 16.66% replied negatively. The analysis is shown in Image 9 as below:

Image- 9
30 20 10 0 Yes No Image- 9

Yes No

25 people [83.33%] 05 people [16.66%]

The twelfth question is do you think Library facilities for higher studies affects the choice? 70% replied positively while 30% replied negatively. The analysis is shown in Image 10 as below:

Image- 10
25 20 15 10 5 0 Yes No Image- 10

Yes No

21 people [70%] 09 people [30%]

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Disinclination of Law Students for joining Academic Profession

The thirteenth question is Do you think that irregular or evening classes or part time course affects the decision of students for their disinclination towards higher education? 60% replied positively while 40% replied negatively. The analysis is shown in Image 11 as below:

Image- 11
20 15 10 5 0 Yes No Image- 11

Yes No

18 people [60%] 12 people [40%]

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Disinclination of Law Students for joining Academic Profession

4. Conclusion
In the present scenario, we see that most of the law colleges as well National Law Universities (NLUs) have vacancies in academics. Even Higher Education seats also remain vacant. Thus, the researcher had made an attempt to find out what are the reasons for Disinclination of Law students for joining Academic Profession. The reasons are as below: Firstly, there are limited or less numbers of Law Colleges which provide Higher Legal Education. There is lack of sufficient infrastructure which causes disinclination for students to join Academics. Secondly, the main reason for disinclination of Law Students for joining Academics is that corporate sector provides better pay packages. In this world of competition, everyone is mad for money. Thirdly, due to money constraint in the family, many students cannot afford higher education. Higher Education is expensive in National Law Universities and other private institutions in comparison to Traditional Universities. Thus, Economic factor is also one of the main reasons for disinclination. Fourthly, majority of the people think that the qualified faculty is very less in law colleges, so it causes a reason for disinterest. Fifthly, lack of sufficient library facilities causes major problems in Higher education. It creates dis-interest in the minds of the students. Sixthly, majority people think that irregular or evening classes in law colleges affects the decision of students for joining higher education.

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Disinclination of Law Students for joining Academic Profession

BIBLIOGRAPHY & REFERENCES _______________________________________

BOOKS REFFERED:

1. 184th Law Commission Report

WEBSITES REFERRED:
i. ii. iii. iv. http://www.slideshare.net/guesta5c32a/legal-educationin-india http://www.vakilno1.com/bareacts/advocateact/Chapter2/ S7.htm http://www.ugc.ac.in/policy/ugc_act.pdf http://lawcommissionofindia.nic.in/reports/184threportPartI.pdf

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