BCI ASKS LAW SCHOOLS TO FALL IN LINE

The regulator of legal education in Bar Council of India has cracked the whip and asked over 930 law colleges across the country to either conform to the educational standards laid down by it or be barred from admitting students after 2011.

This ultimatum was sounded by BCI chairman and Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam, who expressed serious concern over the manner in which the standards of legal education have fallen in many law collges, especially those in the hinterland.

The first and foremost task of BCI was to improve the faculty situation in a majority of the colleges. Talent could only be attracted to law colleges if they start paying the University Grants Commission approved pay-scale, Subramaniam told.

Secondly, all colleges must revise their educational curriculum and conform to the modern standards defined and laid down by BCI, he said. "All must conform to these standards by 2011 and those who do not will be barred from admitting students," the BCI chairman said.

Speaking on the innovative idea of making law graduates clear an entrance test before being permitted to practice in courts, Subramaniam said the idea had received support from the rural students who were upbeat that it will allow them to compete with their counterparts from national law schools.

"This entrance test is going to be a great homogenising effect. If a student from a rural law college passes this entrance test and qualifies to become an advocate along with a graduate from a prestigeous national law school, it will have a great balancing effect and remove disparity in attitude," he said.

Most of the law firms have also welcomed the entrance test, he said, adding the BCI was considering a proposal to conduct this examination two or three times a year so as to allow people adequate number of chances to become an advocate.

The Supreme Court had time and again suggested that young law graduates needed to be screened with some sort of a test before being allowed to practice in the courts.