Everything You Would Want To Know About Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)-2014

A regular growth has been witnessed in the number of students opting for law. In CLAT-2013, almost 31,000 students appeared for the admission test with only about 1,600 seats available in various national law universities. For the 2014 test, GNLU expects more than 35,000 students to appear for it. The Common Law Admission Test for the year 2014 will be held on 11th May, 2014 i.e.; Sunday between 3:00pm to 5:00 pm, which is being organized by Gujarat National Law University.Various National Law...

All About Internships: Value and Avenues (Part II)

Value of InternshipsEducational ValueThat an internship is a valuable opportunity for students to apply and hone the knowledge and skills acquired in the classroom, is well known. By working in a real work setting one can put to work all the knowledge learned in a classroom. Law internships, in particular, are the best way to gain real life experience in a law firm that in turn positions you well for your future career. Practical on-the-job experience under the mentorship and direction of...

Review of the Implementation Aspect of Food Security legislation in India

The Food Security Bill, 2011, one of the key legislations introduced by the current UPA government, is a project which, if implemented in the right manner, has the potential to eliminate endemic hunger in the country. However, since the time it has been introduced it has received a lot of flak. It is being seen as a mere reshuffling of the prevalent Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) having missed out on an opportunity to plug the loopholes in the existing system.The need for Food...

The VVPAT Ruling: Worth Celebrating?

In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court (SC), in the case of Subramanian Swamy vs Election Commission of India (ECI), has held that VVPAT (Vote Verifiable Paper Audit Trial) is “indispensable for free and fair elections”. In accordance to that, the Supreme Court has directed the ECI to equip Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with VVPAT systems to “ensure accuracy of the VVPAT system”. This ruling is being hailed as another landmark judgment by the Supreme Court in the wake of the upcoming General...

Business of Oil: An Emerging Practice Area for Lawyers

When traditional practice areas of law reach a saturation level, lawyers and law firms look towards emerging practice areas- areas representing new avenues or markets.  The aim is to establish an advantageous position before competition catches up. Emerging practices can either be whole new areas of legal practice or traditional legal practices applied to an entirely new purpose. Quite obviously, the new niche practice areas call for a different mindset and unique skills set.It is universally...

The Robe-clad Lawyer Versus the Boardroom Lawyer

Every professional at some stage of his/her career is faced with the question, ‘am I making the right choice?’ To quote Charles Lamb, “The measure of choosing well, is, whether an individual likes and finds good in what he has chosen.” And so, this one step-choosing a path and standing by it-changes everything.Broadly speaking, a career in law comprises two main streams, viz, litigation practice; and corporate practice.  The predicament of having to choose between the two practices exists for a...

Are wrong persons leading our “Islands of Excellence”?

“We do have a small number of dynamic and outstanding law schools. But I am afraid they remain islands of excellence amidst a sea of institutionalised mediocrity.” – Dr. Manmohan SinghYou consider the potency of any institution; the seeds of clover is often said to balance between the pinnacles of administration, along with the rich quality of students therein. However, matter speaks something contrary when it concerns the administration of some of the ‘best institutions’ of our country....

The Bar Exam Tamasha: Review of the August 2013 Bar Exam Paper

The fifth All India Bar Examination was held on 25th August, 2013 and more than 25000 candidates appeared for the exam. Ramanuj Mukherjee along with Aayush Shrivastava have analysed the 2013 Bar Exam paper for Live Law readers. If you are reading this article then chances are high that you either took the bar exam this year, or maybe you will write it in the future. In case you want to know how the exam evolved so far, please read this article here. In short, All India Bar Examination has a...

Go Green: Charting a Career in Environmental Law

Having evolved rapidly, in India environment law is a relatively new and challenging field. The term “Environmental law” is wide encompassing the entire gamut of statutes, treaties, conventions, regulations and policies aimed at protecting the ecology as well as preventing the degradation of natural resources. In the recent past, environmental law has become a devise for promoting “sustainable development”. Policy concepts such as the polluter pays principle, precautionary principle, public...

Behind the bench: Judicial Clerkship as a career option

It is the spirit and not the form of law that keeps justice alive.  ~Earl Warren IntroductionA judicial clerkship is an excellent way to bridge the gap between law school and the practice of law. Clerks at all court levels obtain unparalleled access to and knowledge about the judicial process. Additionally, a judicial clerk is exposed to a wide array of legal issues and is able to make a hands-on contribution to the judicial decision-making process. This experience and perspective is attractive...

All About An LLM - Part IV – Scholarships in the US

The cost of an LLM Program in US is high. It is not just the tuition fees which increases every year, the cost of living is also rising, especially if you plan on living in a big city. Foreign students should weigh their options carefully while considering LL.M schools and funding. Consider its location, financial capabilities and restrictions, if any.  Bear in mind that scholarships and grants for LL.M. in US are not common, although they do exist. Generally speaking, limited grant money is...

All about an LLM – Part III –Scholarships for UK Universities

Financing an LL.M Financing/funding is perhaps the toughest part of planning for an LLM from abroad. Most prospective LL.M. students worry about affording the high costs of studying for a postgraduate law course in a foreign university. Not many are in a position to muster their own financial resources in the form of savings, family assistance, etc. And so, outside sources of funding become critical. Ideally, a student would want to rely on a combination of grants, scholarships, awards offered...