Type National University Students 450+ Postgraduates 43 Phone 0484 255 5991 Founded 2005 | Established 2005 Undergraduates 440 Doctoral students 22+ Undergraduate tuition and fees 60,000 INR (2010) Vice-chancellor Rose Varghese | |
Similar Chanakya National Law Univ, National University of Study a, National Law Institute U, Rajiv Gandhi National, Hidayatullah National Law Univ |
The National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS) (earlier National Institute for Advanced Legal Studies) is a uni-disciplinary university in Kochi, India for undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate legal education.
Contents
- History
- New campus at Kinfra Hi Tech Park Kalamassery
- Fora
- Centres
- Curriculum
- Course structure
- Syllabus
- Faculty
- Notable visiting faculty
- Tie ups and exchange programmes
- Achievements
- LLM programme
- PhD programme
- References
NUALS was established to advance and disseminate learning and knowledge of law and legal processes, to develop scholarship and a sense of responsibility towards society and to promote legal and judicial reforms to strengthen the administration of justice in India. The Chief Justice of India is the Visitor, the Chief Justice of the High Court of Kerala is the Chancellor, and the Minister for Education, Kerala state is the Pro-Chancellor of the University.
History
The National University of Advanced Legal Studies was established by the National University of Advanced Legal Studies Act, 2005 which merged the erstwhile National Institute for Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), earlier established and managed by the Bar Council of Kerala and Bar Council of Kerala Trust. Dr. K. G. Balakrishnan, then Chief Justice, Supreme Court of India and Visitor, NUALS, dedicated it to the nation on 7 January 2006. Kochi was found to be the ideal location to set up the first national law school in Kerala since it is the seat of the High Court of Kerala and Lakshadweep.
Initially the university functioned from Kaloor, Kochi. It now functions from its permanent campus in KINFRA Hi-Tech Park, at Kalamassery. The campus is on 10 acres (40,000 m2) of land taken on lease for 90 years from KINFRA and is nearer to Nedumbassery, where the Kochi International Airport is located.
New campus at Kinfra Hi-Tech Park, Kalamassery
Fora
Moot Court Society, Legal Aid Clinic, Law and Economic Forum, Quiz Club, Debate and Seminar Forum, and the Law and Society Forum function under the guidance of teachers.
Centres
The University has thirteen centres for study and research. They are:
Curriculum
The Bar Council of India has recommended 38 subjects (including four training courses) for the five-year LLB course. With its Choice Based Credit System completely revamped, from Academic Year 2015-16 onward, students at NUALS will study 60 subjects for their B.A.LL.B. (Hons) Course.
The students are required to conduct Legal Aid camps and Legal Aid clinics in selected villages in Kerala.
Course structure
Maritime Law, Medical Jurisprudence, Law and Medicine, Law and Forensic Science, etc. are some of the specialised subjects taught by experts in the field. The students are also given exposure to socially relevant subjects like, Cyber law and E-Governance, Energy Law, Media and the Law, Environment and Law, Securities Law, Competition Law, Investment Arbitration, etc.
Syllabus
The syllabus of NUALS was drafted under the leadership of former director of NUALS (then NIALS), Prof Dr. K.N.Chandrasekharan Pillai, the former director of the Indian Law Institute, New Delhi. The syllabus introduces subjects relevant to the study of law but never incorporated hitherto in the syllabi of Indian law schools.
Faculty
Faculty members have published books on subjects of their specialization, which include Electronic Signatures, Indian history, legal language etc. They also have paper publications to their credit in law journals in the country. A majority of the faculty belong to the Bar and are advocates in the High Court and lower courts.
Guest lecturers and visiting faculty are part of the extended family of NUALS. They include Supreme Court lawyers, scientists, medical professionals, Heads of Departments of other Universities, and Professors from foreign Universities.
Notable visiting faculty
Tie-ups and exchange programmes
Achievements
LL.M. programme
NUALS runs an LL.M. programme in International Trade Law and in Constitutional and Administrative Law. From academic year 2011-12, the admission is through the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) conducted by the consortium of National Law Universities.
Ph.D. programme
NUALS runs a Ph.D. programme, in accordance with the guidelines set by the University Grants Commission.