Conclave on role of law schools in strengthening democracy

A five-day national conclave of law teachers and students was recently organised by O P Jindal Global University to explore the role of law schools in strengthening democracy.
The conclave, organised by the Jindal Global Law School from June 24 to 29, culminated with the adoption of 'Sonipat declaration on the role of legal education in strengthening rule of Law and democracy', a University press statement said.
"The key features of the declaration include pedagogical and curriculum innovation, focus on legal research with community driven agendas, development of legal resources in areas of law affecting the marginalised, re-inventing the role of teachers in addressing the hiatus between law in books and law in action, amongst others.

"This declaration was adopted to accentuate the role of law schools in making law and its processes more compassionate, justice oriented and inclusive of the poor, marginalised and under-privileged," the statement said.
N R Madhava Menon, International Bar Association Chair on Continuing Legal Education, NLSIU, emphasised on need to bring about radical changes in contemporary legal education to suit it to the aspirations of the Constitution and the mandate of securing social, economic and political justice.
Vice-Chancellor of O P Jindal Global University, C Raj Kumar said accountability is a major component of democracy and law schools can bring about the same by strengthening tools like RTI and engaging with other governance models.