When we talk about law, we see hopeless justice system, greedy lawyers and most corrupt judiciary. People are scared to knock the door of the judiciary. Rich can buy justice, poor languish in the jail for years even when their crime is not proved.
Law and development is not a touched subject and beyond interest of many. I must salute Azim Premji University for offering such course. Even TISS being a pioneer institute never offered such course.
What is development studies: DS is also known as 'International Development Studies', 'Third World Studies', 'International.Development', 'Third World Development', 'World Development', 'Global Perspectives' etc. This is a study useful for people working in NGOs, livelihood intervention, poverty eradication etc.
OVERVIEW AND PROGRAMME RATIONALE
Azim Premji University launched a one-year Post Graduate Programme in Law and Development (Masters in Law / LL.M.) in 2016. Admissions for the academic year 2017-2018 are now open.
This postgraduate programme in Law and Development seeks to initiate a decisive, novel and meaningful intervention at the intersection of the domains of Law and Development in India.
Law and the legal system provide a key normative and institutional foundation for social, political and economic realms of modern society as well as being primary instruments for their reform. Lawyers have at various points in Indian history been a professional community deeply immersed in progressive social change as:
- the political vanguard of the Indian independence movement;
- protectors of human rights and the constitution in post 1950 India and
- everyday support to vibrant and independent civil society organizations that are essential for a just, equitable, humane and sustainable society.
In order for lawyers to play this vital role in our society, legal education needs to combine and replicate these core democratic and constitutional values with the highest standards of professional competence and skill.
In 1987 the first of the ‘national law schools’ was established to produce lawyers as grass roots ‘social engineers’ who would act as the agents of progressive social change. This experiment has led to an impressive growth in the number, and arguably the quality, of legal graduates in the last two decades. Despite its success, the academic programmes have privileged professional and technical competence and underemphasized the social, political and economic dimensions of this professional field.
The significant reasons for only a modest realisation of the stated goals of legal education in India – to create and sustain a socially progressive legal profession – are:
- a failure to develop a generation of academically competent and socially engaged practitioners and scholars of the law given that a majority of proficient and socially diverse law graduates pursue professional opportunities.
- the failure of graduate programmes in law to engage students with the context, debates and imperatives of the processes of development in India.
The Master’s degree in Law and Development at Azim Premji University aims to remedy these deficits with a postgraduate legal education programme that is:
- inter-disciplinary,
- empirically grounded, and
- refocuses law and legal education to the ethical resolution of critical public policy problems.
This programme will integrate two distinct approaches to the study of law and legal institutions in India:
- The first is to develop a textured, empirical understanding of how law and legal institutions operate in Indian society that avoids a purely doctrinal or instrumental approach to these phenomena.
- The second is to develop the disposition to use the professional and academic knowledge developed through the LL.M programme to respond to critical problems in law and social policy.
Eligibility+
To be eligible to apply applicants must possess a Bachelor of Laws degree from a recognized degree granting university in India or abroad. As the Bachelor of Laws is in most cases a non-specialist degree, the LL.M. Programme will be open to students with diverse interests in law.
ADMISSION PROCESS
Prospective Students
The LL.M. in Law and Development seeks bright, motivated students who are interested in the social context as well as the social impact of the law, and are interested in contributing to development practices and discourse through the medium of the law. The programme will attract graduates with:
- A Bachelor of Laws degree from a recognized degree granting University in India or abroad. As the Bachelor of Laws is in most cases a non-specialist degree, the LL.M. Programme will be open to students with diverse interests in law.
- Applicants must clear the entrance examination held by Azim Premji University for the post-graduate programmes.
- Motivation for work in government and civil society or an academic career in the law.
- Social awareness and engagement with the role of law in development.
- Proven academic ability and potential.
Selection Process
Students will be shortlisted based on their rank ans scores. Shortlisted candidates will be called for a personal interview.
The last date for submission of applications for the early admissions is January 13th, 2017
For the admissions form and more details on admissions click here
CAREER PATHWAYS
The LL.M. in Law & Development programme recognizes that the domains of law and development are intrinsically linked. The programme will allow students to hone their skills in research, advocacy and legal and social work. The interdisciplinary nature of the programme will equip students with sufficient skills to approach a problem from multiple vantage points.
Upon completion of this programme, students can embark upon the following career paths:
- Work in regulatory and governance roles with public and private sector institutions.
- Opt for careers in research and advocacy on issues of development, social justice and public policy.
- Secure academic positions at the various law schools and Universities.
- Opt for a socially engaged critical legal practice.
Fee structure for the LL.M. Programme for 2017-2018 is as follows:
| Category of fee (In rupees) | Per year |
|---|---|
| Tuition | 60,000 |
| Accommodation and dining* | 1,08,000 approximately |
| Total | 1,68,000 |
*Applicable only for students opting to stay at the student accommodation provided by the University.
- This fee is applicable for the LL.M. in Law and Development Programme at the University.
- For students who do not avail student accommodation provided by the University, only tuition fee is applicable.
- Accommodation and dining is a fee that includes charges for both accommodation and dining; these cannot be split and charged separately. The Accommodation and dining fee is for the period of the semester only; it does not include charges for vacations between semesters.
- There is no other fee or deposit charged for library, IT facilities, examinations etc.
- Students are covered under the student insurance scheme at no additional cost.
- Fee excludes out-of-pocket personal expenses students may incur.
- Fees are payable two weeks from the start of each semester. The University will provide fee intimation letter to students at the beginning of each semester with the fee payable, dates and other relevant information.
- Accommodation and dining fee is subject to revision on an annual basis.
Fee Payment Schedule
- Semester I Fee: The tuition fee, accommodation and dining fee for the first semester have to be paid in line with the dates mentioned in the admissions offer letter.
- Other Semesters: The Tuition fees, accommodation and dining fee are to be paid within 15 days of the beginning of the Semester in July and January. Actual dates will be communicated by the beginning of the semester.
Student Accommodation
Student accommodation will be provided on a need basis to those who request for the same. Student accommodation provided by the University is limited. It is provided on a first come first serve basis in accordance to the date of admission offer acceptance. The accommodation will be in leased premises, reasonably close to the University and will be allotted on a sharing basis. These accommodations may undergo a change as deemed fit by the University administration.
Student Insurance
The University offers group insurance facility covering life, hospitalization and accident insurance. There is no additional charge for this.
Additional expenses
Some of the additional expenses students are likely to incur are as follows:
| Fieldwork | Type of expense | University support |
|---|---|---|
| In all semesters | Weekly one day practicum: This will involve bus travel, lunch during visits to institutions within Bangalore | Students are expected to bear the expenses for the field work. Only in very deserving cases of scholarship students, the University will consider funding for this. |
| Semester I | Two-week field project which involves travel out of Bangalore, related stay and food expenses | |
| Semester II and III | This will involve travel to locations outside Bangalore for a period ranging from 4 - 8 weeks and expenses relate to travel, food and accommodation | |
| Others | Students may incur expenses on stationery and photocopy of reading material. In addition, students will have personal expenses and other out-of-pocket expenses. | |
Coure fee
Around 1.5 lakhs including hostel and all
I am appearing for final exam in April 2017, am I eligible?
Yes, you are eligible
So go ahead and apply
Govind
Mumbai
December 22, 2016