New Rules for Law Schools (Students) by the Bar Council of India

The Bar Council of India (BCI), this year, had introduced comprehensive reforms for all Centres of Legal Education (CLEs) to elevate the quality and ethics of legal education across India. These measures aim to equip law students to address contemporary legal challenges effectively, while also enforcing higher standards of institutional accountability.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘂𝗺 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀

• 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀: The BCI mandates the integration of critical new subjects in the curriculum, such as Blockchain, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, and Bioethics. These additions are designed to prepare students for the evolving demands of the legal landscape.

• 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝘀: To ensure familiarity with recent legislative changes, CLEs must incorporate the following new criminal laws into their curriculum: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam.

By updating the curriculum with these laws, the BCI ensures that students are trained on the latest legal frameworks and practices.

𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝘀

As part of a broader push for transparency, the BCI now requires a Criminal Background Check System for law students. Students must disclose any past criminal records, including FIRs and convictions, with consequences for non-disclosure. Students who do not comply or who falsify their records may face serious penalties, such as withheld degrees, underscoring the BCI’s commitment to ethical standards.

𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆

• 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗖𝗧𝗩 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: To bolster attendance accuracy and enhance security, CLEs must install biometric systems for tracking student attendance and CCTV cameras in classrooms and other critical areas.

• 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆: Students are now required to declare their employment status, and any simultaneous degree pursuits must receive prior approval. Unauthorized dual enrollments may lead to academic consequences, reinforcing the focus on dedicated and honest academic pursuit.

𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

CLEs hold responsibilities for maintaining the integrity of their programs, including:

• Conducting thorough criminal background checks for students before issuing final marksheets.

• Rigorously tracking attendance records.

• Reporting any discrepancies in student declarations directly to the BCI. Institutions that fail to adhere to these mandates may face disciplinary actions from the BCI, potentially including de-recognition, which further emphasizes the BCI’s standards for accountability in legal education.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

These regulations represent a pivotal shift in legal education, reinforcing ethical principles, transparency, and relevance to the demands of modern legal practice. By mandating a dynamic curriculum and implementing robust accountability measures, the BCI aims to develop a new generation of law professionals ready to navigate the complexities of the field responsibly and proficiently.

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