SHUBHANGI SHIFA
Ranchi, April 23: The National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL) and Chotanagpur Law College organised a Jharkhand State Law Teachers Interface, “Legademician” on Saturday where law faculties of various law colleges of Jharkhand were present to discuss the various methods of teaching and forming lawyers.
Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, Judge, Jharkhand High Court, present on the occasion as Chief Guest, emphasized the importance of teachers in shaping his future, his career, his life and expressed his gratitude for them. He asked students to learn not only legal doctrine but substantive law reforms as well.
Sangeeta Laha and Kaushik Bagchi, faculty of NUSRL Ranchi, along with Sakshi Pathak, faculty of Chotanagpur Law College gave insight into whether law teachers have an inherent quality of teaching or hone their skills with time. It was a brainstorming session that concluded with the opinion that law teachers are a combination of both i.e born as well as made. Faculties shared their experience explaining how a teacher should approach subjects and students while teaching.
Dr. Satish Kumar highlighted how a person is born with an empty mind, it is like a “kora kagaz”, he said. “Observation and experience aid in the learning process,” he further commented. Dr. K Syamala pointed out how there is no one method of being a good teacher, so a law teacher is both born as well as made. She also put forward the stance that if a legal professor enjoys a subject and is passionate about it, the positiveness and enthusiasm reflects on their teachings which further attracts the students.
Dr. Jaydip Sanyal, Principal, ULC, VBU, Hazaribagh gave his opinion as to how a student should think and expect from law. Students from CNLC, Amity and NUSRL also gave their perspective regarding what they expected from a law teacher. They shared their opinion that they are of the view that apart from theoretical knowledge there should be practical knowledge too. Internships, academia should in a parallel manner be there but imparting a sense of ethics in students is also a must, added the students.
While sharing her own past experiences Dr. Smita Pandey instantly formed a rapport with the audience. She emphasized on how students need to respect this profession. Dr. Jitendra Kumar pointed out that it is the duty of law colleges to fulfill the wants of the students, society, teachers, etc. He put focus on how it is necessary to gather theoretical knowledge before moving towards the practical approach.
Dr. M R S Murthy talked about the modern law studies which started under colonial rule itself. He thoroughly discussed the struggles legal education has faced over the decades. According to him, the gap between the law in theory and the law in practice is the legal profession. He also talked about the principles of Bar Council in the light of the New Education Policy.
