The Higher Education Review

The Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India, popularly known as the ICFAI Group, has 11 universities across the country, offering a large spectrum of cutting-edge programmes in the field of higher education. Since its inception in 1984, the institutions under ICFAI have created a culture of teaching and learning that supports and fosters intellectual and personality development among its graduating students. Carrying this legacy with an unparalleled international and interdisciplinary outlook in teaching and research, the Faculty of Law (FOL), commonly known as ICFAI Law School, IFHE, Hyderabad, has made a remarkable impression in the legal education of the country.

"The application orientated learning at ICFAI Law School gives a great experience for students" - Prof. A. V. Narsimha Rao"

Still a young law college, with only seven years of existence in the Indian legal education sector to date, ICFAI Law School Hyderabad has already captured the attention of reputed law firms and senior advocates, business groups, NGOs and other organizations like WWWF. In fact, ICFAI Law School graduates can be seen all over the world working with leading law firms such as Amarchand Mangaldass, Quisder, Mindcrest, Synergy Legal, RVR Associate, HDFC and a few other companies. In the last batch of students, 30 percent of students opted for placements and 25 percent of students have applied and received admissions in post graduate studies in India and abroad. Remaining students have joined the litigation/practice with the senior advocates even before they got results. The average salary of students during this year is Rs. 5.75 and highest package is Rs. 6.35 lakhs," says Prof. A. V. Narsimha Rao, Director, ICFAI Law School, Hyderabad.

The regular recruiters of ICFAI Law School recognize that the worth of the institute's law programmes includes far more than simply educating students about the content of different areas of Indian judiciary. The true value of ICFAI Law School education lies in imparting the skills that make great lawyers, jurists and leaders. Rigorous analytical thinking, the ability to see all sides of an issue, the ability to solve complex problems creatively, and the ability to persuade are the key traits of an ICFAI Law School graduate. Prof. Rao opines, "One of the important goal and objective of the ICFAI Law School is to carve the next generation lawyers from the students who joined after their 10+ 2. We have designed a dynamic and unique curriculum with the blend of theory and practice on one hand, management, law and technology on the other hand."

The application orientated learning at ICFAI Law School gives a great experience for students. The pedagogy of the law school is also quite innovative, having the components

like classroom lectures, flip-classroom model, assignments, panel discussions, seminar presentation, group discussions on the issues of current nature. It provides 360-degree learning process to the students. At present, The ICFAI Law School is offering five-year integrated campus based regular programmes such as the BBA-LLB (Hons.), BA-LLB (Hons.) and LLM programme in two streams: Corporate and Commercial laws and Tax laws, and PhD programmes in full and part time modes. The BBA LLB (Hons.) is offered with a combination of 20 management subjects, 5 internships, 4 clinical courses in addition to core courses in law and 6 elective and 8 honors courses. Prof. Rao adds, "The study of courses in BBA LLB (Hons.) and BA LLB (Hons.) have implanted in-depth knowledge of subjects, which is relevant to modern business and political environment. LLM (Tax laws) is a premium program having the courses in tax policies, tax litigations, tax procedures in addition to the regular tax courses."

A Perpetual Learning Space

As a discipline that seeks higher level of understanding of the complex nature of the problems in our society, we cannot afford any form of mediocrity in law schools. Even, the governing body of ICFAI Law School understands that there are no shortcuts to the establishment of an excellent law college and incorporates stakeholders of the legal professions, particularly lawyers and judges, to become active participants in the legal education process. Prof. Rao elaborates, "We maintain excellent rapport with the advocate fraternity and judicial officers. Here, our students have the opportunity to interact with the senior advocates and judiciary of high courts and district courts, visit of police stations, Mandal revenue offices, human autopsy practices, forensic labs, jail visits and many more for acquiring the knowledge practically."

Taking the education beyond the four walls of the classroom, ICFAI Law School has organized national and international events such as the Louis Brown Client Counselling Competition, Asia Pacific Moot Court Competition and organized the 33rd National Moot Court Competition jointly with Bar Council of India. "We have organized national and international seminars by inviting the honourable judges of Supreme Court and High Courts. The Chair Person of Law Commission of India, Honourable Justice B S Chowhan, Justice Jeevan Reddy and other Supreme Court judges have visited and addressed the students," proudly says Prof. Rao. Inspired by the out-of-the-box teaching methods of the ICFAI Law School, students have undertaken many innovative activities in the campus and outside and received applauds from the legal fraternity. They have won national level moot court awards, prizes in sports and cultural activities organized by the national law universities and other well-known law colleges of India.

However, at ICFAI Law School, learning is not limited to the student community. The faculty members of the institute are perpetual learners and undertake research in addition to the classroom teaching. They participate in national seminars and conferences, workshops and well as organize the workshops and seminars in the campus. "Over 70 percent of the faculty members

are doctorates (PhD) and NET qualified. Around 20 percent of faculty members are pursuing the PhDs. They present seminars every Friday evening to the faculty and students who are interested on topics of importance and they will be part of the intellectual discussions during the presentations," claims Prof. Rao.

On the other side, ICFAI Law School believes in application of law and the students are made to learn the practical side by introducing four clinical courses, court visits, and five internships with law firms and advocates. The institute also organizes the internal moot court competitions, provides mock trails, organizing the mediation, negotiation and arbitration mock proceedings by involving the students as partners of the programme. Supporting these activities, the school has a well-designed moot court hall, fully equipped library and computer lab, language labs, and indoor and outdoor facilities for sports and games. It opens up the minds and creates excitement for learning among the students.

Although an active learning space, ICFAI Law School does not restrict the students' life inside the classrooms. The school has 10 clubs for students such as cultural club, magazine club, sports club, moot court club, debate club, photography club, environmental club, ADR club and event management club. While, the students manage all the club activities, faculty members guide them in organizing the competitions, networking with the students of other law colleges and universities, hospitality and managing the functions. These activities help the Students to enhance leadership qualities in their fields. "We have a mix of students from various religions and regions. Harmonious living with a common goal to achieve the excellence is the main motto of the students at our law school. We are actively planning to have MoUs and understandings with many laws schools known for their high standards from abroad for widening the horizons of learning," concludes Prof. Rao.

Prof. A. V. Narsimha Rao, Director

Prof. A. V. Narsimha Rao is a Doctorate in Environmental Law. He has completed PhD, ICFAI University, Dehradun, LL.M., Osmania University, Hyderabad, MA, Osmania University, Hyderabad, PGDBM, Kakatiya University, Hyderabad, LLB, Kakatiya University, Hyderabad, B. Sc., Osmania University, Hyderabad. He has over 15 years of teaching and research experience in addition to the industry experience of 20 years. He has written more than 50 research articles published in National and International Journals. He is specialized in Corporate Law, IPR, Environment law, Banking and Insurance laws. He has guided LLM and MBA students for dissertation/thesis. He participated in Annual Fest of Association of American Law Schools during 2012, on their invitation.