The Higher Education Review

Unitedworld School of Law (UWSL) is a young law school, foregrounding a distinct pedagogy combining optimum law clinic approach with research led knowledge production. Promoted by the Unitedworld Group and affiliated to Karnavati University, UWSL is committed to emerging as a premier law school in Gujarat. It proposes a reformation in the way most law schools in the country carry out law education. It is based on a blend of preparing "practice-ready" graduates by exposing students to real-life problems, at the same time as making them understand the core values of law. Recognized by the Bar Council of India, UWSL has within a short period of time has made some confidently bold moves in that direction.

"UWSL is probably the first in the country that has put an effort in creating a child-friendly mechanism for reporting sexual harassment of children by using creative talents of the students and faculties. We at UWSL always endeavor to stay unique both in terms of teaching our students and contributing to the society through execution of the principles of law especially in the field of child rights, women's rights and rights of the people living below the poverty line," said Dr. Deepak Shishoo, In- charge Director, UWSL. The institute offers a 5 years- integrated BBA. LL.B (Hons.) programme which combines Business and Law, and emphasizes the broader relation of law to the society and the market. The students are allowed the option of choosing their preferred specialization from among subjects like IPR, Business law, and Criminal law.

At UWSL, the students are encouraged to undertake some research activity in their chosen fields in each semester, in addition to attending regular classes, workshops, discussions, and seminars. UWSL has established a Centre for Research on Law and Policy headed by Dr. Debarati Halder, a research professional with an international reputation. In 2017, students of Legal aid committee at UWSL arranged for an awareness camp to sensitize the participants and the audience about child sexual abuse. A brainchild of Dr. Halder, the initiative had showcased an innovative reporting mechanism in which dance mudras (moves) were used as a special language for communication between the victim child and the courts.

At UWSL, the students are encouraged to undertake some research activity in their chosen fields in each semester, in addition to attending regular classes, workshops, discussions, and seminars. UWSL has established a Centre for Research on Law and Policy headed by Dr. Debarati Halder, a research professional with an international reputation. In 2017, students of Legal aid committee at UWSL arranged for an awareness camp to sensitize the participants and the audience about child sexual abuse. A brainchild of Dr. Halder, the initiative had showcased an innovative reporting mechanism in which dance mudras (moves) were used as a special language for communication between the victim child and the courts. The initiative was presented at the Sixth International and Tenth Biennial Conference of the Indian Society of Victimology, held in Gujarat in February, 2017.

"Our faculty introduces the students to free legal aid cells and the research cells from the first year onward, making sure they are dealing with practical situations, in addition to regular lectures," elaborates Dr. Shishoo. The students get to play volunteers in these free legal aid clinics; they deal directly with the potential beneficiaries or clients, counseling and helping them approach the government departments, courts and other relevant agencies, for grievance redressal.

"At UWSL, the students are encouraged to undertake some research activity in their chosen fields in each semester, in addition to attending regular classes, workshops, discussions, and seminars" - Deepak Shishoo

The faculty makes the most of every available opportunity to carry out research, with a view to optimize their classroom performance. As a matter of fact, UWSL is the first Law School in Gujarat to conduct a critical evaluative empirical research project on transgender rights. The project, helmed by Professors Shrut Brahmbhatt and Dr. Sonia Shali, led to India's first study module on transgender rights. This hard work has been recognized. UWSL has been honored as one of the '10 Best Legal aid Cell in India, says Dr. Shishoo, with pride, "for our perpetual efforts to serve the society through legal aid clinics". The legal aid team has for that purpose adopted several neighbouring villages. Legal aid camps, awareness rallies or legal counselling are organized for the villagers on a regular basis.

Networking with the best

Grassroots level initiatives are reinforced by collaborations with internationally credible institutions such as the UNICEF, alliances with corporate houses, law firms, and eminent legal minds. Eminent personages such as Chetna Desai, Child Protection Officer, UNICEF,

Gandhinagar, Dr. Michael Pittaro, Assistant professor, American Military University, Pennsylvania, visited the institute and interacted with the students. UWSL has also tied-up with organizations such as Hindustan Petroleum, Gujarat Maritime Board, Reliance Industries Ltd., IFCI Venture, India Law and Universal Legal, among others. "The thoughts and experience shared by Dr. Michael Pittaro as a visiting faculty on cyber crimes were admittedly stimulating. His presentation converged with our vision that such 'controversial' issues must be discussed for sensitizing students," says Dr. Shishoo.

Insistent on maintaining an exceptional student-teacher ratio of 5: 1 and routinely inviting National and International authorities of repute, the institute offers a personalized and customized education, whereby not a single student is likely to feel alienated. Regular visits to courts, jails, juvenile shelter visits and industry shop floors are undertaken as a means to help comprehend the nuances of legal industry. "Mooting is an integral part of our teaching-learning process; external judges including lawyers, retired judges, and renowned faculties join the sessions and evaluate our students. Experienced mooters from different renowned legal institutes also visit UWSL," claims Dr. Shishoo.

Having been trained so rigorously UWSL, the students' prospects of rewarding placements go up by several notches. "We have hosted three national and two international level Conferences on human rights, child rights, women's rights, comparative issues in police administration and many more during the last two years in order to keep our students as well as faculty updated," informs Dr. Shishoo. The institute has launched an online bi-annual peer-reviewed scholarly journal of international standard, viz. "Unitedworld Law journal", backed up by an editorial advisory board of international repute. "Be it entrepreneurship skills, presentation skills, personal and social skill or fluency in a foreign language (French/Spanish), graduates of UWSL are second to none," concludes Dr. Shishoo.

Dr. Deepak Shishoo, In-charge Director

A Dental Surgery Graduate and a Post-Graduate in Physiology, Dr. Deepak Shishoo has over 21 years of teaching experience. He is the founder Provost of Karnavati University and presently the In-charge Director of USWL, with more than 20 National and International publications and presentations to his credit. International Bibliographical Centre, Cambridge, England has included his name in their list of 'Top 100 Professionals - 2017'.