Today, career opportunities for graduating lawyers are not limited to assisting as junior advocates that pay little or nothing. The emergence of the corporate legal sector has been a game-changer. There are plenty of high-paying corporate jobs available at the end of the law course for fresh graduates. This abundance of opportunities has changed who applies to law schools, the choice of law schools, the educational experience at law schools, and how much students are willing to pay for legal education. One of the prominent institutes at the forefront of changing the dynamics of law education in India is the School of Law, Bennett University. Located in Greater Noida, Bennett University’s School of Law was set to contribute to the much-desired quality legal education. “With a group of dedicated academicians, we are focused on carving a niche for itself towards such a mission. This has been and will continue to be possible with the active participation of a motivated student community who are brimming with energy and are committed to walking the extra mile,” says Dr. Nuzhat Parveen Khan, Professor, and Dean, School of Law, Bennett University.
School of Law, Bennett University carries a vision to strive for excellence in teaching, research, and advocacy towards justice for all by shaping thought leaders in public policy of national and international dimensions. Bennett University campus offers the most modern campus facilities, including a learning resource center and spacious aesthetically designed libraries where students have access to books from renowned authors, national and international journals, e-learning resources. “School of Law has its own learning resource center, law library, and a state-of-the-art Moot Court facility,” shares Dr. Parveen Khan. However, the COVID- 19 pandemic changed the course of teaching, learning, and all other law school activities.
Dr. Nuzhat Parveen Khan explains, “We shifted to the online platform in academic and co-curricular activities. International and national conferences and webinars were organized with immense cooperation from faculty members and students living in different parts of the country.” Despite the hiccups caused by the pandemic, Bennett University’s School of Law students continued to organize online events like the legal aid essay writing competition. They also participated in external competitions like paper writing, moots, debates, client counseling, mediation, and other literary and cultural activities. “Faculty members also participated in several national and international conferences and conducted online lectures. There are inspiring strides that we have taken over the months before and amidst the pandemic in academics and extracurricular activities,” adds Dr. Parveen Khan.
Transforming the Society through Legal Education
School of Law, Bennett University currently offers three undergraduate programs in BBA-LLB (Hons) and BA-LLB (Hons) and 3-Year LLB (Hons), and a Postgraduate Program of Ph.D. The institute imbibes the best practices of national and international law schools in terms of curriculum, pedagogy, innovation in teaching methods, and adding new interfaces. The school has constituted a 10-Member Board of Studies, comprising vice-chancellors at various national law universities and legal experts in the industry. Dr. Parveen Khan states, “The Programs offered are unique and have great relevance in the modern world of legal education. It provides the law students with holistic legal education sustainable in a competitive world.”
All subjects taught at the School of Law are geared towards making students adept in all the important laws. Therefore, in five years, a student acquires skills to join the professions of their choice. Judiciary, JAG, and Civil Service may require additional examinations; however, most of the subjects taught in these exams are covered during law school. “One may directly join the litigation or a corporate law firm after completing the degree. There is no other specialization required. Here, Moot Court is taught from the very first year. A student is required to research, draft and argue before the judges in the aesthetically built moot court at Bennet University. Similarly, students are trained in alternative methods of dispute resolution like mediation through workshops and practical training,” explains Dr. Parveen Khan.
Bennett University’s School of Law has formed meaningful national and international collaborations. International Bridges to Justice, Indian Society for International Law, National Law School of India University, Bangalore, Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry are a few to name among them. This provides career development opportunities for students, builds workforce capability, and enhances innovation. Dr. Parveen opines, “collaboration between industry and academia is key to catalyzing innovation and growth in technology. Industry gains work-ready talent with specialist knowledge and practical training, and universities benefit by having opportunities to work on relevant technologies and challenging problems.”
The Law School also undertakes extensive Research activities via its Six Research Centers: Centre for Law Technology & Innovation (CLTI), Centre for Post Graduate Studies (CPGS), Centre for Continuing Legal Education (CLE), Centre for Sustainable Development and Disaster studies (CSDDS), Centre for Social Sciences (CSS), Centre for Human Rights (CHR). Faculty members at the School of Law, Bennett University, have years of teaching, research and practice experience. They have earned degrees from prestigious law colleges and universities from India and abroad. “Professors from reputed foreign universities also deliver lectures on specialized subjects. The lectures by industry experts are also a regular feature at the campus or virtually,” shares Dr. Parveen Khan.
The Making of Complete Legal Professional
School of Law at Bennett University buzz with a variety of student activities. One such initiative is the formulation of the ‘Student Bar Council,’ which consists of various student committees like Literary & Debating Committee, Media & Public Relations committee, Legal Research Committee, Placement & Internship Committee, Moot Court Committee, among others. Such activities ensure that the school’s legal students excel academically and shine in other out of the classroom activities. Besides, The Bennett Hatchery provides an exciting co-working collaborative atmosphere for budding entrepreneurs. In fact, Bennett University is committed to providing a nurturing environment for their holistic development.
“With a firm belief that a sound mind resides in a sound body, sports and extracurricular activities instill values of teamwork, impart problem-solving skills, and develop character. Keeping this in mind and committed to the overall well-being and growth of students, we offer plenty of opportunities to our students to participate in activities outside the classroom,” says Dr. Parveen Khan. The university has established a well-equipped modern sports complex that offers students plenty of outdoor and indoor sports opportunities. It includes an air-conditioned indoor Gym, Squash court, Badminton court, Basketball court, Swimming pool, Outdoor Football field, Lawn tennis court, Cricket ground, and Volleyball court. Special training programs are organized by nationally acclaimed coaches from various sports throughout the year, which keeps the campus abuzz with life and excitement.
Recreational activities, regular practice sessions, tournaments, scrimmage matches are a part of regular student life at the campus, providing a high-spirited atmosphere of growth and learning. Apart from all this University campus has several recreational areas, Food eateries, convenience stores, and ATM. The university’s medical center is 8 bedded with a full-time doctor on campus with nursing staff and connections with nearby big hospitals.
Bennett University also offers admission scholarships that will be awarded for the first year of the undergraduate program. The decision for this scholarship is based on the scores of the candidate in qualifying examinations such as 10+2 score or CLAT scores or LSAT – India percentile score. Thereafter, the student will be eligible for Academic Scholarships as outlined in the next section. Dr. Parveen Khan explains, “The Bennett University Academic Scholarships are designed to encourage and reward meritorious performance consistently through the duration of the program. The Academic Scholarships will be awarded based on CGPA at the end of each year.”
School of Law, Bennett University now aims to expand its research and publication records and has developed unique research centers. Further, the school seeks to venture into LLM Programmes and Diploma Courses to diversify its basket of courses. “We also aim to provide professional training to our students through career enhancement webinars. Plans to enter several collaborations with international and national organizations, universities, and libraries for wider exposure to our students and faculty are also in the pipeline,” shares Dr. Parveen Khan. Post-pandemic, School of Law, Bennett University will try to continue a flexible learning and teaching model with emphasis on knowledge building and the use of appropriate technologies. Further, the school would be following all the protocols for the safety of our faculty and students.
Dr. Nuzhat Parveen Khan, Dean of School of Law, Bennett University
Dr. Nuzhat Parveen Khan is currently working as the Professor and Dean of, School of Law. She has more than thirty years of academic experience in a Central University, i.e., Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. She has authored dozens of books on conflicting and contemporary legal issues. To name the few, Women and Child-Related Laws (LexisNexis India), Women and the Law, Child and the Law (Lexis Nexis India), Comparative Constitutional Law (Satyam Law International), Legal Control of Air Pollution: Problems and Perspectives (Metropolitan Book Company Pvt. Ltd.), Socio-Economic Offence (Central Law Publications), etc. Prof. Khan has contributed and presented modules on Jurimetrics for the UGC e-Pathshala Project at the graduate and postgraduate level. She has also authored study materials for various universities and colleges across the nation. Her Ph.D. on the topic ‘Air Pollution: Problem of Its Legal Control with Special Reference to NCT of Delhi, was awarded a publication grant by the Indian Council for Social Sciences Research, Ministry of HRD. It was published as a book accordingly. Prof. Khan has published more than 50 research papers in prestigious refereed and peer-reviewed journals covering diverse areas of law. She is also a member of Governing Bodies, Academic Councils, and Executive Councils of various leading universities of India. Prof. Khan has held various academic and administrative posts viz. Dean, Faculty of Law, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, (2016-201); Chairperson (Law), National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language, MHRD; Chairperson, Internal Complaints Committee, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, Provost, Hall of Girls’ Residence, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi to name the few.