Lok Sabha Question No. 496 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-23
Subject: Directorate of Legal Education
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: RAJESHBHAI NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF LAW & JUSTICE**

**DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL AFFAIRS**

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**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 496**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2015**

**Directorate of Legal Education**

496. SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will the Minister of Law and Justice be pleased to state:

(a)	whether the Government has set up Directorate of Legal Education in coordination with the Bar Council of India;

(b)	if so, the details and the objectives thereof;

(c)	whether the Government has drawn any action plan for regular training programmes for enhancing the professional skills of lawyers of district and subordinate courts in the country; and

(d)	if so, the details thereof along with the details of other measures proposed by the Directorate?

**ANSWER**

**MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE**

**(SHRI D.V. SADANANDA GOWDA)**

(a) and (b) : No Madam. However, the Bar Council of India vide their Resolution No. 115/2012 have resolved to constitute a Directorate of Legal Studies and Law Reforms as well as Legal Education Committee. The aforesaid Directorate shall discuss and lay down the procedure for conducting, holding and administering the following functions:-

1. To monitor the All India Bar Examination;
2. Continued Legal Education;
3. Educational programmes in various centers of Legal Education and court premises;
4. Moot Court competitions at National and international levels;
5. Scholarships to students;
6. Discussions/seminars on various issues; and
7. Reforms in Legal field, and to discuss any other issues assigned to it by the Bar Council of India. The gist of the discussions and the resolutions of the Directorate are to be placed before the Legal Education Committee of Bar Council of India or before Bar Council of India for necessary action and final decision.

The BCI has informed that the Directorate and Legal Education Committee is constituted, consisting of a sitting Judge of Hon’ble Apex court who happens to be the director-in-Chief of the Directorate; 3 Hon’ble sitting Judges of different High Courts including that of a Delhi High Court, are the members of the Directorate; Attorney General for India and Solicitor General of India, apart from them, Vice-Chancellors of 3 National Law Schools; reputed Senior Advocates of Supreme Court of India; some retired Judges and the Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice, Department of Legal Affairs, are the members of the Directorate. Other academicians of the country are also invited as a special invitee of the Director at the time of its meeting. The Directorate and Legal Education Committee discuss and deal with the continuing Legal Education, Teacher’s Training, advanced specialized courses, education programme for students, seminars and workshops, legal research and all other issues, revision of curriculum for the law courses etc.

(c) and (d) : No Madam. The Bar Council of India itself is taking care of Legal Education, Continuing Legal Education for development of professional skills, it undertakes training programmes and workshops for young lawyers frequently.

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