The National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi

It was established by the Government of Kerala, by virtue of Act 27 of 2005 by taking over the erstwhile National Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), which was established and managed by the Bar Council of Kerala and Bar Council of Kerala Trust. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Chief Justice, Supreme Court of India dedicated the National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS) to the nation here on January 7, 2006

Admission

Eligibility: Those who have passed the Higher secondary examination of the Government of Kerala or any other examination recognized as equivalent thereto by this National University with not less than 50% of the aggregate marks are eligible to apply for admission for the Five Year integrated B.A. LL.B(Hons.) degree course. Candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes shall be eligible for the relaxation of 5% of required minimum marks.

The total number of seats for the 5 year B.A. LL.B(Hons.) course is 65, out of which 41 seats are open merit seats. 5 seats are reserved for SC community, 1 seat for the ST community and 16 seats for OBC candidates.

The Student for the course has to write an entrance test arranged by the university. Admissions to the course will be made on the basis of merit, which will be determined with reference to the marks obtained in the Entrance Test and Interview plus proportionate marks obtained in the qualifying examination calculated on 50 marks as the maximum. Those who secure less than 50% in the entrance examination, i.e. written test, interview and the proportional marks of the qualifying examination, shall not be considered for admission. The Entrance Examination shall be of 3 hours duration. The test will be on such subjects like General knowledge, Logical reasoning, Language skills and aptitude for legal studies.

Course Structure

Society, Science and Law, Medical Jurisprudence, Law and Medicine, Law and Forensic Science are some of the specialised subjects offered and taught by the experts in the field, so as to make the graduates of this University professionally competent. The students are also given full exposure to some of the socially relevant subjects like, Cyber law and E-Governance, Energy Law, Media and the Law, Environment and Law etc. Thus study in this University is made intellectually challenging and professionally rewarding.

Examination system followed at NUALS has been revamped; unitisation has been adopted, and the syllabus has been restructured in such a way that all the subjects have been divided into five units, such that a student has to study all the five units in detail, with a view to be thorough in the subject.

Teaching Methodology
The teaching methods at NUALS are varied. The discussion method, a combination of the case law method and Socratic method are employed in teaching the subjects. Extensive discussions are an integral part of each lecture. Seminars, Moot Courts, Workshops, Field visits etc. are used as a tool to activate the students and to give them intellectual exercise with an idea of developing in them an urge for learning the law in the context of practice.

The project work is structured in such a manner that the students are encouraged to do research and write on subjects of current importance. The project work carries 25 out of 100 marks and the students are encouraged to publish these in the leading law journals.

College Infrastructure

The Government of Kerala constituted this University by merging the erstwhile National Institute for Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), which was established and managed by the Bar Council of Kerala and Bar Council of Kerala Trust. NIALS was then the approved centre of the Cochin University of Science & Technology and affiliated to that University. By the merging of NIALS to the University all the students of NIALS became the students of this University and all the assets and liabilities were transferred and the 5year B.A. LLB (Hons.) course run by the erstwhile NIALS became the course of this University. The Government of Kerala has allotted 2.5 acres of land and a permanent building on lease for housing the University. Government has also allotted 10acres of land on lease for 90 years at Kalamassery for constructing the permanent campus for this University. Plans are being formulated for starting the construction work. It is expected that the Head quarters of the University will be transferred to the new campus within a short period.

Library: The standard and quality of any educational institution mainly depends upon the facilities and services provided in the Library.It is considered as the heart and soul of an institution imparting quality education. The Law School Library has been an integral part of academic endeavour in Law School. The curriculum and teaching methods of Law School require both intensive and extensive use of the materials in the library. The Library is being constantly enriched by the acquisition of latest books and journals keeping in pace with changing times. With in the short period of three years the university has setup a good Library.

IT Infrastructure: The college has setup a good computer wing with unlimited Internet facility to students. All kinds of facilities are available in computer wing for the students including online search, printing etc. The subject Information Technology for Lawyers enables the students to be proficient in the use of computer as well as Internet surfing and essential computer usage. A new computer wing is under construction and would be functional in short time.

A full-fledged Canteen is functioning in the campus. Photo Copy facilities are provided to students.

Moot Court Society, Legal Aid Clinic, Law and Economic Forum, Debate and Seminar Forum, and Law and Society Forum are functioning under the guidance of Teachers. O.H.P and Slide projectors are provided in the classrooms.

Extra-Curriculars and Co-Curriculars

The University has a Moot Court Society, Legal Aid Clinic, Law and Economic Forum, Debate and Seminar Forum, and Law and Society Forum are functioning under the guidance of Teachers who believe in the total personality development of students. O.H.P and Slide projectors are provided in the classrooms. The University provides a good computer wing with unlimited Internet facility to students.

Career Opportunities

NUALS is proud to state that Campus Interview has been planned starting from the first batch of students coming out after completion of the course. A Standing Committee consisting of students and a faculty advisor is constituted for contacting the law firms and other industries to find appropriate placements for the students. Many students in the first batch have been selected in the campus interview and offered placements in leading firms like Majmudar & Co., ICICI, Lakshmi Kumaran & Sreedharan etc.

Hostel Life

Information currently not available.

Other Relevant Information         
National University of Advanced Legal Studies has entered into M.O.U (Memorandum of Understanding) with the University of Paris - X, Nanterre, France with a view to have exchange of faculty, students and also research output. The agreement is being signed on 19.03.2007 between Dr. S.G. Bhat, Vice-chancellor representing NUALS and Prof. Oliver AUDEOUD,President, University of Nanterre.

Albert Ludwig University, Freiburg has come forward to have M.O.U with NUALS and also provide scholarships for students of NUALS studying in Germany. The matter is at discussion level to have M.O.U between two Universities.

Monash University Churchil, Australia has initiated to have M.O.U with NUALS to exchange students and faculty. M.O.U to be signed between two universities is being worked out.