The National Law Institute University has been successful in instilling a sense of broad perspective along with scholastic and reflexive capabilities bearing in mind larger national and humanitarian goals in its students. Legal education never received the attention it deserved in this country. It is a paradox that the Constitution ushered in the ideal of rule of law and adopted the policy of development through law but little attention was paid to legal studies. For almost half a century, study of law in Indian Universities has been in doldrums. It was increasingly realised by the professionals and academicians that the system of law teaching was thoroughly inadequate, unimaginative and divorced from the major public issues of the day but attempts to make changes have been few and far between.
It goes to the credit of Madhya Pradesh Government to realise that the policy of globalisation and liberalisation opened up new economic and developmental opportunities for the people. Trans-national and supranational regimes threw new challenges as much to economics and finance as to law and the legal profession. A trained cadre of dedicated and informed lawyers is needed to take up the responsibilities generated by the new developments all over the world.
Large law firms, professionals and consultants are needed not only to handle the multi-national legal issues but also to enrich the country by taking sensible and profitable national stance in order to make India a vibrant and strong economic power in the world. The legislators, the administrators and business leaders need to have a strong legal background to take up the emerging challenges and opportunities staring in the face today. The National Law Institute University (NLIU) has been established by Act No. 41 of 1997 of the Madhya Pradesh Legislature to fill the gap and provide most modern legal education through multidisciplinary teaching and training of newer skills needed for the profession. The University launched its first academic programme in 1998 and teaching for five year B.A. LL.B. (Hons.). course commenced from September 1 of that year.
