Sreelekshmi. K. K, Assistant professor of law, CSI Institute of Legal Studies, Cheruvarakonam
ABSTRACT
Legal education is a blend of legal positivism, legal realism, functional approach and sociological jurisprudence .Legal education is a science which deals with the practical aspects of law of the land and consists of the reading of statutes, moot or agreements, principles and theories of law.
Modern legal profession dates from British rule with establishment of law courts in Madras, Bombay and Calcutta in the year 1726. That time there was no specific qualification laid down for a person to practice in court. First time Lord Cornwallis by Bengal Regulation Act, 1793 established a regular legal profession for East India Company’s Court. Legal Practitioners Act, 1846 which allowed persons with prescribed qualification to enrol as pleaders irrespective of their nationality and religion. In 1923 the Indian Bar Committee was constituted under the chairmanship of sir. Edward Chanarier to consider establishment of a bar council for each High Court. It became the basis of the passing of the Bar Councils Act but bar councils were simply advisory bodies and the real powers vested in the High Courts.
Legal education is the basis of an efficient legal profession that is the basis of a well organised and sound judicial system. Unfortunately legal education was not paid due attention during the British period. Legal education during the British India period continued as a two year programme with traditional lecture method. Even after independence there is no uniform legal education in India. To reform these situations All India Bar Committee was constituted by the government of India under chairmanship of justice S. R .Das in 1951 and they recommended a completely unified bar for the whole of India. On the recommendation of the all India bar committee a comprehensive advocate bill was introduced in parliament and the same was passed as Advocate Act, 1961.
The Advocate Act, 1961 was passed by the parliament of India by virtue of powers under list 1 of the constitution of India. As per section 4 of this Act an apex body namely the Bar Council of India was constituted at national level. This Act required the BCI to promote legal education and lay down standards of such education in consultation with the universities in India imparting such education.
