BITS Pilani, one of the first universities to be awarded the status of ‘Institution of Eminence’ by the Government of India today announced a foray into legal education with BITS Law School in Greater Mumbai. The New Age BITS Law School has reimagined all aspects of legal education, including a flexible and interdisciplinary curriculum, emphasis on empathy and creativity in learning, focus on legal writing and scholarly research, with strong digital underpinning across the programmes, and enabling access through generous scholarships.
BITS Law School will offer two hugely popular five-year integrated degree programmes, B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) and B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons.). The first academic year will commence on 1st August 2023 with admissions starting in March 2023.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chancellor of BITS Pilani said, “India’s emergence as an equitable, diverse, and inclusive knowledge economy will be championed by our universities and specialised centres of learning. BITS Pilani, as an institution of eminence, is uniquely positioned to take the lead in building a new generation of creative, multidisciplinary, and future-ready leaders. With a bold new vision and mission, BITS Law School seeks to reimagine legal education to address contemporary and emerging problems of local and global significance. Taking inspiration from the National Education Policy (NEP) and the soaring aspirations of young Indians, BITS Law School will be a melting pot of ideas. Our globally benchmarked pedagogy, innovative curriculum, and stellar faculty will create an unparalleled experience for aspiring legal professionals.”
BITS Law School will seek intellectual guidance from luminaries of the legal fraternity, higher education, business, and policymaking. Some of the esteemed members of the Advisory Council include Hon. Mr. Justice U.U. Lalit (eminent jurist and former Chief Justice of India), Hon. Mr. Justice B.N. Srikrishna (eminent jurist and a retired judge of the Supreme Court of India), Ms. Pallavi Shroff (Managing Partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co.), and Mr. Haigreve Khaitan (Managing Partner, Khaitan & Co.). Professor (Dr.) Ashish Bharadwaj joins as the founding Dean of the BITS Law School.
Founding Dean, Professor (Dr.) Ashish Bharadwaj said, “BITS Law School will embrace learners and faculty who have a penchant for learning the law, who want to push the boundaries of academic research, and who share our belief in bending the arc of the moral universe towards timely justice. Our progressive, interdisciplinary, and technology-led approach will help students know the law, practice law, live with the law, and empower through law. We aspire to become an inspirational benchmark by firmly basing ourselves on the core values of those who built India and the core beliefs of those who will lead India.”
The law students will also gain access to and benefit from the 1,70,000+ BITS Pilani Alumni Network spanning 55 Countries, which is one of the strongest and most illustrious networks of industry leaders, founders, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders. A dedicated office will facilitate students’ preparedness, exposure, and access to leading law firms, business corporations, banks, NGOs, and research organizations.
A state-of-the-art, fully residential campus of BITS Law School is being developed by Architect Hafeez Contractor over 63 acres in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. While the permanent and zero-carbon footprint campus will be operational in 2024, BITS Law School has commenced operations and will begin its first academic year in August 2023 out of a state-of-the-art interim campus in the Hiranandani Gardens in Powai, Mumbai.
Generous scholarships will be offered for meritorious students to enable access and preserve diversity. Among the specialisations offered are Technology & Media Law; Entertainment & Sports Law; Corporate & Financial Law; and Alternate Dispute Resolution & Mediation.
