With over 31 years’ legacy, I am extremely happy that GITAM has grown from strength to strength and is steadily expanding its academic activities gaining popularity as an international university of high standing.

In view of paramount importance of legal education in the country today and persistent demand from many outstanding Jurists, including some eminent Judges of the Supreme Court and High courts, the University established the School of Law of global standards in order to promote high quality Legal Education to meet local needs and to match global standards. It is now universally accepted that a legally conscious society can only sustain democracy. We, Indians, firmly believe in democratic principles and ideals. The rule of law in the civilized society is crucial in protecting the rights of the common man and enforcing the duties within the constitutional framework. At the same time, we should remember that there has been massive explosion in scientific and technological knowledge in the country and no innovations will be impossible without an ethical underpinning based on values shared by all. As technology and science provide unprecedented vistas of human progress, legal education must invariably keep in mind the advances in techno-scientific field while formulating its curriculum coupled with promotion of pedagogic skills and ideology. Moreover, interdisciplinary courses must form an integral part of the curriculum in Law.

We are also conscious of the fact that legal education has undergone a metamorphosis after globalization and its importance has grown manifold. Besides administration of justice, Law professionals play an important role as Business Advisors, Intellectual Property Educators, Negotiators, Mediators, Arbitrators and Liaison Officers between business groups. In view of the increasing complexities in International Laws, Civil, Criminal and Humanitarian issues, it has become imperative for the Law professionals to gain an in-depth knowledge in law, expand their skills and gain proficiency in communication. Personal characteristics such as integrity and critical thinking also have a bearing on the success of the lawyers in their profession. Keeping this need for highly skilled professionals to adore the Bar, Bench and Corporate sector, the School of Law introduced two 5-year integrated programmes viz., BA., LLB (Hons)., BBA., LLB (Hons)., and a 3-year programme of LLB. The curriculum for these programmes has been designed keeping in mind the advances in the country in the legal field and the need to provide better legal education maintaining high standards of teaching and training since standards of legal education invariabely affect the legal system and processess in the country. I hope that the School of law will be a trail-blazer in this regard and will become an important milestone in GITAM’s journey. I am confident that the School will strive hard to turn out outstanding Law Graduates with professional competence and zeal to serve the society through the instrument of Law.