The National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS) was established by Act 27 of 2005 of the Kerala State Legislature. By the same Act, the National Institute for Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) established by the Bar Council of Kerala Trust in 2002 merged with the NUALS(Top LaW cOLLEGE IN INDIA). In 2008, an amendment streamlined the powers and functions of the authorities of the University and ensured the active involvement of the Government of Kerala (Law colleges in Kochi).The University is recognized by the University Grants Commission under section 2(f) and section 12B of the UGC Act.It is also a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
The main objects of the University are: (a) to advance and disseminate learning and knowledge of law and legal and judicial processes, professional legal education and their role in national development; (b) to develop in the student and research scholar a sense of responsibility to serve the society by developing skills with regard to advocacy, legal services, legislation, law reforms etc (Top LLB Colleges)., and (c) to promote legal and judicial reforms needed to strengthen the administration of justice in India.
Courses offerd at National University of Advanced Legal Studies:
1.5Year B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) :
NUALS offers a Five Year B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) Degree Programme. From the 2009 Admissions the course is offered under the Choice Based Credit & Semester System. The Five Year Programme is divided into Ten Semesters i.e., there are two semesters in each academic year (List of Law College). As part of its B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) Degree Programme the University offers courses on frontier areas of law such as Maritime Law, Media & Telecommunications Law, Forensic Science, Psychological Medicine & Law. The teaching pedagogy is non-conventional with a combination of various methods of law teaching – lectures, discussions, case study, moot courts and project work. The lectures periodically delivered by eminent judges, distinguished jurists and reputed visiting fellows provide opportunity for more academic and intellectual discourses (Law colleges in Kerala). There is continuous internal assessment of student performance. In order to develop analytical skills and critical faculties and to keep the students abreast with the changes in law and social mores, seminars and debates on recent cases and legal developments are held regularly.
Eligibility For Admission At The National University Of Advanced Legal Studies
Admission to the B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) Degree course shall be based on the performance in the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT).
- a) The candidate for CLAT shall have passed the Higher Secondary Certificate examination (10+2) or an examination recognized as equivalent thereto with at least 45 % marks.
- b) Exemption upto 5% from the requirement of the minimum of 45% for the qualifying examination is given to the candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) [declared eligible for reservation in the State of Kerala]and upto 3% to the candidates belonging to Socially and Educationally Backward Classes [declared eligible for reservation in the State of Kerala]. These categories are allowed to apply for CLAT if they obtain not less than 40 % and 42 % of marks, respectively, in the qualifying examination.
- c) Students who are appearing for the qualifying examination are allowed to appear for CLAT. However, they should submit the results of the qualifying examination at the time of admission. If they do not do so, the candidates shall be considered ineligible.
- One year LL.M degree :
The LL.M. Degree Programme of NUALS is a full time regular course of One year duration in the credit and semester system consisting of two semesters. A student who is admitted to the LL.M. Degree Programme can opt to pursue the Programme under any one of the subject groups offered by the University in that year. The two subject groups that are presently offered by the University are (1) International Trade Law and (2) Constitutional and Administrative Law. A student enrolled under a particular subject group will have to undergo compulsory, core and elective courses. Term Research Paper, Tutelage, Clinical Legal Education, Dissertation and Viva-Voce are the other components of the LL.M. Degree Programme. For more details see the Regulations of the LL.M. Degree Programme.
Eligibility For Admission At The National University Of Advanced Legal Studies
Admission to the LL.M. Degree Course shall be based on the performance in the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) on Merit-cum-Preference basis.
NUALS offers One year LL.M. Programme in two distinct branches, ie. (i) International Trade Law and (ii) Constitutional and Administrative Law, having 20 seats each.
A candidate shall have passed the 5 year Integrated B. A. LL.B. (Hons.) Degree of the National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS) or an examination recognised as equivalent thereto with a minimum of 55 % of the total marks in the aggregate [Not less than 50% in the case of SC/ST (declared eligible for reservation in the State of Kerala) candidates.