BCI Mandates Immediate Implementation Of New Legal Education Guidelines, Including Mediation And New Criminal Laws From 2024-25 Onwards

The Bar Council of India has issued a circular instructing centers of legal education (CLEs) nationwide to promptly implement its various guidelines, including making mediation a compulsory subject.

The circular also mandates that CLEs introduce the three new criminal justice laws, which will replace the Indian Penal Code of 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1898, and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872, starting from the academic year 2024-25.

Dated May 20, the circular was sent to vice-chancellors, registrars of universities, and principals, deans, and directors of legal institutions.

The circular has been issued in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "transformative vision" for legal education and the shared enthusiasm of the judiciary and the government for incorporating new subjects into legal curricula.

The Circular states, "The Prime Minister emphasized that legal education must evolve with changing times and technologies, with a focus on understanding the latest developments in crime, investigation, and evidence. In light of these considerations, the Bar Council of India (BCI) issues this circular to all legal education institutions for immediate implementation."

"All institutions are directed to integrate subjects such as blockchains, electronic discovery, cybersecurity, robotics, artificial intelligence, and bioethics into their legal education curricula, aligning with the Prime Minister's vision. This initiative aims to ensure that graduates are well-prepared to address contemporary legal challenges," the circular further mentions.

The circular also aimed to enhance educational programs by fostering a profound understanding of constitutional values, integrating socio-economic and cultural contexts into syllabi, promoting interdisciplinary thinking, and striving to provide bilingual education in both English and regional languages.

The circular stated, "In line with the evolving legal landscape of the nation, it has been decided to incorporate three new enactments i.e. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam of 2023 into the curriculum of Universities and Centres of Legal Education starting from the academic year 2024-2025."

Regarding the incorporation of computer education, the BCI circular noted that it has been a part of the rules of legal education since 2008.

"Keenness has been expressed by both the government and the judiciary for the introduction of mediation as a compulsory specific subject, with particular emphasis on its integration into legal education or law degree courses," the circular added, noting that this directive had already been communicated in August 2020.

Other guidelines included non-approval of law courses through the online mode and via correspondence, the degree courses only being conducted through the regular course following the stipulated time and working hours and the Bachelor of Law (LLB) degree "equating process", in case of foreign degrees by Indian students.

The guidelines also stressed the need for periodic review and compliance with the sanctioned seat strength across the CLEs.

"All CLEs under the BCI's purview are required to adhere to BCI legal education reforms, mandatory guidelines, norms and rules in the design and execution of legal education/law degree programmes. Non-compliance shall result in necessary action. This circular is effective immediately," the circular said.

Click Here To Read The Circular