College Overview: Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow

This article provides an insightful overview of the programs, facilities, and opportunities available at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow, giving prospective students a clear understanding of its academic offerings and campus life.

College Overview

• College Name: Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow
• Location: Sector – D1, LDA Colony, Kanpur Road Scheme, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226012, Near Powerhouse
• Establishment Year: 2005
• Affiliated with: University Grants Commission (UGC)
• Recognized by: Bar Council of India (BCI)
• Email: registrar @rmlnlu.ac.in

A Brief Introduction: Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow

On January 4, 2006, the Uttar Pradesh government passed U.P. Act No. 28 of 2005, establishing Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University. The University was founded to address emerging legal challenges and reinforce the goals set forth by founding the nation's first National Law School. Formed initially as the "Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law Institute, Uttar Pradesh," the term "Institute" was later replaced by the term "University" due to a November 2006 Act modification. It was done to give the Institute a fully national character that would put it on par with its other top national law universities.

Head of Department (HOD)

• HOD's Name: Prof. A.P. Singh (Department of Legal Studies)
• Background: His educational qualifications include an M.A. in Linguistics, along with an LLB, LLM, and LLD. He has also worked on a project titled 'Semiotic Analysis of the Basic Structures and Features of the Indian Constitution.' Additionally, he has served as a visiting faculty member in the Department of Linguistics at Lucknow University and as a guest faculty member in Applied Linguistics at the Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University, Wardha
• Message/Philosophy: He believes in making excellence a habit and transforming bright minds into tomorrow's leaders who pursue the goals and emerge as vanguards of the future of India. He intensely believes in building a solid foundation of legal and practical concepts and considers them an invaluable asset to any organization.

Courses Offered (Law)

Undergraduate Program:

BALLB (Hons) – 5 Year program; specialization in Business Law, International Law, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law and Intellectual Property Rights

Postgraduate Program:

LLM, with the following subjects as optional – Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Business Law, Criminal Law, Environmental Law, International Law, Labour Law, Jurisprudence, Intellectual Property Law and Human Rights

Doctoral Program:

PhD programs in Law

Fee Structure

Program-wise Fee Details:

Breakdown of the fee structure for BALLB for the Academic Year 2024-25 onwards:

• Total Fee (for Indian Students) – Rs. 2,05,000.00
• Total Fee (for Foreign Nationals) – Rs. 1,00,000 + $10,000

Breakdown of the fee structure for LLM for the Academic Year 2024-25 onwards:

• Total Fee (for Indian Students) – Rs. 1,25,000.00
• Total Fee (for Foreign Nationals) – Rs. 50,000 + $10,000

Breakdown of the fee structure for PhD Scholars for the Academic Year 2024-25 onwards

• Registration fee (one time) – Rs. 10,000
• Tuition Fee – Rs. 50,000
• Utility Charges – Rs. 20,000
• Hostel Fee – Rs. 25,000
• University Caution Money (one-time and refundable) – Rs. 5,000

For more details, please refer to the official RMLNLU, Lucknow Fee Structure Page

Scholarship

There is a scholarship, the University Merit-cum-means Scholarship, open to students of BALLB (Hons) and LLM. Two students of each year from the five-year BALLB courses (total 10) and 1 LLM student are awarded the scholarship award. The scholarship amount remains Rs. 50,000 annually and is credited to the student's bank accounts with the State Bank of India.

The eligibility criteria for this scholarship are as follows: the first-year student of BALLB shall have the highest inter se merit in CLAT and Class XII with an A+ grade, and for the second year onwards, the student must have secured at least 8.5 CPI/ CPG.

The eligibility criteria for an LLM student to secure a scholarship is to ensure the highest inter se merit in the CLAT and at least 8.5 CPI/CPG in BALLB (Hons).

Admission Process

Eligibility Criteria

• For BA LLB – The student must have passed the Intermediate/ Higher Secondary School Examination (10+2) or an equivalent examination from a school/recognized board and have obtained at least 50% of total marks. There is a relaxation of 5% for students in the SC/ ST category. Admission for the LLM shall be based on performance on the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) – UG.
• For LLM – The student must have possessed an LLB degree or an equivalent degree from a recognized university with at least 50% marks or equivalent grade. Admission for the LLM shall be based on performance on the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) – P.G.
• For PhD - To be eligible for the PhD degree in law, the student must have obtained the LLM degree from any university recognized by the UGC with at least 55% marks in the aggregate or grade B in the UGC 7 Point scale. There is a 5% relaxation in the requisite percentage criteria of 55% for candidates belonging to SC/ ST/ OBC (non-creamy layer) of UP or differently able categories.

To be eligible for PhD degree in allied subjects, the student must have obtained a Master's degree from any university recognized by the UGC with at least 55% marks in the aggregate or grade B in the UGC 7 Point scale in any subject of the proposed research work with a Bachelor's degree in law, or with established research credentials by way of publications, or with long term in-depth practical experience in the area to be researched.

There is a 5% relaxation in the requisite percentage criteria of 55% for candidates belonging to SC/ ST/ OBC (non-creamy layer) of UP or differently able categories.

Students awaiting their results may apply but shall have the requisite qualification or eligibility requirement on the interview date, which, if he fails to do so, shall not be allowed for the interview.

Entrance Exams

• The University accepts admission to BALLB and LLM programs through the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) UG and PG, respectively.
• The University conducts its separate qualification test for admission to the PhD program. It releases the law, economics, English, history, political science, sociology and psychology syllabus. The exam is called Research Entrance Test – 2024, which consists of a written test followed by an interview of selected candidates.

Application Procedure

For admission to BALLB and LLM, fill out the form for CLAT UG or CLAT PG, respectively, and take the examination.

Infrastructure

Campus Facilities

• The infrastructure supports a range of activities including communication, extracurriculars, and creative efforts.
• It offers students access to modern, cutting-edge facilities for teaching, learning, and research.

Key infrastructure includes:

• Academic block
• Library
• Moot court hall
• Conference hall
• Centrally air-conditioned administrative block

Facilities include:

• Lecture halls equipped with LCD projectors and modern teaching aids
• A modern auditorium and conference hall
• Computer Lab
• Hostel facilities
• Residential facilities for teaching and non-teaching staff.

Library

• The "Madhu Limaye Library" is renowned for its excellent and priceless collections on related and legal topics, which it uses to assist teachers, research experts, and students. The library was given this name in honour of the well-known socialist leader, Shri Madhu Limaye ji.
• The library is a stand-alone, two-story structure with central air conditioning and WiFi. With remote access services, students can access national and international electronic learning resources around the clock from any location within the institution and even from outside the grounds.
• With 45 state-of-the-art all-in-one desktop computers for electronic and online research, the library has its own "Digital Lab." The digital lab also offers scanning, printing, and photocopying services. To help these pupils, the library has also constructed the Differentially Abled Lab. The library houses a central plagiarism check facility to support academic scholarship and research.
• The library provides cutting-edge video-conferencing equipment for online lectures and international academic communication. The Library's Web-OPAC, which is Web 2.0 enabled, is the portal for information search and access to millions of informational resources.
• Certain online legal database services are available to students, including Lexis Nexis, Westlaw, Manupatra, SCC Online, IndLaw, and more. The university students can access the same with their email and login credentials allotted by the library.

Librarian name: Dr. Bajpai Maneesh Kumar

Hostels/Accommodation

• Separate residence halls are provided for boys and girls, and all students must reside on campus.
  
• Three hostels: Two for boys (UG and PG hostels) and one for girls.
• Hostels also include some suites.

Each room is equipped with:

• A study table.
• Space for keeping books.
• An almirah (wardrobe).
• A bed.

Room allocation:

• Double occupancy for girls and boys until their fourth year (BALLB) and first year (BALLB).
• Single rooms from the fifth year for girls and the second year for boys.
• Due to a shortage of rooms for girls because of increased BALLB and LLM students:
• Temporary adjustment of teachers' Type V residences is made for LLM and PhD female students.
• Type V residences are well-furnished, consisting of three rooms and a common hall.

Sports & Recreation

The University promotes sports culture and has made several sports and other recreational facilities available to its students. There is a plush gym with modern equipment, a basketball field, a football ground, a lawn tennis court, an upcoming Olympic-sized swimming pool and badminton courts.

The sports committee organizes an intra-university sports fest during the second weekend of February. The enthusiastic students also participate in other colleges' sports fests annually, funded by the University.

Faculty

Faculty Strength: There are thirty-one professors in the University, consisting of six professors, four associate professors, eighteen assistant professors, two adjunct professors and one visiting law professor.

Experience of Two professors –

Prof. C.M. Jariwala – He is the Dean (Academics) at the University. His educational qualifications include B. Com, LLB, LLM and PhD. He has over 30 years of experience in teaching where he has served as a Lecturer at the Banaras Hindu University, Associate Professor at the Indian Law Institute, a reader at the University of Delhi, a Professor at BHU, NLIU Bhopal and an Emeritus Fellow of the University Grants Commission, New Delhi. He holds the positions of head and dean at the Faculty of Law and Registrar at BHU.

Prof. (Dr.)Sanjay Singh – He is a professor of Sociology at the University and has completed an MA and PhD from the University of Lucknow. His areas of expertise include Democratic Decentralization, Indian Sociology, Sociology of Politics, Sociology of Law, and Rural Studies. He has authored over twenty articles and reviews in addition to three books.

His publications include Women Gram Pradhans and Village Governance: A Journey from 1995-2010 (2013), Reading Lohia: The Youth's Perspective (2013), and Debating Lohia: A Reader (2016) and edited by Ed.

With funding from the Uttar Pradesh government's ICSSR in New Delhi, he has finished three significant projects on the subjects of "Democratic Decentralization and Gender," "Legal Impact Assessment," and "Environment and Social Impact Assessment." Additionally, he offered consultation services to several companies.

Placement Opportunities

Placement Cell: The University conducts career counselling sessions, such as sessions on litigation, drafting, framing of arguments, preparation for judiciary exams, and way forward in corporate and employment at law firms. The college has had a good placement record. The chairperson of the Internship and Placement Committee of the University appoints a Placement and Recruitment policy, which is concerned with sending recruitment-related information to the concerned batch.

Top Recruiters: The list of companies or organizations that visit for campus recruitment is as follows – AZB & Partners, DSK Legal, BMR Legal, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, PSA egal Counsellors, Linklaters, EY, Wadhwa Law Offices, Academy, R &S Law Associates, ONGC, Unacademy, Trilegal, Eastern Book Company and Khaitan & Co.

Internship Opportunities: The placement officer of the RMLNLU and the Internship and Placement Committee of the RMLNLU regularly send information about internship opportunities available.

Student Life

Clubs & Societies

• Pro Bono Club: It was established under the aegis of the Department of Justice, Government of India's Nyaya Bandhu Pro Bono Legal Services programme under the DISHA (Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice) initiative. The club was established to provide better access to justice to the underprivileged community of society.
• Society for Excellence in Arbitration Law: The society promotes academic discourse in arbitration, which allows students to understand the prevailing disputes and other legal questions.
• Legal Services Clinic: It is a body established under the National Legal Services Authority (Legal Services Clinics) Regulations, 2011. It provides access to free legal aid to people experiencing poverty and the underprivileged sections of the community to comply with Article 39A of the Constitution of India.
• Kautilya Society, RMLNLU Chapter: It is a product of a Memorandum of Understanding between the University and Vidhi, where the society conducts research to identify and fill gaps in law, policy and governance.
• Debating Society, RMLNLU: It promotes and propagates the art of university-level parliamentary debating in the college. The society trains debates from first and second years in motion deconstructions, debate sessions and adjudication workshops.

Events & Fests

Manthan – A flagship event where leading experts from a variety of fields share their expertise on different career prospects. It involves inviting industry icons and consists of conducting mock Personal Interviews, Group Discussions, Drafting Competitions and Online Assessment Tests.

National Seminar on Law and Technology – The event includes conducting several educational activities, where participants present well-researched research papers and articles. The seminar discusses how law engages with rapidly changing technology and has become essential and advanced.

RIWAAYAT – It is an annual cultural fest organized by the cultural committee which witnesses the participation of several universities across India. The event includes several competitions, including dance, singing, stage play, fashion show and more, with Qawaali night being the unique part.

EOS – It is an annual Intra University Literary Fest where several literary competitions are conducted, and students across the college enthusiastically participate.

Aavahan - It is an inter-college sports fest and a good platform for students to exhibit their sports skills. The event witnesses several reputed colleges' participation in various sports.

Legal Aid Camp

This is one of the significant initiatives of the Legal Aid Committee and the Legal Services Clinic, where they identify the pressing issues within specific regions and try to resolve them by organizing camps and providing free legal services.

Accreditations & Rankings

National Ranking: The college's position in the NIRF Ranking 2024 was 20. India Today ranks the college at Rank 8 out of 66 colleges in its 2024 ranking. The Week ranks it at 11 out of 35 colleges, and in the IIRF Ranking, it stands at Rank 24 out of 40 colleges.

Conclusion and Recommendation

Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow, offers a comprehensive legal education supported by state-of-the-art facilities and a strong focus on student development. With its career counselling sessions, the university prepares students for various professional paths in law. It is a good choice for students aspiring to excel in legal education and professional careers.