The University aims at providing the students with a lasting community filled with deeper and diverse perspectives, approaches and experiences
Presidency University School of Law (SOL) is a close-knit community of faculty, students, staff and alumni dedicated to providing an excellent legal education. Their faculties, all from premier legal institutions, have accomplished lot in their respective fields. The students are active and supportive of one another, whether one-on-one in studying for class, or taking on leadership roles in the many dynamic student organizations. Their professional staff is committed to helping the students excel during law school.
The Moot Court Association (MCA): This is an important student initiative which organizes many inter-school moot courts and holds moot sessions, novice moot competitions, trial advocacy practice and research tests for the students on a regular basis. SOL also offers one of the largest competitive National Moot Competitions where students participate from all over the country. Moot court is a core credited component which is a part of internal assessment of all Courses.
Faculty guided student initiatives: The SOL has many other student initiatives. The Debating Society called “DebSoc” is an active student club which conducts many formats of debates on current issues. Client Counseling, Trial Advocacy, Group discussions, legal awareness programmes are few other activities where student-faculty collaborate in legal education.
The Pro Bono Program & Legal Aid: The students and Professors are involved in pro bono practice, thereby providing legal services to the community. The Pro Bono Program allows students to develop necessary skills and values that form the basis of pro bono service and the sound practice of law. Pro bono lets students work with others to make a meaningful contribution for people seeking access to justice, the rule of law, and solutions to critical community concerns. Students also can learn what practice areas and techniques appeal to them. The 1st and 2nd Year law students are strongly encouraged to give 4 weeks of service in NGOs which take the form of credited internships.
The legal profession is expected to play a dynamic role in the administration of justice. With the Bar Council of India (BCI) in 1997 making Legal Aid a compulsory practical paper to be taught in the Law Colleges all over India, Legal Aid to the poor got a new lease of life. In this back drop, SOL not only has a dedicated faculty designated to take care of Legal Aid Programmes but also receive academic credit for this workload. Trained practicing lawyers from the Legal services board help the SOL in its legal aid programmes.
The Presidency Law Review Journal: The goal of the Journal Editorial Team is to provide students with opportunities to be involved in editing innovative legal scholarship, participate in invaluable critical thinking and writing in a wide array of legal fields, and be a member of a tight-knit community of authors who are publishing cutting edge, high quality journals devoted to specific substantive areas of the law. The Presidency Law Review Journal, publish innovative legal scholarship from top legal academics and practitioners.
Located in Bengaluru Rural, the Presidency University campus has been ranked the most beautiful campus with unmatched infrastructure by a National Survey.
The SOL is located on the picturesque 66 acre Presidency University Campus which is a vast expanse of green architectural piece of work. Central to the university is its Library which is a 7,500 square-foot structure, as well as a state-of-art Moot Court Hall, conference rooms, classrooms, a dining hall, ample technology services, and a large Auditorium which is the largest indoor facility on campus designed for regular University events. Its main feature is a large proscenium stage which holds up to 500 audience members.
Proximity to Bangalore International Airport is an added benefit. With one of the most robust legal communities in the world, Bengaluru offers access to hands-on learning opportunities and internships in a variety of practice areas – real estate, international law, entertainment and sports, to name a few. Bengaluru offers culture, dining, and recreational activities that support a healthy lifestyle.
About the Dean
Sapna Mohan is serving as the Dean of SOL since 2017. She has increased career development support for students through the expanded opportunities for students by the way of obtaining practical skills in clinics, externships and semester-in-practice. She has raised the School’s public interest profile through adoption of the pro bono program and focused legal aids.
Prior to joining the Presidency University Dr. Sapna was the Principal of Bangalore Institute of Legal Studies, Bengaluru. She has a teaching experience of 18 years with considerable experience in field of gender research and human rights both in the applied side as well as the doctrinal research. She has also worked as the Director for BILS Centre for Applied Research in Law, as a Research Assistant in Centre for Women and Law (CWL), National Law School of India University (NLSIU) and on the Ford Foundation Project on Human Rights Advocacy at NLSIU.
Scholarships and Financial Assistance
Presidency University has a structured Policy for Scholarships and Concessions in fees. It offers Merit Scholarships for students graduating from 12 standard and those from the Undergraduate Courses. Amounts range from Rs.25, 000 to Rs.40, 000, depending on grades obtained. Merit Based Scholarships are offered to students who excel either academically and /or in sports and games. Excellence scholarships are offered to students who qualify through CLAT, SLAT or PULAT. The university provides scholarships and concessions in fees to students whose parent is employed with the Presidency Group. Scholarships are provided to children of Defence personnel; Ex-Servicemen; students from Kendra Vidyalaya Schools; students who belong to SC/ST category; and physically challenged students or children of physically challenged parents. PU also provides scholarships to students who have lost any one or both their parents; and to students who have excelled in sports and games. In addition, the Presidency Group has its philanthropic arm, Presidency Foundation which conducts vocational courses for the underprivileged students in and around Bangalore in order to finance the education for deserving students who are talented but unable to pursue higher education due to economic and financial constraints.
Major Achievements
The university has achieved many landmarks throughout its illustrious journey. A four days Free Legal Aid Programme was organized by School of Law, Presidency University in association with District Legal Services Authority, Dodabballapur at Mathkur village from 8th November, 2017 to 11th November, 2017.
The Moot Court Team School of Law, Presidency University, emerged as quarter finalists of the 34th All India Inter University Moot Court Competition organized by the Bar council of India Trust in association with Galgotias University. The event witnessed participation from 60 law schools across India.
Career Opportunities and Exposures
SOL students have indefinite access to the Office of Career and Professional Development’s services and resources, including career coaching, advice on salary negotiation, interview preparation and career guides. The SOL Office of Career and Professional Development maintains comprehensive reports of students to be sent to companies, law firms and organizations. Currently, the students are interning in prestigious corporates like WIPRO, in law firms, as judicial clerkship, and research centers.
The students are not just encouraged, but, SOL has factored in the course component clinical legal activities like moot courts, debates, client counseling, seminars, article publications, participation in conferences where student engagement is mandatory, evaluated and credited.
They collaborate with premiere law schools like NLSIU, professional bodies like Confederation of Indian Industries, the Judicial Academy etc. to provide the students with cutting edge professional training and advantage.
At the SOL, building a professional network that includes law firms, judges, corporate offices, government agencies and public-interest organizations is embedded in the very curriculum. Their legal aid, clinic and pro bono programs ensure that students will apply the understanding of the law that they gain in the classroom to professional practice, working with some of the very same advocates and judges who are in a position to hire or recommend them for a job.
As every student plans the career, there is complete support from faculty who has deep connections to the legal community as well as a team of experienced advocates in the Career Strategies Office who are with the students.
