Abhishek Choudhary
The National Law University model was introduced to modernise Indian legal education and produce well-rounded professionals for the bar, bench, academia, and public service. Chief Justice of India B. R. Gavai recently observed, however, that these institutions have largely channelled their graduates into corporate law firms. His concern highlights the growing gap between the original vision of NLUs and their current outcomes.
While the integrated five-year programme, merit-based admissions, and research-driven teaching raised the quality of legal education, the focus on campus placements has tilted the balance. Most recruitment drives are dominated by corporate firms offering high salaries and predictable career paths. Litigation and public interest work, by contrast, often involve financial strain and uncertain growth, discouraging many young lawyers from pursuing them.
This trend has serious consequences for the justice system. Courts need talented advocates who can mature into judges, and society requires lawyers willing to engage with constitutional rights, labour disputes, and legal aid. If the best-trained graduates avoid these paths, access to justice suffers and the judiciary may face a shortage of diverse and experienced talent in the future.
The reasons for this imbalance go beyond individual choice. Placement statistics are treated as a measure of institutional success, corporate law subjects dominate the curriculum, and internships are largely concentrated in firms rather than courts. Social prestige and peer influence further push students toward the corporate sector, creating a cycle that reinforces itself year after year.
Correcting this imbalance requires institutional and regulatory effort. Scholarships and fellowships could support students who want to begin careers in litigation or legal aid. Law schools should expand clinical programmes, encourage court internships, and provide mentorship with senior advocates. Regulators must also evaluate NLUs not only on placement figures but on how effectively they serve the wider goals of justice.
CJI Gavai’s caution does not dismiss the value of corporate law but reminds us that legal education carries a public duty. For the NLU model to fulfil its promise, it must produce graduates who are not only skilled professionals but also guardians of constitutional ideals and contributors to public service.
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