Introduction

The legal profession has long been regarded as a cornerstone of justice, governance, and societal order. Over time, it has evolved into a multifaceted field, offering diverse opportunities and challenges. From litigation to corporate law, from human rights advocacy to legal technology, the profession now extends far beyond the traditional courtroom setting. Legal practitioners, both past and present, have not only shaped the laws of the land but also contributed significantly to social, economic, and political development.

Master of Laws at the School of Law, The NorthCap University

The LL.M. (Master of Laws) Programme at NCU Law School is a one-year degree programme with specializations in Corporate Law, Human Rights Law, and Intellectual Property Rights. The programme is designed to facilitate law graduates to explore opportunities in teaching and research, apart from enhancing their knowledge for professional growth. The students of the programme comprise lawyers, government officials, researchers etc. The diversity among students contributes significantly to the educational experience of all students at the school. The specializations are offered taking into account the requirements of the contemporary challenges in the legal profession, as well as for their personal interest.

With an objective of providing students with ample scope of research and assisting them in facing the new challenges and dimensions of the legal profession, the School of Law at the NorthCap University has shown an all-round progress and proved its credentials to be a force to be reckoned with in the field of legal education in the country. While choosing the specialization of their post-graduate degree, the students are given the flexibility to opt from a variety of subject areas offered by the law school. There is a constant effort by the faculty members to strengthen the core curriculum to ensure a holistic learning environment. This also includes giving a significant amount of flexibility in order to ensure a more professionally focused degree in consonance with the international, commercial, economic, and social context of the 21st century.

Benefits of pursuing a master’s in law

Ability to specialize in a given area – A legal master’s degree allows students to tailor their studies in a given concentration such as business law, compliance, entertainment law, health care law or human resource law. Additionally, it promotes soft skills like communication, decision-making, teamwork and problem solving. Specifically, with a NorthCap University Master of Studies in Law, it has been found that many of our students are already being asked by their employers/companies to identify and respond to legal issues, and the Gould graduate law degree has helped them with this.

Personal growth – In graduate law programs, students encounter several challenging projects, group activities, and are forced to think out of the box. These opportunities will help students to become better leaders and communicators. In our master law courses, we’ve seen students gain confidence, become better listeners, resolve disputes more readily, and become more resilient. These are important signs of personal growth.

Professional growth – NCU’s Master’s in Law helps students grow professionally by allowing them to learn a new set of skills and knowledge base that helps set them apart from other employees.

Transition into a new career or get a promotion – Many employers seek individuals with a specialized skill set. As previously mentioned, a Master of Studies in Law allows for specialization in areas such as compliance. Students can take classes such as regulatory compliance, where students examine various areas of law, regulation, and policies, as well as the ways specific industries utilize compliance protocols or programs. Once they take a foundational class such as regulatory compliance, they can move on to more concentrated areas. With this advanced knowledge base, abundant opportunities become available.

To gain access to a larger professional network – A legal master’s degree allows students to meet and network with professionals from a range of industries such as finance, entertainment, public relations, law enforcement, human resources, and health care, among others.

To use existing resources at a top university – NCU’s students connect with faculty, many of whom are professionals in practice, and thus learn practical, relevant concepts that apply directly to one’s day-to-day responsibilities. Students also work on assignments or projects that resemble tasks that they might have encountered in their own jobs and, therefore, require real-world application. An additional benefit is that they can generate writing samples in class that can then be used during an interview or as part of a job application. Students can also participate in events on campus.

Personal fulfillment – Students who work full-time should attend weekend classes. This format allows students to pursue a degree while attending to their professional and personal obligations in a flexible format. For those who consider themselves as lifelong learners or who have always wanted to go back to school to pursue a master’s degree in law, the weekend format works best as it is convenient.

Conclusion

Excuses or compromises are never encouraged while building the future of our students as promising, budding lawyers. The legal profession in India is vast and varied, offering numerous pathways for those passionate about law. Whether one chooses a traditional courtroom role, a corporate position, or a niche specialization, the opportunities are plentiful and diverse. Our students at the School of Law, The NorthCap University not only understand the law but also navigate and excel in the dynamic world of legal practice through exposure to various opportunities under collaborations. In fact School of Law, The NorthCap University, is one of the private universities in India that evolves the practical skills cultivated through exposure to various reputed agencies via internships/ workshops, etc. in shaping competent and effective advocates.

Author

Dr. Unanza Gulzar
Associate Professor, School of law