Paralegal Education in India: Problems and Prospects
| Date | 01 June 2013 |
| DOI | 10.1177/2277401720130106 |
| Author | Srikrishna Deva Rao |
| Published date | 01 June 2013 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
PARALEGAL EDUCATION IN INDIA:
PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS
Srikrishna Deva Rao*
Paralegal education is part of an integrated approach to legal
services aimed at providing access to justice to the poorest and
most marginalized sections of society. This article makes a case for
devoting resources, both in law schools and in the legal profession
more generally, for paralegal education. To do so, the article
critically examines the development of alternative lawyering
practices in India as well as other methods for advancing a pro-
poor approach to legal education and to the provision of legal
services. The author concludes that since there are not enough
lawyers to provide legal aid services, paralegal education is an
important tool and method to provide the unmet legal needs of the
people. Proactive education of the public about the law is a
national priority, and to ensure this, the legal community needs to
support and develop paralegal education in India.
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................95
I. PARALEGAL EDUCATION: PRACTICING LAW FOR THE PEOPLE ........... 96
II. THE LEGAL AID MOVEMENT IN INDIA ....................................................98
III. ALTERNATIVE LAWYERING: PRACTICES AND STRATEGIES .................. 99
A. Access to Criminal Justice ................................................................. 100
B. Prison Legal Services ........................................................................ 101
IV. RESPONSE OF LEGAL EDUCATION .......................................................... 102
A. Clinical Legal Education ....................................................................103
V. PARALEGAL EDUCATION IN INDIA ..........................................................104
* Professor of Law and Registrar, National Law University, Delhi.
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