Interview by Kritika Gupta

JLU

Prof. (Dr.) Yogendra Kumar Srivastava, designated as the Professor and Director of JLU School of Law, Bhopal has more than 18 years of experience in Academia. He has authored and published 6 books, 17 research papers/ articles and has organised 14 international and national academic events till date. The professor has also participated in more than 20 international/ national/ state level conferences and workshops as a speaker, resource person and delegate. His qualification includes - LL.D., LL.M., M.A., PGDJMC, LL.B. and B.Sc.

With an exclusive interview with Collegedunia.com, Dr. Srivastava talks about his journey in the education industry.

Education industry provides a chance to shape the future of the students

The education industry is the one wherein an individual can involve in comprehensive knowledge sharing and get ample opportunities to shape the future of the stakeholders. The ways in which learning regime can be designed for the students are endless and there is a lot of room for innovation. Classroom teaching, multi-dimensional tutorials, field visits, seminars, brainstorming sessions, symposiums, debates, etc. are some of the many ways in which the intellectual horizon of the students can be expanded. It is the only industry where genius minds of the domain interact in a constructive atmosphere and work for the betterment of the society.

Leadership philosophy and style as a Director of JLU School of Law

I have always considered my position to be that of an administrator. Till date, I consider my subordinates as family members and players of a team. At JLU School of Law, I have always tried to ensure a flat structure of functioning wherein every member is a leader of their own domain.

As an administrator, I ensure that my team performs to their fullest capacity and reap best results in the interest of the students and the organization. My doors are always open for my team and I try to be available for them in case of any problems. A good leader, according to me, is compassionate and empathetic.

Challenges faced to establish a name for JLU SOL

As a new institute for legal education, the most prominent challenge before JLU-School of Law was to flourish in the close vicinity of National Law Institute University, Bhopal, which has been a pioneering law institute in Bhopal for two decades. As the Director, JLU-SOL, I had to work with limited resources and I had to build and grow my network with each passing day. My ultimate aim was to bring JLU-SOL on equal footing with NLIU, Bhopal and I believe I have been able to achieve the same because today we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for academic collaboration with NLIU, Bhopal.

Dr. Srivastava take on JLU School of LAW’s curriculum

The curriculum at JLU-SOL is designed to cater to the needs of the legal profession. The demands of the industry are monitored and the students are trained accordingly through various methods such as court visits, social sensitization programs, summer internships. The curriculum gets updated every year with the changing dynamic of the legal profession. Keeping students in constant touch with the changing nature of the legal profession is extremely important at that is the aim of our curriculum.

Views on changes introduced in the education industry over the years

In the past decade, the trend in legal education has been an overwhelming one. Various premier private law schools have emerged and have been performing extraordinarily. They are competing and even surpassing the standards set by the National Law Universities. The prime objective of modern legal education is to polish the student and make them ready for the challenges posed by the legal profession. Consequently, the criteria of admission of a student into a professional law course have taken a sharp turn and the field has become highly competitive.

Legal profession is now considered an extremely challenging one. Big corporate houses look for a student who is well-versed with the law and also possesses analytical and public skills. A student is required to excel in every aspect of human personality to be considered fit for legal profession. Thus, it is ultimately a challenge before the education industry to produce professionals that fulfil the demands of the market.

Methods opted to maintain a healthy relationship with the aspiring lawyers at JLU SOL

A law school offering 5-year integrated programs accommodates students for the longest period in an institution. It obviously demands a healthy bond with the students because in five years they develop a feeling of homeliness in the institution and it is imperative to provide them a friendly atmosphere. As the Director of JLU-School of Law, I have always tried to make myself available to my students in all circumstances. My role is to create opportunities for the students and enable them to unleash their inner good. It is very important for the head of any institution to provide a platform to the students to showcase their talent. The policy of any institution should be to liberate the creativity of the students and not curtail it. As the Director, I have always focused on the professional and personal growth of my students so that they become good lawyers and responsible citizens of the society.

Goals for the institute in the coming years

Our goal is to mark our presence across the globe by becoming a premier law school of the country. We have been dedicated to innovative methods of teaching and providing our students international standards of legal education. In the coming five years, we plan to collaborate with various recognized organizations to promote intellectual growth and accelerate professional development of our students.

Read about JLU School of Law Placements

Suggestions to the youth and aspiring students

I would like to suggest the youth to have an open mind towards their career. We have all been gifted with certain skill-set. It is our duty to identify that skill-set and hone it. We are responsible to our family and our society. Thus, contributing something to them should be our primary aim.

We should not let our previous failures discourage us or previous successes make us over-confident. The youth must analyze the current scenario and work accordingly towards the target. As a responsible citizen, we must always think of giving something back to society and doing something for the nation. It really doesn’t matter what field of study we pursue as long as we realize your responsibilities and give your best efforts to excel in your area.