Law University faces faculty crunch

Bangalore, May 3 (UNI) The city-based National Law School of India University is facing faculty crunch, former Karnataka and Kerala High Court Chief Justice, Dr Justice V S Malimath said today.

''Due to lucrative jobs offered in India and abroad to law graduates, NLSIU is facing shortage of good faculty,'' Dr Justice Malimath, also a member of the Governing Council of NLSIU, said.

Speaking at a function organised to mark the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of an International Financial Law Chair being endowed by the UK-based law firm Allen and Overy, he said in the context of globalisation, more and more foreign companies were establishing their offices in India and the Chair would go a long way in helping Indian students become familiar with the UK's Financial Law and help the business community.

UK Department for Constitutional Affairs Under Secretary Baroness Ashton, speaking on the occasion, said it was a good opportunity to explore the possibility of forging partnerships and this step by Allen and Overy would help to further strengthen the close ties between the two countries.

The MoU was signed by NLSIU Vice-Chancellor Prof A Jayagovind and Allen and Overy Partner Alex Pease.

Prof Jayagovind said establishment of International Financial Law Chair was one of the milestones in the history of India's legal education in general and NLSIU in particular. This Chair was the first international Chair to be funded by any international law firm in any of the law schools in the country.

''This would not only further the existing linkages between the National Law School and Bar, but also go a long way in fully redeeming the NLSIU's objective of producing 'transnational lawyers', who can cater to the needs of ever changing globalised world.

Allen and Overy would help in selecting and appointing a high profile Professor of International Financial Law, who would be known as the Allen and Overy Professor of International Financial Law.

UNI