Contemporary Challenges of IT in Promoting Legal Education and Research: A Critical Analysis

Prof.(Dr.) Jeet Singh Mann
Professor of Law, Director Centre for Transparency and Accountability in Governance, National Law University Delhi, India

Abstract

It is pertinent to note that the delivery of knowledge using Information Technology (IT) has influenced the strategy of teaching-learning pedagogy in legal education nationally and globally. The usage of such technology has potentially filled in the gaps left by the more traditional models of knowledonge which had been dominated by texts and lectures and traditional didactic or transmission approaches for teaching and learning. A large junk of secondary data is easily accessible at a click of a mouse.  Nobody can deny the fact that the IT has significantly facilitated the process of creation, storage and maintenance of information for the purpose of primary as well as secondary researches across the globe.

It cannot be overlooked that on one hand, the quality of legal education has improved considerably after the implementation of IT whereas on the other hand, the quality of research is being diluted by substandard data, arising out of lack of authentic, accurate, complete and latest secondary data and plagiarism. Therefore IT is required to be used with great caution for the expansion of legal education and research in the age of globalisation in the 21st Century.

This research paper is an attempt to provide insights into the impact of the IT tools on stimulating quality of legal education and legal research. The research article will concentrate on the following research questions:

  1. Whether the lack of availability of authentic data on IT sources detrimentally affects the quality of legal education and research?
  2. Whether the deficit of availability of complete & latest data on IT sources adversely affects the quality of legal education and research?
  3. How to overcome the restraints of IT sources for the advancement of legal education and research?

This research paper will also examine the inherent dangers involved in the collection of secondary data from the IT sources for the advancement of legal education and research. The researcher would also explore the remedial measures to overcome the deterrents of IT for the effective and efficient use of IT for the expansion of legal education and legal research.

Key Words: Challenges, IT, plagiarism, access to information, quality information, authentic information, complete information, latest information, legal education & research

CV / Resume

Prof. Dr. Jeet Singh Mann

Professor of Law, Director Transparency and Accountability in Governance – National Law University Delhi India Specialisation: Labour Law – Administrative Law – Legal education and research – Right to Information and Governance Laws

1. Director, Centre for Transparency and Accountability in Governance, National Law University Delhi, India
2. Executive Editor: International Journal of Transparency and Accountability in Governance, CTAG, NLU Delhi, ISSN NO: 2395-4337
3. The UGC Research Award in Law 2014: Empirical Research on Legal Aid in Delhi
4. ICSSR Sponsored Research Project 2017-19: Empirical Research on Legal Aid in 18 States
5. Principal Investigator- SPARC-IITK Ministry of HRD- Joint Research Project between India & China-2019-20
6. Deptt. of Justice, Ministry of Law & Justice, GOI-Empirical Research Proejct-2019-21
7. Visiting Faculty: Law School SCUT, Guangzhou, China-2018, NLU Ranchi, NUJS- Kolkata, NLU Gandhinagar, Gujrat etc
8. Research Publications: International: 4 National 56: Books: 05
9. Special Lecture in national and international Programmes: 150 Lectures: Labour Law, Administrative Law, RTI, Legal Research and Legal Education including Teaching-Learning Methodology,
10. Invited by the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Pension, Grievances & Law and Justice on 22 Oct 2018 to make presentation on Legal aid Services in India:
11. External Expert for the Evaluation of Ph.D. Thesis/LLM Dissertation: 12
12. Organised Conference/Seminar/Capacity Building programmes for teachers: 15
13. Guided/Supervised Course Curriculums Reforms: 05 Law Universities and Colleges
14. Drafted Governing Documents: Centre for Transparency and Accountability in Governance, and National Academy for Law Teachers, NLU Delhi
15. Presented research papers in Seminars: 35 National and 25 International Seminars.
16. Consultative Services: Public Information Officers from the Centre and State Governments on RTI and Service matters; National Institute of Fashion Technology, India on Labour Law; Framing of Research Proposals minor and major research projects before the UGC and ICSSR, New Delhi ;
17. Question paper setter and Examiner: appointed as Question paper setter and Examiner by some national and State level educational institution including state judicial services, UPSC, DU, IPU. State public service Commission, etc for Labour Laws, administrative law including RTI & service law.
18. Practice RTI/Service Law: Master Rajat Mann v. GGSIP University and others; Decided by the Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Delhi High Court on 7/05/2015; LPA/543/2014. Prof J S Mann V. NLU Delhi ; WP… May & Sept 2018