Students can understand the profession better by participating in mock courts.

It is not exactly a stunning discovery to say that education is not only about books, classrooms and lectures. Many have stressed the importance of active learning in the classroom, as opposed to passively listening to the teacher’s explanations.
But the need of the hour is to go one step further and make the world itself your classroom: in other words, to learn through extracurricular activities.
Nowhere is this more relevant that in studying to be a lawyer. Law is a discipline that really requires multiple skills. A successful lawyer has to be able to see the many sides to an argument; be knowledgeable about what precedents have been set; think laterally and be able to voice a strong case. Obviously, these are skills that develop only through application of the mind in activities other than what you get in a classroom. The student also has to invest extra time on these activities.
Students can spend their holidays doing internships. Short internships can give valuable insights into what practising law is like in the real world. From learning the workings of law firms to understanding the unwritten rules of the game, internships can teach a lot of things that are not discussed in class. As Ranjit Abraham, faculty member of School of Excellence in Law, Chennai, says, “Most national law schools have made internships during vacations compulsory and some others urge their final-year students to go for it.”
He also draws students’ attention to Summer Schools, which last from two to three weeks, offered by famous institutions like the London School of Economics and other U.S. schools.
MOOT COURT
The moot court is a common practice with law schools. It is a mock setup of a court — complete with a stand-in judge. The organisers pose a problematic situation and the student has to argue the case out in front of the person who poses as a judge. Sometimes, they even bring in actual judges to listen to the case. “There are now over 500 such competitions across India,” says Mr Abraham.
Working with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) can add to the students’ insight into various issues. For instance, if a student is interested in women’s rights or child rights, he or she can volunteer with an NGO working in that area and learn the realities and the complexities of the problem. Giving legal aid is another way to join the fray of legal practice even as a student. “Guided by social workers and faculty, a student can do pro-bono legal work even starting from the first year of study. There are guest faculty who practise in the court and they can really help the student in this,” says Mr Abraham.
INTERDISCIPLINARY WORK
Students can interact with people from other disciplines to hone their ability to adapt. For example, working with (interning with) organisations specialising in medical negligence cases bring the law student in contact with medicos and social workers, and the student can grow to understand the nuances of the medical profession as well. Similarly, working in areas like freedom of speech, brings the student in touch with journalists and activists and their way of working.
Lastly, there is no real substitute for reading, when it comes to enhancing your knowledge. Many journals like the All India Reports, Lawyers Update and State-specific publications, for example, the Madras Law Journal or Current Tamil Nadu Cases, are tremendously important.
Websites such as Bar and the Bench or Live Law now line up with the list of must-read books and journals.