The National Law School has successfully completed the first phase of its development i.e., the establishment of a new model for undergraduate legal education in India based on professional excellence, social relevance and innovation. The best evidence of this success is the emulation of this model in other parts of India - four other 'NLS type' institutions have already been established. The National Law School has now set its strategy for the next phase of development.

The central mission of four University, founded in 1987, is to "advance and disseminate learning and knowledge of law" and to "make law and legal processes efficient instruments of social development". We are indeed proud of the successes of our University in the first thirteen years of its existence - it has established a new standard for excellence in legal education in India and emerged as a premier centre for legal education in India and emerged as a premier centre for legal education and research in our country.

Meanwhile, globalization, liberalization and the information technology revolution have had profound impacts on law and legal institutions - world-wide and in India. A rapidly growing global market in legal services and information is changing the structure of the legal profession in many countries. Legal institutions and concepts forged by the industrial revolution - intended to facilitate industrial capitalism - are becoming dinosaurs in the wired, knowledge economy. New and totally innovative legal thinking is required if developing countries such as ours are to take advantage of new opportunities for creating wealth, overcome the age-old curse of poverty and disempowerment and meet new threats of violence and disorder.

Trade barriers from these global changes have thus far largely protected the Indian legal community. However, this is unlikely to continue indefinitely, especially in light of WTO provisions on trade in services. Our faculty and students feel that this is an opportune moment to proactively assess the extent to which current legal education research is adequate to produce legal skills and knowledge India needs to effectively respond to these new challenges and opportunities.

Against this background, the faculty and students of our University began an intensive process from December 2000, to develop a New Vision for Legal Education in India in the Emerging Global and National Scenarios. We reviewing our academic goals, curriculum and quality, teaching methods, campus infrastructure, organizational culture and partnerships against current international legal developments as well as the latest developments in internationally reputed law schools. We held extensive consultations with external stakeholders.

National seminar and round tables were held in our campus, that brought together select national thinkers to reflect on future strategies for legal education in India. It is on this basis that the University developed its new vision syllabus and programs.