Success in law school is not just a reflection of intelligence and hard work. It is also about being organized, interacting effectively with faculty and peers and making use of available services and opportunities. Student Societies run the gamut from academically oriented groups to cultural organizations to public service to pure fun. These groups will provide you with an opportunity to make new friends and deepen relationships with old ones, enhance your education, and have a great time.

The Student Bar Association (SBA) of the NLSIU is a voluntary union of law students seeking to provide leadership and organizational training to its members and to serve as a forum for education and service outside the formal academic programmes of the School. All students of the NLSIU belong to this body. The objects of the Association are as follows:

• To introduce law students to the professional problems and responsibilities they will face upon admission to the Bar and to provide channels of communication between the leadership of the Bar and the law students. The SBA attempts to do this task by arranging regular meetings in which speakers are invited from the profession, by sponsoring student visits as well as training and placement programmes during vacations, publishing a Student Magazine, etc.

• To promote the ides of professional responsibility among students by involvement in legal aid related activities and law enforcement assistance programmes;

• To organize social, cultural and athletic programmes for developing a healthy corporate life for the students and the faculty of the School;

• To send student members to the student-faculty committees, to publish an annual student directory and to assist in solving financial and other problems of students.

The Student Bar Association is governed by a constitution and bylaws and operates under the general guidance and supervision of a Faculty Council. The SBA will have at its disposal part of the funds collected by the university for student welfare activities towards its expenses. It is headed by an elected President and Vice President. The conduct and coordination of activities of the SBA are facilitated by the following activity based committee or ABC's.

The National Law School has done more to realize Tagore's Heaven of freedom than merely recognizing this dream in its anthem. Plurality of ideas and space for dissent have been a characteristic feature of our environment. The importance of this freedom in Law School is evidenced by one of our oldest and dearest institutions - the practically uncensored student notice board, christened 19(1)(a) after the constitutional provision which confers freedom of speech and expression - which has come to be the strongest pillar of the student democracy integral to Law School

The Student Bar Association - of which every student is a member - which was established with the understanding that education goes beyond the classroom, ensures that this plurality of ideas in mirrored in every facet of student life. Student activities map a wide range of fields. Apart from the regular classroom experience, academic pursuit is also catalysed by seminars, roundtable conferences and workshops on a number of themes. Regular moot courts, client counseling, debating and quizzing activities supplement the pursuit of academic excellence in Law School. Academic writing by students is cultivated by the various journals published.

Coupled with the goal to develop critical minds, is the endeavour to provide socially relevant education - an education whose self-image is an instrument of social justice. It is this environment which has guided student engagement in a variety of social issues and attempts to bring about a change starting from our own humble campus and extending to the world outside. Issues of caste, class, gender, sexuality, environment, big dams and communalism, have always been raised, discussed and acted upon in Law School. We incessantly endeavour to make Law School a sexual-harassment-free and ragging-free zone.

Activity based Committees (ABCs)

Cultural barriers often make it difficult for some students to enjoy the same academic success as others. It is a fact that they suffer from several social difficulties. In addition to this cultural differences between students home environment and educational environment may create a barrier to learning. Despite this recognition in the admissions process, few institutions do enough to remove the cultural barriers that impede the academic progress of such students once they have entered these institutions.

The National Law School of India University has introduced the Academic Support Programme (ASP) since the beginning of 1998 academic year. Extra tutorial assistance is being provided by the concerned subject teachers and senior student volunteers under the guidance of teachers. The classes are conducted between 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. from Monday to Thursday in the respective classrooms. Those students who feel the need for academic support would require to enrol themselves and strictly abide by the guidelines set out. The parents and the local guardians would be kept informed about the progress of ASP students.

The Campus Development and Management Committee (CDMC) has been a part of the law school community for the last four years. After an initial focus on environmental issues, the CDMC has gradually broadened the scope to assist the University Administration to improve campus life for everyone. Thus, presently the CDMC, through various subgroups and student volunteers, concerns itself with campus facilities, waste management, environmental discussions, campus planning and the use and reuse of plastic and paper on campus. In the following year, the committee will be involved in the construction of the new library and the landscaping of the college grounds among other things. True to our credo, we at CDMC believe that the grass can be greener on this side of the fence.

The Cultural and Fine Arts Committee or the Cul Com, as the name suggests is primarily responsible for organising the cultural and fine arts activities within the Law School. While a part of our responsibility is to try to present Law School's best talent, a greater part of what it does is to contribute to campus life. It organizes several events such as Dandia Nite and Christmas carolling, in which a greater part of the law school community participates. The Cul Com in association with SPICMACAY brings artists of note to perform in Law School. The Cul Com also organises inter class events where the emphasis is on participation. All in all the Cul Com's contribution in making law school life a whole lot more fun.

The EMC is one of the newest of the ABC's, having been around for only two years. The EMC was formed recognising the need for a specialized committee to organise and coordinate all SBA events. The EMC organizes or aids the university administration is organising four major events-the Convocation, Legala-the Literary and Cultural festival, University Week and Teachers day. From getting sponsorship, to conceptualizing and creating events to making sure the infrastructure is in place. The EMC is on its toes throughout the year. The EMC is also in charge of organizing Law School's very own rock show, Strawberry Fields. Held on the last day of Legala, the rock show draws crowds of upto 10,000 which the EMC helps manage. Running largely on student enthusiasm the EMC helps hone organizing skills and maintains the tempo of law school life.

The Finance Committee as the name suggests is entrusted with the responsibility of handling SBA finances. At the beginning of each academic year all ABC's are allotted budget after institutional approval. The Fin. Com is responsible for making this money available to the ABC's when they require it and also making sure that no misappropriation occurs. The Committee also oversees the finances of outsourced events like Legala-the annual Lit n Cul fest, and Spiritus-the annual sports fest, organized by NLSIU.

The Law and Technology, the d~Tek as the initiates call it, has come a long way from the days of the Computer and Law society. The activities of the committee range from maintenance of the students computer lab to organizing an annual seminar on the legal issues involved in the cutting edge areas of science and technology, Consilience. The committee is at the time of the prospectus going to press with aliasing the authorities to formulate a comprehensive IT strategy for the University which will include wiring up the hostels to connect to the internet and setting up an intranet in the University.

Law arises as a response to the problems and conflict in the society. An acknowledgement of the fact that law is very much a factor of the society around it is the Law and Society. This student body focuses on socially relevant issues and problems within and outside Law School-creating awareness, raising questions to even actively participating in social movements in personal capacities. Its activities range from holding discussions; teaching school children from underprivileged schools; holding workshops; screening films; lectures by eminent persons; arranging placements with NGO's; collaborating with several NGO's publishing a journal; and organizing a national law reforms competition among others. The Law and Society Committee is evidence of the high level of social awareness and sensitization of the student community in the law school.

Students of the National Law School have traditionally excelled at literary and debating activities. The Literary and Debating Society (LnD) prides itself on maintaining these standards of excellence. The L n D is responsible both for organizing intra-University events such as debates, quizzes, Dumb Charades, Elocution, Story Writing etc. as well as selecting terms to represent the College in Various National and International competitions. Its success is reflected in the stupendous track record of LnD teams in sweeping all local fests as well in addition the LnD organizes movie screenings and the maintains the 'Wall Mag' which showcases life in law school.

Mooting is one of the major activities in the Law School and provides students with an opportunity to learn, acquire and practice lawyering skills through organizing and participating moot court competitions. The MCS conducts the selections for the University Moot Team which then represents the University at various National and International Moots. Law School moot teams have an enviable track record having won almost even major national moot and were also the first Indian team to win the Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot and the Stetson Moot. Besides organizing inter class contests, the MCS also organizes the prestigious biennial Afro-Asian Moot Court Competition to African and Asian Law Colleges as well as the National Justice P.N. Bhagwati Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition.

The Student Advocate Committee publishes the Student Bar Review, the offical law review of the NLSIU student body. Formerly entitled the student Advocate. The journal seeks to promote legal research and scholarship not only within the NLSIU, but also in other law schools and universities across the country.

The journal is published annually. In addition to the Student Bar Review, the Committee also publishes special issues in areas of contemporary importance. Previous issues of this nature include Essay on International Trade Law (1999) and Essay on Intellectual Property Law (2001). Membership to the Committee is through a competitive selection process which seeks to assess a candidates editorial skills, writing ability and knowledge of basic legal methodology.