'When there's passion, nothing is impossible'

Rigorous Schedule

Students and faculty of The National Law School of India University (NLSIU) always go that extra mile to ensure that freshers feel at home. The warmth and sense of belonging were evident as soon as the college opened.

   Right from day one, the seniors ensured that the new students understood that there’s no substitute for hard work. NLSIU has a mentoring system wherein the senior students take charge of their juniors throughout the year.

   The seniors make sure the freshers get a brief about the college discipline, projects,
facilities at the library and how to use it. Metrolife
interacted with a few freshers to find out why they chose NLSIU and whether they are all set for the competitive atmosphere.

Most students, boys and girls alike, say that they’re proud to be able to study at this law school. They say that it has been a dream come true for them. The seniors not only guide the juniors through their projects, assignments and research papers but help them cope with the culture of the campus.

Subhankar, a senior student, says, “Each senior student is responsible for one junior. The first year is always a little chaotic until they settle down. We also take them through the library, which is where most of us end up spending half our time. Learning how to use the library is the most important thing.” 

The faculty, just like the senior students, do all that they can to ensure the first-year students settle down quickly. NLSIU is a residential college, so most of the faculty are in the college till late at night.

Vice-chancellor of NLSIU, Prof R Venkata Rao says that he leaves his office well after 10 pm just to ensure that the students know he is around. “We tell all our students that freedom comes with a certain amount of responsibility. We follow a pattern of judicial non-interference and the first years are told that change is always a sign of growth. It’s positive reinforcement at its best,” says Venkata Rao.

The freshers confess that they are home-sick but they’ve been working toward getting into NLSIU ever since high school. It’s their passion for the profession that gives them the confidence to withstand the rigorous grind at NLSIU. Shivani, a first-year student, says, “I don’t think we will have a lot of time to think about home.

The curriculum leaves us no time to think about anything else. But when there’s passion, nothing is impossible.” Janardhan, another student, says, “I knew what I was getting into so I was mentally prepared to face the toughest situation. The placements and the alumni are really impressive.”

This batch has 80 first-year students and they’ve all got in after cracking CLAT, the entrance test to NLSIU, which is considered to be one among the toughest. Osho is from out of the City but he doesn’t think it will take him too long to settle down. “I am proud to be one among the 80 students. And I am sure that with the rigorous pace, we will settle down sooner than expected. I am looking forward to a year full of challenges,” he sums up.