Justice UU Lalit advocates legal education for social and economic justice
By Doruvu Paul Jagan Babu: Assistant Chief Editor
New Delhi: Former Chief Justice of India, Justice UU Lalit, emphasized the need for legal education that addresses the complexities of social and economic justice during his keynote at the International Annual TradeLab Conference on Tuesday. Organized by the Centre for Trade and Investment Law (CTIL), the event focused on advancing clinical legal education in international trade law.
Justice Lalit’s call for equitable legal education
Delivering the keynote at the plenary session, Justice UU Lalit highlighted the Supreme Court’s pivotal rulings on affirmative action and the fundamental right to quality education. He underscored the significance of economic justice and liberalization in shaping India’s socio-economic framework. Praising the TradeLab initiative, Justice Lalit lauded its role in equipping law students to tackle global challenges in economic justice through pro bono clinical education.
Focus on TradeLab’s role in capacity building
TradeLab, spearheaded by CTIL, follows a hub-and-spoke model to enhance India’s capacity in international economic law. It operates clinics at six premier National Law Universities, producing 15 impactful projects to date. This initiative provides students with practical experience, enabling them to address intricate trade and investment law issues.
Insights from global experts and practitioners
Sanjay Chadha, Head of Public Policy at Uber, delivered opening remarks, blending trade law theory with real-world negotiation experiences. He highlighted gaps in understanding trade agreements and called for enhanced negotiation skills and legal expertise.
Conference highlights and discussions
The two-day conference, held at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, featured diverse sessions:
Day 1: Experience-sharing by TradeLab India, discussions on AI in legal education, and opportunities in clinical legal education.
Day 2: Panel discussions, student project presentations from MNLU Mumbai, GNLU, and QMUL London, and a closing session reflecting on advancements in pedagogy and research.
TradeLab: A global initiative
Founded in 2013 by international law scholars Prof. Joost Pauwelyn and Prof. Sergio Puig, TradeLab operates as a Swiss non-profit. It has grown into a global network, featuring contributions from experts like Jennifer Hillman and Prof. Debra Steger. TradeLab students have actively engaged in global forums, including the WTO Public Forum, demonstrating the initiative’s relevance and reach.
The TradeLab-India initiative continues to empower legal education, equipping students to shape India’s role in global trade and investment, and fostering innovative solutions for international economic law challenges.
