Legal Education – The Elevation from a Person to a Citizen

Abstract

The law is acknowledged as the conscience of the public. Legal education has become the ladder to the entity of a citizen. The sovereign nature of the majority of the states further promotes the role of legal education beyond a professional qualification. The researchers found it imperative to explore the relationship between legal education and the becoming of a citizen in its true nature, to the extents of self, family, community, country, and world. Perspectives of students of law, educators of law, law practitioners, qualified professionals in non-legal streams, and judicial officers were included in the sample (N=100, 20 each) and observations were noted using a self-developed questionnaire based on the feedback of 2 members from each group in the pilot study. The findings revealed awareness of rights and duties, self-sufficiency in voicing individual viewpoints, and compassion for mankind in all the groups. The students and teachers credited legal education for the development of critical thinking, leadership in the community, and spirit of the development of human resources in the country and the world. Patriotism, respect for the system, feeling of responsibility towards the fate of the whole society was observed by the law practitioners and the judicial officers. Non-practicing professionals associated their legal education to prudence related to money, a better acceptance of cultures, and planning abilities. The study brings attention to the significance of legal education in development at micro and macro levels.

Keywords: legal education, citizen, awareness, compassion, non-practicing professionals, prudence