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Unit 2: Emergence of the Services Economy

legal systems in India, the USA, and UK are rooted in British common law, thus making Indian Notes
lawyers competent, without much additional training, to undertake standard legal work such as
vetting of contracts, patent registrations, or reviewing of documents. Besides off shoring legal
work to India saves about 80 per cent of the cost that may be incurred in a developed country like
the USA. Some of the recent measures taken by the government are the following. Legal education
is being imparted by 913 colleges (a large number privately administrated) and 14 National Law
Schools/Universities established under State Acts. The major challenges in the field of legal
education are curriculum, skills, attitudes and ethics required of legally trained persons, and
dearth of quality law teachers. The National Knowledge Commission recommended establishing
a separate body to regulate legal education and setting up Centres for Advanced Legal Studies
and Research. The proposal for instituting an independent body, the National Council of Legal
Education and Research, is under process. The proposal for setting up four Regional Centres for
Advanced Legal Studies and Research to promote advanced research on various aspects of law
and academic excellence through continuing legal education is also under process.

Did u know? Law is now acknowledged to be an instrument for social change. This
realization in India is reflected in various legislations.

The National Litigation Policy was launched on 23 June 2010 to achieve the goal of the National
Legal Mission to reduce average pendency time—from 15 to three years—and delays in courts.
The state governments have also been urged to take appropriate steps to frame a State Litigation
Policy. The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has been constituted under the Legal
Services Authorities Act 1987 to monitor and evaluate implementation of legal aid programmes
and lay down policies and principles for making legal services available under the Act. In every
state, a State Legal Services Authority, and in every High Court, a High Court Legal Services
Committee, have been constituted. District Legal Services Authorities and Taluk Legal Services
Committees have been constituted in 596 Districts and 2,037 taluks in order to give effect to the
policies and directions of NALSA, provide free legal services to the people, and conduct lok
adalats in the states. From 1 April 2011 to 30 September 2011 more than 6, 95,000 persons have
availed of legal aid services in the country. More than 25,000 of the beneficiaries were scheduled
castes, about 11,500 scheduled tribes, 24,600 women, and 1,628 children. During this period
53,508 lok adalats were organized. These lok adalats settled more than 13, 75,000 cases. In about
39,900 motor vehicle claim cases, compensation to the tune of ` 420.12 crore has been awarded.
There is need to quickly implement proposals related to commercial disputes and amendments
in the Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996 to make India a favourable destination for
Table 2.10: R&D indicators of India and Other Select Countries

Source: Global Competitiveness Report 2011-12, World Economics Forum.

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