AI judge, cyber law courses, scholarships: GNLU is revamping LLB degrees to make students courtroom-ready

Professor S Shanthakumar, director of Gujarat National Law University, in a conversation with Careers360, shared his thoughts on GNLU’s new initiatives on law courses, integration of AI in legal curriculum, fee regulation policy, scholarships, PG diploma for MBBS students and more. Edited excerpts:

GNLU is one of India’s leading national law universities. What new initiatives are shaping the student experience on your campus?

We recently became the first university in the country to launch an AI-enabled simulated courtroom for legal training. We have developed a virtual reality platform where students can argue cases before an AI-powered judge on a daily basis. The idea is to replicate the dynamics of a real courtroom giving students a safe yet rigorous environment to practice and refine their advocacy skills.

To the best of my knowledge, this is a pioneering initiative-not just in India, but globally. The concept originated as an idea, which was then brought to life through the collaborative efforts of our faculty and students, particularly the moot court committee, who played a crucial role in training the AI system.

The project also received significant encouragement. The Chief Justice of India, along with judges from the Supreme Court and the Gujarat High Court, formally launched the platform. This initiative would not have been possible without the backing of our partners, including AP Moller, Maersk and APM Terminals, whose CSR contributions helped bring this vision to life.

Our goal is to take this technology beyond our campus and make it accessible to law schools across the country. If more students can engage with such immersive tools, they will graduate better prepared – more confident, articulate, and courtroom-ready.

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Legal education today is getting increasingly expensive. NLUs, despite being publicly funded, charge significantly higher fees while law courses at institutes such as GLC Mumbai cost much less.

It’s a nuanced issue, and I don’t think there is a one-size-fits-all answer. Fee structures vary widely across institutions, and there is no uniform benchmark. For instance, when I was a student at Government Law College Chennai, my annual fee was as low as Rs 200. However, the landscape of higher education has changed considerably since.

Today, universities are expected to provide not just basic education, but also world-class infrastructure, advanced research facilities, technological integration, and a holistic learning environment. Meeting these expectations requires substantial financial resources. Institutions essentially face a choice: either limit their ambitions due to budget constraints or adopt a shared-cost model where stakeholders contribute to sustaining quality education.

We have tried to strike a balance. Over the past seven to eight years, we have not increased our LLB tuition fees, which currently stand at approximately Rs 1.2 lakh per annum. In comparison, there are institutions charging anywhere between Rs 8-10 lakh annually. So, while costs have risen across the sector, we have made a conscious effort to keep education relatively accessible without compromising on quality.

Do you offer scholarships to support students financially?

Yes, we have a robust scholarship framework. For instance, last year alone, we provided full tuition fee waivers to nearly 34 students. Also, we have a dedicated policy for children of armed forces personnel. Students whose parents are serving or retired members of the army, navy, or air force are granted complete tuition fee waivers – we essentially reimburse their fees in full.

Beyond this, we offer need-based scholarships for students from economically weaker backgrounds. In many cases, we provide full tuition reimbursement. If a student has the merit and the drive, financial limitations should not become a barrier to accessing quality education.

Among undergraduate students, especially those in five-year law courses, there is often confusion about choosing a specialisation. Are there any recommended areas of focus?

The choice of specialisation depends on multiple factors. It is not just about trends, but also the strengths of the institution and its faculty. Each law school tends to develop depth in certain niche areas, and students should take advantage of that.

At GNLU, we have developed significant expertise in specialised domains such as air and space law. If you visit our campus, you will often find officers from the defence forces undergoing residential training programmes that range from one to three months. These courses are designed specifically for them.

Also, from a student’s perspective, the decision should ultimately align with their career goals. Those aspiring to work in corporate law firms or as in-house counsel should build strong expertise in corporate and commercial laws.

On the other hand, students interested in litigation would benefit from focusing on constitutional law and procedural laws, which form the backbone of courtroom practice. In the end, there is no universally “best” specialisation – only the one that best matches a student’s interests, strengths, and professional ambitions.

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Cybercrime is on the rise, yet legal safeguards are often seen as limited. Do you offer any specialised courses or training in cybersecurity and cyber law?

Rather than limiting this to a single course, we see it as part of a broader, evolving learning ecosystem. As a public institution, we actively open its doors to students from across the country to benefit from our academic resources and expertise. Through your platform, I would encourage law students – irrespective of where they are studying – to engage with us. Our university regularly hosts short-term and specialised programmes on emerging and “trending” areas, including aspects of cyber law, digital regulation, and technology-driven legal challenges. These programmes are updated frequently to reflect current developments.

We have a strong pool of faculty and domain experts, along with necessary infrastructure to support such initiatives. Our aim is to remain responsive and flexible so that anyone looking to build expertise in emerging areas like cyber law can find meaningful opportunities with us.

With rapid advances in AI and its growing integration into the legal field, how should this shift be understood? And what does it mean for law students?

Every major technological breakthrough is followed by a period of adjustment, as governments work to understand its implications and establish regulatory frameworks that balance innovation with public interest and national security.

Today, emerging technologies like AI and blockchain are prompting similar global discussions. Recognising a gap in India-specific scholarship – largely dominated by Western perspectives – academic institutions have stepped in to generate research tailored to the country’s socio-economic realities. With millions of Indians now engaging with these technologies, the need to protect investors and consumers has become urgent. For law students, this shift signals both a challenge and an opportunity – to engage with evolving legal frameworks and contribute to shaping informed, balanced policies that address technological risks, but enable innovation.

How are emerging technologies being integrated into your legal curriculum?

We have adopted a modular approach, embedding relevant aspects of technologies like AI and blockchain into existing law courses while gradually refining the curriculum.

Our institution regularly updates its syllabus to reflect societal and technological changes. This commitment led to the development of our crypto report, which examines key issues such as the classification of digital assets, regulatory approaches, and their broader legal implications. The report also proposes a prototype legislative framework offering a structured, though not definitive, model for future regulation.

To ensure depth and relevance, we consulted widely with industry practitioners and technologists, gaining practical insights into these innovations. The report contributes to the limited India-centric scholarship and serves as foundational material for universities looking to introduce these subjects more formally and comprehensively.

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In recent years, premier institutions, like IIMs, have begun offering law programmes. What is your take on this trend?

The expansion of legal education into premier institutions is a welcome development. Law is a discipline that everyone should have at least a basic understanding of. It is encouraging to see reputed institutions such as IIMs and IITs incorporating law into their academic offerings. Such initiatives reflect a shift toward interdisciplinary education, which is essential today. Institutions across domains, including medical colleges, can benefit from integrating legal education into their curricula.

For instance, one of our flagship programmes is a postgraduate diploma designed exclusively for medical professionals. Admission requires at least an MBBS degree, and due to the programme’s competitiveness, even doctors with MD qualifications apply. The course has been developed in collaboration with the Indian Medical Association to ensure it addresses the real-world legal challenges faced by doctors.

What are the career prospects of such a programme?

The programme is not designed to create new career pathways but rather to strengthen the knowledge base of medical professionals. Its primary objective is to equip doctors with a clearer understanding of the legal responsibilities associated with healthcare delivery. A key focus area is informed consent ensuring that patients fully understand their diagnosis, treatment options, and associated risks before agreeing to a procedure.

Currently, informed consent is often treated as a mere formality, with patients signing documents they may not fully comprehend. The programme seeks to address this gap by promoting more transparent communication between doctors and patients.