EXPLORING REGIONAL CO-OPERATION IN THE AREA OF LEGAL EDUCATION

Abstract

Technology has rendered physical borders meaningless, and consumers of justice are no longer keen on adhering to the barriers created by the political masters for their governance. They want to move to a forum where they will be heard, cared for and provided free access to justice. They are keen to resolve their disputes in time with logical, legal, and scientific precision. Globalization and technology have created a new world that is open and borderless. In this new world, it becomes all the more important to explore the possibilities of designing a regional-level legal education discourse that allows citizens to earn their legal education degree and simultaneously practice in multiple jurisdictions. European Union has already taken steps to promote regional-level legal education discourse, and it is high time that such regional-level experiments in South Asian countries are also attempted. To begin with, countries that are part of the (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (henceforth SAARC) block can, through their common university SAU (South Asian University), take steps to introduce regional-level legal education discourse leading to the award of the degree to practice law at every jurisdiction within the SAARC. This article explores the benefit of such regional legal education discourse for consumers of justice in the SAARC block who share common legal traditions and cultures and who have, in the past, shared a common colonial legacy.