IILM Law School, IILM University, Professor, Dean PG Program: Dr. Komal Interview

Dr. Komal has been working as the Dean PG Program at IILM Law School. She is a versatile and passionate academic professional with over 12 years of teaching experience. Dr. Komal has done PhD in Corporate Law and is also the author of a comprehensive text-book, “Law related to Mergers and acquisitions” (Thomson and Reuters) and edited book named ‘Contours of Real Estate Laws’ besides being a dedicated teacher and mentor in the discipline. She has completed courses in Intellectual Property Rights from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), published and presented papers and scholarly pieces in numerous international and national forums and journals widely contributing to the creation of knowledge in niche areas of her expertise. Dr. Komal initiated various legal Aid initiatives in her previous institute, a unique and well-appreciated Socio-Legal experiment in community emancipation through direct participation and empowerment of stakeholders. She has also established the Centre for Corporate Law, Research and Training in her previous institute. Her expertise in Commercial laws has been tapped by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) for the creation of discipline specific for the benefit of the broader community of learners in the country. Dr. Komal with her research and writing acumen has combined the theoretical and practical aspects of law to mould a teaching pedagogy in law school.

What are your responsibilities and role towards the students as a professor? 

As a Dean of LLM Programme at IILM Law School, I believe that creating a favorable academic atmosphere involves fostering an environment that encourages intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and research orientation among the students. As faculty members, we are dedicated to work closely with students, provide mentorship and support and create opportunities for collaboration and dialogue. Professors must be accessible to students, with open-door policies and regular office hours. They must also be responsive to student needs and concerns, seeking feedback and incorporating student input into their teaching and research. This creates a sense of community and belonging and encourages students to be active and engaged learners.

What are the best practices offered by your department to the students which help them gain the necessary skills?

Some of the best practices offered by our department include Research Support and Guidance, Moot Court Activities, Active Legal Aid Clinic, Special / Guest Lectures By the best minds of the industry and Well-equipped Library including online resources

How do you strategize the curriculum and how often it gets updated to make it beneficial for the students? 

Curriculum management is the process of developing, maintaining and improving the quality of curricula for various educational institutions. The administration of the Law School is responsible for designing and developing the curriculum with a range of content, academic activities pertaining to the course, teaching methodologies, and varied assessment techniques. The developed curriculum should meet the educational standards set by the government and academic bodies. Our curriculum gets updated daily with recent judgments, case laws, and the latest regulations. So with updated knowledge these students get day-to-day updated information which is helpful and informative for their whole life.

How do you help your student to cope up with the competition being so high in the world? 

In today’s competitive world, students are constantly pitted against one another and they are expected to give their best at all times. So, as a professor and dean at IILM Law School, I try to strategize with students and try to give them a zone that is stress-free by the following means: to acknowledge the students when they make any kind of effort, encourage them to ask for help and to deal with stress. 

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Does your department have any extracurricular activities/ programs to enhance the skills of the students or expose them to real-world challenges?

Yes, IILM Law School conducts regular activities for students, we have been working closely with faculty members to develop and implement innovative and effective teaching methods besides organizing workshops, seminars, conferences, and moot court activities for creating a supportive and inclusive community. We have prioritized diversity, equity, and inclusion and have sought to create a learning environment that values and celebrates differences in background, culture, and experience. This has involved creating opportunities for dialogue and engagement, as well as providing support such as internships and placements opportunities to students so that they may enter the real world with prior experiences. We also provide an opportunity to engage with the wider legal profession and community, representing the school and promoting our programs and initiatives. This has involved networking, fundraising, and building relationships with alumni, legal professionals, and other stakeholders in the legal community.

What challenges have you faced/ are facing to uplift the quality of education of your department? 

Technological advancements and present education system - As the world is teeming with industrial disruptions and every day brings some new technological advancement, the education system suffers from obsolete methodologies and education content. While Industry experts suggest that we need to focus on three Es – Education, Entrepreneurship, and Employment; the updating of syllabus and book content in the government institutions is still going to take some time to be changed, the teachers can themselves choose to introduce the students to new things. Further, I suggest we can promote self-learning from open educational sources to prepare their students for the modern employment market.

Self-motivation in the Students - There is a severe lack of self-motivation in students. This lack of self-motivation is not regional, but cosmopolitan. While there is a significant number of students that are self-motivated towards studies and learning, the faculty need to focus on their peers. They need to identify this lack of interest, learn how to address this, and also take proper measures to keep the students engaged. Working on student motivation has been a big challenge for ages. Through involvement with them and then identifying the reasons and improving the teaching and learning strategy can help resolve this issue, further Identifying the students’ interests, and then assigning relevant assignments or using online education resources to make teaching more interesting can also motivate the students.

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What are your department’s/ college’s greatest strengths and how can it be enhanced?

1. Well-trained, research-oriented, experienced, dedicated, and energetic teaching faculty
2. Supportive non-teaching and other staff
3. Excellent and well-maintained infrastructure in form of the new building
4. Good teaching and learning environment supported by prolific library, Smart Classrooms 
5. The impressive and excellent results in University Examinations
6. Simple and Transparent Admission procedure
7. Research Fellowship
8. Establishment of Centre for Postgraduate Legal courses
9. Excellent Student-Teacher rapport with emphasis on mentoring and counseling
10. IILM University has excellent extra-curricular activities, sports culture, well-organized extension, community service programs, and outreach activities by students and faculty
11. Rooted cultural values, and moral responsibility are reflected in our successful alumni
12. Very good interface with industries, research and educational institutes.

What valuable advice would you like to the students for them to have a prosperous career ahead? 

Don't procrastinate - One common misconception is that your professional experience starts after college. This incorrect student career advice can and will cost future opportunities. Start looking for opportunities before you graduate. Don't automatically default to those stereotypical “college student” or minimum wage jobs. Look for work related to your major. For example, journalism students could benefit from working in a print production plant. This provides an inside look at how the business functions.

Expand your knowledge - Students learn multiple skills in University. Some are related to your career; others may seem less useful. Open your mind to those so-called “useless” skills. They may come in handy one day. But don't stop there. The key is expansion. Expand your skills and knowledge. 

Stay up-to-date - While some entry-level careers are more competitive than others, all jobs require work and preparation. Staying updated on technology and industry trends gives you an advantage over other applicants. Most students are more up-to-date with technology than seasoned professionals, giving them the upper hand. Those same students, however, show a lack of knowledge of industry trends. Visit your college library and read professional journals each month. These provide an in-depth look at the changing landscape inside your career and will help better prepare you for what's to come

Don't forget about internships - Internships are the lifeblood of college experience. And rightly so. Nothing beats a hands-on education. Just be careful to select the right internship to help work towards your entry-level career. Academic advisors recommend forgoing those large, competitive internships during your first two years in college.