NALSAR, NUJS, NLUJ and NLIU are all around 20 years old. If we turn the back the clock, NLSIU turned 20 in 2008. But if you compare where NLSIU was in 2008 and where NALSAR, NUJS, NLUJ and NLIU are now, then it is clear that they are lagging behind in prestige and accomplishments. Why do you think that is the case? Here are some examples where I feel others are lagging behind relative to NSLIU in 2008:
- NLSIU by 2008 had a brand value known to the general public and was being called "Harvard of the East" in the media as early as 2001 (see below). In comparison, other NLUs are barely known to the general public and not referred to n such flattering terms. Maybe NALSAR is known to some extent because fo Faizan Mustafa's YouTube videos, but it is not the same.
- NLSIU by 2008 had many Rhodes scholarships and a Jessup win. Other NLUs have a lot fewer Rhodes scholars and no Jessup wins.
- NLSIU by 2008 had Vikram Raghavan working in the World Bank at a senior level, tons of lawyers in Magic Circle firms, and people in McKinsey. Other NLUs are seriously lagging behind.
- NLSIU by 2008 had established names in the NGO circuit, such as Lawrence Liang and ALF. I don't think other NLUs have produced a similar example.
- NLSIU by 2008 had alumni teaching at Oxford and the prestigious universities, plus Shamnad Basheer teaching at Professor rank. None of this has happened for other NLUs.
- NLSIU by 2008 had many promising litigators being tipped as future seniors and judges. Again, other NLUs are lagging behind, excepting NALSAR (Suhasini Sen, Mihira Sood etc).
What could be the reasons that other NLUs have failed to replicate the success of NLSIU? Could it be a fixation with Indian law firm careers?
Not at all. You forget that NLSIU had a field devoid of any meaningful competition for almost 20 years at first. Compared to that, in the last 20 years, 22 more NLUs have come up. It is no longer possible for one institute to hog all the limelight or glory. If you have to compare, compare the performance of NLSIU grads with other NLU grads in the last 10 years. You would find that there's hardly much difference. Further, having an additional 18 batches of older alumni who are well established by now is an advantage that would take longer to be compensated for. Simple logic. Not that NLSIU has done many wrongs during the period either, other than coming into the news for several wrong reasons in the last year and a half.
- NLSIU by 2008 had a brand value known to the general public and was being called "Harvard of the East" in the media as early as 2001 (see below). In comparison, other NLUs are barely known to the general public and not referred to n such flattering terms. Maybe NALSAR is known to some extent because fo Faizan Mustafa's YouTube videos, but it is not the same.
https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20010521-nlsiu-has-emerged-as-the-leading-indian-institution-for-legal-education-776158-2001-05-21
If you see this documentary made in 1998, again NLSIU is being referred to as a great law school and "Harvard of the East".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoKSqmL44TQ
- NLSIU by 2008 had many Rhodes scholarships and a Jessup win. Other NLUs have a lot fewer Rhodes scholars and no Jessup wins.
- NLSIU by 2008 had Vikram Raghavan working in the World Bank at a senior level, tons of lawyers in Magic Circle firms, and people in McKinsey. Other NLUs are seriously lagging behind.
- NLSIU by 2008 had established names in the NGO circuit, such as Lawrence Liang and ALF. I don't think other NLUs have produced a similar example.
- NLSIU by 2008 had alumni teaching at Oxford and the prestigious universities, plus Shamnad Basheer teaching at Professor rank. None of this has happened for other NLUs.
- NLSIU by 2008 had many promising litigators being tipped as future seniors and judges. Again, other NLUs are lagging behind, excepting NALSAR (Suhasini Sen, Mihira Sood etc).
What could be the reasons that other NLUs have failed to replicate the success of NLSIU? Could it be a fixation with Indian law firm careers?