APIIT Law School - unique, modern and vibrant

Leading higher educational institute - APIIT has launched its own law school. The APIIT Law School has been established in collaboration with Staffordshire University to offer internal British degrees in law. The first such internal degree to be launched in Sri Lanka, LLB (Hons) Law, is scheduled for commencement in mid September.

What is unique about the APIIT Law School is the Internal University Degrees with special characteristics. The quality assurance of internal degrees is not limited to final examinations; rather quality assurance takes place over the full duration of the course encompassing all aspects such as adequacy of learning resources, competence of lecturers, quality of teaching, level of student support, effectiveness of assessment strategies, etc. The universities prescribe required standards for all these parameters and monitor the conduct of the programmes closely.

Staffordshire University in the UK has more than 40 years of experience in legal education. Staffordshire University Law School is recognised as one of the best Law Schools in the UK and it was recently awarded top marks by the Quality Assurance Agency and the Solicitors Regulation Authority in the UK as one of the best providers of Legal Education for undergraduate, postgraduate and professional awards.

Moreover, APIIT Law School comes under the purview of an Advisory Council.

The Advisory Council comprises eminent persons from legal education and legal profession. Presently, the members of the Advisory Council include a President's Counsel/ former Attorney General of Sri Lanka, Emeritus Professors of Law, a former Vice Chancellor of a university and a leading Human Rights Lawyer.

APIIT Law School is a purpose-built Law School consisting of state-of-the-art learning infrastructure such as a modern law library, moot court, specially designed lecture theatres, small-group tutorial rooms, IT laboratories and other support facilities. It will be inaugurated on August 28 in time for the commencement of the first internal LLB (Hons) degree programme in September.

The APIIT Law Library is being developed to meet the standards and requirements set by the Law Society and the Bar Council in the UK. In addition, students will be provided with access to renowned E - Libraries and online resources of Staffordshire University. The Moot Court will mimic a real life legal practice environment and allow students to argue hypothetical cases to improve their practice skills. Students will also be provided with opportunities to participate in mooting competitions nationally and internationally.

Its English Language Centre will provide a comprehensive training in English and help students reach high levels of competence. Computer aided learning packages are used to train students on all aspects of English learning such as listening, reading, comprehension, and writing. Apart from those, the APIIT Law School has a modern IT infrastructure and computer laboratories, which are well-equipped with the latest technologies.

APIIT Law School will be headed by one of Sri Lanka's leading academic and practising Lawyers of international repute with twenty six years of teaching experience in overseas law schools. The teaching panel comprises highly qualified and competent academics and practising lawyers; full-time staff is being supplemented by visiting staff from the universities and the Bar.

A unique feature of the Internal LLB (Hons) Law Degree is the SKILLS training programme that will take place throughout the first year. SKILLS training will be conducted mostly through workshops and will impart skills such as legal problem solving, legal writing and research, client intervening, and critical analysis.

An optional 'bridging programme' at the end of the three year LLB (Hons) will prepare students for the Sri Lanka Law College examinations and orient them for legal practice in Sri Lanka.

Students of APIIT Law School will also have the opportunity to transfer to Staffordshire University in the UK to complete their degrees after studying in Sri Lanka for one or two years. As students of an internal British degree, students will also have the opportunity to transfer to other foreign universities, if they wish.

Merit scholarships covering 25% of the course fees are on offer for the first 50 academically deserving students to enrol in the programme.

For the first time in Sri Lanka, students have the opportunity to read for an internal LLB (Hons) degree from a prestigious British University at the APIIT Law School. Students will go through a rich learning experience in a real university environment.