Daksha Fellowship programme to drive pedagogic innovation

Legal education and the practice of law are poised to undergo tectonic changes. First, the rise of technology-enabled and data-driven solutions raise novel legal challenges and compel rethinking of policy frameworks. Second, independent regulatory institutions have emerged as alternate sites of legal authority and law-making, in addition to courts and the political executive. Third, traditional models of adjudication are increasingly ceding space to alternate methods such as online dispute resolution, mediation and conciliation. Finally, the world of work is undergoing a drastic reorientation as convincingly demonstrated by events post the Coronavirus outbreak, and the legal fraternity cannot remain immune to these transitions. In short, a lawyer in the digital age requires a new set of knowledge, expertise and skills to address these challenges.

What is Daksha Fellowship?

Daksha Fellowship offers a very different approach to legal education that responds to the imperatives outlined above. Co-founded by Dr Pramath Sinha, the visionary behind the Young India Fellowship, Anant Fellowship and similar forays in higher education. Daksha Fellowship aims to bridge the gap between the world of academia, research and policy making on the one hand, and industry and practice on the other.

How is the programme designed? 

The program will drive pedagogic innovation by combining the academic rigour in traditional learning with the fluidity and dynamism offered by technology. Daksha fellows will learn from a cohort of founding faculty that consist of leading academics, policy researchers, law firm partners, corporate counsel and eminent litigators.  
The Daksha Fellowship offers three specialisations-Technology Law and Policy, Law and Regulation, and Disputes Resolution. These specialisations have been designed to train proficient professionals for a rapidly growing technology sector, a highly regulated political economy, and a fast-changing dispute resolution landscape in India. Besides advanced knowledge in areas such as data protection, arbitration, and procedure, the fellowship will also provide in-depth sectoral knowledge of domains such as fintech, banking, telecom, energy and infrastructure, and social media.  

The fellowship incorporates 'Delta Model'. It is a competency model for lawyers which lays down the various skill sets required for lawyering in the 21^st century – Digital Age. The model comprises of a strong legal skillset and also a deep understanding of business, data, technology and personal effectiveness skills like emotional intelligence, leadership and communication.

What are the benefits?
In addition to specialised legal knowledge and expertise, the Daksha Fellowship also aims to impart non-legal knowledge and skills to help our fellows stand out in the workplace. A specially designed online pre-term cluster of courses on mathematical thinking, and core courses on finance and accounting, data and decision-making, and introduction to public policy tools, are part of the fellowship. A communications lab and a work and well-being lab will also be run through the year for the fellows. Some of the core benefits of this programme are:

• International exposure, with a 10-day educational trip abroad
• Internships in top-legal firms and corporate entities
• Learning from a wide arena of professors and professionals trained in universities such as Harvard, Yale, UPenn, Oxford and Columbia
• Up to 100 per cent tuition waiver for deserving candidates

Upcoming sessions schedule

Who can attend the session?

• Students of final year Law UG/PG programme
• Fresh Law graduates who are looking for better opportunities
• Law professionals who are seeking for better opportunities with better packages

Note: This article has been published on the basis of press communication by the college