Contemporary Challenges of Information Technology in Promoting Legal Education and Research: A Critical Analysis

Prof. Jeet Singh Mann
Professor of Law
National Law University – Delhi – India

Abstract:

It is pertinent to note that the delivery of knowledge using Information Technology (IT) has influenced the strategy of teaching-learning pedagogy in legal education nationally and globally. The usage of such technology has potentially filled in the gaps left by the more traditional models of knowledge which had been dominated by texts and lectures and traditional didactic or transmission approaches for teaching and learning. A large junk of secondary data is easily accessible at a click of a mouse. Nobody can deny the fact that the IT has significantly facilitated the process of creation, storage and maintenance of information for the purpose of primary as well as secondary researches across the globe.
It cannot be overlooked that on one hand, the quality of legal education has improved considerably after the implementation of IT whereas on the other hand, the quality of research is being diluted by substandard data, arising out of lack of authentic, accurate, complete and latest secondary data and plagiarism. Therefore IT is required to be used with great caution for the expansion of legal education and research in the age of globalisation in the 21st Century.
This research paper is an attempt to provide insights into the impact of the IT tools on stimulating quality of legal education and legal research. The research article will concentrate on the following research questions:
Whether the lack of availability of authentic data on IT sources detrimentally affects the quality of legal education and research?
Whether the deficit of availability of complete & latest data on IT sources adversely affects the quality of legal education and research?
How to overcome the restraints of IT sources for the advancement of legal education and research?
This research paper will also examine the inherent dangers involved in the collection of secondary data from the IT sources for the advancement of legal education and research. The researcher would also explore the remedial measures to overcome the deterrents of IT for the effective and efficient use of IT for the expansion of legal education and legal research.

Keywords: Plagiarism, access to information, quality information, authentic information, Updated information.

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