National University of Advanced Legal Studies

National University of Advanced Legal StudiesThe National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS) (earlier National Institute for Advanced Legal Studies) is a uni-disciplinary university in Kochi, India for undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate legal education. NUALS was established to advance and disseminate learning and knowledge of law and legal processes, to develop scholarship and a sense of responsibility towards society and to promote legal and judicial reforms to strengthen the administration of justice in India. The Chief Justice of India is the Visitor, the Chief Justice of the High Court of Kerala is the Chancellor, and the Minister for Education, Kerala state is the Pro-Chancellor of the University.The National University of Advanced Legal Studies was established by the National University of Advanced Legal Studies Act, 2005 which merged the erstwhile National Institute for Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), earlier established and managed by the Bar Council of Kerala and Bar Council of Kerala Trust. Dr. K. G. Balakrishnan, then Chief Justice, Supreme Court of India and Visitor, NUALS, dedicated it to the nation on January 7, 2006.[1] Cochin, locally known as Kochi, was found to be the ideal location to set up the first national law school in Kerala since it is the seat of the High Court of Kerala and Lakshadweep.[2] Initially the university functioned from Kaloor, Cochin. It now functions from its permanent campus in KINFRA Hi-Tech Park, at Kalamassery. The campus is on 10 acres (40,000 m2) of land taken on lease for 90 years from KINFRA and is nearer to Nedumbassery,India where the civilian airport is in Kochi.