THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
SONIPAT, FEBRUARY 25, 2026
The Jindal Global Law School of O.P. Jindal Global University hosted the
prestigious four-day Law Schools Global League (LSGL) Deans’ Meeting and
Academic Conference, bringing together 40 Deans and senior academics from 24 of
the world’s leading universities and law schools to deliberate on the future of
legal education in an era shaped by artificial intelligence and digital
transformation. Organised around the theme “Law and the Digital Future:
Reimagining Global Legal Education,” the conference examined the profound
impact of emerging technologies on legal systems, professional practice, and
pedagogy, while reaffirming JGLS’s role as a global convenor of legal
scholarship and institutional leadership.
The Law Schools Global League, a consortium of 32 premier law schools
committed to advancing the globalisation of legal education, uses its annual
Deans’ Meeting as a strategic leadership forum and its Academic Conference as a
platform for rigorous scholarly engagement with contemporary global challenges.
The programme began with a guided tour of India’s first Constitution Museum at
JGU and a formal welcome reception, setting the tone for four days of
intellectual exchange.
Delivering the opening address titled “The JGU Story,” Prof. (Dr.) C. Raj
Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor of JGU and Dean of JGLS, traced the
university’s journey as an institution built on academic excellence, global
engagement, and public service. Reflecting on the significance of hosting the
LSGL, he stated: “The future of legal education must be guided by a deep
commitment to constitutional values, the rule of law, and global justice. In an
era shaped by artificial intelligence and rapid technological disruption, law
schools must ensure that innovation strengthens democracy, expands access to
justice, and reinforces human dignity.” He added that global collaboration
among leading law schools is indispensable to preparing lawyers who are
globally literate, technologically informed, and ethically grounded.
The Deans’ Meeting opened with welcome remarks by Prof. (Dr.) Dipika
Jain, Executive Dean of JGLS and Director of the Centre for Justice, Law and
Society, alongside Prof. (Dr.) Soledad Atienza and Prof. (Dr.) Eleonora Lozano.
Emphasising the need for inclusive engagement with technological change, Prof.
Jain observed: “Artificial intelligence is not merely a technical development
but a deeply social and political phenomenon. Law schools must cultivate Global
South perspectives and decolonial approaches so that digital futures are shaped
by diverse voices rather than concentrated power.” She reaffirmed JGLS’s
commitment to interdisciplinary research, comparative scholarship, and global
academic networks.
The opening plenary, “The Rule of Law in the Age of AI – Reimagining
Justice in an Algorithmic World,” chaired by Prof. Raj Kumar, brought together Justice
U.U. Lalit, Prof. (Dr.) B.S. Chimni, Arya Tripathy, and Aviral Sahai to examine
constitutional, ethical, and institutional questions arising from algorithmic
governance and the use of artificial intelligence in judicial systems.
Subsequent deliberations addressed LSGL initiatives and the geopolitical forces
shaping global higher education.
The Academic Conference featured keynote lectures on the impact of
artificial intelligence on the legal profession and global socio-legal
research, alongside thematic panels on AI and legal practice, the
transformation of legal education, governance frameworks for emerging
technologies, and decolonial Global South perspectives. Scholars engaged in
detailed discussions on accountability in AI-driven systems, regulatory
responses to digital innovation, ethical integration of large language models
in classrooms, evolving assessment methods, and the implications of automation
for access to justice. The conversations also interrogated structural
inequalities embedded in digital infrastructures and underscored the importance
of examining technological change through the lenses of equity, history, and
power.
The LSGL delegation included leading academics and institutional leaders
from globally renowned universities across Europe, North America, Latin
America, Africa, and Asia-Pacific, reflecting the intellectual depth and
diversity of the League’s network. Their participation underscored the growing
significance of transnational collaboration in shaping the future of legal
education.
Beyond scholarly exchange, the convening yielded concrete institutional
outcomes. JGLS held extensive discussions with partner institutions on
expanding student exchanges, faculty mobility, visiting professorships,
collaborative research clusters, and structured academic mobility frameworks,
reinforcing its strategy of sustained global engagement.
Parallel to the conference, the LSGL LL.M. Fair 2026 connected more than
400 Indian law students with programme administrators and faculty from leading
international law schools, offering first-hand guidance on postgraduate
pathways and global legal careers. The initiative highlighted JGLS’s commitment
to expanding international opportunities for Indian legal scholars.
Reflecting on the visit, Prof. Soledad Atienza, Co-President of LSGL and
Dean of IE Law School, noted that for many delegates it was their first
experience of India and JGU, adding that the university’s visionary leadership,
dynamism, and readiness to innovate stood out strongly. Prof. Eleonora Lozano,
Co-President of LSGL and Dean of Universidad de los Andes, emphasised that JGLS
exemplifies how institutional ambition, international collaboration, and
academic excellence can converge to create meaningful global impact, citing the
intellectual vibrancy of discussions and the campus environment as key
strengths.
The programme also incorporated cultural and experiential engagements, with delegates visiting the Taj Mahal, exploring Delhi Haat and Qutub Minar, and attending book and art exhibitions, including works by Gond artist Mythilesh Shyam, reflecting the university’s integration of culture, scholarship, and creative expression.
The successful hosting of the LSGL Deans’ Meeting and Academic Conference 2026 marks a significant milestone for JGLS and JGU. By convening global academic leaders to deliberate on law, technology, and governance, the university has strengthened its position as a catalyst for shaping the next generation of legal thought. The dialogues initiated at the conference are expected to inform future institutional partnerships, research agendas, and pedagogical innovation, ensuring that legal education remains responsive, inclusive, and anchored in the enduring values of justice, accountability, and the rule of law in an increasingly digital world.
