Jindal Global Law School (JGLS) and White & Case have entered into a formalised but non-exclusive tie-up to offer internships and knowledge partnerships.

Raj Kumar, OP Jindal Global University vice-chancellor and JGLS dean, said that the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that had now been signed between the law firm and law school would include student internships and a framework to bring together academics, regulators, lawyers and students.

“The MOU is just a reflection of a relationship that has already evolved,” Raj told Legally India.

Four JGLS student were currently on one-month internships at White & Case offices – two each in the firm’s Abu Dhabi and Singapore offices.

Kumar explained that although no numbers were fixed between the firm and the college, he was expecting roughly four such internships to take place in the first year. The law school followed an internal selection process where it shortlisted 10 and ultimately selected four to be interviewed by White & Case, all of which were accepted this time.

Furthermore the firm and school would create a “knowledge partnership”, said Kumar, to create a “new form of impetus” for law firms to work with law schools.

“Hitherto the law firms in India and abroad look at law schools as recruitment agencies - the only thing they look at is to look at students that can be taken. But what we’ve tried to do with hat framework is a broad platform where we see each other as knowledge partners.”

This would include exchange of ideas, law firm partners coming to teach students in areas the firm has expertise in and the possibility for beginning continuing legal education programmes after graduation.

White & Case partner and India group head Nandan Nelivigi said in a press release that the initiative was part of the firm’s social responsibility initiatives and would enable it to strengthen India’s legal education system and profession.