Awareness and perception of students towards legal information literacy : A study of National law universities of northern India.

Abstract

This study utilizes a quantitative research design and survey method to evaluate the perceived levels of Legal Information Literacy (LIL) among students at five National Law Universities: National Law University Jodhpur (NLUJ), National Law University Lucknow (NLUL), Rajiv Gandhi National Law University, Patiala (RGNUL), National Law University Delhi (NLUD), and National Law University Shimla (NLUS). Data collected from 678 participants through in-person surveys reveal varying degrees of LIL proficiency: 65.8% of students exhibit moderate proficiency, 18.6% demonstrate high proficiency, and 15.6% are classified as having low proficiency. The analysis indicates significant differences in LIL levels based on gender, academic program, and institutional context, emphasizing the need for customized instructional approaches. The study highlights the critical role of ongoing academic engagement in enhancing LIL skills and offers practical recommendations for curriculum development aimed at strengthening LIL programs. These findings provide important insights for law schools striving to improve legal information literacy among their students.