Defend consumer rights with a law degree

Consumers can seek legal help if they are exploited or cheated by unfair business practices

‘Consumer is king’ is a decades-old notion followed by brands and marketers who hope to win over the loyalty of their customers. Today, consumers hold more power than ever, spoilt as they are for choice with the sheer number of products and services available and with the marketplace at their fingertips. And yet, there are so many instances where consumers have felt cheated and dissatisfied with the product or service they paid for. Quite often, they let the matter go because they are not aware of their rights as consumers.

To make consumers around the world aware of their rights, World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated each year on March 15. The idea behind this special day is to highlight that the rights of all consumers need to be respected and protected. The theme for this year is ‘Tackle Plastic Pollution’. It’s imperative that consumers are knowledgeable and aware of the rights that they have so that they are not exploited or cheated by unfair business practices.

The world over, governments have instituted provisions that protect consumers from malpractices. India has its own laws to protect consumer interests. One of the most important among these was the Consumer Protection Act 1986 which was enacted to provide a sim­pler and quicker access to redressal of consumer grievances. In August 2019 the government replaced the three decade old Act with the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which seeks to widen its scope in addressing consumer concerns, taking into consideration the way goods and services are being provided in the digital age through e-commerce, tele-shopping and direct selling, among others.

Consumers whose rights have been infringed must know that they have legal recourse to address the issues. They can seek the help of consumer protection lawyers who have vast experience in the subject matter and have a deep understanding of how corporations work. It’s a common belief that filing a suit against a corporation is the only way to settle a dispute, however that’s not always true. Sometimes, initiating dialogue with the corporation can be successful. Consumer protection lawyers can help consumers decide whether the dispute can be resolved without the involved of the courts or not.  

Consumer rights is just one of the many fields that aspiring lawyers can choose to specialise in. The knowledge and skills that law graduates gain allow them to analyse complex situations, hone their critical thinking and reasoning powers and help them devise solutions for a range of problems across industries—shaping laws on sustainability to protect the environment from plastic pollution and other toxic materials, exploring issues in cyber laws, and applying fundamentals of forensic science to matters of criminal law, for example. 

At UPES School of Law there are multiple specialisations for students to consider. UPES offers five undergraduate programmes: BA LL.B. (Hons.), BBA LL.B. (Hons.), B. Com. LL.B. (Hons.), B.Tech. Computer Science and Engineering LL.B. (Hons.), and LL.B. UPES also offers a postgraduate programme and a doctoral programme.

BA LL.B. (Hons.), BBA LL.B. (Hons.) and  B. Com. LL.B. (Hons.) programmes offer 14 specialisations

1. Labour Law
2. Energy Law
3. Criminal Law
4. Constitution Law
5. Media and Entertainment Law
6. Corporate Law
7. Banking, Insurance And Finance Law
8. International Trade and Investment Law
9. Taxation Law
10. Legal Compliance and Secretarial Practice
11. Food, Health and Environment
12. Forensic Science And Law
13. Medicine, Health, and Law
14. Digital Innovation and Law

B.Tech. Computer Science and Engineering LL.B. (Hons.) has two specialisations:

1. Cyber Laws
2. Intellectual Property Rights

At UPES School of Law, students have the opportunity to learn from a carefully crafted curriculum combined with interactive learning methods for a deep understanding of the legal landscape.

Add to this unmatched global exposure, as UPES is the first Indian University to partner with prestigious University of Law, UK for legal studies. Students get the chance to learn from faculty members who are leading specialists in their respective subjects as well as industry and academic experts. The partnership  allows for faculty and student exchange between the two universities, online modules, research collaboration and collaborative seminars.

Law is one of the most exciting fields of study. The wide legal landscape demands lawyers who specialise in different areas. A degree in law is a doorway to an fulfilling career that has the power to shape the world as it is today. 

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