  We calculate the decay width for $\Lambda_b \to \Lambda_c e {\bar \nu}$ in
the frame work of a nonrelativistic quark (NRQ) model of heavy baryons where
the light quarks play the role of spectators. Our calculation does not make an
explicit use of the heavy quark symmetry. The branching ratio for the above
process as calculated here agrees reasonably well with the experimental value.
