What is Competition Law: Course Duration, Admission 2025, Colleges, Salary & Scope

Competition Law is a law specialisation that candidates are usually offered at the postgraduate level. Under this law, specialisation candidates study and review agreements or practices that restrict free trading as well as competition between businesses. Competition Law also bans abusive behaviour by any firm that dominates the market and also includes laws that supervise and negotiate mergers, acquisitions as well as joint ventures.

It has been said that the concept of the Competition Act of 2002 is to enhance the competition to guard consumers against anti-competitive behaviors. The act was passed to solve the problem posed by the earlier enacted Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act of 1969 which was considered archaic and kémé.

Also, the act is enforced by the Competition Commission of India (CCI), which is a quasi-judicial body having the jurisdiction of investigating and determining anti-competitive practices. It also has the authority to punish businesses for violation of the act in the manner of fining them, making them divest, and undertaking structural actions.

Competition law has broader reach than legislative drafting as it involves the regulation of competition and business activities of all forms, small and big and in all lines of activity, as opposed to legislative drafting which involves the drafting of laws for specific needs or to address specific issues.

Also, Competition Law has more areas of work or career prospects than Competition Act as a piece of legislation. For example, they can be employed in a law firm, corporation, government agency and non-governmental organization. Although legislative drafters are mostly employees of government departments, one can find them employed by legal firms as well.

LLM in Competition Law is a postgraduation level course with specilaisation in Competition Law. To enroll in these courses, candidates must have completed their LLB degree with a minimum of 50 percent marks.

The eligibility criteria for a Competition Law course may vary from college to college. Candidates meet the eligibility criteria for Competition Law course offered at PG level if they have completed a five year integrated law course or possess an LLB or equivalent degree with minimum 50 to 55 percent aggregate.

The Competition Law types are classified intwo two categories-

• Anti-competitive Horizontal Agreement
• Anti-competitive Vertical/Agreement

Typically Competition Law courses have different syllabus, depending on the course levels such as LLM and PG Diploma. Hence, here is the preview of  general topics that are taught in Competition Law courses:

• Introduction to Law and Legal Systems
• Commercial Contracts, Drafting & Negotiation
• Business Structuring, Accountancy & Law Taxation
• Corporate Governance and CSR
• Business Centric Dispute Resolution
• Intellectual Property, IT Law and Management
• Competition Law Practice & Enforcement in India
• Competition Law & IP
• International and Comparative Competition Law
• Corporate Finance, Investment Law & Compliances

Most colleges or institutes offer postgraduate (PG) level programmes in the field of Competition Law. Popular PG level courses offered in this law specialisation is LLM in Competition Law.

Apart from degree programmes, candidates can also pursue diploma programmes in the field of Competition Law such as PG Diploma in Competition Law. 

If you wish to pursue a career ahead as a competition lawyer, then you must take a look at the top colleges providing Competition Law course in India.

• NLU Kolkata (NUJS)
• Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, IIT Kharagpur
• ILS Pune
• Mewar University
• Sai University Chennai

Here are some reputable institutions offering online Competition Law courses such as:

Certified Business Law Analyst

Certified Corporate Law Analyst

Competition law is expected to grow and play an important role in the near future, as economies around the world are becoming more globalized and digitalized. Competition authorities are focusing on digital markets to ensure that competition is not stifled and consumers have access to innovative products and services. 

Moreover, Competition authorities are also taking a closer look at mergers and acquisitions, particularly in the digital sector. This is because mergers and acquisitions can reduce the competition, higher prices for consumers, and less innovation.

Hence, after analysing above factors, one can easily understand the scope and vital role of Competition Lawyers, can play in near future. 

A competition law lawyer also helps business entities and individuals understand his/her legal status in compliance with competition law. They also act on behalf of clients in investigation in enforcement matters instigated by competition authorities.

Some of the specific tasks that a competition law lawyer performs:

• Provide businesses with legal advice on how they can operate within the provisions of the competition law then drafting, negotiating and concluding particular contracts, preventing anti-competitive agreements, and also engage in takeovers and mergers without violating competition law.
• Advise clients in investigation and enforcement actions initiated by competition authorities, this could involve helping them understand their rights and responsibilities, collecting evidence and preparing submissions, and defending clients in a competition authority’s tribunal.

A Competition law is important to prohibit firms from engaging in conduct that will distort the competitive process and harm competition by, for example, preventing firms from indulging in anti-competitive agreements, preventing firms with a powerful position on a market from abusing their market power, etc.

Moreover, Competition law is important for both businesses and consumers. It helps to create a level playing field for businesses and to protect consumers from exploitation. Competition law also promotes economic efficiency and innovation, which benefits everyone in society.