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

Consumer Law course talks about the protection of rights and interests of consumers. It is designed to ensure that consumers have access to accurate information about products and services, that they are not subjected to unfair or deceptive practices, and that they have a fair and efficient means of resolving disputes with businesses.

Candidates can pursue undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) programmes in the field of Consumer Law. In UG level courses candidates need to pursue integrated law programmes in order to specialise in the field of Consumer Law; whereas in a PG level law course aspirants can straight away specialise in Consumer Law. Apart from degree programmes, candidates can also pursue Diploma courses in the field of Consumer Law. 

The Consumer Protection Act, 2019, is the primary law governing consumer law in India. The Act establishes a three-tiered consumer protection system, consisting of:

• Consumer courts: These specialised courts adjudicate consumer disputes.
• Consumer Protection Councils: These councils are responsible for promoting consumer awareness and resolving consumer disputes out of court.
• Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA): The CCPA is a quasi-judicial body responsible for investigating and punishing unfair trade practices.

Moreover, it is also a valuable resource for consumers who have been harmed by a business.  

Commercial law and consumer law are both branches of law that deal with business transactions, but they have different focuses. Commercial law focuses on the relationships between businesses, while consumer law focuses on the relationship between businesses and consumers.

Commercial law is a broad term that encompasses a wide range of legal areas, including contracts, sales, intellectual property, antitrust, and securities law. It governs the relationships between businesses, including the formation of contracts, the sale of goods and services, the protection of intellectual property, and the regulation of competition.

Consumer law, on the other hand, is a more specific area of law that focuses on the relationship between businesses and consumers. It protects consumers from unfair and deceptive trade practices, such as false advertising, misleading pricing, and high-pressure sales tactics. It also provides consumers with remedies when they are harmed by unfair or deceptive trade practices.

Consumer law firms represent consumers who have been harmed by unfair or deceptive trade practices. They may also represent consumers in class action lawsuits, which are lawsuits filed on behalf of a large group of people who have been harmed by the same company or practice.

Here are some of the specific things that consumer law firms do:

• Investigate consumer complaints.
• File lawsuits on behalf of consumers.
• Negotiate settlements with companies.
• Represent consumers in court.
• Educate consumers about their rights.
• Advocate for changes to consumer protection laws.

Commercial law is a basic and fundamental aspect of the today's business world. Studying it can equips you with:

Understanding of Business Transactions: As a subset of general legal knowledge, business law exposes students to legal rules governing various operations of a business such as contracts, sales, and financing.

Problem-Solving Skills: Issues related to the ability to compare the legal aspects of business and suggest appropriate actions.

Risk Management: Sensitization of skills for analysis of legal implications of business functions/propositions.

Negotiation Skills: Knowledge of the legal issues enhances your ability to barter in contracts in commercial law.

Career Opportunities: Covers the opportunity to a vast number of areas of law such as business law, corporate law, banking law, law of patents and trademarks, and international business law.

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The consumer law eligibility criteria can differe on the basis of institution offering it. However, typically, students with a bachelor's degree in law (LLB) are eligible to pursue a specialised course in consumer law.

Hope it clears your doubt !

The consumer law course duration can range from a few months to a year or more. It depends on the type of course (certificate, diploma, or postgraduate degree) and the institution offering it.

LLM Consumer Law is basically a 1-year PG course. After completing this course, students can join law firms, Corporate firms, or provide advice on legal matters. Those who have completed their UG degree from a recognised university with a minimum of 50 percent marks are eligible to enroll in LLM.

Some of the common Consumer Law entrance exams are:

• CLAT
• LSAT India
• SLS AIAT

Some areas that are covered in the consumer law syllabus are Good at analysing consumer policies, Good at analysing consumer policies, Good at analysing consumer policies, Good at analysing consumer policies, etc.

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The structure of a consumer law course can vary depending on the institution and level of study. However, the common outlook of the course is like-

• Theoretical aspects: Study of consumer protection laws, consumer rights, remedies for consumer disputes, unfair trade practices, and ethical business practices.
• Practical aspects: Case studies, legal drafting, moot court exercises, and internships to gain practical experience.

Hope it resolves your query !

Consider going through following colleges for studying Consumer Law courses:

Following are some Consumer Law private colleges:

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Completing a consumer law course can open up various career opportunities, including:

• Consumer rights advocate
• Legal advisor to consumer organizations
• Legal consultant to businesses
• Government lawyer specializing in consumer affairs
• Legal researcher or academic in consumer law

Hope this answers your query well !

Refer to the table below to know more about the future in Consumer Law:

Note- The above salary has been taken from external sources, and hence may vary.

Consumer law is enforced by a variety of agencies, both at the federal and state level. Some of the most important agencies include:

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
• State Attorneys General
• Local consumer protection agencies

Consumer Lawyers ensure that corporates/ businesses do not exploit consumers with the help of set of laws and rules. Moreover, they protect consumers from some of the most common consumer law violations that include:

• False advertising
• Bait-and-switch tactics
• Deceptive pricing
• Unfair contract terms
• High-pressure sales tactics
• Debt collection harassment