What is Criminal Law?: Course Fees 2025, Subjects, Top Colleges, Admissions

Criminal Law deals with offenses committed against society or the state. An individual pursuing this law specialisation interviews clients interrogates witnesses, conducts trials, correlates proof/ findings, prepares a case for defending his/ her client, and also examines as well as cross-examines witnesses in court.

Criminal Law is a very popular law specialization and it is known to be one of the oldest branches of law. Criminal Law includes the rules, statutes, and regulations that define conduct that is prohibited by the law because it threatens as well as harms public safety and welfare. Criminal Law also lays down a punishment that can be imposed on an individual or group of people for breaking any law.

Relevant Links for Criminal Law Course:

• Popular Criminal Law Colleges
• How to Prepare for CLAT?

Dear aspirant, Criminology is a social Science closely related to psychology and sociology focused on the study of human behavior in relation to crimes and criminal behavior. The study of criminology also teaches you to understand the how, why, when, and where of crime. Criminologists use their specialised knowledge to develop policies and procedures that will help tackle and prevent crime. Criminal justice refers to the study and application of criminology.

In other words, while criminologists are responsible for studying the thought processes of criminals and offering solutions to address issues in crime, criminal justice enforces these solutions and is directly involved in the crimes themselves. Criminal justice students study the inner workings of the justice and law enforcement systems from its inception to its structures and role in society today. As a student of criminal justice, you prepare yourself to play a role in any of the numerous infrastructures and agencies involved in tackling crime and enforcing the law. Hope it helps.

Pursuing a profession as a criminal lawyer right after Class 12th is only possible after candidates get admission to a bachelor's degree in law and then pursue an LLM degree in Criminal Law specialization. To become a lawyer, candidates need to take the bar exam. It is a state-level exam that must be passed before you can practice law in India. You must have finished an LLB program from an approved university to be able to take the bar exam. After passing the bar test, you can apply for criminal law jobs at government agencies, private law firms, and non-profit organizations.

The prominent challenge of studying Criminal Law in India is the vastness of the subject, as it encompasses a wide range of topics, and hence makes it difficult to keep up with the latest developments in the field. 

Other than that, the complexity of India's criminal justice system is another challenge. The criminal justice system of India is fragmented and often inefficient which makes it difficult for criminal lawyers to practice adequately.  

Candidates who want to pursue the LLM course have to appear for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) or the admission test accepted by law schools. Another one is AILET LLM, which is conducted by National Law University, Delhi for admissions into LLM courses.

Hi, the best Criminal Law colleges in India accept various entrance exams like CLAT, CUET,   CUET PG, Andhra Pradesh PGLCET, KLEE, TS PGLCET, SLAT, etc. You can refer below for more details:

Hope this solved your query!

This table provides a simplified overview of the differences between criminal and penal law. The actual systems and legal interpretations can vary depending on the jurisdiction. 

Criminal law and criminology are complementary disciplines. Criminal law provides the framework for enforcing society's norms and values,  while criminology provides insights into the root causes of crime and how to prevent it. Let's understand the key difference between Criminal Law and Criminology, in brief: 

Strict Liability and Absolute Liability are two different legal theories in Criminal Law. Strict Liability applies with an exception, to those who have committed the crime even if they have no intentions of committing the crime. Whereas, Absolute Liability is more strict than the former, where the person will be accountable for committing the crime even if they did not know they had committed it. The person would still be accountable in an absolute responsibility case.

Here are some top recommendations on Criminal Law books that are my personal favorite:

• "Understanding Criminal Law" by Joshua Dressler.
• "The Indian Penal Code" by K.D. Gaur (Commentary).
• "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander.
• "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson.
• "The Code of Criminal Procedure" by Ratanlal and Dhirajlal.
• "Winning Arguments" by Jay Heinrichs.
• "The Indian Evidence Act" by Cottrell.

The core subjects studied at almost every level of the Criminal Law course are Foundations of Criminal Law, Indian Penal Code (IPC), Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), Criminology & Penology, Legal Research Methodology, etc.
Core subjects are the mandatory subjects that every student in a programme needs to study and pass.

No, they are not. Online Criminal Law Diplomas are not sufficient to practice as a Lawyer in India. In fact, the BCI does not approve many degrees and certifications done online or in a distance learning mode.

There are certain eligibility requirements that need to be fulfilled for legal practice. You need to have a full-time bachelor's degree in Law and then pass the AIBE exam and obtain a "Certificate of Practice". 

Here are some of the best LLM in Criminal Law government colleges in India:

Note- This information is sourced from the official website/ counselling body and may vary.

Hi, though many top NLUs like GNLU Gandhinagar, NLU Patiala, NLU Visakhapatnam, etc., offer Criminal Law specialization. The National Law University Delhi (NLU Delhi) is specifically famous for Criminal Law and its allied fields. They even have a dedicated Centre for Criminology and Victimology where they conduct research, training, and policy analysis in criminology and victimology.

Typically, private sector jobs in Criminal Law after an LLM degree offer higher potential earnings compared to government jobs. While government jpbs provide stability and benifits, private firms and law firms often offer more lucrative positions, especially in specialised areas such as Corporate Law.

Law firms that are specialising in criminal defence, prosecution, or white-collar crime, seek hiring for LLM in Criminal Law candidates. Another options are courts and judiciary, government leagl departments, police departments, investigative agencies, universities and Law schools and many more where Criminal Lawyers are in-demand.

Hello, if you want to work for international criminal courts or NGOs abroad, the USA, the UK, and the Netherlands are some of the best options. You'll find some of the best law schools with strong networks to international legal institutions, including the International Criminal Court (ICC). 
Some of the top law schools there are the University of Oxford, UCL, Harvard, Yale, etc.

The IPC divides crimes into two categories: cognizable offenses and non-cognizable offenses. Cognizable offenses are those for which the police can arrest a person without a warrant, while non-cognizable offenses are those for which the police cannot arrest a person without a warrant.

Some common examples of cognizable offenses include murder, robbery, and theft. Some common examples of non-cognizable offenses include defamation, cheating, and nuisance.

The general principles of Criminal Law are the fundamental concepts that underlie all Criminal Law systems. These principles are essential for ensuring that the criminal justice system is fair and just. Some of the most important general principles of Criminal Law:

·       Legality: No one can be punished for a crime that is not defined by law.

·       Actus reus: There must be a voluntary act or omission in order for a crime to be committed.

·       Mens rea: There must be a mental state of criminal intent in order for a crime to be committed.

·       Concurrence: The actus reus and mens rea must occur at the same time in order for a crime to be committed.

·       Causation: The defendant's actions must have caused the harm that is the basis of the crime.

Harm: There must be some harm to society or to an individual in order for a crime to be committed

Some of the recent changes to criminal law in India are based on some recent henious crimes, which are made looking at the intensities in these crimes. These changes are mentioned below: 

• The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, this Act made a number of changes to the IPC and the CrPC, including the introduction of new offenses such as stalking and acid attacks.
• The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, which raised the age of juvenile delinquency from 16 to 18 years.
• The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, which introduced new offenses related to child sexual abuse.

Listed below are some Criminal law Diploma courses:  

• Post Graduate Diploma in Criminal Justice 
• Post Graduate Diploma in Criminal Law 
• Post Graduate Diploma in Criminology and Penology 
• Post Graduate Diploma in Criminology and Socio-Economic Crimes 
• PG Diploma in Criminal Law 
• Post Graduate Diploma in Criminology and Criminal Administration 

Yes, there are few certificate courses available for Criminal Law. The course fee for Criminal Law is anywhere between INR 9,000 and INR 18,000 for Diploma and short-term certificate courses in Criminal Law, and between INR 60, 000 and INR 5 lakh for degree-level courses. The subject can be studied as a certificate course -

• Certificate in Social Work and Criminal Justice System
• Certificate in Criminal Litigation and Trial Advocacy 

You can do courses related to criminal psychology .You can do LL.M and specialize in Human Rights law / constitution.

In addition to LL.M, you can explore about -

• PG Diploma in corporate law 
• Diploma in criminology 
• Diploma in forensic science 
• M.A History
• MSW

What I suggest you that I you want to be a phenomenal criminal lawyer, just escape law study for sometime ( if you have ample financial resources ) .For 1-2 years do some job involving field or community work like NGO job / work involving travel.You exposure yourself to a some life experience .After that switch again to law.After that you would feel the super lawyer in you.

Apart from the above-mentioned courses on Criminal Law, candidates can also view the syllabus of Diploma in Criminal Law courses as well as Certificate courses in Criminal Law below:

Note: The information is sourced from external websites and may vary.

Here are some subjects offered in an LLM in Criminal Law, Criminal Justice Course and Administrative Law course in India:

Note: The information is sourced from external websites and may vary.

An LLM in Security and Criminal Law Subjects include:

Note: The information is sourced from external websites and may vary.