How to Take Up an LLB Course and Advance Your Law Career in 2024
If you are looking to pursue a law career in India, go for LLB courses. Know all about the types of LLB courses, fees, eligibility, universities and everything else required, so that you make the right decision in your upcoming legal career.
LLB stands for Bachelor of Legislative Law, originally known as, Legum Baccalaureus in Latin. It is an undergraduate law programme that is available in the three- and five-year format.
You can pursue the 3-year LLB course after graduation. And, if you are keen on pursuing an LLB course right after the 12th standard, you can choose the 5-year one. The latter is an integrated dual degree, and it also requires students to sit for entrance exams. You can take a 5-year BA LLB course, B.Com LLB, or similar that relates to your 10+2 stream.
Today, you will know about all the types of LLB courses, subjects, course fees in government colleges and private universities, eligibility, entrance exams, and more.
Table of Content
- What is an LLB course?
- LLB course eligibility
- LLB course duration
- Top online law courses
- LLB course details after 12th & core syllabus
- 3 Year LLB course syllabus
- Entrance exams for LLB courses
- Popular LLB entrance exam and pattern
- Top LLB colleges and their fees in India in 2024
- Online post graduate courses after LLB courses
- Career prospects after LLB courses
What is an LLB course?
An LLB course is one of the most sought-after undergraduate or postgraduate programmes in India. This programme provides a foundation in the basics of the law, after which students can pursue their careers in the field. They can either practice law or pursue further education such as LLM (master’s degree) and LLD (doctorate).
The common law subjects in LLB courses are
| LLB Course Subjects | Description |
| Legal methods | Basic classifications and functions of law |
| Law of Contract | The agreement that is enforceable by civil law |
| Criminal Law | Definition of crime according to legal procedures, Indian penal code, and others |
| Family Law | Religious laws pertaining to families, marriage and similar |
| Constitutional Law | Foundations of the law according to the Indian constitution |
| Labour Law | Legal relationship and obligations among workers, trade unions and Indian government |
| Environmental Law | Various laws created to protect the environment |
| Law of Torts | Law against civil wrongs |
| Public international law | Regulations that govern relationship between countries |
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LLB Course Eligibility
Unlike medicine, commerce, or engineering courses after 12th that require students to pass a 10+2 exam in a relevant stream, students from any stream can pursue an LLB course.
The eligibility criteria vary with the duration chosen for the LLB programmes.
- For the five-year LLB course, you will need to have an aggregate of 45 – 55% marks in your 12th stream. Apart from that, you will have to qualify for the entrance exams. Also, the upper age limit to qualify for this programme is 22 years.
- For the three-year LLB course, you will need to have 55% marks in your bachelor’s and sit for the entrance exams and qualify. The upper age limit is 30 to 45 years
LLB Course Duration
To pursue undergraduate education in law, aspirants can either go for the five-year LLB course or the three-year one.
Integrated or Five-Year LLB Course
In the LLB 5 year course, students can pursue BA LLB, B.Com LLB, BBA LLB, based on their previous streams. They can choose this integrated course right after passing the 12th examination.
Three-Year LLB Course
On the other hand, to pursue the three-year LLB course, students must have completed their graduation. It is divided into six semesters and is for those looking for a career or stream change.
Top Online Law Courses
You will not be able to practice law if you pursue an online LLB course in India through correspondence learning. The Bar Council of India does not recognise it. Instead, you will be able to find law-related jobs as a notary, law reporter, and legal practitioner, among others.
One of the universities in India that offers LLB courses in distance mode is Annamalai University. (But again, its website hasn’t been updated since the last few years.)
As you can tell, it will be beneficial if you go for other types of law courses in the distance mode than pursuing an LLB course online.
Alternatively, you can also pursue other online law courses from top MOOC platforms.
| Course Name | Duration | Eligibility |
| FinTech Law and Policy on Coursera, offered by Duke University | 11 Hours | None |
| Contract Law: From Trust to Promise to Contract on edX, offered by Harvard University | 8 weeks | None |
| Jurisprudence: Introduction to the Philosophy of Law on FutureLearn, offered by the University of Surrey | 5 weeks | Need to be an undergraduate student. |
LLB Course Details After 12th & Core Syllabus
The five-year LLB programmes are two degrees clubbed into one. The purpose of this type of undergraduate course is to provide knowledge of the student’s stream and about the law practice.
In most LLB courses after 12th, each subject has two or more papers that continue from one semester to the next.
Have a look at an example of the BA LLB course syllabus that most law colleges in India offer semester-wise. The BA LLB course duration is 5 years, and is divided into 10 semesters. Do note that the subjects and semester-wise division may vary according to the college you choose, but the basics remain the same.
| Semesters | Subjects |
| Semester I | Introduction to Law (the basic theory of law, Indian legal system, etc.) English – I Sociology – I Political Science – I Economics – I History – I |
| Semester II | Law of Contract – I Law of Tort – I English – II Jurisprudence Economics – II Sociology – II Political Science – II |
| Semester III | Law of Contract – II Constitutional Law – I Law of Contract – II Political Science – III Family Law – I Criminal Law – I Sociology – III |
| Semester IV | Family Law – II Environmental Law Constitutional Law – II Labour Law – I Property Law |
| Semester V | Administrative Law Law of Evidence Jurisprudence International Law |
| Semester VI | Criminal Law – I Corporate Law – I Administrative Law |
| Semester VII | Labour Law – II Environmental Law – II Intellectual Property Rights Law – II 2 to 3 Elective subjects |
| Semester VIII | Taxation Ethics Electives Cyber Law |
| Semester IX | International Trade Law Merger and Acquisition Laws Electives |
| Semester X | Insurance Law Law of Equity |
Other Types of LLB Courses After 12th
BBA LLB
BBA LLB course gets you two degrees – Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Legislative Law. It will cover the similar law subjects as mentioned above and BBA-related subjects such as principles of management, economics, business organisation, communication, and so on.
B.Com LLB
Students get to study commerce subjects such as finance, accounting, business statistics, and audit, among others.
3 year LLB Course Syllabus
In the LLB 3 year course, students usually study the following. Do note that these subjects can have alternatives depending on the law university you choose. Also, the division of subjects under each semester is indicative.
| Semester | Subjects |
| Semester I | Labour Law Family Law – I Criminal Law/ Law of Crimes Principles of Contract |
| Semester II | Family Law – II Law of Tort Constitutional LawEthics Evidence Law Property Law |
| Semester III | Constitutional Law – I Company Law Electives Environmental Law Human Rights |
| Semester IV | Jurisprudence Constitutional Law – II Administrative Law |
| Semester V | Ethics Criminal Procedure Code Civil Procedure Code Taxation Law |
| Semester VI | Law of Limitation Equity Law Intellectual Property Law |
Entrance Exams For LLB Courses
There are different types of entrance examinations for different institutions across India.
- National
- State
- Institution/university
Based on this classification, check out the most popular ones in the table below.
| National | State | University |
|---|---|---|
| CLAT (Common law Admission Test) | KLEE (Kerala Law Entrance Exam) | LFAT (Law Faculty Admissions Test in Allahabad University) |
| AILET (All India Law Entrance Test) | MH CET (Maharashtra Common Entrance Test) | DU LLB (Delhi University) |
| LSAT India (Law School Admission Test) | TS LAWSET (Telangana State Law Common Entrance Test) | IPU CET (Guru Govind Singh Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test Law) |
Popular LLB Entrance Exam Syllabus and Pattern
If you are planning to prepare for the undergraduate LLB entrance exams, check out the requirements below.
CLAT
The UG-CLAT exam takes place for two hours. It has 150 questions. Each question has 1 mark, and a wrong answer will be marked negative by 0.25 marks.
| Subject | Preparation |
| English | Reading, comprehension, and summarising |
| Current affairs including general knowledge | International news and historical events |
| Legal reasoning | Contemporary legal and moral challenges |
| Logical reasoning | Critical thinking through identifying contrasting arguments, inference, |
| Quantitative techniques | Basic 10th standard mathematics |
LSAT-India
The LSAT-India exam has 92 multiple choice questions and is divided into three sections.
| Subject | Preparation |
| Analytical Reasoning | Deductive reasoning from principles, conditional reasoning with ‘if-then’ statements |
| Logical Reasoning (1&2) | Comprehending short paragraphs and critical thinking ability |
| Reading Comprehension | Comprehensive reading of complex passages |
You can also download the free LSAT-India preparation test paper from the official website, in case you want to try out.
DU LLB
The DU LLB entrance exam contains 100 questions, and it has four sections.
| Subject | Preparation |
| English language and comprehension | Grammar, reading comprehension, finding word substitutes |
| General knowledge | International and national current affairs |
| Analytical reasoning | Deducing assumptions and what they imply |
| Legal awareness and aptitude | Basic aptitude and awareness of the law and basic ethics |
Top LLB Colleges and their Fees in India in 2024
Let’s explore some of the most popular law colleges offering three- and five-year LLB courses in India. You will find the LLB course fees in government colleges as well as private institutions below.
Though not in any particular order, they are categorised based on their NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) rankings.
| College | NIRF Ranking | BA LLB Course Fees per year | 3 Years LLB Course Fees per year |
| National Law School of India, Bengaluru | 1 | Rs. 2,21,590 | Rs. 2,21,590 |
| National Law University, Delhi | 2 | Rs. 1,86,000 | N/A |
| Symbiosis Law School | 3 | Rs. 3,80,000 | Rs. Rs 1,52,000 in first installment and Rs. 1,32,000 in second installment, in the first year |
| NALSAR University of Law | 4 | Rs. 2,40,000 (approx.) | N/A |
| National Law University, Jodhpur | 10 | Rs.2,00,000 (approx.) | N/A |
| Guru Govind Singh Indraprastha University | 23 | Rs. 72,000 to 90,000 (approx.) depending on the specialisation | Rs. 65,000 (approx.) |
Online Post Graduate Courses After LLB Courses
After completing your LLB course, you can go for further studies from some of the top universities.
| University | PG Courses After LLB |
| Bengaluru’s National Law School of India University’s PACE centre | Master of Business Laws (P.G. Degree) [2 years programme] – MBLOne year Post Graduate Diploma in Human Rights Law – PGDHRLOne year Post Graduate Diploma in Medical Law and Ethics – PGDMLEOne year Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Law – PGDEL |
| Hyderabad’s NALSAR University of Law | Advanced diploma programmes in Patents LawCyber LawMedia LawsInternational Humanitarian LawAlternative Dispute Resolution |
Career Prospects After LLB Courses
Here are some of the top career options for professionals with LLB degrees.
| Designation | Job Vacancies in India | Salary Range Per Annum |
| Advocate | 4700+ | ₹ 1.2 Lakhs to ₹ 7.5 Lakhs |
| Legal Officer | 21000+ | ₹4.4 Lakhs to ₹ 6.1 Lakhs |
| Assistant Public Prosecutor | 100+ | ₹ 9 Lakhs to ₹ 11.5 Lakhs |
| Litigation Associate | 300+ | ₹ 2.3 Lakhs to ₹ 10.8 Lakhs |
| Legal Advisor | 1600+ | ₹ 1.0 Lakhs to ₹ 14.4 Lakhs |
FAQs
How many years LLB courses are for?
The LLB course duration is for either three or five years. The five-year LLB programme is for students who have completed their 12th exam. The three-year LLB course is for those who have completed their graduation in any stream.
Which LLB course is best?
If you are considering pursuing law after your 12th, you can go for the 5-year LLB course. It saves you time as you will not have to complete graduation in four years and then take up a three-year LLB programme. But then again, a three-year LLB course can be beneficial if you are considering switching your career after your undergrad course.
What is the age limit of LLB courses?
According to the Bar Council of India, the maximum age limit of the candidate pursuing the five-year LLB course is 22 years. For the three-year course, the age limit is between 30 and 45 years.
Can I do LLB through correspondence or distance learning?
Yes, you can, but the Bar Council of India does not recognise any certification acquired from distance learning. It is not recommended to do an LLB correspondence course if you want to practice law in the country. Instead of distance LLB courses, you can go for online law courses that are provided by major universities across the globe.
Is CLAT a compulsory LLB entrance exam?
It is necessary for the integrated LLB courses. Most government colleges accept the CLAT exam scores.
Can I take an LLB course in the Hindi medium?
Yes, you can, but you have to go to law colleges, mostly in northern India. One example is MMH College in Ghaziabad. Also, many recommend that it is better to opt for LLB courses in English, as a majority of the universities across India teach in this language.
What are the best jobs after LLB courses?
You can go for jobs such as advocate, judiciary, legal advisor, or litigation attorney, among many others.
Who is eligible for the Bar Council of India?
The Bar Council of India is a statutory body. It was created by the Indian Parliament under the Advocates Act, 1961. It is responsible for granting recognition to universities offering law degrees and who can practice law legally in the country. Likewise, it also issues the Certificate of Practice once the LLB graduates pass All India Bar Examination (AIBE).
Is there any IGNOU LLB course?
No, there are no LLB courses from IGNOU, as this degree is not recognised in the distance learning or correspondence mode. It offers other postgraduate and diploma courses in law.
What are the other options for LLB courses after 12th?
Some other types of integrated LLB courses include 1. B.Sc LLB - For science stream students (5 years) 2. BCA LLB - For computer science students (5 years) 3. B.Tech LLB - For those aspiring to practice law in the engineering discipline (6 years)
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