Faculty of Law, University of Calcutta

The Faculty of Law at the University of Calcutta offers a variety of law courses to choose from, including undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Among these programs, the 5-year integrated BA LLB (Hons) course is arguably the best option.  The integrated BA LLB (Hons) course allows students to earn both an undergraduate law degree (Bachelor of Legislative Law or LL.B.) and a bachelor’s degree (Bachelor of Arts or B.A.) in just 5 years instead of 6 years if pursued separately. This integrated course provides an advantage of saving one year of study time and expenses.  The curriculum of the BA LLB (Hons) course covers a wide range of subjects that provide students with a solid foundation in both legal and non-legal domains. In the initial years, students study subjects like English, Economics, Political Science, History and Sociology as part of the BA course. They also learn legal subjects like Jurisprudence, Law of Contracts, Constitutional Law, etc. In the final years, the focus shifts entirely to legal subjects and law courses.

It seems that Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Latham & Watkins LLP are not among the top recruiters of Faculty of Law, Calcutta University. In fact, there is no evidence that these two firms have recruited any students from the Faculty of Law in the past few years. These firms are among the largest and most prestigious law firms in the world, with offices in major financial centers and a strong presence in the US market. They typically recruit from top-tier law schools in the US, UK, and other jurisdictions, and have very selective hiring criteria.Therefore, it is unlikely that they would consider the Faculty of Law, Calcutta University as a source of talent.

According to the NIRF report 2023, a total of 5026 students were placed during the 2022 placement drive at Calcutta University. The median package offered to BA LLB and LLM students was INR 9.20 LPA. However, there is no placement cell at the Faculty of Law, and most students practice in court or pursue higher studies.On the other hand, NUJS Kolkata placements 2022 concluded with a total of 118 job offers from 24 recruiters. Among them 80 offers were accepted by the 2022 graduating batch. The average package offered by the domestic firms ranges from INR 15 – 18 LPA, and the highest package offered was INR 22 LPA. Some of the prominent recruiters of NUJS Kolkata include Cyril Amarchand Mangaladas, Kaitan & Co., Trilegal, etc.Based on these data, it seems that NUJS Kolkata offers better placements than Faculty of Law, Calcutta University in terms of number of offers, average package, and diversity of recruiters.

The fees for UG courses at Faculty of Law, Calcutta University vary depending on the course and the duration. For example, the fees for Bachelor of Arts + Bachelor of Laws [B.A.L.L.B.] is INR 40,000 per year for a 5-year course. The fees for Master of Laws [L.L.M.] is INR 3.21 L for a 2-year course. The fees for Ph.D. (Law) is not mentioned in the results.Candidates seeking admission to the B.A.LL.B at the Faculty of Law of University of Calcutta are required to meet the below-mentioned criteria:Must have passed 10+2 or its equivalent from a Board recognised by the University of Calcutta. General category candidates must have obtained not less than 45% marks in best four subjects (Excluding Environmental Studies of WBCHSE).Candidates belonging to SC/ST/PERSON WITH DISABILITY (Disability 40% or more) categories must have obtained at least 40% marks in best four subjects (Excluding Environmental Studies of WBCHSE).Candidates who have passed 10+2 from a board other than ISC, CBSE, WBCHSE, NIOS, Rabindra Mukto Visyalay must obtain "Equivalence Certificate" from the office of the Registrar University of Calcutta, 87/1, College Street, Kolkata-700073. A written application in plain paper with a relevant photocopy of 10+2 Mark Sheet must be submitted for the same. 

B.A. LL.B. is a five-year integrated law course that combines the study of arts and law subjects. Students who want to pursue this course must have completed 10+2 from any recognised board with a minimum of 50% marks (45% for reserved categories). They also have to qualify for one of the national, state, or university-level entrance exams such as CLAT, AILET, LSAT, SLAT, etc. The selection process may include an aptitude test, written ability test, personal interview, group discussion, etc. depending on the college and exam.The minimum percentile required for B.A. LL.B. admission varies depending on the entrance exam and the college. For example, the CLAT 2023 cut off for the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru was 99.77 percentile, while for the Nirma University, Ahmedabad it was 85.15 percentile. Similarly, the AILET 2023 cut off for the National Law University, Delhi was 72.75 marks out of 150, while for the Army Institute of Law, Mohali it was 60 marks out of 150. Therefore, students should check the specific cut off and eligibility criteria of the colleges they are interested in before applying. 

The five-year B.A. LL.B. programme at the University of Calcutta's Faculty of Law costs roughly INR 25,000 in total fees per year.An explanation of the major educational costs:The annual tuition fee is INR 2,000. Exam and enrollment fees are INR 3,000. Library fees are INR 1,000. Additional fees are INR 500.Extra costs include those for identity cards, certificates, etc.The annual fees amount to approximately INR 6,500 in total. The entire tuition for the five-year B.A. LL.B. programme is between INR 25,000 and INR 30,000.In comparison to National Law Universities, where the cost of a five-year legal programme can range from 5 to 10 lakhs, the programme fees at the CU Faculty of Law are relatively low.Therefore, B.A. LL.B. at Calcutta University Faculty of Law offers a cost-effective route to pursue legal education for many students.

No, regrettably, a 65 percentile on the CLAT exam will not get you into the B.A. LL.B programme at Calcutta University's Faculty of Law.According to the most recent admission requirements and prior cutoffs, the minimum CLAT percentile needed to be admitted to the Faculty of Law, CU for a B.A. LL.B. is:1. For candidates in the general category: 90+ percentile2. For candidates who are SC/ST: 55+ percentile3. 65+ percentile for candidates who are OBC or PWDThus, the cutoff for applicants in the general category is above the 90th percentile, which is fairly high. Only the reserved OBC/PWD category's relaxed cutoff is met by your 65 percentile score.The number of seats and cutoff ranks determine admission even for reserved candidates. For the general category, the minimum percentile is higher.I would advise you to try raising your CLAT score.

The University of Calcutta’s Faculty of Law does not have a specific placement cell. Upon completion of their B.A. LL.B. degree, several students opt to practice law in various courts, including Baruipur Court, Howrah Court, and Barasat Court. Additionally, some students choose to further their studies by pursuing a Master of Law degree.The B.A. LL.B. placements at Faculty of Law, Calcutta University are good. In 2022, the median package offered to B.A. LL.B. and PG (2-year) students during placements was good. Students are eligible to get internships from the 9th semester onwards. The course has a total of 120-240 students selected in every law college as per their placements. The Faculty/Department has six affiliated Law Colleges imparting 5 Years B. A. LL. B. Course