24,Feb 2023
Law is an exciting field that attracts individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds, all with a shared interest in justice and the rule of law. Pursuing a career in law can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience, but it also requires careful planning and preparation. If you are considering a career in law after graduating from high school, you have a range of courses to consider after completing your 12th standard.
Pursuing a career in law can be an enriching experience for those who are interested in justice and the legal system. To embark on this path, you need to carefully plan and prepare by choosing the right course after completing the 12th standard. Whether you are interested in litigation, corporate law, criminal law or public law, there are courses available to suit your interests and aspirations. Various colleges across the country offer a range of law courses that cater to different interests and career goals, from litigation to legal research, administration, and much more.
It is important to note that pursuing a career in law requires more than just academic qualifications. Successful lawyers need to possess excellent communication and analytical skills, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of the legal system. Additionally, they need to be prepared to undertake rigorous training and education, including internships, apprenticeships, and further study. With dedication and hard work, a career in law can be both rewarding and fulfilling.
In India, students can pursue a variety of law courses after completing their 12th standard, which will set them on the path to a successful career in law. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the various law courses available to Indian students after their 12th standard. It covers the different specializations available, the entry requirements, and the career prospects for each field. By the end of this guide, you'll have a better understanding of the options available to you and what you need to do to pursue a career in law in India.
So, whether you are just starting to explore the possibility of a career in law or have already set your sights on a particular specialization, this guide is here to help you navigate the options available to you. With careful consideration and planning, you can set yourself on a path towards a successful career in law and make a meaningful contribution to society.
There are numerous colleges in India that offer law courses after the 12th. Some of the top law colleges in India are:
These colleges are renowned for their academic excellence and overall reputation in the field of law education. However, there are many other colleges and universities across India that offer excellent law programs and are worth considering as well.
Following are the top 5 Law College Rankings in India as per the NIRF ranking, 2022:
1. National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, Karnataka
| TRL(100) | RPC(100) | GO (100) | OI (100) | PERCEPTION (100) |
| 80.06 | 57.01 | 81.16 | 73.38 | 97.88 |
Source: https://bit.ly/3BEurDH
2. National Law University, New Delhi
| TRL(100) | RPC(100) | GO (100) | OI (100) | PERCEPTION (100) |
| 88.53 | 32.79 | 74.78 | 72.77 | 76.58 |
Source: https://bit.ly/3BEurDH
3. Symbiosis Law School, Pune, Maharashtra
| TRL(100) | RPC(100) | GO (100) | OI (100) | PERCEPTION (100) |
| 82.27 | 17.27 | 82.94 | 75.04 | 100.00 |
Source: https://bit.ly/3BEurDH
4. NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, Telangana
| TRL(100) | RPC(100) | GO (100) | OI (100) | PERCEPTION (100) |
| 86.24 | 37.66 | 74.40 | 72.95 | 70.05 |
Source: https://bit.ly/3BEurDH
5. The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata, West Bengal
| TRL(100) | RPC(100) | GO (100) | OI (100) | PERCEPTION (100) |
| 79.04 | 27.87 | 84.87 | 74.69 | 62.30 |
Source: https://bit.ly/3BEurDH
Following are the top 5 Private Law College Rankings in India as per the Outlook ICARE rankings, 2022:
Following are the top 5 Law Colleges in India as per the India Today 2022 ranking:
To begin with, getting admission to esteemed law schools in India after 12th grade requires successfully passing some of the most challenging entrance exams in the country. Typically, admission to undergraduate law courses is based on performance in entrance exams such as the national-level Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) or the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), conducted by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) for foreign universities/premier private institutions in India, or specific entrance exams/criteria set by individual universities or colleges.
In recent years, the demand for quality legal education in India has risen, and the list of top law colleges has expanded beyond the National Law Universities (NLUs). Private law schools have made significant strides in providing top-notch legal education to students. Consequently, law aspirants have a wider range of options to choose from. However, with the growing number of law schools and the limited number of seats available, competition is intense for state and university-level law entrance tests.
The CLAT is still the most sought-after entrance exam for admission to the nation's premier law institutes, the NLUs. Apart from the CLAT, other popular and significant law entrance tests include the All India Law Entrance Test (AILET), Delhi University LLB Entrance Test (DU LLB), and more. Prospective law students must prepare rigorously for these entrance exams to secure admission to their preferred law degree programmes.
The following is a list of the country's most important national law entrance examinations, along with detailed information about each of them:
Conducted By - The Consortium of National Law Universities
Courses - 5-year-LLB programs and LLM
Maximum Marks - 150(150 questions)
Examination Subjects - English, General Knowledge, Quantitative Ability, Logical Reasoning, and Legal Aptitude
Mode/Duration - Offline/2 hours
Registration Date - 8th Aug-18th Nov 2022
Examination Date - 18 December 2022
Conducted By - National Law University Delhi
Courses- 5-year-LLB programs and LLM
Maximum Marks- 150 (150 questions)
Examination Subjects- English Language, Current Affairs and General Knowledge, Logical Reasoning
Mode/Duration- Offline/ 1.5 hours
Registration Date- 7 September–20th Nov 2022
Examination Date- 11 December 2022
Conducted By- Law School Admission Council (LSAT- Global) Discover Law (LSAT- India)
Courses- 5-year-LLB programs
Maximum Marks- the scale of 420-480 (92 questions/ no specified marking scheme)
Examination Subjects- Analytical Reasoning, Logical Reasoning 1&2, and Reading Comprehension
Mode/Duration- Online/ 2 hours 20 minutes
Registration Date- 10 November 2022- 11 January 2023 (January Session) 10 November 2022- 26 May 2023 (June Session)
Examination Date- 22nd January 2023 (January Session) 8th-11th June 2023 (June Session)
Conducted By- National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of Delhi University (through DU CUET LLB 2023)
Courses- 3-year-LLB program
Maximum Marks- 400 (100 questions)
Examination Subjects- Analytical Aptitude, General Knowledge, English Language and Comprehension, Legal Knowledge and Understanding
Mode/Duration- Online/ 2 hours
Registration Date- March 2023 (registration begins)
Examination Date- 1st June- 10th June, 2023
In India, students who aspire to study law at the undergraduate level must successfully navigate the challenging entrance examination process, which includes both national-level and state-level exams. The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is the most well-known and widely recognized national entrance exam for law schools. However, individual universities and states also administer their own entrance exams for admission to their law degree programmes.
Many of today's top-tier law schools require applicants to demonstrate their ability via separate entrance examinations. Below is a timetable for the most prominent law school admission exams of 2023:
Conducted By- Symbiosis Law School (SLS), Pune
Courses- 5-year-LLB programs
Maximum Marks- 60 (60 questions)
Examination Subjects- Logical Reasoning, Legal Reasoning, Analytical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, General Knowledge
Mode/Duration- Online/ 1 hour
Registration Date- 15th Dec 2022- 12th Apr 2023
Examination Date -6 May 2023 and 14 May 2023
Conducted By- The Army Institute of Law (AIL), Mohali
Courses- 5-year-LLB programs
Maximum Marks- 200 (200 questions)
Examination Subjects- Analytical Skills, Logical Reasoning, Mathematics, Legal Aptitude & Awareness, English Language Comprehension, General Knowledge, and Awareness of Current Events
Mode/Duration- Online/ 2 hours
Registration Date- April-May 2023 (tentative)
Examination Date- June 2023 (tentative)
Conducted By- Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi
Courses- 5-year-LLB programs, L.L.M., PhD
Maximum Marks- 400 (100 questions)
Examination Subjects- English Language & Comprehension, General Knowledge, Reasoning, Legal aptitude
Mode/Duration- Online (CBT)/ 1 hour
Registration Date- June 2023 (tentative)
Examination Date- August 2023 (tentative)
Conducted By- Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh
Courses- 5-year-LLB programs, L.L.M., PhD
Maximum Marks- 100 (100 questions)
Examination Subjects- English Language & Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, Current Affairs/ General Knowledge (with emphasis on legal issues)
Mode/Duration- Offline/ 2 hours
Registration Date- February-March 2023 (tentative)
Examination Date- May 2023 (tentative)
Conducted By- Jamia Milia University, Delhi
Courses- 5-year-LLB programs, L.L.M., PhD
Maximum Marks- 150 (150 questions)
Examination Subjects- English Comprehension, Current Affairs, Legal Aptitude, General Knowledge, Elementary Mathematics
Mode/Duration- Offline/ 2 hours
Registration Date- May-June, 2023 (tentative)
Examination Date- June-July, 2023 (tentative)
Conducted By- Geeta Institute of Law, Panipat
Courses- 5-year-LLB programs
Maximum Marks- 100 (100 questions)
Examination Subjects- General Knowledge & Current Affairs, English, Reasoning, Legal Aptitude & Legal Awareness
Mode/Duration- Online/Offline/ 1 hour 30 minutes
Registration Date- 16th Jan-14th May 2023
Examination Date- 20 May 2023
Conducted By- The ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education (IFHE), Hyderabad
Courses- 5-year-LLB programs
Maximum Marks- 125 (125 questions)
Examination Subjects- English, Logical reasoning, Legal Reasoning, General Knowledge and Current Affairs, Analytical Reasoning
Mode/Duration- Online/ 2 hours
Registration Date- 28 May 2023 (last date for application)
Examination Date- 4 June 2023
Conducted By- Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha
Courses- 5-year-LLB programs
Maximum Marks- 480 (120 questions)
Examination Subjects- Language Proficiency, Current Affairs, Legal Aptitude, General Knowledge, and Fundamental Mathematics
Mode/Duration- Online/ 150 minutes
Registration Date- 10th Dec 2022 - 5th Apr 2023 (Phase 1)
Examination Date- 14th -18th April 2023 (Phase 1)
Conducted By- SVKM's NMIMS School of Law
Courses- 5-year-LLB programs
Maximum Marks- 150 (150 questions)
Examination Subjects- General Knowledge & Current Affairs, English, Reasoning, Legal Aptitude & Legal Awareness
Mode/Duration- Online/ 2 hours
Registration Date- 1st Dec 2022- 21st May 2023
Examination Date- 4th January 2023 - 31st May 2023
Conducted By- The University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun
Courses- 5-year-LLB programs
Maximum Marks- 150 (150questions)
Examination Subjects- English Language & Comprehension, General Knowledge, Reasoning, Legal aptitude
Mode/Duration- Online/ 2 hours 30 minutes
Registration Date- Feb-June 2023
Examination Date- June 2023
Conducted By- The India International University Of Legal Education & Research (IIULER), Goa
Courses- 5-year-LLB programs
Maximum Marks- 100 (100 questions)
Examination Subjects- Legal Aptitude, Analytical & Logical Reasoning, English Language, General Knowledge And Current Affairs
Mode/Duration- Offline/Online/C.B.T. / 1 hour 30 minutes
Registration Date- Dec 2022 / Jan 2023 (restoration open)
Examination Date- To be notified
In India, there are primarily two types of undergraduate law courses that are offered by various law colleges and universities - the 5-year integrated law degree and the 3-year traditional law degree.
The 5-year integrated law program is a popular choice for students who have completed their 10+2 education. This course combines a bachelor's degree with a law degree, and students can earn either a BA LLB, BSc LLB, or B.Com LLB, depending on their chosen field of study. The 5-year integrated course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the legal system and offers exposure to related subjects like economics, political science, and sociology.
Here are the types of 5-year law courses available in India:
These programs offer a combination of undergraduate-level education in arts, science, commerce, management, or social work, along with legal studies, resulting in the award of a dual degree upon completion. The curriculum of these courses typically covers a wide range of topics, such as constitutional law, criminal law, family law, property law, corporate law, and more. The course structure also includes moot court competitions, internships, and projects to provide practical exposure to students.
On the other hand, the 3-year traditional law degree is ideal for students who have already completed their graduation in any other subject. This course leads to a bachelor's degree in law (LLB). Students who pursue this course learn the fundamental concepts of law and legal procedures and are equipped to practice law as a profession.
Lloyd Law College, Greater Noida, offers comprehensive BA LLB, B.Com LLB, and LLB (3 years) courses to undergraduate students. Recognizing the growing popularity and importance of forensic sciences and their imperative integration into the legal profession, Lloyd Law College introduced two courses in 2021, namely, PG Diploma in Fingerprint Science and PG Diploma Forensic Document Examination.
A 5-year law degree opens up a broad range of career prospects for graduates, including traditional legal practice, corporate counsel, civil services, academia, judicial services, alternative dispute resolution, international law, and compliance. The legal profession is continuously evolving, and new opportunities are emerging with the rise of technology and globalization.
Here are some of the popular career prospects for law graduates in the 21st century:
| Examination | Registration Start Date, 2023 | Registration End Date, 2023 | Examination Date, 2023 |
| CLAT 2023 | 8 August 2022 | 18 November 2022 | 18 December 2022 |
| AILET 2023 | 7 September 2022 | 20 November 2022 | 11 December 2022 |
| LSAT India 2023 | January Session 10 November 2022 June Session 11 January 2023 |
January Session 10 November 2022 June Session 26 May 2023 |
January Session 22 January 2023 June Session 8th-11th June 2023 |
| DU LLB 2023 | March 2023 | To be notified | 1st June- 10th June, 2023 |
| AP LAWCET 2023 | 3rd week of March 2023 (tentative) | 4th week of April 2023 (tentative) | May 2023 (tentative) |
| MH CET Law 2023 | 8 January 2023 | To be notified | 1 April 2023 |
| TS LAWCET 2023 | March-April 2023 (tentative) | May-June 2023 (tentative) | July 2023 (tentative) |
| PU UG Law 2023 | February 2023 (tentative) | May 2023 (tentative) | May-June 2023 (tentative) |
| KLEE 2023 | April 2023 (tentative) | May 2023 (tentative) | May-June 2023 (tentative) |
| SLAT 2023 | 15 December 2022 | 12 April 2023 | 6 May 2023 and 14 May 2023 |
| AIL LET 2023 | April 2023 (tentative) | May 2023 (tentative) | June 2023 (tentative) |
| IPU CET-Law 2023 | June 2023 (tentative) | July 2023 (tentative) | August 2023 (tentative) |
| AMU BA LLB | February 2023 (tentative) | March 2023 (tentative) | May 2023 (tentative) |
| JMI BA LLB 2023 | May 2023 (tentative) | June 2023 (tentative) | June-July, 2023 (tentative) |
| GLAT 2023 | 16 January 2023 | 14 May 2023 | 20 May 2023 |
| ILSAT 2023 | Ongoing | 28 May 2023 | 4 June 2023 |
| KIITEE 2023 | 10 December 2022 (Phase 1) | 5 April 2023 (Phase 1) | 14th -18th April 2023 (Phase 1) |
| NMIMS LAT 2023 | 1 December 2022 | 21 May 2023 | 4th January 2023 - 31st May 2023 |
| ULSAT 2023 | February 2023 | June 2023 | June 2023 |
| IIULET 2023 | Dec 2022 / Jan 202 | To be notified | To be notified |
Pursuing a career in law is a popular and respected option among students in India and abroad. The admission process to law schools in India is highly competitive and requires students to perform well in national/state-level and university-specific entrance exams. Apart from traditional career paths such as litigation and corporate law, there are several emerging career options for law graduates, including legal journalism, alternative dispute resolution, and legal research. As the legal profession evolves, it is essential for aspiring lawyers to stay updated with the latest developments in the field and continuously upskill themselves. A career in law requires dedication, hard work, and a passion for justice, but it can be highly rewarding and fulfilling for those who are passionate about it.
