12 ,June 2024
In India, legal education is offered at different level through various top law colleges. These colleges and universities offers undergraduate, graduate, and masters degree. The Bar Council of India regulates the legal education in India. Any law university or college offering legal education needs to be approved by the BCI in India. However, today, we are here to discuss all the important details about BALLB, LLB, and other law degrees. The blog post includes details like what are the academic degrees available for students in India, its eligibility, career prospects, and more.
Different Types of Academic degrees
In India, one must first complete an undergraduate degree in any field before pursuing a legal education. However, after completing the senior secondary test, one can study law as an integrated course for five years, in accordance with the national law school model.
- Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)- The most popular three-year legal degree offered and awarded by Indian colleges is the LL.B. The majority of law schools use a typical LL.B. curriculum, which exposes students to the topics needed to be admitted to the bar.
- Integrated undergraduate degrees- B.Sc. LL.B., BBA.LLB, B.Com. LL.B., B.A. LL.B., and B.A.L. LL.B. The majority of independent law schools that provide these degrees do so for a period of five years.
- Master of Laws (LL.M.)- The most popular postgraduate legal degree, lasting two years, is the LL.M.
- Master of Business Law
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Comparison between B.A.LL.B, LL.B, and LL.M
| Aspect | B.A.LL.B | LL.B | LL.M |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree Type | Undergraduate | Undergraduate | Graduate |
| Duration | 5 years | 3 years | 2 years (after LLB or equivalent) |
| Focus | Combination of arts and law studies | Law | Specialized area of law |
| Entry Requirements | 10+2 or equivalent | Graduation | LLB degree or equivalent |
| Post-Degree Options | Can practice law with additional requirements | Can practice law | Specialized legal career or academic research |
| Career Opportunities | Legal practitioner, government service, corporate counsel, etc. | Legal practitioner, government service, corporate counsel, etc. | Advanced legal practitioner, academic, legal consultant, etc. |
Integrated Law Degrees – B.A.LL.B, B.COM.LL.B, B.B.A.LL.B, Etc
Those who wish to pursue a career in law have access to a list of integrated law programmes in India. Aspirants should be aware of the courses available in India before selecting one of the integrated legal programs.
Law courses mentioned below are the best integrated law courses that may help you launch a legal profession. All academic streams, including science, business, commerce, technology, and the arts, offer integrated legal courses. View the list of integrated legal courses offered in India, broken down by stream:
Integrated Law Courses - Arts Stream
The list of integrated law programmes in India, together with information on their length and prerequisites, may be found below.
| Course Name | Course Duration | Eligibility + Selection Process |
|---|---|---|
| B.A.LL.B | 5 Years |
• A minimum of 50% overall in the Arts, Commerce, or Science stream from a
recognized board (subject to the Bar Council of India). • Admission exams administered at the national or university level are used for selection. |
| B.A.LL.B (Hons.) | ||
| B.L.S.LL.B |
Integrated Law Courses - Commerce Stream
View the list of integrated legal programmes available in India from different institutions and universities in the Commerce and Business stream. Additionally, the following table contains their corresponding duration and qualifying requirements:
| Course Name | Course Duration | Eligibility + Selection Process |
|---|---|---|
| B.B.A.LL.B | 5 Years |
• Class 12 from a recognized board in Arts, Commerce, or Science stream with
minimum 50% marks in aggregate (subject to Bar Council of India guidelines). • Selection is made on the basis of entrance exam performance conducted at the national or university level. |
| B.B.A.LL.B (Hons.) | ||
| B.COM.LL.B | ||
| B.COM.LL.B (Hons.) |
Integrated Law Courses in India in Science and Technology Stream
In India, a well-liked list of integrated legal courses is also provided by the scientific stream. By enrolling in these courses, students can earn a dual degree in the legal and scientific streams.
| Course Name | Course Duration | Eligibility + Selection Process |
|---|---|---|
| B.Sc.LL.B | 5 Years |
• Class 12 from an accredited board in the science stream with a minimum of 50%
overall (Bar Council of India norms apply). • Entrance exams, either national or university-level, are used for selection. |
| B.Sc.LL.B (Hons.) | ||
| B.Tech.LL.B |
Integrated Law Courses in India: Average Fee
In India, integrated legal studies span five years and ten semesters overall. Depending on the sort of institution or college— whether it is private or public—the typical course cost differs throughout law schools. The average course fee for all integrated law courses in India is listed in the table below:
| Course | Career Prospect | Average Annual Pay Scale (in Lakh) |
|---|---|---|
| B.A.LL.B | Legal Counsel, Paralegal, Advocate, Law Officer, Corporate Lawyer | 3 LPA - 18 LPA |
| B.B.A.LL.B | Legal Advisor, Partner or Associate of a Law Firm, Advocate, Liquidator or Solicitor, Human Right Activist, Teacher/Professor of Government- Private Colleges | 3 LPA - 20 LPA |
| B.Com.LL.B | Public Prosecutor, Advocate/Lawyer, Law Reporter, Assistant Advisor, Human Resource Manager, Business Consultant, Law Officer, Attorney General, Deputy Legal Advisor, Management Accountant | 2.5 LPA - 25 LPA |
| B.Sc.LL.B | Advocate/ Lawyer, Legal Advisor, Legal Journalist, Attorney General, Law Officer, District Court Judge, Legal Consultant, Legal Officer | 3.15 LPA - 25 LPA |
| B.Tech.LL.B | Lawyer/Advocate, Techno-legal Professional, Solicitor, Lectures, Cyber Crime Specialist, Legal Advisor, Specialist in IT Based Arbitration Specialist in Cyber Arbitration | 5 LPA - 16 LPA |
LL.B Overview
Bachelor of Laws, or Bachelor of Legislative Laws, is the full form of LLB. During the three years of the LLB program, students gain a thorough understanding of a variety of legal topics. Subjects like Contract Law, Criminal Law, Civil Law, Property Law, Corporate Law, and Constitutional Law are included in the LLB curriculum.
LL.B Eligibility Criteria
In order to be admitted to the LL.B program, candidates must meet specific requirements. The following are the requirements listed by BCI for admission to 3-year LL.B programs:
- To enroll in an LL.B programme, candidates must be graduates, meaning they must have completed a three- or four-year bachelor's degree in any topic or discipline.
- In addition, some universities have minimum percentage requirements that applicants must meet in order to be accepted into their three-year LL.B program. Candidates in the General category must meet a minimum percentage requirement of 55–60%, while candidates in the SC/ST category must meet a minimum percentage requirement of 45–50%.
LL.B Career, Scope, Top Recruiters and Job Profiles
Candidates with an LL.B degree have an abundance of career options available to them. In order to practice law in India, candidates must pass the BCI-conducted All India Bar Exam (AIBE). A "Certificate of Practice," which is required to practice as an advocate in India, is given to attorneys who pass the AIBE exam. Following the acquisition of an LL.B degree, applicants can pursue the following well-liked job profiles:
| Job Profile | Job Description | Average Salary (in INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | This position requires both civil and criminal case representation and advice for clients. Attorneys participate in all court processes and hearings as well as presenting cases. | INR 8 - 10 LPA |
| Legal Advisor | Applicants that choose to work in this role are lawyers with specialized legal knowledge. Large organizations and corporations, as well as the government, frequently employ legal advisors. | INR 8 - 12 LPA |
| Advocate | A person in such a job profile must conduct extensive investigation to obtain tangible evidence to back up their claims in addition to factual data. | INR 5 - 8 LPA |
| Solicitor | A solicitor is a person with expertise in a particular area of law, such as property, family, litigation, or taxes. Legal counsel is provided by solicitors to both individual and corporate clients. | INR 7 - 10 LPA |
| Lecturer | Candidates can teach law at the college or university level after earning an LLB degree. | INR 6 - 10 LPA |
LL.M Overview Detail
Master of Laws, or LL.M for short, is a postgraduate degree in law. In India, an LL.M program lasts for two years. Students holding a bachelor degree in law have several options for their career path, such as criminal law, practicing corporate administrative law, environmental law, cyber law, and more. An LL.M degree provides a career path that is in line with one's goals.
LL.M Eligibility Criteria
In order to be eligible for LL.M admission, candidates must meet the following eligibility:
- Applicants may submit an application for admission to an LL.M program only after completing their legal graduation, meaning they must have earned an LLB, Bachelor of Law, or Five Year Integrated law degree from an accredited university or college.
- Some institutions share qualifying requirement and one of them is that applicants must receive at least 55 percent of their graduating credits to be considered for admission to their LL.M program.
Career Options after LL.M
Following an LL.M program, individuals have the option to continue their education by obtaining an M.Phil or PhD in law. On the other hand, those who wish to pursue a career in law might review the job profiles listed below. Aspirants are advised that passing the All India Bar Exam is a requirement for practicing law in India (AIBE).
| Job Profile | Job Description | Salary (in INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Advocate | A person in such a job profile must conduct extensive investigation to obtain tangible evidence to back up their claims in addition to factual data. | INR 4 LPA |
| Solicitor | Individuals working as a Solicitor generally specialize in property, tax, family law or litigation and they offer legal counsel to corporate clients as well as an individual. | INR 4 LPA |
| Judge | In a position like this, one must make sure that justice is served and everyone's legal rights are protected. | INR 10 LPA |
| Legal Advisor | Applicants that choose to work in this type of role are lawyers with specialized legal knowledge. Large organizations and corporations, as well as governments, typically employ legal advisors. | INR 6 LPA |
| Notary | Notaries are generally hired by the central government for a job description for the entire nation or for a particular region. | INR 4 LPA |
| Oath Commissioner | A person with such a work profile is permitted to confirm affidavits. | INR 4.5 LPA |
Conclusion
In the end, legal education in India provides several opportunities for students who have completed their 5-years or 3-years bachelor degree in law. Colleges offering law courses in India are regulated by the Bar Council of India and follow the prescribed standards. Additionally, integrated law courses like B.A.LL.B, B.B.A.LL.B, and B.Sc.LL.B, LL.B, cater to students from different academic backgrounds, developing a multidisciplinary move toward the legal studies. Moreover, LL.B and LL.M degrees provide comprehensive aspects of law, preparing candidates for different field that ranges from academia to legal practice and others as well.