03 ,April 2020
Law as a subject has seen quite a positive and enormous receptivity in the past few years. As an academic course, it has a robust curriculum that requires students to analytically engage with issues of contemporary relevance, in consonance with past developments. Law courses enhance reasoning and associative skills and inculcate in students the art of precision and interpretation. The world has become a dynamic place offering a plethora of professional opportunities in every field, nowadays. Following the same lead, law also has several avenues, apart from being a professional lawyer that law graduates can opt for.
Post independence, the efforts of Prof N.R Madhava Menon brought about revolution in the academic landscape of legal education in India. The establishment of National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore in 1986, lay the foundation of five year integrated LLB courses that law aspirants could joins, right after completing high school.
What is Integrated Law Course?
An integrated law course includes dual conventional degrees, one being that of law and the other ranging from the arts to science stream. An integrated law course enables you to pursue the traditional L.L.B degree along with another graduation degree, under the ambit of one academic curriculum. Both the courses are combined and syllabus is designed likewise, hence the name ‘Integrated course’. For instance, B.A.L.L.B covers subjects from the humanities stream like sociology, economics, history, and so on alongside the core law subjects like Torts, Contract, Company Law, Environmental Law, etc.
Duration of Integrated Law Course:
These are full-fledged professional courses and qualify as the minimum criteria to sit for the Bar Council of India exam to get the licence as a practicing lawyer. Since the curriculum is elaborate and vast, the duration of the degree is 5 years, spread over ten semesters.
Eligibility:
The minimum eligibility for admission to various integrated law courses is:
1.) Not less than 50% of the aggregate marks in class 12th or equivalent from a recognised board, from any stream.
2.) Required cut off in the national level entrance exam such as CLAT, LSAT, LET (Lloyd Entrance Test). The entrance tests require the aspirants to thoroughly prepare comprehension and English language, logical reasoning and basic mathematical analyses and current affairs along with general knowledge. A basic understanding of legal implications is also required to ace these exams.
Advantage of Integrated Law Course:
Integrated courses have a considerable advantage over the customary L.L.B degree. These include:
1.) LL.B is a degree that you can pursue post the successful completion of your graduation in any stream. On the other hand, you can apply for an integrated programme, right after class 12th.
2.) BA.L.L.B is a professional course that will confer you with two degrees in a single course.
3.) Broader and larger (career options After Law course) become available to students pursuing the integrated law courses.
4.) The most important and beneficial factor is that by undertaking the integrated courses, students save a year which can be better invested in pursuing further degree after law or gaining more field experience.
5.) Since a five-year course will have more number of subjects that need to be dealt over a span of ten semesters, the knowledge base of the students widens and the subject understanding becomes more comprehensive.
6.) Five year law programme will provide you with ample opportunities to participate in MUNs, Moot Courts and other internships that will enhance your overall academic exposure and make you profession-ready.
Different Integrated Law Courses Available in India:
There are different combinations of integrated law courses that are available across colleges and universities in India that law aspirants can choose from. The following is a detailed list of the available courses and related information of certain courses being offered in the country.
1.) B.A.LL.B
About the Course:
BALLB (Bachelors of Arts and Bachelors of Law) is one of the most popular courses amongst the integrated law courses that young law graduates prefer in the country. Admission to this course requires a successfully completed senior secondary degree with not less than 45% (40% in case of ST/SC candidates) from a recognised board in the country. Depending upon the national level entrance exam ranking, the applicants are allotted colleges offering the respective course. The most common test that interested candidates sit for is CLAT examination.
The broad outline of the course includes subjects like psychology, sociology, economics, history, English, Contract Law, Environmental Law, International Law, Human Rights Law, Law of Tortes, Jurisprudence, and Constitutional Law and so on and so forth.
Why B.A.LLB?
Understanding of law widens when it is taught in integration with other significant subjects. Aspects of society, historical developments, State and world economics, along with the legal ramifications are put into a better perspective for a wholesome and practical understanding of law and society. These credentials enable the professionals to have a dual possibility of exploring, both, the field of Arts as well as that of pure Law.
Since a the course encompasses an extensive range of subjects, the professional scope increases as a B.A.LLB graduate can become a Management Accountant, a Human Resource Manager, an Assistant, Legal Advisor and much more. A B.A.LLB graduate can also embark upon a career with the UN (United Nations) and chose to work in close alliance with the notable NGOs as a Legal Research advisor.
2.) BBA LL.B
About the Course:
BBA LL.B (Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Legislative Law) includes Business Administration subjects integrated with core Law subjects under a single academic curriculum. The minimum duration of the course is 5 years, maximum being stretched up to 8 years. The course comprises subjects such as Financial Accounting, Management Principles, Professional and effective communication, etc and imperative law subjects such as Administrative law, Company law, Family Law, Civil Law, and so forth. Usually, BBALL.B graduates opt for specialization in one of the following law subjects namely, Criminal law, Business law, corporate law, and Company law.
The eligibility criteria and modus operandi of securing admission to the course is the same as that for BALL.B and any other integrated law course. Exams like CLAT, LSAT India, and other college specific entrances are a pre-requisite to have been cleared with a suitable rank in addition to the minimum eligibility criterion of class 12th score.
Why BBA LL.B?
This degree would open doors for a career in varied arenas like management, administration, planning, banking, industry and much more in addition to the legal field. The need of the hour in various business and professional houses is an advisor who is legally sound and additionally proficient in business management. On the professional front, students ca shoes from a range of job options available like Banking Ombudsmen, Company Secretary, Deputy Legal Advisor, Government Attorney, Management Accountant, Trademark and copyright attorney, etc.
3.) B.Tech LLB
About the Course:
B.Tech LLB (Bachelor of Technology & Bachelor of Legislative Law) is an integrated law course of 6 years’ duration. The course includes engineering subjects for the primary three years, followed by the important and core law subjects. As part of this course, candidates are taught engineering subjects for the first three years which are followed by law subjects. The eligibility criteria requires the applicant to be from the science stream 9Physics, Chemistry, biology/Mathematics) in the senior secondary level. The minimum eligibility being an aggregate of 55% marks in class 12th from a recognized board.
Why B.Tech. LLB?
B.Tech LL.B opens avenues to work as Legal analyst, software consultant, legal assistant, etc.
4.) BSc. LL.B
About the Course:
BSc. LLB (Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Legislative Law) is an integrated law course that deals with science subjects such as biotechnology, chemistry, forensic, industrial physics, electronics, etc and the aforementioned principle law subjects. The eligibly and application and admission criteria are same as other mentioned courses.
Why B.Sc.LLB?
BSc.LLB students are well versed with the technical aspects of scientific applications and are well suited to adjust in careers that deal with Intellectual Property laws. Other career options available are the same as open to all law graduates.
5.) B.Com LLB
What is B.Com LLB?
B.Com LLB (Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Legislative Law) has been of a rising interest amongst students who aim to pursue integrated law courses in the country. B. Com LLB is an integrated course in which students are taught both commerce as well as law subjects. Admission to this course requires a successfully completed senior secondary degree with not less than 45% (40% in case of ST/SC candidates) from a recognized board in the country. Depending upon the national level entrance exam ranking, the applicants are allotted colleges offering the respective course. The most common test that interested candidates sit for is CLAT examination.
The broad outline of the course includes commerce subjects like Accounting, Business Studies, Economics, Taxation are included along with the law subjects such as IPR, Environmental Law, Law of Torts, Company Law, Legal Writing, etc.
Why BCom.LLB?
Students are taught commerce subjects alongside law subjects that train them to better understand the corporate dynamics. Career opportunities for them include working with corporate law firms in various capacities - legal advocate, advisor, and solicitor. In addition to the aforementioned, they could also take up jobs at public sector undertakings, government organizations or be a part of the academia as lecturers or teachers. They could also tap in their potential to start their own law firms as they have a fair background to subjects related to business and commerce.
Author
Assistant Professor
Lloyd Law College