Watched Suits and instantly thought!
I will be the next Harvey Specter.
But your mind pops up a question - What is LLB and how do I even start?
The legal landscape has changed and is full of opportunities. This blog will guide you on what is LLB, law entrance exams to appear and career prospects in law.
3-year LLB or 5-year LLB- Which one to choose?
The biggest dilemma a student faces is which law course to choose - 3 year or 5-year LLB?
But the answer is quite simple- it totally depends on your career stage.
5-year integrated LLB (For ex - BA LLB, BBA LLB, B COM LLB etc)
Who is it built for - Students who have just completed class 12th.
Aim of the Course - To build a strong foundation along with a graduation degree.
Pros of choosing- You save one year and get a early start in the legal profession.
What to look at in the course - The course should not be only theoretical, rather it should be practical exposure oriented.
Who is it for?
Late bloomers. Students who have graduated and then decided to pursue law.
Aim- To impart focused law education and to build practical skills.
Pros of choosing- Ideal for those who want to pursue litigation as a career and there is no upper age limit to enroll.
Eligibility to pursue LLB
Another question that pops into the minds of students and parents is- What is the eligibility criteria for getting into LLB?
Specific cut-offs vary by college, but the General Bar Council of India (BCI) guidelines are as follows:
- For 5-Year LLB: Must have passed 10+2 with at least 45% for General category or 40% for SC/ST category.
- For 3-Year LLB:
- * Graduate degree with at least 45% for General category or 40% for SC/ST category.
- * Age Limit: Currently, there is no upper age limit for the 3-Year LLB.
For the 5-Year program, the BCI has tried to set limits, usually between 20 and 22 years. However, many courts have paused these rules, which makes the program accessible to most.
Major Law Entrance Exams
The major law entrance exams in which the students can target for getting admission in LLB are:
|
Exam Name |
Conducting Body |
Expected Exam Date |
|
CLAT 2027 |
Consortium of NLUs |
6th December 2026 |
|
AILET 2027 |
NLU Delhi |
13th December 2026 |
|
MH-CET Law |
State CET Cell, Maharashtra |
April 2026 |
|
JMI CET Law |
Jamia Millia Islamia |
May 2026 |
|
PUCET Law |
Panjab University |
January 2026 |
|
CULEE |
Christ University |
December 2026 |
|
SLAT |
Symbiosis International University |
Dec 2026 (Two slots) |
|
RULET |
University of Rajasthan |
June 2026 |
|
AIL LET |
Army Institute of Law, Mohali |
May 2026 |
|
NMIMS LAT |
SVKM’s NMIMS |
Jan–Mar 2026 (Phase 1), Mar–May 2026 (Phase 2) |
|
LNAT |
LNAT Consortium (Pearson VUE) |
Sept 2025 – July 2026 |
Major law entrance exams for taking admission in 3-year LLB Course
|
Exam Name |
Conducting Body |
University / Institute |
|
NLSAT |
NLSIU Bangalore |
National Law School of India University |
|
DU LLB |
NTA (for Delhi University) |
Faculty of Law, University of Delhi |
|
BHU LLB |
Banaras Hindu University |
Faculty of Law, BHU |
|
NAIET |
NLU Odisha |
National Law University Odisha |
|
CUET LLB |
National Testing Agency (NTA) |
Participating Central Universities |
|
IIT KGP LLB |
IIT Kharagpur (RGSOIPL) |
Rajiv Gandhi School of IP Law |
|
SLS AIAT |
Symbiosis International University |
SLS Pune |
Pro tip- Dont wait for your 12th result, start preparing from the day you have decided to pursue law.
What do they ask in Law Entrance Exams?
The students and parents often wonder- Do they ask “law” in law entrance exams?
The ans is: No. They check your aptitude.
The syllabus in general comprises of the following subjects:-
1. Legal Reasoning:
Legal Reasoning tests your legal aptitude. Basically, it examines your aptitude to apply rules and facts to a particular situation.
For example,
Theft is a crime under Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 but can someone be prosecuted if they took something out of the possession of the owner just by mistake?
2. Logical Reasoning:
This tests your logical bend of mind. The syllabus comprises of number series, puzzle, syllogism etc.
3. English:
The test of English focuses on reading comprehension and vocabulary.
4. Current Affairs & General Knowledge:
This tests your knowledge in current affairs, specially legal updates like Supreme Court judgments.
5. Quantitative Techniques:
The test comprises basic math from 10th grade, mainly for CLAT.
Career Prospects: "Beyond the Courtroom"
The image of a lawyer shouting in a courtroom is just one aspect of the profession. Here are some common paths for law graduates:
- Corporate Law: Working for Indian corporates, corporate firms etc.
- Litigation: Practicing in courts. This path takes time to establish but offers the most independence.
- Judiciary: Taking the Judicial Services Exam to become a Civil Judge or Magistrate.
- Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO): Handling international legal documentation.
- Public Sector: Serving as Law Officers in banks (IBPS SO) or public sector units.
- Cybersecurity: Serving as a cybersecurity analyst in IT sector.
Frequently Asked Questions by Students and Parents
Q: Do you need to know mathematics to be a Law (LLB) student?
Ans: No. Although exams like CLAT test your Quantitative Aptitude but there is no requirement of choosing PCM in 12th standard.
Q: Can students from science streams become lawyers?
Ans: Yes! Science graduates can do very well in intellectual property law (e.g., patent law) because of their technical backgrounds.
Q: How important is it to do internships?
Ans: Internships are necessary for most law students during their summer and winter breaks (e.g., interning with NGOs, lawyers at trial courts or high courts, or corporate firms) so they will have useful experience to put on their résumé when applying for jobs after graduating law school. It also helps them in figuring out their future career path in the legal domain.
Q: Do I need to have a "family background" of lawyers to study law?
Ans: There's no such thing as a "family background" of lawyers. Family connections (or "legacy") may help with being in litigation; however, the corporate world and judiciary base most of their hiring decisions based on merit. Many of the top lawyers in India are first-generation attorneys.
Q: What is the cost of studying LLB and do universities provide financial aid?
Ans: The fees for law programme varies from university to university. Many colleges provide scholarships based on 12th grades, for reserved candidates and women. For example- Lloyd Law College offers scholarships.
Conclusion
The journey to an LLB begins by appearing for law entrance exams and understanding the commitment associated with entering law school. For parents, it is required that they support their child through the long and arduous preparation; for students, this means developing a reading habit and ability to think logically.