Law Colleges in India

Among the nation’s top law schools are some of India’s most prestigious national universities (NLUs) and public and private institutions that have established themselves as industry leaders. Indian students who want to study law after finishing secondary school must take the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). Many governmental and commercial organisations recognise CLAT as a condition for enrolment in their law school programmes.

The five-year integrated law degree curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including corporate law and international trade. Because there are so many law schools in India to choose from, prospective law students may find the options available to be overwhelming. This article will provide a comprehensive list of India’s top Private Law Schools to aid law aspirants in making an informed choice.

Career Options in Law

If you enjoy debating and public speaking, as well as researching and writing, law school may be a good fit for you. Although the ability of an attorney to argue persuasively in court is vital, other aspects of legal education are equally exciting and challenging. Apart from litigation, Alternate Dispute Resolution, Associates in law firms, solicitors, corporate lawyers, etc., there are newer fields that law graduates can venture into, like legal journalism. The recent interest in legal journalism as a career is mainly attributable to the proliferation of new platforms for disseminating international and local legal news, many of which were founded by recent law school graduates.

Law schools are in high demand because employers in the education sector and the academic community need graduates with fresh perspectives to shape the field. Undoubtedly, having a legal degree gives you a significant advantage in the workplace and a wide range of career options. Compete guide and details about the career options after law degree.

What to Opt? A Private Law School or a Tier Two National Law School

Private law colleges have come a long way in establishing a robust mooting culture and providing students with the best resources and international collaborations. Even a mediocre National Law University cannot compete with the benefits of a private law school. It is advantageous for students to fully use the additional internships, seminars, and other forms of practical training offered by private organisations.

Newer NLUs cannot still afford to devote more resources to research and extracurricular activities. If a school lacks the necessary resources, it may not be easy to provide its pupils with the same opportunities as NLUs. Private institutions do not need government financing to design their programmes, construct their facilities, or undertake research, just as non-profit universities do not.

Furthermore, private law schools can better educate their students for the global legal market by developing ties with international organisations and individuals. Going further, because they are relatively new, lower-tier NLUs have a tougher time accommodating large numbers of students than private NLUs, offering complete placement coverage while receiving meagre government funding and providing little assistance.

Top 10 Private Law Colleges in India- 2022 (IIRF rankings)

The Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) 2021 ranks more than one thousand Indian schools. There are approximately 50 law schools that it includes in its ranking list. The IIRF ranking is the most accurate and comprehensive list prepared by experts who carefully assess various colleges nationwide.

As per the IIRF ranking, 2022, the following are the top-rated private colleges for law aspirants in the country:

1. Symbiosis Law School, Pune, Maharashtra

About: Symbiosis Law School, Pune, has been operating since 1977. In 2013, SLS Pune received the Gold Star Award, the highest honour awarded by the Bar Council of India, in recognition of its status as a premier institution of legal education in India. Symbiosis Law School Pune jumped to number three in the NIRF 2022 rankings from its previous spot of eight in the NIRF 2020 rankings.

2. Jindal Global Law School, Sonipat, Haryana

About: An international institution of higher education and research, O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), was established in 2009. The Government of India’s Ministry of Education named JGU as an ‘Institution of Eminence’ in 2020. The prestigious QS World University Rankings 2023 named JGU the best private university in India. JGU was also designated one of the Top 150 universities in the world under the age of 50 in the QS Young University Rankings 2022. The Jindal Global Law School is now regarded as the 70th best law school in the world, according to the QS World University Rankings 2022.

3. Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University) New Law College, Pune, Maharashtra

About: Bharati Vidyapeeth New Law College has been ranked ninth in 2020 and third in 2022 as per the NIRF ranking. It received an A+ from NAAC for its Third-Cycle Accreditation in 2017 and is also highly regarded by prospective international students, ranking among the top ten institutions of higher education as a choice by overseas students.

4. ICFAI Law School, ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education, Hyderabad, Telangana

About: The ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education (A Deemed-to-be University) was formed under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, and its Faculty of Law, also known as ICFAI Law School, is placed first among the Top Leading Law Schools in Telangana State for 2022 by the IIRF Ranking. The Global Higher Education Research and Development Consortium 2022 (GHRDC) ranks this law school as the second-best among the Top Leading Law Schools of Super Excellence in India.

5. Army Institute of Law, Mohali, Punjab

About: In 1999, the Army Institute of Law was established. This private, non-profit university in Patiala, India, was founded by the Indian Army and is administered by the Army Welfare Education Society (AWES). The Institute is affiliated with the Punjabi University of Patiala and is approved by the Bar Council of India. AIL received an 'A' from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). The NIRF 2022 ranking places the university as the twenty-sixth best law school in the country.

6. Institute of Law, Nirma University, Ahmedabad

About: The Institute of Law, Nirma University, a part of the Nirma Education and Research Foundation (NERF), was established in 2007. NAAC has granted Nirma University's Institute of Law ‘A’ accreditation. The institution was ranked ninth in the nation for legal education by India Today in 2021 and seventh among private law schools in India by Outlook in July 2022.

7. VIT School of Law, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

About: The VIT School of Law (VITSOL) was functional in 2014. ARIIA, the government of India, ranked it as the number 1 private university in India for innovation, and it has garnered numerous other accolades in recent years. Additionally, VIT is one of the best law schools in Chennai.

8. Law College Dehradun, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand

About: Law College Dehradun was the first independent college for law in the state of Uttarakhand. The Bar Council of India has recognised it, and the India Today All-India Ranking placed it tenth among private institutions in India in 2020.

9. SDM Law College and Centre for Post Graduate Studies & Research in Law, Mangaluru, Karnataka

About: Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Law College is a law school in Mangalore, Karnataka State, affiliated with the Karnataka State Law University. It was established in 1974 with the support of the Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwra Educational Society. SDM Law College has been awarded 'B' accreditation by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), and it meets all requirements for full recognition by the Bar Council of India. According to India Today, in 2019, it was one of the top 30 law schools in the nation.

10. KIIT School of Law, KIIT Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha

About: Founded in 1992 as the Industrial Training Institute, the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology changed its name to its current one in 2017. A group of extraordinarily talented students at the KIIT School of Law got their recommendations for the right to vote for transgender people in 2009 accepted and implemented, which they sent to the Election Commission of India. According to the NIRF 2022 ranking, the college ranks twenty-first in the list of top law colleges in India.

Conclusion

Due to the high need for lawyers in the country, several law schools have emerged. Many of India’s top law schools are now both government and private institutions. This may baffle some prospective law students regarding whether or not to opt for private colleges. Recent years have seen a better quality of infrastructural as well as pedagogical transformation for law students attending private universities.

Compared to their public sector counterparts, private universities have an advantage when it comes to innovative pedagogical tools since their faculty members are more likely to have received training and logistical support t for such developments. The curriculum at public universities has not been changed to reflect the most recent developments in legal education, as has been the case at private institutions. The internship and placement cells at private universities are staffed by experts in the field who work hard to help students get jobs at top law firms, chambers of law, and corporate legal departments once they graduate. This vitality, brought on by a wide range of intellectual and cultural pursuits, is helpful to any student's learning.

Lloyd Law College, Greater Noida, has been successful in its mission to improve legal education and provide its students with excellent employment prospects. It takes great pride in the prestigious research centres it has established, like the Commonwealth Institute of Justice Education and Research (CIJER), the internship and placement opportunities it provides students, and the academic and cultural programmes it organises (like CATALYST, 2020). This way, it equips its students with the requisite awareness and talents required to succeed in a global economy.

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