Law” is the basic part of our constitution. The law education is the only legal education in India.
The student who passed this degree, designated as the “Lawyer” and that have to be done before the entry in the court activities and practice.
The Education of Law in India has been offered by the various universities and in various academic levels.
The Law as an education offered in India in the year 1987 as a three-year degree programme granted under the Advocate Act, 1961. The BCI (Bar Council of India) is the main regulatory body of Law education.
In the year 1985, the “Law Commission of India” has decided to establish a University for Law Education to raise the academic standard of the legal profession in India. Thereafter the first law University in India was established in Bangalore named as “National Law School of India University” popularly known as the “NLS”. It was the time when the first LLB degree was started in India.
The UGC granted the LLM one-year course in India on September 2012.
Candidates can pursue degree, diploma as well as certificate law courses at UG, PG & Ph.D levels. Law is a rule usually made by Government, i.e used to order the way in which a society behaves.
Courses & Career after 12th in Law
Law is one of the career-oriented courses after 12th. In India, the student can pursue the legal degree after the completion of the graduation in any discipline. There are the following degrees of legal education in India.
- Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) – 3 years
LLB is the most common degree of law education. The LLB takes the 3 year as the duration of the course.
- Integrated undergraduate degrees – B.A. LL.B., B.Sc. LL.B., BBA LLB, B.Com LL.B – 5 years
One who wishes to do the integrated course can take the admission in 5 year integrated programme after the completion of 10+2 exams.
- Master of Laws (LL.M.) – one/two years
LLM is the master degree in legal education having one or two-year duration. It has been started in India before 2012.
- Master of Business Law
The MBL is the master degree in legal education with the specialization in business law having one or two-year duration.
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
There is a good prospect for PhD after the legal education. Most of the highly reputed autonomous institution provides the PhD programmes.
- Integrated MBL-LLM/ MBA-LLM – 3years
One who wishes to do the integrated course with business specialization can go for the MBL-LLM or MBA-LLM. It is a 3 year degree programme after the completion of the LLB.
Admission in Law education
The students, who wish to get the admission in law, have to appear in CLAT 2023 (Common Law Admission Test). CLAT is conducted for admission to National Law Universities (NLUs) and various other institutions. Through CLAT, students are admitted in Integrated L.L.B and L.L.M courses.
Student can go for law courses with any stream (Science stream/ Commerce stream / Arts stream) in 12th.
BCI provides “Certificate of Practice” to the candidates after completing LL.B. To practice in the profession of law and to receive certificate, it is mandatory for the candidates to qualify All India Bar Examination (AIBE 2023).
Students who wish to pursue law courses from foreign Universities/institutions can apply for LSAT 2023. The admission in the Jindal Law Global School is done through the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) conducted by the Law School Admission Council, USA.
Some of the private and autonomous universities conduct their own admission test. Some popular law entrance exams are listed below:
- AILET 2023
- AP LAWCET 2023
- TS LAWCET 2023
- MH CET Law 2023
- IPU CET Law 2023
- Allahabad University (LAT) 2023
List of Top Universities in India
The top universities in India offering the legal education are as the following:
- The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata
- National Law University, Jodhpur, Jodhpur
- Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar
- Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala
- Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University, Lucknow
- Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur
- National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi
- Chanakya National Law University, Patna
- National Law University Odisha
- National Law University, Delhi, New Delhi
- Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University, Visakhapatnam
- National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi
- National Law School and Judicial Academy, Assam, Guwahati
- Tamil Nadu National Law School, Srirangam
- Maharashtra National Law School, Nagpur
Beside these, some of the universities and institutions offer Online Law Courses for the working professionals.
Jobs/Career in Law
Law is very reputed filed to choose as a career. It is hard-working and sincere field. A fresher may have to work under the reputed legal firm or lawyer for initial starting of his career.
India has a great demand of skilled lawyer as per the survey done by the Bar Council of India. Only 20% of the Indian law students are eligible to work in court.
A law student can be a public prosecutor, solicitor general or a part of private legal firms after gaining experience. The law students can appear the exam conducted by the Public Service Commissions and get the position of Judge.
A good lawyer can work in ministry, government departments and various legal advice organizations.
There is a good prospect to work in UK and the US. The law of India is just similar to the law of UK. The firms and UK government offers the Indian students to work with them as legal concern.
In order to the designation, you may be the one out of the following:
- Criminal Lawyer
- Civil Litigation Lawyer
- Legal Analyst
- Document Drafting Lawyer
- Legal Journalist
- Legal Advisor
- Government Lawyer
- Judge
Salary in law field
In this field, the salary is the best part of the profession. There is no limit of salaries if you are a good lawyers and practicing individually.
After the completion of course, while you are working under the experts, you can earn the 5000 to 20000 per month as a stipend.
By working individually in court you can earn 20000 to 50000 per month.
Top Recruiters
The top recruiting legal firms or associates in country are as the following:
- Amarchand Mangaldas
- AZB & Partners
- J Sagar Associates
- Khaitan & Co
- Luthra & Luthra
- Trilegal
- Desai & Diwanji
- Singhania & Partners
- Titus & Co
- Wadia Ghandy & Co
- Lakshmi Kumaran & Sridharan
- Economic Laws Practice
- Vaish & Associates
Books & Study Materials
There are various law books available in the market separately for undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level law courses. Facility of online resources is also be there to study law. Know some of the popular books of law from here:
- Introduction to the Constitution of India by D.D. Basu
- Public Administration by M Laxmikanth
- Indian Constitutional Law by M.P. Jain
- Criminal Law – Incorporating the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 by P.S.A. Pillai
- Manual of Labour Laws by Waseem Ahmad Qureshi
- Development of the concept of Human Rights Under International Law by Dr. Vijay Chitnis
- Private Security And The Law by Charles Nameth