Candidates intending to become legal professionals or wanting to enter in law field can choose LL.B (Bachelor of Laws) course. In India, legal education is offered at different levels.
Do you want to start your career in Law?
Here, we are providing the career guidance in law for beginners.
Bachelor of Laws, abbreviated as LL.B., is the degree in law that is conferred on students upon graduation from a college of law. The degree is awarded to students after the successful completion of 3-years academic studies in law subjects.
The Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) is the first professional degree in law originating in England. The LL.B borrows from the Latin abbreviation of Legum Baccalaureus (also known as the Bachelor of Laws).
One can start their career in law only after completion of an undergraduate degree or an integrated degree after completing senior secondary education. After receiving LL.B. degree or integrated law degree, one can be titled as a “Lawyer”.
Lots of hard work and dedication is required to become a successful lawyer.
In India, legal education had been generally offered as a three years graduate degree (LL.B.). Since 1987, the academic system in law has been changed. National Law School of India University (NLSIU) was the first Indian Law University set up in Bangalore and offered a five years integrated law course in B.A.LL.B. (Honours).
BCI is the authority that regulates the legal practice and legal education in India. It sets the standards for legal education and also grants recognition to law universities and law colleges of India.
Which one is Better?
LL.B. Or Integrated Law Course (B.A.LL.B, BB.A.LL.B., B.Com.LL.B., B.Sc.LL.B., B.S.W.LL.B.)
Both LL.B. and integrated law degree are the basic qualifying degrees for the practice of legal profession in India. Both the courses are equally good in their respective places.
The basic difference in both the degrees is that LL.B. can be pursued after the completion of graduation in any stream, while integrated course in law is done after passing the senior secondary examination from the recognized Board of Education in India like CBSE, CISCE, etc.
LL.B. has the duration of 3-years, while integrated law course is of 5 years’ duration. The course curriculum of LL.B. is purely based on law subjects, while in integrated law course, the initial 2 years of study deals with the basic subjects of that course (like in B.A.LL.B., the first two years comprises the study of arts subjects) and in the last three years’ legal subjects dominates the curriculum.
Course & Eligibility
There are two types of legal courses:
Now, the LL.B is available in two formats – one for graduate candidates and another for undergraduate candidates:
Ø 3-years LL.B. – For Graduates
Ø 5-years Integrated Law course – For Undergraduates
LL.B. is the traditional law course offered by Indian universities which has a duration of three years. The course is divided into six semesters. On completion of 3-years course, LL.B. degree is awarded.
Eligibility: The eligibility requirement for this course is graduation from the recognized institution. The applicant should already have 3-years bachelor’s degree in any stream to be eligible for this course. The graduation must be passed with minimum 45% marks (40% for SC/ST). Percentage criteria varies from institution to institution.
Integrated law degree is conferred after 5-years of study in law colleges. It is done in B.A.LL.B, BB.A.LL.B., B.Com.LL.B., B.Sc.LL.B., B.S.W.LL.B.
Eligibility: The eligibility requirement for pursuing integrated law course is 10+2 from a recognized board of India. Candidates should have minimum 50% marks (45% marks for SC/ST) in the qualifying examination to be eligible for this course.
Some of the subjects taught in Bachelor of Law course are as follows:
Ø Jurisprudence
Ø Code of Civil Procedure
Ø Political Science
Ø Contracts
Ø Legal Methods
Ø Litigation Advocacy
Ø Family Law
Ø Administrative Law
Ø Environmental Law
Ø Human Rights & International Law
Ø Legal Writing
Ø Criminology
Ø Banking Law
Ø Law of Taxation
Ø Intellectual Property Law
Ø Law of Evidence
Admission
Admission process is not same for all the law schools. However, most of the top law schools in India offers admission through entrance exams. With the passing of years, law entrance exams are becoming popular and competitive. All the NLUs in India (except NLU, Delhi) offers admission through Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). Through CLAT, admission into integrated undergraduate courses in law and postgraduate courses is provided. Many law schools offer admission through CLAT.
Some of the Universities and top law colleges in India like Asian Law College (ALC), Noida also conducts its separate entrance test like Asian Law College Admission Test (ALCAT). Admission into foreign countries is done through Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
Career & Jobs
Before practicing in any court of India, LL.B. graduates have to obtain the “certificate of practice in law”. It can be obtained by giving the “All India Bar Examination (AIBE)” regulated and supervised by the Bar Council of India.
Lawyers can find employment in both public and private sector organizations. Central and state government jobs are also available for lawyers. Lawyers can also work as legal advisor and legal counsellor for firms, organizations and families.
Broadly, the LL.B graduates can work in:
Ø Legal Cells of Private & Public Sector Companies
Ø State Bar Councils
Ø Consulting Firms Indian & Foreign Law Firms
Ø Legal Department of Foreign Companies
Ø Multi-National Companies
Ø Global Audit & Compliance Firms
Interested candidates can also pursue higher studies after the completion of LL.B. The master’s degree offered after LL.B. is LL.M. Research programmes are also available for master’s degree holders in law.
Job Profiles:
Ø Public Prosecutor
Ø Legal Advisor
Ø Legal Expert
Ø Attorney General
Ø Advocate
Ø Notary
Ø Law Reporter
Ø Magistrate
Ø District & Sessions judge
Ø Teacher & Lecturer
Ø Munsifs (Sub-Magistrate)
Ø Trustee
Ø Solicitor
Salary
Legal profession is one of the most highly paid professions in which earning depends upon the name, fame, experience and job profile of the candidate. As you grow old in this profession the financial remuneration keeps on increasing as per your expertise in the field.