LLB Course Explained: Your Complete Guide to Becoming a Lawyer in India

Have you ever been attracted to the power of legal arguments that occur in the courtrooms? Or are you inspired by the role that lawyers play in upholding justice? If yes, you might want to know how to start your law journey.  The LLB course is a highly respected LLB qualification in India and may be your starting point for your journey in law. Whether you're a student fresh out of class 12th or a graduate looking to broaden your horizons, it's worth knowing what the LLB course has in store for you. Here, in this blog, we will answer all your inquisitive questions. What is LLB Course? What is LLB full form in law? What is LLB Course duration? What is the eligibility for becoming a lawyer after 12th or graduation? We will discuss everything, right from course information to career options, fees, best colleges, and anything else that will aid you in making well-informed decisions. Ultimately, you will have the clarity, guidance, and other actionable insights to follow such an esteemed career. Additionally, career counselling for students is a great option to choose the right path in your academics and career.

What is LLB Course?

LLB Course, meaning Legum Baccalaureus in Latin, widely known as Bachelor of Laws, is an undergraduate degree in law in India. It gives you the opportunity to become a practicing lawyer or a certified legal professional. This course will help you build strong foundational legal knowledge and the necessary skills to understand and implement the law.

BA LLB Full Form

Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (BA LLB) is an integrated 5-year program including the subjects in humanities like Political Science, Economics, etc., along with the core legal subjects.

Particulars	Details
LLB Full Form	Bachelor of Legislative Law
LLB Course Eligibility Criteria	Graduation with a minimum of 55%
LLB Course Duration After Graduation	3 Years
LLB Course Fees	Up to INR 3 Lakhs (May vary from college to college)
LLB Average Salary	3 to 6 Lakhs (Depending on your skills, understanding, and experience)
LLB Job Positions	Advocate, Solicitor, Law Officer, Legal Manager, Legal Advisor

What are the Types of LLB Courses in India?

The two ways in which a candidate can pursue an LLB degree in India are:

• 3-Year LLB Course: This course is for you if you have already completed your bachelor's degree in any field. It focuses entirely on legal studies.
• 5-Year Integrated LLB Course: You can do this course right after completing 12th grade with a minimum of 50%. It combines an undergraduate degree with legal studies.

These two ways ensure flexibility and welcome aspirants from all academic backgrounds to join this course in law.

Course	Full Form	LLB Course Duration	Eligibility
BA LLB	Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Legislative Law	5 Years	10+2 with 50%
BBA LLB	Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Legislative Law	5 Years	10+2 with 50%
B.Sc LLB	Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Legislative Law	5 Years	10+2 with 50%
B.Com LLB	Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Legislative Law	5 Years	10+2 with 50%

LLB Course Duration 

There are two kinds of LLB courses:

1. A 3-Year LLB Course that is further divided into 6 semesters across 3 years, 
2. The 5-Year LLB course is divided into 10 semesters across 5 years. 

Both of these course durations include internships, moot court participation, and hands-on training to make sure that the aspirants are well-versed with the practical understanding along with the theoretical education. 

LLB Eligibility Criteria

For 5-Year Integrated LLB:

If you want to pursue a 5-year program, you must have passed class 12th in any stream with a minimum of 50% marks. Apart from this, the aspirant must clear entrance exams like CLAT or any state-level tests, depending on the college.

For 3-Year Integrated LLB:

For a 3-Year Integrated LLB program, graduation in any discipline is a must with a minimum of 50%. A candidate must clear entrance exams like DU LLB, MH CET Law, and others, depending on the college they are applying for. 

Top Law Entrance Exams in India

Getting admission into a good law college in India requires a law aspirant to clear a law entrance exam. The following exams are accepted by almost all  the prominent law universities:

• • CLAT: Students give the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) to get admission into National Law Universities (NLUs).
  • AILET: All India Law Entrance Test is conducted by the National Law University Delhi for admission into its various law programs. 

• MH CET Law: The Maharashtra Common Entrance Test for Law is conducted by the CET Cell, Maharashtra. This is a state-level entrance exam that several law colleges in Maharashtra accept. 
• SLAT: Symbiosis Law Admission Test is a common entrance exam for getting admission into Symbiosis Law Schools in Pune, Hyderabad, Noida, and Nagpur. 

Exams	For	Countries	Structure
CLAT	BA LLB, BBA LLB, BCom LLB, LLM	India	English, General Knowledge, Maths, Legal Aptitude, Logical Reasoning (MCQs)
AILET	BA LLB, LLm	India	English, General Knowledge, Legal Aptitude, Reasoning, Elementary Mathematics (MCQs)
SLAT	BA LLB, BBA LLB at Symbiosis Law School	India	Logical thinking, Legal Analysis, Analytical Reasoning, Comprehension, and General Awareness
LNAT	Undergraduate law programs in certain law universities	UK	Reading Passages (MCQs), Essay Section
GRE	Some US law schools as an LSAT alternative	Various	Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Analytical Writing

LLB Course Admission Process 

The admission process of the LLB course is divided into various steps. Below is the detailed breakdown of step by step:

1. Checking the Eligibility Criteria

A candidate must have completed their 12th grade for an integrated 5-Year LLB program, or a graduation in any field for a standard LLB program, both with a minimum of 50%. 

2. Registering for the Entrance Exams

Candidates must register themselves for the appropriate entrance exam (CLAT, AILET, etc.), study for the exams, practice mock papers and previous years' papers, and appear for the exam on the scheduled date. 

3. Application Process

Fill out the application forms (mostly online) for the colleges or universities you would like to study at. Submit all the documents to the university and pay the application fees. 

4. Merit List and Counselling

After the application forms are filled out, universities release the merit list based on the entrance exam results and academic performance. Students might need to attend the counselling session after this for seat allocation, document verification, and choosing the preferred course in law. 

5. Personal Interviews 

Some institutes conduct personal interviews or group discussions to get the best candidates out of all the applicants. 

6. Admission Offer

Once you have been selected by any of the law universities, you will get a provisional admission offer based on your entrance exam performance, counselling, and personal interview. Pay the admission fees and confirm your seat in the college, if you feel everything is good to go. 

7. Final Admission

Complete the verification process with all the submitted documents, enroll in the LLB program, and register for classes. After this, you can attend the orientation session as scheduled by the institute. 

Documents Required for Admission into a Law University

• Academic Certificates (10th and 12th grade mark sheets)
• Entrance exam scorecard
• Birth certificate 
• Identity proof (Adhaar Card, Passport, etc.)
• Passport-sized photographs 
• Caste certificate (if applicable)
• Transfer certificate or migration certificate (if applicable)

LLB Course Details and Curriculum

The LLB Curriculum gives a brief on the skills required for a successful legal profession. The main objective of this program is to help law students understand the core legal concepts, develop practical skills, and gain specialization in certain fields. The LLB course details after 12th are broken down as follows:

Core Legal Subjects

Below are the core law subjects which are common in all LLB degrees and builds the foundation for your understanding of law:

• Constitutional Law: Understand the fundamental principles of a country as well as the responsibilities and rights of its citizens. 

• Contract Law: Learn how legally enforceable agreements are prepared and upheld. 

• Criminal Law: Explore the legal principles that regulate crimes and penalties in the field of criminal law. 

• Tort Law: Learn about the civil wrongs and victim remedies that fall under tort law. 

• Property Law: Learn about the legal aspects of property ownership and usage.

• Legal Research Writing: Gain communication and critical thinking skills that are required for law practice. You will learn how to assess legal problems, find relevant case law, and create strong legal arguments (oral and written). 
• Public International Law: Identify the norms and guidelines that regulate interactions between states and international organizations. This is called public international law.

Other Subjects

Depending on the focus of a university, few LLB programmes offer extra core subjects or electives:

• Administrative Law
• Family Law
• Environmental Law
• Tax Law
• Labor Law
• Company Law

Specializations

The foundational curriculum provides a wide legal basis, but many LLB programmes provide specializations in areas like:

• Intellectual Property Law 
• Corporate Law
• Criminal Law
• Environmental Law
• Human Rights Legislation

These specialisations typically involve additional coursework and often require students to complete a thesis or capstone project related to their chosen field of study.

LLB Course Fees Structure

The LLB course fees is different for different universities and locations. The approximate fees of an LLB course in India are as follows:

• Government Colleges: INR 5000 to INR 50,000 annually. 
• Private Colleges: INR 10,000 to INR 1,00,000 annually.

The course fees are different in different colleges depending on the institution’s location, facilities, and other factors. It is advisable to visit the university’s official website to know the exact amount. 

Top Colleges/Universities for LLB in India 

• National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore
• NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad
• National Law University, Delhi
• Faculty of Law, Delhi University 
• Symbiosis Law School, Pune
• Government Law College, Mumbai
• ILS Law College, Pune

Skills Required to Succeed in Your Law Career

• Good communication and writing skills
• Critical thinking and analytical reasoning 
• Problem-solving and negotiation
• Ethical judgement and professionalism

These skills are developed during the course and also during the internships and courtroom practice.

Career Opportunities After LLB

Career Path	Scope	Workplaces
Legal Practitioner (Lawyer/Advocate)	Preparing legal documents, giving legal advice, and advocating for clients in court.	Opportunities in Private practice, law firms, government bodies, and corporate legal departments.
Judicial Services	Serving as a judge or magistrate	Tribunals Supreme Court, High courts
Corporate Lawyer	Advising corporates on legal matters, ensuring compliance, and handling M&A	Corporate legal departments, MNCs, and business consultancies.
Legal Advisor/Consultant	Providing expert legal advice	Corporations, consulting firms, NGOs, and Government agencies.
Public Prosecutor	Representing the state in criminal cases	Government legal departments, courts
Legal Analyst	Analyzing laws and regulations, providing reports, and assisting in policy formulation	Think tanks, research organizations, and media houses
Legal Officer	Managing legal affairs and ensuring legal compliance	Banks, insurance companies, and public sector undertakings
Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO)	Providing outsourced legal services, which include document review and legal research	LPO firms, multinational corporations
Civil Services	Stepping into the administrative services and showcasing skills in various government departments.	Government departments and public sector organizations.

Scope and Opportunities 

Opportunity	Description
Diverse Specializations	Criminal Law, Corporate Law, IP Law, Environmental Law, etc.
Higher Studies	LLM or PhD for gaining specialization in a specific area or advancing a career in academics.
International Opportunities	Working with international law firms, NGOs, or firms in other countries.
Public Service	Public Interest Litigation, NGOs, and Policy Writing
Entrepreneurship	Start a private law practice or legal consultancy firm.

LLB vs. Other Legal Courses

Features	LLB	BA LLB	BBA LLB	LLM
Duration	3 Years	5 Years	5 Years	1-2 Years
Entry-Point	After Graduation	After 12th	After 12th	After LLB
Focus	Pure Law	Humanities + Law	Business + Law	Specialization

Post-LLB Options - What You Can Pursue After Graduation?

Once you have finished your LLB, you can consider:

• LLM (Master of Laws): This course is pursued after completing LLB. It provides specializations in fields like International Law, Corporate Law, or Criminal Law.

• Judiciary Exams: PCS(J) or Higher Judiciary Exams

• • Bar Council Exams: To practice law in the courts.

• International Practices: Go for bar exams in countries like the US (NY Bar) or the UK (Solicitor Exams)

BookYourCareer - Your Career Counselling Support

With so many options available, navigating a good law school and entrance exam can be breathtaking. That is where we jump in:

• One-to-one career counselling sessions with the experts
• We help you select a college based on your profile
• Application Guidance and updates. 

Book a free career cousnelling session today and with us, take your first step towards your dream legal career.