6 Different Types of Law Degrees in India

There are differnt types of law degrees in India that provide formal law education. The study of law is important as it prepares legal professionals who enable the delivery of justice in society. Law degrees in India are very popular option among students. The career options available after studying law are diverse and continuously evolving as society moves toward progress and modernization. However, any law aspiring student in India has to complete some level of formal level education before starting a career in Law. Therefore, it is important to look out for the different types of law degrees and explore them in depth before deciding to enrol for a program. In this article, we discuss the different types of Law degree courses which are required before entering into the legal profession.

Legal education in India is imparted at various stages such as undergraduate level, postgraduate level, PhD etc. There are different types of law at both UG and PG levels. The undergraduate law courses include law degrees such as BA LLB, B.Com LLB, BBA LLB etc. Similarly, post graduate law courses include various types of specialization in LLM programmes such as Cyber law, Criminal law, Business law, Taxation law, Intellectual Property Rights and others.

What is a Law Degree?

A law degree is graduation or post graduation degree in the study of law. There are two types of LLB degrees. At the undergraduate level one can purse either a 5-year LLB after class 12 or a 3-year LLB after graduation in any stream. At post graduation level, one can pursue a 1-year, 2-year or even a 3-year LLM and specialise in one's legal area of choice.

Is a Law Degree Hard or Easy?

Every year, thousands of students pass out with law degrees in India. It is not hard to obtain a law degree, but getting into top law colleges in India can be tough. The 5-year LLB syllabus consists of law subjects in addition to arts/commerce/management or science subjects. On the other hand, the 3-year LLB syllabus consists of law subjects. The syllabus of

The law degrees at undergraduate level

After completing the school education, one may appear for law education after completing which a Bachelor's degree is provided. Broadly, there are two types of law courses in India at undergraduate level, namely -

• Five-year integrated law degree

• Three-year LLB

The five-year integrated LLB is more popular and has various forms. The law education in 5-year integrated law course is usually incorporated with other subjects or disciplines. The different types of law degrees under 5-year LLB are mentioned below.

Different Types of Law Degrees to pursue after class 12th

Eligibility for pursuing five-year LLB degree

Educational qualifications - In general, a candidate looking for admission to any of the 5-year LLB courses will be required to complete the school education with at least 45%. However, the minimum marks requirement may vary from college to college.

Further, if the candidate is looking for courses like B.Sc LLB, or B.tech LLB, he/she must have the background of science in class 12.

Different types of law degrees - Three-year LLB

Candidates looking the study of law after graduation in any other discipline may opt for a three-year LLB course which is also counted as an undergraduate law course. The three-year LLB course focuses solely on the study of law.

Difference between 3-year LLB and LLB (Hons.)

Both these courses are more or less similar in terms of duration. During the 3-year LLB course, the students are taught the law subjects in a generalized manner. However, during the 3-year LLB (Hons.), candidates have to undergo in-depth knowledge of the law subjects.

Eligibility for pursuing three-year LLB

In general, candidates looking for the study of 3-year LLB must have completed the graduation degree in any discipline from a recognized university.

When it comes to minimum required marks is the qualifying exam, the standard set by different colleges may vary from college to college.

Different Types of Law Degrees - At postgraduate level

After completing graduation in law, candidates can pursue post-graduation in law. There are various LLM courses offered at this level and are meant to provide specialization in different fields. Candidates can seek admission to these courses depending on their interests. Some of the LLM courses are given below.

Different types of LLM courses

Related: Online Law Courses & Certifications

Eligibility for pursuing LLM

For candidates looking for admission to LLM courses, the eligibility criteria is prescribed by the college or university. However, the educational qualification required for pursuing LLM course is a Bachelor’s degree in law.

The scope of formal law education spreads beyond LLM. Candidates who are interested in higher education may pursue a doctorate degree in law. The PhD in law revolves around research and an academic approach to the field. Students, in this stage, are more in research and development-related activities for the increasingly expanding scope of law. The following PhD courses one may look for after completing the LLM course.

Different types of law degrees - Popular PhD programs