The Indian Law Schools and universities offer academic programs in Law at various levels – Undergraduate, Postgraduate and research. The undergraduate program may be of 3 years or of five years duration (only in case of integrated BA LLB.). The postgraduate program (LLM.) is of two years duration and is offered by several universities across the country. The higher degrees like PhD and DL are offered by few institutes of excellence.

Here, we have discussed about general eligibility criteria for admission to a general Law school in the country. However, students are requested to go through the individual admission procedure of an institute/university for details.

Eligibility

Program:  B.A., LL.B. (Hons.)

Eligibility: (i) A candidate for admission to the above program must have passed the Higher Secondary School Examination (10+2) or an examination equivalent thereof, securing in aggregate not less than 50% in all the core subjects and English put together.

(ii) He/she must not have completed 20 years of age as on 1st July of the year of admission. In the case of candidates belonging to SC/ST the age limit will be 22 years as on 1st July.

Program:  LL.M.

Eligibility: A candidate should have secured a LL.B. degree or its equivalent from a recognized University, having obtained not less than 50% marks in the aggregate. Candidates in the final year of their LL.B. course can also apply but their admission would be confirmed only after they submit LL.B. results with the required 50% marks in aggregate.

Program: PhD

Eligibility: A candidate should have secured a LL.M. degree with required marks/grade for registration for advanced research and Ph.D. Program. Interested candidates may apply to a particular University in the prescribed form. The candidates shall attach a detailed research plan and design along with the application form. After the Research Board finds the scholar suitable for research in the University, the candidates may be required to defend their research design before the Board.

Postgraduate Programs: - Few universities also offer one year postgraduate Diploma program in legal education. For eligibility and admission please refer to the individual university/institute.

Personal attributes

Success in law as a profession is not based merely on marks one obtains in the exam. It is highly related to personal attributes like good oral and written communication skills, logical reasoning, power to argue and concentration, self confidence, patience, good memory to relate and quote past cases, capacity and courage to deal with threats especially in criminal cases etc. One has to acquire up-to-date information on all changes occurring in law and governance. Having a good collection of books and magazines is also very important.

Law related teaching is not merely restricted to the basic class-room methods alone. It also includes case studies, mock court etc. to make the study interesting and more practical.

Selection for admission

Admission to Law courses is done on basis of entrance tests which are generally objective type in nature. The questions invariably cover areas like Reasoning, General Awareness, Numerical Aptitude, Legal Aptitude and Preliminary Political Science.

The law entrance examinations are either conducted by an institute for admission to its courses or by a group of institutes like in the case of National Law schools which conduct Common Law Admission Test – CLAT.

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