Pursuing a career in law has always been a noble quest. Not because it challenges you theoretically or practically, but because it enables you to add value to society. As a legal expert, you not only get to aid people in need but be a support to big organizations and causes too. In this article we will try to look at the best law courses after your twelfth to understand the prospects.
You must look at the courses and understand them in detail before making a career choice.
Let us begin by knowing the eligibility criteria and then proceed with the courses.
Eligibility Criteria
In India, the eligibility criteria to pursue a law degree are quite simple. It requires you to sit for entrance exams, and it is a mandate for you to secure minimum marks. The eligibility criteria are as follows:
- There is no upper age limit in India to pursue a law degree.
- A student is required to pass 10+2 from a recognized board with a minimum of 45%.
There is a set of mandatory entrance exams that you need to crack in order to be eligible to pursue law. Which includes:
- Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) which allows you to pursue your degree in level entrance test for admissions to 25 out of 27 national law universities except Delhi and Meghalaya.
- AILET (All India Law Entrance Test) is conducted by National Law University Delhi to assess your ability.
- MEG UAT or Meghalaya Undergraduate Admission Test is an exam specified to the state of Meghalaya to be eligible to be a part of NLU Meghalaya.
- Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is an admission test that is accepted by some top colleges in India if you wish to pursue law.
- Other regional entrance exams are conducted by the state boards and the eligibility will depend on the choice of your university.
Popular Law Courses After 12th
Now that we have an idea about the eligibility, let us look into the popular law courses which you can pursue after your 12th.
1. BA LLB (Bachelor of Arts + Bachelor of Laws)
BA LLB or Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Legislative Law is a five-year degree course that combines the rules of arts subjects and law. It is an integrated course that will help you to pursue your legal career as a lawyer or dive into academic research.
After completing the BA LLB program, you can either opt for a Master of Laws (LLM) and then a PhD in law or register yourself with the Bar Council.
Course Details And Benefits
The BA LLB program is a mix of both worlds where a student is required to learn the academic syllabus of an arts course along with the technicalities of law. Hence, it ensures that a student has a solid base in the subjects that you will need during your daily activities as a lawyer.
This course comprises the traditional academic learning syllabus of History, political science, and sociology along with the foundation law courses like criminology, constitutional law, taxation etc.
Here is the entire list of subjects that your BA LLB course will cover throughout the ten semesters in five years. However, the sequence may vary as per the university.
- Legal Method
- Law of Contract
- History
- Sociology
- General English
- Constitutional Law
- Economics
- Criminal Law
- Company Laws
- Code of Civil Procedure
- Corporate Law
- Taxation
- Public International Law
- Environmental Law
- Law of Evidence
- Human Rights
- Intellectual Property Rights
- Drafting, Pleading and Conveyancing
After you have been given adequate time to learn and excel in the above subjects, it is mandated for you to be part of an internship under this course.
College
Some of the top colleges that offer BA LLB are:
- Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi
- Faculty of Law BHU, Varanasi
- The Faculty of Law, Aligarh Muslim University
2. BBA LLB (Bachelor of Business Administration + Bachelor of Laws)
It is a course that is a perfect combination of business and law. It will help you understand the basics of the business world combined with the principles of law. If you see yourself specifically imparting your legal expertise to a corporate firm or organization this is the course for you.
Course Details And Benefits
The BA LLB course is an optimized course that teaches you the basic foundations of accounting and business degree along with the principles of law. It enables you to tackle and manage any legal turbulence of a big corporation. It is one of the most in-demand courses right now due to the never-ending career opportunities. In fact, it is one of the preferred courses among the aspirants who aspire to be advocates and in turn a judge.
Furthermore, a BBA LLB degree also opens up your prospects towards chartered accountancy and accounts-related professions, including academic research.
It is a five-year degree course divided into ten semesters revolving around the below subjects and its order depending on the college of your choice.
- Accounting
- Managerial Economics
- Fundamentals of Business Organization
- English
- Law of Contract
- Law of Crimes
- Constitutional Law
- Family Law
- Organizational Behaviour
- Property Law
- Administrative Law
- Taxation
- Environmental Law
College
Some of the top colleges that offer BBA LLB are:
- Symbiosis Law School Hyderabad, Pune
- NLU Delhi
- National Law University, Jodhpur (NLU Jodhpur)
3. BSc LLB (Bachelor of Science + Bachelor of Laws)
It is a course that combines scientific temperament and legal foundations. BSc LLB course is a five-year degree course that focuses on the basic foundations of science like Physics, Chemistry including the basics of the law.
Course Details And Benefits
Apart from being able to gain expertise in two diverse fields with this course, a student can become an Intellectual Property Rights and Medical Rights Lawyer. It is a carefully curated course of five years that ensures you get the necessary professional skills for the mentioned roles with the below subjects:
- Chemistry
- Math
- Biotechnology and Cell Biology
- Zoology
- Botany
- Physics
- Constitutional Law
- Administrative Law
- Law of Crimes
- Family law
- Property Law
- Corporate Law
- Legal Method
- Human Rights
- Intellectual Property Rights
The range of subjects varies according to the choice of your university. However, in general it is divided into ten semesters including lab work and internships.
College
- The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata
- National Law University (NLU), Jodhpur
- Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar
4. Certificate Course in Law
A Certificate course is the best choice for you if you wish to pursue law but are unwilling to devotetime to generalized courses. Certificate courses help you with a quick degree and help you start your professional journey quickly. It caters to the specific streams of law and enables you with the necessary professional skills to succeed in that environment.
Course Details And Benefits
A certificate course in law helps you with a quick yet detailed explanation of various branches of law. It enables you to pick up a niche law profession and pursue it further. There are various types of certificate law courses available in India. Some of them are as follows:
1. Certificate Course in Real Estate Laws
- It is a certificate course that enables you to understand the legal aspects of real estate transactions.
- A student will be learning the theories of property, and the right to property and understand the legalities of real estate including managing legal risks.
2. Certificate in Human Rights
- The human rights certification is ideal for someone who is doing groundwork with the masses. It is a complete course that enables you to understand the popular philosophies and basics of human rights merged with ongoing human rights issues.
- As a student, you will be aware of human rights violations and learn to represent yourself legally in its aid on national and international platforms.
3. Certificate in Industrial and labour laws
- The industrial and labour law focuses is the law that protects all the employees employed with manufacturing units. It makes sure that an employee is paid regular wages and has optimal working conditions devoid of any occupational hazards.
- This course enables you to understand the legal framework that protects the labors and enables you to represent them. You can further branch out and become a compliance officer or Labour Relationship specialist too.
4. Certificate In International Trade Law
- The trade law focuses on the law that regulates and sets certain restrictions on national and international trade. It is the study of global trade practices and the acceptable trade norms.
- This course allows you to be part of government organizations, corporate organizations and others who seek expertise and are involved with international trade.
The eligibility criteria and the colleges depend on the course you pick. Furthermore, some certificate courses require you to have an LLB degree. Hence, do check out the relevant details before settling in with a course.
5. B.Com LLB
Bcom LLB is the culmination of two courses, focusing on the basics of a commerce degree and law. It is ideal for students who are willing to build a career around corporate law or become legal officers. It will help you widen your career choices owing to the culmination of two subjects.
Course Details And Benefits
The idea behind this course is to equip the students with proper business knowledge and bookkeeping, along with the nitty-gritty of law. Apart from branching out to academics, this course will enable you to become a corporate lawyer, which is one of the most demanding professions right now.
Bcom LLB is a five-year degree course divided into ten semesters and deals with subjects like:
- Accounting
- Management Accounting
- Law of Torts
- Law of Contracts
- Constitutional Law
- Organizational Behaviour
- Cost Accounting
- Administrative Law
- International Business
- Environmental Law
- Banking Law
This course entails for you to have practical hands-on experience and in some colleges, the internship is a mandate in this curriculum.
College
Some top colleges that offer this degree are:
- Symbiosis Law School, Nagpur
- Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi
- NLU, Delhi
6. B.Tech LLB
If you are someone who is intrigued by the concept of how things work, this is the course for you. B. Tech or Bachelor in Technology and Bachelor of Laws or Bachelor of Legislative Laws is the combination of engineering principles along with the technicalities of law.
It is a six-year degree course that will educate you on the core basics of engineering along with legal modules.
Course Details And Benefits
It is an innovative and multifaceted career choice that will ensure you have holding in the technological world, backing it up with legal knowledge. This course apart from various other branches of law can help you succeed in cyber law along with techno legal professions.
Here is the generalized list of the subjects in the course, however it may vary as per the choice of your university.
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Data structures ‘C’
- Industrial Management
- Computer Systems Architecture
- Data communication & networks
- Legal History
- Law of Crimes
- Property Law
- Law of contracts
- Family Law
- Mobile computing
- Administrative law
- Environmental Law
- E-commerce & M-Commerce law
- Taxation Law
College
The top colleges in India that allow you to pursue this degree are:
- Symbiosis Law School, Pune
- Christ University, Bangalore
- Manipal University Jaipur
7. Diploma in Law
A diploma in law is a one-year degree course that allows you to pursue law immediately after class XII. If as a student you wish to pursue your professional career in law right after school it is the course for you.
It will help you pursue general government examinations or advance towards the degree course in law.
Here are a few Diploma courses in law that might be an interesting option for you.
-
Diploma in Corporate Law
It is a one-year degree course that deals with corporate relations and helps you understand the legalities of corporate. It will further enable you to become a legal advisor or a corporate event associate.
The course fee and the eligibility depend on the university you choose.
-
Diploma in Criminal Law
It is the most traditional branch of law that shields people against individuals who tend to cause harm. Furthermore, it also decides the degree of punishment for an individual who commits harm. Depending on how you branch out with this course, you can opt to become a legal advisor, government advocate or criminal lawyer.
The course fee and the eligibility depend on the university you pick.
-
Diploma in Taxation Law
The Diploma in Taxation Law deals with the legalities in the field of taxation and covers the legal aspects of tax, GST, Tax compliance etc. The Taxation Diploma will help you branch out in your career with professions like financial advisor, tax collector, tax consultant etc.
The course fee and the eligibility depend on the university you pick.
Criteria For Selecting The Right College
Now that we have seen the various course options and colleges available to us in order to pursue law, it is critical to decide the college that will suit our needs.
India has a lot to boast about when it comes to law colleges, but we need to make sure we make the right decision by keeping in mind the following points:
- Logistics: It is very important to select a college that won’t disturb our existing logistic situation. Furthermore, if we are coming from a situation where we are unable to relocate or travel, it is advisable to select a college locally. Since the law course requires not only commuting to college every day but also a handful of practical classes.
- Budget: It is of utmost importance for you to understand and assess your financial situation before leaning towards a course. Different colleges have different structures for course fees, and it is only advisable to opt for one that doesn’t create a hole in the pocket.
- Faculty: The infrastructure or the external facilities of the college are all secondary matters. If you wish to be a part of a college that will definitely work in your favour, it is critical for you to assess its faculty. Since a good teacher can change and shape your entire future.
Preparing Tips for a Career in Law
If you wish to be a lawyer, you need to prepare for that journey the moment you decide to be one. A lawyer is someone who has expertise in legal matters and hence is a professional who is known for giving advice. Therefore, it is critical for you to adhere to your syllabus and maintain a routine for yourself along with an inquisitive temperament.
Furthermore, you can consider the following steps before jumping into the preparations;
- Selecting the right stream of law courses as per career goals.
- Understanding the academic syllabus of the selected course.
- Preparing for the entrance exams.
- Focusing on English Grammar and composition.
- Keeping yourself updated with current affairs.
- Be curious.
Conclusion
I hope this article gave you a general idea about the law courses in India. There is no ideal course, since you will be helping someone one way or the other regardless of your chosen stream of law course.
Hence, the right thing for you to do is understand which course you are professionally drawn to and let it align with your career goals.
Please do let us know in the comments what would you like to read next. We can’t wait to hear from you!😊
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the eligibility criteria for law courses after 12th?
A student needs to secure a minimum of 45%
2. Which entrance exams are required for law courses after 12th?
CLAT, LSAT, AILET
3. What is the difference between BA LLB, BBA LLB, and BSc LLB?
The base subject i.e BA LLB is Bachelor of Arts and LLB, Bsc LLB is bachelor of Science and LLB etc.
4. What are the top law colleges in India?
- Faculty of Law BHU, Varanasi
- National Law School of India University, Bangalore
- The Faculty of Law, Aligarh Muslim University
- NLU Delhi.
5. What are the career prospects after completing a law course?
Lawyer, Legal Advisor, Corporate lawyer, Advocate, Legal analyst etc.
6. What are the major specializations available in law?
Criminal law, International law, Labor law, Tax Law, Media Law, Corporate Law