Law

About Law

We may all have our reservations about the legal system of India, but the laws that are applied in the governance of the country are an indispensible component and require a disciplined and highly knowledgeable group of people to oversee its implementation.

These laws - as prescribed in the Constitution of India - often face contradiction and highly-publicized conflicts due to the secular nature of our country with religion having their own set of rules that needs adherence. That's just one of the many hassles of the legal system in India, as different domains contain a comprehensive set of regulations that need to be enforced on a customary basis.

Criminal law, labour law, constitutional law, administrative law, family law, company law, property law and tax law are just some of the sub sects of a vast system that upholds the fabric of the society by regulating practically every operation in the nation, be it administrative, economic or anything for that matter.

The Indian Judiciary is tasked with the assignment of superintending the laws and it's no mean task as we all would have guessed by now. We've seen it all in the movies and through the depiction by mainstream media; the judiciary of India leaves a lot to be desired.

The seven sins as coined by Supreme Court justice Ruma Pal lists Nepotism, plagiarism, hypocrisy, professional arrogance, secrecy, self-arrogance and turning a blind eye as the major ills that plague the system. Nonetheless, for all the brickbats that are directed towards the judicial system, the duties of a lawyer right up to a chief justice are usually rugged and stressful, and unsurprisingly enough, commands a solid level of intelligence, awareness, perception and extensive know-how about the subject matter.

Don't let the dreary side of the law and the requirements needed to make it big in the field discourage you from becoming a lawyer as it's one of the noblest professions you will ever come across.

The country needs efficient and motivated lawyers and if you have settled for it as your career, these are the course that you could pursue in a bid to climb the judicial ladder:

Diploma in Cyber Law (D.C.L.) (1 year)
Diploma in Human Rights (3 years)
Diploma in Intellectual Property Right (IPR) (2 years)
Diploma in Intellectual Property Laws (D.I.P.L.) (2 years)
Diploma in Labour Laws and Labour Welfare (D.L.L. and L.W.) (1 year)
Diploma in Labour Laws (DLL) (1 year)
Diploma in International Business Laws and Corporate Laws In India (D.I.B.L. and C.L.I.) (1 year)
Diploma in Taxation Laws and Practice (2 years)
Diploma in Taxation Laws (D.T.L.) (1 year)
Diploma in Cyber Investigation and Laws (6 months)
Diploma in Paralegal Practice (DIPP) (3 years)
Diploma in Legislative Drafting (2 years)
Diploma in Cyber Laws and Information Technology (1 year)
Diploma in Corporate Laws and Management (1 year)
Diploma on Alternative Dispute Resolution System (1 year)
Diploma in Co-operative Law (1 year)
Diploma in Criminal Law (1 year)
Diploma in Human Resource Management and Labour Laws (1 year)
Diploma in Medical Jurisprudence (1 year)
Diploma in Women's Studies and Gender Justice (1 year)
Diploma in International Laws (1 year)
Diploma in Human Rights Jurisprudence (1 year)
Diploma in Criminology and Penology (1 year)
Diploma in Arbitration, Conciliation, and Alternative Dispute Resolution System (1 year)
Diploma in Consumer Consultancy (1 year)
Diploma in Business Law (1 year)

Eligibility and Cutoff

The criterion varies from course to course. Most of the diploma programmes would need you to complete Class 12. Some of the courses would need you to clear graduation in order to be eligible.
Diploma courses in Law are usually pursued by students who have done their graduation in order to gain more knowledge in a specific discipline. However, most of the courses can be taken up by a Class 12 pass out with no specific cut-off mentioned.
An entrance exam and personal interview round is a norm in some of the top institutes.

Cut off Marks for Diploma

Average Fees

5,000 - 75,000 for the entire course. The fee may differ from course to course and also depending on the institute.

Average Fees for Diploma

Bachelor of Legislative Law (L.L.B.) (3 years)
Bachelor of Arts + Bachelor of Legislative Law (B.A.) + (L.L.B.) (5 years)
Bachelor of Commerce + Bachelor of Legislative Law (B.Com.) + (L.L.B.) (5 years)
Bachelor of Science + Bachelor of Legislative Law (B.Sc.) + (L.L.B.) (5 years)
Bachelor of Business Administration + Bachelor of Legislative Law (B.B.A.) + (L.L.B.) (5 years)
Bachelor of Arts + Bachelor of Legislative Law (Honours) (B.A.) + (L.L.B.) (Hons.) (5 years)
Bachelor of Commerce + Bachelor of Legislative Law (Honours) (B.Com.) + (L.L.B.) (Hons.) (5 years)
Bachelor of Science + Bachelor of Legislative Law (Honours) (B.Sc.) + (L.L.B.) (Hons.) (5 years)
Bachelor of Business Administration + Bachelor of Legislative Law (Honours) (B.B.B.) + (L.L.B.) (Hons.) (5 years)
Bachelor of Legislative Law Honours (L.L.B.) (Hons.) (3 years)
Bachelor of Socio-Legal Sciences + Bachelor of Legislative Law (B.S.L.) + (L.L.B.) (5 years)

Eligibility and cut-off marks

A candidate must have completed his or her graduation (most preferably B.A., B.Com, B.B.A. or B.Sc.) with a minimum aggregate score of at least 45% to be eligible to pursue L.L.B.
The cut-off is relaxed for reserved category students at 40%.
Law being one of the more technical courses asks for an entrance exam clearance as most reputed institutes consider its scores before admitting candidates. Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a national level entrance exam that is conducted every year. It is accepted by 19 National Law universities in addition to 43 other institutes across the country.
Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a global level entrance test which is conducted four times a year (at different certified centers) and is accepted by most universities and colleges.
All India Law Entrance Test (AILET), Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET), Army Institute of Law Entrance Test are some of the other notable exams that are quite popular amongst aspiring law graduates.
Counseling and personal interview rounds may be the final barrier before a seat is confirmed.

Cut off Marks for Graduation

Average Fees

1,500 - 2.5 lakhs a year. The fee varies depending to course combination and also the institute.

Average Fees for Graduation

Post Graduation

Master of Legislative Law (L.L.M.) (2 years)
Master of Legislative Law (L.L.M.) in Constitutional Law (2 years)
Master of Legislative Law (L.L.M.) in Criminal Law (2 years)
Master of Legislative Law (L.L.M.) in Labour Laws (2 years)
Master of Legislative Law (L.L.M.) in Corporate Law (2 years)
Master of Legislative Law (L.L.M.) in International Trade and Economic Law (2 years)
Master of Legislative Law (L.L.M.) in Intellectual Property Rights (2 years)
Master of Legislative Law (L.L.M.) in Energy Laws (2 years)
Master of Legislative Law (L.L.M.) in Business Law (2 years)
Master of Legislative Law (L.L.M.) in Family Law (2 years)
Master of Legislative Law (L.L.M.) in International Environmental Law (2 years)
Master of Legislative Law (L.L.M.) in Constitutional Law and Administrative Law (2 years)
Master of Legislative Law (L.L.M.) in Corporate and Financial Law (2 years)
Master of Legislative Law (L.L.M.) in Mercantile Law (2 years)
Master of Legislative Law (L.L.M.) in Criminal Law and Commercial Law (2 years)
Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) in Law (2 years)
Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) in International Legal Studies (2 years)
Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) in Social Sciences With Law (2 years)
Master of Arts (M.A.) in Criminology and Criminal Justice (2 years)
Master of Arts (M.A.) in Human Rights (2 years)
Master of Arts (M.A.) in Criminal Justice (2 years)
Master of Arts in Business Law (M.A.) (Corporate Governance and Statutory Compliances) (2 years)
Master of Arts (M.A.) in Public Policy, Law and Governance (2 years)
Master of Legislative Law (L.L.M.) in Criminology (2 years)
Master of Legislative Law (L.L.M.) in Anti-Terrorism Laws (2 years)
Master of Cyber Law and Information Technology (M.C.L.I.T.) (2 years)
Master of Labour Laws and Labour Welfare (2 years)
Master of Science (M.Sc.) Intellectual Property Rights (2 years)
Master of Intellectual Property Law (2 years)
Master of Comparative Law (2 years)
Post Graduation Diploma in Cyber Laws (2 years)
Post Graduation Diploma in Human Rights Law (PGDHRL) (1 year)
Post Graduation Diploma in Intellectual Property Rights (PGDIPRL) (1 year)
Post Graduation Diploma in Labour Laws (PGDLL) (1 year)
Post Graduation Diploma in Taxation Laws (PGDTL) (2 years)
Post Graduation Diploma in Environmental Law (PGDEL) (2 years)
Post Graduation Diploma in Administrative Law (1 year)
Post Graduation Diploma in Business Law (PGDBL) (2 years)
Post Graduation Diploma in Corporate Law (PGDCL) (1 year)
Post Graduation Diploma in Insurance Law (PGDIL) (2 years)
Post Graduation Diploma in Labour Law and Labour Welfare (1 year)
Post Graduation Diploma in Legal and Forensic Sciences (2 years)
Post Graduation Diploma in Medical Law and Ethics (PGDMLE) (1 year)
Post Graduation Diploma in International Trade Law (PGDITL) (1 year)
Post Graduation Diploma in Intellectual Property Rights and Patent Management (9 months)
Post Graduation Diploma in Cyber Law and Information Security (PGDCLIS) (1 year)
Post Graduation Diploma in Human Rights and Values in Education (1 year)
Post Graduation Diploma in Consumer Laws (1 year)
Post Graduation Diploma in Industrial Law (2 years)
Post Graduation Diploma in Media Laws (1 year)
Post Graduation Diploma in Right to Information (1 year)
Post Graduation Diploma in Medical Laws and Ethics (1 year)
Post Graduation Diploma in Legal Processing Outsourcing (1 year)
Post Graduation Diploma in Industrial and Intellectual Property Law (1 year)
Post Graduation Diploma in Cyber Laws and Intellectual Property Rights (1 year)
Post Graduation Diploma in Judging and Court Management (1 year)
Post Graduation Diploma in Tax Management and Tax Administration
Post Graduation Diploma in Medical Jurisprudence (1 year)
Post Graduation Diploma in Criminology and Correctional Management (1 year)
Post Graduation Diploma in Applied Criminology (2 years)
Post Graduation Diploma in Patent Protection, Enforcement and Management (1 year)
Post Graduation Diploma in Alternate Dispute Resolution (1 year)
Post Graduation Diploma in Child Rights Law (1 year)
Post Graduation Programme in Human Rights (5 years)

Eligibility and Cutoff

A candidate must have cleared graduation (L.L.B or any similar law-related bachelor's programme) with a minimum aggregate score of 55% (50% for SC/ST/OBCs).
Post Graduation programmes in Law are also offered via distance education that can be done online, which makes the process a little less tedious than traditional on-campus offerings.
Most institutes accept candidates on the basis of merit as per their graduation scores but a handful of the top colleges would need you to go through an entrance exam.
CLAT and LSAT are the most popular ones apart from the specialized exams conducted by the universities themselves.

Cut off Marks for Post-Graduation

Average Fees

1,000 to 4.4 lakhs a year. The fee differs from course to course and also depending on the university.

Average Fees for Post-Graduation

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Law (2 years)
Doctor of Laws (L.L.D.) (3 years)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Social Sciences with Law (2 years)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Interdisciplinary (3 years)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in International Legal Studies (2 years)

Eligibility and Cutoff

A candidate must have cleared his or her master's in Law or in any similar stream such as social sciences with a minimum aggregate score of at least 55%. The cut-off for reserved category candidates is 50%. Some of the highly sought-after institutes have set the cut-off at 60%.
While merit is the norm, few of the institutes would need entrance exam scores such as CLAT and LSAT. Many of the law institutes conduct their own entrance tests as part of the screening process.

Cut off Marks for PhD

Average Fees

2,400 - 2.8 lakhs a year. The fee may differ depending on the institute.

Average Fees for PhD

Certificate in Human Rights (2 years)
Certificate in Cyber Law (6 months)
Certificate in Consumer Protection (6 months)
Certificate in Patent Practice (6 months)
Certificate in Cyber Laws (6 months)
Certificate in Mergers and Acquisition (6 months)
Certificate in Intellectual Property Law and Practice (3 months)
Certificate in Forensic and Medical Jurisprudence (1 year)
Certificate in Anti-human Trafficking (6 months)
Certificate in Insurance Law (6 months)
Certificate in Corporate Law (6 months)
Certificate in Criminal Law, Litigation, and Trivial Advocacy (4 months)
Certificate in Cyber Law Practice, Information Technology and Social Media Law (4 month)
Certificate on Companies Act, 2013 (4 months)
Certificate in Real Estate Laws (3 months)
Certificate in Industrial and Labour Laws (3 months)
Certificate in International Taxation and Transfer Pricing (3 months)
Certificate in Sports Law and International Sports Law (4 months)
Certificate in Limitation Laws
Certificate in Fundamentals on Medical Laws in India
Certificate in Surrogacy Laws in India

Eligibility and Cutoff

A candidate must have cleared Class 12 from a recognized institute. Some of the higher level certification courses would need you to have cleared graduation.

Cut off Marks for Certification

Average Fees

1,800 - 54,000 for the entire course. The fee may vary from course to course and also depending on the institute.

Average Fees for Certification

Demand in the last few years

India has over 15 lakh advocates, 1000 law schools, and 2.67 crore pending cases (22.62 lakhs for more than 10 years). The numbers depict an unmistakable fact, don't they?

According to University Grants Commission (UGC) data, approximately 3.73 lakh law graduates pass out each year and join the ever-burgeoning domain that will always need skilled graduates to keep up with the growing demands.

Lawyers are mentioned in the same breath as doctors and engineers as it is a profession that dictates the similar kind admiration from the society. Law may not attract the same exact attention as its engineering and medical counterparts, but it still has a fairly substantial intake of candidates each year.

However, the current situation isn't all that commendable. The Bar Council of India was honest enough to admit that almost 45% of the lawyers in the country are in reality, faker than a physic with a caller ID! Yes, nearly half of the lawyers were proven to be bogus during a verification drive, which has cast doubts on the authenticity of the system in itself. All of that, nonetheless, can't enfeeble the requisitions in the field of law.

There are various reasons why law studies is and will persistently be a favorable option for the motivated yet confused aspiring workforce of our country. To describe it one word - SCOPE!

Let's go deeper into it shall we...

Future Scope

What's the first thing that comes to your head when you hear the word lawyer? A heated court room with a judge, a bunch of advocates going back-and-forth and of course, the nervous clients. That's what the movies want you to believe, when in actuality, law has augmented to different sectors in recent years.
The emergence of law firms and legal teams of multi-million dollar corporations/MNCs have given young and enthusiastic lawyers the opportunity to work in areas such as banking, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, business law, environmental law, human rights, media laws, patent protection, corporate administration, cyber laws, trade laws, industrial laws, labour laws and medical laws.
The age-old strongholds of civil and criminal disciplines have lost considerable amounts of steam as various Indian as well as international law firms and Legal Processing Outsourcing firms (LPO)s are absorbing most of the focused graduates that are freshly passing out of the top law schools in India and abroad. Notable firms such as Amarchand and Mangaldas, Khaitan and co., Luthra and Luthra, Allen and Overy and Clifford Chance are hitting most of the esteemed institutes with recruitment teams and fancy packages. Of course they pay well!
A corporate lawyer gets an average salary of 8 lakhs per annum while an attorney/lawyer gets a minimum of 6 lakhs per year. Reputed law firms offer as much as 13-16 lakhs per year while a fresher can start at 3 lakhs per annum and go up till 30-40 lakhs, if he or she ends up working for an international law firm.
Litigation lawyers mint ludicrous amounts of money while there is no shortage of options in government Public Sector Undertakings, legal departments of banks, and indubitably, the judicial system of India. Teaching and legal writing have also risen to be alternative options for law professionals who may want to ditch the herd to try out something different.
In the wake of invasion of privacy on the internet taking bigwigs such as Facebook and Google by storm, Cyber laws has also elevated itself to be quite a requested territory of work.
The magnitude of choices in an assorted sphere such as law - both in nationally and globally, makes it one of the best vocations for anyone to take up who wishes to not only make good money, but also gain some reverence amongst his or her peers.
If you have exceptional reasoning, communication skills, analytical aptitude, persuasiveness, and the patience that is backed up with the passion towards legal procedures, then you may have found what to do with your life. A disclaimer though, it's no piece of cake. In the end, good old hard work and dedication is all that will get you through.