Law is a career stream that candidates pursue at undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) or doctorate (PhD) level to practice the legal profession in India. Law as a career is very popular among students in India. The popularity of this stream can be judged from the fact that famous people like Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela as well as the former US President Barack Obama were lawyers.
Scope of law as a career is immense in India. These days, law graduates do not just opt to get dressed in black and white apparels and head to court but also make their presence feel in corporate houses, law firms, law agencies, administrative services and the likes.
A career in law requires one to put in a lot of hard work and long working hours. The preferred specialisations in law are either criminal or civil. However, these days other branches are also gaining popularity such as cyber law, patent law as well as corporate law.
To make a career in law at the UG level, aspirants can pursue five-year duration integrated LLB courses such as BA LLB, BBA LLB, BSc LLB or BCom LLB. Candidates can also opt to pursue a three year LLB course after completing their graduation. Apart from this, candidates who wish to study further can obtain a master’s degree (LLM) followed by a doctoral degree (PhD).
Law Eligibility & Entrance Exams
Law colleges across India have a different selection process and eligibility criteria for admissions at UG and PG levels. However, given below is the basic eligibility criteria that candidates need to fulfil to secure admission in law courses offered at UG and PG levels:
Eligibility for UG Law Courses: Candidates are eligible to secure admission in UG law courses if they have cleared Higher Secondary School/Intermediate (10+2) or its equivalent exam from a recognised board with not less than 45% marks in aggregate.
Eligibility for PG Law Courses: For admission in LLB (3 years) course, aspirants need to be graduates from a recognised university. Also, for admission in LLM course candidates need to possess an LLB or equivalent degree from a recognised university.
Desired Skills for Law
Other than the educational qualification mentioned above, candidates should possess some skills mentioned below in order to be successful in the field of law.
| Good intellect | Good judgement of situation/people |
| Persuasion skills | Convincing skills |
| Ability to argue on a topic | Strong command over the language |
| Interest in detail | Ability to assimilate as well as analyse facts |
| Fluency and clarity of speech | Good presentation skills |
| Confidence | Unbiased |
| Mental and physical stamina | Interest in research |
Popular Law Entrance Exams
Law admissions at a majority of colleges and universities in India are done on the basis of entrance exams. Most of the law entrance exams conducted for admission in UG level law courses evaluate candidates on the basis of their aptitude/ knowledge on subjects such as General Knowledge, English, Mathematics (Numerical Ability), Logical Reasoning and Legal Aptitude. On the other hand, popular law exams for PG level law courses comprise questions from subject areas such as Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence and other law subjects (Contract, Torts, Criminal Law, International Law, Environment Law and Human Rights Law, etc).
Law Course Eligibility Criteria
- B.A. L.L.B: This is a 5-year course and the students can pursue this course after passing Class 12.
- L.L.B.: This is a 3-year course, open for graduates.
- L.L.M.: This is a postgraduate course in Law. The duration of the course is 2year. Students can pursue this course after completing B.A. L.L.B. or L.L.B.
- In addition to LL.B. degree, many universities and institutes also offer other diploma courses in several disciplines of law, including Administrative Law, International Law, Labor Laws, Tax Laws and Corporate Laws.