LLM (Master of Laws): Course Details, Eligibility, Duration, Fees, Admission

Duration: 2 Years
Avg Fees: ₹2 - 5 LPA
GMU
GMU

Updated on - Jan 8, 2024

Latest Updates for LLM

  • 01 March 2024 :

    TS LAWCET Application Form 2024 is out. The last date to apply is Apr 15, 2024 (without late fees).

  • 22 February 2024 :

    MGU CAT 2024 registration is ongoing and the last date to fill out the form is Mar 30, 2024.

  • 02 February 2024 :

    IPU CET 2024 application form is ongoing and it will end on Mar 31, 2024.

  • 29 December 2023 :

    SET exam 2024 application form window will be available till Apr 12, 2024.

LLM or Master of Laws is a two-year post-graduation course that deals with specialized training in legal practices, where students can gain professional law certification in taxation law, corporate law, etc. LLM graduates have diverse job scopes in various law agencies dealing with numerous clients like international law agencies, taxation agencies, corporate sectors, etc

LLM Course Details

Degree Masters
Full Form Master of Laws / Legum Magister
Duration 2 Years
Age No age limit
Minimum Percentage 55% in LLB
Average Fees ₹2 - 5 LPA
Average Salary INR 8 - 20 LPA [Source: Payscale]
Employment Roles Advocate, Corporate Legal Manager, Corporate Lawyer, Legal Manager, Legal Assistant, Immigration Consultant, Human Rights Lawyer, RTI Activist, HR Manager etc.

About LLM

The LLM Full form is Legum Magister which is a postgraduate law course introduced by UGC as a 2-year program. The LLM course duration in India is 2 years. LLM syllabus and subjects include a wide range of subjects in the course framework which include Corporate Law, Business Law, Trade & Taxation Law, etc. LLM job scope provides extensive exposure in terms of employment opportunities and career growth. 

Table of Contents

Why Choose LLM?

LLM is the second highest degree in the domain, and several bar councils internationally recognize it. The course aims to make the graduates professionally strong by inculcating in-depth knowledge along with regular legal practice. Let's get to know more about "Why choose LLM ?" by breaking it into three simpler questions.

 

Eligibility Criteria for LLM

For admission into the LLM course, aspirants must have met the eligibility requirements chartered by the University of Grants Commissions and Indian Bar Council. Students must complete their undergraduate degree with a minimum aggregate of 50% from a recognized university. Apart from that, selective universities conduct entrance exams for admissions, for which, aspirants are required to clear with a good percentile. The minimum age to apply for the course is 21 years.

How To Get Admission to LLM?

The admission process for the LLM course is done based on the LLM eligibility criteria set by respective universities guided by UGC and the Indian bar council. LLM admission is done only via merit-based quota and there are no seats under the management quota.  In any LLM specialization, aspirants interested in pursuing a specialized degree must have completed their bachelor's law degree with an aggregate score over 50% and should've cleared entrance exams prescribed by selective universities.

The admission requirements differ based on the domain and the college's reputation. Listed below are the steps for the admission process in general:

Apply For the Course

The aspirants can either apply online or offline for the desired institution. COVID-19 has forced universities to conduct admissions online. Students are needed to log in to the official website of the university and fill in the necessary details.

Selection Criteria

The selection criteria are based on the cutoff scores. The university cutoff score is the aggregate of entrance exam scores and undergraduate scores. Aspirants eligible for admissions are called for personal interviews before seat allocation. The personal interview is conducted to test aspirants' willingness and knowledge of the specialization.

LLM Courses

LLM courses are offered either as full-time courses, distance LLM courses, and online-based learning LLM courses. Law is applicable everywhere, and there are separate sets of laws governing every jurisdiction. The diverse jurisdiction requires specialized legal personnel to handle cases in that domain and establish legal authority. Listed below are the top LLM specializations in India:

  • LLM International Law
  • LLM Corporate Law
  • LLM Business Law
  • LLM Criminal Law
  • LLM Trade Law
  • LLM Taxation Law
  • LLM Environmental Law

Other popular LLM specialisations are listed below:

S.No LLM Course List
1 LLM Insurance Law
2 LLM Jurisprudence
3 LLM Family Law
4 LLM Human Rights
5 LLM Healthcare and Medicinal Law
6 LLM Intellectual Property Law
7 LLM Fashion Law
8 LLM Sports Law
9 LLM Information Technology Law
10 LLM Air and Space Law
11 LLM Cybersecurity Law
12 LLM Legal History

The LLM course details can be found online. The entrance exam is conducted in the form of an online written test. There are several national and state-level entrance examinations affiliated with several universities. Apart from that, selected universities conduct a university-level examination for the admission process, apart from national-level examinations.

The questions asked for the examination are specialization-oriented. A percentage of questions can be expected from fundamental law and constitutional sciences. Admissions are offered based on the examination scores secured by the student along with the university cutoff. Some of the popular LLM entrance exams are listed below:

A Quick Glance at the LLM Entrance Exams

Entrance exams are mandatory criteria for LLM admissions. The exam pattern for specified LLM courses is institution-specific and varies from one conducting body to another. The standard format for the entrance exam is listed below:

  • The exam pattern consists of questions from fundamental law and constitutional sciences.
  • The duration of the examination is usually from 2-3 hours.
  • The syllabus, mode of examination, and question pattern may change according to the conducting university.
  • The number of questions asked varies from 90-150, depending upon the conduction body.

Top LLM Colleges in India

Apart from state-recognized law schools, several universities are offering LLM courses in India. Below listed are the top colleges that NIRF ranks:

NIRF Ranking  Name of the College
1 National Law School of India University, Bangalore
3 Nalsar University of Law, Hyderabad
4 National Law University, Jodhpur
7 Symbiosis Law School, Pune
11 Dr.Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow
6 The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata
12 KIIT University, Bhubaneswar
15 Panjab University, Chandigarh
18 Indian Law Institute, Delhi
19 BHU, Varanasi

Fee Structure for LLM

LLM is a postgraduate law degree with a varied duration. LLM duration in India may range from 1 to 2 years of study, depending on the university that offers the course. The average LLM fees range from INR 2 to 5 LPA. Some of the LLM colleges are listed below according to their fees structure:

Colleges  Fees Structure
National Law University INR 2 LPA
Symbiosis Law School INR 1.2 LPA
Panjab University  INR 50,000 
Indian law Institute INR 1 LPA
The West Bengal National University of Juridical Science INR 1.75 LPA

Syllabus and Subjects for LLM

LLM is an internationally recognized postgraduate degree. The syllabus for LLM entirely depends on the area of specialization one chooses to pursue. Apart from the specialization subjects, there are some fundamental legal procedure subjects in UGC's curriculum. The syllabus offers in-depth knowledge and nuances of specialized law domains along with essential law practice.

Apart from theoretical subjects, LLM also helps students to attain good law practice and experience. This course offers practical insight into different law fields as the course promises high-level specializations and educates aspirants about the latest legal changes in various systems. Apart from specialized law, LLM also facilitates the practice of international law in selected nations. Some of the subjects that are included in the LLM syllabus are:

  • Law and Social Transformation
  • Jurisprudence
  • Constitutional Law
  • Law Relating to Labour Welfare

Read More about LLM Syllabus and Subjects

What is LLM All About?

An LLM course duration is for two years and offers a study of imparting quality legal education with an understanding of the constitution and legal system functions under various jurisdictions. The degree provides the aspirants with all the knowledge required to handle cases in a specialized domain, along with adequate legal practice. LLM coursework consists of basic subjects like law and social transformation in India, and jurisprudence LLM is one of the premium law degrees that prepare the students from a base level to handle problems associated with specialized domains. 

What Does an LLM Graduate Do?

Listed below are the various job functionalities of an LLM graduate:

  • Case Research: Working as lawyers, graduates need to research and produce factual points for their client's claims. Graduates need to have a good research approach to unravel the truth behind the case.
  • Legal Consultation: Offer necessary legal consultation for several industries and organizations. Also, warn their clients about potential jurisdictional changes.
  • Presentation and legal battle: Graduates of this course need to have a strong representation of their clients in the courtroom. The arguments present should have factual accuracy and should not offer a legal loophole.
  • Jury Consultation: Experienced graduates are called upon for an annual legal summit where legal loopholes are identified, and proper solutions are offered.

Reasons Why LLM can Fetch you a Rewarding Career

LLM graduates have higher job scopes than LLB graduates owing to their specialized knowledge. LLM graduates are bound to have a more stabilized job market than LLB. Having an LLM degree with strong technical skills can fetch job opportunities across the world. Listed below are the reason why the LLM course is a boon for graduates:

  • Demand: LLM offers graduates a thorough understanding of a particular domain's legal jurisdiction, making them experts in handling a specified portfolio. There has been a massive increase in demand for specialized lawyers at the corporate level.
  • Diverse Career Opportunities: LLM provides a wide range of career opportunities worldwide. Graduates are entitled to have options across various legal domains, ensuring a fruitful career ahead.
  • Higher payscale: Lawyers and advocates with a specialized master's degree are high in demand, which directly increases their average pay scale. Graduates are bound to earn a pay scale ranging from INR 10-30 LPA.

Read More about LLM Jobs

Preparation Tips for LLM

Listed below are the preparation tips suggested for the LLM course:

Prepare for Exams: Have a study plan and cover all critical points while preparing. Understand the exam pattern and the examination syllabus to get the hang of a proper study plan.

Strengthen Your Fundamentals: The course requires the student to be more assertive in basic constitutional law and legal practice. A strong fundamental will help them to understand advanced concepts easily.

Legal Practice: During the coursework, it is advisable that graduates also do regular pro-bono or designated legal practices under the bar council. It will help them to apply the concepts pursued and further enhance their practical experience.

Update Regularly: To get a hold of new laws, students must keep themselves updated on jurisdiction changes. Students can follow the line via online magazines and newspapers.

Scope For Higher Education in LLM

LLM is not the limit for students who are willing to pursue more. Students who want to pursue higher education can do domain-specific certification courses. Graduates can also pursue a JD (Doctor of Judicial Science) in their desired specialization. Some of the options of systems to pursue after LLM are listed below.

  • Doctor of Judicial Sciences 
  • Post-Graduate Diploma Certification in International Law 
  • American Bar Administration Paralegal Program

LLM Salary

The average salary for an LLM graduate ranges from INR 8 - 20 LPA depending on the specialization and domain. Career growth is based on experience and technical knowledge in the domain. 

Read More about LLM Salary

Career Options After LLM

LLM course offers diverse job scopes adhering to the specialization pursued. Graduates are entitled to receive offers from reputed organizations across India and worldwide, promoting an international career.

Top LLM Companies

LLM course helps aspirants to be certified professionals in their work area. Some of the career options available are:

  • Advocate
  • Legal Adviser
  • Solicitor
  • Research Associate
  • Adjunct Professor
  • High Justice 
  • Civil Service

Skills That Make You The Best in Law

Every industry is governed by a separate jurisdiction and requires talented legal personnel. In this chosen field, both experience and legal knowledge play a vital role in handling several clients to help graduates thrive in this career line. LLM helps aspirants to cement their superiority in the legal field. Some of them are:

  • Communication Skills
  • Research Skills
  • Negotiation Skills
  • Case Investigation Skills
  • Time Management
  • Qualitative Thinking 
  • Entrepreneurial Skills
  • Client Management Skills

LLM Fee Structure

FAQs

Can I do LLM without LLB?

Students without a legal background or LLB degree can apply to the LLM programme, but they must have extensive academic or vocational experience in fields closely relevant to the subjects they intend to study.

What is the salary after LLM in India?

The salary after LLM in India ranges between INR 8 - 20 LPA.

In which field LLM is best?

Intellectual Property Rights, Business Law, and Corporate law are considered one of the best fields to study in the LLM course.

What is the eligibility for the LLM course?

LLM course eligibility requires candidates to undergraduate degree with a minimum aggregate of 50% from a recognized university and appear for state or national entrance exams such as CLAT, and AILET with necessary cut-off marks for the colleges they desire to get admitted to.

What is the scope of LLM?

LLM scope is significantly adequate with various job opportunities for graduates to work in several job profiles such as Advocate, Corporate Legal Manager, Corporate Lawyer, Legal Manager, Legal Assistant, etc.

See Various LLM Colleges in India

Loading...