The field of law has always held something attractive to man. Legal Education in India generally refers to the education administered to aspirant lawyers before they enter into practice. It is offered at different levels by the traditional universities and specialised law universities and law schools only after completion of an undergraduate degree or offered as an integrated course.
The Bar Council of India is the supreme regulatory body to regulate the legal profession in India and the council prescribes certain minimum curriculum to be taught in order for an institute/ college to be eligible to grant a law degree. Traditionally, B.L ( Bachelor of Law ) or LL.B ( Bachelor of Legislative Laws ) were the degrees offered and are still offered by Indian universities to the aspirant upon completion of an undergraduate degree ( B.A., B.Com., B.Sc etc ). Now the autonomous law schools set up on the recommendation of the Bar Council of India offer integrated 5 years course wherein the graduate can get admitted after HSC. This integrated 5 year course would consist of an undergraduate degree + a degree in law ( For example, B.A. and LL.B ). Since the number of seats are limited and the competition is very high, admission is strictly on merit and on clearance of CLAT ( Common Law Admission Test ).
A brief glimpse of various undergraduate law courses as below:
LL.B: Bachelor of Legislative Laws. A three year programme aimed at graduates and intends to impart education in the field of law.
B.A. LL.B: ( Integrated Course ): Normally offered by the autonomous law schools of India, this integrated course is offered to aspirants upon clearing HSC and is of 5 years duration. This course is very interesting to name the fact that the aspirant can choose the non law degree from a variety of choices - B.A, B.B.A, B.Sc, B.Com etc.
B.G.L / B.A.L: Bachelor of General Law/ Bachelor of Academic Law: The completion of these long distance courses does not entitle one to practise in a court of law, but it does give the aspirant a very good deep understanding of the Indian Labour laws, Constitutional Law and Law of Evidence with drafting.
Apart from the mainstream law courses which are administered by the Bar Council of India and after completion of which once can practise as a lawyer ( upon registering the State Bar Council and clearing the Bar Council Exam ) there are other allied courses as well some of which are listed below.
- Diploma in Taxation Law
- Diploma in Business Law
- Diploma in Criminal Law
- Diploma in Cyber Law
- Diploma in Intellectual property Law
- Diploma in International Law
- Diploma in Labour law
- Diploma in Legislative Drafting
All these above courses can supplement the aspirant’s main pursual of a career in law. These days it has become a strong and versatile career option. Law professionals apart from the choice of practising in a court of law can find employment in the private sector in the area of specialization they choose ( for example, IP Rights, Sports Law, Business Law etc )