LLB Course: Bachelor of Laws Eligibility, Entrance and Subjects

What is the LLB course?

The LLB course (Bachelor of Laws) is a three-year professional law degree that you join after graduation. It runs over six semesters. Once you finish it and meet the Bar Council of India (BCI) requirements, you can enrol as an advocate and practise law in India.

The programme covers legal principles, the judicial system, constitutional provisions, criminal justice, civil law, corporate regulation and legal ethics. Practical learning includes moot courts, internships, legal aid clinics, case studies, court visits and legal research projects. If you are still in Class 12, the five-year integrated route may suit you better. Our guide to LLB course duration: 3-year vs 5-year compares the two.

LLB eligibility criteria

You need a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university. The BCI sets the floor. Rule 7 of its Rules of Legal Education says the minimum cannot be set below 45% of total marks for general category applicants and 40% for SC and ST applicants. Universities can ask for more, and many do.

• University of Delhi (2026-27): 50% in your bachelor's or master's degree for UR, EWS and OBC-NCL candidates, and 45% for SC, ST, PwBD and CW candidates.
• Distance graduates: the BCI rules accept a first degree earned by distance or correspondence. They do not accept a degree taken through an open university without the basic qualification, such as Class 12, that the degree normally needs.

Meeting the minimum marks does not guarantee a seat. Each university then applies its own entrance test or merit list.

Law entrance tests for the three-year LLB

There is no single national law entrance test for the three-year LLB. The route depends on the university or state.

CLAT is not the test for this course. It fills seats in the five-year integrated programmes, such as the BBA LLB course, at the National Law Universities. Read the admission notice of every university on your list for the test, the dates and the documents.

Duration, mode and becoming an advocate

The LLB is a full-time, three-year degree across six semesters. There is no valid online or distance LLB. The UGC (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020 list Law among the programmes that cannot be offered in those modes. Treat any online LLB offer as a red flag.

To practise, you enrol with your State Bar Council and pass the All India Bar Examination (AIBE), which the BCI conducts. Final-year students without backlogs can also apply. Passing it leads to your Certificate of Practice. AIBE XXI was held on 7 June 2026.

LLB subjects: constitutional, criminal and contract law and more

In the typical structure on this page, constitutional law, contract law and criminal law all come in the first year. Most universities teach these subjects across the six semesters:

• Constitutional Law
• Law of Contracts
• Criminal Law
• Family Law
• Company Law
• Administrative Law
• Environmental Law
• Jurisprudence
• Intellectual Property Law
• Legal Drafting

You also study alternative dispute resolution, and the later semesters add procedure, evidence, drafting and professional ethics. Criminal law papers now teach the three new codes. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam came into force on 1 July 2024. They replaced the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act. The semester-wise list on this page shows a typical structure, but paper names differ by university.

Legal careers after LLB

Graduates can pursue careers as:

• Advocate
• Legal Advisor
• Corporate Lawyer
• Legal Consultant
• Public Prosecutor
• Judicial Services Aspirant
• Legal Officer
• Compliance Officer
• Legal Researcher
• Law Firm Associate

Many legal careers start with a few years under a senior advocate or at a law firm. Judicial services and public prosecutor posts are filled through state recruitment exams, so read each notice for age limits and practice requirements. For higher study, an LLM lets you specialise, for example in constitutional law or corporate law.

LLB salary: pay after an LLB depends on the route you take. In litigation, your income comes from your own practice, so it varies widely and builds with clients and experience. Law firms and company legal teams pay a fixed salary that differs by employer and city. Judicial service posts are paid on the scale set in each state's recruitment notice, so check the current notice for the figure.

Why choose LLB, and who should look elsewhere

• It is a prestigious and respected professional degree.
• It opens litigation, corporate law, judiciary and legal consultancy.
• Demand for lawyers is strong across government and private sectors.
• It is an excellent foundation for higher legal education.
• It gives career flexibility in business, policy and public administration.

The three-year LLB suits graduates and working professionals who have decided on law after a first degree. Look elsewhere if you are still in Class 12. A five-year BA LLB or BBA LLB saves a year overall. Our BA LLB subjects guide shows what that route covers.

How to choose among law schools

1. Check BCI approval. Your enrolment as an advocate depends on the university and the college being approved by the Bar Council of India.
2. Confirm the entrance route. Note the test, the dates and the minimum marks for your category.
3. Ask for the full fee schedule. Fees vary widely between public universities and private law schools. Compare all three years, plus exam and hostel charges.
4. Look at practical training. Ask about moot courts, legal aid clinics and court-linked internships.
5. Check the library. Access to case-law databases matters for research and moots.

A CareerBhavan counsellor can help you compare law schools, entrance dates and fees before you apply.