- The three-year LLB in India remains an undergraduate degree pursued after graduation and is regulated by the Bar Council of India
- Delhi University now admits three-year LLB students through the CUET (PG) exam rather than a separate entrance test
- The Bar Council sets a minimum of 45 percent marks for general candidates and 40 percent for SC and ST applicants
- Clearing the All India Bar Examination is mandatory to obtain the Certificate of Practice as an advocate.
What Is an LLB (Bachelor of Legislative Law)?
LLB, the Bachelor of Legislative Law, is an undergraduate law degree pursued after graduation in India. Originating in England, it is now offered globally. The three-year programme is regulated by the Bar Council of India and prepares students for careers as advocates, legal advisors, solicitors and law educators.
Bachelor of Legislative Law is one of the popular courses in India. Though the course has its origins in England, the degree is now offered globally. LLB is an undergraduate degree pursued by students who wish to have a career in law, and the Bar Council of India governs its academic curriculum in India.
The standalone LLB in India is a three-year course that students pursue after completing their graduation. To save academic time, the Bar Council of India also recognises five-year integrated programmes that combine an undergraduate degree with law. These integrated courses include:
- BA LLB
- BBA LLB
- BSc LLB
- B.Com LLB
What Are the Eligibility Criteria for LLB in India?
To enrol in a three-year LLB in India, candidates need a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university. The Bar Council of India sets a minimum of 45 percent aggregate for general candidates and 40 percent for SC and ST applicants, though some universities such as Delhi require 50 percent.
To get admission to the three-year LLB course, a candidate must hold a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a university recognised by the Bar Council of India. As per BCI norms, the minimum aggregate is 45 percent for general candidates, with a 5 percent marks relaxation for SC, ST, OBC and PwD candidates, who need 40 percent. Individual universities may set higher cut-offs; Delhi University, for example, requires 50 percent.
Most LLB programmes are offered by government-administered colleges and universities, keeping fees relatively affordable. Some law colleges and universities admit students purely on merit, while others conduct entrance exams to assess an applicant's aptitude for law.
CLAT exam guideRead →Which Are the Popular LLB Entrance Exams?
Many universities admit LLB students through entrance tests rather than merit alone. Popular exams include CUET (for Delhi University), Allahabad University LAT, Maharashtra CET Law, the Panjab University LLB test, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh LAWCET, LSAT India and BHU UET. CLAT is used only for the five-year integrated law programmes.
For a three-year LLB, candidates must apply for the specific entrance exam conducted by, or accepted by, the university they are targeting. Some of the popular LLB entrance routes law aspirants should consider are:
- CUET (PG) for the University of Delhi three-year LLB
- Allahabad University LAT
- Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MH CET) for Law
- Panjab University LLB Entrance Test
- Telangana State Law Common Entrance Test (TS LAWCET)
- LSAT India
- Andhra Pradesh Law Common Entrance Test (AP LAWCET)
- BHU Undergraduate Entrance Test (UET)
This list does not include CLAT, because CLAT scores are used only for admission to the five-year integrated law programmes at National Law Universities. For a three-year LLB, the candidate must specifically apply for the entrance exam conducted or accepted by the college or university.
Career options in lawRead →Which Are the Top Colleges Offering LLB in India?
India has many respected law schools offering the three-year LLB. Among the most sought after are the Faculty of Law at the University of Delhi, with its Campus Law Centre and Law Centres I and II, the Department of Laws at Panjab University, and the law faculties of Allahabad University and Banaras Hindu University.
Many colleges and universities in India offer the LLB degree. Some of the top institutions offering the three-year programme are:
- Campus Law Centre, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi
- Law Centre I, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi
- Law Centre II, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi
- Department of Laws, Panjab University, Chandigarh
- Faculty of Law, University of Allahabad
- Faculty of Law, Banaras Hindu University
What Subjects Are Covered in the LLB Course?
The LLB curriculum, framed by the Bar Council of India, blends substantive and procedural law. Core subjects include Constitutional Law, Law of Contract, Law of Torts, Criminal Law, Family Law, Property Law, Jurisprudence, Administrative Law, the Civil and Criminal Procedure Codes, Law of Evidence, Company Law and Environmental Law, alongside practical training papers.
The course outline for the LLB spans a broad variety of substantive and procedural subjects along with clinical and practical training. Some of the core subjects are:
| LLB Core Subjects (2026 Curriculum) | LLB Core Subjects (2026 Curriculum) |
|---|---|
| Labour Law | Family Law |
| Criminal Law | Professional Ethics |
| Law of Torts | Constitutional Law |
| Law of Evidence | Arbitration, Conciliation and Alternative Dispute Resolution |
| Human Rights and International Law | Environmental Law |
| Property Law | Jurisprudence |
| Legal Aid | Law of Contract |
| Civil Procedure Code | Interpretation of Statutes |
| Legal Writing | Administrative Law |
| Code of Criminal Procedure | Company Law |
| Land Laws | Investment and Securities Law |
How Can You Practice Law After Completing LLB?
After completing the LLB, graduates who wish to practise as advocates must enrol with a State Bar Council and clear the All India Bar Examination to obtain the Certificate of Practice. Others work as corporate legal advisors, solicitors or law lecturers, or pursue an LLM for research and academic careers.
After completing the LLB, students who wish to practise as advocates must enrol with a State Bar Council and then appear for the All India Bar Examination (AIBE). The AIBE has been mandatory for law graduates of the 2009-2010 academic year onwards; clearing it awards the Certificate of Practice, which allows an advocate to practise in any court in India.
Beyond litigation, LLB graduates can work as legal advisors in corporate firms, as solicitors specialising in a particular department, or as lecturers in law colleges. Those interested in research or teaching also have the option of pursuing an LLM degree to specialise further.