LL.M.

LLM is a postgraduate degree in law. Master of Law or LLM course offered at Indian colleges/ universities is of two years duration. The course curriculum of LLM degree is structured in such a way that the law course is divided into four semesters. In Master of Law, course aspirants gain in-depth knowledge of a specific field of law by intensive research in that particular area of Law.

In the LLM course, candidates need to select the law specialisation in which they want to make their future. Thus, candidates can pursue their LLM degree in specialisations such as – Civil Law, Tax Law, Criminal Law, Corporate Law, Commercial Law, International Law, Labour Law, Real Estate Law, Patent Law, Competition Law, Intellectual Property Law, Mergers and Acquisition Law, Tax Law, Administrative Law, Banking Law, Business Law, Company Law, Constitutional Law, Consumer Law, Contract Law, Cyber Law, Education Law, Energy Law, Entertainment & Media Law, Environment Law, Family Law, Healthcare Law, Telecommunications Law etc.

Candidates are eligible to apply for admission in an LLM course if they have completed their graduation in law, that is, if the aspirant has secured his/ her LLB/ Bachelor of Law/ Five Year Integrated LLM course from a recognised university/ college.

• Apart from this, some colleges also fix a minimum percentage requirement for the LLM course offered by them.
• As part of the eligibility criteria shared by such colleges, candidates need secure at least 55% aggregate marks at the graduation level in order to be eligible to secure admission in LLM course offered by them.

Candidates who want to pursue the LLM course have to appear for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) or the admission test accepted by the law schools. Below are some popular LLM entrance exams in India for admission to this course: 

Aspirants need to be ready to put in a lot of hard work and be open to working long strenuous hours on completing the course. Some key skills that candidates should possess in order to fare well in the LLM course are listed below:

The syllabus taught as part of an LLM course varies from college to college. Some common topics that are taught in an LLM course are listed below:

After pursuing an LLM course, candidates can opt for further studies wherein they pursue either MPhil or PhD in Law. However, if candidates want to pursue a career in the field of law then he/ she can go through the below-mentioned job profiles. Aspirants are informed that in order to practice law in India they need to clear the All India Bar Exam (AIBE).

Advocate: In such a job profile one needs to do a lot of research work to gather factual data as well as physical evidence to support their claim. Apart from this, other responsibilities allocated to advocates include scrutinising and drafting contracts.

Solicitor: In such a job profile an individual usually specialises in a specific area of law like tax, litigation, family or property. Solicitors offer legal advice to private as well as commercial clients.

Judge: In such a job profile one has to ensure that justice is administered and legal rights of all the involved parties are safeguarded. A judge presides over trials/ hearings wherein they listen to the case presented by lawyers.

Legal Advisor: Candidates opting to work in such a job profile are also lawyers who specialise in a specific field of law. Legal advisors are usually hired by governments as well as large organisations/ companies. The main task of a legal advisor is to protect their clients from any legal implication or consequence.

Notary Public: Individuals are hired in such a job profile by the central government for the whole or specific part of the country. Any person who has been practicing law (as a lawyer) for a minimum ten years is eligible to apply for a notary post. The tasks performed by a Notary are as follows:

• To verify, authenticate, certify or attest the execution of any instrument.
• To translate and verify the translation, of any document from one language into another.
• To administer an oath to or take an affidavit from any person.
• To act as commissioner, to record evidence in any civil or criminal trial if so directed by the court or authority.
• To act as arbitrator, mediator, or conciliator if so required.

Oath Commissioners: In such a job profile one is authorised to verify affidavits. An Oath Commissioner is appointed by the Chief Justice and is usually a solicitor. But this is not always the case. The tasks performed by an Oath Commissioner are as follows:

• Ensuring the evidence is in written form (the draft affidavit).
• Enquire that the person before him/ her has read the draft affidavit and fully understands the contents.
• Make a person swear that the affidavit is true by raising the appropriate Testament in the right hand and repeating the words of the oath.
• Verify that the affidavit was properly sworn by completing a "jurat" on the affidavit.

The top legal firms that are known to hire law graduates are listed below:

• Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co.
• AZB & Partners
• Khaitan & CO
• J Sagar Associates
• Luthra & Luthra Law Offices
• Trilegal
• S&R Associates
• Economic Laws Practice
• Desai & Diwanji
• Talwar Thakore & Associates

Q: What does LLM stand for?

Q: Is LLM a compulsory degree to pursue law as a profession?

Q: Can I study an LLM course without an LLB degree?

Q: What is the duration of the LLM course?

Q: How to take admission to a National Law University (NLU) for an LLM course?

Q: Is an LLM degree offered through distance education mode?

• Master of Business Law (MBL)
• Post-Graduate Diploma in Human Rights Law (PGDHRL)
• Post-Graduate Diploma in Medical Law & Ethics (PGDMLE)
• Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Law (PGDEL)
• Post-Graduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Rights Law (PGDIPRL)
• Post Graduate Diploma in Child Rights Law (PGDCRL)
• Post-Graduate Diploma in Consumer Law & Practice (PGDCLP)
• Post-Graduate Diploma in Cyber Law & Cyber Forensics (PGDCLCF)

Q: What can I do after LLM?

Q: What job roles can be taken up as a career after LLM?

Q: What are some top law firms in India that recruit LLM candidates?

Q: What are some top law colleges in India for LLM?

Q: What are some LLM specializations that I can study?