BA LLB

Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law or BA LLB is a 5 years professional undergraduate degree that can be pursued after completing 10+2 or graduation from a recognised board. To pursue a BA LLB course from their desired college, one may have to appear for the BA LLB entrance examinations. 

BA LLB course is offered by more than 150 institutes in India. It is a highly popular degree across the country. BA LLB course is generally opted for by candidates who want to make their career in the field of law and judiciary. The programme is offered both online and offline but it is always advisable to pursue a regular offline BA LLB programme as it has more value and online BA LLB is not accepted by the Bar Council of India (BCI).

To pursue a BA LLB course, one has to qualify for the BA LLB entrance examinations held across India. Some of the popular entrance exams for BA LLB include CLAT, AILET, LSAT, SLAT, ULSAT, MH-CET Law, TS LAWCET etc. 

Some of the leading job roles offered after a BA LLB course are Legal Counsellor, Legal Consultant, Advocate, Law Professor, Public Prosecutor etc. BA LLB course fee usually ranges from INR 1,50,000 to 7,00,000 LPA.

Some of the top colleges offering BA LLB courses include NLU Delhi, NLSIU Bangalore, Symbiosis Law School Pune, NALSAR Hyderabad, ILS Law College Pune, NLU Jodhpur, Christ University etc.

BA LLB course consists of a total of 10 semesters spanning 5 years with each year of BA LLB having two semesters. A candidate can earn a starting salary of INR 3 - 4.5 LPA after graduating as a BA LLB student without any prior work experience. The below table shows various important aspects of the BA LLB course in India.

Candidates who wish to have a rewarding career in the field of law with numerous job scopes and ample growth opportunities must pursue a BA LLB course after the completion of their 10+2 or equivalent examination from a recognized board. Today, firms and big corporations are expanding globally with mergers, acquisitions, collaborations, and consolidations which has, in turn, expanded and enhanced the need for legal advisors, attorneys, lawyers, etc.

A legal job after the BA LLB program can be intellectually stimulating, financially gratifying, and personally rewarding. If you have the potential to handle legal queries, draft legal documents and become a legal representative of a firm then you can definitely look to pursue BA LLB; the BA LLB course will not only prepare you to handle various legal facets and challenging legal situations but will also provide you with a gratifying career. 

A few of the reasons to pursue a BA LLB course are mentioned below:

1. Wide-Ranging Career Options: The Indian legal system complexities have created avenues for a plethora of legal career options. You can work in core and non-core sectors and you can work in multiple positions after completing the BA LLB course like a lawyer, legal consultant, lecturer, public prosecutor, etc., and further evolve your career with the ever-changing legal system.

2. Service to Clients: Client service is at the heart of a legal professional’s role. Whether you are a corporate lawyer representing a company as your client, a solicitor looking after a property dispute, or a law clerk researching tax issues for a new business entity, your primary purpose is to provide legal help to those with legal issues and the BA LLB course will provide you with a perfect opportunity to perform the aforementioned functions.

3. Rapid Growth Opportunities: The rapid expansion of various businesses, steady rise in profits, increment in discretionary income, etc. have led to staggering growth in the legal profession. BA LLB professionals are experiencing a rise in their salaries along with a steep rise in their demand in current times. The current growth projections and job scope look extremely promising for the BA LLB legal aspirants.

4. Intellectual Stimulation: Increasing number of a variety of complex legal matters, advancements in technologies, the rapid evolution of the legal system, etc. have created much intellectual stimulation among BA LLB professionals. Legal professionals, more so than ever, need to update their legal knowledge, and expertise as per the evolving legal procedures. 

5. Prestigious Career Option: BA LLB professionals have always been respected and highly regarded within societies due to their elite and noble professions. If you pursue a career in BA LLB, it will open doors to lots of legal opportunities which will not only be highly rewarding but also growth-oriented and will pay pretty well in terms of salary.

If a candidate has secured an aggregate minimum of 50% or above in 10+2 or equivalent examination then they are eligible to apply for BA LLB integrated undergraduate degree. However, to get admission into the BA LLB course, all the candidates must pass the entrance exam for which they have applied. Entrance exams conducted to induct candidates into the BA LLB program can be at a national level, state level, or university level. BA LLB prepares students for a highly sought-after profession in the legal sector, with chances to work for a variety of commercial and public sector companies. 

Hence, if you are interested in working with various organizations and gaining an enriching experience, you should pursue BA LLB integrated undergraduate degree. Students who want to work in the legal industry for some of the world's most prestigious businesses should opt for the BA LLB course. The BA LLB course is open to students who have completed their 10+2 in any subject from a recognized board.

Students interested in pursuing a BA LLB should have a skill set to succeed in the course and, afterwards, in their careers. The following are some of the abilities that candidates should have for the BA LLB course:

• Research Skills
• Confidence
• Convincing Power
• Time Management Skills
• Good Judgment Skills
• Objectivity
• Presentation Skills
• Excellent Verbal and Written Communication Skills

To be eligible for the BA LLB course, candidates must fulfil the following criteria:

• Candidates must have passed their 10+2 or equivalent examination from a recognized board.
• Candidates appearing for the 10+2 examination are also eligible to apply for the BA LLB program. However, their BA LLB admission will be subject to their aggregate pass percentage in 10+2 or equivalent examination from a recognized board.
• The minimum required percentage to be eligible for the BA LLB course is 50% - 60% aggregate marks in the 10+2 examination. The minimum aggregate percentage may differ from college to college as per their individual requirements.
• A 5% relaxation in aggregate required 10+2 percentage is granted to students who belong from SC/ ST/ OBC/ PWD backgrounds for BA LLB eligibility.
• There’s an upper age limit to pursue a BA LLB course, however, there are a few BA LLB colleges that set an upper age limit for their BA LLB program.

Admission to BA LLB course is done on the basis of scores obtained in entrance exams which are conducted at a national level or state level or at a university level. CLAT, also known as the Common Law Admission Test, is one of the popular BA LLB law entrance exams in India. Candidates who successfully qualify CLAT can get admission into reputed law institutes that provide BA LLB courses in India. Some of the other popular BA LLB  law entrance exams are LSAT India, AILET, DUET, etc. Not all admissions to BA LLB course are done on the basis of entrance exams, a few law colleges select BA LLB aspirants based on merit whereas few law institutes provide direct admission to students to the BA LLB program after group discussion/ personal interview/ written test.

Admission to the BA LLB course is provided in three modes. Each of the three modes is explained below:

BA LLB Entrance Exam Based Admission:

Several admission tests for law schools are held at various levels. Some colleges accept national test scores, while others only accept students who pass state or university-level entrance tests. To select candidates, several law schools offer their own institute-level admission tests. Depending on which college a candidate intends to attend, he or she will be needed to take the exam for admission to the BA LLB program. 

CLAT, LSAT, AILET, and others are some of the most popular BA LLB admission exams. The majority of BA LLB law entrance exams include multiple-choice questions based on law subjects to assess candidates' legal knowledge, logical thinking, and legal reasoning, among other skills. In India, the majority of the BA LLB law entrance exams last 1.5 to 2 hours with MCQ-based questions.

BA LLB Merit-Based Admission:

There are a few colleges that provide merit-based admission to the BA LLB program. Students get admitted to some law schools in India depending on their 10+2 or equivalent examination result from a recognized board. As a result, after considering applicants' 12th class results, applicants for BA LLB at these colleges are shortlisted. The BA LLB colleges compile a merit list, with applicants with better grade point averages in class 12 receiving priority. All students who desire to pursue a BA LLB degree at one of these universities must focus on achieving the maximum possible grade in their class 12 board examination.

BA LLB Direct Admission:

If there are available seats, a few BA LLB colleges in various states may provide direct admission to BA LLB students. Admission to these colleges is on a first-come, first-served basis until all seats are filled. Other than their primary method of admissions, certain BA LLB colleges may perform an additional round of Group Discussion, Written Ability Test, and/ or Personal Interview. In such circumstances, the BA LLB aspirants must pass all admissions rounds to be considered for admission into the BA LLB course. For BA LLB direct admission, a BA LLB law entrance exam is not mandatory but to increase your chances of getting admission to a BA LLB program via direct entry, you must fare well in all of the above-mentioned BA LLB  admission rounds conducted by various BA LLB colleges.

BA LLB fee structure varies from one college to another. BA LLB fee ranges anywhere from INR 1.5 lakhs to INR 7 lakhs depending on the fee structure set by a particular law institute. BA LLB distance education course fee ranges anywhere from INR 15,000 to INR 50,000. The BA LLB course fees for international students/ NRI Sponsored candidates differ from the fee required to be submitted by BA LLB domestic students.

The five-year integrated BA LLB course consists of various law subjects like contract law, criminal law, jurisprudence, business law, etc. along with a few subjects related to the art field like political science, sociology, history, etc. The entire BA LLB syllabus includes theoretical classroom sessions along with industry-based practical training sessions in form of court visits, moot court sessions, clinical internships, etc. to sharpen the legal skills and expand students’ legal know-how and knowledge through experiential learning. The BA LLB five-year integrated course is generally divided into 10 semesters spanning 5 years.

Below is the BA LLB semester-wise syllabus:

BA LLB Syllabus Year - I

BA LLB Syllabus Year - II

BA LLB Syllabus Year - III

BA LLB Syllabus Year - IV

BA LLB Syllabus Year - V

Although there are no proper BA LLB specializations but there are a few elective subjects in the last year of the BA LLB course that candidates can choose based on their interests, goals, and career aspirations. A few of the electives that candidates can choose from are International Trade Laws, Investment Law, International Banking and Finance, etc.

After the completion of the BA LLB course, candidates can pursue a 2-year postgraduate Master of Law (LLM) course to achieve proper specialization in the subject of their choice. A few of the popular law specializations that aspirants mostly go for while pursuing their LLM degree are Business Law, Criminal Law, Human Rights, and Labour Law among a few others.

Most well-known universities and colleges admit students based on scores obtained in BA LLB law entrance exams. Some of the popular BA LLB law entrance exams are CLAT, LSAT, AILET, etc. LSAT India is conducted twice a year while most of the other exams like CLAT are conducted only once a year. Most of these BA LLB law entrance exams contain MCQ-based questions and candidates get anywhere from 1.5 hours to 2.2 hours to complete the examination. These BA LLB law entrance exams are conducted at a national level, state level, and university level. BA LLB aspirants would be required to take any level exam as proposed by the different colleges in which they are willing to take the BA LLB admission.

Some of the popular BA LLB law entrance exams along with important dates are mentioned below:

Some of the prestigious colleges and universities that offer 5-year integrated BA LLB courses are mentioned below:

The National Institute of Ranking Framework, or NIRF, is a government of India agency that operates under the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Every year, it publishes a ranking of India's best colleges and institutions. Graduation Outcome, Teaching and Learning Resources, Research & Professional Practice, and Outreach & Inclusivity are among the criteria used to rate institutions. The top BA LLB colleges in India as determined by NIRF Ranking are listed below:

While many students choose to pursue higher education after the BA LLB program but BA LLB course provides them with a variety of career options in different fields. Large organizations are expanding globally nowadays through mergers, acquisitions, collaborations, and consolidations, resulting in an increased demand for legal consultants, attorneys, and lawyers. A BA LLB professional can serve in various capacities based on their specialization, they can be a company’s legal advisor, they can opt to be a paralegal sorting and preparing paperwork and all of the other crucial documents required in the court, they can also work as a litigator who will be responsible for all the aspects of litigation from investigation, pleadings, discovery, etc. 

While serving in various roles, BA LLB professionals can enjoy great income along with a good reputation within society. With the growth in technologies and increasing complexities of our legal system, the global demand projection for legal professionals is all set to increase manifolds in the future. Following are some of the primary career paths you can take after earning your BA LLB:

• Assistant Attorney
• Solicitor
• Legal Associate
• Advocate
• Paralegal
• Notary

After completing your BA LLB, you can sit for the Indian Civil Services, State Legal Services, and Public Service Commission Entrance Exams. The typical pay after BA LLB is around 3 lakhs INR to 10 lakhs INR depending on your job profile and the company you work for.

ou will get plenty of options and opportunities to choose a legal profession that best suits your goals and interests after completing your BA LLB course. Obtaining a BA LLB degree will provide you with opportunities in diverse fields of law. With a BA LLB degree, you can become a lawyer, paralegal, solicitor, judge, etc. All the legal professions are intellectually fulfilling, provide handsome salaries and carry a worldwide reputation. After completing your BA LLB degree you can opt to do LLM postgraduate studies which is a 2-year postgraduate degree program that helps aspiring lawyers gain an in-depth understanding of the ever-evolving legal system.

BA LLB 5-year integrated undergraduate degree program will carve your path to a better understanding of the law system and legal know-how with the added advantage of preparing you for the postgraduate LLM course. Some of the most popular BA LLB professions that earn huge respect and higher salaries along with a good work-life balance are mentioned below:

Legal Counsel:

Legal Counsel advises a firm or a customer on various legal terms and conditions and assists in saving and protecting the company against legal troubles. A legal counsel's function is no longer confined to managing the legal risk associated with the company in which they operate.

Advocate:

Advocates are a company's, person's, or client's legal face and spokespeople, managing and resolving their legal operations and issues from top to bottom. According to the Advocates Act of 1961, an advocate must have a legal degree and be registered with the Bar Council. Advocates are the only people who are legally allowed to practice law. 

Public Prosecutor:

A public prosecutor is a lawyer who investigates and prosecutes criminal cases in a court of law by gathering and presenting evidence. In some cases, the professional also assists the Judge in administering justice. In Session Court and the High Court, Public Prosecutors supervise the work of Additional Public Prosecutors. The State, not the police, is represented by Public Prosecutors.

Corporate Lawyer:

They are business law professionals, and their work is primarily focused on providing advice and help to businesses and clients in the commercial and corporate sectors. They frequently negotiate company agreements, verify business accounts, and handle day-to-day legal business matters. When necessary, corporate lawyers also plead on behalf of their clients in court.

Paralegal:

A paralegal is a legal assistant who works in a law office or business and performs administrative duties such as those listed below:

• Gathering papers such as evidence and affidavits.
• Using the internet or fieldwork to conduct in-depth research on the case.
• For the law firm where they work, they write research papers and/ or reports.
• Prepare pleadings for court submission.
• Prepare paperwork such as sale contracts, property transfer papers, wills, and other legal documents.

Below is the list of salaries for some of the popular BA LLB job positions: