LLM also known as Master of Laws has been derived from the name of the qualification in Latin called "Legum Magister". It is a worldwide recognised postgraduate degree in law that individuals only from a legal background can pursue. LLM is an appropriate course for students who want to expand their legal knowledge in a specific area of law.
A Master of Laws, or LLM, is a postgraduate degree in law that typically lasts for a period of two years. However, there are a number of educational institutions that offer a one-year LLM programme as well. Obtaining an LLM helps you to acquire an in-depth comprehension of a specific area of law by carrying out extensive substantial research in that area. International Law, Corporate Law, Business Law, and Criminal Law are just a few of the specialisations offered in Master of Laws degree programmes.
LLM: Overview
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Name of the Course
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LLM or Master of Law
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Level of the Course
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Postgraduate/Masters
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Duration of the Course
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2 Years
1 Year LLM Programme is also provided by some institutions.
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Required Minimum Qualification
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5-year Integrated Law/3-year LL.B
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Selection Process
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Entrance Exam/Merit-based
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Internship
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Optional
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Why should One Pursue An LLM degree?
It is undeniably essential to obtain an LLM after graduating from a law school in order advance your legal education. You can get a head start on your legal career with the help of an LLM degree. Some of the most significant advantages of getting an LLM degree are listed below.
Prepares You For a Global Career: LLM degrees with a speciality in international law will assist students in making a name for themselves in the international arena and ultimately establishing a career in the international legal field, assuring a bright future.
Narrows Down Your Interests: The LLM course enables you to concentrate on a certain topic instead of undergraduate law courses that cover law in general. This gradually aids in your ability to focus on the topic and give it more attention, allowing you to become an expert in it.
Varieties of Specialisations: The diversity of specialities available in LLM courses will assist students in selecting a professional path from among a broad range of specialisations such as international law, corporate legal affairs, labour and human rights and other related fields.
Explore Legal Writing & Research: A job in legal writing and research is possible after receiving an LLM, with the specialisation of your choice. You may pursue an LLD after receiving an LLM to pursue a career in legal writing and research.
Higher Pay and More Prospects: Earning an LLM will earn you a higher salary and provide you with more opportunities in the legal field
Who Can Pursue LLM?
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Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree in law from a recognised university with a minimum of Fifty percent (50%) overall in case of candidates belonging to General/OBC/PWD/NRI/PIO/OCI categories and Forty-Five percent (45%) marks in case of candidates belonging to SC/ST categories. and must have passed any of the law entrance tests such as CLAT, LSAT, AILET.
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Students who wish to practice in legal writing or teach at prestigious law schools after graduation can combine their bachelor and LLM degrees.
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Students who aim to become professionals in a specific discipline of law should enrol in a Master of Laws (LLM) programme.
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LLM programmes are open to almost any student with a legal background who is working in the legal field or planning to do so in the future.
LLM: Syllabus Of Some Top LLM Entrance Tests
The curriculum for the LLM programme encompasses a broad range of areas of study. In addition to this, it involves the actual practise of law as well as the incorporation of the knowledge and abilities necessary to operate effectively in a professional capacity within the legal profession.
The course outline for the LLM Entrances is included below.
CLAT PG
The CLAT PG is an exam that evaluates students depending on their level of comprehension. There are 120 objective-type questions in the 120-minute test. The topics covered in the undergraduate degree programme will serve as the basis for the examination. The essential subjects are as follows:
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Jurisprudence
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Constitutional Law
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Administrative Law
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Law of Contract
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Law of Torts
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Family Law
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Property Law
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Criminal Law
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Company Law
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Taxation law
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Public International law
AILET PG
The National Law University, Delhi (NLU Delhi) administers the All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) for students seeking admission to the postgraduate (PG) level law called LLM or Master of Laws programme at the university. This is an entrance exam at the national level that is exclusively administered by NLU Delhi for admission into their law programmes. The AILET PG exam lasts 90 minutes and consists of 150 questions. However, the comprehensive AILET Syllabus covers a variety of topics that are covered in the undergraduate programmes. The exam include questions based on –
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Constitutional Law
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Law of Contract
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Law of Torts
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International Law
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Criminal Law
DU LLM Entrance Exam
The DU LLM entrance exam is held once a year by Delhi University for the purpose of admitting students to LLM programmes that are offered either full-time or part-time. It is a multiple-choice, computer-based exam. The test consists of 100 questions with multiple-choice answers, lasts for two hours, and has a maximum score of 400 marks. Syllabus for DU LLM Entrance Exam is –
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Constitutional Law of India
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Jurisprudence
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Law of Contract
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Sale of Goods Act
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Law of Torts
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Consumer Protection Act,
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Criminal Law
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Family Law
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Public International Law
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Intellectual Property Law
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Cyber Law
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Environment Law
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Company Law and Partnership Act
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Contemporary Legal Issues
PU CET LLM Entrance Exam
This exam is conducted by Panjab University, Chandigarh. PU LLM entrance exam is for admissions to LLM programmes offered at the university. There are a total of one hundred questions on the examination, and they cover a wide range of legal topics. One point is assigned to each question. Below mentioned is the syllabus for the exam.
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Constitutional and Administrative Law, Service Law, Environmental Law and Human Rights
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Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and Law of Evidence
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Jurisprudence, Civil Procedure Code, Partnership Act and Transfer of property of act
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Family Law, Law of Contract, Law of Torts, Public International Law, Labour Law and Company Law
CUET PG LLM
After successfully passing the CUET LLM entrance exam 2022, applicants can get entry into a variety of postgraduate programmes, one of which is the LLM programme offered by Common Universities Entrance Test (CUET PG). One of the advantages of earning your LLM through CUET is the opportunity to spread your academic wings by attending one of the 21 highly regarded universities located all over the country. The question paper for the LLM consists of multiple-choice questions, and each question is worth four marks. There are one hundred questions total. Each incorrect response will result in a -1 deduction from your total score. The course outline for the CUET LLM can be found below.
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Criminal Law
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Civil Law
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Contract Law
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Sale of Goods act
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Law of Torts
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Consumer Protection law,
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Constitution
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Family Law
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Public International Law
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Intellectual Property Law
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Cyber Law
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Environment Law
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Company Law and Partnership Act
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Jurisprudence
LLM: Admission Process
Candidates who are interested in pursuing an LLM degree are required to first compete for an entrance exam that is aimed to grant admission to the top law schools in India. There are various entrance exams conducted for the admissions to LLM programme.
The admission tests are mostly multiple-choice questions (MCQs); however, there may be one part or a few subjective questions. The curriculum for these tests often comprises legal-based questions that assess the candidate’s subject knowledge and understanding.
The following outlines the admissions process that is generally followed for students seeking admission to LLM programmes at India's top law schools. –
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Universities will accept a candidate’s score from any national or university-level entrance test that they have taken to enter law school.
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The top law schools in India accept CLAT, IPU-CET, LSAT, DU LLM, AP LAWCET, and other major LLM entrance scores.
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The fee of the application varies from institution to institution and is determined by the reservations.
LLM: Eligibility Criteria
Candidates who want to pursue an LLM degree must meet the following eligibility requirements, which are listed below:
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Should have qualified BA LLB or LLB with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in their degree programme.
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45% in case of SC/ST/ Persons with Disabilities).
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Total Seats: 70+10 (70 seats on AILET merit; 5 seats each for Foreign Nationals and OCI/PIO for direct admission on merit). Foreign
Nationals/OCI/PIO are exempt from the AILET.
Additional Supernumerary Seats: One seat for Kashmiri MigrantsApart from this, a few colleges have fixed eligibility criteria
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Candidates appearing for the final year LL.B. annual examination in 2023 are also eligible to apply.
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Some colleges conduct their respective entrance tests and accept national/state level entrance test scores for admissions.
Thus, candidates must be thorough with the eligibility criteria of the colleges they are applying to.
LLM: Entrance Exams
Admissions to LLM are entrance and merit-based. However, a few law institutions accept national and state-level entrance test scores, whereas a few conduct their respective entrances for admissions to the LLM programme. Listed below are some of the popular entrances for admissions to LLM –
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ENTRANCE EXAMS
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CONDUCTING AUTHOURITY
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REGISTRATION DATES
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EXAM DATES
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CLAT
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Consortium of NLUs
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1st July-3rd November, 2023
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3rd December, 2023
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AILET
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National Law University Delhi
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7th August, 2023 (Tentatively)
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10th December, 2023
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IPU CET
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IP University
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To be announced
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To be announced
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DU LLM
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Delhi University
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To be announced
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To be announced
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LSAT
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LSAC
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April/ May 2023
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June 2023
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AIAT
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Symbiosis University
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May 2023
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June 2023
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TS PGLCET
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Osmania University
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May/ June 2023
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July/ August 2023
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AP PGLCET
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Sri Krishnadevaraya University
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April 2023
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May 2023
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PU CET LLM
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Panjab University
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To be announced
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To be announced
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AILET
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Army Law Institute
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June 2023
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July 2023
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LLM: Career Prospects
The modern world necessitates both specialised knowledge and educational programmes that emphasize practical abilities. Because it is a specialised degree that provides expert and topic-focused instruction, having an LLM opens up more doors for you than any other degree. The majority of law graduates go on to earn their LLM degrees and acquire a competitive edge over other candidates as a result, especially when they choose to concentrate in a topic that is both expanding and trendy, such as the corporate and financial sectors.
After finishing the degree, there are a number of different employment prospects in the legal profession, and these chances are available in both the private and public sectors. Both of these fields look for candidates who hold an LLM degree and have an in-depth knowledge of the subject matter. A graduate of an LLM programme also has the opportunity to pursue a career in freelance legal practise rather than working in the corporate sector. You have the option of starting a professional job or continuing your education after completing your LLM. Following the completion of an LLM degree, the following other options are available:
Initial Phase Of Career: After successfully completing the course, one has the option of joining a law firm or practising in a variety of courts, as detailed in the table below.
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Corporate Lawyer
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Legal Consultant
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Judge
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Joint Advisor
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Criminal Lawyer
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NGO Worker
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International Lawyer
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Tax Lawyer
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Later Phase Of Career: After completing an LLM, students have the option of pursuing a PhD in Law or another subject of law. A doctorate in law can be obtained from a variety of universities, including NLU Jodhpur, NALSAR Hyderabad, and IIT Kharagpur, amongst others.
One of the fields that receives the greatest amount of interest from potential candidates is the legal field. In addition, a career in law gives you the opportunity to work in both the public and private sectors, where you can earn a remarkable salary by representing clients in a variety of jurisdictions all across the country. Therefore, if a profession in law is something you're interested in pursuing, furthering your education can help you get where you want to go.
The abbreviation LLM comes from the Latin word for a qualification that translates to "Master of Laws," which is Legum Magister.
LLM typically lasts for a period of two years. However, there are a number of educational institutions that offer a one-year LLM programme as well.
In order to be qualified for LLM, you must first complete either an LL.B or a BA. LL.B programme. A legal background is a prerequisite for pursuing an LLM degree.
International law & corporate law are the two most prominent LLM specialisations.
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