Q & A
Capping success: Law students at a convocation ceremony of the NALSAR University of Law.
Careers for law graduates
I have completed my Plus Two. I am interested in the five-year Integrated BA LLB Course. Could you please tell me where such courses are offered and the related job opportunities?
Sonu
A career in law demands good communication skills, including effective writing, speaking and listening; ability to absorb facts and analyse them quickly, a sense of responsibility, a sympathetic attitude and patience. It was with a view to attracting talented youngsters towards law, the Bar Council of India introduced the five-year integrated degree course in law. The aim was train brilliant Plus Two students in a comprehensive manner in law and related disciplines. Many universities and law colleges now offer the five-year course. Three-year LLB degree courses are also offered to graduates in any discipline.
Five year LLB
In Kerala, Government Law Colleges at Thiruvananthapuram (Barton Hill), Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kozhikode offer five-year LLB course. A total of 320 seats (80 seats each) are available for the course in these four colleges. Selection is based on the entrance test conducted by the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations. It will be of three-hour duration consisting of 200 multiple-choice questions covering general knowledge, English and aptitude for legal studies. The test will be held in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kozhikode. Those who have passed the 10+2/equivalent examination with minimum 40 per cent marks (35 per cent for SC/ ST students) are eligible to appear for the test. The notification may expected during April/May every year. Allotment of seats would be conducted online. Admissions to the colleges would be made by the respective principals after seat allotment.
Kerala Law Academy Law College, Peroorkada, Thiruvananthapuram – 695005, affiliated to the University of Kerala also conducts a five-year LLB course for Plus Two holders.
The School of Indian Legal Thought under the Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, offers BA LLB (Hons.) of five-year duration. Plus Two holders with 50 per cent marks (45 per cent for SC/ST students) are eligible for admission.
The Cochin University of Science and Technology ( www.cusat.nic.in) offers a five-year LLB (Hons.) cost-sharing course for Plus Two holders with 60 per cent marks in science/commerce groups or 55 per cent marks in arts/ humanities . Selection is based on the CUSAT-CAT.
The National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kaloor, Kochi – 17 ( www.nuals.ac.in), offers BA LLB (Hons.) five-year integrated course. Entry qualification is Plus Two pass with 50 per cent marks (45 per cent for SC/ST) and 50 per cent marks in the entrance test.
The School of Legal Studies (Department of law) under Kannur University, Thalassery Campus, Palayad- 670 661, conducts a BA LLB (Hons.) course of five years’ duration. Selection is based on an entrance test (www. kannuruniversity.ac.in).
National-level law universities
The following national-level law schools/universities also conduct five-year LLB courses:
•National Law School of India University Bangalore - 560072 ( www.nls.ac.in) BA LLB (Hons)
•National Law University, Jodhpur ( www.nlujodhpur.ac.in) BBA LLB (Hons), BSc LLB (Hons) BA LLB (Hons).
•National Law Institute University, Bhopal - BA LLB (Hons) ( www.mp.nic.in/vyapam).
•Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar- 382028 ( www.gnlu.ac.in) BA LLB (Hons), B.Sc. LLB (Hons), B.Com. LLB (Hons.)
•Hidayatullah National Law University Chattisgarh, Raipur- 492001 ( www.hnluraipur.com) BA/ B.Sc. LLB (Hons).
•NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad - 500027 ( www.nalsarlawuniv.org) BA BL (Hons)
•West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Saltlake , Kolkata - 700098 ( www.nujs.edu) B.Sc./BA LLB (Hons.)
Higher qualification
Higher qualifications such as LLM and Ph.D. / LLD could be planned for a better career, including teaching. The areas of specialisations in this field are many – civil law, criminal law, international law, labour law, constitutional law, mercantile law, administrative law, law of taxation and so on. A number of law colleges and universities law departments, etc. offer courses in these areas.
After completing the five-year integrated LLB or three-year LLB course with high marks, one can go in for the two year LLM course. In Kerala, Government Law Colleges in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kozhikode offer this postgraduate course. Admission is based on an entrance test conducted by the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations.
The college-wise LLM seats and specialisations are as follows:
•Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram, 15 -seats (International Law, Constitutional Law).
•Government Law College, Ernakulam, Seats 15 (Mercantile Law, Criminal Law)
•Government Law College, Thrissur, Seats - 10 (Administrative Law, Criminal Law)
•Government Law College, Kozhikode, Seat- 15 (Law of taxation)
Students appearing for the final year LLB examination can also apply for the entrance examination. No upper-age limit is prescribed for admission.
In Kerala, the following university departments and colleges also conduct LLM courses:
•Department of Law, University of Kerala, Kariavattom Campus, Thiruvananthapuram - 695581 (LLM, PhD)
•Mahatma Gandhi University, Faculty of Law, Priyadarshini Hills. P.O, Kottayam- 686560 (LLM)
•Cochin University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Law, Kochi - 682022 (LLM, PhD)
•Department of Law, University of Calicut, Calicut University.P.O, Thenhipalam - 673635 (LLM)
•Kerala Law Academy Law College, Peroorkada, Thiruvananthapuram - 695005 (LLM)
NLSIU course
The National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore – 560072, conducts the LLM course with specializations in business laws and human rights laws. LLB degree holders with at least 50 per cent marks are eligible to apply for the admission test. M.Phil., Ph.D. (Law or interdisciplinary) and LLD programmes are also being offered here. Those having an LLM degree with at least 50 per cent marks are eligible for admission to M.Phil. or Ph.D. programme ( www.nls.ac.in)
Other national-level law universities and colleges offering LLM programmes are as follows:
•National Law University, Jodhpur (MBA-LLM).
•NALSAR University of Hyderabad- 500 027 ( www.nalsaruniv.org) (LLM)
•WB National University of Juridical Science SaltLake, Kolkata (LLM, MPhil)
•Hidayatallah National Law University Chattisgarh, Raipur - 492001 (LLM, PhD)
•Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College, Pondicherry (LLM, PhD)
Job prospects
A law graduate has different options to pursue the profession – as a lawyer, legal advisor, law officer, public prosecutor, solicitor, law reporter, legal assistant and so on, depending on one’s professional skills and experience. The private corporate sector has been recruiting legal professionals in a major way in recent years and the legal process outsourcing sector also offers openings.
Law graduates are eligible to apply for the legal assistant’s posts in the Law Department in the Government Secretariat. An experienced practicing lawyer has ample opportunities to become magistrates or munsiffs and get promoted as sub-judges, district and sessions judges, High Court judges and so on in the judiciary. There are several opportunities for an experienced lawyer to become a public prosecutor, Government pleader, solicitor, notary public or even advocate general. Law graduates can also qualify for company secretaryship and become company secretaries. They are also eligible to compete for any post for which graduation is the minimum qualification. They are also eligible to become assistants in High Courts and the offices of the Advocate General, Public Service Commission and Local Find Audit.
GOPAKUMAR KARAKONAM
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