The five-year integrated law programme joins a bachelor's degree with a law degree in one course.
Class 12 (or equivalent) from a recognised board, in any stream: arts, commerce or science. No particular subject is compulsory.
CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is held by the Consortium of National Law Universities. Its score is used for the National Law Universities that take part and by many other law schools that accept it.
Overview
The five-year integrated law programme joins a bachelor's degree with a law degree in one course. Common forms are BA LLB, BBA LLB, B.Com LLB, B.Sc LLB and BSL LLB. It is entered after Class 12. Admission is mostly through law entrance tests such as CLAT (for the National Law Universities), AILET (for NLU Delhi) and tests run by other universities or states. Law courses must follow the Bar Council of India rules, and a graduate who wants to practise as an advocate must enrol with a State Bar Council.
At a glance
Eligibility
Typical pattern. The official notice for the current year is final.
- Class 12 (or equivalent) from a recognised board, in any stream: arts, commerce or science. No particular subject is compulsory.
- Bar Council of India rules require a minimum percentage in Class 12, lower for reserved categories. Tests have stated their own figures in recent cycles. Confirm the exact figure in the current notice.
- Students appearing in Class 12 are usually allowed to apply, but must meet the marks condition when results are out. Read the notice for the cut-off date for proof.
- Upper age limit: Bar Council of India rules have had an age cap, but it is disputed in the courts and has been before the Supreme Court. Some tests stated no age limit recently. Read the current notice.
- You need a valid score in the entrance test that your chosen university accepts. Some private universities also accept Class 12 marks or other national tests.
- To practise in court after the degree, you must enrol with a State Bar Council and, as per current Bar Council of India rules, clear the All India Bar Examination.
Entrance exams for this course
CLAT
Common Law Admission Test (Undergraduate)
Conducted by Consortium of National Law UniversitiesEntrance and counselling
- CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is held by the Consortium of National Law Universities. Its score is used for the National Law Universities that take part and by many other law schools that accept it.
- AILET (All India Law Entrance Test) is held by National Law University, Delhi, and is used only for that university's five-year programme.
- Other routes include state-level tests such as the Maharashtra CET for law, university-specific tests and, at some private universities, national tests or merit.
- Seats are filled through counselling run by the consortium or by each university. Reservation for categories, domicile and special quotas follow each university's notice.
- Most law entrance tests test English, reading, current affairs and general knowledge, legal reasoning and logical reasoning. Mathematics is light and, in recent CLAT cycles, limited to basic numeracy in passages.
- Dates, test pattern, and whether the test is online or on paper change from year to year. Read each information bulletin before you apply.
- Check that the university and course are approved by the Bar Council of India. A degree from an unapproved course does not give the right to enrol as an advocate.
Admission process
The usual journey, step by step. Dates and rules for the current year are on the official notice.
- 1Check eligibilityConfirm Class 12 marks, subjects and any age condition in the notice of each test and university
- 2Choose the testsDecide which of CLAT, AILET, state CETs and university tests you will take, and note their dates
- 3Register and applyRegister on the official website of each test and submit the application before the last date
- 4Appear for the testPrepare for English, current affairs, legal reasoning and logical reasoning, then take the test
- 5Register for counsellingJoin the counselling or university admission process after results and fill in your preferences
- 6Seat allotmentA seat is offered on the basis of your score, category and preferences
- 7Report and confirmPay the admission dues shown by the university, submit documents and join on time
Documents
- Class 10 and Class 12 marksheets and certificates
- Entrance scorecard, if any
- Photo ID and photographs
- Category / EWS / PwD certificate, if applicable
- Migration / transfer certificate
- Fee payment receipts
Read the document preparation guide →
What you study
- Law core: Constitutional Law, Law of Contract, Law of Torts, Criminal Law, Family Law and Property Law
- Procedural law: civil procedure, criminal procedure and law of evidence
- Legal method, jurisprudence and legal history
- Company law, taxation, banking and commercial law
- Public international law and human rights
- Subjects from the first degree: for example political science, sociology, economics, history, management or accounting
- Professional courses: drafting, pleading and conveyancing, professional ethics and moot court
- Clinical legal education, such as legal aid and court visits
- Electives such as intellectual property, environmental law, cyber law and arbitration
- Internships with lawyers, courts, firms, companies and NGOs, and a research paper or dissertation
Year by year
- Foundation law subjects with the first-degree subjects, for example political science, sociology, economics or management
- English, legal writing and research methods
- Core law subjects such as contract, torts, criminal law, property and constitutional law
- Procedural laws and the first internships
- Professional courses, electives, clinical legal education and moot court
- Final internships and a dissertation or project
Skills you build
Careers and next steps
- Litigation: practise in district courts, High Courts and the Supreme Court after enrolment as an advocate
- Corporate law: law firms and in-house legal teams, working on contracts, compliance and deals
- Judiciary: appear for the state judicial service exams to become a civil judge or magistrate, as per each state's conditions
- Public prosecutor and government legal posts through separate selection processes
- Legal roles in banks, regulators, public sector companies and the civil services after other exams
- Policy, research and legal journalism
- Legal aid and non-government organisations
- Higher study: LLM, PhD and academic careers
- Alternative dispute resolution: arbitration and mediation
Is it for you?
A good fit if
- You enjoy reading, writing and building arguments from facts and rules.
- You can work steadily on long texts and keep to deadlines.
- You are interested in how the state, rights and business are governed.
- You are ready to build your career step by step, for example by interning and assisting seniors.
Think twice if
- You want a quick, predictable result right after graduation: law careers, especially in litigation, take years to build.
- You dislike heavy reading and writing.
- You are choosing law only because of the name of a college or because friends did.
- You have not checked that the course is approved by the Bar Council of India.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Not checking university or programme approval
- Missing the application window
- Ignoring documents needed for category or domicile benefits
- Choosing by name rather than curriculum and outcomes
Colleges to explore
Listings show name and location. Fees and cut-offs are shown only when verified from official sources.
BHU
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Central UniversityAMU
Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh
Central UniversityJMI
New Delhi, Delhi
Central UniversityDU
New Delhi, Delhi
State GovernmentSPPU
Pune, Maharashtra
State GovernmentMumbai University
Mumbai, Maharashtra
Official sources to check
- Bar Council of Indiawww.barcouncilofindia.org
- Consortium of National Law Universities (CLAT)consortiumofnlus.ac.in
- National Law University Delhi (AILET)nludelhi.ac.in
- University Grants Commissionwww.ugc.gov.in
Frequently asked questions
Is CLAT compulsory for law?
No. CLAT is needed for the National Law Universities that take part and for other colleges that accept its score. Many universities use their own tests, state tests or merit. NLU Delhi uses AILET.
Which stream do I need in Class 12?
Any stream. Arts, commerce and science students can all apply, provided they meet the minimum marks in the notice.
Is there an age limit for five-year law courses?
The Bar Council of India rules have had an upper age cap, but it has been challenged in the courts and the matter has been before the Supreme Court. Some tests have stated no age limit in recent years. Read the current notice of each test and university.
What is the difference between BA LLB, BBA LLB and B.Com LLB?
All give a law degree. The first part of the degree differs: arts subjects in BA LLB, management in BBA LLB and commerce in B.Com LLB. Pick by your interest and the area of law you like.
Can I practise as an advocate right after the degree?
You must enrol with a State Bar Council. As per current Bar Council of India rules, you must also pass the All India Bar Examination to practise in courts.
How do I become a judge?
Judges at the lower level are chosen through the state judicial service exams, run by each state's High Court or Public Service Commission. Eligibility, such as practice period or age, differs by state and changes over time.
Is the degree valid if the course is not approved by the BCI?
Check the approval before you take admission. Without it, enrolment as an advocate may not be possible.
Does Padhaidekho guarantee admission?
No. Admission depends on the official counselling authority, your eligibility and merit. We guide you, verify information against official notices and keep you on track.
How Padhaidekho helps
We review your eligibility against the current official notice, build a ranked options list, keep your documents and deadlines on track and stay with you through every round. Fees and service scope are shared in writing before you enrol.
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Content checked against the official sources above in 2026-10. Rules, dates and eligibility change every cycle: always confirm on the official notice. This page is general guidance, not legal advice or an admission guarantee.