LLM Full form is Master of Laws, it is an advanced degree that takes one or two years to complete. It is for people who already have an LLB or a law degree that is comparable. As a result, you will learn more about certain areas of law, like Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Corporate Law, or International Law. By combining classroom learning with research projects, workshops, jobs, and writing dissertations, the school prepares you for higher positions in the law field.
To be eligible for an LLM, you must have earned an LLB or a 5-year combined law degree from a recognised university with at least 50–55% marks (relaxation in some cases for protected groups). LLM schools mostly let people in by giving them entry tests like CLAT-PG, AILET-PG, LSAT India, or DU LLM. Additionally, some private schools may also have their own tests or talks for entry.
A master's degree program in India can cost anywhere from INR 10,00,000 to INR 50,00,000, based on whether the college is public or private. Higher education institutions run by the government tend to be more affordable, while private schools may have better facilities, teachers, or opportunities to study abroad.
Numerous job possibilities are available after earning an LLM. Job titles include legal counsellor, business lawyer, legal researcher, and policy expert. A lot of them also continue their education to become teachers at colleges, lawyers, or work in foreign organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Others even go for a PhD in law to work as professors or researchers.
Table of Contents
LLM Key Highlights
Below are the key highlights of the Master of Laws course in India:
What is an LLM?
L.L.M is a one- or two-year postgraduate degree for those who already hold a law degree and wish to delve further into the legal field. If you're interested in a particular field of law, such as human rights, corporate law, or international law, or if you want to further your career in teaching, research, or high-level legal positions, this program might be the next step for you.
The school helps you get better at researching, writing, and thinking about the law. It also gives you a deeper look at how laws affect society and the world. You will learn about more complex subjects like Intellectual Property Rights, Criminal Justice, International Trade Law, and Constitutional Theory. You can even choose to focus on Environmental Law, Cyber Law, or Business Law in some classes, if that's what you're interested in.
Also, read LLM in Taxation Law
Why Study LLM?
An LLM can help you take the next big step in your legal career if you want to learn more about the law, become an expert in a certain area, or move into teaching, research or management positions in the legal field.
- Provides advanced job opportunities in policy think tanks, law companies, foreign organisations, business legal departments, and universities.
- Develops your study, writing and thinking skills through case studies, workshops and dissertations.
- Supports your learning in areas like Human Rights, Constitutional Law, Corporate Law, Intellectual Property Rights or International Law.
- Builds a strong foundation for people who want to get a PhD in law or work as teachers or researchers in the field of law.
It is great for lawyers, legal assistants or new college graduates who want to stand out in tough legal areas, gain more power or focus.
Who should study for LLM?
If you already have a law degree and want to learn more about a certain area of the law, an LLM could be the right next step for you. This app works great for:
- Anyone who wants to become an expert in a certain area of law, such as human rights, foreign law, business law or criminal law. If you really enjoy a subject during your LLB you can learn more about it during your LLM.
- Lawyers or people who work in the legal field who want to advance in their careers. Getting a master law degree is a great way to boost your career whether you want to move up, work for a foreign organisation or join a top law company.
- People who like to write, do study and do schoolwork in the law field. An LLM is a step towards a PhD or teaching at the university level if you like to learn more about complicated legal problems, write papers, or teach others.
- People who want to change careers from lawyers to policymakers, legal consultants or people who work in business planning. If you want to stand out in narrow legal markets or advisory jobs, getting an LLM can help you specialise.
An LLM, especially one with an international focus, can give you the experience and skills you need for a global job if you want to work abroad or with global law systems.
LLM Eligibility Criteria
To enroll in an Master of Laws, candidates have to meet some educational and admission requirements. Without fulfilling these criteria, it is not possible to enter the course. Mentioned below are the LLM eligibility criteria:
- Must hold a 3 or 4-year bachelor's degree in any discipline with 45% marks
- Completed 10+2 in any stream from a recognized board.
- A minimum of 45-50% marks in the 10+2 exam and graduation.
LLM Entrance Exams 2025
For pursuing a Master of Laws in India, various national/state/university-level entrance examinations are required to be taken. Colleges and Universities in India offer admission depending on the marks or rank obtained in these examinations.
LLM Colleges in India
Various institutions in India are offering the Master of Laws course; each institute has got some entrance exam criteria for admitting students. Some of the top Master of Laws programs in India have been mentioned below, along with their total course fee, NIRF Ranking, and entrance exams required for admission:
LLM Admission Process 2025
The admission to LLM is based on the entrance exams like CLAT, AILET etc. Student needs to appear for the national level examination in order to pursue the Master of Laws from a reputable university. However, some universities also provide admission on the basis of Universitiy Level test or Merit. Given below is the step by step admission process for the Sharda University:
Step 1: Go to the official site for law entrance exams like CLAT or LSAT-India. Sign up by giving your personal and educational details. After registration, you will get a confirmation email or SMS with a link to complete your application.
Step 2: Fill the application form with your education history, achievements and career goals. Upload your 10th and 12th mark sheet, degree certificate or latest results, passport-shaped photos and any required category certificate. See everything before submitting.
Step 3: If your university requests this, submit your application online or personally. Some may require you to bring paper documents for verification on interview day, so prepare them.
Step 4: You may need an entrance examination like CLAT or LSAT to test your legal logic, English, general knowledge and logic. Some schools may also discuss interviews or groups later.
Step 5: Once the result is over, the shortlisted candidates will be invited for counseling or direct entry based on their rank and selected colleges. Schools will consider your exam score, interview results and application details for final selection.
Step 6: If selected, you will receive an admit card after one week of the selection round, or via email through the university portal. This letter will include your course fee, hostel information and orientation schedule.
Step 7: To secure your location, pay the entry fee mentioned in the letter and any deposit in the letter before the time limit.
Required Documents:
- 10th and 12th mark sheets
- Graduation Marksheets
- ID proofs
- Transfer certificate
- Character certificate
- Medical certificate
- Category Certificate (if applicable)
LLM Syllabus
The syllabus for LLM in India is more or less the same in the colleges offering the course. The syllabus may slightly differ depending on the curriculum followed by the institute. For reference, the syllabus for LLM at Sambalpur University is given below:
LLM Job Opportunities in India
Master of Laws graduates can have job roles in multiple fields, including Legal Advisor, Judiciary (Judge, Magistrate), Corporate Lawyer and others. Some of the common job roles for LLM graduates in India are given below:
LLM FAQs
What kinds of projects do L.L.M. students do?
LLM students do a lot of advanced legal study, write dissertations, look at hard case law and work on policy papers. They also attend lectures and lessons on legal writing and sometimes they help teachers with academic papers.
Can L.L.M.students look for chances around the world?
Yes! As part of their student exchange programs, global moot courts, shared research projects, and summer schools abroad, many L.L.M.programs give students the chance to learn about other countries. These activities help students learn about different law systems and make connections around the world.
Where does the job fit in with the L.L.M.?
A lot of the time, internships are recommended during or after the school. Students get to work for top law firms, legal study centres, policy think tanks or foreign groups. This helps them learn more about their chosen speciality and gives them useful information.
What kinds of jobs can people with an L.L.M. get?
People who get their L.L.M.can work as legal experts, business counsels, policy managers, legal researchers, or law teachers. Depending on what they are interested in, they can also work for foreign organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or move into specialised legal jobs.
Do the students learn any tools or apps during the course?
Yes! Manupatra, SCC Online, Westlaw, and LexisNexis are some of the study tools that L.L.M.students often use. They also use reference managers, legal quotation tools and data analysis apps (like SPSS for research-based L.L.M.) to write and keep track of their work.
