PhD Law: Admission 2025, Eligibility, Entrance, Fee, Colleges, Syllabus, Jobs & Salary

A PhD in Law is a doctoral degree that equips students with knowledge and understanding of legal studies through research. It is considered the highest level of education in the field of law. The course duration is 3 years; however, with the approval of the university, it can be extended to a maximum of 6 years.

The candidates who want to enrol in the Ph.D Law program must have a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Law or a relevant field with a minimum of 50% marks from a recognised university. Candidates must also qualify for entrance exams to get admission into the Ph.D Law program.

The average fee for studying a PhD in Law in India ranges from INR 85,000 to INR 6.13 L, depending on the college or university. Some of the best colleges and universities are National Law School of India University, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar College of Law, Lovely Professional University, Amity University and National Law Institute University.

Candidates having Ph.D Law degree can work in various domains, including law colleges, government organisations, legal consultancy firms and many other sectors where an understanding of law is necessary. The average salary of Ph.D Law graduates can range between INR 3-12 LPA, depending on their experience level. Some of the most common job roles are Assistant Professor, HOD, Principal, Legal Advisor, Legal Consultant and many more.

PhD in Law Course Highlights

Given below are some of the basic course highlights for the PhD in Law course:

What is a PhD in Law?

PhD in Law is a post-graduate research doctorate in law whose central aim is to conduct original and important contributions to the field of law and legal scholarship, theory, policy or practice. It trains graduates to be legal scholars, researchers, and teachers but also positions them in influential positions in government, international organizations, and policy making. In contrast to professional degrees in Law, which can lead to a career as an attorney, a PhD in Law is primarily focused on advanced interdisciplinary study and academic research into legal practices, issues and policies on critical issues and theories.

The program often encompasses the intensive studies of the legal theory, jurisprudence, research techniques, and law specialties, and the subsequent independent dissertation under the guidance of an expert. Candidates gain mastery of a certain legal subject, research skills and make new contributions to knowledge through their dissertation. It lasts at least three years up to five years, depending on the country, university, and whether one is studying full-time or part-time.

Why study a PhD in Law?

The advantages of enrolling on a PhD in Law degree are:

• A PhD degree allows one to teach law subjects in universities and colleges, ultimately promoting development in this field.
• The highest level of education one can achieve in the field of law, which opens doors to various high-paying job opportunities as a Principal and HOD in reputed law institutes.
• This degree enables candidates to do research in various domains of law, which can pave new paths for solving complex problems in the field of law.
• A PhD degree in Law helps in becoming a subject matter expert in specific areas of law, which opens diverse career paths in academia, the government sector, legal consultancy firms and other sectors where understanding of law is important.

Who should study for a PhD in English?

The best suited people who should consider pursuing a PhD in Law are people who love research and study with great depth into legal theories, policies and applications. Some of the best-fit candidates are:

• Individuals who are dedicated to the pursuit of original and rigorous research to make a novel contribution in legal studies.
• Students who want to be university professors or legal scholars or even researchers and become academicians.
• Lawyers who want to become experts in specific fields such as international law, human rights or corporation.
• People who would like to do research in areas that relate to influencing the policy of people, reforms to current aspects of the law and international legal systems.
• Individuals seeking legal consultancy jobs, advisory positions with government, clerkships with judiciary systems or international institutions.
• It is suitable to individuals who love the law not just as practitioners but want to promote the discipline academically or influence legal systems in an upper direction.

PhD in Law Eligibility Criteria

The Ph.D Law eligibility criteria ensure that candidates are academically prepared to undertake rigorous, original research in law and related interdisciplinary fields. The following candidates are eligible to pursue a Ph.D Law in India:

• Candidates must have a Master of Laws degree (LL.M.) from a recognized university with a minimum of 55% aggregate marks. For reserved categories, a relaxation of 5% is typically provided.
• Alternatively, candidates with a 5-year integrated Bachelor of Laws (B.A. LL.B.) or a 3-year LL.B. degree with 55% marks may also be eligible, depending on specific university regulations.
• Some universities accept candidates who have passed professional qualifications like the Solicitors Examination or hold degrees like the Master of Business Laws (MBL), contingent on minimum grade requirements.
• Candidates in their final year of qualifying degrees may apply, provided they meet eligibility criteria before the commencement of the PhD program.
• Most Ph.D Law programs require applicants to pass an entrance examination, such as a university-specific test or the NLSAT - PhD, and submit a research proposal detailing their planned area of research.
• Additional requirements often include submission of academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and sometimes an interview.
• There is usually no age limit for applying to PhD in Law programs.

PhD in Law Entrance Exam

The entrance exams in India for doing a PhD in Law are:

PhD in Law Colleges & Fees

According to NIRF rankings, some of the top Government colleges and universities in India offering a Ph.D Law course have been listed below:

According to NIRF rankings, some of the top Private colleges and universities in India offering a Ph.D Law course have been listed below:

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PhD in Law Admission Process 2025

The admission process for the PhD in Law course at the National Law School of India University is as follows:

Step 1: Candidates will have to submit the application form with all required details along with a research proposal of 6-8 pages. The application form will be available on the official website of the university.

Step 2: The research proposal must have a Title, identify a research problem and have research questions, demonstrate a clear understanding of the relevant literature on the research problem and identify a Methodological approach for responding adequately to the research questions.

Step 3: At the time of submission of the application form, pay the applicable fee.

Step 4: Prepare for the NLSAT-PhD entrance examination and appear in the exam on the specified date at the selected centre.

Step 5: Candidates who will score above 50 marks in the entrance exam will qualify for the evaluation of their research proposal.

Step 6: The qualified candidates will be invited by the university to make an oral presentation before the Panel of Experts.

Step 7: Candidates will be selected on the basis of marks obtained in the NLSAT-PhD, the research proposal and the oral presentation. The weightage of each component is 50% for NLSAT-Phd, 25% for research proposal and 25% for oral presentation.

Step 8: Depending on the final score obtained and the number of seats available for Ph.D Law, the top candidates will be selected. The university can keep the seats vacant if there are no eligible candidates.

Step 9: The finally selected candidates' list will be uploaded on the NLSIU website and they have to pay the admission fee to get enrolled in the Ph.D Law program and start a new academic journey.

Documents Required:

• Recent passport-sized photographs
• Mark sheets and certificates of educational qualifications (Class 10, Class 12, Bachelor’s, Master’s)
• Qualifying degree certificates (Master’s degree mark sheet and passing certificate are essential)
• Proof of identity and address (Aadhar card, passport, or any government-issued ID)
• Entrance exam scorecard or admit card (if applicable)
• Research proposal outlining the intended area of study
• Letters of recommendation from academic referees
• Statement of purpose
• Any other documents specified by the university or college (e.g., caste/category certificates, migration certificate)

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PhD in Law Syllabus

The syllabus for Ph.D Law at National Law University and Judicial Academy has been listed below:

Course Comparison PhD in Law vs LLD Law

A PhD in Law and an LLD (Doctor of Laws) are advanced research degrees in legal studies, each with distinct focus areas and career paths.

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PhD in Law Jobs & Salary

Few jobs and their average salary available for Ph.D Law candidates on job portals like Indeed and Naukri.com have been listed below:

PhD in Law FAQs