Law Course Syllabus in India:
BA LLB and LLB Complete Guide

A law degree in India prepares you for legal practice, the judiciary, corporate roles, and public service. Two main programmes exist. The first is the five-year integrated BA LLB. The second is the three-year LLB for graduates.

Both programmes fall under the supervision of the Bar Council of India (BCI). The BCI sets minimum syllabus standards, mandatory practical hours, and eligibility rules for all recognised law colleges across the country.

After completing either programme, graduates must clear the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) to obtain a Certificate of Practice. Only then can they appear in courts as advocates.

The Supreme Court, in 2017, removed the upper age limit for law admissions. This opened the profession to career changers and working professionals choosing a three-year LLB path.

The BA LLB programme runs across ten semesters. The first two years cover foundational social science subjects alongside introductory law. From the third year, specialised legal subjects take centre stage.

Every semester carries both theory papers and practical components. The ratio of law to arts subjects increases as you progress through the programme.

First Year | Semesters 1 and 2

The first year builds your understanding of the society in which laws operate. You study political systems, economic principles, and basic legal theory side by side.

Second Year | Semesters 3 and 4

The second year introduces constitutional law, criminal law, and family law. These are the pillars of legal practice in India. Arts subjects continue in supporting roles.

Third Year | Semesters 5 and 6

By the third year, arts subjects largely phase out. Procedural law enters the syllabus. You also study how evidence works in a courtroom | a skill you use every day in legal practice.

Fourth Year | Semesters 7 and 8

Specialisation begins here. International law, intellectual property, and corporate governance enter the picture. Clinical legal education picks up intensity.

Fifth Year | Semesters 9 and 10

The final year focuses on elective specialisations and practical output. Dissertation, client counselling, legal aid, and live internship placements round out the degree.

The three-year LLB is designed for those who already hold a bachelor's degree. It moves faster and goes deeper into law from the very first semester. There are no arts or social science foundation subjects.

The Bar Council of India requires completion of at least 20 core papers. Most universities go well beyond this minimum to ensure comprehensive coverage.

Each major subject covers a specific area of law. Here is what each one contains at a practical level.

Jurisprudence and Legal Theory

This subject asks the big question: what is law? You study the nature, purpose, and meaning of law. You examine different schools of legal thought | natural law, positivism, and sociological approaches. You also learn how law relates to morality, justice, and society.

Constitutional Law

India's Constitution is the backbone of the entire legal system. You study its structure, the fundamental rights in Part III, the directive principles in Part IV, and the powers of the Union and state governments. Landmark Supreme Court judgments are central to this subject.

Contract Law

The Indian Contract Act, 1872 governs agreements between parties. You study offer and acceptance, consideration, free consent, and remedies for breach. The subject also covers the Sale of Goods Act, 1930 and the Indian Partnership Act, 1932. Limited liability partnerships also feature in the curriculum.

Criminal Law

In 2023, three new criminal laws replaced older colonial-era acts. The syllabus now covers the updated framework. You study offences against the body, property, and the state. General exceptions like consent and private defence are part of the course.

Law of Torts and Consumer Protection

This subject deals with civil wrongs that are not breaches of contract. Negligence, defamation, nuisance, and strict liability all feature here. The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 is now an important part of this subject cluster.

Family Law

India has personal laws based on religion. You study Hindu Marriage Act, Muslim personal law, Christian personal law, and special marriage law. Succession, adoption, maintenance, and guardianship are all covered.

Property Law

The Transfer of Property Act, 1882 governs how property moves between people. You study sale, mortgage, lease, exchange, and gift. The Specific Relief Act, 1963 connects here and teaches you when a court can compel performance of a contract rather than just award damages.

Evidence Law (Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam)

You learn what can and cannot be used in court to prove a fact. Documentary evidence, oral evidence, expert opinion, and electronic records all have their own rules. The burden of proof | who must prove what | is a critical concept in this subject.

Civil Procedure Code (CPC)

The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 sets out how civil suits move through the courts. You study filing a suit, service of summons, pleadings, discovery, trial, appeal, and execution of decrees. Res judicata and estoppel are key doctrines here.

Administrative Law

This subject covers how government power is controlled by law. You study judicial review, rule of law, natural justice, delegated legislation, and administrative tribunals. It connects directly to constitutional law and public interest litigation.

Company Law

The Companies Act, 2013 is the primary text. You study incorporation, share capital, directors' duties, meetings, accounts, and winding up. Corporate governance and SEBI regulations also appear in advanced semesters.

Labour Law

Labour law covers the relationship between employers and employees. The Factories Act, Industrial Disputes Act, and Employees Provident Fund Act are key. The new Labour Codes | consolidating 29 central labour laws into four codes | are now part of updated syllabuses.

Environmental Law

You study the Environment Protection Act, 1986 and the Water and Air Acts. The role of the National Green Tribunal and how environmental impact assessments work are also covered. Constitutional provisions on the right to a healthy environment form the foundation.

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)

IPR covers patents, trademarks, copyrights, geographical indications, and trade secrets. India's obligations under the TRIPS Agreement (part of WTO) shape domestic IP law. This is one of the fastest-growing areas of legal practice.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Courts in India face huge case backlogs. ADR | mediation, arbitration, conciliation, and negotiation | provides faster options. The Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (amended in 2021) is the main legislation. Many students go on to specialise here.

In 2023, India replaced three colonial-era criminal laws. The changes took effect from July 1, 2024. All law students who started their course in 2024 or later now study these new laws as core subjects.

Most law programmes allow students to choose two to four elective subjects in the final years. Your choice of electives shapes your career direction. Here are the most common options available at recognised law schools in India.

Technology law and data protection are among the fastest-growing elective choices as of 2026–27. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 has made this area especially relevant for students planning a corporate law career.

Theory alone does not make a lawyer. The Bar Council of India mandates clinical legal education as a non-negotiable part of any recognised law degree. This section explains what practical training actually involves.

Moot Court

Moot court is a simulated court proceeding. You research a legal problem, draft written arguments, and then present your case before judges | often real advocates or professors. This builds oral advocacy skills faster than any other method. Most universities require at least two moot court participations as part of the degree.

Internship

The BCI requires law students to complete supervised internships. For a five-year programme, at least 20 weeks of internship are recommended across the course duration. Placements can be with district courts, high courts, law firms, corporate legal departments, NGOs, or government legal cells. Records of internship work are submitted to the university for assessment.

Legal Aid Clinics

Legal aid clinics let students provide basic legal help to people who cannot afford a lawyer. This is done under faculty supervision. It builds both legal skill and professional responsibility | two qualities every employer looks for.

Client Counselling

Client counselling sessions teach you how to interact with a real person who has a legal problem. You learn to listen, identify the actual legal issue beneath what the client says, advise on options, and manage expectations. This is a skill that no textbook can teach.

Drafting, Pleading, and Conveyancing

This practical subject teaches you to write legal documents. You draft plaints, written statements, petitions, wills, contracts, and deeds. Legal writing is one of the most tested skills in law firm interviews. Investing time in this subject pays back many times over.

Assessment in Indian law programmes combines continuous internal evaluation with semester-end examinations. The split varies by institution but a common pattern is 70% end-semester and 30% internal marks.

Internal Assessment (30%)

Internal marks come from written assignments, class tests, seminar presentations, moot court participation, client counselling records, and attendance. Missing internal deadlines can affect your final grade significantly.

Semester-End Examination (70%)

End-semester exams are usually three-hour written papers. Questions test both knowledge of the law and the ability to apply it to problem-based scenarios. Good answers cite relevant sections of acts and refer to landmark case law.

Practical Subjects

Practical subjects like moot court, legal aid, and drafting have separate grading criteria. Performance is evaluated on preparation, skill, and documentation. These grades count towards your overall degree classification.

After Graduation: The AIBE

Once you complete your law degree, you must pass the All India Bar Examination before you can practice in court. The AIBE is an open-book exam conducted by the Bar Council of India. It tests your knowledge across all major law subjects, including the new criminal laws. Passing it earns you a Certificate of Practice.

A law degree opens more paths than most students realise at the start. Your choice of electives, internships, and practical exposure during the degree shapes which direction you go.

Law graduates in India also qualify for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. The overlap between the BA LLB syllabus and UPSC General Studies | particularly in polity, governance, and social issues | gives law graduates a structured advantage in civil services preparation.

Getting into a top law school requires clearing a competitive entrance examination. Different exams serve different institutions. Here is how to read the landscape.

CLAT | Common Law Admission Test

CLAT is the gateway to all 24 National Law Universities (NLUs) across India. It tests English language comprehension, legal reasoning, logical reasoning, quantitative techniques, and general knowledge. NLU Delhi is the only National Law University that does not use CLAT | it uses AILET instead.

AILET | All India Law Entrance Test

AILET is conducted by National Law University Delhi. It is considered among the toughest law entrance exams in the country. The structure is similar to CLAT but with a different level of question difficulty and a smaller intake.

LSAT India

LSAT India is used by Jindal Global Law School and several other private law schools. It focuses on analytical and logical reasoning skills rather than legal knowledge. International students also use LSAT scores for applications abroad.

State-Level Exams

Many states conduct their own law entrance tests. MH CET Law serves Maharashtra. SLAT (Symbiosis Law Admission Test) covers Symbiosis institutions. TG LAWCET covers Telangana. Gujarat has its own admission process under the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board framework. Check your target state's specific admission schedule.

DU LLB

Delhi University's Faculty of Law conducts a separate entrance exam for its three-year LLB programme. The exam covers legal awareness, legal aptitude, general knowledge, and English comprehension. DU's law faculty is one of the highest-ranked in India under NIRF.

The law course syllabus in India is not a list of books to memorise. It is a structured journey from understanding society to mastering the rules that govern it.

The first two years of a BA LLB lay down why laws exist. The middle years teach you what the laws say. The final years teach you how to use them in practice | in courts, in contracts, and in negotiations.

The three new criminal laws | BNS, BNSS, and BSA | show that the syllabus changes with the country. Students today are learning an India-first legal framework that has moved away from colonial-era legislation.

Your practical training | moot courts, internships, legal aid | is where academic knowledge becomes professional skill. These components are not supplementary. They are the reason employers and courts take you seriously.

Whether you want to argue in the Supreme Court, advise a Fortune 500 company, protect human rights, or serve as a district judge, the syllabus you are studying builds the foundation for all of it.

Choose your electives with your career in mind. Use your internship weeks to explore the area of law that genuinely interests you. And know that every subject in this syllabus | even the ones that feel abstract | connects to a real decision someone makes in a courtroom or a boardroom someday.