BA in LLB (Law & Legal Studies)
Program Duration and Structure
- Duration: The BA LLB is a five-year integrated program, which means it combines a Bachelor of Arts degree with a Bachelor of Laws degree.
- Semesters: The five years are divided into ten semesters, with two semesters per year.
- Integrated Curriculum: The unique aspect of this course is that it blends subjects from the arts (such as history, political science, sociology, and economics) with core legal subjects. This is to give students a holistic understanding of society and its legal frameworks.
Breakdown of Subjects
Students typically study around 6-8 subjects per semester, leading to a total of 60-80 subjects over the entire five-year course. These subjects are generally categorized as follows:
- Core Arts/Humanities Subjects (First 2-3 years): These are foundational subjects that provide a broad social science perspective.
- Political Science
- Sociology
- History
- Economics
- English and Legal Language
- Core Law Subjects (Spread throughout the 5 years): These are the fundamental legal principles and laws of the country.
- Constitutional Law
- Criminal Law (Indian Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code)
- Contract Law
- Family Law
- Law of Torts
- Administrative Law
- Jurisprudence
- Property Law
- Public International Law
- Environmental Law
- Labour Law
- Intellectual Property Rights
- Practical & Skill-Based Subjects: These are mandatory components designed to provide hands-on legal experience.
- Moot Courts
- Legal Research and Writing
- Drafting, Pleading, and Conveyancing
- Professional Ethics and Advocacy
Practical Training and Internships
A crucial part of the BA LLB program is practical training. The Bar Council of India mandates that students complete a minimum number of weeks of internships during the five-year course.16 This gives them exposure to real-world legal practice in various settings, such as:
- Trial and appellate courts
- Law firms
- NGOs18
- Corporate legal departments19
