PG · 1–2 yrs

LLM — Master of Laws

Deep legal specialisation for academia, judiciary, policy and high-value practice.

Duration1 year (some universities offer a 2-year LLM)

EligibilityLLB / 5-year integrated law degree from a recognised university (typically ~50–55% aggregate, relaxed for reserved categories); admission via entrance and/or merit.

Typical fees₹20,000–₹1.5 L/yr (government/NLUs vary) to ₹2–5 L/yr (private/deemed)

Colleges99

Course overview

LLM (Master of Laws) is a 1-year postgraduate law degree (2 years at some universities) that lets an LLB graduate specialise deeply — in corporate, constitutional, IPR, criminal, international or other areas of law. It is most valuable for academia, research, judiciary preparation, policy and specialised litigation/advisory, rather than as a generic salary booster. Admission is mainly via CLAT-PG (for NLUs and many recruiters/universities), CUET-PG or university entrance. Be honest: an LLM rarely transforms earnings on its own; returns come from where you do it (a top NLU), the specialisation, and what you pair it with — practice, teaching, NET, or judicial services.

Is LLM — Master of Laws right for you?

✅ Choose it if you…

you want to specialise, teach, research, prepare for judiciary/policy, or strengthen a litigation/advisory niche — and you are choosing the LLM for depth and credibility rather than expecting an automatic salary jump.

⚠️ Reconsider if you…

you expect an LLM alone to dramatically raise your pay, or you would be better served by gaining litigation/firm experience or clearing judicial-services exams directly.

Eligibility & entrance exams

Eligibility: LLB / 5-year integrated law degree from a recognised university (typically ~50–55% aggregate, relaxed for reserved categories); admission via entrance and/or merit..

Entrance exams

CLAT-PG (NLUs and a wide set of recruiters/universities)CUET-PG (central and many state universities)AILET (NLU Delhi)University-specific entrance (e.g. DU LLM, state university tests)

What you’ll study

Semester 1

Compulsory/foundation papers — research methods & legal writing, comparative constitutional/legal theory and the law-and-justice framework.

Semester 2

Specialisation electives (e.g. corporate, IPR, criminal, international or constitutional law) with seminar and writing-intensive work.

Dissertation

A substantial research dissertation in the chosen specialisation — central to the LLM and to academic/research credibility.

Core subjects covered

Legal Research MethodologyComparative Constitutional LawLaw & Justice in a Globalising WorldCorporate & Commercial LawIntellectual Property RightsInternational LawCriminal Law & JusticeDissertation/Seminar

Popular specialisations

Corporate & Commercial LawCompany, securities, M&A and competition law — the most market-oriented specialisation, aligned with law-firm and in-house roles.

Constitutional LawDeep public-law expertise valued in academia, policy, judiciary preparation and constitutional litigation.

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)Patents, trademarks and copyright — strong demand from IP firms, tech and pharma.

Criminal LawAdvanced criminal jurisprudence; useful for litigation specialisation and judicial-services aspirants.

International Law / Human RightsPublic international law, trade and human rights — feeds academia, think-tanks and international organisations.

Admission process

1 · Pick entrance & target institutesDecide between CLAT-PG (NLUs), AILET (NLU Delhi), CUET-PG or university-specific tests based on your target.

2 · Register & appear for the entranceApply within each exam’s window and prepare in your chosen area of law.

3 · Scores & counselling/meritUse CLAT-PG/AILET/CUET-PG scores for centralised allotment or university merit lists.

4 · Choice filling / applicationFill NLU/university and specialisation preferences or apply to shortlisted institutions.

5 · Document verification & admissionVerify LLB degree, category proof and scorecard, then pay fees to confirm the seat.

🗓️ CLAT-PG is usually held around December for the next academic year, with counselling in the following months; CUET-PG and university tests run in the early-year window. Confirm exact dates on the official sites each year.

Duration & fees

Duration: 1 year (some universities offer a 2-year LLM), full-time.

Institute type	Indicative fees	Examples
Government/State universities	₹20,000–₹80,000/yr	DU, state public law universities, GLC-type institutions
National Law Universities (NLUs)	₹1–2.5 L/yr	NLSIU, NALSAR, NLU Delhi and other NLUs (varies)
Private/deemed universities	₹2–5 L/yr	Symbiosis, Jindal Global Law School, private deemed universities

📋 Source: official institute fee structures (2024–25). Indicative; confirm with the institute.

Career outcomes & salary

Role	Indicative fresher CTC market
University lecturer (after NET/LLM)	₹5–9 L/yr
Litigation associate (specialised)	₹4–8 L/yr
Law-firm associate (corporate/IPR)	₹6–12 L/yr
Legal/policy researcher	₹5–9 L/yr
In-house counsel (with experience)	₹8–15 L/yr+

📋 Source: indicative market ranges (AmbitionBox, Glassdoor, 2026) — not official figures. Official institute placement averages are shown on each college below. Actual outcomes vary by college, skills & year.

Top recruiters

Cyril Amarchand MangaldasShardul Amarchand MangaldasAZB & PartnersKhaitan & CoTrilegalLuthra & Luthra / L&L PartnersJ. Sagar Associates (JSA)National Law Universities (faculty)Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy / think-tanksCorporate in-house legal teams (Reliance, Infosys, TCS)PRS Legislative ResearchBanks & regulators (legal/compliance)

📋 Source: companies reported by institute placement cells (2024). Recruiters vary by college & year.

Scholarships & funding

NLU & university merit scholarshipsMerit-cum-means and need-based scholarships at NLUs and other law universities.

Post-Matric Scholarships (SC/ST/OBC/EBC)Central and state post-matric schemes covering tuition and maintenance for eligible students.

UGC NET-JRF fellowshipQualifying NET-JRF provides a monthly fellowship for those pursuing PhD/legal research.

Private trust & institutional scholarshipsVarious law schools and trusts offer scholarships for meritorious and underprivileged law students.

Scope & future

Concentrated but real opportunities in metros and legal/policy hubs, strongest from top NLUs and in high-demand specialisations (corporate, IPR, data/tech, competition); honest caveat — an LLM is a depth/credibility play, not an automatic pay raise.

📈 The legal market is expanding in corporate, IPR, data-protection, competition and policy work, but an LLM’s value is concentrated — it pays best for academia, specialised practice, policy/judiciary tracks, and graduates of top NLUs. For many, courtroom experience or clearing judicial-services exams matters as much as the degree itself.

Source: Indian legal-services & higher-education trends

Where this degree can take you next

Legal academia & PhDNET + LLM (then PhD) for faculty and research careers at law universities.

Judicial servicesPrepare for state judicial-services exams toward a career in the judiciary.

Specialised practice / law firmsCorporate, IPR, disputes or tax practice at firms and as in-house counsel.

Policy & regulatory careersThink-tanks, regulators and legislative-research organisations.

International LLM / global practiceA foreign LLM and qualifying exams for international firms or organisations.

Top colleges offering LLM — Master of Laws

99 colleges · ranked by NIRF

Banaras Hindu University

📍 Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

Lovely Professional University

📍 Phagwara, Punjab · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda

📍 Vadodara, Gujarat · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

Chandigarh University

📍 Chandigarh, Punjab · Private

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation

📍 Guntur, Andhra Pradesh · Private

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

Galgotias University

📍 Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh · Private

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology

📍 Bhubaneshwar, Odisha · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

Guru Nanak Dev University

📍 Amritsar, Punjab · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

Cochin University of Science and Technology

📍 Kochi, Kerala · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#10

Tezpur University

📍 Tezpur, Assam · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#11

Bundelkhand University

📍 Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#12

Banasthali Vidyapith

📍 Jaipur, Rajasthan · Private

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#13

Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya

📍 Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#14

Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University

📍 Nagpur, Maharashtra · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#15

Jaipur National University

📍 Jaipur, Rajasthan · Private

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#16

The NorthCap University

📍 Gurgaon, Haryana · Private

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#17

Babu Banarasi Das University

📍 Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#18

Ansal University

📍 Gurugram, Haryana · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#19

SRM University

📍 Sonipat, Haryana · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#20

NIMS University

📍 Jaipur, Rajasthan · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#21

Maharishi Markandeshwar Deemed to be University

📍 Mullana, Haryana · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#22

Acharya Nagarjuna University

📍 Guntur, Andhra Pradesh · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#23

Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University

📍 Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#24

ICFAI University

📍 Dehradun, Uttarakhand · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#25

Himachal Pradesh University

📍 Shimla, Himachal Pradesh · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#26

Dibrugarh University

📍 Dibrugarh, Assam · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#27

Siksha 'O' Anusandhan

📍 Bhubaneshwar, Odisha · Private

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#28

Vivekananda Global University

📍 Jaipur, Rajasthan · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#29

University of Allahabad Allahabad

📍 Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#30

Gautam Buddha University

📍 Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#31

Kakatiya University

📍 Hanamkonda, Telangana · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#32

Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University

📍 Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#33

KR Mangalam University

📍 Sohna, Haryana · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#34

Pt Ravishankar Shukla University

📍 Raipur, Chhattisgarh · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#35

Amity University

📍 Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#36

Dr Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya

📍 Sagar, Madhya Pradesh · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#37

Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University

📍 Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#38

Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University

📍 Aurangabad, Maharashtra · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#39

Noida International University

📍 Noida, Uttar Pradesh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#40

IEC University

📍 Solan, Himachal Pradesh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#41

Dr KN Modi University

📍 Tonk, Rajasthan · Private

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#42

University of Kashmir

📍 Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#43

Mahatma Gandhi University

📍 Nalgonda, Telangana · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#44

Amity University

📍 Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#45

Adamas University

📍 Kolkata, West Bengal · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#46

RNB Global University

📍 Bikaner, Rajasthan · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#47

Swami Vivekanand Subharti University

📍 Meerut, Uttar Pradesh · Private

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#48

Manav Rachna University

📍 Faridabad, Haryana · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#49

Jodhpur National University

📍 Jodhpur, Rajasthan · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#50

Bhagat Phool Singh Mahila Vishwavidyalaya

📍 Khanpur Kalan, Haryana · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#51

Jai Narain Vyas University

📍 Jodhpur, Rajasthan · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#52

Swami Vivekanand University

📍 Sironja, Madhya Pradesh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#53

Vikram University

📍 Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#54

Raffles University

📍 Neemrana, Rajasthan · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#55

Sambalpur University

📍 Burla, Odisha · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#56

Central University of Punjab

📍 Bathinda, Punjab · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#57

RKDF University

📍 Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#58

Singhania University

📍 Rasoolpur, Rajasthan · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#59

IFTM University

📍 Lodhipur Rajput, Uttar Pradesh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#60

Guru Nanak Dev University Regional Campus

📍 Jalandhar, Punjab · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#61

Dr CV Raman University

📍 Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#62

Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary University

📍 Gurgaon, Haryana · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#63

Alakh Prakash Goyal Shimla University

📍 Taradevi, Himachal Pradesh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#64

Sai Nath University

📍 Ranchi, Jharkhand · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#65

Tantia University

📍 Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#66

Mewar University

📍 Chittorgarh, Rajasthan · Private

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#67

Mohammad Ali Jauhar University

📍 Rampur, Uttar Pradesh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#68

Brainware University

📍 Kolkata, West Bengal · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#69

Jagannath University

📍 Jaisinghpura, Rajasthan · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#70

Bahra University

📍 Shimla, Himachal Pradesh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#71

Fakir Mohan University

📍 Balasore, Odisha · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#72

Central University of Kashmir

📍 Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#73

Baba Mastnath University

📍 Rohtak, Haryana · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#74

SunRise University

📍 Bagar Rajput, Rajasthan · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#75

ICFAI University

📍 Fatikchhara, Tripura · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#76

University of Kota

📍 Kota, Rajasthan · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#77

Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University

📍 Ajmer, Rajasthan · Public/Government

NIRF #

Median*—

#78

Tripura University

📍 Bikramnagar, Tripura · Public/Government

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#79

CMJ University

📍 Shillong, Meghalaya · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#80

Maharaja Agrasen University

📍 Solan, Himachal Pradesh · Private

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#81

Nehru Gram Bharati

📍 Kotwan, Uttar Pradesh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#82

Global Open University

📍 Dimapur, Nagaland · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#83

Rama University

📍 Mandhana, Uttar Pradesh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#84

Himgiri Zee University

📍 Sherpur, Uttarakhand · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#85

RIMT University

📍 Gobindgarh, Punjab · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#86

Shridhar University

📍 Pilani, Rajasthan · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#87

Shri Jagdishprasad Jhabarmal Tibrewala University

📍 Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#88

NIILM University

📍 Ujana, Haryana · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#89

Madhav University

📍 Bharja, Rajasthan · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#90

MVN University

📍 Tumasara, Haryana · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#91

Sangam University

📍 Gathila Kheda, Rajasthan · Private

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#92

OPJS University

📍 Churu, Rajasthan · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#93

Royal Global University

📍 Guwahati, Assam · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#94

Ansal University

📍 Gurugram, Haryana · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#95

Arunachal University of Studies

📍 Namsai, Arunachal Pradesh · Private

NIRF #NAAC accredited

Median*—

#96

Shobhit University

📍 Mohammadpur Road, Uttar Pradesh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#97

Apex Professional University

📍 Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#98

Indira Gandhi Technological and Medical Sciences University

📍 Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

#99

Jagannath University

📍 Bahadurgarh, Haryana · Private

NIRF #

Median*—

*Median = institute-level NIRF median salary (official — institutes publish median, not average), where branch-specific data isn’t published. Fees from official institute structures (2024–25).

LLM vs MBA

	LLM	MBA
Base degree	Requires LLB	Any graduate
Best route to	Academia, judiciary, specialised practice	Corporate management & general business
Best for	Lawyers wanting depth/academia/policy	General management careers

Frequently asked questions

What is the eligibility for LLM — Master of Laws?

LLB / 5-year integrated law degree from a recognised university (typically ~50–55% aggregate, relaxed for reserved categories); admission via entrance and/or merit..

What is the fee for LLM — Master of Laws?

Indicative fees are ₹20,000–₹1.5 L/yr (government/NLUs vary) to ₹2–5 L/yr (private/deemed). Always confirm the current fee with the institute.

How long is LLM — Master of Laws?

1 year (some universities offer a 2-year LLM).

What can I do after LLM — Master of Laws?

Common paths include Specialised advocate / litigation counsel, Law-firm associate (corporate/IPR/disputes), Legal academic — lecturer/PhD scholar (after NET), Judiciary aspirant (judicial-services preparation).

Which colleges offer LLM — Master of Laws?

99 colleges in our list offer it, including Banaras Hindu University, Lovely Professional University, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda.

Interested in admission?

Share your details and we’ll send admission info, fees and updates for LLM — Master of Laws colleges. Free, no obligation.

📋 Sources & data vintage

Fees: official institute fee structures (2024–25).
College placements (avg / highest): NIRF 2024 & institute placement reports.
Role-wise salary ranges: indicative market estimates — AmbitionBox, Glassdoor (2026). Not official.
Eligibility & approvals: UGC · AICTE · official college websites.

Figures above are drawn from the official releases listed — they are indicative, not quotations. Official data typically runs 1–2 years behind the current admission cycle; that is the publishing rhythm of the source, not an omission here. CourseLane is a data reference point, not the issuing authority — for the fee, seat or placement figure that applies to you, please contact the institute's admission or placement cell directly.

CourseLane Editorial

Compiled and fact-checked by the CourseLane editorial team from official sources. Figures are indicative and may lag the current admission cycle by 1–2 years — always confirm the detail that applies to you with LLM — Master of Laws or the authority below. Gaps are shown, never guessed.

Verify against: UGC·AICTE·NIRF · the institute's official website

Is LLM — Master of Laws the best-fit for you?

Treat everything above as a starting point rather than a verdict. What decides it is what you want the qualification to do — the fee you can commit to, the place you can move to, and the outcome you are actually after. Where a figure here is blank, it is blank because we could not source it officially, and we would rather show you the gap than fill it with a guess. Weigh LLM — Master of Laws against your own shortlist and decide whether it is the best-fit for you.

Disclaimer. Course details, fees, eligibility, salary and career information on this page are for general reference only, and may vary by location, institution, company, experience and market conditions. Figures are indicative and are not a guarantee of admission, employment or earnings — always verify with the official institution before deciding. CourseLane is an independent information platform and shall not be responsible for any decision made based on the information on this page.

Written by the CourseLane Research Team · reviewed by a senior counsellor · Last updated June 2026.