How to Become a Lawyer in India

Two routes to a law degree

There are two common ways to earn a law degree in India. The first is a five-year integrated undergraduate degree (such as BA LLB) taken after Class 12 — the route most NLU aspirants follow through entrance tests like CLAT or AILET. The second is a three-year LLB taken after completing any bachelor's degree.

In both cases, the degree must be from an institution whose law programme is recognised by the Bar Council of India (BCI), the body that regulates legal education and the legal profession.

• Five-year integrated LLB after Class 12 (e.g. BA LLB, BBA LLB)
• Three-year LLB after any bachelor's degree

Entrance tests for law school

Admission to the National Law Universities is mainly through CLAT (the Consortium of NLUs) or, for National Law University, Delhi, through AILET. Many states and private universities also conduct their own law entrance tests. Choose your target universities first, then prepare for the test (or tests) they accept.

Enrolment and the Bar exam

After earning a recognised law degree, a graduate who wants to practise as an advocate must clear the All India Bar Examination (AIBE), conducted by the Bar Council of India, and hold enrolment with a State Bar Council to receive the Certificate of Practice.

The AIBE's exact format, fees, eligibility, and the order of these steps are set officially and can change, so confirm the current requirements on the Bar Council of India's official website.

Where a law career can start

New lawyers commonly begin in litigation (working with a senior advocate or chambers), at a law firm, or as in-house counsel in a company. A law degree also opens routes into the judiciary, public service, academia, and policy — covered in the related guide on careers after an LLB.