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LLB — Becoming a Lawyer in India — Step-by-Step Roadmap

Your journey, phase by phase

  1. Phase 1 · Class 11–12 Class 11–12: stream and eligibility Any stream can study law; Arts and Commerce students find the subjects familiar.
    • Integrated 5-year law (BA LLB, BBA LLB, B.Com LLB, BSc LLB) is open after Class 12 in any stream.
    • Most NLUs ask for Class 12 pass with at least 45% (40% for SC/ST) as per CLAT rules; check each year’s notification.
    • The 3-year LLB is open after a bachelor’s degree in any discipline, with minimum marks as set by the university and the BCI.
    • Build reading speed, English and awareness of current affairs and legal news in Class 11–12.
    5-year LLB
    After Class 12, any stream
    3-year LLB
    After any graduation
    Min. marks
    About 45% (40% SC/ST)
  2. Phase 2 · Class 12 year Entrance exams and admission CLAT leads to 24 NLUs; AILET, LSAT-India, SLAT, CUET and state tests open other colleges.
    • CLAT UG is held once a year (usually in December): 120 multiple-choice questions in 2 hours on English Language, Current Affairs and General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Techniques, with negative marking of 0.25.
    • AILET is the separate entrance for NLU Delhi; SLAT for Symbiosis; LSAT-India and university tests for others; many central universities use CUET-UG.
    • Counselling is rank-based, with choice of NLUs and seat acceptance across several rounds.
    • For the 3-year LLB, entrance routes include CLAT-PG-linked tests, DU LLB entrance and state tests such as MH CET Law.
    CLAT
    120 Qs, 2 hours, −0.25
    Held
    Usually December
    Other exams
    AILET, SLAT, LSAT-India, CUET
    • Tip: Practise daily newspaper editorials; CLAT passage-based questions reward reading speed and comprehension.
  3. Phase 3 · Year 1–5 Law school years Core legal subjects, specialisations and moot courts.
    • Year 1–2: Constitutional Law, Contracts, Torts, Criminal Law (IPC/BNS), Legal Methods and Jurisprudence plus social-science subjects.
    • Year 3–4: Property Law, Family Law, Company Law, Evidence, Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, Administrative Law and Public International Law.
    • Year 5: Professional ethics, clinical courses (drafting, pleading, moot court) and electives such as IPR, Taxation, Arbitration or Cyber Law.
    • The BCI requires moot courts, client counselling, internships and a dissertation as part of the degree.
    Clinical courses
    Moot court, drafting, pleading
    Electives
    IPR, Tax, Arbitration, Cyber Law
  4. Phase 4 · Throughout the course Mandatory internships Internships under advocates, courts, NGOs and companies are a degree requirement.
    • BCI rules require students to complete a set number of weeks of internship during the programme; universities usually specify them as summer placements.
    • Intern with trial and high court advocates, law firms, corporate legal teams, legal aid cells and NGOs.
    • Keep certificates and a log; the university collects them for assessment.
    • Try different fields (litigation, corporate, policy) to find your direction.
    Typical placements
    Courts, firms, corporates, NGOs
  5. Phase 5 · After the degree Enrolment, AIBE and licence to practise Enrol with a State Bar Council and pass the All India Bar Examination to get a Certificate of Practice.
    • After the LLB degree, enrol as an advocate with a State Bar Council (apply with degree, ID and fees).
    • Appear for the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) conducted by the Bar Council of India; passing it gives the Certificate of Practice.
    • AIBE is an open-book style objective test on the main law subjects; check the current format and passing marks on the BCI website.
    • You can then appear in courts and practise as an advocate across India.
    Enrolment
    State Bar Council
    Licence
    AIBE → Certificate of Practice
  6. Phase 6 · After enrolment Careers after LLB Litigation, corporate law, judiciary, government legal jobs and higher study.
    • Litigation: junior advocate under a senior in district courts, high courts or the Supreme Court.
    • Corporate: law firms and in-house legal teams in compliance, contracts and M&A.
    • Judiciary: state judicial services exams after LLB (see the Judicial Services roadmap).
    • Higher study: LLM through CLAT-PG, then teaching with UGC NET; also UPSC, PSU legal posts and legal-tech roles.
    PG exam
    CLAT-PG
    Teaching
    UGC NET (Law)

Verify on the official source

Exam dates, fees, paper patterns and eligibility rules are revised by the regulator from time to time. Treat this roadmap as your map, and confirm the current rules on the official site before you register or pay any fee.

CLAT (Consortium of NLUs)Bar Council of IndiaCUET-UG (NTA) Full LLB career guide