Top Law Colleges in Chennai 2024

Law is a field of study dedicated to upholding the rules of human society. Since the onset of human civilisation, some form of law has always existed, along with its practitioners. These simple systems gradually grew in complexity as civilisation advanced, with various forms of law being practised and institutions dedicated to training practitioners springing up. Today, the law is practised everywhere, from the village panchayats to urban courthouses and notary offices.

As a subject, the law has a wide range, with a number of diverse fields for the discerning student to choose from. Public law, which serves the government, can be split up into constitutional law, criminal law and administrative law. Students who take up this line work closely with the government, often handling both international as well as internal issues in their country. Private law, on the other hand, caters to individuals and organisations, and its practitioners usually handle disputes between private individuals or firms, family matters and so on.

Students who wish to pursue a career in law need to be clear-headed, quick-thinking individuals capable of producing results even when under immense pressure.  They should also be keen readers with the ability to rapidly absorb information, as studying law involves an enormous amount of reading. Law also requires a certain amount of skill in debate, along with the ability to work hard for long hours. As the law is a very common subject of study in India, the student should be prepared to tackle a very competitive field, both in their studies and their career.  

Law is a highly respected and popular stream of study, which is why there are numerous institutes dedicated to teaching it all over India. Each college or university has its own set of courses, rules, facilities and fee structure. Many of the best law colleges can be found in Chennai, and these are listed below according to their NIRF and careers360 ranking.

Top Law Colleges in Chennai (NIRF Ranking)

The NIRF or the National Institutional Ranking Framework is an organisation backed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development. It places the various colleges and universities in India into different grades based on their overall performance, available facilities, location and other details. It is an invaluable resource for students when it comes to choosing a college or university, as its website is regularly updated with detailed information about the institutes and what they have to offer. No top law colleges in Chennai have been included in NIRF 2020 Ranking.

Top Law Colleges in Chennai (Careers360 ranking)

Students who want to learn more about which colleges and universities they should apply to can always look up Careers360. Consistently updated with accurate and detailed information about various institutes across India, Careers360 can provide especially useful advice to prospective students. The colleges and universities are ranked according to what they offer in the form of facilities, location convenience and career opportunities. Below are some of the best law colleges in Chennai as per their Careers360 ranking:-

Top Law Colleges in Chennai (on the basis of fees)

The fee charged by an institute is an important factor for a student to take into consideration when choosing a college or university. All colleges have their own separate fee structures which can vary based on a number of factors such as their available facilities and the courses being chosen. The student needs to weigh affordability with quality when it comes to making a choice. Given below are some of the best law colleges in Chennai based on their fee structure:-

Top Law Colleges in Chennai (based on placement record)

Placement is the process that involves the college or university directly working with prospective employers on behalf of their students, allowing highly ranked companies to find eligible job candidates from among the student body. The college plays an active role in the process by training the students who wish to participate in giving job interviews and passing entrance exams. Students who go through the procedure are given an opportunity to attend job or internship interviews directly after college. The top law colleges in Chennai based on placement record are shown below:-

Popular Law Courses at the Top Law Colleges in Chennai

1. Criminal Law

Criminal law is that branch of law that deals with activities that go against the established legal system of the country. Perhaps the best known and most publicised aspect of the law, criminal law is also one of the most challenging streams. Practitioners need to be well-read and organised, with a good sense of judgement; intellectually quick, with the ability to rapidly analyse people and situations, persuasive and coherent in speech and skilled at the debate. While the courses may vary from institute to institute, students of criminal law are generally trained in basic UG law as well as in criminal psychology, client counselling and language fluency.  

• The Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University, Chennai

• Dr Ambedkar Government Law College, Chennai

• University of Madras

• Tamil Nadu Open University, Chennai

• Jayagovind Harigopal Agarwal Agarsen College, Chennai

• Dwaraka Doss Goverdhan Doss Vaishnav College, Chennai

2. Civil Law

Civil law, also known as non-criminal law or common law, deals with the rights of the individual and their duties toward others. It includes laws about art and culture, commerce, the environment and property. Students of civil law need to be fast learners; able to grasp information quickly and accurately, patient and hard working. Students can take a Bachelor of Laws, or LLB in civil law, which teaches them about wills, different types of contracts, human rights and property laws. 

• The Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University, Chennai

• Dr Ambedkar Government Law College, Chennai

• Indian School of Business Management and Administration, Chennai

3. Cyber Law

As society and business move further into the internet, keeping tabs on online crime has become an important occupation. Cyberlaw is used to protect internet users from crimes such as harassment and identity theft, and to maintain a certain amount of discipline in online communication. Therefore, being computer and internet savvy is a very important trait for practitioners of cyber law. Aside from that, they need to be willing to work hard, patient, capable of dealing with stressful situations and confident in their skills. Students of cyberlaw learn the basics of Indian law as well as about hacking, viruses, identity theft, online harassment, cyber terrorism and so on.

• The Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University, Chennai

Other popular Law Specialisations available at Best Law Colleges in Chennai 

• Case Law

• Agricultural Law

• Corporate Law

• International Law

• Labour and Employment Law

• Patent Law

• Sports Law

• Constitutional Law

• Media Law

• Mergers and Acquisition Law

• Tax Law

• Animal Law

Top Colleges in Chennai and Acceptable Entrance Exams

The selection of candidates is a process that differs from college to college. While some colleges and universities do accept undergraduate students based on the score, they earned in their Plus 2 exams or have their own entrance exams; most institutions only accept students who have passed certain state or national level law entrance exams. The best known of these is the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), which is recognised by almost all law colleges and universities. Other exams include the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and the All India Law Entrance Test (AILET). The institutes in Chennai that accept CLAT include:-

• College of BS Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai

• Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr Sagunthala R and D Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai

Admission Process for Top Law Colleges in Chennai

Undergraduate and postgraduate courses have their own separate criterion for admission. The details are given below:-

Undergraduates:-

Undergraduates need to have completed their Plus 2 exams with the necessary marks needed to qualify for their chosen institution. They might need to clear the CLAT or the LSAT exams, or the entrance exams of the institute they are applying to. Once they have passed these stages, they become eligible to apply for Bachelor of Legislative Law (LLB) courses, which include Bachelor of Arts- Bachelor of Legislative Law (BA LLB), Bachelor of Business Administration- Bachelor of Legislative Law (BB LLB), Bachelor of Science- Bachelor of Legislative Law (B.sc. LLB) and Bachelor of Commerce- Bachelor of Legislative Law (B.com LLB). 

Postgraduates:-

Postgraduates who are applying for an LLB need to have a bachelor’s degree of a minimum of three years in any stream. However, if a student is applying for a Master of Law (LLM), they need to have graduated with an LLB degree. Some institutions also require the student to have scored a certain amount in their Bachelor’s degree before they are accepted into LLM. They may also require candidates to have passed CLAT or LSAT exams. The LLM course is where the student decides on which branch of law they want to specialise in and pursues their degree accordingly.

How to Select the Best Law Colleges in Chennai

Chennai has a number of highly regarded law colleges for students who are looking to pursue law as their career. However, each institute has its pros and cons and their own set of requirements, all of which must be taken into consideration by the student. Here are some things to keep in mind:-

• The institutes that the student applies to must fit their budget. The fees demanded by a college can vary based on the courses and facilities on offer. Scholarships can also be taken by students who fit the requirements.

• Law is an extremely broad subject with numerous branches. The student needs to know which stream they are interested in and look for the institutes that offer it.

• What facilities a college has is an important factor in choosing an institute. Studying law calls for extensive reading, and the college or university should have a library that can cater to their students.

• The location of the institute also needs to be considered. Students may be required to live on- campus or commute from their accommodations and both options must be accessible to the candidate.  

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. 1. Does the Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University accept CLAT?

The Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University does not accept CLAT. It has its own qualifying exam. The colleges that do accept CLAT are:-

• College of BS Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology

• Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr Sagunthala R and D Institute of Science and Technology

Q. 2. Which colleges in Chennai accept LSAT?

The Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr Sagunthala R and D Institute of Science and Technology accepts LSAT.

Q. 3. Does the University of Madras offer courses on criminal law?

The University of Madras offers both a BA in Criminology and Police Administration and an MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice Science.

Q. 4. Is there a separate hostel for girls in Dr Ambedkar Government Law College?

The Dr Ambedkar Government Law College does have separate accommodations for girls.

Q. 5. Is CLAT or LSAT necessary for admission into law colleges in Chennai?

While some colleges do have CLAT or LSAT as a requirement, others accept candidates based on their marks in Plus 2 or via their own entrance exam.

Q. 6. Do any institutes in Chennai offer a PhD in law?

At present, the highest qualification you can get in law in Chennai is a Masters.

Q. 7. Which institutes in Chennai offer LLB Honours course?

• The Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University

• Dr Ambedkar Government Law College

• Bharath Institute of Law, Bharath University

• Vel’s Institute of Science Technology and Advanced Studies

Q. 8. What is the minimum age to join an LLB course?

The minimum age for an LLB course is 20 years. The maximum age is 30 years.

Q. 9. How many years does a BA LLB course take?

A BA LLB course or any integrated LLB course takes 5 years. 

Q. 10. What is the fee structure of the Tamil Nadu Open University Criminology and Criminal Justice Administration Course?

The fee structure of the course for Tamil Nadu Open University’s Criminology and Criminal Justice Administration Course is Rs. 6,600.