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3-year LLB vs 5-year LLB: Difference between 3 & 5 Year LLB Courses
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The LLB degree programs offered in India are mainly of two types - LLB (Hons.) and integrated LLB. There students often face the 3-year LLB vs 5-year LLB dilemma when choosing the best law course. One major difference between the three year LLB and five-year LLB lies in the duration of these courses. A 3-year LLB is an undergraduate degree that can be studied after graduation and concentrates on the core subjects of law. On the other hand, 5-year LLB is an undergraduate degree students can complete after their class 12. The 5-year LLB is a comprehensive undergraduate programme which is an integration of a regular undergraduate programme like a BA and a LLB programme.
This Story also Contains
- 3-year LLB and 5-year LLB - Why different course durations
- Difference in Eligibility
- 3-year LLB vs 5-year LLB - Cost view
- 3-year LLB or 5-year LLB - Which is Best?
- Top Law colleges offering 5-year LLB courses
- Top Law colleges offering 3-year LLB courses
- Popular entrance exams for LLB courses
In the case of B.tech LLB, the course duration extends to six years. Apart from duration, are there any other differences between a 3-year LLB and a 5-year integrated LLB and which course is best? Questions like these require detailed discussion. While both 3-year LLB and 5-year LLB are equivalent to each other, there are significant differences in terms of curriculum, eligibility, cost and outcomes.
Students aspiring to become lawyers should have a complete understanding of these courses as it helps them choose the right one. This article brings all the relevant information you need in one place so you can choose the right path for your legal education. Let's get started!
3-year LLB and 5-year LLB - Why different course durations
First thing first, why there are two LLB degree programs with different course durations? The answer to this question lies in the academic curriculum of these courses. The 3-year LLB solely focuses on Law specific subjects whereas, an integrated LLB has to accommodate two programs — LLB and an undergraduate course like BA, BBA, BSc etc.
So, the 5-year LLB turns out to be a dual degree programme. Students who complete the course get two degrees at the end of their course. Whereas, an LLB (Hons.), course is a single Law degree course.
5-year LLB course is offered with different combinations. Some of the popular integrated programmes are mentioned below.
Difference in Eligibility
Another reason why there is a difference between 3 year and 5 year llb is that the former can be pursued only by graduate candidates while the latter is an undergraduate program. LLB (Hons.) was traditionally offered in India, the 5-year LLB was introduced later for students looking to study law immediately after stepping out of their schools.
3-year LLB vs 5-year LLB - Cost view
If we compare these courses in terms of cost, the 3-year LLB course is mostly cheaper compared to the 5-year LLB due to its shorter duration. In some cases, 5-year LLB courses in public universities such as Jamia Millia Islamia, and Government Law College, Mumbai can also be economical.
But in private law schools, the total fee for a 5-year LLB starts from around 10 Lakh and can go up to 45 Lakh in top private law schools. Against this, the total 3-year LLB course fee could range from eight lakh to 20 lakh.
Talking about central universities, the 3-year LLB course fee at Delhi University is around Rs. 5,000 per semester the total fee works out to around Rs. 30,000 for three years. Other popular universities like BHU, and Allahabad University also have similar fee structures for regular seats offered in 3-year LLB.
However, for a five-year LLB, Delhi University (DU) charges around Rs. 1.9 Lakh per annum which is almost at par with many private universities or NLUs which are not funded by the central government. In comparison, the other central universities offer 5-year LLB at a much cheaper cost. Jamia Millia Islamia offers a 5-year LLB at around Rs. 5000 per semester, only a self-financed 5-year LLB from JMI University would cost around Rs. 40,000 per semester. BHU and Allahabad University also charge around 32,000 to 40,000 per annum tuition fees for BA LLB.
NLUs which are state universities also charge an average of Rs. 12 to 15 lakh for 5-year LLB courses. Among NLUs, only NLSIU Bengaluru and NLU Odisha offer a 3-year LLB. NLU Odisha's 3-year LLB course fee is around Rs. 7.4 Lakh, whereas, NLSIU offers a 3-year LLB for around Rs. 10.7 Lakh.
Other than NLUs, most other state universities offer 5-year integrated LLB at Rs. 5,000-10,000 per semester.
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3-year LLB or 5-year LLB - Which is Best?
While we have compared both courses in terms of their duration, eligibility and cost, it is now crucial to answer the main question — which course is best? While both courses are good and equally acceptable, their suitability for candidates may vary under different circumstances.
5-year LLB after Class 12
If the students aim to pursue law as a career from the time of schooling, then a 5-year LLB is the better option. It will immediately give them exposure to the world of legal education. And, being a dual degree program, students get to learn two courses at the same time.
The course duration for two degrees would be five years only, which usually takes six years to complete. So, a 5-year LLB also saves one year of your education.
LLB after graduation
Students who are not fully convinced to opt for law as a career option go for a graduation course of their choice. Subsequently, on completion of the graduation, they can apply for LLB at a prestigious university.
In this case, it is quite simple that a 3-year LLB is an easy and better option. There is not much benefit in giving an extra two years by opting for a 5-year LLB. This way, the students can also save some money as a 3-year LLB is a cheaper option.
The 3-year LLB course is also suitable for those who can not secure a 5-year LLB seat in a good university. The option to go for a bachelor’s program from any state university and then look for a 3-year LLB from a prestigious university is also worth considering.
5-year LLB Course: Advantages and Disadvantages
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Cross disciplinary learning due to combination of subjects from two diffferent streams. | Five years is sometimes considered far too long to study law after 12th, when other graduation streams can be completed in 3 years after 12th. |
| Two degrees in five years instead of usual 6 years it would take to complete two degrees. | Certain 5-year LLB courses such as B.Sc LLB are not open to all graduates. |
| Opens up opportunities for a good career in law | |
| A 5-year LLB makes one eligible for appearing in AIBE and practising law in India | |
| Early entry to study law immediately after 12th. | |
| All the top NLUs which are considerd the best law schools in the country provide the 5-year LLB programme |
3-year LLB Courses: Advantages and Disadvantages
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Open to graduates of any stream | Most top NLUs don't offer a 3-year LLB programme except NLSIU Bengaluru and NLU Odisha. |
| Exclusive focus on law subjects | The 3-year LLB programme does not support cross disciplinary learning. |
| Makes one eligible to appear for AIBE and obtain Ceritificate of Practice (CoP) needed to practise law in India. | One has to wait till the completion of one's graduation to enroll in a 3-year LLB course. |
| Opens the doors for a good career in law. |
Top Law colleges offering 5-year LLB courses
| Institute Name | 5-year LLB courses offered |
|---|---|
NLSIU Bangalore - National Law School of India University, Bangalore | BA LLB |
BA LLB, BBA LLB | |
BA LLB | |
BA LLB, BBA LLB | |
BA LLB | |
BA LLB | |
BA LLB, BCom LLB | |
GNLU Gandhinagar - Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar | BA LLB, BCom LLB, BSc LLB, BBA LLB, BSW LLB |
BA LLB, BBA LLB | |
SLCU Bangalore - School of Law, Christ University, Bangalore | BA LLB |
BA LLB | |
B.A.LL.B., B.B.A.LL.B., and B.Sc.LL.B | |
JMI New Delhi - Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi | BA LLB |
NUJS Kolkata - The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata | BA LLB, BSc LLB |
BA LLB | |
School of Law, UPES Dehradun - School of Law, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun | BA LL.B (Hons.), BBA LL.B (Hons.), B.Com. LL.B (Hons. |
Faculty of Law DU - Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, Delhi | BA LLB, BBA LLB |
BA LLB, BBA LLB | |
BA LLB | |
BA LLB | |
Faculty of Law, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi | BA LLB |
BBAU Lucknow - Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow | BBA LLB |
BA LLB |
Top Law colleges offering 3-year LLB courses
NLSIU Bengaluru | Jindal Global Law School |
Banaras Hindu University | Delhi University |
GLC Mumbai | |
Allahabad University | NLU Odisha |
Panjab University | |
SLS Pune |
Popular entrance exams for LLB courses
Admissions to top law schools are offered through various entrance exams conducted at national, state and university levels. Candidates looking to study law are required to appear in these entrance exams upon meeting the eligibility criteria. Here are some of the popular law entrance exams that students can consider based on their eligibility and course requirements.
List of 3-year LLB entrance exams
| Entrance exam name | Purpose |
|---|---|
Admission to SLS Pune’s 3-year LLB | |
Admission to 3-year LLB course at NLSIU Bengaluru | |
Accepted by Delhi University, Banaras Hindu University, Allahabad University and many other colleges | |
Admission to Panjab University’s 3-year LLB programme | |
Accepted by Jindal Global Law School, Sonipat and many other such law schools | |
Admission to 3-year LLB courses offered by law colleges in Maharashtra including GLC Mumbai, and ILS Pune |
List of 5-Year LLB entrance exam
| Entrance exam name | Purpose |
|---|---|
Admission to 5-year LLB courses offered by 24 NLUs and 60+ affiliated colleges | |
Admission to NLU Delhi | |
LSAT India | Accepted by UPES Dehradun, JGLS and various other private law schools |
Accepted by Panjab University and its law centres | |
MH CET Law | GLC Mumbai, ILS Pune, Mumbai University and around 130 law colleges in Maharashtra accept MH CET scores |
Accepted by Delhi University, Banaras Hindu University, and Allahabad University |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Which is better 3 year LLB or 5 year LLB?
A:
If candidates have already completed an undergraduate degree, the 3-year LLB might be the better alternative. However, if a student is certain about a career in law early on, the 5-year program could be more beneficial.
Q: What is the minimum qualification for 5-year LLB?
A:
The minimum educational qualification required for 5-year LLB is 10+2 or equivalent.
Q: What is the minimum qualification required for 3-year LLB?
A:
The minimum educational qualification required for a 3-year LLB is graduation in any stream.
Q: What are law entrance exams for 5-year LLB?
A:
To enrol into a 5-year LLB programme, candidate has to appear in law entrance exams such as CLAT, AILET, and SLAT
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Questions related to L.L.B
On Question asked by student community
Have a question related to L.L.B ?
Hello
In the first semester of LLB, you'll start with core subjects like Law of Contracts, where you learn how agreements are made and enforced. You'll also study Law of Torts, which deals with civil wrongs and compensation.
Labour Law introduces you to workers’ rights and industrial disputes. Another key subject is Legal Language or Writing, helping you improve your legal communication skills. Some universities also include Professional Ethics and basic Accounting for Lawyers. These subjects lay the foundation for your legal journey ahead.
Hi dear candidate,
Usually, BSc + LLB integrated course is not widely offered by law colleges/ universities as compared to other popular choices like BA LLB, BCom LLB, BBA LLB etc.
You can find BSc LLB at GNLU Gandhinagar and NLIU Bhopal.
Know more at:
Top B.Sc. L.L.B Colleges in India 2025 – Courses, Fees, Admission, Rank
BEST REGARDS
Hello, Completing your LLB opens up a vast and diverse range of career opportunities, extending far beyond the traditional courtroom.
Here are the main career paths you can explore after getting your law degree:
- Become a Practicing Advocate (Litigation)
- Join the Judiciary
- Corporate Law & In-House Counsel
- Public Service & Government Jobs
- Academia and Research
- Alternative Legal Careers -
- Legal Journalism
- Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO)
- Policy Research
- Company Secretary
you can see in detail- https://www.careers360.com/courses-certifications/articles/10-best-career-options-progress-after-llb-degree
https://www.careers360.com/careers/articles/career-options-in-law
Hope it's helpful to you.
HELLO,
To be eligible for a 3 year LLB Program you need a Bachelor's degree from a recognized institution with atleast 45 percent marks for general category and 40 percent for reserved categories
- There is generally no age limit to apply for the LLB 3 year program.
- Admission will be based on national or university level entrance exams like CLAT ,SLAT , ALIET or CUET PG and sometimes through direct admission.
- You may also need to provide documents such as mark sheets , ID Proofs , and passport size photos and some colleges may conduct interviews or counselling sessions
To know more :- https://www.careers360.com/courses/llb-bachelor-of-legislative-law
Hope this Helps!
To get admission in LLB course first you need to complete a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 45 to 50%. Then you need to search for your desired collage. some LLB collages requires entrance tests like CLAT or LSAT . After giving the entrance exam you need to meet the certain merit based criteria. Then, all you need to do is complete the application process of that collage and pay the fees before the deadline.
Top law collages : https://law.careers360.com/colleges/ranking
Thank You.
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