Criminal Law
Degrees offered: B.A., B.A.(Hons), B.Sc., B.Sc.(Hons), BS, Diploma, L.L.B
What is Criminal Law
Criminal law is a very famous specialisation of law which deals with statutes, rules, and regulations which deal with prohibited actions because they are threatening or harming the safety and/or welfare of an individual, organisation or public in general. The laws also state the punishments which are given to the individuals or groups who commit crimes which are classified as criminal offences. Criminal law deals with the crimes which are committed against a person, society or the state. The lawyer after specialisation in criminal law course does the following activities of interviewing clients, interrogating witnesses, conducting trials, correlating proofs/findings, case preparation for defending his/her client and also cross-question the witnesses in the court of law.
After completing this course, the candidates can pursue various careers in the field of Law. The students can pursue this course at the UG and PG levels. At the UG level, students will have to enrol into integrated law programmes for specialising in criminal law. At the PG level, this specialisation is done after directly enrolling on it.
Highlights: Criminal Law
Particulars | Values |
---|---|
Branch Name | Criminal Law |
Degree | LLB, Diploma, and LLM |
Duration | LLB(Three years) Diploma(six months to one year) LLM (Two years) |
Eligibility | LLB( Graduate with 50 per cent of aggregate marks from a recognised board) |
Diploma(10+2 with 50 percent of aggregate marks from a recognised board) | |
LLM(Bachelor of Law Degree with 50 per cent of aggregate marks) | |
Admission Process | LLB( Entrance exams like CLAT, TS LAWCET, AILET, LSAT) |
Diploma(Entrance exams like CLAT, LSAT, AILET) | |
LLM (Entrance exams like AILET, IPU CET, BHU UET) | |
Top Entrance Exams | |
Course Fees | LLB( Rs 1,00,000 to Rs 1,50,000) |
Diploma( Rs 30,000 to Rs 70,000) | |
LLM(Rs 1,50,000 to Rs 5,00,000 ) | |
Semesters | LLB( six semesters) |
Diploma( six months to one year ) | |
LLM( Four semesters) | |
Top Colleges | BSOLS Chunangamvely, Calicut University - University of Calicut, Malappuram, MPLAW - Manikchand Pahade Law College, Aurangabad, NLU Visakhapatnam, SLS Nagpur - Symbiosis Law School, Nagpur, and Sharda University - Sharda University, Greater Noida |
Career options | Legal Manager, Legal advisor, Legal Counsel, Criminal lawyer, and Government lawyer |
Average Salary | Rs 2,00,000 to Rs 8,00,000 |
Recruiting Companies | Deloitte, Aston University, Acme Services, VISA, Micron Technology, Nexdigm, Miratech, and Forbes Advisor |
Top Criminal Law Colleges in India
Many colleges and institutes provide criminal law courses in India. The criminal law fee is mostly determined by the degree programme chosen by the student, faculty, and location of the college. The table below lists some of India's top criminal law colleges.
College | Fees |
---|---|
BSOLS Chunangamvely - Bharata Mata School of Legal Studies, Chunangamvely | - |
Rs 53,000 | |
- | |
NLU Visakhapatnam - Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University, Visakhapatnam | Rs 1,64,000 |
Rs 1,65,000 | |
Rs 1,65,000 | |
Rs 1,83,000 | |
SNIL Bhubaneswar - SOA National Institute of Law, Bhubaneswar | Rs 1,25,000 |
Top Private Criminal Law Colleges in India
There are many private criminal law colleges and universities offering criminal law courses in India. Admission to criminal law colleges is based on the entrance examination. The fee for private colleges is more compared to government colleges. A few private criminal law colleges are also offering internships for law students. The table below lists some of India's top private criminal law colleges.
Colleges | Fees |
---|---|
BSOLS Chunangamvely - Bharata Mata School of Legal Studies, Chunangamvely | Rs 1,08,000 |
- | |
Rs 1,80,000 | |
Shobhit University Meerut - Shobhit Institute of Engineering and Technology, Meerut | Rs 1,10,000 |
- | |
Rs 66,000 | |
Rs 88,000 | |
- | |
- | |
Rs 60,000 |
Top Government Criminal Law Colleges in India
There are numerous government criminal law colleges in India that offer criminal law courses. Students can afford the tuition fee at these universities. In recent years, these colleges have excelled in academic achievement. Some of India's top government criminal law colleges are listed in the table below.
Colleges | Fees |
---|---|
Rs 53,000 | |
NLU Visakhapatnam - Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University, Visakhapatnam | Rs 1,64,000 |
TNDALU Chennai - The Tamilnadu Dr Ambedkar Law University, Chennai | - |
- | |
Rs 17,370 | |
- | |
- |
Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG) of Criminal Law
The eligibility requirements for UG and PG varies depending on the college, candidates are required to follow some requirements before applying for the admissions. For undergraduate courses, candidates are required to clear their 10+2 or related education from a recognised board. For the PG course, the candidates must clear their Bachelor’s degree in the field of law.
Eligibility Criteria of Criminal Law UG Course
Candidates interested are required to meet the eligibility requirements of the desired institute. For UG, the candidates are required to clear their 10+2 education in any stream from a recognised board. Some colleges also take entrance exams for admission purposes.
The students should have completed their higher secondary education (10+2) or any other equivalent education.
Candidates must attempt the entrance examinations conducted by National Law University such as CLAT, AILET, LSAT with a valid cut-off score specified by the desired institute.
Top Entrance Exams for UG Courses
SET SLAT - The Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET SLAT) is organised by the Symbiosis Law School (SLS), Pune to help students in seeking admission to the university’s law courses.
CLAT- Common-Law Admission Test (CLAT) is an entrance test in the area of law that is conducted by the National Law University at a national level in India. It is an offline examination and is widely accepted in most law institutions and colleges.
AILET - AILET stands for All India Law Entrance Test. This exam gives admission to the UG, PG, and PhD courses. This is a university-level exam for NLU Delhi. The students appearing for this exam should have a minimum of 50 per cent aggregate marks in 10+2. This exam is conducted offline and is 1.5 hours long.
Eligibility Criteria of Criminal Law PG Course
Students must meet the eligibility requirements of the chosen institute before applying for the admissions. Generally for a PG course, candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree preferably in Law or related disciplines and they must appear for the specified PG law entrance exams to be eligible for the admissions.
Candidates applying for the admissions should ensure that they meet the eligibility requirements of the specified institute.
They need to have passed a Bachelor’s degree in law discipline or related disciplines.
Students also have to appear for any one of the below mentioned PG entrance exams and attain a valid cut-off specified by the institute.
Top Entrance Exams for Criminal Law PG Course
LSAT- The Law Student Admission Test (LSAT) is the most popular entrance exam at the global level for law aspirants. It is conducted by the Law School Admission Council. It is a half-day standardised test held about seven times each year.
CLAT PG: CLAT PG is a national level law entrance examination conducted by Consortium of National Law Universities ( NLU’s) for admission to the postgraduate programmes in the field of Law.
College Predictors VIEW ALL
Scope of Criminal Law in India and Abroad
The course of criminal law comprises various subjects which teach the students different laws involved in the jurisdiction. They also learn English for smooth court trials. They need to maintain the code of conduct in courtrooms and keep their client’s trust in getting them justice.
They will also learn the different policies and the politics that go on in the courtroom. How to legally deal with a case, what facts and reasonings they have to make clear before appearing in the court, and how to prove that his/her client is innocent are all taught to them. They also learn about the different penalties and punishments given during a particular crime and how they can reduce it by bargain and pleading. Candidates can pursue various career options such as Criminal lawyer, Criminologist, Government Lawyer and they can also apply for higher education such as Ph.D and can also work as a Lecturer.
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Course Fees Criminal Law
Minimum Fees | Maximum Fees | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Private | Government | Private | Government | |
UG | ||||
PG | ||||
DOCTORAL | ||||
DIPLOMA |
Course Subjects
In this section, we will discuss the syllabus of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Criminal Law specialisation. The syllabus slightly varies from one institution to another, some of the courses offered are Research Methods and Legal Writing, Criminal Liability and Defences, Crimes Against Public Morality, and International Criminal Law. Mentioned below is the syllabus of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the field of Criminal Law.
Criminal Law Syllabus for UG courses
Criminal Law as a specialisation is not offered at undergraduate level, though some subjects are related to Criminal Law in the undergraduate degree. In the table below we have mentioned some of the topics related to Criminal Law covered in an undergraduate degree in law.
Introduction to Criminal Law | Vicarious Liability and Corporate Crimes |
Historical Development of Criminal Law | Criminal Investigation and Evidence |
Sources of Criminal Law | Defences in Criminal Law |
Elements of a Crime | Crimes Against Public Order |
Classification of Crimes | Unlawful Assembly |
Criminal Liability and Defences | Sedition |
Offences against Property | Crimes Against Public Morality |
Theft | Terrorism |
Robbery | Juvenile Justice |
Burglary | International Criminal Law |
Fraud | Victims' Rights and Restorative Justice |
White-Collar Crimes | Emerging Issues in Criminal Law |
Cybercrimes | Technological advancements and criminal law |
Criminal Law Reform | Police Powers and Accountability |
Contemporary Debates in Criminal Law | Prosecution and Defense |
Case Studies and Analysis | Judiciary and Courts |
Research Project or Dissertation | Corrections and Rehabilitation |
Criminal Law Syllabus for PG Course
The subjects taught in college may vary from college to college. Some of the subjects offered in the postgraduate Criminal Law courses are Introduction to Criminal Law, Scopes of Criminal Law, and Criminal Law reform. In the table below we have mentioned the syllabus of Gujarat University, Ahmedabad.
Semester- I | |
Legal Theories | Indian Constitutional Law: The New Challenges |
Public International Law | Penology |
Privileged Class Deviance | Drug Addiction |
Semester- II | |
Judicial Process | Law and Social Transformation in India |
Legal Research Methodology | Principles of Criminal Law |
Comparative Criminal Procedure | Offences related to Juveniles |
Semester- III | |
Criminology | Laws of Evidence |
Forensic Science and Criminal Investigation | Cyber Crimes |
Human Rights in Criminal Justice System | Police and Criminal Justice System |
Semester- IV | |
Doctrinal Research | Clinical Research Report |
Dissertation and Submission of Thesis | - |
Careers in Criminal Law
A career in criminal law can be extremely lucrative and educational. Those with a strong sense of justice and an interest in public service will find the field appealing. It is also a good option for those interested in trial practice and litigation. Criminal lawyers typically act as prosecutors or defence lawyers. Defence lawyers can work for a public defence organisation, as sole practitioners, or as part of a law company. Prosecutors work for the government at either the local, city, or county prosecutor's office, the state attorney general's office's criminal division, or the United States Attorney's Office.
A criminal lawyer is a lawyer who specialises in criminal law and punishment. A criminal lawyer represents those who have been accused of committing a crime. Bail bond hearings, plea bargaining, trials, dismissal hearings, appeals, and post-conviction procedures all fall under his or her purview. | |
Criminologist | Criminologists gather and analyse data from crime scenes in order to discover why and how a crime occurred. They may collaborate with sociologists, psychologists, scientists, and law enforcement personnel to gain a better knowledge of a given crime scene and to avoid future criminal activity. |
A Government lawyer is a professional lawyer. He or she is responsible for writing legal documents and handling all criminal and civil cases. These lawyers can work in tax departments, environmental, and justice legislation. Government lawyer works under a senior government lawyer in the drafting of proposed bills and debates. | |
Lecturers should not simply speak and hope that their students fully understand the content, but should instead focus on teaching rather than instructing. Lecturers want their students to accomplish the job and genuinely understand how to do it, not merely tick the boxes on the lesson plan. | |
Public Prosecutor | A Public Prosecutor is the person in charge of criminal cases in the court system. A Public Prosecutor is a judicial officer appointed by the state. The term "Public" implies that he is a state representative chosen in the interest of the common person in India's established criminal justice system. He is a state agent appointed in criminal procedures. |
Upcoming trends
Criminal Law is an ever evolving field and is constantly being influenced by new advancements and changes in the demands. Mentioned below are some of the recent advancements in the field of Criminal Law
Large amounts of data and analytics – Compressed data and analytics would play a role in the prediction of policies and the risks involved in the bail and sentencing of the client.
Protecting the privacy of civil rights – Though there is an increasing pressure on cybersecurity to protect privacy and civil rights, there are still big data, analytics, and surveillance technologies whose guidelines remain inconsistent and the legal precedent is often lacking.
Integration of Justice – The IT department has set up an app where all the rulings that are given are mentioned and will be available to all the lawyers worldwide for their reference and use for the future.
Job Profiles and Top Recruiters
Criminal Law graduates can work in courts, or in offices, candidates can work as Criminal Lawyer, Criminologist, Government Lawyer, Lecturer, Public Prosecutor. Some of the top recruiters for the course are mentioned below
JP Morgan Chase Bank | Sairam Law Associates |
Lawtendo | International Justice Mission |
Space Consultants | Disha Law Firm |
Universal Hunt | KPS Legal |
RJ Cube Staffing Solutions PVT. Ltd. | Adani Enterprises Ltd. |
Average Salary
The salary for criminal lawyers varies a lot depending on the experience, and the number of wins in cases. Below is the table showing salary figures for a few job profiles. In the table below we have mentioned the average salary for some of the top career options in the field of Criminal Law.
Job Profile | Average Salary |
---|---|
Criminal lawyer | Rs. 3 LPA |
Criminologist | Rs. 3 LPA |
Government Lawyer | Rs. 4.8 LPA |
Lecturer | Rs. 4 LPA |
Public Prosecutor | Rs. 6.5 LPA |
Source: Ambition Box
Note: These salary figures may vary depending on various factors, such as designation, experience, skills, and job location.
Required Skillset for Criminal Law
The following skills should be executed by candidates pursuing criminal law:
Writing and speaking skills | Research and investigative skills |
Legal Knowledge and experience | Interpersonal skills |
Creative and analytical skills | Time management skills |
Course Curriculum for Criminal Law
The course of criminal law comprises various subjects which teaches the students different laws involved in the jurisdiction. They also learn English for smooth court trials. They need to maintain the code of conduct in courtrooms and keep their client’s trust in getting them justice.They will also learn the different policies and the politics that go on in the courtroom.
The students will also learn how to legally deal with a case, what facts and reasonings they have to make clear before appearing in the court and how to prove that his/her client is innocent is all taught to them. They also learn about the different penalties and punishments given during a particular crime and how they can reduce it by bargain and plead.
Popular Criminal Law Entrance Exams in India
LSAT-India
Application Process: 14 Aug, 2023 - 02 May, 2024
CUET UG
Exam Date: 15 May, 2024 - 24 May, 2024
AILET PG
Application Process: 30 Apr, 2024
MHT CET
Exam Date: 22 Apr, 2024 - 30 Apr, 2024
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question: What are the required skills for Criminal Law degree?
Answer :
Candidates must possess certain skills in order to do well in their academics and profession. These skills are Writing and Speaking Skills, Research and Investigative Skills, Legal Knowledge, Interpersonal Skills, Creative and Time Management Skills.
Question: What are the top entrance exams for UG and PG courses in Criminal Law?
Answer :
The top entrance exams for Criminal Law are CLAT UG, LSAT, CLAT PG, AILET. These entrance exams are very crucial for determining the candidates admission to the course.
Question: What is the average salary of a Criminal Law graduate?
Answer :
The average salary of a Criminal Law graduate depends on various factors such as the Location of the company, experience and qualification of the graduate. The average salary of a Criminal Lawyer is Rs 3 LPA.
Question: What are the subjects taught in Criminal Law course?
Answer :
Some of the subjects taught in Criminal Law course are Legal Theories, Penology, Laws of Evidence, Crimonology, Cyber Crimes, Indian Constitutional Law.
Question: What are the top recruiters of Criminal Law course?
Answer :
The top recruiters of Criminal Law course includes JP Morgan Chase Bank, Lawtendo, KPS Legal, RJ Cube Staffing Solutions Pvt Ltd, KPS Legal, Advani Enterprises Ltd.
Question: How is Criminal Law different from Civil Law?
Answer :
Civil Law deals only with the matters pertaining to domestic and commercial disputes that do not cause any bodily harm to anyone. Whereas, Criminal Law primarily deals with acts that harm society.
Question: What is the work environment and working hours?
Answer :
The lawyers work in private firms or as individuals, some even work for NGOs or government as public defenders. They have very irregular working hours.They have to meet the clients outside the office at courthouse, prisons, and hospitals. If they have a national attorney, they can travel to different places.Most of the lawyers work full-time for over 40 hours per week. But if they work in private firms, then they work for extra hours for preparing and reviewing documents and research.
Question: Which are the books we can refer to for criminal law course?
Answer :
Some of the books which the students can refer to are the Basic Concepts of Criminal Law, The Revised Penal Code, Criminal Law: Examples and Explanations, Law of Evidence ( Set of 4 volumes), Over criminalisation: The Limits of Criminal Law, and Rethinking Criminal Law.
Question: What are the fees for this course?
Answer :
Different courses have different fees. For the diploma and certificate courses, the fee ranges between Rs. 9000 to 18000. For the degree level courses, the fee is between Rs. 60000 to 5 lakhs.
Question: Which colleges offer criminal law courses?
Answer :
The top colleges offering Criminal Law courses in India are NLU Hyderabad, Nirma School of Law, UPES School of Law, GNLU Gandhinagar, TM- Dr. Ambedkar Law University, NLU Lucknow, WBNUJS Kolkata, and NLU Patiala.