LLM: Know All About Master in Laws

  • Updated on  
  • June 19, 2022
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LLM

“No man is above the law and no man is below it: nor do we ask any man’s permission when we ask him to obey it.” – Theodore Roosevelt. Every nation has a specified set of laws to regulate its smooth functioning as well as address any social or communal conflicts at times. Further, a career in Law imparts aspirants with immense responsibility since they are concerned with becoming a part of the apparatus of delivering justice. This is why the study of law is a rigorous and meticulous endeavour that one needs to undertake to attain the necessary certifications. After completing an LLB course, if you find yourself getting inclined to peruse this field, LLM is the ideal one to opt for. Through this blog, we aim to bring you a detailed guide on what a master’s degree in Law, i.e. LLM entails, the eligibility conditions you need to fulfil as well as the top universities you must consider.

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This Blog Includes:
  1. Overview
  2. Why LLM?
  3. LLM Specializations
  4. Eligibility Criteria
  5. LLM Admission 2022
  6. LLM Entrance Exams
  7. Entrance Exam Dates
  8. LLM Syllabus
  9. LLM Subjects
  10. Top Universities Offering LLM 
  11. LLM International Law
  12. LLM Recommended Books
  13. Career Prospects & Scope After LLM
  14. Courses After LLM
  15. LLM Salary in India
  16. FAQs

Overview

Also referred to as Masters of Law, LLM or Latin Legum Magister is a globally recognised degree with a total duration of 2 years, though some universities also offer it as a one-year course. Further, along with being an interdisciplinary degree, candidates are also provided with a plethora of specializations to choose from and concentrate on a specific one. Though the following paragraphs list down the major specialisations provided in an LLM degree, some of them include Taxation Law, Criminal Law, Human Rights, Environmental Law, International Trade, Jurisprudence, and Cyber Law amongst others. Also, a degree like LLM is generally studied by those wanting to expand towards the realm of international law and understand its intricacies. 

Why LLM?

It is critical to pursue an LLM course after graduating from a top legal school. An LLM programme will help you get started in your legal profession. A few of the most compelling reasons to pursue LLM programmes are listed below.

  • Prepares for a Profession in International Law: LLM degrees with a specialisation in International Law will assist students in making a name for themselves in in the international arena and, eventually, a career in the international legal area, ensuring a bright future.
  • Help you focus on your interests: Unlike undergraduate legal studies, which focus on broad law, the LLM permits you to specialise in a specific topic. This gradually allows you to focus on the issue and give it greater attention, allowing you to become an expert at it.
  • Various Specializations: The diversity of specialisations available in LLM courses can assist students in deciding on a professional path in areas such as international law, corporate law, labour law, and human rights, among others.
  • Pursue a Job in Legal Writing & Research: Depending on your LLM specialisation, pursuing LLD following your LLM can lead to a career in legal research and writing.
  • Better Job Opportunities: A master’s degree in law will earn you a higher wage and provide you with more prospects than a bachelor’s degree in law.

LLM Specializations

To help individuals anchor their focus on a specific field during the degree, LLM comprises of varied specialisations that one can choose from. Here is a list of these concentrations that you must know about:

  • Constitutional Law
  • Jurisprudence
  • Criminal Law
  • Insurance Law
  • Environmental Law
  • International Trade and Business Law
  • Intellectual Property Law
  • Taxation Law
  • Human Rights
  • Corporate Law and Governance

Eligibility Criteria

Though every law school might specify its own prerequisites for a master’s degree in Law, there are certain eligibility conditions that one needs to fulfil in order to apply for an LLM degree. Below we have listed the central requirements that you must know about before opting for this degree:

  • Candidates are essentially required to have completed their LLB degree. Further, some institutions also ask for your law school transcripts as part of the application.
  • English Proficiency test scores such as IELTS, TOEFL and PTE.
  • Various institutions may need GRE scores as well.
  • SOPs and LORs
  • Some universities also prefer aspirants with prior work or research experience in Law.

LLM Admission 2022

  • Universities accept a candidate’s score on any national or university-level admission exam for law schools that he or she has taken.
  • On May 8, 2022, an LLM entrance exam similar to CLAT PG was held.
  • CLAT, IPU-CET, LSAT, DU LLM, AP LAWCET, and other top LLM entry examinations include:
  • For general candidates, the application price for LLM admission ranges from 750 to 2,000. The application fee for reserved classes would be INR 350.

LLM Entrance Exams

Students who desire to take LLM courses must pass the admission exam required for the programme. Admission to LLM programmes is based on the results of the entrance exam and the interview stage, both of which are performed by the various universities.

There are various entrance exams to choose from, including CLAT PG, AILET, IPU CET, BHU UET, and others.

Entrance Exam Dates

Entrance ExamsRegistration DatesExam Dates
CLATJanuary 01 – March 31, 2022May 08, 2022
AILETJanuary 03 – May 25, 2022June 26, 2022
IPU CETMarch 4, 2022  – May 31, 2022 June 23 – June 25, 2022
LSATOctober 18, 2021 – January 3, 2022 (January session)October 18, 2021 – April 25, 2022 (May session)January 15, 2022 (January session)May 9, 2022 (May session)
TS PGLCETApril 6, 2022 – June 16, 2022 July 22, 2022 
AP PGLCETMay 13, 2022 – June 13, 2022July 13, 2022 

LLM Syllabus

Law and Social Transformation in IndiaJudicial ProcessLegal Research and Methodology
Alternative Dispute ResolutionConstitutionalismHuman Rights and Humanitarian Law
International Trade LawIntellectual Property RightsCorporate Law

LLM Subjects

LLM International LawComparative Public LawInternational Law and International Relations: Development and Trends
International OrganizationsLaw and Justice in Internationalized World
Law of Sea, Air and SpaceInternational Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
International Courts and TribunalsInternational Dispute Resolution Bodies
LLM Corporate LawFinancial Models and Derivatives in a Legal ContextBanking and Finance Law
Corporate Social Responsibilities and the LawEuropean Law of Capital Markets
European Procurement LawPrinciples of International Tax Law
LLM Taxation LawGeneral Principles of TaxationDirect Tax Laws
Tax LitigationIndirect Tax laws
International TaxationCorporate Tax
LLM Human RightsConcept of Human Rights & Human DutiesHuman Rights & Criminal Justice
Constitutional Governance of Human Rights in IndiaInternational Humanitarian Law
Refugee LawPeople’s Rights to Self-determination
LLM Constitutional LawLaw and Social Transformation in IndiaConstitutionalism: Pluralism & Federalism
Indian Constitutional Law- The New ChallengesJudicial Process
Mass Media LawAdministrative Process and Judicial Control
LLM Environmental LawInternational Law and Environmental ProtectionNature and Scope of Environmental Law
Environmental Protection and General Civil and Criminal LawsProtection of Environment under the Indian Constitution
Protection of Water, Air and Environment in IndiaEmerging Issues in Environmental Law

Top Universities Offering LLM 

There are a plethora of globally recognised universities across the globe that offer master’s degrees in Law. Take a look at the table below which elucidates the top academic institutions and law schools as well as their prospective LLM courses.

UniversityCourse Duration 
New York University School of
Law		Traditional LL.M.1 year
Georgetown University Law CentreGeneral Studies LLM1 year
Columbia Law School Master of Laws (LL.M.)1 year
University of Oxford MSc in Law and Finance1 year
Queen Mary University of LondonLL.M. (Master of Laws)1 year
University of California LL.M. Traditional Track1 year
University of Amsterdam European Private Law (LL.M.)1 year
Duke University Master of Laws (LL.M.)1 year
University of Southern CaliforniaMaster of Laws (LL.M.)1 year
University of OsloMaster of Laws (LL.M.) in
Public International Law		1 year
Utrecht University LL.M. in European Law1 year
University of OttawaGeneral LL.M.1 year
University of BristolLL.M. Law – General Legal Studies1 year
University of Groningen Master of Laws in Energy and Climate
Law		1 year

LLM International Law

The study of the laws of many countries and organisations is the focus of an LLM in International Law. LLM in International Law is a popular speciality in India since it provides students with options to work in other countries.

The following are some of the topics covered in the LLM International Law programme:

Comparative Law
International Law and International Relations: Developments and Trends
International Organizations
International Dispute Resolution Bodies etc.

Name of the BooksAuthors
Responsibility of International OrganizationsProfessor Bimal N. Patel
Administrative LawC K Thakker
Comparative Constitutional LawMahendra P. Singh
Law and Social TransformationP. Ishwara Bhat
Due Process of LawAbhinav Chandrachud

Career Prospects & Scope After LLM

Completing an LLM degree, there is an array of career opportunities that one can opt for. It is quite a common conception that the legal arena has a limited set of professions. Today, the field of law has expanded its horizons into multifold branches leading to varied prospects. Further, you can also select a specialisation like Cyber Law or Energy and Climate Law during your master’s degree to establish your career in the same. Take a look at the below-mentioned list of career prospects that you can choose from after LLM: 

  • Legal Consultant 
  • Legal Document Reviewer
  • Advocate 
  • Magistrate
  • Judge 
  • Solicitor
  • Lecturer 
  • Public Prosecutor 
  • Law Reporter 

Courses After LLM

A PhD in Law or LLD, commonly known as Doctor of Law, can be pursued after successfully completing an LLM degree. Several universities in India, including Nalsar Hyderabad, IIT Kharagpur, and NLU Jodhpur, offer LLD admissions.

The following are the requirements for pursuing an LLD:

  • Students must have completed LLM with a minimum of 55 percent overall or an equivalent CGPA.
  • Students should be required to pass several university entrance tests.
  • Before enrolling students in LLD courses, several universities require prior job experience.

LLM Salary in India

An LLM graduate’s compensation is determined by the type of employment he or she holds. Typically, an LLM graduate’s pay ranges between INR 4 to 12 LPA.

FAQs

What does LLM mean?

The standard abbreviation for a Master of Laws degree is ‘LLM.’ The acronym comes from the Latin term for the qualification, ‘Legum Magister,’ with ‘legum’ being the plural of ‘lex,’ which means law. Latin pluralizes the Master of Laws to ‘LLM’, as it does the ‘LLB’.

What is LLM vs LLB?

The level of the course is the primary distinction between LLB (Bachelors of Law) and LLM (Masters of Law). The LLB is a bachelor’s degree programme, whereas the LLM is a post-graduate programme for students who have previously finished their bachelor’s degree.

Is LLM a PhD?

In the realm of legal studies, an LLM PhD is a higher degree of qualification. Successful LLM PhD graduates can go on to work as legal professors at law schools and universities.

Is LLM 2 years course?

Yes, LLM is a 2 years course.

Thus, we hope that this blog has helped you understand the varied essentials of LLM. If you are planning to study a master’s degree in Law abroad and don’t know where to begin, take the help of Leverage Edu’s AI-based tool that narrows down a suitable course and university combinations as per your skills and aspirations and assists you in making an informed decision to sail further in your professional journey.

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