The significance of criminal law is growing day by day, and it is the only system that safeguards organised societies. As the body of the law, criminal law is concerned with crime, statutes, rules, and regulations. It is considered the oldest branch of law and has been the top choice of specialisation for many law aspirants. Individuals who pursue criminal law significantly interrogate witnesses, conduct trials, interview clients, correlate proofs and findings, and make ready a case for defending their clients while cross-examining witnesses in court. You can make a career in this field by pursuing on-campus or criminal law online courses in India at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Alongside degree courses, there are many certificate courses in criminal law and free online criminal law courses in India.
At the undergraduate level, you have to pursue integrated law courses to specialize in criminal law, while you can directly specialise in this field at the postgraduate level in the criminal law colleges. After completing criminal law courses online or on campus, you can work for many public and private organisations. You can work for the Public Defender Service (PDS) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). As a criminal lawyer, you can also become a legal advisor and advocate for your clients.
What is Criminal Law?
One of the oldest fields of law, criminal law deals with protecting society from any crime and maintaining law and justice. Criminal law comprises the punishment and rehabilitation of people who violate laws. A person who works in criminal law is called a criminal lawyer. He defends the case for his client, interrogates witnesses, interviews his client, and collects evidence.
Who Can Pursue Criminal Law Courses?
- Individuals who are passionate about solving criminal cases.
- Students seeking to make a career in the field of law.
- Graduates and scholars who are practising criminal law.
- Legal advisors and professionals who are working in a business setting or law firm.
Eligibility Criteria for Criminal Law Courses
- For undergraduate criminal law courses, aspirants must have completed 10+2 from a recognised board.
- For postgraduate criminal courses such as Master of Law in Criminal Law, LLM in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice and Administrative Law, and more, aspirants need to have completed an LLB from a recognised university.
- Aspirants are required to sit for entrance examinations to get admission to criminal law courses. Some popular exams are CLAT, LSAT, AILET, SET, AIBE, BHU UET, CUSAT, and KIITEE.
Skills Required for Criminal Law Courses
- Excellent communication
- Confidence
- Debate and discussion ability
- Good Advocacy
- Logical Reasoning
- Problem-solving
- Good observational skills
- Analytical approach
Also Read: Popular providers offering Criminal Law courses and certifications
- Udemy Criminal Law Courses & Certifications
- Edx Criminal Law Courses & Certifications
- Swayam Criminal Law Courses & Certifications
- Futurelearn Criminal Law Courses & Certifications
- GetSmarter Criminal Law Courses & Certifications
What Will You Learn in Criminal Law Courses?
- Enrolling in online criminal law courses and certifications will inculcate you with legal language and writing, constitutional law, Penology, Juvenile Delinquency, human rights and international law.
- UG, PG and diploma in criminal law courses will teach you about comparative criminal procedure, legal education and methodology, privileged class deviance, law and social transformation.
- By choosing specialised criminal law certificate courses, you will gain comprehensive knowledge about the specialisation you choose. For example, paralegal practising.
Popular Criminal Law Certification Courses
The topics taught in criminal law certification courses provide learners with inclusive knowledge and training. The learners will gain hands-on experience in crime-solving through fictional cases given during the course. Criminal law certificate programs online can be accessed from anywhere, and learners can learn at their own pace. Many institutes offer these online criminal law courses in India for free or at a low cost.
Here’s a list of some of the best criminal law certification courses:
Course Name | Offered by | Duration | Fees |
15 Weeks | Free | ||
From Crime to Punishment an Introduction to Criminal Justice | University of York, York via Futurelearn | 4 Weeks | Free |
University of Cape Town, Cape Town via GetSmarter | 16 Weeks | Rs 80,543 | |
The University of Queensland, Brisbane via edX | 8 Weeks | Free | |
Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi via Swayam | 12 Weeks | Free | |
Catholic University of Louvain via edX | 12 Weeks | Free | |
International Human Rights Law | Université catholique de Louvain via edX | 12 Weeks | Free |
Certificate Course in Advanced Criminal Litigation & Trial Advocacy | LawSikho | 3 Months | Rs 15,000 |
Decoding Criminal Procedure | LawSkills | 6 Months | Rs 6,000 |
Career Options in Criminal Law
Pursuing criminal law certificate courses opens the door to various opportunities. As this is the oldest specialisation in law, the opportunities for growth provided by the criminal law field are significantly higher than those provided by other fields in law. After completing criminal law courses, you can find career options in different specialisations such as human rights, domestic violence, sexual abuse, cybercrime, anti-hijacking, and more. You can also work as a legal advisor and advocate.
Below are the job profiles you can explore after criminal law courses:
- Criminal Lawyer
- Legal Advisor
- Law Officer
- Advocate
- Lecturer
- Legal Associate
Criminal Law Salary trends
The salary offered to a criminal lawyer can vary widely depending on the company as well as the position. As a freelance lawyer, the pay can differ widely between cases and clients. According to PayScale, the average salary of a criminal defense lawyer in India is Rs 400,000 p.a. The salary can also vary as per the level of experience.
Salary based on experience:
Experience | Average Pay (annually) |
1-4 years | Rs 700,291 |
5-9 years | Rs 850,000 |
10-19 years | Rs 250,000 |
20 years and higher | Rs 1,500,000 |
*Source: PayScale
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Scope of Criminal Law
Reports show that there is a wide shortage of courtrooms in India, which has been clogging up the country’s judicial system for years now. The manpower strength in the working judicial system is also very low, causing delays in criminal justice and an increase in pending cases. As the government is revamping the judicial system and the requirement for lawyers is surging, there is an increasing scope in this field. You will have various career options after completing offline or online criminal law courses in India. You can get into many public and private firms and work as a legal advisor, consultant, or assistant lawyer.
Top Recruiters in Criminal Law
- JP Morgan Chase Bank
- Space Consultants
- Lawtendo
- Sairam Law Associates
- International Justice Mission
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FAQs
Q: How do I learn criminal law with online courses?
A: Many online learning platforms, in collaboration with top universities, offer online criminal law courses you can pursue.
Q: How long does it take to complete criminal law courses?
A: The duration of online criminal law courses and certifications can differ from course to course and institution to institution.
Q: Who is eligible for criminal law courses?
A: Anyone interested in studying criminal cases, law, and justice can pursue criminal law courses online and offline. Professionals working in a business setting or law firm can apply for criminal law certification courses.
Q: Is it worth pursuing criminal law certification courses?
A: As there is a high demand for lawyers in India, pursuing online criminal law courses and certifications will pave various career opportunities. So, yes, it is worth it.
Q: How much does it cost to take criminal law courses?
A: Many institutes offer criminal law courses at low costs, while others provide them for free.
Q: What can I do after criminal law courses?
A: You can find various career options after completing online criminal law courses and certifications. You can build a career in this field as a criminal lawyer, solicitor, advocate, law officer, lecturer, legal advisor, and more.