Industrial Relations and Labour Legislation Course Details - Fees, Subjects, Syllabus, Duration, Eligibility, Career Scope

What is Industrial Relations and Labour Legislation

Industrial Relations and Labour Legislation is a subject broadly concerned with employment relationships. This is a multidisciplinary field of study which examines the interrelations of varying complexities between employers and employees, employer organisations and the state with trade and labour unions.

The purpose of the Industrial Relations and Labour Legislation field is to promote the understanding of worker's (or labourer's) welfare and how the nation's economic prosperity can be achieved. With the help of Industrial Relations laws, living standards can be improved, and increased globalisation could be achieved through flexibility in the labour market. Similarly, Labour Legislation Laws mediate work relationships and focus on the right of the employees at the place of work. 

Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG) of Industrial Relations and Labour Legislation

Candidates who wish to pursue LLB must fulfil certain eligibility criteria in addition to clearing the relevant entrance exam. Some of the main points illustrated by most law schools in their eligibility criteria include:

• Candidates must have completed their graduation from a recognised college or institute,

• Candidates must have scored at least 50%-55% marks during their graduation,

• There is no age limit. 

At the LLM level, the eligibility criteria that candidates are expected to fulfil to qualify for the course include:

• Candidates must have completed their LLB from a recognised and reputed university,

• Candidates must have scored at least 55% aggregate in their LLB course,

• A 5% relaxation will be offered to reserved category students. 

Entrance Exams for Studying Industrial Relations and Labour Legislation 

Aspirants can pursue a Bachelor of Law (LLB) course in Industrial Relations and Labour Legislation at the undergraduate level. With this degree as a stepping stone, they can then go on to pursue higher studies via Master of Law (LLM) or PG Diploma in the field.

LLB (or law, as the degree is more commonly known) and MLS are competitive courses, both of which allow admissions through several entrance examinations. Only candidates who qualify for the course by clearing the relevant entrance exam are eligible to pursue LLB or LLM in Industrial Relations and Labour Legislation. Some of the common entrance exams conducted both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels include: 

• Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)- This is a national-level law entrance examination conducted for aspirants looking to pursue LLB or LLM courses from any of the twenty-two National Law Universities (NLUs) in the country. In addition to NLUs, many other self-financed and private law schools accept CLAT scores for admissions. Candidates who clear the cut off in this exam are eligible to apply for law courses offered by these institutes.

• All India Law Entrance Test (AILET)- This is a university-specific entrance test conducted at the national level by the National Law University Delhi. This institute conducts the AILET exclusively for admissions to its own undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate law degree courses. NLU Delhi does not accept any other entrance exam for its admissions.

• Law School Admission Test (LSAT)- This is an entrance exam conducted by the Law School Admission Council. Conducted for both undergraduate and postgraduate law aspirants, the LSAT shortlists candidates for admissions to over 85 law schools all over India.

Required Skillset for Industrial Relations and Labour Legislation

In any career, success is never limited to just acquiring the relevant degree; success comes from inculcating and honing other skills which are equally important to the job as the degree is. Some of the important skills that professionals in Industrial Relations and Labour Legislation should inculcate in themselves to become indispensable to the job include: 

Communication Skills- Communication skills probably top the list of most important soft skills in any career path or profession. Candidates possessing excellent oral and written communication skills are preferred by most recruiters as opposed to other candidates aspiring for a job. In this profession, candidates must be able to establish trust and develop long-term relations with clients and negotiate settlements by demonstrating effective listening and persuasive speaking. Excellent written skills come into play when drafting legal letters and documents.

Legal Research and Analysis- When working in a law firm or practising as a barrister, candidates are required to always stay updated on current developments, well-versed with figures and facts, and conduct research and analysis to process the researched information into something that can be used towards their case. Candidates' research skills are also imperative in conducting background research when taking up complex cases.

Resilience and Self Confidence- A highly competitive and challenging career, candidates in Industrial Relations and Labour Legislation must showcase commitment and dedication towards their work. When pursuing a career in this field, resilience is essential in building up a strong case. When facing failure, while most people tend to feel dejected and give up, true determination in candidates ensures that they never back off when fighting a more difficult case.

Time Management- This is another essential skill in pretty much any profession; time management skills help professionals immensely, not only with meeting challenging demands of clients but also with competent multi-tasking when a great deal of work needs to be juggled which is often the case in this career.

Commercial Acumen- Also known as commercial awareness, this entails an awareness of recent developments and incidents in the business world, especially developments that affect Industrial Relations and Labour Legislation.