L.L.D (Doctor of Law) - Course, Admissions, Eligibility, Syllabus

LLD or Doctor of Law is a specialised degree programme in the field of law. The course duration is three to a maximum of six-years duration. It also includes a specialised research programme in a particular specialisation, which the candidates can choose depending on their interests and future goals. To pursue an LLD (Doctor of Law) course candidates must have completed their LLM/Ph.D. in law from a recognised university of India.

Apart from these some colleges also mention that candidates should have some teaching or academic experience if they want to pursue an L.L.D course. LLD is the highest level of degree in the law domain helping candidates to gain expertise in law.

What is LLD Full Form?

The LLD full form is Doctor of Law or Doctor of Legislative Law. LLD is the standard abbreviation of the word Doctor of Legislative. LLD is derived from the Latin word 'Legum Magister', here ‘legum’ is the plural form of ‘lex’, which means law. Candidates who have completed an LLD degree are eligible to pursue an LLD degree programme.

LLD Course Details

LLD (Doctor of Law) Fees Structure

LLD (Doctor of Law) fees depend majorly on the type of university in which candidates are taking admission for LLD programmes. Before enrolling for an LLD degree in any university, students need to check the LLD (Doctor of Law) fees. The average LLD (Doctor of Law) fees range from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 2 Lakhs.

Why Choose LLD (Doctor of Law)?

Law is one of the popular career choices in India and certainly among the most respected professions with a wide range of job opportunities. Not only the court but various corporate houses, law firms, and administrative and judicial organisations offer a well-paid legal career.

After successful completion of the LLD (Doctor of Law) courses, candidates get opportunities to work both in public and private organisations. As LLD is the highest level of degree programme in the law field, individuals can pursue academics as well as they can opt for any legal profession.

LLD (Doctor of Law) Eligibility Criteria

The LLD eligibility criteria differ from one university to another university. Candidates can study in a university which could be in India or abroad but must have relevant experience in the field of law.

• Some colleges offer admission in the LLD degree programme based on PhD in law from a recognised university.
• Few colleges also require candidates to have teaching experience of five to ten years to get a position for LLD courses in these colleges.
• Whereas some of the colleges look for academic achievements in the field of law to screen students for the LLD course.
• Apart from these candidates also have an option of getting admission to colleges on the basis of merit obtained in the LLM course. The minimum aggregate required in LLM is 50 per cent to get admission into LLD courses offered by various universities.

LLD (Doctor of Law) Admission Process

There are different ways by which candidates can get enrolled in the LLD courses in law offered by various institutions and colleges. Colleges use different methods for admission in LLD courses. With the detailed knowledge of the course, candidates must know the various methods by which they can get admission into the colleges to pursue doctorate courses in law. Mentioned below are the different methods by which candidates can get admission into LLD courses.

Research Paper: Individuals who want to pursue an LLD degree programme need to write a research paper on the topic they want to do research. The research paper should be at least ten pages and the paper should contain a title, a statement of the problem and the background information on the subject, a set of research questions along with hypothesis and methodology and a research design.

Presentation: The shortlisted candidates need to make a presentation for Viva and need to present it before a panel of experts, such as professors of NLSIU and other external experts. The panel of experts review the proposal and also evaluates the presentation and how well that is delivered.

LLD (Doctor of Law) Cut off

The LLD cut-off is an important factor while applying for admission to law colleges in India that provide the LLD (Doctor of Law) degree programmes. Only a few universities offer admission to LLD (Doctor of Law) programmes based on a merit system, the grades earned in the LLD degree programmes, and in some cases, the results of the national-level entrance examination.

L.L.D (Doctor of Law) Syllabus

L.L.D or Doctor of Law is a specialised law degree that is a three-year programme. The syllabus of L.L.D differs from college to college. Mentioned here are some of the common topics that are a part of the law syllabus.

Also Read: B Com LLB

LLD (Doctor of Law) Specialisations

LLD degree offers various specialisations from which individuals can choose any of those they want to pursue. In the table below, we have mentioned the LLD specialisations.

• Corporate Law
• Commercial Law
• Labour Law
• Family Law
• Intellectual Property Law
• International Trade Law

What after LLD (Doctor of Law)?

Candidates who earn an LLD. degree successfully has a wide range of job opportunities to select from. After completing their LLD degree, candidates can choose to either enter academic careers or careers relating to industry. Following completion of their LLD, applicants can pursue many well-known career profiles, such as Judge, Lawyer, and Legal Advisor.

Careers Opportunities after LLD (Doctor of Law)

Students after pursuing LLD (Doctor of Law) courses, can opt for various job roles. Below, we have mentioned some of the career options available after an LLD (Doctor of Law) degree.

Lawyers: A lawyer is a professional who is qualified to offer advice about the law or represent someone in legal matters. A lawyer can also be called an attorney, a solicitor, a counsellor, a barrister, and many more. After completing an LLD degree candidates can opt to become lawyers in the field of their specialisation.

Judge: A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions all across the globe. After successfully completing an LLD degree candidates can opt to become judges.

Legal Advisors: Legal Advisors counsel clients on legal rights and obligations. They mostly research laws applicable to a particular case and thereafter go through previous judgments passed in similar cases. They help their clients with options on how they can defend themselves in different situations. Candidates can even become legal advisors after studying law.

Teachers- Teachers and lecturers are professionals who are known for shaping the future of students. An individual with an LLD degree can work as a teacher or lecturer in different colleges and universities.

Top Recruiters

Some of the top recruiters that hire LLD (Doctor of Law) graduates are mentioned below:

• Trilegal
• Amarchand and Mangaldas and Suresh A Shroff Co.
• S & R Associates
• Khaitan and Co.
• Desai and Diwanji
• AZB and Partners
• Talwar Thakore and Associates
• Luthra and Luthra Law Offices

Salary after LLD (Doctor of Law) Degree

The average salary of a doctor of law graduates varies from company to company. The salary ranges between four to twenty lakhs per annum based on experience in the field. LLD degree holders can be found working in corporate firms, law institutions, legal consultancy, law enforcement agencies, courts or judiciary, and many more.

Employment Areas

LLD (Doctor of Law) graduates will find employment in both the public and private sector organisations. Here, we have mentioned some of the employment areas where LLD (Doctor of Law) graduates can find employment.

• Law Firms
• Colleges & Universities
• Corporate Houses (legal departments)
• Research Dept.
• Courtrooms
• Arbitration Consultancies

Top Private LLD Colleges in India

Private colleges in India offer LLD (Doctor of Law) degree programmes. Private LLD (Doctor of Law) colleges are significantly more expensive than government LLD (Doctor of Law) colleges. We have mentioned below some of the top private LLD (Doctor of Law) colleges.

• Faculty of Legal Studies, Arunachal University of Studies, Namsai

Top Government LLD Colleges in India

Several government colleges in India offer LLD (Doctor of Law) degree courses. Students can pursue LLD (Doctor of Law) degree programmes from these government LLD (Doctor of Law) colleges at an affordable cost. The table below lists some of the best government LLD (Doctor of Law) colleges.

• CNLU Patna
• MNLU Aurangabad
• NLU Visakhapatnam
• NUJS Kolkata
  
• UNIPUNE (Pune University)
• Department of Law, Barkatullah University, Bhopal
• Institute of Legal Studies, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut

LLD or Doctor of Law courses in India help students to excel in their careers. The doctorate programme in Law can equip students with the knowledge and skills to help them pursue legal jobs in various industries such as education, finance, healthcare, and logistics.