Legal Studies

Legal studies is a field of study that deals with the knowledge of the fundamentals of law. It includes everything related to law encompassing a basic understanding of law and its principles. As an interdisciplinary subject, it helps law aspirants to understand law from different perspectives. Subsequently, this helps them to deep dive into the relationship between Law and different facets of the contemporary world. This makes it necessary for law aspirants aiming to get into their dream law school to study this subject.

The Importance of Legal Studies

The importance of legal studies cannot be ignored while preparing for the law entrance exams in India. So, studying it has multiple importance for the students. Here are the importance of legal studies-

1. Understanding Legal Concepts:

Legal Studies give you a complete understanding of the legal nomenclature, principles, and concepts. This in-depth study is important for comprehending the legal text, interpreting the legislature, and applying legal reasoning to solve questions given in the competitive exams. A stronghold on legal terms helps the students to understand tough legal writings and further helps them to extract relevant information to answer the questions correctly.

2. Developing Analytical Skills:

Every law entrance exam has a section named legal reasoning to test the candidate’s ability to analyse legal issues, can do application of relevant laws, and draw a logical conclusion. Further, it allows students to analyse the legal facts and circumstances critically and helps them apply the relevant and appropriate legal principles to arrive at the right solution. Having these skills makes students do rightful analysis and logical reasoning of the passages given in exams to solve the questions and succeed in exams.

3. Enhancing Marks and Rank:

An in-depth understanding of legal studies significantly increases the student’s marks in exams. The legal reasoning sections in the law entrance exams carry a large percentage of marks. Forcing students to have an in-depth knowledge of the legal principles. By studying legal studies students can get a good score in this particular section. Ultimately increasing their overall marks and chances of getting a better rank.

Legal Studies Syllabus

The Legal Studies syllabus lays down a comprehensive idea of the legal structure, including fundamental legal principles. Making a person aware of the major legal knowledge and its understanding helps them to develop navigation skills for the legal issues. Here are the includes following chapters to be covered:

1. Constitutional Law

2. Consumer Law

3. Contract Law

4. Criminal Law

5. Family Law

6. Framing of Constitution

7. Human Rights in India

8. Industrial Law

9. Intellectual property rights

10. Judiciary

11. Jurisprudence Law

12. Law of torts

13. Legal profession in India

Brief Description of Chapter in Legal Studies

1. Constitutional Law: Constitutional law is an important area of law. It deals with the interpretation and application of the Indian constitution. It lays down the outline for the structure of government, the distribution of powers among various branches, and the rights and freedoms of individuals. Further, it has played an important role in India to establish the structure for governance and protection of fundamental rights along with ensuring that there is a rule of law. Hence, it becomes crucial for law students to have an understanding in detail.

2. Consumer Law: Consumer law deals with the protection of the legal rights of consumers. It has topics like laws relating to product safety, advertising regulations, consumer contracts, and dispute-resolution, etc. Hence, it provides surety to consumers that they are treated fairly along with having access to rightful information. Moreover, in case of default, there are effective remedies made available to them. Having an understanding of consumer law is important for law aspirants who prepare to clear the competitive exams as it helps them deal with complex aspects of consumer protection.

3. Contract Law: Contract law lays down the law that governs the creation, execution and enforcement of agreements between different parties. Furthermore, it establishes the legal structure for making agreements binding, stating the rights and duties of the parties involved in the agreement. The main concepts that are included are offer, acceptance, consideration, and the intention to create legal relations. Having an in-depth knowledge of contract law is important for solving problems in different legal transactions that may happen due to contractual obligations.

4. Criminal Law: Criminal law is that law which focuses on the offences that happen against the state or the public at large. It lays down the punishment for those offences committed by whomever. It includes various crimes including theft, assault, murder, and fraud, etc. It has the aim to maintain a social order and remove criminal behaviour from the society. Its principle has roots in the concepts of justice, accountability, and the protection of individual rights. Ensuring that criminals are prosecuted fairly on the other hand protecting the rights of victims.

5. Family Law: Family law deals with the legal principles relating to family affairs. It includes marriage, divorce, child custody, adoption, and domestic violence etc. It has been a combination of both statutory laws and judgments that have addressed the rights and responsibilities within a family. Further, it has throughout the years influenced personal law by taking religion as the center to make laws apart from secular laws. Therefore it has become a complex and evolving area for legal practice. Thus, its knowledge becomes important for all the students to go through personal legal matters while protecting the rights available to the individual within the family.

6. Framing of Constitution: The chapter Framing of the Constitution tells about the historical circumstances, procedure including the fundamental principles that were involved in the making of the constitution. It emphasis on the decoding of the Constituent Assembly of India which was in function from 1946 to 1950. To understand this chapter becomes important for understanding the foundation of the Indian legal system that governs our country involving the idea of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity provided in our constitution.

7. Human Right in India: Our Indian constitution protects the human rights of every citizen through fundamental rights. In 1993, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was established to protect these rights and to do proper investigation in case of its violation. Throughout the years, since independence India has made a significant growth in matters like women empowerment and rights for physically disabled persons. But, the discrimination against the minorities, restriction on civil society etc. still remains a matter of concern for the country. Although, our government denies allegations of such violations and continues to establish healthy dialogue with international bodies to address these issues.

8. Industrial Law: Industrial Law comprises different sets of regulations that govern the relation between employees, employers and trade unions in the Industrial sector. The main aim of these laws is to ensure fair labour practices, working conditions and protection of workers’ rights while ensuring that industries grow. The major key area included in this chapter is labour welfare, employment contracts, etc. Hence, Making it crucial for the understanding of Industrial procedure.

9. Intellectual Property Rights: Intellectual Property Rights are introduced to give protection to human creativity, inventions, artistic work, and symbols, names and images used for trade purposes. These laws grant protection in form of patents, copyrights and trademarks keeping the creators control over their creations and contributions. These laws ensure that creativity and innovations fosters by giving legal safeguards. This incentivizes the development of newer ideas and innovation, giving a correct balance between creators’ interest and public interest.

10. Judiciary: Indian Judiciary Structure embodies the legal principles and regulatory framework that governs the functioning of courts in the judicial system. It portrays the hierarchy, powers and procedure of courts including from Supreme court to lower courts in India. Ensuring that there is fair administration of justice, entacting individual rights. Hence it plays a significant role in upholding the rule of law and order.

11. Jurisprudence Law: The study of Jurisprudence involves study of legal theory and philosophy, while deep diving into the fundamental principles underlying the law. It digs into the questions about the nature of law, fundamental relationship between law and morality, the role of justice and interpretation of legal texts. It does so by analysing various schools of thoughts which provides a deeper learning of the legal systems and their implications on society.

12. Law of torts: Law of torts being a branch of civil law which deals with civil wrongs which are done by one person against another, resulting in legal liability. It includes various types from negligence, defamation, nuisance etc. It aims to lay down the remedies for the victim for the harm they have suffered because of the wrongful acts done by others. The main objective of the law of torts is to restore the injured party to their previous original status, through the monetary compensations maintaining the social accountability.

13. Legal Profession in India: The Legal Profession in India chapter includes diverse roles and institutions which support in administering justice and governance. These major positions include the Attorney General of India and Advocate General of India, as they provide legal services to the government and represent in their legal matters. On the other hand, bodies like Election Commission of India and Comptroller and Auditor General make sure of the electoral ethics and financial accountability. Moreover, constitutional bodies such as the Finance commission and non-constitutional bodies like Niti Aayog ease down the policy making. The service commission like UPSC and SPSCs overlook recruitment processes for the civil services, making sure only qualified candidates serve in authoritative roles across the country.

The Role of Legal Studies in Society

• Legal Studies play an important role in our society when it comes to giving shape to the legal structure. It is just not merely restricted to preparation for the competitive exams. It goes beyond that territory and includes those societal functions which are contributors to the rule of law and social justice. As legal studies give a person the required knowledge and skill to understand and apply the law effectively, enabling the person with the capability for critical thinking and problem solving.
• Subsequently, when we look at the legal studies’ primary objective we get it as legal education. As it covers areas of law such as constitutional law, criminal law, and contract law etc., providing comprehensive understanding of the law and its application. So it is helping in constructing the bridge between the law and the society. As a result more people get trained to help people with legal services, making access to justice more available within the society.
• Therefore, when we conclude we find legal studies to be an inseparable part of the society. It provides the foundation for the legal profession. Resulting in a better society where the right to access to justice is easily available making this world a better place.

Career Opportunities in Legal Studies

Career opportunities in legal studies are very diverse and inclusive of various skill sets within the legal domain. As a law graduate, who has studied legal studies can pursue various different career paths across different sectors. Here are few of the common career opportunities available:

1. Lawyer/ Advocate: After completing your bachelors in law i.e. LL.B you can enrol in Bar Council to become eligible for practising litigation as a career option. Here you will represent your clients in legal matters concerned to different laws from criminal, civil or corporate etc.

2. Corporate counsel: The corporate counsel are basically in-house legal advisors for the company responsible for handling the company's legal affairs ranging from compliance, and contracts to intellectual property etc.

3. Judiciary (Judge): Being a law graduate you can sit for a judiciary examination to become a judge. As a judge, you will adjudicate legal matters in court ensuring the rule of law and justice in society.

4. Legal Advisor: You can become a legal advisor by giving advice to different companies, organisations or different government bodies. This often requires experience or specialisation in a particular area of law.

5. Professor/ Academician: After completing your LL.B you can go for postgraduate and subsequently PhD. It will help you to become a professor in any of the law schools, where your main work will be to teach young law students in their undergraduate program.