What Is An LLM?
The LL.M. (Master of Laws) is an internationally recognized postgraduate law degree. An LL.M. is usually obtained by completing a one-year full-time program. Law students and professionals frequently pursue the LL.M. to gain expertise in a specialized field of law, for example in the area of tax law or international law. Many law firms prefer job candidates with an LL.M. degree because it indicates that a lawyer has acquired advanced, specialized legal training, and is qualified to work in a multinational legal environment.
Admission to the LLM degree in India is conducted through competitive entrance exams such as the Common Law Admission Test (PG), AILET (PG), DU LLM Examination, etc.
Law students in their penultimate year or final year of undergraduate studies are often in a dilemma of whether or not to opt for an LLM. They get conflicting views from seniors and professionals, which makes it tough to take a call. In this article, Team YLCC explores the relevance of an LLM for a legal career in India. Read on!
Reasons To Pursue An LLM After Your Law Degree
LESS COMPETITIVE ADMISSIONS
As compared to the competition in undergraduate courses, admission into an LLM degree of your choice is easier in both India as well as in law schools abroad. This is primarily because not everyone opts for an LLM due to unique career goals and owing to the fact that is not a mandatory requirement in non-teaching roles.
CONQUERING A NICHE
One of the main reasons why law graduates usually pursue an LLM is because of the opportunity to pursue a more in-depth study of a particular field in law. This will assist you to establish yourself as an expert in your selected field, in addition to bringing new career and employability options. While an LLM does not give you a training contract, the qualifications can assist you to concentrate on your chosen field of specialization.
Some of the leading specialisations available for an LLM in India include:
- IPR Laws Specialization
- Business Law Specialization
- Corporate Law Specialization
- Techno-law Specialization
- Criminal Law Specialization
- Constitutional Law
- Human Rights Law
- International Trade Law
A CHANCE TO OBTAIN IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE
The legal field requires constant study and staying ahead of the last developments. The judgments passed by Indian apex courts from time to time and changes in the legal framework require lawyers to consistently engage in academics despite having the requisite qualifications. This is especially true in a post-Covid era which has seen a significant increase in demand for lawyers.
Studying an LLM allows the individual to dive deep into a field of law of their liking and learn domestic as well as international frameworks, as well as practical applications of the law. More importantly, staying familiar with all the recent updates in the field is something that is required as part of the coursework- this helps immensely in gaining a profound understanding of the subject.
RESEARCH SKILLS
Strong research skills are highly valued and in demand in the legal field. Pursuing the Masters degree in law means that you have to research on a regular basis- be it for a paper for publication, a submission for the course, or a presentation for a seminar. Postgraduate studies in law usually require a much higher degree of research than what is done during the undergraduate level. Most colleges offering LL.M tend to keep students engaged in meaningful research on a regular basis and this is likely to enrich the skillset of the student and play an integral role when the student starts applying for job roles post completion of the LLM.
KEY TO A CAREER IN TEACHING
Many law graduates later go on to teach law as a full-time profession. An LLM is also extraordinarily useful in case you need to start teaching law. Given that most are research-based and intensive courses, they can open doorways to studying PhDs and, subsequently, lecturing and teaching law. Moreover, the National Eligibility Test (NET) that selects faculty candidates for higher education in India, requires a Master’s degree as part of its eligibility criteria.
Other career opportunities include:
- Judge: A lot of students who opt for an LLM also sit for the prestigious judiciary exams post its completion. One must be very well educated with the law of the country in order to become a judge.
- Legal Advisor: This includes core legal tasks like contract summarisation, legal study, writing, contract administration and usually legal advisors are assisted by court partners or associates. To excel in this role, one must have an extensive knowledge in law and legal processes. Needless to say, pursuing an LLM and mastering a field puts the odds in the individual’s favour.
- Advocate: An advocate is a valuable specialist in India and abroad. In order to carry out his activities, he must have proper knowledge of the law of the country.
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
What many LLM sceptics often fail to acknowledge is the incredible networking potential of having several universities to fall back on. Studying a legal degree at a second institution will mean that you are able to reach out to not an additional set of professors, peers and alumni. While the possibility of networking should not be your sole motivation, you should take it into account when chalking up the pros and cons of doing an LLM.
BETTER EARNING PROSPECTS
Having an LLM from a prestigious university usually helps one boost their earning potential, as well as the likelihood of getting snapped up by a bigger law firm several years down the line. However, it is important to remember that a whole mix of factors will contribute to your job prospects, including your years of professional legal experience, your law schools status, the type of LLM you complete, and how in-demand your specialization is.
FURTHER STUDIES
If you wish to pursue a Ph.D in Law, clearing your LLM degree is a mandatory step in the process. This will help you boost your earning potential and land you better opportunities to work at a bigger law firm as well.
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
An LLM degree from India is recognised in almost all major foreign jurisdictions, although the individual may have to take a qualifying test in order to be a qualified practitioner in that jurisdiction.
Reasons For Not Pursuing An LLM
- A major chunk of law students shy away from pursuing an LLM simply for the reason that their undergraduate studies have spanned for 5 years or more, and they no longer wish to remain in academic.
- Most law students choose to enter the professional space early, for purposes of gaining solid work experience, seniority or promotions.
- For some, pursuing an LLM may not be an option due to financial constraints and additional responsibilities.
Who Stands To Benefit Most From An LLM?
- Someone who is committed to a teaching profession or an academic career is general
- Someone who is looking to move into the more unconventional legal roles like public policy and international law
- Candidates looking to practice litigation and are looking to further their expertise in substantive or procedural laws
- Someone who is deeply enjoying their legal studies and might not be at a stage to start finding full-time professional employment yet.
Given below are top colleges in India for an LLM depending on the faculty and quality of program:
- NLSIU Bangalore
- NLU Delhi
- RGNUL Patiala
- NALSAR Hyderabad
- NUJS Kolkata
- ILI Delhi
- Delhi University
- Aligarh Muslim University
- Benares Hindu University
- Jamia Milia Islamia
- Panjab University
In conclusion it can be stated that while not everyone prefers to pursue an LLM, for those who have inspired motivations with a career plan in place, this degree might prove invaluable- especially to recruiters.
YLCC would like to thank its Content Team for their valuable insights in this article.
