Overview:Ā
In 1988, NLSIU launched Indiaās first 5-year integrated BA LLB (Hons) programme. The success of this programme has secured NLSās legacy as the institution that radically disrupted legal education in India. Three decades after this bold experiment, NLSIU is set to launch a new interdisciplinary 3-year LLB (Hons) Programme in 2022 which reimagines legal education for the 21st century.
The 3-year LLB (Hons) is a post-graduate professional degree programme that is open to graduates from all disciplines. It is a qualifying degree for admission to legal practice. The programme meets all requirements of the Bar Council of India, and builds on top of that to deliver a rigorous legal education in keeping with NLSIUās unique curricular and pedagogic approach. The programme is structured around interdisciplinary study of the law combined with experiential learning. The programme will bridge theory and practice. It is designed to produce lawyers who meet the challenges of the 21st century.
The 3-year LLB (Hons) is a full-time residential programme that will admit 60 students in the Academic Year 2022-23. Admission will be on the basis of all-India National entrance test to be held on April 24, 2022.Ā The inaugural batch will begin classes on July 1, 2022. Please note, 75% attendance is mandated for each course offered under the programme.
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Admission:Ā
Admission to the LL.B (Hons) programme will be through a national-level entrance examination process. The first batch of the programme will admit 60 students. Classes for the first cohort of the programme will commence on July 1, 2022.
Eligibility
Any person holding a Bachelorās degree in any discipline from a recognized national or international University is eligible to apply to the programme. Applicants in the general category should have graduated with an aggregate of not less than 45% of total marks. Applicants in the SC/ST category should have graduated with an aggregate of not less than 40% of total marks. Students in the final year of their Bachelorās degree are also eligible to apply. However, their final offer of admission will be contingent upon successful completion of their Bachelorās degree with the minimum aggregate marks specified above.
Admission Process
60 candidates will be admitted to the programme in the Academic Year 2022-23. Admission to the programme will be through a three-stage national-level examination process. The first two stages will comprise an all-India written admissions test, the National Law School Admissions Test (NLSAT). The third stage will be an interview.
The written test shall be for 140 marks, of which 75 marks shall be for objective type MCQs, and 65 marks shall be for subjective questions. The interview shall be for 10 marks.
NLSAT
All candidates seeking admission to the programme shall appear for the NLSAT. The NLSAT will have a single question paper comprising two parts ā Parts A and B. All candidates shall be required to attempt both parts of the question paper. The examination shall be for a duration of 150 minutes.
Part A
Part A will consist of Multiple-Choice Questions, and shall be for a maximum of 75 marks. 0.25 marks shall be deducted for every wrong answer. Part A will constitute the first stage of the admissions process. A merit list of candidates will be prepared based on their performance in Part A of the NLSAT. Only those candidates who qualify in Part A of the test shall have their Part B responses evaluated. Candidates shall be selected in a ratio of 1:5 for evaluation of Part B of NLSAT. That is, five candidates per seat will qualify for Part B of the examination. Marks secured in Part A shall not be carried over to the rest of the admissions process.
Part B
Part B shall consist of subjective questions which shall be for a maximum of 65 marks. A fresh merit list shall be prepared based on performance in Part B of the NLSAT. Candidates will be selected in a ratio of 1:2.5 per seat for the interview.
Interview
Candidates will be invited for an interview based on the rank secured by them in Part B of the NLSAT. The interview, which shall be the third and final stage of the admissions process, will be for a maximum of ten (10) marks. In the interview, applicants will be assessed on basic articulation skills, original thinking, reasoning ability, and passion for the law and public service. The panel for the interview shall consist of academics and eminent jurists.
The final rank list shall be prepared by consolidating marks secured in Part B of the NLSAT, and the interview. Offers of admission shall be made accordingly.
Note: The applicable reservations policy shall be applied at each stage of the admissions process.
Important Dates
- The NLSAT will be held on April 24, 2022 in centres across the country.
- Application forms for the programme will be available on NLSIUās website in the first week of January 2022.
- Application fees shall be Rs. 2000 (Two thousand only). Candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Economically Weaker Sections, and Persons with Disabilities shall be required to pay Rs. 1500 (One Thousand, Five hundred only).
- The last date for submitting applications is March 26, 2022.
- Interviews will be held in May 2022,
- The final admissions list will be published by the first week of June 2022.
- Classes will commence from July 1, 2022.
Syllabus
Part A
Applicants will be tested on the following in the objective test:
- English comprehension (25 marks)
- Current Affairs (25 marks)
- Critical Reasoning (including logical reasoning and legal aptitude) (25 marks)
Part B
The syllabus for the subjective test is as follows:
- Legal Aptitude/Reasoning (50 marks): Legal aptitude will consist of problem-based questions to which short answers will be sought. Prior knowledge of law is not expected. This section will have 10 questions of 5 marks each.
- Current Affairs (15 marks): Current affairs shall consist of one essay of no more than 500 words. Students shall be required to answer one of three options. Applicants will be tested on their knowledge of the issue, the ability to make cogent written arguments and write a well-structured essay. Knowledge of the law is not expected.
Intake and Reservation
The total number of seats shall be 60 (sixty). Seats shall be reserved as follows:
- Scheduled Castes ā 15%
- Scheduled Tribes ā 7.5%
- OBCs ā 27%
- EWS ā 10%
- 5% of the total intake shall be reserved horizontally for Persons with Disabilities (PWD);
- 30% of the total intake shall be reserved horizontally for women, and 25% of the total intake shall be reserved horizontally (compartmentalised) for Karnataka Students.
Karnataka Students Category:
1. Candidates who have studied for not less than 10 years in a recognized educational institution in Karnataka shall be considered as āKarnataka Students.ā
2. Candidates who have not completed ten years of study in Karnataka shall be eligible to apply under the Karnataka Students category if they fall under any of the below categories:
a. Children of defence personnel/ex-servicemen, who at the time of joining service, have declared their hometown to be in the State of Karnataka, and who have served or are serving outside Karnataka, corresponding to the candidateās years of study outside Karnataka.
b. Children of employees of the Karnataka State Government who have served or are serving outside Karnataka corresponding to the candidateās years of study outside Karnataka.
c. Children of serving or retired employees belonging to the Karnataka cadre of the All India Services (IAS/IFS/IPS), who have served or are serving outside Karnataka corresponding to the candidateās years of study outside Karnataka.
d. Children of working or retired employees in the Central Armed Police Force service, who upon joining service declared their hometown to be in the State of Karnataka, and who have served or are serving outside Karnataka, corresponding to the candidateās years of study outside Karnataka.
Illustration: If the candidate has studied in Karnataka for three (3) years, they must prove that their parent/s were serving outside Karnataka for at least seven (7) years corresponding to their own period of study outside Karnataka.
If the candidate has not studied in Karnataka continuously for at least one (1) year, they must prove that their parent/s were serving outside Karnataka for at least ten (10) years corresponding to their own period of study outside Karnataka.
3. Eligible candidates must keep their Study Certificates issued by their educational institutions and other relevant documents ready to be submitted at the time of admission.
Course Structure & Credit Requirements
As part of the 3-year LL.B (Hons.) programme, students will be offered a range of core courses (mandatory for all students), and electives.
Core Courses
Core courses provide an introduction to an area of study. These include foundational law subjects as well as interdisciplinary courses (See table below). Interdisciplinary courses offer students a perspective on how to understand the law, and to place the study of law in context. These courses will equip students with tools and methods of other disciplines in the study of the law. These courses do not aim to train the students in other disciplines.
Every credit for a core course shall entail 15 hours of classroom teaching. Two credit core courses will hence require 30 hours of classroom teaching. They shall not require a research paper as a part of the evaluation process. Four credit courses will run for 60 hours of classroom teaching and include a continuing assessment component comprising assignments, research papers, presentations, class participation, etc.
Scroll down to see the credit allocation for core courses.
Elective Courses
To allow students to explore their areas of interest in a systematic and comprehensive manner, NLSIU offers a range of elective courses. In addition to NLSIUās own faculty, electives are often taught by practitioners and other experts who come in as Guest Faculty. This allows students to interact with and learn from a pick of the very best in diverse areas of law. The list of courses available in a particular trimester will be notified at the end of the previous trimester.
Credits assigned to an elective will vary by course load and the number of lecture hours. A maximum of four credits is available for a single elective course.Ā When the term āelectiveā is used in the table below, it implies that every student shall either opt for a single elective of 4 credits, or multiple electives totaling up to 4 credits.
Since elective courses are taught at advanced levels, they entail heavier reading, research and writing requirements. Hence, the credit distribution varies according to the following scale:
- One Credit: 15 hours of classroom teaching
- Two Credits: 30 hours of classroom teaching
- Four Credits: 40 hours of classroom teaching
Some electives will be in the form of clinics and practicums. These may entail lesser classroom engagement, and greater out of class evaluation components. The credits assigned to each clinical elective shall be notified in advance.
Every student has to complete a minimum of 48 credits in an academic year (between core and electives) and a total of 144 credits over the three years. If a student completes extra elective credits in one term, they shall be permitted to offset it in a subsequent term, subject to the requirement of completing 48 credits in an academic year, in order to be promoted to the next academic year.
To view past and current electives offered by NLSIU, visit our Course Catalogue.
Student Internships
The internship programme aims to expose the students to the practice of law. Internships may be undertaken in lawyersā chambers, courts, administrative offices, quasi-judicial establishments, prosecution departments, police and correctional institutions, commercial corporate establishments, Government Law Offices, legal aid centres, legislative secretariat, think-tanks, research institutions, non-governmental organizations etc. It aims to teach professional skills, essential aspects of professional ethics and social responsibility issues and management of challenging situations in practical and professional life. Internships allow students to explore diverse substantive areas of law and different sites of legal practice and equip students to decide on future career trajectories. They often translate into job opportunities. Students need to compulsorily undertake an internship each year of the programme, during the term break between the first and second trimester.
Fee Structure for the Academic Year 2022-23:
Total fee (including refundable deposits)
a)Ā General Category: 2,88,855.00
b)Ā SC/ST Category: 2,85,445.00
(Note: Subject to revision)
Financial Aid
The University offers means-based scholarships. To know more about NLSIUās financial aid options for students, click here.Ā