PhD in law is a 3 year doctorate degree that specializes you in the law study. You can complete this course within a maximum time span of 5 years. PhD in law trains you to lead the judiciary, academic, government, business and other alike sectors. The course curriculum is divided into 4 semesters.
To pursue PhD in law you must possess the minimum qualification i.e. either you have to appear for the entrance test or you should have a minimum of 55% in masters degree in law or social science.
You can also opt for a PhD in law course from distance learning. There are no. of colleges offering PhD in law from correspondence like IGNOU. After the course completion, ample lucrative job opportunities are available to you in both the government and private sector.
4.2 Entrance Exams
Course Level | Doctoral Degree |
Full Form | Doctor of Philosophy in Law |
Duration | 3-5 Years |
Admission process | Either by Entrance test or by Merit List |
Eligibility | Minimum 55% score in Master’s degree in law or in social science stream |
Course Fee | INR 25,000 - 4 Lakhs per annum |
Average Salary Offered | Up to INR 4 Lakhs - 13 Lakhs per annum |
Career prospects | Lawyer, Oath Administrator, Notary, Judge, Author and others |
A candidate has to come through various research works, coursework, teaching, to attain the PhD in Law degree.
There are several advantages to pursuing the degree of PhD in law.
There are some of the common entrance tests for admission in PhD in law courses that are widely accepted by the institutes. To apply for admission application submission in a particular institute you need to follow the below given steps:
These research proposals are asked for a scrutiny process. After the scrutiny, and the result declaration of entrance exams, they prepare a merit list and then shortlist candidates who then appear for GD and PI sessions (if any).
In order to pursue PhD in law, you should meet the below mentioned eligibility criteria:
The qualifying percentage may differ from institute to institute. Apart from this, you also have to appear for common entrance exams conducted at National and University level.
Many of the colleges offering PhD in law have their own entrance examinations. Few of those exams are listed below:
AILET 2021: AILET (All India Law Entrance Test) is the exam conducted by National Law university (NLU) to offer admissions to law aspirants in UG, PG and doctorate courses. Important dates regarding AILET application process are mentioned below:
ENTRANCE TEST | IMPORTANT DATES |
---|---|
AILET 2021 Application Form Availability | January 23, 2020 |
Last Date of application Submission | June 25, 2020 |
AILET 2021 Admit Card Release date | Fourth Week of June, 2021 |
AILET 2021 Exam Date | July 30, 2021 |
AILET 2021 Result Declaration | July 2021 |
Some of the colleges/universities accept CLAT scores too.
CLAT 2021: Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2021, is the centralised law exam offering admissions in law colleges for UGand PG degrees. Important dates for the same are given below:
ENTRANCE TEST | IMPORTANT DATES |
---|---|
CLAT 2021 Application Form Availability | January 1 , 2021 |
Last date of Application Submission | June 15, 2020 |
CLAT 2021 Admit Card Release Date | July 14, 2021 |
CLAT 2021 Examination Date | July 23, 2021 |
CLAT 2021 Result Declaration | To be notified |
Other exams you can appear for admissions in PhD in law course are:
Generally, a PhD in law entrance examination consists of 5 sections that are listed below:
Logical Reasoning
You need to work hard to make these sections as your strong and scoring points.
As a PhD is the highest degree certification so it needs special preparation for qualifying. Few points you can take care of while preparing for the exams are as follows:
Check out the course comparison of PhD in law courses, with other related courses.
PhD in Law stands for Doctor of Philosophy in Law and LLD stands for Doctor of Law. Both the courses are based on in-depth research. It depends on your interest which course you would like to pursue. Below are some of the key differences between PhD in law and LLD:
Parameters | PhD in Law | LLD |
---|---|---|
Abbreviation | Ph.D can be abbreviated as Doctor of Philosophy in Law. | LLD can be abbreviated as Doctor of Law.. |
Duration | 3-4 years | 3 years |
Average Fee | INR 50,000 per annum | INR 75,000 per annum |
Average Salary package | Up to INR 4-13 Lakhs per annum | Up to INR 4-20 Lakhs per annum |
Some of the top universities according to the Outlook Magazine Ranking for pursuing PhD in Law is described in the table below:
Name of the College | Admission Procedure | Average Annual Fees |
---|---|---|
National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore | CLAT Entrance Exam | INR 2.25 Lakhs |
The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata | Entrance Test | INR 1.71 Lakhs |
Faculty of Law, BHU, Varanasi | CRET Entrance Exam | INR 1.8 Lakhs |
Faculty of Law (Jamia Millia Islamia), New Delhi | JMI Law Entrance Exam | INR 15,000 |
KIIT, School Of Law, Bhubaneswar | Merit Based | INR 1.5 Lakh |
Hidayatullah National Law University | PhD Entrance Test | INR 2.25 Lakhs |
CMR Law School | Merit Based | INR 1.3 Lakhs |
National Law University, Odisha | Merit Based | INR 1.32 Lakhs |
Parameter | National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore | Faculty of Law (Jamia Millia Islamia), New Delhi |
---|---|---|
Outlook Rank | 1 | 6 |
Overview | This is a state university established in 1987. It is recognised by the Bar Council of India. It accepts CLAT scores for admissions. | It is a public central university established in 1920. It is recognised by AICTE and UGC. It offers all UG, PG and Doctorate courses. |
Average Fees | INR 2.25 Lakhs | INR 15,000 |
Average Package Offered | Up to INR 15 Lakhs | Up to INR 8 Lakhs |
The core subjects that the PhD in Law syllabus covers are listed below:
Course 1 | Course 2 |
---|---|
Research Methodology | Constitutional Law |
Research Processes | Jurisprudence |
Methods of Investigation and tools for collection of data | - |
Course 3 involves the seminars and presentations in the area of specialization. This course is optional and provides you with a list of areas of specializations including Cyber law, Environment law, Human Rights, Public International law and alike. Course 4 includes the seminars and presentations in the area of research.
PhD in law is one of those doctorate courses that can be pursued from distance learning. There are no. of good and top ranked colleges that are offering PhD in law courses from correspondence or part time. The most interesting subject about this course is that, in India PhD in law offers a course in cyber law and corporate law. Listed below are few of the top colleges that offer Phd in law course from distance learning:
Name of the College | Average Annual Fees |
---|---|
Alliance University, Bangalore | INR 3.5 Lakhs |
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow | INR 1.61 Lakhs |
Sharda University, Greater Noida | INR 1.5 Lakhs |
The National University of Advanced Legal Studies | INR 80,750 |
Chanakya National Law University, Patna | INR 1.14 Lakh |
A PhD in law graduate who has successfully completed the course can get a job in almost all the sectors in India. They can also apply for government jobs. Few of the job prospects are discussed below with their job roles:
CareerProspects | Description | Average Salary Offered |
---|---|---|
Notary | Role of a Notary is to authenticate and attest the documents. They also help in preparation of other documents like bonds, legal papers and alike. | Up to INR 3 Lakhs per annum |
Judge | The responsibility of a judge is to give the verdict on both civil and criminal cases after hearing the parties. | Up to INR 8 Lakhs per annum |
Lawyer | Role of a Lawyer is to do legal research work, prepare legal documents, and advise their clients on the same. | Up to INR 6.9 Lakhs per annum |
Authors | They write about the legal thesis and law related subjects. | Up to INR 4 Lakh per year |
Ques: What is the duration of PhD in law course?
Ans: The course duration is 3 years. You can complete the course in a maximum time span of 5 years.
Ques: Can an aspirant pursue PhD from distance learning?
Ans: Though Phd can’t be done from distance learning but PhD in law is the exception course that can be pursued from correspondence.
Ques: What courses are similar to PhD in law?
Ans: Courses that are related to or are similar to PhD in law course are LLD (Doctor of Law) and M.Phil in law.
Ques: What are the career prospects after completion of PhD in law course?
Ans: An aspirant can be an author, lawyer, judge or apply for notary position too.
Ques. What is the purpose of a PhD in Law degree?
Ans. The significant purpose of PhD in Law is to administer a thorough and rich foundation in research, legal theory, jurisprudence, methodologies, policy, and dissertation preparation.
Ques. Which is higher in between JD and PhD?
Ans. Comparing the two, a PhD degree is a bit hard. In JD, candidates are able to finish the course with ease, as it takes only 3 years to complete. On the other hand, PhD is a minimum of 5 to 6 years of program, where in the second phase candidates have to work harder and do original research.
Ques. What is the highest degree in Law?
Ans. The highest degree in LAW one can attain is Doctorate of Judicial Science (SJD).
Ques. What is the difference between JD and PhD?
Ans. PhD is research doctorate and JD is professional doctorate. PhD consists of less work, whereas in JD you will find almost every exclusive course.
Ques. Can anyone pursue a PhD in Law, after doing LLB?
Ans. No. One who completed LLB will not be able to do a PhD in Law. Only if a candidate does LLM, he or she is eligible to pursue the course.
CD Rank | Colleges | Course Fees | Placement | User Reviews | Ranking |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 | National Law School of India University - [NLSIU], Bangalore Bangalore, Karnataka | ₹ 85,000M.Phil/Ph.D in Law- 1st Year FeesCompare Fees | ₹ 18,00,000Highest PackageCompare Placement | #1th/70 in India 2023 | |
#2 | National Law University - [NLU], New Delhi New Delhi, Delhi NCR | ₹ 73,000M.Phil/Ph.D in Law- 1st Year Fees | -- | -- | #2nd/30 in India 2023 |
#3 | NALSAR University of Law - [NALSAR], Hyderabad Hyderabad, Telangana | ₹ 7,20,000M.Phil/Ph.D in Law- 1st Year Fees | -- | 9 / 10 Based on 1 User Reviews | #2nd/41 in India 2023 |
#4 | IIT Kharagpur - Indian Institute of Technology - [IITKGP], Kharagpur Kharagpur, West Bengal | --M.Phil/Ph.D in Law | -- | 8.9 / 10 Based on 12 User Reviews | #9th/30 in India 2023 |
CD Rank | Colleges | Course Fees | Placement | User Reviews | Ranking |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#5 | The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences - [NUJS], Kolkata Kolkata, West Bengal | --M.Phil/Ph.D in Law | -- | -- | #2nd/70 in India 2023 |
#6 | National Law University - [NLU], Jodhpur Jodhpur, Rajasthan | ₹ 95,000M.Phil/Ph.D in Law- 1st Year Fees | -- | 7.8 / 10 Based on 1 User Reviews | #6th/41 in India 2023 |
#7 | Symbiosis Law School - [SLS], Pune Pune, Maharashtra | ₹ 70,000M.Phil/Ph.D in Law- 1st Year Fees | -- | -- | #5th/70 in India 2023 |
#8 | Faculty of Law Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi New Delhi, Delhi NCR | --M.Phil/Ph.D in Law | -- | -- | #16th/70 in India 2023 |
CD Rank | Colleges | Course Fees | Placement | User Reviews | Ranking |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#9 | Gujarat National Law University - [GNLU], Gandhinagar Gandhinagar, Gujarat | ₹ 1,18,500M.Phil/Ph.D in Law- 1st Year Fees | -- | 8.4 / 10 Based on 2 User Reviews | #4th/70 in India 2023 |
#10 | Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law - [RGNUL], Patiala Patiala, Punjab | ₹ 27,000M.Phil/Ph.D in Law- 1st Year Fees | -- | #7th/40 in India 2020 | |
#11 | National Law Institute University - [NLIU], Bhopal Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh | ₹ 32,000M.Phil/Ph.D in Law- 1st Year Fees | -- | -- | #3rd/70 in India 2023 |
#12 | Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology - [KIIT], Bhubaneswar Bhubaneswar, Odisha | ₹ 2,50,000M.Phil/Ph.D in Law- total fees | -- | 7.4 / 10 Based on 114 User Reviews | #12th/30 in India 2023 |
CD Rank | Colleges | Course Fees | Placement | User Reviews | Ranking |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#13 | Indian Law Institute - [ILI], New Delhi New Delhi, Delhi NCR | ₹ 37,000M.Phil/Ph.D in Law- 1st Year Fees | -- | #17th/30 in India 2023 | |
#14 | Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University - [RMLNLU], Lucknow Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh | ₹ 1,70,000M.Phil/Ph.D in Law- total fees | -- | #7th/70 in India 2023 | |
#15 | Andhra University, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar College of law, Visakhapatnam Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh | --M.Phil/Ph.D in Law | -- | 8 / 10 Based on 2 User Reviews | #24th/70 in India 2023 |
#16 | Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, New Delhi New Delhi, Delhi NCR | --M.Phil/Ph.D in Law | -- | 9.2 / 10 Based on 2 User Reviews | #6th/45 in India 2019 |
CD Rank | Colleges | Course Fees | Placement | User Reviews | Ranking |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#17 | Faculty of Law, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh | --M.Phil/Ph.D in Law | -- | -- | #10th/70 in India 2023 |
#18 | Bharati Vidyapeeth New Law College -[NLC], Pune Pune, Maharashtra | --M.Phil/Ph.D in Law | -- | 7.8 / 10 Based on 1 User Reviews | #12th/61 in India 2022 |
#19 | School of Law, Christ University - [SLCU], Bangalore Bangalore, Karnataka | ₹ 35,000M.Phil/Ph.D in Law- total fees | -- | 9.7 / 10 Based on 1 User Reviews | #17th/70 in India 2023 |
#20 | Hidayatullah National Law University - [HNLU], Raipur Raipur, Chhattisgarh | ₹ 24,000M.Phil/Ph.D in Law- 1st Year Fees | -- | -- | #6th/70 in India 2023 |
CD Rank | Colleges | Course Fees | Placement | User Reviews | Ranking |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#21 | National University of Advanced Legal Studies - [NUALS], Ernakulam Ernakulam, Kerala | --M.Phil/Ph.D in Law | -- | -- | #11th/70 in India 2023 |
#22 | Aligarh Muslim University - [AMU], Aligarh Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh | --M.Phil/Ph.D in Law | -- | 8 / 10 Based on 43 User Reviews | #13th/70 in India 2023 |
#23 | National Law University Odisha - [NLUO], Cuttack Cuttack, Odisha | ₹ 54,000M.Phil/Ph.D in Law- 1st Year Fees | -- | 5.5 / 10 Based on 2 User Reviews | #8th/70 in India 2023 |
#24 | University of Lucknow - [LU], Lucknow Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh | --M.Phil/Ph.D in Law | -- | 7.6 / 10 Based on 51 User Reviews | #15th/70 in India 2023 |
CD Rank | Colleges | Course Fees | Placement | User Reviews | Ranking |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#25 | ICFAI Law School, Hyderabad Hyderabad, Telangana | ₹ 1,00,000M.Phil/Ph.D in Law- 1st Year Fees | -- | #22th/70 in India 2023 | |
#26 | Institute of Law, Nirma University - [ILNU], Ahmedabad Ahmedabad, Gujarat | ₹ 90,200M.Phil/Ph.D in Law- 1st Year Fees | -- | #21th/70 in India 2023 | |
#27 | KIIT School of Law - [KSOL], Bhubaneswar Bhubaneswar, Odisha | ₹ 5,50,000M.Phil/Ph.D in Law- total fees | -- | -- | #22th/40 in India 2020 |
#28 | Nirma University - [NU], Ahmedabad Ahmedabad, Gujarat | ₹ 97,200M.Phil/Ph.D in Law- 1st Year Fees | -- | 8.2 / 10 Based on 23 User Reviews | #16th/45 in India 2019 |
CD Rank | Colleges | Course Fees | Placement | User Reviews | Ranking |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
#29 | Amity Law School - [ALS], Noida Noida, Uttar Pradesh | --M.Phil/Ph.D in Law | -- | 7.8 / 10 Based on 2 User Reviews | #25th/70 in India 2023 |
#30 | Mumbai University - [MU], Mumbai Mumbai, Maharashtra | --M.Phil/Ph.D in Law | -- | 8.9 / 10 Based on 17 User Reviews | -- |