#1 LLM Full Form, Fees, Course Details And Salary

The full form of LLM is Master of Legislative Law or Master of law as we call it. It’s a postgraduate qualification in law that prepares for specialist roles in the legal domain.

The legal profession, which has been around for centuries, remains relevant today because experts are needed to protect people’s rights in the face of rapid development.

With corporates & many MNCs operating in the country, legal experts guide clients on matters related to their business.

In India, where people of different religions and sects live, specialist lawyers protect citizens’ interests within the legal system.

LLM course offers several specializations, such as International Law, Criminal Law, Corporate Law, Taxation Law, etc.

The legal field is growing with an increase in cybercrime, economic offences and impersonation crimes, making specialists essential.

With technology pervading rapidly through the use of smart phones, legal experts who can tackle such crimes are pertinent.

Thanks to its lower tariffs and affluent middle class, India boasts the highest internet penetration in the world. This leaves people vulnerable to cybercrimes & financial frauds that law specialists can handle with a knack of the area.  

India desperately needs specialists who can reduce the pending cases because India has one of the highest case pendency in the world. We need more judges & magistrates who can provide speedy justice to the litigants who are visiting courts for years.

In order to streamline the Indian Judicial System, we need legal specialists who can dispose of the cases within time. The long and tardy legal process frustrates the litigant because they exhaust their time & money for getting justice.

What is an LLB Degree?

LLB stands for Bachelor of Laws. It is an undergraduate law degree and the basic qualification required to practice law. In an LLB program, students study core legal subjects like contracts, torts, criminal law, family law and more over 3-5 years. The goal is to equip graduates with fundamental legal knowledge and skills.

What is an LLM Degree?

LLM stands for Master of Laws. It is a postgraduate law degree, studied after an LLB. An LLM allows one to specialize and gain advanced expertise in a particular legal field. LLM programs are typically 1-2 years long and involve classroom learning as well as research work. The LLM deepens legal understanding beyond the basic LLB level.

LLM full form & Eligibility

LLB/B.L. Degree/5 yrs. LLB Degree course under 10+2+5 from any recognized university with at least 50% marks in aggregate. 5% relaxation to SC/ST candidates.

Master of Law is the full form of LLM which underlines that the applicant should be a graduate in law in order to pursue LLM. One who has studied law during graduation can further explore the legal subjects in LLM.

LLM Degree duration

The LLM course duration is 2 years and comprises 4 semesters. Though some institutions still offer the 1 year LLM course. 

Popular LLM Specializations

As the LLM full form stipulates it to be a Master’s qualification in law, those who wish to specialize in a particular branch of law should go for this master’s degree.

The various specializations available in LLM are:

• Labour Law
• Business Law
• Criminal Law
• Real Estate Law
• Constitutional Law

The first year of LLM is more or less common across all universities because the specialization subjects start from 2nd year onwards.

LLM Labour Law specialization

The LLM Labour Law specialization comprises the following subjects:

• International Law: Focus on public international law, foreign policy, and trade agreements.
• Intellectual Property Law: Cover patents, trademarks, copyrights and technology law.
• Corporate Law: Explore legal issues faced by businesses regarding contracts, litigation and transactions.
• Criminal Law: Study advanced topics in criminal procedure, juvenile justice and evidence.

LLM in Business Law

The LLM in Business Law comprises the following fields of study:

• Business Law
• Insurance Law
• Legal Regulation of Economic Enterprises, Law Relating to Regulatory Authorities      
• Law of Industrial and Intellectual Property

LLM in Criminal Law

The LLM in Criminal Law covers the following areas of study:

· Criminal Psychology, Forensic Science, Criminal Procedures, Criminal Justice, Penology & Victimology, Law and Ethics, Legal Research, IPC, CrPC, Narcotics, & Juvenile Justice. 

LLM in Real Estate

The LLM in Real Estate covers the following areas of study:

Laws related to property, Land Use, zoning, transactions, litigation, financing, environment & taxation of real estate.

LLM in Constitutional Law

The LLM in Constitutional Law covers the following areas of study:

List of law topics: Administrative Law, Administrative Process and Judicial Control, Constitutionalism: Pluralism & Federalism, Human Rights, Indian Constitutional Law – The New Challenges, Judicial Process, Law and Social Transformation in India.

It also includes Mass Media Law, National Security, Public Order, and Rule of Law & Research Method.

Admission Requirements for an LLM

To be eligible for an LLM program, applicants usually need:

• A recognized LLB/Bachelor’s degree equivalent to a law degree
• Work experience of 1-2 years for some international LLM programs
• Strong academic performance in LLB (high grades)
• Letter of purpose
• Reference letters
• GRE or LSAT scores for some US LLM programs
• Proof of English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL) for others
• Portfolio/essay on the area of law and motivations

LLM vs. LLB – Key Differences

While both LLB and LLM are law degrees, they differ significantly:

• LLB provides basic legal education whereas LLM involves specialized, higher-level study in a focused field.
• LLB is an undergraduate program, LLM is postgraduate study done after LLB.
• LLB equips one to practice law, LLM allows a career in specialized legal jobs requiring expertise in a domain.
• LLM programs are much shorter but more intense than LLB, with a focus on research too.

LLM Course fees

While choosing colleges LLM course fees is an important criterion because students want to check their ROI.

LLM being a specialized course, the average fees is around INR 2 lakh per annum. Moreover, students should ensure that the Bar Council of India (BCI) has recognized the course.

The fees charged by some of the leading colleges offering an LLM course are :

Career Prospects with an LLM
An LLM opens up several exciting career paths:

LLM salary in India per month

LLM salary in India ranges from INR 8–15 LPA, which increases further as one gains experience and knowledge. Further, post graduates in law have in-depth knowledge of their domain and companies hire them at hefty packages.

Some of the LLM jobs for freshers include:

• Firstly, International Lawyer
• Then, Family Lawyer
• Trade Commission Lawyer
• Further, Corporate Lawyer
• Besides, Pro-Bono Lawyer
• Jobs for LLM graduates with experience:
• Firstly, Bar Council Executive
• Then, Senior Advocate
• Moreover, Chief Justice
• Finally, Trade Commission Head

The salary drawn by LLM degree holders occupying various roles is:

FAQ About LLM Full Form