3-year LLB or 5-year Integrated LLB: Which is a Better Course?

Law courses are in great demand among students as it is one of the most sought-after courses that offer great career opportunities. Law aspirant often gets perplexed when they have to decide on the correct degree and professional path. There are two types of undergraduate law courses, 5-year Integrated LL.B and 3-year LL.B. Students can study the 3-year law degree only after they have completed their bachelor’s while students can study 5-year LLB right after they complete their Class 12. It becomes quite a tough decision for the students to choose between a 3-year LL.B or a 5-year Integrated LL.B. 

A lawyer plays an important role in society as they possess the knowledge and exposure to understand the legal system and related processes. The 3-year LLB completely focuses on law-specific subjects whereas, an integrated LLB has to accommodate two subjects, LLB and an undergraduate course like BA, BBA, B.Sc etc. Candidates who are interested in studying law right after their 12th can choose any of the specializations offered by different law schools such as BA LL.B course, B.Com LL.B course, B.Sc LL.B course, BBA LL.B course, etc. Students who are in their undergraduate degree can also study law after getting admitted to the 3-year LL.B course only after completing their bachelor’s degree. 

Law is one of the most common professions in India and with the demand for LL.B courses, this article will guide the upcoming law aspirants. This write-up provides relevant information for 3-year LL.B or 5-year Integrated LL.B programmes. We have provided here an ambiguous judgement for aspirants to choose their preferred law courses after reading through all the objectives, criteria, pros and cons.

3-year LLB vs 5-year Integrated LLB

Many times, students are forced to make the confusing decision of whether to pursue a three-year LLB degree or a five-year integrated law study. BA LLB (Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law), B.Com LLB (Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Law), B.Sc LLB course (Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Law), BBA LLB (Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Law) and B.Tech LLB course make up the five-year LLB degree (Bachelor of Technology and Bachelor of Law). To grasp the fundamental differences between a 3 year undergraduate law degree and 5 year undergraduate law degree programme, candidates can look at the table below.

Also Read:Top 10 Private Law Colleges in India: Entrance Exams and Fees

3-year LLB or 5-year Integrated LLB Syllabus

People who are confused between 3-year LLB or 5-year Integrated LLB should check out the syllabus below:

Pros and Cons of 5-year LLB 

The benefits and drawbacks of earning a five-year integrated LLB degree are as follows:

• The three-year LLB course can be studied after earning any graduate degree, and the student must do so to be qualified for a 3-year LLB programme. The Bar Council of India (BCI) had previously set an age restriction of 30 years; however, in response to criticism from the Supreme Court, BCI agreed to raise the age restriction for the 3-year LLB programme from 30 years to 45 years. Later, BCI eliminated the 45-year age restriction as well. Some persons choose to pursue engineering, B.Com, BA, or any other course for that matter, but subsequently decide they want to follow the law as a career option; such applicants can enrol in this course.
• The students must do double graduation if they choose to opt for a three-year LLB programme: one in law and one in their particular field, such as B.Com, BA, B.Sc, or B.Tech, etc. Usually, when a candidate decides to change their to law, they go with a three-year LLB degree course. 
• After completing their 10+2, students are introduced to legal education from an early age to help them focus their cognitive processes in that way.
• In five-year courses, students have a wider option of stream selections than they do in three-year programmes. BA LLB, BBA LLB, BCom LLB, BSc LLB, BA LLB (Hons), BCom LLB, BSc LLB (Hons), etc. are a few examples.
• Due to institutions' inclusion of Moot Courts, research submissions, and Mock Trial Courts in their curricula, students have early access to courtroom experience.
• Every semester, students take part in internships with prestigious law firms, businesses, non-profit organizations, and the like to expand their understanding of the practical applications of the law. Before deciding to seek admission, students must select a university of their choosing that offers these courses and must research placement, possibilities, rankings, etc.
• An earlier disadvantage of this course was the set age restriction, which made it challenging for anyone above the age of 22 to enroll. The age restriction for five-year law programmes, however, has been lifted by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
• Upon graduating, students earn a dual degree instead of a single degree which further expands their job opportunities and future career prospects.
• As part of this course, students study a healthy mix of subjects including economics, legal history, politics, sociology, psychology, etc., which broadens their knowledge of pertinent topics and encourages logical and critical thinking.
• The five-year LLB degree encompasses a vast syllabus due to the inclusion of two different streams (Art + Law/ Science + Law/ Commerce + Law, etc.). Students might feel burdened at times and may lose their motivation.
• The duration of the integrated LLB degree is long i.e. for a period of five years, hence, students must ensure that they have time, energy, and dedication to commit to the integrated LLB programme before opting for the course.
• The five-year integrated LLB programme is also expensive as compared to the three-year LLB programme. Law aspirants must make sure that they have sufficient funds to study the five-year LLB degree programme. The course fee for the integrated LLB course can range anywhere from INR 1 lakh to INR 8 lakh depending on the law institute of your choice.

Pros and Cons of 3-year LLB

To elucidate on the second choice open to students, the benefits and drawbacks of completing a three-year LLB degree are as follows:

• To join a 3-year LL.B course, candidates have to complete their graduation degree. The BCI (Bar Council of India) had previously set an age restriction of 30 years, however, in response to criticism from the Supreme Court, BCI agreed to raise the age restriction for the 3-year LLB programme from 30 years to 45 years. Later on, they eliminated this age restriction. Some individuals choose to study B.Com, B.Tech, BA, etc. after their 10+2 but eventually decide that they want to study law and this course is perfect for them. 
• Studying a 3-year LLB means an individual is studying double graduation. One, they choose to do their graduation and the other is this law course. Usually, when a candidate decides to change their subject to law, they study this LLB course. 
• The three-year LLB programme is lengthier than the five-year integrated LLB. For instance, 4 years of engineering plus 3 years of law school equals 7 years, or 3 years of BCom, B.Sc, or BA plus 3 years of law school equals 6 years. One to two years are wasted if candidates decide to pursue a three-year LLB programme.
• One advantage is that the BCI has removed the upper age limit which means anyone can pursue law, including professionals with years of experience, students, graduates, and everyone else who wants to change their career path.
• One of the key requirements for the three-year LLB degree is that students must have completed their graduation from a recognized university or college in India. This emphasizes the fact that a three-year LLB degree is not a postgraduate qualification, it’s a graduate degree.
• Even though most students are aware of the five-year programme, many still choose a three-year programme to get a deeper understanding of their respective interest areas.
• The formal 3-year LLB syllabus set forth by a law institute is not vast as compared to the syllabus of the integrated five-year LLB degree programme.
• Because five-year integrated LLB students spend more time and have more experience in the field, it is seen as a disadvantage that students have less exposure to legal education in a three-year LLB degree.
• Due to the inclusion of Moot Courts, research submissions, and Mock Trial Courts in college curricula, students have access to courtroom experience as well in a three-year LLB course, however, there are only a limited number of law colleges that provide moot court sessions, internships, etc. for their three-year LLB degree programme, therefore, students must carefully consider their choices of the law institutes before the application.
• The good thing about this course is that because the students are already graduates, the various law institutes jump right into the challenging legal topics without wasting any time.
• Within months of enrolling in the course, students master the IPC, Crpc, CPC, Labor Law, Company Law, and other topics that the five-year students typically study in their third or fifth year of law school.
• The three-year LLB degree is also not very expensive as compared to the integrated five-year LLB course. The average course fee for the three-year LLB degree program ranges from INR 1 lakh to INR 4 lakh depending on the law institute of your choice.
• Under the three-year LLB degree programme, students take part in internships with prestigious law firms, businesses, non-profit organizations, and the like to expand their understanding of the practical applications of the law.
• The three-year LLB programme spans six semesters and the students feel less burdened due to lesser number of subjects, and the only focus is on core law subjects.

3-year LLB or 5-year Integrated LLB: Salary

Students who are deciding whether to choose 3-year LLB or 5-year Integrated LLB must have an idea of the salary structure that graduates can get after completing their degree. Both these law courses are very popular among students and the demand in the market is also high. 

3-year LLB Salary

5-year Integrated LLB Salary

3-Year LLB or 5-Year Integrated LLB: Which is Better

Deciding on your career path in this field must depend on your priorities. If you are certain that you want to make a career in law, then the 5-year LLB programme is the best option for you. This course will not only save one year of education as compared to 3-year LLB programmes but will also offer the same educational merit.

However, if you want to gain experience in a different field of education or if you are not sure about pursuing law, you can pursue a 3-year graduation course such as BA, BBA, B.Sc., B.Com, etc. and then apply for the 3-year LLB programme. Either way, you should weigh your options carefully as time is vital and it is important to invest your resources wisely in the field of education.

Top Colleges for 3-year and 5-year LLB

The 3-year and 5-year Integrated LLB courses come with a variety of perks of their own but it also depends on the type of law college where the programme is being pursued and how much effort has been given. These law courses offer larger employment opportunities and wonderful perks.

Best Colleges for 3-year LLB

Here is a list of the best colleges in India that offer LLB to all law aspirants. Candidates can shortlist any of these colleges for pursuing their undergraduate law degree.

Best Colleges for 5-year LLB

Candidates who are hunting for the best colleges for 5-year law courses can check the list below. Here are some of the leading law colleges in India that offer 5-year integrated law degrees.

Also Read:Know about the Scope and Course Options After Class 12th Arts

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