Criminal Law

Criminal Law is one of the most popular specialisations of law. The study of Criminal Law includes the statutes, rules, and regulations which define conduct that is prohibited by the law due to the threat it poses as well as the harm it can cause to public safety and welfare. Apart from that, Criminal Law also lays down the punishment that can be imposed on any individual or group of people if they break any law.

In practical terms, Criminal Law deals with offences that are committed against the society or the state. One of the oldest branches of law, Criminal Law is the top choice of specialisation of many law aspirants. Candidates who pursue the specialisation of Criminal Law have to interrogate witnesses, interview clients, conduct trials, correlate proofs and findings, prepare a case for the defence of his/ her client and he/ she also has to examine as well as cross-examine witnesses in court.

Criminal Law is offered at the undergraduate and postgraduate level both. Candidates who wish to specialise in the field can seek admission at both the levels provided they meet the eligibility criteria for the same. Those who have to get enrolled in an undergraduate course of Criminal Law will be required to pursue integrated law programmes for specialising in the field of Criminal Law. However, if the candidate is taking admission at the postgraduate level, he/ she can specialise in Criminal Law straight away. Some popular courses offered in postgraduation in the field of Criminal Law include LLM (Master of Law) in Criminal Law, LLM in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice and Administrative Law, LLM in Criminal and Security Law, LLM in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, LLM in Criminal and Business Law, etc.

Due to the ever increasing demand for the course of Criminal Law, many universities and institutes have also started offering diploma and certificate programmes in the course. Candidates also have the option of pursuing a diploma or certificate course in Criminal Law. Certificate in Criminal Litigation and Trial Advocacy, Post Graduate Diploma in Criminal Justice, Post Graduate Diploma in Criminal Law, etc. are a few popular additional courses in the field of Criminal Law.

The eligibility criteria for admission to Criminal Law course are explained in detail below. Candidates who meet these criteria are eligible to apply for Criminal Law.

• In order to get admission to an undergraduate course of Criminal Law, the candidate must have completed class 12th from a school of a recognised state or central board of education with at least 50% to 60% marks in aggregate.
• For getting admission to the postgraduate course of Criminal law, the aspirant needs to have an undergraduate degree in law from any recognised university or institute. It is mandatory for the candidate to have scored at least 50-60 per cent marks in graduation.
• Some institutes have their own set of eligibility criteria that the candidate has to fulfil in order to be considered for admission to the Criminal Law programme. Students must check the individual conditions set by the college or university they target for admission.

Criminal Law Admission Process

• The admission of students to the course of Criminal Law is usually done on the basis of their performance in the entrance exams.
• Some law colleges accept common entrance exams for shortlisting students while some conduct their own, individual entrance tests.
• The selection of candidates is also based on merit in some institutes, The marks obtained by the applicant in the qualifying examinations are considered while shortlisting them.

Criminal Law Entrance Exams

Here are some of the common law entrance exams that are accepted for Criminal Law admissions in the colleges of India.

• Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)
• Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
• All India Law Entrance Test (AILET)
• All India Bar Exam (AIBE)
• Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET)
• Delhi University Law Entrance Exam
• Banaras Hindu University Undergraduate Entrance Test (BHU UET)

Criminal Law Undergraduate (BA LLB) Syllabus:

Criminal Law Postgraduate Syllabus:

Criminal Law Diploma Syllabus:

Criminal Law Certificate Syllabus:

Criminal Law falls in the category of the oldest and extremely popular specialisations in the field of law. Students who have a degree of law with a specialisation in Criminal Law can start working professionally or aim for higher studies as well. Some of the most sought after law job profiles that candidates are eligible to pursue after completing a Criminal Law course are given below.

• Legal Advisor
• Criminal Lawyer
• Government Advocate
• Government Pleader
• Standing Counsel
• Criminal Law Practitioner
• Additional Public Prosecutor
• Lecturer