LLM Criminal Law

A postgraduate law program called the Master of Law in Criminal Law or LLM Criminal Law is geared toward students who desire to work as defense attorneys, litigation officers, or detectives. Aspirants are able to comprehend the various facets of court procedures and legal principles thanks to the training. Graduates of this curriculum are also given responsibility for formulating public policy, implementing measures to reduce crime, and protecting the rights of crime victims. 

Candidates can pursue LLM course after completion of their 3 year or 5 year LLB program. A lot of reputed law institutes provide admission to their two-year/three-year LLM program based on national-level, university-level or state-level law entrance examinations like CLAT, AILET, TS LAWCET, etc. Few law institutes provide admission on merit-basis as well. 

LLM course is offered through offline and distance learning mode. The normal duration of an LLM course is two years in India but it can be of three years duration if done through distance education. The average course fee for an LLM postgraduate course is around INR 2 - 3 lakhs. A few of the top colleges providing LLM courses are NLU Kolkata, Siksha O Anusandhan University, Symbiosis Law School, etc.
 

The highlights section will provide you with an overview of the LLM Criminal Law important components like LLM Criminal Law course duration, LLM Criminal Law course fee, LLM Criminal Law top colleges, LLM Criminal Law salary, etc.

A widely popular area of law is criminal law. Criminal law encompasses the laws, legislation, and norms that specify behavior that is against the law when it endangers the welfare and safety of the public. Criminal law also specifies a penalty that may be applied to someone or a group of persons who break any laws.

Thus, crimes against society or the state are the focus of criminal law. The practice of criminal law is one of the oldest legal disciplines. Those who pursue this legal specialty interview clients, question witnesses, conduct trials, correlate evidence and results, prepare a case on behalf of their client, and examine and cross-examine witnesses in court.

Candidates have the option of pursuing both undergraduate and graduate programmes in the area of criminal law. In order to specialize in Criminal Legal in UG level courses, candidates must complete integrated law programmes; however, in PG level law schools, candidates can specialize in Criminal Law right away. LLM in Criminal Law, LLM in Criminal and Security Law, LLM in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice and Administrative Law, LLM in Criminal and Business Law, LLM in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, etc. are some of the well-known PG level courses provided in the topic of criminal law.

Candidates may also enroll in diploma and certificate programmes in the area of criminal law in addition to these degree programmes. The Post Graduate Diploma in Criminal Law, the Post Graduate Diploma in Criminal Justice, and similar programmes are a few of these well-liked courses.
 

Since the line of employment needs them to respond to hypothetical legal concerns regarding criminal acts, qualified applicants who choose to follow the course would preferably have an inventive mind. Such candidates would be eager to make a contribution to the legal, judicial, and allied spheres. The Master's degree programme is appropriate for studying the central concerns and guiding principles of criminal law. The most significant criminal offenses under Indian law will be covered, and you'll practice answering hypothetical legal questions on criminal offenses. Good communication abilities, an analytical mindset, a spirit of cooperation, and similar traits are required.

Candidates with this specialization are in high demand given the state of the present criminal justice system and the need for improvements. In the past, many renowned attorneys had a solid reputation and commanded substantial fees for taking on criminal cases. The number of criminal offenses has significantly increased throughout the years. As a result, a criminal law course would be quite useful for attorneys. Lawyers can enrol in specialised courses in criminology and forensic science, cybercrime, domestic violence, human rights, and sexual abuse after completing their LLB and LLM degrees.

They can work as assistants in private law offices to gain experience and learn how to argue cases before starting their own firms and representing themselves. Additionally, they can provide legal counsel for businesses that hire them. They can advocate for a particular case on behalf of the general public as a public prosecutor or on behalf of the suspect as a private attorney.

A few more benefits of studying LLM in Criminal Law are mentioned below:

• Those who want to deepen their awareness of the criminal justice system and particular criminal law concerns can benefit from taking up LLM Criminal Law course.
• An LLM degree in criminal law is a prerequisite for higher-level coursework in this area, such as a Ph.D or M.Phil
• You can use the course to pursue a career in criminal law, public service, or any other field where success depends on your capacity to comprehend, evaluate, and react to changes in criminal law.
• LLM Criminal Law graduates can also apply for positions as instructors in law schools.
   

The application process might slightly differ from college to college but the general application process remains uniform throughout the law institutes providing admission to their LLM Criminal Law course. The general application process mostly takes place in an online mode along with the requisite registration fee payment and is mentioned below:

• Visit the official website of the institution where you plan to enroll in an LLM programme in criminal law.
• Simply click the sign-up link to begin the registration process.
• Fill up details like your full name, email address, mobile number, etc. to complete the registration process.
• Complete the application form after carefully reading the instructions.
• Fill out the registration form by providing your contact information and personal information.
• Fill out the application by indicating your educational background, preferred course, available slot, and other pertinent information.
• Utilize the online payment methods to submit the application fee.
• You can pay the LLM Criminal Law application cost with a credit card, debit card or net banking method of payment. 
• Review your application form before the final submission online and click submit.
• A confirmation email will be sent to the registered email address of candidates.
• Candidates can download the payment receipt for future reference.
   

The LLM Criminal law application fee depends upon the law college/university to which the candidate has applied for. The application fee varies with different law colleges/universities, it tends to be on a higher side for private law schools and on a lower side for government law colleges/universities. In order to discern the accurate application fee for the LLM Criminal law, candidates must check the official website of a particular law college/university to which they are applying.

For general candidates, the LLM criminal law admission application form price ranges from INR 750 to INR 2,000. Applications for reserved classes will cost less, beginning at INR 350.
 

Candidates seeking admission to the course must have earned either a 3-year LLB (Bachelor of Law) degree or a 5-year BA LLB degree from an accredited university with a minimum aggregate score of 50% to 55% in order to be eligible.It is also advisable for candidates to have job experience of at least 24 months because many institutions favor students with professional experience.

Candidates who want to pursue a Master of Legislative Laws degree must take an entrance exam to be considered for LLM admission to the best legal schools in India. The admission exams are typically multiple-choice questions (MCQ), however there may be one or a few questions that are subjective. These tests typically include legal and law-based questions to assess the candidates' topic knowledge apart from logical and analytical reasoning, General Knowledge and Current Affairs, etc.

The candidate's performance on a pertinent national, state, or university-level entrance exam determines whether they will be admitted to the LLM Criminal Law programme. This is followed by rounds of group discussions and personal interviews, during which the candidate's aptitude for the programme is determined.

Here is a list of some of the important entrance exams held in India for admission to LLM programmes in criminal law:

• AILET PG (All India Law Entrance Test for LLM Course)
• ILI CAT (Indian Law Institute Common Admission Test)
• IPU CET (IP University LLM Entrance Exam)
• CLAT PG (Common Law Admission Test for LLM course)
• DU LLM (Delhi University Law Entrance Exam)
• SAAT (Siksha 'O' Anusandhan Admission Test)
• TISSNET (Tata Institute of Social Sciences National Entrance Test)

Students who want to enroll in LLM courses must pass the admission exam for the programme. The results of the entrance exam and interview conducted by the individual universities/colleges are used to determine admission to LLM Criminal Law programmes. One can choose from a number of popular entrance tests, including CLAT PG, AILET PG, DU LLM, ILI CAT, TS PGLCET, AP PGLCET, IPU CET, BHU PET, etc.

The following details of the entrance tests that must be taken by students who want to enroll in the criminal law course are mentioned below:

National-Level Entrance Exams

The top national level entrance tests for enrolling students in LLM Criminal Law admissions are highlighted below:

CLAT: For entry into 22 NLU in India, CLAT exam is administered. Many self-funded law colleges and universities also use CLAT exam scores as their standard. CLAT exam takes place for both the UG and PG courses. Some of the top colleges accepting CLAT PG scores are: National Law School of India University, Bangalore, National Law Institute University, Bhopal, Amity University, Kolkata, Chanakya National Law University, Patna, etc.

The following qualifications must be met in order to take the CLAT PG exam:

Candidates must hold a 3-year LLB degree from an accredited university, a 3-year integrated LLB degree, or an equivalent LLB degree.

For General, OBC, and SAP candidates, a minimum overall percentage of 55% is required, and for SC/ST candidates, a minimum overall percentage of 50% in graduation.

TISSNET: For the purpose of granting admission to postgraduate and undergraduate programmes for topics like arts, development studies, economics, and social sciences, among others, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences National Entrance Test (TISSNET) is held. The TATA Institute of Social Sciences accepts TISSNET results. Candidates must have completed their LLB degree from an institution connected with TISSNET that has been approved by the UGC of India in order to be eligible. Candidates may also apply for TISSNET if they are in their final year of undergraduate study.

LSAT India: This exam is held to grant admission to UG and PG programmes in India. Based on their grades, the students are shortlisted prior to the exam, and only those students are permitted to take the test. This test takes two and a half hours to complete and is given offline. 23 questions on analytical reasoning, logical reasoning, and reading comprehension are included in the test.

The Law School Admission Test is known as LSAT. The Pearson VUE India administers the LSAT entrance exam on behalf of the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).

LLM schools that accept LSAT scores are mentioned below:

• OP Jindal Global University
• VIT School of Law
• Adamas University

Candidates must meet the eligibility requirements, which include earning a law degree at the graduate level.

DU LLM Entrance Exam: The National Testing Agency (NTA) administers the DU LLM Entrance Exam on behalf of Delhi University for admission into a variety of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes in the humanities, business, law, engineering, science, and education, among other fields. The Delhi University accepts the results of the DU LLM Entrance Exam. Students must pass either the three-year or five-year LLB programme with a passing grade of 50% for general students, 45% for OBC students, and 40% for SC/ST students.

State-Level Entrance Exams

The following list includes some of the most competitive state-level entry tests for the LLM Criminal Law programme:

AP LAWCET: The curriculum is intended for applicants seeking confirmation in the 3-year LLB and 5-year coordinated LLB undergraduate programmes provided by various government and private law schools in Andhra Pradesh. Students must have a finished B.L. or LLB graduate degree from a recognised university with a minimum of 50% marks (45% for SC/ST candidates) in order to be eligible to take the AP LAWCET.

AP PGLCET: The AP PGLCET 2020 is a computer-based, online exam that is given in a number of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana testing venues. The AP PGLCET question format for 2020 will be MCQ-based. Candidates must have earned an LLB/BL 3/5-Year degree from an accredited university or college to be eligible to apply for the AP PGLCET. Students who are taking the qualifying exam in their final year may also apply for the AP PGLCET.
For the general category, registration for the AP PGLCET exam requires an overall score of at least 50%.
A minimum of 45% overall is necessary for the SC/ST category.

TS PGLCET: The test is 90 minutes long and consists of a total of 120 questions that are broken up into 3 sections. A total of 120 points may be granted for the TS LAWCET 2022. Candidates who hold an LLB or BA LLB degree (earned over three or five years) are eligible to apply for the TS PGLCET 2022. Candidates who have taken or are taking the final year exams for the LLB or BA LLB programme in the same year are also qualified to apply for the TS PGLCET.

University-Level Entrance Exams

IPU CET: For admission to several UG and PG programmes in engineering, medicine, dentistry, law, and management, the IPU CET is an online entrance exam. Candidates must meet the eligibility requirements, which call for them to have a finished B.L. or LLB graduate degree with a minimum of 50% marks (45% for SC/ST candidates).

KIITEE Law: It is an online exam at the collegiate and graduate levels. It takes place in July. For UG admission, students must have graduated, while for PG admission, they must have passed their 10+2 exam or any other equivalent test from a board recognised by the college in order to sit for this exam. It is a three-hour test.

AILET: The National Law University of Delhi administers the All India Law Entrance Test each year, which is a university-level entrance test. Through AILET, it is used to choose applicants for programmes including B.A., LLB, LLM, and doctorate. Candidates must meet the eligibility requirements, which call for them to have a finished Bachelor of Law ( 3-year) or LLB graduate degree (5-year LLB) with a minimum of 50% marks (45% for SC/ST candidates).
 

The entrance exam dates for various national-level, state-level, and university-level law entrance exams to provide admission to candidates interested in LLM Criminal Law course are mentioned below:

Candidates who are interested in a career in criminal law must be audacious, self-assured, and exceptionally proficient. The following list includes some essential abilities that a candidate has to have in order to succeed in the field of criminal law:

Most law universities and law colleges have a two-year LLM program, on the other hand, multiple colleges and institutes have a two to three-year LLM program as well. The postgraduate LLM program is generally divided into six semesters or four semesters depending on the length of the LLM program offered by the university/college.

Below is a year-wise general syllabus for a two-year postgraduate LLM program:

Year-I

Year-II

The major subjects in LLM Criminal Law are listed below:

• Criminal Psychology
• Forensic Science
• Criminal Procedures
• Criminal Justice
• Penology & Victimology
• Law Ethics
• Legal Research
• IPC
• CrPC
• Narcotics
• Juvenile Justice

These are a few of the key subjects that are covered in LLM Criminal Law postgraduate degree program.

A few of the LLM Criminal Law elective subjects are mentioned below:

• Crime and Administration of Criminal Justice
• Penology and Treatment of Offenders
• Privileged Class Deviance
• Law and Organized Crime
   

There are different LLM Criminal Law specializations offered by various law institutes in India but the three major LLM Criminal Law specializations offered are mentioned below:

LLM in Criminal and Security Law: The LLM in Criminal and Security Law aims to give students the crucial understanding of the governing frameworks and principles that constitute the legal system. It is now crucial for students to understand the rules pertaining to these crimes because the expanding application of technology has increased the frequency at which cybercrimes and other criminal acts have been performed. The curriculum has been created in such a way that it offers students the much-needed solutions to today's security and criminal justice-related problems as well as the finest feasible legal remedies. Due to the program's emphasis on research, students can immerse themselves in the knowledge universe through countless case studies, real-world legal scenarios, and moot court competitions. The Faculty of Law also goes on to give students the necessary exposure to eminent legal luminaries and specialists who go on to nurture and guide the students in the many subfields of criminal and security law. Additionally, the students study the numerous facets of subjects including criminal law, criminal process, and evidence.

LLM in Criminal Law: Graduates of the LL.M. in Criminal Law deal with matters of public concern. A one to two-year post-graduate degree known as an LLM in Criminal Law studies intentional acts of violence against people that are, in a larger sense, crimes against humanity. In order to lower crime in society and maintain a peaceful environment, the course seeks to train competent candidates on how to find and catch criminals.

LLM in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice: A one-year LLM programme in criminal law and criminal justice often covers topics including crime and justice, international crime, forensics, causality, concurrence, "actus reus," "men's rea," and the various types of offenses. You'll learn about a fascinating selection of subjects in this course. In order to better comprehend and address crime, you will engage in advanced criminal law theory as well as criminological theory. Students who successfully finish the LLM Specialization in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice will have an unrivaled chance to be exposed to and focused study the law and skills essential to train as an advocate for a criminal prosecution or defense setting.

A few other LLM Criminal Law specializations are listed below:

• Cyber Crime
• Domestic Violence
• Human Rights
• Criminology and Forensic Science
• Sexual Abuse
• Crime against Women
• Criminal Trial & Criminal Appeal
• Murder, robbery, theft and kidnapping
• Criminal Revision and Criminal Quashing, Bail (Regular and Anticipatory)
• Anti-Hijacking Matters & Anti-Terrorist Matters
   

Some of the leading institutes in the nation that offer the course are listed below along with their respective locations and course fees:

Opportunities in the field of criminal law are numerous due to the rise in criminal cases. A criminal attorney's primary responsibility is to represent or defend clients who are charged with crimes. Public defenders are criminal defense attorneys employed by the government. As private criminal attorneys, they are also employable. In public practice, the attorney may work for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) or the Public Defender Service (PDS).

Criminal attorneys typically begin their careers by working as experienced and well-known criminal attorney's assistants. You can begin working independently once you've gained experience. A criminal attorney serves as the client's advisor and advocate. It takes a lot of patience to work on a case for long hours, which is part of the job description for criminal attorneys in India.

The major responsibilities of a criminal lawyer include client interaction, gathering facts & evidence through witness interviews, and communicating with the client. Additionally, they engage in police interaction and thorough case studies. Depending on the specifics of the job at hand. It can take hours to prepare the proof. Even a bail application for an offense that is not bailable may need hours of planning and study. Since, every situation is different so there’s no set amount of time to gather evidence, prepare documents, etc. 

Candidates who are sharp-witted, confident, and with a passion for criminal law will achieve huge success in their careers. In India, there’s a dearth of criminal lawyers and there are so many appeals and pending cases related to criminal law and criminal justice in India. So, there’s a booming demand for law professionals who are specialized in criminal law in order to effectively solve criminal cases while providing relief and justice to the innocents. Not only that criminal law is a highly rewarding career emotionally as well as financially.

Graduates of criminal law can also work for a law firm or open their own practice after passing the bar exam. They may also be employed by the high court, the trial court, or the session court.
 

Successful LLM Criminal Law graduates who are interested in furthering their education may pursue a PhD or M.Phil in the field. Such postgraduates can find profitable work prospects in sectors including defense, law companies, and national legal institutions.

Some of the popular job profiles available to LLM Criminal Law graduates are mentioned below:

Criminal Lawyer: Criminal lawyers present evidence in favor of or defend those who have been accused of committing crimes. They handle cases involving offenses involving drugs, violence, theft, and fraud.

Criminologists: In order to understand what drives criminals, criminologists examine the strategies and patterns of criminal conduct. Criminologists must be skilled psychologists because if they understand the motivations behind a criminal's behavior, they can forecast or stop other crimes of the same type.

Public Prosecutor: According to the 1973 Code of Criminal Procedure, the State may designate a Public Prosecutor, an important member of the State Government. She or he is not a member of the investigative team. She or he is a statutory autonomous authority.

Lecturer/ Professor: To supervise or help with supervising undergraduate, taught graduate (Masters), or research graduate (MPhil/PhD) students. To teach at the undergraduate and graduate level in areas designated and periodically reviewed by the Head of Department.

District and Sessions Judge: After years of employment and legal education, veteran advocates are appointed as district and session judges. They are the main component of the court's jurisdiction since they hear the courtroom debate and determine the verdict for the accused.

The student's work experience and knowledge have a significant impact on their compensation after completing their LLM Criminal Law degree. Many law firms select freshers as well based on their familiarity with the field of specialization and further train them and hone their skills to make them perfect in their jobs.

A few of the popular LLM Criminal Law jobs in India along with their average annual salaries are mentioned below: