5-Year Integrated Law Degree: Definition, Eligibility, Admission Process, and Entrance Exams
The 5 year LLB course has become the most reputed degree for ambitious students across India. Instead of the traditional 3+3-year model (a regular graduation followed by a 3-year LLB), this integrated pathway enables students to begin their legal education immediately after Class 12. Law is now the most promising and prestigious career in India.
5 year LLB course is offered in various formats like BA LLB, BBA LLB, and B. Com LLB. This blog will help you learn the eligibility criteria for 5-year LLB program.
What is the 5 Year LLB Course?
A five year LLB course is an integrated law degree offered with a bachelor degree in any stream including, Arts, Commerce, Science and even Engineering. The 5-year integrated LLB combines a bachelor’s degree with legal studies, allowing students to earn dual academic qualifications. Popular combinations include:
– BA LLB (Humanities + Law)
– BBA LLB (Business Administration + Law)
– B. Com LLB (Commerce + Law)
– B. Sc LLB (Science + Law)
This structure eliminates the need to pursue a separate graduation and LLB. It saves you one year and starts law education from Day 1.
Types of 5 Year LLB Courses
Let’s understand in detail the various 5 year integrated law courses after 12th. One can pursue these course from law schools in India:
- Bachelor of Arts LLB (BA LLB): This course includes subjects such as History, Political Science, Geography, Sociology, Economics and, law subjects, such as CPC, corporate law, trade law, constitutional law, labour laws, criminal law, etc.
- BSc LLB: Includes subjects, such as Physics, Chemistry, Biotechnology, as well as law subjects.
- BCom LLB: Includes commerce subjects of Auditing, Economics, Accounting, and the common law subjects.
- BTech LLB: Study engineering subjects such as Electronic Engineering, Electronic Devices and Circuits, Software Engineering, AI, Network Security, etc. The section for law subjects may include Cryptography, Digital Crime, Computer Law, Information Security Intelligence, etc.
- BBA LLB: Management principles of commerce, business studies, business communication, organisational behaviour, quantitative techniques etc. along with the business law subjects.
- BLS LLB: This is Bachelor of Legal Sciences. It’s all about the legal domain in-depth with the law subjects environmental law, constitutional law, family law, IPC, CrPC, IPR, torts, Criminal law, Jurisprudence as well as Legal Language Including Legal Writing & General English (drafting petitions, frameworks, legislations and more).
- BSW LLB: Involves subjects, such as Society and Sustainable Development, Welfare and Development, Social Work Profession, Social Entrepreneurship and Law. It also includes study of Social Policy and Legislation along with law subjects.
How is 5-Year LLB Beneficial?
Following are the main advantages of studying 5 years LLB course among many others:
- Time Saver – You can complete both your graduation degree and law in 5 years instead of 6.
- Early Start – 5 year integrated LLB course introduces the legal subjects from the first year itself. One can study their particular stream subjects along with the law subjects.
- Stronger Profiles – Students are able to build a strong profile for their professional career and CVs through internships, moot courts, debates, and research work.
- Competitive Edge – It provides ideal preparation for judiciary, civil services, or top law firm careers.
- Better Campus Placements – Most top law firms recruit directly from 5-year LLB degree batches in law schools.
Who Should Choose the 5-Year LLB Degree?
5 year Integrated LLB course is best for those students who have a strong inclination toward legal studies during school. Those who are aiming to enter National Law Universities (NLUs) or other reputed law schools in India can also opt this course.
Additionally, the aspirants who want clarity and a continuous exposure to the field of law in profession from a young age can also pursue this degree. The program is best suited for those who want to build legal careers early and skip the traditional route of graduation followed by LLB.
5 Year LLB Course Admission Process
The admission process for 5 year LLB is as under:
- Application– First, you have to apply to your desired law colleges. Fill up the application forms on their official websites.
- Take Entrance Exams – The candidates have to appear in law entrance exams, such as CLAT, SLAT, LNAT, etc. All the top law colleges in India accept admission through an entrance exam. The entrance exams are conducted in written/online mode.
- Results and Cutoffs – The exam organizing website publish the scorecards along with merit as per the cut off criteria. The law colleges prepare their merit lists to shortlist the candidates for admission.
- Seat Allotment – Next in the process, colleges call the shortlisted candidates for the personal interview and other admission rounds.
5 Year LLB Entrance Exams in India
Following are the primary law entrance exams in India required to take admissions to the law schools:
CLAT (Common-Law Admission Test)
The most prestigious law entrance exam in India for admission to 24 National Law Universities. CLAT exam is a national level law entrance exam conducted every year by the consortium of NLUs. It’s the highest exam authority with 24 NLUs in it. The top NLUs in the consortium are NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata, RGNUL Patiala, and NLU Bhopal. The exam pattern of CLAT has undergone changes such as making the questions in each section more comprehensive type, reducing the number of question etc.
Read more about CLAT here:
| CLAT Resources | ||
| CLAT Application | CLAT Sample Papers | CLAT Eligibility |
| CLAT Syllabus | How to Prepare for CLAT | Prepare for CLAT in 3 Months |
AILET (All India Law Entrance Test)
The National Law University, Delhi conducts the AILET exam for admissions to the five-year LLB courses. AILET is an offline test.
Read more:
| AILET Resources | ||
| AILET Exam 2026 | How to Clear AILET 2026 | AILET 2025 Cutoffs |
| CLAT vs AILET vs SLAT | NLU Delhi Placements 2024 | Law School Zone |
SLAT (Symbiosis Law Admission Test)
Symbiosis International (Deemed University) conducts SLAT exam for admissions into undergraduate law programs offered by the 4 affiliated colleges of SIU. As of 2025, SLAT has emerged as a significant step for aspiring law students in India, allowing them to pursue legal education.
Read more:
| SLAT Resources | |
| SLAT Exam | SLAT Exam Pattern |
| SLAT Exam Analysis | SLAT Colleges |
MH CET Law (5-Year)
This entrance test is meant for the government and aided colleges in Maharashtra. The subjects for 5 year LLB course in
MHCET are Legal Aptitude & Legal Reasoning, Logical & Analytical Reasoning, General Knowledge & Current Affairs, English Language, and Mathematical Aptitude.
Read more:
| MH CET Resources | |
| How to Crack MH CET Law | MH CET Law Syllabus |
| Top Law Colleges for MH CET | MH CET Law Cutoffs 2025 |
CUET (Law)
This test is meant for selected central universities which offers integrated law courses for 5 years and 3 years. The exam pattern of CUET Law includes sections on Language, Legal Studies (optional), and General Test. The total questions are 75 MCQ for a duration of 1 hour 30 minutes. It also involves a negative marking of 0.25 per incorrect answer.
LNAT (UK)
Students applying to top UK law schools like Oxford, Durham, Bristol, etc. can appear for LNAT (UK) test. The LNAT syllabus tests the candidate’s aptitude and skills to pursue a law program. The syllabus consists of objective and descriptive essay sections to evaluate the legal reasoning skills of candidates.
Note: LSAT—India has been discontinued as of 2024 and is no longer an accepted law entrance exam in India.
Difference Between 5 Year LLB and 3 Year LLB: Which is Better?
If you’re highly committed to make a career in Law profession, it’s crucial for you to choose the best course. Let’s check both the courses of 3 year LLB and 5 year LLB and find out which is better with their key differences, like eligibility, course duration, fees, and syllabus.
| Differences | 5 Year LLB | 3 Year LLB |
| Eligibility Criteria | Eligible for LLB Course After 12th | Eligible for LLB only after under graduation. |
| LLB Course Duration | 5 Years – It integrates UG and law studies. | Total 6 Years (3 UG + 3 LLB). |
| Curriculum | It combines other subjects like science, humanities, commerce based on the UG degree with law subjects. | Focused on law subjects, ideal for those who want to quickly specialize in law. |
| Career Flexibility | Flexible with a dual qualification. Students gets an edge to explore other fields along with law. | Offers a quick shift to legal professions from any other profession. |
| Average Fees | Rs. 1,50,000 to 6,00,000 per year | Rs. 60,000 to 3,00,000 per year |
Both the LLB degrees provides fair chances to have a career in law profession. The key decision to choose one depends on one’s career aspirations, current career stage, and how early one wishes to get a degree.
Top NLUs Offering the 5 Year Integrated LLB
Let’s check out a list of the best 5 year law colleges in India. The NIRF rankings 2025 for law schools in India is out. The list includes top NLUs in India. These colleges accepts CLAT exam scores for their admission process.
| Law College/University | City |
| National Law School of India University | Bengaluru |
| National Law University | New Delhi |
| NALSAR University of Law | Hyderabad |
| The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences | Kolkata |
| Gujarat National Law University | Gandhinagar |
| National Law Institute University (NLIU) | Bhopal |
| Maharashtra National Law University | Mumbai (MNLU) |
| Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU) | Raipur |
| Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU) | Lucknow |
| National Law University Odisha (NLUO) | Cuttack |
| Siksha `O` Anusandhan | Bhubaneswar |
Also read: Top 10 CLAT Colleges in India
Top Private and Government Colleges Offering 5-Year LLB
Private Institutions:
| Law College/University | City |
| Jindal Global Law School (JGLS) | Sonipat |
| Symbiosis Law Schools | Pune, Noida, Hyderabad, Nagpur |
| NMIMS Kirit P. Mehta School of Law | Mumbai |
| Christ University | Bengaluru |
| IILM University | Gurugram |
Government Institutions:
| Law College/University | City |
| Government Law College (GLC) | Mumbai |
| Faculty of Law, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) | Varanasi |
| ILS Law College | Pune |
| Panjab University | Chandigarh |
| Calcutta University Department of Law | Kolkata |
Career Opportunities After a 5 Year LLB
Graduates from top 5-year law programs have access to a wide range of career options. A 5-year law degree from a top institute (NLUs, prestigious private universities) opens the door to expansive legal careers.
- Tier-1 Law Firms: Law college graduates can get recruited as Associates or Trainees in India’s top law firms such as Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, Khaitan & Co, Trilegal, and AZB & Partners. The nature of their work involves Corporate M&A, due diligence, dispute resolution, intellectual property, taxation, and compliance.
- Corporate Legal Departments: Law graduates can also join big companies in finance, technology, FMCG, and manufacturing recruit LLB graduates for their legal teams. The scope of work includes drafting contracts, managing legal compliance, handling litigation/disputes, company policy, and regulatory filings.
- Judicial Services: Eligible for state-level civil judge/judicial magistrate exams
- Litigation: Join senior advocates, high courts, or set up independent practices
- Legal Consulting & Policy Work: With think tanks, NGOs, and government organizations
- Higher Studies & International Opportunities: Pursue LLMs from top global universities like Oxford, Harvard, or NUS
Early exposure to the legal world through internships, legal aid cells, moot court competitions, and workshops adds immense value to students’ professional journeys.
Final Thoughts
The 5-year integrated LLB is an investment in time, exposure, and career readiness. It allows students to become part of the legal ecosystem from day one, build a powerful network, and access top job opportunities immediately after graduation. For students who are sure about their passion for law, starting early is not just smart—it’s strategic.
Start your professional journey in law field with IMS Get.Set.Law and take your first step towards a fulfilling, future-ready career in law.
