Three-years LLB v/s Five years LLB course in India
Common Law Admission Test 2027 ( CLAT )
CLAT 2027 online registrations
3 Aug '26 - 31 Oct '26
Know the pros and cons of pursuing a five-year integrated course versus a three-year law programme at the graduation level. Know the major differences between a 5-year LLB course and a 3-year LLB course in India in terms of eligibility, course structure, and more.
When candidates start applying for a UG-level law course, universities and state-conducting bodies offer two types of law degrees. It is either a five-year integrated BA LLB or BBA LLB/ BCom LLB or a three-year LLB course. There are several differences between these two programs. Candidates find it confusing which one they can pursue and how. This article is aimed at clearing this doubt between the two types of degrees so that students can decide the correct course. Find out all about these two courses, and know which path will lead to becoming a judge.
- 3 Year LLB vs 5 Year LLB: Key Differences
- 5-Year LLB Course: Benefits and Reasons to Pursue
- Drawbacks of 5-year LLB Course
- List of law Colleges offering 5-year LLB courses with fees
- 3 Year LLB Course: Why pursue it?
- Drawbacks of Pursuing 3-year LLB Course
- List of law colleges offering 3-year LLB course with fees
3 Year LLB vs 5 Year LLB: Key Differences
Candidates can check main differences between 3 Year & 5 Year LLB courses in India below.
| Criteria | 3-Year LLB | 5-Year LLB |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Requires a graduation degree (any stream) from a recognized university. | Requires completion of Class 12 (or equivalent). |
| Course Structure | Focuses purely on core law subjects, such as Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, and Contracts, in a condensed format. | An integrated program (e.g., BA LLB, BBA LLB, BCom LLB) that blends arts, commerce, or management subjects with legal education from year one. |
| Total Time Investment | Takes 3 years of law school, but requires 3 prior years of undergraduate studies (6 years total). | Combines undergraduate education and law into a single 5-year track, saving one year of total study. |
5-Year LLB Course: Benefits and Reasons to Pursue
Elaborating on the first option available to students, the pros and cons of pursuing an integrated LLB degree are as mentioned below:
- The degree is an integrated course where students do not have to undergo graduation twice, i.e., 3 years of graduation in any stream and then again 3 years of law; but here they will receive a consolidated “BA LLB” degree upon finishing the course in a period of 5 years. Earlier, the Bar Council of India (BCI) had an age limit of 20 years to pursue a five-year LLB course, but after facing criticism from the Supreme Court, the age limit was first increased to 22 years and later removed.
- It offers students a mix of BA subjects, coupled with Law, straight from the first semester of admission.
- Students gain exposure to legal education from a young age and streamline their thought process in that direction.
- Students can choose from a wide range of subject options in five-year courses that three-year students cannot access. For eg: BA LLB, BBA LLB, BCom LLB, BSc LLB, BA LLB (Hons), BBA LLB (Hons), BCom LLB (Hons), BSc LLB (Hons) etc.
- Students get early access to courtroom practice as colleges include Moot Courts, research submissions, and Mock Trial Courts in their curriculum.
- Students also undergo internships every semester with top law firms, corporates, NGO’s and the likes and further enhance their knowledge of the practical aspects of the law.
- Students must choose a University of their choice offering such courses and must look into the placement, opportunities, rankings, etc., before opting to take admission.
Drawbacks of 5-year LLB Course
Some of the reasons as to why you will not derive benefit from pursuing a 5-year LLB course are:
- Earlier, one of the drawbacks of this course was the age limit prescribed, which made it difficult for someone over the age of 22 to get access to this course. However, the age bar for five-year law courses has now been removed.
- Students spend only 5 years and shall be conferred an integrated BA LLB degree upon completion.
- The degree doesn’t come in two parts, BA and LLB, but is consolidated as BA LLB.
- Students study relevant subjects like Economics, Legal History, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, etc. as part of this course, which improves their knowledge on relevant issues and provokes constructive thinking.
List of law Colleges offering 5-year LLB courses with fees
Candidates can check the list of colleges or universities offering 5 year LLB courses in the country below:
3 Year LLB Course: Why pursue it?
Elaborating on the second option available to students, the pros and cons of pursuing a three-year LLB degree are as mentioned below:
- A three-year course is pursued after possessing any graduation degree, and it is imperative that the student has pursued graduation in any discipline and then shall be eligible for a three-year course in law. Earlier, the age limit set by the Bar Council of India (BCI) was 30 years, but after facing criticism from the Apex Court, BCI decided to increase the age limit from 30 years to 45 years for 3-year law courses. Later, the age bar of 45 years was also removed by BCI. There are people who decide to pursue Engineering or BCom or BA or any other course, for that matter, and later decide that they want to pursue Law as a career option. Such candidates can enrol in this course.
- In a three-year course, the students must undergo dual graduation i.e., one in their respective discipline i.e. BCom/ BA/ BSc/ BTech etc., and then a three-year course in Law. This mostly happens when people decide to change their careers.
- The course takes longer than the integrated five-year LLB. For eg: 4 years of engineering + 3 years LLB = 7 years; or 3 years of BCom/ BSC/ BA + three years LLB = 6 years.
- The upper age limit has been removed, which opens the doors for professionals with years of experience to still pursue the course, for students, for graduates, everyone to pursue law in case they want to change their career graph.
- Most students who are aware of the five-year course still opt for a three-year course in order to gain a better perspective in each field.
- In a three-year LLB course, students do not have the option to choose any subjects but have to study the formal 3-year syllabus prescribed by the University.
Also Read: Good Rank in AP LAWCET: Category-wise Ranks, Top 10 colleges for 3-year and 5-year LLB
Drawbacks of Pursuing 3-year LLB Course
Find out what this course is, a less lucrative option if you are planning a legal career:
- It is considered a drawback because students get less exposure to legal education in comparison to the five-year LLB students, as five-year law students get more time and experience in the field.
- Students get access to courtroom practice as colleges lay out Moot Courts, research submissions, and Mock Trial Courts in their curriculum.
- Students also undergo internships every semester with top law firms, corporates, NGO’s, and the like and further enhance their knowledge of the practical aspects of the law.
- The positive aspect of this course is that, as the students in this course are already graduates, the University starts directly with hardcore legal subjects without wasting any time.
- Students learn IPC, CRPC, CPC, family law, Bare Acts, Labour Law, Company Law etc., within months of joining the course, which the five-year students usually study in their third or 5th year of law school.
- Students spend only 3 years and shall be conferred an LLB degree by the University upon completion.
List of law colleges offering 3-year LLB course with fees
Candidates can check the complete list of colleges that are offering 3-year LLB courses:
| College/ University Name | Course Fees |
|---|---|
| Delhi University | INR 6,80,000 |
| Banaras Hindu University | INR 11,400 |
| Jindal Global Law School | INR 31,03,000 |
| NLSIU Bengaluru | INR 2,07,000 |
| ILS Pune | INR 1,01,000 |
| GLC Mumbai | INR 20,600 |
| NLU Odisha | INR 70,000 |
| Allahabad University | INR 30,000 |
| SLS Pune | INR 8,03,000 |
| Panjab University | INR 6,02,000 |
| Osmania University | INR 1,01,000 |
| Tamil Nadu Ambedkar Law University | INR 1,03,000 |
Explore more Law exams with upcoming dates
1 Nov '25 - 29 Sep '26
3 Oct '26
7 Aug '26 - 10 Nov '26
13 Nov '26
17 Aug '26 - 4 Dec '26
1 Sep '26 - 4 Dec '26
12 Sep '26 - 20 Sep '26
19 Sep '26 - 21 Sep '26
19 Sep '26 - 23 Sep '26
23 Oct '26 - 27 Oct '26
News & Updates
Explore Other Exams
7 Aug '26 - 10 Nov '26 | AILET 2027 Registration |
30 Nov '26 | AILET 2027 Admit Card |
8 Jun '25 | LSAT India 2025 May Session Re... |
May '25 | LSAT India 2025 May Exam |
12 Sep '26 - 30 Sep '26 | ULSAT 2026 Phase 6 Exam |
10 Sep '26 | ULSAT 2026 Application Last Da... |
17 Aug '26 - 4 Dec '26 | SLAT Application Form 2027 |
11 Dec '26 | SLAT 2027 Admit Card for Test ... |
26 Jul '26 | RULET 2026 First Merit List |
9 Jul '26 | RULET 2026 Third Merit List |
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 4 days ago
Choose Commerce if you want an early foundation in business and finance for corporate law, or Arts (Humanities) if you prefer subjects that align closely with reading comprehension and current affairs for the CLAT exam.
Both streams make you fully eligible for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) and
S
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 6 days ago
Ministry of Education can release the NLUs NIRF Ranking soon on its official website. There is no time line announced by the ministry in this regard.
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 6 days ago
NLSIU Bengaluru, which has held the top spot in the Law category every year since NIRF introduced it in 2018.
R
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 6 days ago
No, the NIRF Law Ranking 2026 will be released soon by the Minsitry of Education on its official website.
V
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a week ago
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
Yes, the Consortium removed two Test Cities from the CLAT 2027. The removed test cities are Vellore and Tiruvarur. CLAT 2027 exam date is December 6.
N
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 weeks ago
Candidates are required to pay the CLAT Registration/Form fee as per their category. The Consortium prescribed the category-wise form fee. Without submitting the CLAT form fee, the registration will not be completed.
M
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 weeks ago
No, a domicile certificate is not mandatory for all candidates. It is only required if you intend to claim a reservation/ seat under state quota (offered by specific NLUs). Students can skip this document if they are applying solely under the All-India open category.
N
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 weeks ago
Yes, only Indian Citizens can fill and appear in CLAT. The Foreign nationals can take admission in NLUs but through different official channel.
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
No, candidates who fulfill OP Jindal Global University BBA LLB (hons) eligibility criteria cannot apply with a CLAT-UG score. This institute only accepts admission based on LNAT-UK exam. No other entrance exams are accepted during admissions to this course.
Y
Contributor-Level 10
About
Role: Senior News Writer & Content Editor
Education: Master's in Computer Science
Aashish Kumar Jha is an experienced SEO Content Writer with vast experience in the education domain. He holds a Post Graduate D
Read Full Bio