What is Civil Law?: Course Fees 2026, Subjects, Top Colleges, Admissions
Bhavya JainContent Author
Civil Law course is a Law specialization that deals with cases concerned with private rights rather than crimes. Civil Law is also referred to as private law, covering aspects related to divorce, family clashes, property rights, etc. It provides a brief understanding of legal principles governing private matters, that includes Contract, Property, Tort, and Family Law.
Civil Law courses are mainly offered at LLM, PG Diploma, and PhD levels. There are many top Law colleges in India, including NLUs, providing Civil Law courses in various specializations like Contract Law, IPR Law, Family Law, etc. The average Civil Law study fees in India range from INR 1 Lakh to INR 4 Lakh. After a Civil Law program, you can become an Advocate, Transactional Lawyer, Family Lawyer, Assistant Professor, and more. The average salary of a Civil Law advocate is 4 LPA.
Civil law covers a wide range of legal challenges related to disputes between individuals and organisations. Apart from criminal matters, they mainly focus on protecting individuals' private rights and providing solutions for acts of wrongs committed against individuals or their property. They are also known as the "law of private rights,"
It covers legal fields such as property, contracts, family disputes, torts, consumer protection, and corporate affairs.
As India's economy is growing, for instance, real estate sector is expanding, plus increasing awareness of consumer rights, and the complications of modern family and corporate relationships have led to growing demand for civil litigation and advisory roles.
While in terms of career scope, Civil Lawyers can work in law firms, corporate legal departments, real estate companies, family law practices, NGOs, and even governmental departments dealing with land, housing, and civic administration.
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The difference is that Civil Law courses deal with issues between people or organisations. It's goal is to provide remedies for violations of private rights.
Criminal Law focus on the study of various types of crimes, legal practices, investigative methods, trial preparation, and the operations of the criminal justice system.
Know more about -
- Civil Law Course Details
- How to Apply for Civil Law Course
- Top Civil Law Course Entrance Exam
- Civil Law Course: Admission Process
- Civil Law Course Syllabus
- Top Civil Law Colleges in India
- Popular Private Civil Law Colleges in India
- Civil Law Salary: Career Scope, Job Profiles & Top Recruiters
- Civil Law Course FAQs
- Popular Civil Law PG Courses
Civil Law Course Details
Civil Law courses are best for candidates who want to pursue a career in private disputes, divorces, custody cases, mergers, property disputes, etc.
Civil Law courses are available at UG, PG and PhD levels.
You can refer to this table, highlighting some key points of Civil Law courses in India:
|
Particulars |
Course Details |
|---|---|
|
Civil Law Course Level |
PG, Diploma, and PhD |
|
Civil Law Specializations |
Contract Law, Law of Tort, Intellectual Property Rights Law, Family Law, Property Law, etc. |
|
Civil Law Course Duration |
LLM - 1 - 2 Years, Diploma - 1 - 2 Years, PhD - 3 - 5 Years |
|
Civil Law Course Eligibility Criteria |
LLM - A 3-year LLB or a 5-year integrated LLB from a recognized university. PhD - An LLM from a UGC and BCI-approved university. |
|
Civil Law Course Admission Criteria |
Entrance Exam-based |
|
Civil Law Entrance Exams |
UGC NET, CSIR NET, etc. |
|
Top Civil Law Colleges |
K.R. Mangalam University, Kalinga University, Pimpri Chinchwad University (PCU), Aryavart University, etc. |
|
Civil Law Course Fees |
INR 1 Lakh - INR 4 Lakh |
|
Civil Law Jobs |
Advocate, Transactional Lawyer, Family Lawyer, Assistant Professor, etc. |
|
Average Civil Law Salary |
INR 4.6 LPA |
|
Top Civil Law Recruiters |
AZB & Partners, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Khaitan & Co, and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co., etc. |
Note - The information is taken from external sites and may vary.
How to Apply for Civil Law Course
Candidates who want to apply for a Civil Law course should complete Class 12th with passing marks at least. They should also clear exams which are accepted by colleges:
- National level exams like CSIR NET and UGC NET
- University level exams like KALSEE is a popular private exam conducted by Kalinga Scholastic Entrance Examination. Many private colleges also accept national level or state level exam scores also.
Civil Law Eligibility
Candidates should know that eligibility can be different according to the courses. This is why they should check it.
The following table shows Civil Law Course eligibility criterias at different levels -
| Course Level | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
| 5-Year Integrated LLB |
|
| 3-Year LLB |
|
| LLM in Civil Law |
|
| PhD in Civil Law |
|
Note - The information is taken from external sites and may vary.
A general eligibility criterion for Civil Law courses in India is here. Take a look
Undergraduate Programs (LLB) - Completion of Class 12 (10+2) with qualifying scores and entrance exams like LSAT-India or CLAT.
Postgraduate Programs (LLM) - A recognised LLB degree from a reputable university.
Best of Luck !
Hi,
No, you cannot straight a way pursue Civil Law after 12th in India. Here are the reasons why so:
No Standalone Degree: Civil Law is not offered as a distinguish UG course in India.
Integrated Law Degrees: However, you can carry on with common law degree such as Bachelor of Laws (LLB) after 12th. These LLB courses will include Civil Law as a core subject along with other legal areas.
Specializations: Some LLB courses or postgraduate Master of Laws (LLM) programs may offer specialisations or electives focusing on specific areas of Civil Law, like family law or property law.
Hope this answer cleared your doubt !
Top Civil Law Course Entrance Exam
A Law aspirant needs to stay updated on the latest entrance exam notices throughout the year to meet all the deadlines, properly register, and secure timely admission. With multiple levels and types of Law courses, naturally there are different types of entrance exams as well.
As discussed before, there are two types of entrance exams. Candidates have to choose the right exam for themselves. The following tables provide information about Civil Law course entrance exams. The data for these tables has been taken from official sources and can change.
Top Civil Law Entrance Exam: National Level
National level Civil Law course exams give access to reputed government universities and colleges. The competition is tough and the eligibility criteria is strict.
The following table shows some of the top national level Civil Law course entrance exams:
|
Entrance Exam |
Exam Description |
Exam Date |
|---|---|---|
|
National-level computer-based test conducted by NTA for postgraduate law professionals seeking careers as Assistant Professors or Junior Research Fellows (JRF) in Indian universities |
||
|
CSIR UGC Test is mainly for JRF and Eligibility for Lectureships. It is a CBT conducted by the National Testing Agency also for PhD admissions in some colleges. |
Top Civil Law Entrance Exam: University Level
Some popular private universities and colleges conduct their own entrance exams. There are many colleges that accept national level exam scores also.
The table shows some of the best university level Civil Law course entrance exams:
|
Entrance Exam |
Exam Description |
Exam Date |
|---|---|---|
|
Kalinga Scholastic Entrance Examination is a CBT conducted by Kalinga University, Raipur for admission in UG, PG and PhD programs |
29 Aug ' 26 - 1 Sep ' 26 | LLB 5-Year Round 2 College Reporting |
31 Aug ' 26 - 2 Sep ' 26 | LLB 3-Year CAP Round-II College Reporting |
19 Aug ' 26 - 27 Oct ' 26 | AIBE 22 Registration Date 2026 |
19 Aug ' 26 - 28 Oct ' 26 | AIBE 22 Fee Payment Date 2026 |
31 Aug ' 26 - 5 Sep ' 26 | Reporting at concerned colleges for Verification ... |
29 Aug ' 26 | List of Provisionally selected candidates will be... |
Aug '26 | AP LAWCET Counselling 2026 Registration TENTATIVE |
18 May ' 26 | AP LAWCET Result 2026 |
There are multiple entrance exams for admission in Civil Law. In order to become a civil lawyer, aspirants are first required to enroll themselves in an undergraduate degree course followed by an LLM programme. A number of institutes and universities offer admission to candidates on the basis of entrance examination.
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Civil Law Course: Admission Process
Admission to Civil Law courses can depend on Class 12th, UG or PG scores. Some colleges offer admission based on entrance exam scores too. Students should make sure that they meet all necessary eligibility criteria.
Candidates can see a detailed, step-wise Civil Law Courses admission process below:
Civil Law Courses Admission Process: Government Colleges
-
Ensure clearance of previous academic qualification with passing marks at least
-
Check the application process for national level exams like CSIR NET and UGC NET
-
Clear entrance exams
-
Get documents verified during counseling process
-
Confirm your seat after paying tuition fees
Civil Law Courses Admission Process: Private Colleges
-
Ensure clearance of previous academic qualification with passing marks at least
-
Check application process for the colleges you want to apply to
-
Clear entrance exams, if any
-
For PhD courses some colleges accept the aggregate marks or CGPA of PG degree, check admission criteria on the official website of the college
-
Participate in counseling or interview rounds conducted by the university
-
If selected, submit documents and pay the tuition fees to get a seat
Civil Law Course Syllabus
Since the Civil Law is a broad area, including specialized areas like Intellectual Property Rights Law, Contract Law, Law of Torts, etc. The syllabus for these specializations and their course levels differ. For your reference, here's the syllabus for some top Civil Law specializations at the LLM level.
LLM in Intellectual Property Rights Law Syllabus
Here's an overview of an LLM IPR Law syllabus followed in India.
|
LLM in IPR Subjects Semester I |
|
|---|---|
| Legal Research Methodology | Principles of Constitutional Governance & Legal Processes |
| Legal theory & changing social order | Principles of Intellectual Property Rights |
|
LLM in IPR Subjects Semester II |
|
| Patent Law and Practices | Copyright Law and Practices |
| Trademark Law and Practices | Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications |
|
LLM in IPR Subjects Semester III |
|
| Protection of Plant Varieties and Traditional Knowledge | International Legal Regime Relating to IPR |
| Science, Technology, and IPR: Law and Policy | Intellectual Property Rights and Emerging Trends |
|
LLM in IPR Subjects Semester IV |
|
| Dissertation Research | - |
Note - The information is taken from external sites and may vary.
More on Civil Law qualification -
LLM Syllabus & Subjects List 2026
LLB Syllabus & Subjects List 2026
LLM in Human Rights Law Syllabus
An LLM Human Rights Law course is focused on the study and advocacy of human rights principles and laws. Listed below is the overview of an LLM Human Rights Law syllabus followed in India.
|
LLM Human Rights Law Subjects Semester I
|
|
|---|---|
|
International Human Rights Law
|
Human Rights in India
|
|
Constitutional Law and Human Rights in India
|
Research Methodology and Legal Writing
|
|
LLM Human Rights Law Subjects Semester II
|
|
|
Human Rights Advocacy and Litigation
|
International Humanitarian Law
|
|
Human Rights and Development
|
Emerging Concept of Human Rights
|
|
LLM Human Rights Law Subjects Semester III
|
|
|
Constitutional Governance of Human Rights in India
|
Refugee Law
|
|
Jurisprudence & Human Rights: Lego Philosophical perspectives
|
Extension Activities & Educational Tours
|
|
LLM Human Rights Law Subjects Semester IV
|
|
|
Human Rights and International & Regional Perspectives: Implementation Mechanism
|
International Humanitarian Law
|
|
People’s Rights to Self-determination
|
Dissertation Research
|
Note - The information is taken from external sites and may vary.
Since Civil Law courses have many specialized areas, each specialization has its own curriculum set according to the course level.
Civil Law Subjects: Specialisations | |
Intellectual property law | |
Taxation law | Constitutional law |
Securities Law | Corporate law and governance (including international business) |
Note - The information is taken from external sites and may vary.
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The types of subjects covered in the Civil Law courses in India are here. Take a look
Civil Law Syllabus | |
Comparative Constitutional Law | Teaching methods & Research Methodology |
Comparative Jurisprudence | Public international law |
Environmental Law | |
Jurisprudence | |
Law and Justice in Globalising World | Access to Justice |
Note - The information is taken from external sites and may vary.
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Top Civil Law Colleges in India
Civil Law courses are offered in various specializations among hundreds of top Law colleges in India. The number of colleges providing Civil Law (in-specific) courses is only 4. The table below will help you get the details of these colleges.
| Best Civil Law Colleges | Course Fees |
|---|---|
| Pimpri Chinchwad University (PCU) | INR 1 Lakh |
| Kalinga University | INR 1.3 Lakh |
| K.R. Mangalam University | INR 3.6 Lakh |
Note - The information is taken from the official site of the college.
More on Civil Law course Colleges -
Top Law Colleges in India 2026: Ranking, Fees, Courses, Admission, Cutoff
Civil Law Applications open. Apply Now
Civil Law Applications open. Apply Now
Hi,
Civil law and common law are the two dominant legal systems in the world. They differ in their sources of law, how they are interpreted, and the role of judges. Below table highlights the civil law scope in India and abroad, compared to common law
Characteristic | Common Law | Civil Law |
|---|---|---|
Intro | Common law is a legal system originating in England and Wales, in which law is created and refined by judges through precedents set in previous court rulings. It is contrasted with the civil law system, which is based on comprehensive legal codes. | Civil law is a legal system originating in mainland Europe, in which law is codified into comprehensive, detailed collections. It is based on the principles laid out in these collections, rather than relying heavily on precedent set in previous court cases. |
Source of Law | Judicial decisions and interpretations (precedent) | Comprehensive legal codes and statutes |
Role of Judges | Judges interpret and apply the law, playing a key role in shaping the law through their rulings | Judges apply and interpret the law as it is written in the codes, with less emphasis on precedents |
Note - The information is taken from external sites and may vary.
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There are only 3-4 Civil Law-specific colleges in India. Here are their details
| Best Civil Law Colleges | Course Fees |
|---|---|
| Pimpri Chinchwad University (PCU) | INR 1 Lakh |
| Kalinga University | INR 1.3 Lakh |
| K.R. Mangalam University | INR 3.6 Lakh |
Note - The information is taken from the official site of the college.
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Popular Private Civil Law Colleges in India
Civil Law Applications open. Apply Now
Civil Law Applications open. Apply Now
Civil Law Salary: Career Scope, Job Profiles & Top Recruiters
After pursuing the course, candidates become eligible for the following job profiles in the field of law in India. Check out some major types of civil lawyers and their roles mentioned below.
| Job Profiles | Job Description | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Litigator/ Lawyers | In civil disputes, civil litigators represent clients. They could be employed by law firms, corporations, or government bodies. | INR 3.1 LPA |
| Family Lawyers | A family lawyer is responsible for handling cases related to family issues like abuse, succession, alimony, family partitions, child custody, etc. They support the clients in providing solutions to such issues. | INR 3 LPA |
| Divorce Lawyers | They deal with cases of disputes among spouses. A divorce lawyer is also responsible for the legal division of assets among the spouses and resolving child custody issues. | INR 10 LPA |
| Intellectual Property Attorney | They deal with cases related to intellectual and creative innovations. The professional is responsible for issues like patents, copyrights, trademarks, duplication, industrial design rights, and many others. | INR 10.6 LPA |
| Employment Lawyers | Clients are represented by employment lawyers in employment law concerns such as discrimination, wrongful termination, and harassment. | INR 3.5 LPA |
Note - The information is taken from external sites and may vary.
More on Civil Law Jobs and Salary -
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Top Law Firms in India: Career Guide, Salaries, and Internships
Top Civil Law Recruiters
Civil law graduates are hired by these corporations and organizations for several positions, including litigation lawyer, transactional lawyer, corporate lawyer, intellectual property lawyer, and in-house counsel. A career in Civil Law can be a difficult but rewarding one. Civil lawyers play a vital role in our society by assisting people in resolving disputes and protecting their rights. Top recruiters in the civil law profession are
| Civil Law Top Recruiters | |
|---|---|
| Aditya Birla Group | Tata Group |
| Infosys | Wipro |
| Mahindra and Mahindra | Bajaj Auto |
| Central Bureau of Investigation | Enforcement Directorate |
| Securities and Exchange Board of India | HDFC Bank |
Note - The information is taken from external sites and may vary.
There are many. Some top Civil Law career options in India are given here. Take a look
| Job Profiles | Job Description |
|---|---|
| Attorney for Litigation | Representing clients in court cases including violations of contracts, rights to property, accidents, etc. |
| Corporate Lawyer | Offering legal counsel to businesses on issues pertaining to contracts, M&A, intellectual property, etc. |
| Judge | Overseeing civil proceedings and providing legal interpretation. |
| Legal Advisor | Offering civil law advice to companies or government organizations. Representing people who cannot afford private legal counsel is the role of a legal aid lawyer. |
| Academic | Practicing law at research institutes or universities. |
Note - The information is taken from external sites and may vary.
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There are so many MNCs, law firms, and civil courts that require civil lawyers in india. Some of them are here. Take a look
| Civil Law Top Recruiters | |
|---|---|
| Aditya Birla Group | Tata Group |
| Infosys | Wipro |
| Mahindra and Mahindra | Bajaj Auto |
| Central Bureau of Investigation | Enforcement Directorate |
| Securities and Exchange Board of India | HDFC Bank |
Note - The information is taken from external sites and may vary.
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Civil Law Course FAQs
You can refer to this section for some frequently asked questions around Civil Law courses in India.
They do it through online databases, legal research tools, e-learning platforms, and virtual moot courts. It enhanceslearning, facilitates research, and prepares students for the technologically advanced legal profession.
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The Civil Law course is generally studies as a core subjects in LLB curriculum, whereas, in LLM you can take it as a specialisation. Students can also consider studying it as a specialisation at diploma or certificate level. Civil Law provides a brief understanding of legal principles governing private matters, that includes Contract Law, Property Law, Tort Law, and Family Law.