5 Types of Law Degrees

Practising law in India typically requires a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), a three-year undergraduate degree you can earn after completing an undergraduate course in any discipline. In addition, you can choose from many other degree options if you're interested in studying law.

Review the types of law degrees you can earn, learn the benefits of pursuing a law degree, and explore the variety of jobs you can pursue after graduation.

What is a law degree?

To study for most law degrees, you must first earn an undergraduate degree before applying to law school or a master's programme to specialise in law studies.

At the undergraduate level, many "pre-law" students choose to study literature, political science, psychology, or related majors in the humanities or social sciences to improve their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills, which will help you to succeed in law school.

Law degree coursework

The specific classes you take will depend on the type of law degree you pursue and the school you attend. However, classes typically include broad topics like research, legal writing, and law.

For example, as a Year 1 law student, you may participate in courses covering legal methods, contracts, constitutional law, and criminal law. Later, you may take courses concentrating on civil procedure codes, evidence, and labour law.

Law degree skills

When you earn your law degree, you'll have an opportunity to hone valuable transferable skills, such as:

• Critical thinking

• Logical reasoning

• Public speaking

• Presentation skills

• Communication

• Persuasion

• Leadership 

5 types of law degrees

Choosing the right law degree is a key step towards building a successful career in the legal field. Depending on your career goals, you can pursue the law degrees below after graduating with your bachelor's degree.

1. Bachelor of Laws 

People practising law in India commonly have a Bachelor of Law (LLB) degree. This three-year degree is a foundational course that prepares you to understand fundamental laws and judicial processes. An LLB programme helps you develop key skills such as legal reasoning, problem-solving, research, legal writing, communication, and leadership.

Eligibility for an LLB typically requires a bachelor’s degree in any discipline and meets additional criteria such as graduate study requirements or performance on an entrance exam. Graduates with a three- or five-year law degree can qualify as lawyers by gaining professional experience and passing the All India Bar Examination.

2. Master of Laws

The Master of Laws (LLM) degree is a popular postgraduate law degree that typically takes one to two years to complete. You can pursue an LLM degree after you've earned a law qualification such as a Bachelor of Laws or a five-year LLB course. An LLM programme offers an in-depth understanding of legal concepts and practices, allowing you to specialise in a specific area of law.

The curriculum often includes specialties like information technology, climate change and sustainability, trade and commercial law, criminal law, human rights, and intellectual property. An LLM is also essential for those pursuing a career in legal academia.

3. Master of Business Law

A Master of Business Law (MBL) degree from the National Law School of India (NLSIU) equips you with specialised knowledge in business law, empowering you to address complex legal challenges in the commercial world. Typically completed in two years, this programme introduces you to 10 sub-disciplines, including contract law, corporate law, intellectual property, and banking law, allowing you to build a versatile skill set that aligns with leadership roles.

Ideal for law graduates and business professionals, the MBL programme focuses on developing legal risk assessment and decision-making abilities critical for corporate success. This degree may open doors to careers in corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and other fields that blend business and law.

4. Doctor of Philosophy of Law 

Pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy of Law (Law PhD) degree could be the next step if your plans include researching and teaching at a university. A Law PhD takes about three to five years to complete.

To be eligible for the Law PhD programme admission, you generally need a three- or four-year bachelor’s degree in law and an LLM. The course of study in a PhD programme in law is highly diverse, reflecting the dynamic nature of the legal field. Potential research areas include constitutional and administrative law, sustainability law, technology law, intellectual property law, criminal and security law, and corporate and commercial law.

5. Integrated LLM PhD

If you plan to advance your academic career after earning an LLM, an integrated LLM and PhD in Law degree offers a streamlined path by combining two advanced postgraduate programmes in law. This degree typically takes about four years to complete, with the LLM course finished in the first year.

The curriculum for an integrated LLM PhD degree covers various legal topics, including judicial processes, ethics, and research methodologies. In later years, the programme focuses on research writing, publication, and development of a dissertation or doctoral thesis, providing a comprehensive foundation for academic and research-oriented careers in law.

What can you do with a law degree?

With a law degree, you can pursue careers in legal and non-legal professions. All industries and sectors—such as corporations, nonprofit organisations, or government agencies—hire employees with legal expertise.

Legal jobs include work as a lawyer (family law, business, criminal defence, patent law, etc.) and a union, state, or local judge.

If you prefer working in a non-legal field, you can apply your law school experience to many areas and use the skills you developed in law school in different roles in the following areas:

• Administration and management

• Education

• Government

• Journalism

• Politics

Learn more about law degrees

A law degree offers diverse opportunities, equipping you with critical skills and specialised knowledge to pursue careers in legal practice, academia, corporate roles, or even non-legal fields like journalism, government, or management.

If you’re interested in studying law, you can pursue five law degrees, depending on your career plans. Build a foundation in the terminology, concepts, and tools you'll need to succeed in law school and your career with A Law Student's Toolkit from Yale.

If you haven't yet earned your bachelor's degree, learn more about earning one from a top university on Coursera.