BA LLB vs BA in Law - Eligibility, Admission Process, Fees, Career Options
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BA LLB vs BA in Law - Eligibility, Admission Process, Fees, Career Options

#L.L.B
Vandana PandeyUpdated on 30 Aug 2025, 05:05 PM IST

BA LLB and BA in Law are both undergraduate degrees in the field of law. While both these degrees offer excellent scope in law, the motive and approach are different. BA LLB stands for Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Legislative Law and is one of the most popular integrated dual degree programmes. It prepares the students to become qualified lawyers, students can choose their desired area of speciality and earn decent salary packages.

BA in Law or Bachelor of Arts in Law is another undergraduate degree programme in law. However, it is a relatively new programme in law and as of now, only a few institutes offer this course. The programme's approach is very different from that of BA LLB. To qualify for a law discipline, candidates must complete an LLB (Bachelor of Legislative Law) degree from a recognised board in India and comply with additional requirements.

The eligibility criteria for both BA LLB and BA in Law are very similar as both the degrees are offered as a specialisation of BA degree. To be eligible, candidates must have completed their 10+2 from a recognised board in India. They must also achieve an aggregate score of 50 per cent. For candidates belonging to the reserved categories, there may be some relaxation of 5-10 per cent.

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BA LLB Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for BA LLB are more or less the same as other BA courses. Candidates must have completed their 10+2 from a recognised educational board in India to be eligible for the course. In the table below, we have provided the eligibility details of BA LLB as followed by most of the institutes.

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Eligibility ParametersValues

Educational Qualification

10+2 from a recognised institute in India

Minimum aggregate score requirements

50 per cent aggregate score (5-10 per cent relaxation for candidates belonging to the reserved categories)

Entrance Examinations

CLAT, AILET UG, and MHCET are popular entrance examinations for many law degrees

BA in Law Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility requirements for a BA in Law are very similar to a BA LLB or Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Legislative Law. Students can visit the official website of the provider or check the details on the programme brochure. In the table below, we have provided the eligibility details for a BA in Law.

Eligibility ParametersDetails

Educational Qualification

10+2 from a recognised institute in India

Minimum aggregate score

50 per cent aggregate score (5-10 per cent relaxation for reserved category applicants)

Entrance examination

No major examinations, however, individual colleges may have their own examinations

Admission Procedure for BA LLB

After fulfilling the eligibility criteria, candidates can register for admission. Those interested in fulfilling the eligibility criteria can apply for the course. The admission procedure for BA LLB is listed below.

Step 1- Eligibility criteria

First and foremost, candidates should follow the eligibility criteria of the course.

Step 2- Fill out the online application form

Eligible students should fill out the online application form,

Step 3- Entrance Examinations

Students who have registered themselves for the course should appear for relevant entrance examinations. CLAT UG is a popular entrance examination for many law courses.

Step 4- Cutoff and Merit-score

After the declaration of examination results, the cutoff percentage will be released based on which a merit list will be prepared and students will be allotted colleges.

Step 5- Group Discussion and Personal Interview

Apart from the entrance examination, many colleges also conduct personal interviews and group discussion sessions.

Step 6- Pay the course fees and submit relevant documents

Shortlisted candidates should pay the course fees and submit relevant documents to conclude the admission procedure.

Admission Procedure for BA in Law

The admission process for a BA in Law is somewhat similar to a BA LLB degree. However, CLAT UG is not required for the same. There are no major entrance examinations for a BA in Law, however, individual colleges may have their entrance tests. Listed below is the admission process for the BA in Law course.

Step 1- Eligibility Criteria

First and foremost, the candidates should satisfy a few prerequisites for admission. Only eligible students will be allowed admission. Candidates can check the eligibility details on the official website of the institute or by reviewing the eligibility criteria.

Step 2- Fill out the online application form

Eligible candidates can further register themselves at their preferred institute, by filling out the online application form available on the official website of the institute. Those who are unable to apply online, can also visit the admission department of the provider and get a physical application form.

Step 3- Merit-score

BA in Law admissions is based mainly on the performance of the candidate in their 10+2 or equivalent education. However, institutes may have their entrance tests.

Step 4- Group Discussion and Personal Interview

Apart from entrance examinations, many institutes also conduct personal interviews and group discussion sessions to filter the most deserving candidates.

Step 5- Pay the course fees and submit official documents

Shortlisted candidates should pay the specified course fees and submit the official documents as and when required by the institute.

Law Important Exams

For admissions, students need to appear for relevant entrance examinations. CLAT, SLAT, and AILET are the popular entrance examinations. Many universities also conduct university-level entrance examinations. In the table below, we have provided the exam details.

Exam Name

Conducting Body

Exam Schedule

CLAT

Consortium of NLUs

CLAT Exam Schedule

AILET

National Law University, Delhi

AILET Exam Schedule

SLAT

Symbiosis Law Admission Test

SLAT Exam Schedule

MH CET Law

Directorate of Higher Education Mumbai

MHT CET Law Exam Schedule

BA LLB and BA in Law: A Comparison

Till now we have studied the eligibility and admission procedure of both the courses. However, it is essential to compare both these degrees to know the differences and similarities. In the table below, we have compared both of these degrees.

ParticularsBA LLB Course DetailsBA in Law Course Details

Full Form

Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Legislative Law

Bachelor of Arts in Law

Eligibility Criteria

10+2 from a recognised board in India

10+2 from a recognised board in India

Admission Procedure

Entrance Exam/Merit-score

Entrance Exam/Merit-score

Average Fees

Rs. 2 Lakhs to Rs. 10.93 Lakhs

Rs. 1.20 Lakhs

Average Salary

Rs. 8 LPA (Lawyer)

Rs. 3.3 LPA (Law Clerk)

Job Profiles

Lawyer, Corporate Lawyer, Legal Advisor, Advocate, Judge

Account Assistant, Content Writer, Law Clerk, Legal Manager, Legal Blogger, and Legal Reporter


From the aforementioned table, it is very clear that while both of these degrees offer a great opportunity and decent salary packages, there are some differences. While a BA in Law offers excellent career opportunities, to become a lawyer, a candidate must hold an LLB or BA LLB degree from a recognised institute in India.

How to Become a Lawyer after BA LLB

After completing BA LLB, candidates are eligible to apply for law as a career. However, students need to follow some steps. Listed below are some of the important steps to start a career as a lawyer.

  • Pursue an Internship - During the tenure of a BA LLB, candidates have to complete a 20-week internship for a five-year BA LLB course.
  • AIBE Exam - After completing BA LLB, candidates need to register for the Bar Council of India and appear for the AIBE (All India Bar Examination) post receiving their degree.
  • CoP (Certificate of Practice) - Once successfully clearing the AIBE exam, candidates will get CoP (Certificate of Practice) to officially practice law in India or establish their legal agency.

Conclusion

To conclude, both BA LLB and BA in Law are excellent courses for someone wishing to work in legal disciplines. However, the scope and approach vary for both of the degrees. BA in Law course does provide a lot of job opportunities in legal and in several other disciplines, however, to become a lawyer, candidates must choose BA LLB.

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Questions related to L.L.B

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to L.L.B ?

If you have completed a BA common core degree from Andhra University, even without completing Intermediate (10+2) through the conventional route, your eligibility for BL or LLB depends on how your earlier education is recognised by the university and the Bar Council of India (BCI).

As per BCI norms, candidates seeking admission to a 3-year LLB or BL programme must have completed a recognised bachelor’s degree following the 10+2 pattern of education. This means that your admission to BA should have been based on a qualification that is considered equivalent to Intermediate by the university and the education authorities.

If Andhra University admitted you to the BA programme through a recognised alternative pathway, such as open schooling, bridge courses, or a qualification accepted as equivalent to 10+2, then your BA degree is considered valid. In such a case, you will be eligible to apply for 3-year LLB or BL programmes, subject to individual university admission rules and entrance exams.

However, if Intermediate was completely bypassed without any recognised equivalency, some law colleges and state universities may raise objections at the time of admission or enrolment with the Bar Council. This is why it is very important to verify whether your BA admission was officially recognised as 10+2 equivalent by the university and relevant education boards.

To avoid future complications, you should contact the law college or university where you plan to apply, explain your academic background clearly, and confirm eligibility in writing. If required, you may also consider completing a recognised open Intermediate qualification to strengthen your eligibility and avoid issues during enrolment as an advocate.

In summary, you may be eligible for BL or LLB, but final confirmation depends on whether your BA degree is recognised as following the 10+2 pattern as mandated by the Bar Council of India.

Hello aspirant,

You have a wide range of professional opportunities in law, science, and politics after earning a BSc LLB (Hons). You can be an in-house counsel, business lawyer, litigation lawyer, or legal advisor. Judicial services, civil services, intellectual property law, forensic/legal research, policy analysis, academia, compliance officer, and legal positions in the biotech, environmental, and pharmaceutical industries are further opportunities. Additionally, there are opportunities in research-based employment, MBA programs, and LLMs.

Thank you

Hope it helps you

Hello aspirant,

The CUET BA LLB process is registering online during the application window on the CUET website, completing forms with necessary subjects and personal/academic information, uploading supporting documentation, paying costs, and finally taking the test. Following exam results and answer keys, NTA provides university-specific counseling and merit lists where you can select courses and attend verification for final admission.

For more information, you can visit our site through following link:

https://law.careers360.com/articles/cuet-ba-llb

Thank you

Hello,
The total fees for a 3-year LLB course varies from college to college. In government law colleges, the total fee for three years is usually lower and can be affordable. In private law colleges, the total fee is usually higher. Many colleges also divide the fee by semester, so you pay a tuition fee each semester instead of all at once.
Total 3-year costs can be Rs.60k-Rs1.8L (Govt) or Rs.2.4L-Rs.7.5L (Private), plus potential hostel/other charges. To get more details about the fees structure, Kindly check the below link.
https://law.careers360.com/articles/llb-course-fees
I hope this helps you.

Hi dear candidate,

The fees of LLB (3 year) varies from college to college but on an average the annual fees for LLB in government colleges like DU it is around INR 6,000 per year however, the fees in private colleges is between INR 45,000 to 1,25,000 per year.

Know more at:

LLB Course Fees - 3 & 5 Years LLB Course Fees, Private & Government

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