Public & Private Law Colleges

While public law colleges like NLUs are well established, and have a huge number of test takers competing for admission, the private law colleges are diverse and scattered, and have numerous options for specializations and degrees in the field.

NLUs & Non-NLUs

Similarly, the segregation between NLUs and Non-NLUs follows the same trend. As NLUs share a history as well as brand value in the India legal setup, they are better known than other law schools, even some government law colleges.

This page mentions some of the most renowned and sought-after colleges that offer secure education and career opportunities in the field of law, and the degrees they offer.

Choosing a Law College in India

A lot of law colleges in India lead in their placements, their faculty, excellent program structure, their reputation, etc. In this list, our experts have shared some parameters on how one can pick the most suitable college for themselves.

Here are a few factors that you must consider while doing so:

  • Industry Reputation
  • Reputation amongst Foreign Law Schools
  • Peer Reputation
  • Academic Standards/Quality of Faculty
  • Recruitment Statistics
  • Location
  • Student Community/Campus Life
  • Hostel Quality
  • IT Infrastructure/Library
  • Quality of Entrance Process

In addition to the factors above, the differentiation between the public and private law colleges is also a big component in the process of selection. Find below a list of colleges in both categories that are considered best in the industry.

Government Law Colleges in India

There are numerous government/state funded law colleges in India that are well established, and have excellent program structures. These UG degrees are by the University Grants Commission and affiliated with the Bar Council of India. 

One such branch of public law colleges include the National Law Universities, which are established at the state level across India. 

National Law Universities(NLUs)

The National Law University was established in 1986 in Bangalore and was called the National Law School of India University (NLSIU). Considered to be the epitome of law schools, NLUs in India were established by the act of the state government. 

  • Although they are termed National Universities, they are recognized as state-level law colleges by UGC (University Grants Commission). 
  • All the Law colleges established under NLU fall under the Chief Justice of the High Court of the particular state. 
  • Currently, there are 27 National law schools in India affiliated with the Bar Council of India (BCI), 24 of which comprise the Consortium of NLUs.
Explore NLUs in India

Courses offered in NLUs

Although NLUs were introduced to offer the five-year integrated BA LLB degrees in law, the institutes now offer various courses in the 5-year and 3-year format.

  • BA LLB (Hons.) (Five-year Integrated Law course)
  • BBA LLB (Five-year Integrated Law course)
  • 3-year LLB
  • LLM
  • LLD
  • BSc LLB (Five-year Integrated Law course)
  • D. in Law
  • BLS LLB (Five-year Integrated Law course)
  • PG Diploma in Urban Environmental Management and Law
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Tourism and Environmental Law
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Law and Policy
  • Com LLB (Five-year Integrated Law course)
  • BBA LLB (Hons.)

List of NLUs in India

Name of National Law Universities

NLU's Info

National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru

Know more

NALSAR University of Law (NALSAR), Hyderabad

Know more

The WB National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), Kolkata

Know more

National Law University (NLU), Jodhpur

Know more

Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar

Know more

National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal

Know more

Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai

Know more

National Law University Odisha (NLUO), Cuttack

Know more

Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur

Know more

Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Patiala

Know more

Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University (RMLNLU), Lucknow

Know more

Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna

Know more

National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi

Know more

National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi

Know more

Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU), Visakhapatnam

Know more

National Law University and Judicial Academy (NLUJA), Assam

Know more

Tamil Nadu National Law School (TNNLS), Tiruchirapalli

Know more

Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Nagpur

Know more

Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla

Know more

Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Aurangabad

Know more

Dharamshastra National Law University, Jabalpur

Know more

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, Sonipat

Know more

Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Silvassa

Know more

National Law University (NLU), Delhi

Know more

NLUs In India: Why should you Opt?

The major characteristics of NLUs include –

  • Autonomous status
  • Five-year program
  • Integrated degrees
  • Intensive legal education
  • National status
  • Involvement of legal luminaries

NLUs in India: Admission Process

Admission to any National Law University is done via the Common Law Admission Test i.e. CLAT. However, NLU Delhi does not accept the CLAT score; rather it accepts AILET (All India Law Entrance Test) ranks to offer seats in law programs offered by it.

The step-wise admission process of these institutions is given below:

Step 1: Take CLAT/AILET

Step 2: Depending on the score/rank achieved in the test, students get shortlisted for the NLUs depending on the individual institute’s merit list. There are multiple merit lists that are released.

Step 3: Once the results (ranks) are out, and the students have opted for their desired NLU, the counseling process begins, followed by the first semester in college.

Government Law Colleges

Within the public colleges, NLUs are the most known bunch, but there are other law colleges that are not far behind in the government law colleges list.

Some of those colleges are mentioned below in the list.

Government Non-NLU Colleges 

Location

Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

New Delhi

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

West Bengal

Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University

Uttar Pradesh

Aligarh Muslim University

Uttar Pradesh

Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University

New Delhi

Banaras Hindu University

Varanasi

Indian Law Society Law College 

Pune

Best Law Colleges in India Other Than NLUs

There are more than 1700 law colleges in India including the NLUs. Candidates who wish to pursue law often aim for the NLUs. However, other top law colleges in India provide a good education and placements in the field of law.

With tough competition and limited seats in the NLUs, candidates can shift their focus to other top colleges

Name of Institute Info

Government Law Collge (GLC), Mumbai

Know More

Symbiosis Law School(SLS), Pune

Know More

Army Institute of Law (AIL), Mohali

Know More

Benaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi

Know More