Ph.D (Law): Course Details, Eligibility, Duration, Fees, Admission

Duration: 5 Years
Avg Fees: ₹10K - 2 LPA
Kripal Thapa
Kripal Thapa

PhD in Law is a full-time research degree commonly offered as a three to a five-year degree program, implements a multidisciplinary approach that deals to impart students with the required theoretical background and research skills. After completion of the PhD in Law in India, the graduates are hired for several leadership roles in Judiciary, Business, Academics as well as Government, etc.

Ph.D in Law Course Details

Degree Doctorate
Full Form Doctor of Philosophy in Law
Duration 5 Years
Subjects Required Subjects corresponding to post graduation degree or M.Phil in Law in similar stream
Minimum Percentage With a minimum of 55% marks from a recognized institute
Average Fees ₹10K - 2 LPA
Average Salary INR 5 - 12 LPA
Employment Roles Lawyers, Solicitors, Jurists, Researchers, etc.

About PhD in Law

The PhD in Law is a full-time research degree and may be awarded after three to four years of supervised independent research on the basis of a thesis not exceeding 100,000 words exclusive of bibliography, table of contents and any other preliminary dissertation elements. The course falls under the umbrella of PhD.

According to Wikipedia, "Doctor of Law or Doctor of Laws is a degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country and includes degrees such as the Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D. or S.J.D), Juris Doctor (J.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), and Legum Doctor (LL.D.).” 

Table of Contents

Eligibility Criteria for PhD in Law

The minimum eligibility criteria of the program are qualifying LLM or M.Phil in Law or Legal Studies with a minimum of 55% aggregate in the discipline passed from a recognized university. Selection of the candidates for admission in PhD is done on the basis of entrance examination or merit. PhD in Law admission is on the basis of the scores of entrance tests conducted by various universities. There is no age limit for the course.

How To Get Admission in a PhD in Law?

To get admitted into the best PhD in Law colleges in India, students must ensure that they satisfy the eligibility criteria. Aspirants are alleged to have passed the state or national level entrance exams held by different universities and government bodies. Candidates who are willing to get admission in this stream can apply to colleges by both offline and online means. Mentioned below is the general guidelines for the admission process:

How to Apply?

PhD in Law eligibility information for admission can be found on the colleges' official websites. Candidates can either browse the official website of the institute or visit the admission office of the institute to fill out the admission application form. Aspirants should then fill out the application form required and upload all the necessary documents required for admission.

Selection Process

Admission is strictly offered to only those candidates who clear the minimum cut-off. Applicants clearing the cut-off are shortlisted for the selection process. After completion of the process of application, students must appear for the counselling round and attend the personal interview round as part of the final steps for admission. And the interview decides whether the candidate will be allotted a seat or not.

The applicants need to clear the entrance examination conducted by UGC or state to secure a seat in the top PhD in Law colleges in India. Some of the top entrance exams applicable for M.Phil programs are:

A Quick Glance at the PhD in Law Entrance Exams

To get into the top PhD in Law colleges in India, a candidate should clear the test. To prepare for the entrance exams, the candidates should know the PhD in Law course details, the syllabus, the question pattern, and should prepare according to it. 

  • The exam is divided into objective and subjective type questions for a total of 100 marks and the total time duration is of 2 to 3 hours.
  • The questions are asked from topics related to Law.
  • The examination has subjective elements designed to assess a candidate’s analytical and critical thinking abilities.

Top 10 PhD in Law Colleges in India

Students can opt for the top government colleges for PhD in Law in India, or the most premium private colleges in India depending upon their ranking. Here is the list of top 10 colleges for PhD in Law in India for reference: 

Sl. No. Name of the Institute
1 JNU
2 University of Hyderabad
3 Calcutta University
4 Bharathiar University
5 Amity University, Noida
6 Loyola College
7 Madras Christian College
8 Christ University
9 Sri Krishnadevaraya University
10 Sardar Patel University

Fee Structure for PhD in Law

The average PhD in Law fees in India ranges from INR 10,000 - 2 LPA depending on the colleges or the universities offering the course. The fees may vary according to the college or university based on the type of institute, location, infrastructure, faculties, and facilities available. Listed below is the average annual fee for some colleges:

Sl. No. Name of the Institute Average Annual Fees
1 Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi INR 42,000 PA
2 Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana INR 3,984 PA
3 Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (BAMU), Aurangabad, Maharashtra INR 1,181 PA
4 Banasthali University, Vanasthali, Rajasthan INR 74,500 PA
5 Amity University, Noida INR 1 LPA

Syllabus and Subjects for PhD in Law

PhD in Law course duration for three to five years. The curriculum and syllabus of a PhD in Law can vary as per the specialization as well as the academic institution. A PhD in Law implements a multidisciplinary approach and aims to impart students with the required theoretical background and research skills in the former part of the program. Some of the compulsory subjects are:

  • Human Rights Law
  • International Business
  • Judicial Process
  • Public Law
  • Foundation of Business Law

Read More About PhD in Law Syllabus and Subjects

Why Choose PhD in Law?

Students often wonder about PhD in Law details before choosing the course. Before deciding on a career, students come across queries like, "What is PhD in Law course?" and "Why choose PhD in Law?”. To clearly understand the answers to these questions, we have framed the following three pointers:

What is PhD in Law All About?

PhD in Law course in India is a three years full-time doctorate programme within the field of Law. PhD in Legal Studies involves research and a tutorial approach to the study of Law. After completing the course, graduates can choose to become Legal Practitioners, Legal Advisors, Consultants, Researchers, Jurists, Caseworkers, Lawyers, Solicitors and others.

What Does a PhD in Law Graduate Do?

Those who hold a doctorate in Law find themselves highly qualified for positions such as Legal Professionals, Researchers, Professors, Policy-Makers and many more. Graduates from PhD in Law programs can seek leadership positions in High Courts, International Humanitarian Bodies, Governments, Organizations and Commerce.

Lawyer: A Lawyer is a person who practices law and fights legal battles for people. Lawyers provide counsel and represent businesses, individuals, and government agencies in legal matters and disputes. They advise, research, and collect evidence or information, draft legal documents such as contracts, divorces, or real estate transactions, and defend or prosecute in court.

Reasons Why PhD in Law Can Fetch You a Rewarding Career?

Working towards a PhD in Law is a process that develops the candidate in ways besides their specific understanding and knowledge of the subject they are researching. The completion of a PhD in Law degree program is a notable achievement and is valued very highly both inside and outside of academia. 

Career Scope and Options: Students after the successful completion of a PhD program have a large opportunity to explore various areas of professional life. Candidates have a good scope to explore their knowledge, skills, training and apply the tools in areas like Law organizations, Businesses, Government and personal organizations, Legal department, Research and Development, Colleges and Universities and others. 

Read More About PhD in Law Jobs

Preparation Tips for PhD in Law

Having a PhD in Law degree opens up thriving career opportunities. Some tips for entrance exams are:

Get To Know The Syllabus: The syllabus of the course is something that a student should know, this helps the student to know how to perform at the time of the examination.

Study The Current Affairs: Updating Current Affairs regularly also helps in preparing for some aspects of the exam.

Practice Makes Perfect: Go through all the subjects and the modules that are taught in the duration of the course.

Salary of a PhD in Law Graduate

The salary of a PhD holder will differ with field, designation and experience. As a fresher, the average salary ranges around INR 2 - 4.5 LPA. It will increase up to INR 5 - 12 LPA [Source: Glassdoor], depending on a graduate's skills and experience. Experience and skills will increase the job scope. And for a Professor, government colleges provide a salary of INR 5.8 LPA [Source: Glassdoor].

Read More About PhD in Law Salary

Career Options After PhD in Law

After completion of PhD in Law, the graduates can work as Assistant Professor in different universities. Candidates have a good scope to explore their knowledge, skills, training and apply the tools in areas like Law Organizations, Businesses, Government and personal organizations, Legal Department, Research and Development, Colleges and Universities and others. Here are some job positions available after graduating in literature:

  • Legal Practitioners
  • Legal Advisors
  • Consultants
  • Researcher
  • Jurist
  • Caseworker
  • Lawyer
  • Solicitor

Skills That Make You The Best PhD in Law Graduate

For a field like Law, a doctoral degree is suitable for those who want to pursue their career as legal scholars and teachers. A PhD in Law incorporates intense coursework followed by detailed research in the chosen specialization. Must have skills are:

  • Analytical Thinking
  • Critical Thinking
  • Good Management Skills
  • Good Organizational Skills
  • Research and Problem Solving Skills
  • Strategic Communication Skills

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