Consumer Law is a specialisation in the study of law that is about protecting the interests of consumers or the public at large. A popular field of study for businesses and corporations, Consumer Law ensures that the corporate sector or the business does not exploit consumers. It is a set of laws whose objective is to protect people or consumers from business practices that are unfair and exploiting.
Consumer Law can be defined as that area of law which offers protection to the consumer when they head out to purchase a product or a service. It makes sure of the fact that people are protected against certain corporate issues like fraud or mis-selling. Consumer Law also ensures that the market abides by all the rules and regulations that are listed out by the directive of this law.
The course of Consumer Law can be pursued at the undergraduate (UG) as well as the postgraduate (PG) level. In a bachelor\’s programme, candidates will have to study the subject as a part of the integrated law course that they opt for and they can specialise in the field of Consumer Law later on. However, in the master\’s degree, students can choose Consumer Law as their area of specialisation and study the course in detail. Apart from these degree programmes, diploma and certificate courses are also offered in Consumer Law. Some of these popular courses include Diploma in Consumer Protection, Post Graduate Diploma in Consumer Law, and the likes.
Consumer Law: Course Highlights
Check the table given below to find out the basic details of Consumer Law.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
Name of the Course | Consumer Law |
Stream | Law |
Levels of Programme Available | Diploma, Certificate, Undergraduate, Postgraduate |
Mode of the Course | Full-Time/ Part-Time |
| Duration of the Course | 1 – 2 Years |
Exam Type | Semester System |
Admission Process | Through Merit or Through Entrance Exams |
Fees Range | Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 2,00,000 |
Consumer Law Eligibility Criteria
Any candidate who is looking forward to taking admission to a course of Consumer Law must first check whether he/ she qualifies its eligibility criteria or not. Every college or institute has a specific set of conditions that might differ from each other and it is compulsory for all students to fulfil the eligibility criteria of Consumer Law of the particular college in order to be able to pursue the specialisation from there. In case an aspirant applies for admission to the desired college without meeting the eligibility criteria for that particular consumer law course, he/ she will not be considered for admission. The general Consumer Law eligibility criteria have been provided below.
- It is mandatory for the student to have completed his/ her education up to a certain degree for the level of consumer law course that he/ she wishes to take admission in.
- For admission to a bachelor level course, the student is required to have completed class 12th from a recognised board of education in any stream. Bachelor of Law admissions are open for candidates who have a graduation degree in any discipline.
- If the student seeks admission to the degree of Mater of Law, it is mandatory for him/ her to have completed an undergraduate degree in law from a recognised university.
- In order to be eligible for diploma programmes in Consumer Law, candidates will have to complete their higher secondary education or class 12th from a school that is affiliated to a recognised board of education. Some colleges may also ask the students to have a bachelor\’s degree.
- Admission to the certificate level courses in consumer law is applicable for candidates who have completed their class 10th or class 12th and have secured passing marks in all the subjects.
- The aggregate marks scored by candidates in their qualifying examinations must not be less than 45 to 50 per cent.
- There is a provision in some colleges where some relaxation in the aggregate marks is provided to the candidates who belong to the reserved categories.
Consumer Law Admission Process
The selection process of candidates for the courses of Consumer Law is done is generally done in two ways. They are:
- Entrance Examinations
- Direct Admission Through Merit in Qualifying Examination
In some institutions, the applicants are selected after they have appeared for an entrance examination. Some national level, state level, and university level examinations are accepted for admission to Consumer Law programmes at various colleges or universities. Some institutes may also conduct their own individual exams in order to assess the knowledge of applicants before shortlisting them.
Some universities and colleges select students on the basis of their performance in the bachelor’s degree and give them direct admission provided they clear the cut-off criteria. Students must note that due to the number of seats being limited at almost every college, preference is given to those candidates who have higher aggregate marks than the other applicants during the selection process.
Consumer Law Entrance Exams
Given below are some of the top law Entrance exam that candidates can take for admission to a course of Consumer Law.
- Common Law Admission Test(CLAT)
- All India Law Entrance Test(AILET)
- Law School Admission Test(LSAT India)
- MH CET Law
- AP LAWCET
- AP PGLSET
- TS LAWCET
- TS PGLSET
Consumer Law Syllabus
The table given below provides an idea of the syllabus that is included in the study of Consumer Law as a specialisation. However, all colleges and institutes have a course curriculum that differs to a certain extent.
| Introduction to Law and Legal Systems | Protection of Consumers in the Online Market |
|---|---|
| Consumer Friendly Legislations and Regulatory Institutions in the Era of Globalisation | Introduction to Product Liability and Consumer Protection Act |
| Consumer Protection: Issues and Acts | Anti-Competitive Trade Practices and Protection of Consumers in the Era of Globalisation |
| Consumer’s Access to Justice: Speedy Resolution of Consumer Disputes | Projects, Assignments, and Internships |
| The Importance of Consumer Law | Application Oriented Course in Consumer Studies |
Consumer Law Career Options and Job Prospects
The career scope of a candidate who secures a degree in Consumer Law is vast and has been growing at a rapid speed. One of the popular law specialisations, Consumer Law is not only in demand in the corporate sector but in other fields as well. Any individual who studies Consumer Law has a plethora of opportunities awaiting him/ her. The job opportunities and career scope of Consumer Law have been mentioned below. One of the major reasons why this is a sought-after specialisation is that laws related to Consumer Law tend to change often and quickly. Candidates also have the option of pursuing higher education in the same specialisation.
- Lawyer
- Legal Counsel
- Law Practitioner at a Private Law Firm
- Government Employee
- Legal Executive
- Judge
- Solicitor
- Employee at NGOs
- Lecturer