A postgraduate law program called the Master of Law in Criminal Law or LLM Criminal Law is geared toward students who desire to work as defense attorneys, litigation officers, or detectives. Aspirants are able to comprehend the various facets of court procedures and legal principles thanks to the training. Graduates of this curriculum are also given responsibility for formulating public policy, implementing measures to reduce crime, and protecting the rights of crime victims.
Candidates can pursue LLM course after completion of their 3 year or 5 year LLB program. A lot of reputed law institutes provide admission to their two-year/three-year LLM program based on national-level, university-level or state-level law entrance examinations like CLAT, AILET, TS LAWCET, etc. Few law institutes provide admission on merit-basis as well.
LLM course is offered through offline and distance learning mode. The normal duration of an LLM course is two years in India but it can be of three years duration if done through distance education. The average course fee for an LLM postgraduate course is around INR 2 – 3 lakhs. A few of the top colleges providing LLM courses are NLU Kolkata, Siksha O Anusandhan University, Symbiosis Law School, etc.
LL.M Criminal Law Highlights
The highlights section will provide you with an overview of the LLM Criminal Law important components like LLM Criminal Law course duration, LLM Criminal Law course fee, LLM Criminal Law top colleges, LLM Criminal Law salary, etc.
| Course Name | Master of Legislative Law (LLM) |
|---|---|
| Course Specialization | Criminal Law |
| Course Level | Post-graduate |
| Duration | 2 years or 3 years |
| Eligibility | LLB or BA LLB degree from a recognized university with a minimum aggregate percentage of 50% or above |
| Admission Process | Counseling after taking entrance examination/ Merit-based admission including personal interview, group discussion/written test followed by counseling |
| Examination Type | Semester based |
| Application Process | Online |
| Entrance Exams | CLAT, AILET, TS LAWCET, SET, LSAT India, etc. |
| Course Fee | INR 2 to 4 lakhs |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 3 to 10 lakhs |
| Top Employment Areas | Colleges & universities, Criminal Tribunals, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, etc. |
| Top Recruiters | Lawtendo, Space Consultants, Universal Hunt, RJ Cube Staffing Solutions PVT. Ltd., Sairam Law Associates, International Justice Mission |
A widely popular area of law is criminal law. Criminal law encompasses the laws, legislation, and norms that specify behavior that is against the law when it endangers the welfare and safety of the public. Criminal law also specifies a penalty that may be applied to someone or a group of persons who break any laws.
Thus, crimes against society or the state are the focus of criminal law. The practice of criminal law is one of the oldest legal disciplines. Those who pursue this legal specialty interview clients, question witnesses, conduct trials, correlate evidence and results, prepare a case on behalf of their client, and examine and cross-examine witnesses in court.
Candidates have the option of pursuing both undergraduate and graduate programmes in the area of criminal law. In order to specialize in Criminal Legal in UG level courses, candidates must complete integrated law programmes; however, in PG level law schools, candidates can specialize in Criminal Law right away. LLM in Criminal Law, LLM in Criminal and Security Law, LLM in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice and Administrative Law, LLM in Criminal and Business Law, LLM in Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, etc. are some of the well-known PG level courses provided in the topic of criminal law.
Candidates may also enroll in diploma and certificate programmes in the area of criminal law in addition to these degree programmes. The Post Graduate Diploma in Criminal Law, the Post Graduate Diploma in Criminal Justice, and similar programmes are a few of these well-liked courses.
Who should pursue LLM Criminal Law?
Since the line of employment needs them to respond to hypothetical legal concerns regarding criminal acts, qualified applicants who choose to follow the course would preferably have an inventive mind. Such candidates would be eager to make a contribution to the legal, judicial, and allied spheres. The Master\’s degree programme is appropriate for studying the central concerns and guiding principles of criminal law. The most significant criminal offenses under Indian law will be covered, and you\’ll practice answering hypothetical legal questions on criminal offenses. Good communication abilities, an analytical mindset, a spirit of cooperation, and similar traits are required.
Why pursue LLM Criminal Law?
Candidates with this specialization are in high demand given the state of the present criminal justice system and the need for improvements. In the past, many renowned attorneys had a solid reputation and commanded substantial fees for taking on criminal cases. The number of criminal offenses has significantly increased throughout the years. As a result, a criminal law course would be quite useful for attorneys. Lawyers can enrol in specialised courses in criminology and forensic science, cybercrime, domestic violence, human rights, and sexual abuse after completing their LLB and LLM degrees.
They can work as assistants in private law offices to gain experience and learn how to argue cases before starting their own firms and representing themselves. Additionally, they can provide legal counsel for businesses that hire them. They can advocate for a particular case on behalf of the general public as a public prosecutor or on behalf of the suspect as a private attorney.
A few more benefits of studying LLM in Criminal Law are mentioned below:
- Those who want to deepen their awareness of the criminal justice system and particular criminal law concerns can benefit from taking up LLM Criminal Law course.
- An LLM degree in criminal law is a prerequisite for higher-level coursework in this area, such as a Ph.D or M.Phil
- You can use the course to pursue a career in criminal law, public service, or any other field where success depends on your capacity to comprehend, evaluate, and react to changes in criminal law.
- LLM Criminal Law graduates can also apply for positions as instructors in law schools.