A Non-Law Student’s Guide to Starting an Integrated Law Career

Integrated law courses open up for students from non-legal backgrounds right after 12th grade.
UniList Desk

Updated Nov 29, 2025 | 05:32 PM IST

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Scores of children in India wish to pursue legal studies. However, the majority begin in completely diverse fields: biology, mathematics, and history, among others. Now, the plus point: no prior knowledge of law? No issue. Integrated courses invite all those students who have completed their schooling, literally anyone. It suits candidates eager to get into the streams of law as soon as possible while building good foundations in the process.

What Are Integrated Law Programs?

Integrated law courses combine undergraduate studies with legal training. Instead of completing college before attending law school, students work on both in tandem through one program.
Some popular combined law courses in India:
  • BA LL.B. (Bachelor of Arts + Law)
  • BBA LL.B. (Business Administration + Law)
  • BSc LL.B. (Science + Law)
  • BCom LL.B. (Commerce + Law)
Most of these courses take approximately half a decade.
Law degrees combine fundamental legal subjects with principles from the chosen field. In that way, students learn how legislation works in technologies, businesses, societies, or the environment. As they learn about both aspects simultaneously, they can comprehend better the actual connections between them. Neither part obscures the other, but rather complements it. This integration makes learning more pragmatic instead of purely conceptual.

Who is Eligible to Take Admission to Integrated Law Courses?

It is open to every learner who completes Grade 12 under an approved system.
You don't have to know any law beforehand—just come as you are.
Students who pursued science, commerce, or arts may also apply. Admission criteria vary depending on the state-owned university.
Most of the schools seek about 45 to 50 percent in the twelfth grade.

Entrance Exams for Integrated Law Programs

Admission to public law schools is done largely based on test scores. The different nationwide or regional tests for combined law courses are:
  • Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) – For the National Law Universities (NLUs)
  • All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) – For National Law University Delhi
  • MHCET Law – For government law colleges in Maharashtra
  • PU BA-BCom LL.B Admission Exam – Conducted by Punjab University
  • CUET – Utilized in some national-level institutions
These tests check your skills in English, thinking ability, understanding of laws, and general knowledge.

Government Colleges Offering Integrated Law Courses

A few government institutions that provide combined law programs:
  • National Law Universities (NLUs) across India, through CLAT
  • National Law University Delhi (through AILET)
  • Faculty of Law, University of Delhi (select integrated courses via CUET)
  • Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi
  • Punjab University, Chandigarh
  • Government Law College (GLC), Mumbai
  • Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Law University, Tamil Nadu
These schools stand out, as they offer good teaching; compared to private colleges, they are more affordable and provide students with decent job opportunities after graduation.

Subjects That Students Study in Integrated Law Courses

Young learners study both field-related topics alongside legal ones. Typical courses cover, for instance:
  • Constitutional Law
  • Criminal Law
  • Contract Law
  • Family Law
  • Property Law
  • Environmental Law
  • Corporate Law
  • Cyber Law
Young people acquire helpful skills, such as:
  • Moot court practice
  • Legal writing
  • Research methods
  • Drafting of legal documents
This way, students get ready for actual courtroom experience.

Advantages of Joining an Integrated Law Program

Saves Time
Graduation plus a law degree now takes five years, not six; it cuts down on time due to the streamlined courses that move faster than the traditional route.
Strong Foundation
Pupils from day one are involved with legal studies, allowing a better understanding of the concepts.
More Career Options
Possible career paths for graduates could include:
  • Lawyers
  • Legal experts
  • Corporate legal associates
  • Public prosecutors
  • Government legal officers
  • Judges (after passing tests)
  • Legal researchers
Affordable Education
Public law schools offer quality education without the hefty price tag.
Good Exposure
Students land placements at courts or government offices, sometimes in legal practices, non-profits, or corporations.
Growth in Legal Sector
The demand for legal professionals is fast-growing in India, especially in areas related to technology law, online safety, environmental laws, or business regulations. This opens solid opportunities for newcomers in the legal profession.
Students without a law background can directly enter integrated law programs after Class 12. For candidates who want to pursue legal studies at the earliest, these avenues facilitate the development of strong skills while securing a good future career. Rather than wait, they take exams like CLAT, AILET, or CUET for admission to top public institutions and national law schools across the country.
The law degrees that combine subjects provide hands-on experience and open the gates to various jobs; hence, many students in India opt for them. Instead of mere theory, during their study course, they get practical exposure.

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