LL.M. in Criminal law

LLM Criminal Law Course

L.L.M Criminal Law is a 3- year post-graduate course, designed to deal with actions of intentional harm to individuals, which, in a larger sense, are offenses against humanity. The course is designed to train eligible candidates in finding and catching criminals to prevent crime in the society and maintain a peaceful environment to live in.

The basic eligibility for the pursuance of the course is L.L.B or B.A.- L.L.B from a recognized university. The average annual course fee charged for the course in India ranges between INR 3 and 5 Lacs, varying across institutes.

Successful postgraduates of the course are hired in fields such as Criminal Tribunals, National Legal Institutions, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and others, with an average starting salary ranging between INR 3 and 10 Lacs, increasing with the candidate’s expertise in the field.

What is LLM Criminal Law?

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.

L.L.M Criminal Law: Syllabus and Course Structure

A semester-wise breakup of the syllabus is tabulated below.

L.L.M Criminal Law SEMESTER 1 Syllabus

• Theories of Law
• Research Methodology

L.L.M Criminal Law SEMESTER 2 Syllabus

• Banking Law
• Corporate Jurisprudence

L.L.M Criminal Law SEMESTER 3 Syllabus

• Legal Concepts
• Legislative Process

L.L.M Criminal Law SEMESTER 4 Syllabus

• Corporate Law
• Life and Fire Insurance

L.L.M Criminal Law SEMESTER 5 Syllabus

• Judicial Process
• Law of Intellectual Property 1

L.L.M Criminal Law SEMESTER 6 Syllabus

• Competition Law
• Consumer Law
• Law of Intellectual property 2

Who should pursue LLM in 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 contribute 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.

LLM Criminal Law Application Fees

The LLM Criminal law application fee depends upon the law college/university to which the candidate has applied for. The application fee varies with different law colleges/universities, it tends to be on a higher side for private law schools and on a lower side for government law colleges/universities. In order to discern the accurate application fee for the LLM Criminal law, candidates must check the official website of a particular law college/university to which they are applying.

For general candidates, the LLM criminal law admission application form price ranges from INR 750 to INR 2,000. Applications for reserved classes will cost less, beginning at INR 350.

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.

L.L.M Criminal Law: Eligibility

As a minimum criterion of eligibility, candidates aspiring for admission to the course need to have attained either a 3- year L.L.B. (Bachelor of Laws) degree, or a 5- year long B.A.-L.L.B. degree from a recognized university, with a minimum aggregate score of 55%.

Many institutes prefer students with professional experience, therefore, it is advised for candidates to acquire a work experience of a minimum of 24 months.

L.L.M Criminal Law: Admission Process

Admission to L.L.M Criminal Law course is based on the candidate’s performance in a relevant national, State, or university- level entrance exam, followed by rounds of group discussion and personal interview, wherein the candidate’s aptitude for the course is assessed.

Some of the major entrance examinations conducted in India for admission to L.L.M. in Criminal Law are listed here.

CLAT PG (Common Law Admission Test for L.L.M. course)

AILET PG (All India Law Entrance Test for L.L.M. course)

ILI CAT (Indian Law Institute Common Admission Test)

IPU CET (IP University L.L.M. Entrance Exam).

LLM Criminal Law Application Process

The application process might slightly differ from college to college but the general application process remains uniform throughout the law institutes providing admission to their LLM Criminal Law course. The general application process mostly takes place in an online mode along with the requisite registration fee payment and is mentioned below:

Visit the official website of the institution where you plan to enroll in an LLM programme in criminal law.

Simply click the sign-up link to begin the registration process.

Fill up details like your full name, email address, mobile number, etc. to complete the registration process.

Complete the application form after carefully reading the instructions.

Fill out the registration form by providing your contact information and personal information.

Fill out the application by indicating your educational background, preferred course, available slot, and other pertinent information.

Utilize the online payment methods to submit the application fee.

You can pay the LLM Criminal Law application cost with a credit card, debit card or net banking method of payment.

Review your application form before the final submission online and click submit.

A confirmation email will be sent to the registered email address of candidates.

Candidates can download the payment receipt for future reference.

LLM Criminal Law Subjects

The major subjects in LLM Criminal Law are listed below:

• Criminal Psychology
• Forensic Science
• Criminal Procedures
• Criminal Justice
• Penology & Victimology
• Law Ethics
• Legal Research
• IPC
• CrPC
• Narcotics
• Juvenile Justice

L.L.M Criminal Law: Career Prospects

Successful postgraduates of L.L.M Criminal Law course interested in higher studies in the discipline may go for pursuing Ph.D. or M.Phil. in the subject. Such postgraduates find lucrative employment opportunities in areas such as national legal institutions, law firms, and defense etc.

Criminologists

Detective

Criminal Lawyer

Forensic Science Technician

Lecturer/ Professor

L.L.M Criminal Law: Top Institutes

Listed below are some of the top institutes offering the course in the country with the corresponding locations and fees charged by each.

National Law School of India University (NLSIU)

Faculty of Law, University of Delhi

NALSAR University of Law

The National Law Institute University (NLIU)

Symbiosis Law School

Required Skill Set for LLM Criminal Law

Candidates who are interested in a career in criminal law must be audacious, self-assured, and exceptionally proficient. The following list includes some essential abilities that a candidate has to have in order to succeed in the field of criminal law:

Unbiased

1. Problem-solving ability
2. Persuasiveness
3. Leadership skills
4. Interest in technology
5. Interest in detail
6. Intellect
7. Good at reading charts & graphs
8. Good at multitasking
9. Good at analyzing public policies impacting criminal justice
10. Fluency and clarity of speech
11. Confidence
12. Ability to debate

Good convincing power

1. Good presentation skills
2. Interest in Research
3. Ability to manage stress
4. Good writing ability
5. Ability to assimilate as well as analyze facts
6. Good judge of situation/people
7. Critical Thinking
8. Good observational skills
9. Ability to work in a team
10. Mental and physical stamina
11. Good at collecting information/ data
12. Good decision-making skills

LLM Criminal Law Scope

Opportunities in the field of criminal law are numerous due to the rise in criminal cases. A criminal attorney’s primary responsibility is to represent or defend clients who are charged with crimes. Public defenders are criminal defense attorneys employed by the government. As private criminal attorneys, they are also employable. In public practice, the attorney may work for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) or the Public Defender Service (PDS).

Criminal attorneys typically begin their careers by working as experienced and well-known criminal attorney’s assistants. You can begin working independently once you’ve gained experience. A criminal attorney serves as the client’s advisor and advocate. It takes a lot of patience to work on a case for long hours, which is part of the job description for criminal attorneys in India.

The major responsibilities of a criminal lawyer include client interaction, gathering facts & evidence through witness interviews, and communicating with the client. Additionally, they engage in police interaction and thorough case studies. Depending on the specifics of the job at hand. It can take hours to prepare the proof. Even a bail application for an offense that is not bailable may need hours of planning and study. Since, every situation is different so there’s no set amount of time to gather evidence, prepare documents, etc.

Candidates who are sharp-witted, confident, and with a passion for criminal law will achieve huge success in their careers. In India, there’s a dearth of criminal lawyers and there are so many appeals and pending cases related to criminal law and criminal justice in India. So, there’s a booming demand for law professionals who are specialized in criminal law in order to effectively solve criminal cases while providing relief and justice to the innocents. Not only that criminal law is a highly rewarding career emotionally as well as financially.

Graduates of criminal law can also work for a law firm or open their own practice after passing the bar exam. They may also be employed by the high court, the trial court, or the session court.