LLM Course Duration: How Long Does It Take to Get an LLM?

In today’s competitive world, there is no such field that has no competition. The law field is one of the toughest subjects to study and stl there is hell lot of competition among the aspirants. This LLM program helps students enhance their legal skills like effective communication, time management, legal research skills, legal draft documentation, critical analysis, problem-solving skills, and more. This program opens the gate to the huge opportunities from the national and international organizations. Also, this degree offers the opportunity to work within a court of law. Additionally, this program provides you with a deep understanding of the subjects in a particular domain.

What is an LLM Course?

LLM is a 2-year program that allows students to invest their time in their dream degree which ultimately results in living their dream lives. LLM stands for Master of Law. This comes with multiple specializations including LL.M. (International and Comparative Law), LL.M. (Corporate and Commercial Law), LL.M. (Family and Social Security Law), LL.M. (Criminal and Security Law), LL.M. (Constitutional and Administrative Law), LL.M. (Legal Pedagogy and Research), and more. This master’s program focuses on one specific domain of the legal field. Also, after completion of an LLM, it opens a wide gateway of opportunities to work with organizations and in the court of law.

Eligibility of an LLM Course

• Students must have completed their bachelor’s degree in law Field i.e., LLB (Bachelor of Law). 
• To get admission to an LLM program, students must have attempted the all-India-based exam conducted specifically for this purpose either by the university itself or by the government of India.
• The merit list will decide who can take admission and who can not.

Duration of LLM Course

Depending on the college and specialization decided on, an LLM application in India normally lasts 1 to 2 years. The University Grants Commission (UGC) released the one-year LLM program in 2013 intending to supply a faster, extra rigorous route for attorneys who want to specialize without committing to an extended-time period program. Practicing lawyers or law graduates who need to quickly advance their expertise in a specific area, such as corporate law, constitutional law, or international law, would discover this program appealing. It frequently includes disturbing coursework with theoretical and realistic components, enabling college students to complete their training and go back to the workforce faster.

However, a few universities still offer the two-year LLM diploma, which gives a greater thorough educational experience. It is ideal for all and thinking about a future in academia, advanced legal research, or specialized consulting employment because it contains more coursework, seminars, and frequently a better emphasis on research. The two-year program gives students the risks to analyze greater approximately the legal subject matter they have got selected and, in a few situations, to put in writing a thesis or research paper. This can be a huge advantage for individuals who need to get a PhD. Or teach law. With the one-year LLM appealing to professionals looking for quick promotions and the 2-year LLM imparting a greater comprehensive academic basis, each program is designed to meet certain professional pathways and learning objectives.

Skills required to learn for an LLM program

• Advanced Research Skills: The capability to locate, compare, and synthesize elaborate legal writings, rules, and case regulations with orders to bolster legal views and high-degree arguments. 
• Critical thinking and analysis: The potential to assess felony arguments significantly, spot underlying presumptions, and draw well-reasoned conclusions in complex prison matters. 
• Effective legal writing: Proficiency in crafting succinct, lucid, and organized legal files, including research papers, case research, and criminal memoranda, is a prerequisite for powerful legal writing. 
• Time management: Excellent organizational abilities to successfully manage the schedule of an LLM while juggling a variety of reading, coursework, studies assignments, and deadlines.
• Oral communication and advocacy: The potential to truly explicit standards and legal arguments in consumer meetings, seminars, or moot court settings.
• Ethical judgment and advocacy: A strong feeling of professional ethics to address ethical issues and preserve the norms and concepts of the legal profession.
• Cross-cultural competence: Analyzing and comparing diverse legal structures and practices requires knowledge of and comprehension of world and cultural viewpoints.
• Legal technology proficiency: Expertise in legal software, digital research databases, and different technological tools that enhance criminal research and practice efficiency in the contemporary day.

Is it worth pursuing an LLM program?

Well, pursuing an LLM degree is worth every single penny you spend on your education. This program offers you both name and fame at the same time. But patience is required in this field. Your experience will speak for itself for you. Let’s see what are the reasons that pursuing this degree is worth it.

• Career advancements: if you are looking to advance your career and knowledge as well in the field of law, then you must go for an LLM after completing an LLB. Even if you are a working professional then also you should pursue an LLM as it will increase your knowledge and enhance your skills related to the legal field like time management, legal research, drafting, critical thinking, and more.
• Legal research practice: getting mastery in the legal field is one of the best decisions you would make after completing your LLM degree. Pursuing a Master’s in law will help you with legal research skills as during this program, research skills are required at a much higher level than it was required in your LLB.
• Legal knowledge: Your information of specialized fields like corporate law, human rights, or international law is improved with an LLM. You can stand out in crowded industries or be considered for specialized positions with this advanced legal knowledge.
• Legal community exposure: Through the program, you may interact with teachers, experienced practitioners, and like-minded colleagues in an academic and professional legal setting.
• Industry Exposure: A lot of LLM applications offer you practical experience in a certain legal subject via internships, clinics, or case research related to actual legal situations.
• Increase your network: By connecting you with a global community of academics, experts, and alumni, an LLM allows you to construct enduring contacts that will gain your career.
• More opportunities: LLM graduates regularly have greater professional options in legal firms, corporations, and authority organizations because of their specialized knowledge and progressed qualifications.
• Becoming a Law Professor: An LLM is an important first step if you want to pursue a career in academia since it gives the advanced knowledge required for each coaching and legal research.

Why to pursue an LLM program?

After completing an LLB (Bachelor of Law), students or individuals have multiple reasons to pursue an LLM (Master of Law) program with certain specializations. Let’s see why people seek to pursue an LLM program

• Advance their career: People who have completed their LLB degrees, think to stand out of the crowd and other lawyers to get a good job and thus they think to pursue an LLM degree in their desired specialization.
• To get a deeper understanding of a specific niche: People who have an interest in a specific domain in the legal field after completing an LLB degree, go for higher studies so that they can get closure to certain topics or to get a deeper understanding of the subject they are interested in. LLM allows you to get an in-depth knowledge of any particular domain so that you can become a law professional in a particular domain like criminal law, family law, tax law, international law, and more.
• Networking opportunities: While pursuing an LLM program, students get the opportunity to widen their networks by interacting with professors, peers, and other guest faculty. These connections will help them in the future if they get stuck with some case of seeking any sort of legal advice. Networking plays a vital role in advancing their careers.
• International recognition: LLM is a legal degree that is not only recognized in India but also in foreign jurisdictions. Here is the twist, such professionals need to focus more on their future perspectives. For international recognition, you need to take certain qualifying exams or fulfill some requirements. After getting the green flag to work in foreign countries, you can easily expand your legal career globally.
• Further studies: If you are a knowledge freak, then you should pursue an LLM after completing your LLB. This will give you a deeper understanding of the topics and allow you to gain more knowledge with the help of legal practices. As this is a master’s degree, you can master a certain niche and domain. This will help you gain as much knowledge as you want. Well, it completely depends on your dedication and interest in the subject.

List of universities offering LLM Courses

 Multiple universities are offering LLM programs. Following are a few of the universities that offer LLM programs and are recognized by the statutory bodies.

Professions after LLM Course

Numerous superior legal occupations are available to those with an LLM degree. Graduates can work as specialized solicitors in regions like intellectual belongings, tax law, or international law at law firms.  Additionally, there are opportunities in corporate legal departments where LLM holders can also provide recommendations on labor law, mergers, acquisitions, and compliance. Positions targeting environmental policy, human rights, or public interest law are to be held in authority groups and non-governmental establishments (NGOs) for the ones inquisitive about public service or policy.

LLM graduates can work in academia as regulation professors or researchers, advancing prison education and study. An LLM is adaptable for plenty of excessive-effect occupations on account that consulting roles are to be had to advocate corporations and legal governments on complex legal challenges.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the period of an LLM program in India—whether or not it be one or two years—gives flexibility to accommodate a range of professional goals. The one-year program gives a focused and deep learning experience, perfect for experts who want to specialize and develop their jobs unexpectedly. The two-year application, then again, serves students who need to go deeper into academics, often supplying research possibilities that might result in teaching or other studies. The duration of the course chosen depends on the professional goals and preferred studying style of each student, both choices offer a strong basis for professional development.