Top 20 Law colleges in India are those educational institutions that are considered the best to study law. Students willing to study law for a bright career can look forward to these top 20 law colleges in India. Study of law in these top 20 law colleges in India brightens the career prospects.
A degree in law from these top 20 law colleges in India enhance the esteem of the students.
The motive behind bringing out the list of top law colleges in India is to help students make a better choice when it comes to searching a college for studying law.
Top 20 Law colleges in India
The list of these top 20 law colleges in India is provided below for the sake of students:
1. National Law School of India University (NLSIU, Bangalore)
NLSIU was the first National Law University established in India in 1986.
The premier law school was set up with a mission to pioneer legal education reforms, and to anchor the transformation of the Indian legal system through research and policy interventions.
Consequently, NLSIU was one of the first institutions in the country to introduce the five-year integrated law degree at the undergraduate level with the commencement of the first batch in 1988.
And for over 30 years now, the University has irrefutably remained a leader in the field of legal education in the country.
Top 20 Law colleges in India – This long-standing record has been possible due to the strong collaborations between legal academics, the Bar, the Bench and the State Government of Karnataka.
NLSIU was established under the National Law School of India Act (Karnataka Act 22 of 1986), which was notified in the official Gazette August 29, 1987.
This Act conferred complete administrative and academic autonomy to the University which is housed in the Bengaluru University campus.
It is the basic governing document for the University & all persons associated with it.
NLSIU has consistently strived to push for a paradigm shift in the field of legal education.
This is one among the top 20 law colleges in India The website to know more is ‘https://www.nls.ac.in/’
2. National Law University (New Delhi)
This is also one of the institution that made an ever lasting impression as far as legal education is concerned.
The primary objective of the University is to evolve and impart comprehensive and interdisciplinary legal education that is socially relevant.
Through this education, we aim to promote legal and ethical values and foster the rule of law and the objectives enshrined in the Constitution of India.
Also the University works toward dissemination of legal knowledge and its role in national development, so that the ability to analyze and present contemporary issues of public concern and their legal implications for the benefit of the public is improved.
These processes strive to promote legal awareness in the community and to achieve political, social and economic justice.
The institution aspires to make legal education justice education, as an instrument of social, political and economic change.
Each individual who is part of this institution must be remembered for the promotion of social justice.
The institution also wishes to shape its students as change agents as the country achieves its social and developmental goals.
This also among the top law colleges in India and official website to know more is ‘https://nludelhi.ac.in/home.aspx’
3. NALSAR University of Law (Hyderabad)
There is no dearth of high worth institutions for studying law and this institution also attracts the attention students considerably every admission season.
Also known as National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) University of Law is located at Shamirpet in Telangana. The institution commenced its innings in 1998.
The institution was established by an act of State Legislative Assembly (Act 34 of 1998) by state of Andhra Pradesh.
Top 20 Law colleges in India – The university offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in law and postgraduate programs in business administration.
It is one of the autonomous law schools in India. It is spread over an area of 55 acres and is divided into five precincts.
NALSAR offers five year BA LLB Hons progamme and one year post graduate LLM programme.
The facilities for students are world class and the biggest asset of this institution is highly qualified faculty.
Needless to say this is also one among the top 20 law colleges in India.
The official website to know more is ‘https://www.nalsar.ac.in/’
4. National Law University (Jodhpur)
NLUJ is one of India’s leading law schools situated at the vibrant and colorful city of Jodhpur in Rajasthan.
NLUJ has constantly been ranked as one of the top 20 law schools in India.
Since its establishment in 1999, NLUJ has endeavoured to produce exceptional lawyers and legal scholars aimed at pushing and challenging the existing boundaries of knowledge.
The institution constantly motivates its students to be innovative and bring out the best in them.
Top 10 law colleges in India – And that is why the institution attracts students from various social, cultural and religious backgrounds from all corners of India.
Students passing out from NLUJ work in top law firms in India and abroad, some practice in courts and while some have entered the field of legal academics.
NLUJ students have also pursued further studies on prestigious scholarships at leading Universities in the world including Harvard, Yale, Oxford, LSE and King’s.
The University has developed a holistic approach towards understanding law and justice from a multi-disciplinary perspective.
The University offers unique five year integrated undergraduate programs – B.B.A., LL.B.(Hons.), B.A., LL.B.(Hons.) to generate especially skilled global legal professionals.
These integrated programs offer highly demanding honors courses in various facets of law such as Constitutional Law, Business Law, Trade Law, International Law, Criminal Law and Intellectual Property Rights Law.
The University’s one year LL.M. programs in Corporate Laws, IPR and Technology Laws aim to harness young talent for reaching the pinnacle of legal perfection.
The University also offers LL.D. and Ph.D. programs in the quest for attaining excellence in higher education.
This educational institution is among the top 20 law colleges in India. The official website to know more in India is ‘http://www.nlujodhpur.ac.in/index-main.php’
5. Symbiosis Law School (Maharashtra)
Symbiosis is a Greek term meaning ‘Living together for the mutual benefit of each other.’
Symbiosis is an educational and cultural center of international standards established in 1971, under the patronage of Dr. S. B. Mujumdar, President & Founder Director.
It is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950.
Symbiosis Law School of Pune established in June 1977, was earlier affiliated to the University of Pune and later became a constituent of Symbiosis International University in 2002, with an enhanced degree of autonomy in teaching, learning and research.
Being the meeting point of all kinds of talent in the legal arena, the institution takes a place of pride among the flagship institutions of the Symbiosis International University.
Various rating agencies hold this institution with high esteem, India Today Nelson Survey ranked the institute among the top 10 law schools of India in 2013 and the Bar Council of India conferred it with the Gold-star Award in 2013.
In a journey of 38 years, Symbiosis Law School, Pune has achieved various milestones in teaching, learning and research.
It is the first law college in Pune to offer evening law programs and is one of the pioneers of the five year law program.
Needless to say, this is among the top 20 law colleges in India and the official website of the institution is ‘https://www.symlaw.ac.in/’
6. Faculty of Law, Jamia Millia Islamia (New Delhi)
The Faculty of Law at Jamia Millia Islamia was established in 1989.
At the outset a three year LL.B. programme was introduced.
Over the past two decades, the Faculty has made significant progress in terms of restructuring of courses and syllabi.
The faculty has introduced new courses, experimented with innovative techniques of imparting legal education and strengthening its clinical programme in order to give due emphasis to the expanding horizons of the legal profession.
In its continuous endeavours in this regard, the Faculty has since introduced a five year integrated B.A.,LL.B (Hons.) Programme from the academic session 2002-2003 thereby replacing the three year LL.B. Course.
It also introduced a two year Post-graduate Programme (LL.M.) in three specialized streams of Personal Laws, Corporate Laws and Criminal Laws and a Ph.D. programme, both having commenced from the academic session 2000- 2001.
Excellency has become a norm here long ago and this is one of the top 20 law colleges in India. The official website of the institution is ‘https://www.jmi.ac.in/law’
7. Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (Punjab)
RGNUL was established by the State Legislature of Punjab by passing the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab Act, 2006 (Punjab Act No. 12 of 2006).
The Act incorporated a University of Law of national stature in Punjab, thereby fulfilling the need for a Centre of Excellence in legal education in the modern era of globalization and liberalization.
RGNUL started functioning from its Headquarters-Mohindra Kothi, The Mall, Patiala with effect from 26 May 2006.
The University acquired approval of the Bar Council of India (BCI) in July 2006.
The University also got registered with the University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi under Section 2(f) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 and has been declared fit to obtain grant from the (UGC) under Section 12-B of the UGC Act, 1956.
The objective of the institution is to evolve and impart comprehensive legal education including distant and continuing legal education at all levels to achieve excellence.
The University has also set up Centre for Advanced Study in Criminal Law, Centre for Consumer Protection Law and Advocacy.
It also has Centre for Advanced Study in International Humanitarian Law, School of Agricultural Law and Economics, RGNUL Institute for Competitive Examination, Bureau of Information for Study Abroad and Directorate of Distance Education.
The objective of these Centres is to undertake advanced study and research in the emerging areas of the respective fields, independently or in collaboration with professional institutions at the national or international levels.
This is also among the Top 20 Law colleges in India. Its official website is ‘https://rgnul.ac.in/’
8. Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (Uttar Pradesh)
Dr.Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, was established by an Act of Government of Uttar Pradesh in 2005 in U.P. Act No.28 of 2005 and came into being on 4 January 2006 to meet up the new challenges in legal field and to strengthen the vision that was given by the establishment of first National Law School of the country.
The objective of the institute is to advance and disseminate learning and knowledge of law and legal processes and their role in national development.
Located in the South-West part of the Lucknow City, the University has 40 acres of sprawling campus in LDA’s Kanpur Road Scheme.
The Campus is a complete township having accommodation facilities for 1500 students and over 100 number of teaching and non-teaching staff members.
As excellence has become a norm here long ago, this institution is among the top 20 law colleges in India.
The official website to know more about the institution is ‘http://www.rmlnlu.ac.in/’
9. Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (Odisha)
KIIT was established in 1992 as a vocational training centre with only two staff and 12 students.
However, it took shape as an institution only in 1997, when degree engineering programme commenced.
KIIT owes its existence to the vision of its founder Professor Achyuta Samanta who, with no land, limited finances (only Rs. 5000/-) and little knowledge of higher education to create an institution for the benefit of the society.
From these small beginnings, KIIT has developed into a leading university with a strong interdisciplinary culture and a commitment to teaching excellence.
The vision of KIIT is to create an advanced center of professional learning of international standing where pursuit of knowledge and excellence shall reign supreme, unfettered by the barriers of nationality, language, cultural plurality and religion.
The educational institution is known to be instilling the habit of continuous reading for knowledge improvement.
Needless to say, this is among the top 20 law colleges in India. The official website of the institute is ‘https://kiit.ac.in/’
10. National Law University and Judicial Academy (Assam)
NLUJAA has been established by the Government of Assam through enactment of the National Law School and Judicial Academy, Assam Act, 2009 (Assam Act No. XXV of 2009).
The word ‘School’ was replaced by the word ‘University’ by amending the National Law School and Judicial Academy, Assam (Amendment) Act, 2011.
Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court is the Chancellor of the University.
NLUJAA promotes and makes available modern legal education and research facilities to students and scholars drawn from across the country, including the North East, coming from different socio-economic, ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds.
The NLUJAA is a member in the family of the 20 national law universities established across the country.
It offers the B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) Five Year Integrated Course, LL.M. One Year Course and Ph.D. Programme.
Needless to say, this institution is also among top law colleges in India.
The website to know more about the institution is ‘http://www.nluassam.ac.in/’
11. NLU Kolkata (NUJS) – The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences
Another college in the list of top 20 law colleges in India is NLU Kolkata. The college got established in 1999 and is recognised by BCI and UGC. They offer 16 courses among 3 streams.
Check out their website at https://www.nujs.edu
12. Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, IIT Kharagpur
This college is ranked 5th by NIRF in law and hence has to be one of the top 20 law colleges in India. The college got established in 2006. They offer 8 courses across 2 streams.
Check out their website at http://www.iitkgp.ac.in/department/IP
13. GNLU Gandhinagar (NLU) – Gujarat National Law University
Having a NIRF ranking of 6 in the law category, this is a state level college that is UGC approved. It got established in 2003. 44% of the students of this college are women.
Check out their website at https://www.gnlu.ac.in/GNLU/Home
14. AMU – Aligarh Muslim University
AMU is another one of the top 20 law colleges in India. Their NIRF ranking in the law category is 10. It is a central college that is approved by UGC and is a member of AIU.
Check out their website at https://www.amu.ac.in
15. GGSIPU – Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University
This college is in Dwarka, Delhi and has a NIRF ranking of 12 in the law category. It is a state level college that has a NAAC accreditation of A grade. They offer BALLB programme in the law category.
Check out their website at http://www.ipu.ac.in
16. NLIU Bhopal – The National Law Institute University
NLIU Bhopal has a NIRF ranking of 14 and the college started in 1998. They offer a five-year integrated LLB course – BA LLB (Hons.) course along with three more post graduate level courses.
Check out their website at https://erp.nliu.ac.in/#/home
17. NLU Lucknow (RMLNLU) – Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University
This is one of the top law colleges of the country with a NIRF ranking of 15 in 2021. It is a UGC approved state level college. They offer law courses in UG, PG, Diploma, Doctoral, and Certificate levels.
Check out their website at http://www.rmlnlu.ac.in
18. NLU Patiala (RGNUL) – Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law
The NIRF ranking of this state level college is 16. The NAAC accreditation of the college is A grade. This public law school got established in 2006. They have 4 courses to offer altogether.
Check out their website at https://rgnul.ac.in/
19. School of Law, SASTRA
It is a private college of Thanjavur that got established in 2008. The NIRF ranking of the college is 17. BA LLB (Hons) and B.Com LLB are the two courses offered by the college. They offer 5 courses in 1 stream.
Check out their website at https://law.sastra.edu
20. School of Law, Christ University
Last college in our list of top 20 law colleges in India is School of Law in Christ University. Their NIRF ranking is 19. Their NAAC accreditation is an A grade.
Check out their website at https://christuniversity.in/academics/school-of-law
Conclusion
These top 20 law colleges in India are known to be following very high standards when it comes to teaching and learning.
So these top law colleges in India, are, likely to have very tough entrance system.
Getting an admission into these top 20 law colleges in India will also require tough preparation.
And students focusing on these top law colleges in India must be prepared to handle tough entrance system which involves writing tests that are usually considered difficult to crack.
There is more to these top 20 law colleges in India, their popularity has crossed the boundaries of this nation.
Candidates willing to apply to these top law colleges in India can visit their websites and know all the information about them and the admission process there.
Knowing about the Top 20 Law colleges in India and admission process will enhance chances of gaining entry into them.
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