Two Roads to the Courtroom

Somewhere around Class 11, the question lands: “Should I write CLAT and go for a 5-year BA LLB, or finish my graduation first and then do a 3-year LLB?” It’s a fork that shapes the next half-decade of your life. Let’s walk through both paths honestly, without the usual “it depends” cop-out.

The Two Pathways, Explained

The 5-Year Integrated Route (BA LLB / BBA LLB / BSc LLB)

You enter right after Class 12. You study an undergraduate subject alongside law for five years. This is the route that leads to the National Law Universities — NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, NLU Delhi, NUJS Kolkata, and the rest of the NLU family. Entry happens through CLAT (for most NLUs), AILET (for NLU Delhi), or LSAT India (for some private law schools).

The 3-Year LLB Route

You first complete any graduation — BA, BSc, BCom, BTech, whatever — and then enrol in a standalone 3-year LLB programme. Entry is through state-level exams, university-specific tests, or Delhi University’s DU LLB entrance. Faculty of Law at DU and BHU are among the more reputed options here.

Why the NLU Advantage Changes Everything for the 5-Year Path

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: the 5-year integrated programme isn’t inherently superior in legal education quality. What makes it the preferred route is access. The top NLUs only offer integrated programmes. And NLUs provide something no regular college can match — a peer group obsessed with law, moot court culture baked into the curriculum, law firm recruitment drives on campus, and clinical legal education that starts from year one.

NLSIU Bangalore consistently places graduates at ₹15–25 lakh starting packages in top-tier law firms. NALSAR, NUJS, and NLU Delhi aren’t far behind. Even mid-tier NLUs (NLU Jodhpur, GNLU, RMLNLU) offer placement ecosystems that most 3-year LLB colleges simply don’t have.

But — and this matters — if you don’t get into a top-15 NLU, the integrated programme advantage diminishes sharply. A 5-year programme at a random private university isn’t automatically better than DU’s 3-year LLB.

The CLAT Preparation Reality

CLAT isn’t JEE. It doesn’t require two years of grinding through Physics and Maths. The exam tests English comprehension, logical reasoning, legal reasoning, general knowledge, and quantitative aptitude at a fairly accessible level. Most serious aspirants prepare for 6–12 months alongside their Class 12 boards.

Coaching costs range from ₹30,000 to ₹1.5 lakh depending on whether you go online or offline, and which institute you choose. Self-study is genuinely viable here — CLAT rewards reading habits and analytical thinking more than rote learning.

For the 3-year route, entrance exams are generally easier but also less standardised. The DU LLB entrance is competitive, but the preparation landscape is less structured compared to CLAT.

Time Investment: The Maths Nobody Does

This is where people get confused. A 5-year BA LLB means you’re a lawyer at age 22–23 if you enter right after 12th. Total education: 12 years of school + 5 years = done.

A 3-year LLB means: 12 years of school + 3 years of graduation + 3 years of LLB = you’re a lawyer at 24–25. That’s 6 years of higher education for the same professional degree.

So the 5-year route actually saves you a year. You enter the workforce younger with equivalent qualifications. The 3-year path costs you more time unless you already have a graduation degree and are pivoting into law.

What It Actually Costs

5-Year at an NLU: ₹2–12 lakh total for government NLUs (fees have been rising). Private law schools like Jindal or Symbiosis charge ₹12–25 lakh for the full programme.

3-Year LLB: ₹15,000–3 lakh total at government colleges like DU Faculty of Law. Private 3-year programmes run ₹3–8 lakh.

The 3-year route at a government college is the cheapest way to become a lawyer in India, full stop. If budget is a hard constraint, this path keeps the door open without crippling debt.

When the 3-Year Path Is the Smarter Move

The 3-year route isn’t the “lesser” option — it’s the strategic option for specific people:

The Career Changer. You did engineering, worked for two years, realised you hate debugging code, and discovered a passion for intellectual property law. Your BTech + LLB combination makes you uniquely valuable for patent law. No 5-year student has that advantage.

The Backup Scholar. You didn’t crack CLAT at 18. You took admission in a solid BA programme, built strong academics, learned a foreign language, did internships — and then entered law with maturity and direction that most 18-year-olds lack.

The Specialist Pivot. Chartered Accountants who add an LLB become devastating in tax litigation. Doctors with law degrees carve niches in medical negligence. MBAs with LLB dominate corporate advisory. The 3-year route enables these combinations that the integrated path simply cannot.

So, Which Road Do You Take?

You’re in Class 11–12 and law excites you → Prepare for CLAT seriously. Target a top-15 NLU. The 5-year integrated path is your most efficient route. Even if you’re unsure about law specifically, the NLU environment will shape your thinking in ways a regular college won’t.

You’re already in graduation and discovering law now → Don’t panic about “wasted years.” Your graduation adds depth. Start preparing for DU LLB or state entrances in your final year. Your non-law background is a feature, not a bug.

You didn’t get a good NLU rank and are considering a random private 5-year college → Pause. A degree from a no-name private law school won’t give you the NLU advantage anyway. Consider completing a strong graduation and then doing a 3-year LLB from DU or BHU instead. The brand will serve you better.

Both degrees hold identical legal validity. The Bar Council doesn’t differentiate. Courts don’t differentiate. Clients won’t check your programme duration. What matters is where you studied, what you learned, and how good you are in the courtroom. Pick the path that gives you the strongest starting position for your specific situation.