About PhD in Law

The PhD in Law is a full-time research degree and may be awarded after three to four years of supervised independent research on the basis of a thesis not exceeding 100,000 words exclusive of bibliography, table of contents and any other preliminary dissertation elements. The course falls under the umbrella of PhD.

According to Wikipedia, "Doctor of Law or Doctor of Laws is a degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country and includes degrees such as the Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D. or S.J.D), Juris Doctor (J.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), and Legum Doctor (LL.D.).”

Why Study PhD in Law

There are several advantages to pursuing the degree of PhD in law.

Having a PhD degree in law, makes you capable of teaching the subject at the university level. Also, you can promote the development of this field. 

The program of PhD in Law is created to make the students pursue their career in this subject they can either study or teach jurisprudence. 

PhD is the highest educational qualification one can attain. Also having a law degree, you can access multiple job options. Merging these two, having a PhD degree in Law will make you an expert in this field, giving a lot of career and job options.

There are various educational institutes who welcome applications from aspirants who have a knack in researching interdisciplinary fields. Having this degree in your qualification helps them to attain advanced training in those other fields, promoting well-rounded education.

Having this degree enables you to do a lot of research work as well as attending conferences. These conferences help an individual to make more sources and contacts with professionals of different fields.

Eligibility Criteria for PhD in Law 

Candidates should be aware that different universities have varied qualifying requirements for the PhD courses they provide. Some colleges indicate that individuals who have earned an LLM in Law from a recognized university in India or overseas, as well as significant experience in the field of law, are eligible for admission to their PhD program. If candidates wish to attend the PhD course given by a college, they must have at least 5 to 10 years of teaching experience and academic excellence in the field of law.

Candidates who have finished their LLM from a recognized college with a minimum of 50% aggregate are also eligible to apply for the PhD program.

PhD Program in Law

Admission to a Ph.D. program in law can be obtained in one of two methods. Direct admission or merit entrance are also options.

Direct Admission

You must get an application form from the college or university for direct admission. It is available both offline and online.

To obtain an application form, go to the institute or college's official website and fill out the form there. You can upload it right away.

After you've finished filling out the application form, you'll need to go to the college for counseling and a round of personal interviews.

Admission on the basis of merit

JMI Law Entrance Exam, CLAT, AILET – All India Law Entrance Test, PET – PhD Entrance Test are some of the significant exams used to determine merit-based admission.

These tests are available to students both in-person and online. On their official websites, you may get the forms for the various tests.

The subsequent grades acquired by students in these exams will be used to determine admission.

PhD Law Entrance Exams

1. AILET
2. CLAT

Syllabus of PhD in Law

PhD in Law Course 1 Syllabus

• Research Methodology
• Research Processes
• Methods of Investigation and tools for collection of data

PhD in Law Course 2 Syllabus

• Constitutional Law
• Jurisprudence

Course 3 involves seminars and presentations in the area of specialization. This course is optional and provides you with a list of areas of specialization including Cyberlaw, environmental law, Human Rights, Public International law and the like. Course 4 includes seminars and presentations in the area of research.

How to Prepare for a PhD in Law Entrance Examination?

Generally, a PhD in law entrance examination consists of 5 sections that are listed below:

• English
• GK and Current Affairs
• Mathematics
• Legal Aptitude
• Logical Reasoning

You need to work hard to make these sections as your strong and scoring points. 

As a PhD is the highest degree certification so it needs special preparation for qualifying. Few points you can take care of while preparing for the exams are as follows:

1. Start preparing for these entrance exams in advance because these exams are tough in nature. These exams need a proper time span for preparation.
2. There are 5 sections in this entrance exam, you need to prepare them section-wise by preparing separate notes for each one of them.
3. Create a study plan for yourself that can be executed successfully.
4. Use fewer books to study, as lots of books create more confusion and panic.
5. Don’t waste time on difficult questions, finish those questions first in which you are really good.

Career Prospects After Completed PhD in Law 

A PhD in law graduate who has successfully completed the course can get a job in almost all the sectors in India. They can also apply for government jobs. A few of the job prospects are discussed below with their job roles:

• Notary
• Judge
• Lawyer
• Authors

Career Options After PhD in Law

After completion of PhD in Law, the graduates can work as Assistant Professor in different universities. Candidates have a good scope to explore their knowledge, skills, and training and apply the tools in areas like Law Organizations, Businesses, Government and personal organizations, Legal Departments, Research and Development, Colleges and Universities and others. Here are some job positions available after graduating in literature:

1. Legal Practitioners
2. Legal Advisors
3. Consultants
4. Researcher
5. Jurist
6. Caseworker
7. Lawyer
8. Solicitor