3-Year LL.B. (Hons.)

Contracts I (4 credits)
Law of Torts (4 Credits)
Legal Methods (4 Credits)
Introduction to Law and Social Science (4 Credits)

Contracts II (4 credits)
Criminal Law I (4 credits)
Property Law (4 credits)
Jurisprudence (4 credits)

Constitutional Law I (4 credits)
Family Law I (4 credits)
Criminal Law II (4 credits)
Corporate Law (4 credits)

Civil Procedure Code (CPC) I (4 credits)
Family Law II (4 credits)
Constitutional Law II (4 credits)
Alternative Dispute Resolution (A.D.R.) (Clinic I) (4 credits)

Drafting of Pleadings & Conveyancing (4 credits)
Administrative and Regulatory Laws (4 credits)
Law of Evidence (4 credits)
Elective

Public International Law (4 credits)
Labour Law I (4 credits)
Taxation Laws (4 credits)
Elective

Labour Law II (4 credits)
Environmental Law (4 credits)
Elective
Elective

Law and Social Transformation (4 Credits)
Professional Ethics (4 credits)
Elective
Elective

Interpretation (4 credits)
Elective
Elective
Elective
Moot Courts and Internships

The 3-year LLB (Hons) programme offers students who have specialised in other disciplines the opportunity to pursue legal education. The programme is multidisciplinary in nature and will enable students to apply the knowledge of law in addressing contemporary challenges in diverse walks of social and political life.

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 35 years now, the University has irrefutably remained a leader in the field of legal education in the country.  NLSIU holds the top ranking in India for law programs, consistently securing the #1 spot in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) and various private ranking systems, for multiple consecutive years, including 2024 and 2025. 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.

The three-year programme is aimed at delivering the same quality of legal education to graduates of different disciplines. We retain our cases and materials curriculum and our socratic pedagogy, and combine this with a new experiential focus where our mature graduate law students will be exposed to the everyday life of the law even as they study at the university.

The 3-year LLB (Hons) programme at NLSIU is the first 3-year programme to be introduced at a National Law School. It is a qualifying law degree for graduates from any discipline, taught across nine trimesters. The unique NLS pedagogy and the rigour of the NLS classroom, which are the hallmark of our degree programmes, are equally applied to this LLB (Hons) programme as well. NLSIU emphasises multidisciplinary, practice-linked pedagogy delivered by its world-class faculty. The degree equips students for careers in practice, policy, and research.

We invite bright and motivated students who are keen on pursuing an intensive legal education after graduation to apply for the programme.

The 3-year LLB (Hons.) programme covers all compulsory subjects recommended by the Bar Council of India, including private law (contracts, torts, property), public law (constitutional, administrative), drafting/interpretation, ethics, research & writing. The programme also offers students the opportunity to choose and study from a wide range of electives taught by some of the leading practitioners and experts in the field. The structure is deliberately multidisciplinary and practice-linked, and gives students exposure to a wide variety of subjects and fields.

To learn more about the curriculum of the programme, click here. To know more about the electives offered in the previous academic year, click here.

NLS aims at creating the next generation of thought leaders in the field of law. Hence, the programme will have a unique multidisciplinary approach to legal pedagogy. It will teach doctrine (which will equip students to practice the law) along with courses that provide students insights from disciplines like sociology, anthropology, economics, history, politics, gender studies, development studies, etc. to evolve a nuanced perspective on what law is, how it functions in society, and how it relates to questions of social transformation.

Yes, the programme will bridge theory and practice by offering students a range of clinics and practicums as part of the curriculum. These courses will provide students the opportunity to apply their classroom learning to live cases and issues. The curriculum is being designed in a way that facilitates courses focused on experiential learning.

Yes, the 3-Year LLB (Hons) is a full-time programme. Students are required to attend classes on campus, and maintain atleast a 75% attendance in all courses.

Admissions will be through the National Law School Admissions Test (NLSAT-LLB), scheduled to be held on April 27, 2026. Application forms for the programme are now available for the 2026-27 intake.

The LLB (Hons) is a professional degree programme and qualifies a student for admission to legal practice. NLSIU graduates have gone on to become judges, leading lawyers, and academics in top universities in India and abroad. Many of them also work in public service, including in civil service, international organisations, and NGOs. Corporate law firms and corporate houses recruit directly from the campus. Graduates have also used their law degree as a foundation for careers beyond the law. The 3-year programme will equip students with the knowledge, temperament, and skill set to pursue similar careers and to also tread new paths.

The first 3-year LLB (Hons.) batch that graduated in 2025 went on to pursue careers as associates with leading law firms, in-house councils in corporate firms, litigation under Senior Advocates, and clerkships under Judges of the Supreme Court. Many also went on to pursue higher studies in leading universities outside India, including the University of California and Oxford University. One student of the 2025 batch went on to receive the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship.

Yes. The 3-Year LL.B. (Hons.) programme at the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru is a professional law degree recognised by the Bar Council of India (BCI). Graduates of this programme are eligible to enrol as advocates under the Advocates Act, 1961.

After completing the degree, students are eligible to register with a State Bar Council and subsequently clear the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) conducted by the BCI. Upon successfully passing the AIBE, graduates receive a Certificate of Practice, which entitles them to practise law before courts and tribunals across India.

The two programmes are different. The 3-year LL.B (Hons) degree is open to graduates from any discipline. It is a professional law degree and is required to practice as a lawyer.

The LL.M. is an advanced degree in law, to which only law graduates can apply.

The academic year for NLSIU usually begins on July 1.

No. The 3-Year LL.B. (Hons.) at NLSIU is a full-time, immersive programme that requires students to be in continuous on-campus attendance for all trimesters and academic activities. The University mandates a minimum of 75% attendance in every course.  Given this structure, it is not possible to maintain a full-time or part-time job while enrolled. The programme’s schedule, comprising classes, tutorials, seminars, clinics, and co-curricular requirements, demands full-time academic commitment. Students are also expected to complete mandatory internships during trimester breaks, leaving no scope for concurrent employment.

The maximum intake for the year 2026-27 is 120. Seats shall be reserved as follows:

• Scheduled Castes – 15%
• Scheduled Tribes – 7.5%
• OBCs – 27%
• EWS – 10%
• 5% of the total intake is reserved horizontally for Persons with Disabilities (PWD)
• 30% of the total intake is reserved horizontally for women
• 25% of the total intake is reserved horizontally (compartmentalised) for Karnataka Students.

No. Both programmes are delivered to the same academic standards, by the same core faculty, and follow the University’s common approach to teaching and evaluation—close reading, discussion-based classes, problem-solving, intensive assessments, and continuous evaluation. Students in both cohorts have access to the same learning resources (library, writing and research support), co-curricular platforms (moots, clinics, legal aid, journals), and academic advising.

What differs is the programme design for each cohort. The 3-Year LL.B. (Hons.) is a postgraduate programme structured across nine trimesters for students who have already completed their graduation. The 5-Year B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) is an undergraduate program that integrates liberal-arts coursework with law over fifteen trimesters, progressively building legal foundations alongside social-science training.

Yes. NLSIU conducts online an Information Session where you can hear directly from programme faculty, understand the curriculum and admissions process, and ask questions live. The session link, time, and speaker line-up are shared after free registration on the NLSAT application portal.

Yes. NLSIU organises a Campus Day that includes a guided campus tour, a demo class with programme faculty, and a Q&A with current students and the admissions team. Seats are limited and allocated on a first-come basis. Register through the NLSAT application portal to receive the Campus Day date, schedule, and reporting instructions. Confirmed participants will get an email with entry details and ID requirements.

The fee is notified by the University each year on the official website and admissions portal. The total fees payable for the first year for AY 2025-26 is Rs. 4,84,000.

Only students assigned to University housing pay the housing fee. University-provided housing includes dining (meal plan) and transportation to and from the University, along with standard residence amenities and services.

The University is dedicated to ensuring that students admitted to an academic programme are provided with the necessary support to continue their studies, irrespective of financial constraints. The Financial Aid Policy sets out the University’s approach to delivering on this commitment. Students admitted to the program are eligible for several forms of means-based financial aid, including internal aids, external scholarships, and subsidised loans.

The University ensures that no admitted student is unable to attend for financial reasons, subject to the timely submission of required documentation and adherence to policy timelines

Instructions to apply for the university’s financial aid will be available in your offer letter. All candidates who request financial aid from the university must apply for the PM-Vidyalaxmi scheme.

NLSIU has been recognised by the Government of India under the PM-Vidyalaxmi Scheme as one of the country’s leading higher-education institutions. The scheme provides financial support (education loans) to meritorious students. PM-Vidyalaxmi offers collateral-free and guarantor-free education loans; there is no income limit to apply; loans up to ₹30 lakh can be availed; partial and full interest-subvention is available for lower annual family incomes. You can apply through the official PM-Vidyalaxmi Portal: https://pmvidyalaxmi.co.in

Please review the PM-Vidyalaxmi Scheme section for detailed guidelines and process.

The University will strive to communicate decisions at the earliest and at least one month after classes begin. Students awarded aid will have their fees reimbursed up to the sanctioned amount.

The fee-payment deadline is specified in your Offer of Admission and in the admissions portal. Please follow the date in your offer letter.

No, all admissions are contingent upon the full fees for the programme being paid before the fee payment deadline.

No. The full annual fee must be paid as per the deadline stated in your offer letter.

Refunds are processed as per the University’s notified Refund Policy, aligned with applicable UGC regulations. Last year’s refund policy is available on the programme/admissions page. The current year’s refund schedule will be published with the admission notification.

All postgraduate students are housed in University-arranged residences in RR Nagar. Rooms are twin-sharing with attached bathrooms, with 24×7 security, regular housekeeping, high-speed Wi-Fi, and generous common spaces for study and recreation. Residential partners currently include Olive (Embassy Group) and FF21, and allocation is made by the University. Scheduled University buses connect the residences and the main campus throughout the day.

Every housed student is enrolled in the University meal plan at no additional charge. You’ll receive breakfast, lunch, an evening snack, and dinner. On weekdays, breakfast and dinner are served at the residence, while lunch and snacks are served on campus. On weekends, all meals are served at the residence. Menus are curated to be nutritious and diverse, and vegetarian options are always available. Apart from the mess, there are canteens, coffee stands and 24/7 vending machines on campus for students. Standard food aggregator apps deliver to campus and the residences.

Situated in Nagarbhavi, Bengaluru, NLSIU sits on a lush green campus of 23 acres that offers ample space for students to unwind after a day of intense learning. The campus comprises two academic blocks, several student hostels, faculty quarters, a state-of-the-art library, canteens, a health centre, gym facilities, and a new turf football field, among other spaces for academic and community-based activities. To know more about the campus and these facilities, click here.

NLSIU offers extensive indoor and outdoor facilities, including a turf football field, basketball, badminton, volleyball and tennis courts, table tennis, and spaces for yoga/aerobics. A renovated gym/fitness centre is available to students, and the residences provide additional recreational amenities (for example, FF21 includes a lounge, indoor games, and a mini-movie screening room).

The Shri Narayan Rao Melgiri Memorial National Law Library is the heart of academic life at the university, with strong holdings across Indian and international law reports, journals, commentaries, treatises, and e-resources. The library houses a collection of over 50,000 books and 20,000 journals covering a wide range of general and special subjects, comprising textbooks, reference books, back volumes of journals and reports, apart from current legal periodicals. Computerised catalogues have been introduced to assist the students and research scholars in locating information in their areas of research.

LL.B. students receive full borrowing and reading-room access, research and citation support, and guidance on using major databases and discovery tools. Quiet zones and group-study areas accommodate different study styles.

Any Bachelor’s degree holder from a recognised university may apply. The program requires a minimum of 45% (General/EWS) and 40% (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD) marks in their bachelor’s degree.

Admission to the 3-Year LL.B. (Hons.) is only through NLSAT-LLB.  To register, visit the NLSAT admissions portal and create an applicant account with your name, email, and mobile number, then verify the OTP/email link to activate your profile.

After logging in, complete and submit your application form. You will be asked to upload: (i) a recent passport-size photograph and signature in the portal-specified format; (ii) a valid Government photo ID (Aadhaar/Passport/Driving Licence/Voter ID); (iii) Class X and Class XII mark sheets/certificates; (iv) all semester-wise undergraduate mark sheets/transcripts; and (v) Degree Certificate or Bonafide Certificate (vi) Caste or Disability Certificate (if applicable).

You must submit your application and pay the requisite application fees by March 21, 2026.

Yes, the admission notification for AY 2026-27 has been uploaded on the NLS website. To view the official notification, please click on the admission tab of the LLB (Hons) page. You can apply here: https://nlsatadmissions.nls.ac.in/

Any person holding a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised national or international University is eligible to apply to the programme. There is no age limit to apply to the programme.

Candidates who are in the final year of their Bachelor’s degree can apply for admission to the 3-Year LL.B (Hons.) programme. We recognise that many universities may not conduct their final examinations before completion of the admissions process to the LL.B course. To address this situation, admitted students who are in the final year of their Bachelor’s degree and have not obtained their final results, will have to provide proof of eligibility for admission by December 31, 2026. That is, they can commence the course in July, but their admission shall remain provisional till they provide proof of eligibility. Provisionally admitted students will have to complete all other requirements, including payment of fees and regular attendance in classes.

You may upload a bonafide certificate from your university and your latest available semester mark sheets. After you graduate, submit the final degree certificate/complete mark sheets by December 31, 2026. Offers remain provisional until the University verifies your eligibility and final documents.

You will be required to upload your student ID for the time being. You will have to provide the required proof of bona fide enrollment if you are offered admission to the programme.

Yes. International students are eligible to apply for the LL.B (Hons.) programme, but must undergo a separate admissions process, the NLSAT-International. To know more about the admissions process for international students, click here.

Yes, provided your bachelor’s degree is from a recognised university and the programme was offered in compliance with UGC’s ODL/Online regulations during the period of your enrolment. For distance/online degrees specifically, the UGC Distance Education Bureau clarifies that qualifications earned in recognised ODL/Online programmes are valid and equivalent to conventional degrees, so long as the programme and institution held UGC recognition for these programmes at the time and followed the applicable norms.

Use a recent, clear, front-facing colour photograph on a light background and a black-ink signature on white paper, each within the size and format limits stated on the portal. Educational and category documents must be legible scans in PDF/JPEG within the size limits. Files that are blurred, cropped, or unreadable may lead to rejection or a document-clarification request.

Reservation is implemented as per national and state laws. Eligibility depends on your correct and current category status. You must upload valid certificates in the correct format to be eligible for reservations. Candidates are responsible for determining their eligibility and furnishing up-to-date documents. Inaccurate or outdated certificates may result in rejection of the application.

NLSIU implements a 25% compartmentalised horizontal reservation for Karnataka students across all vertical categories.

Candidates who have studied for not less than 7 years in a recognised educational institution in Karnataka shall be eligible to be considered as ‘Karnataka Students.’

Candidates who have not completed 7 years of study in Karnataka shall be eligible to apply under the Karnataka Students category if they fall under any of the following categories:

• Children of defence personnel/ex-servicemen, who at the time of joining service, have declared their hometown to be in the State of Karnataka, and who have served or are serving outside Karnataka, corresponding to the candidate’s years of study outside Karnataka.
• Children of employees of the Karnataka State Government who have served or are serving outside Karnataka, corresponding to the candidate’s years of study outside Karnataka.
• Children of serving or retired employees belonging to the Karnataka cadre of the All India Services (IAS/IFS/IPS), who have served or are serving outside Karnataka corresponding to the candidate’s years of study outside Karnataka.
• Children of working or retired employees in the Central Armed Police Force service, who upon joining service declared their hometown to be in the State of Karnataka, and who have served or are serving outside Karnataka, corresponding to the candidate’s years of study outside Karnataka.

Eligible candidates must upload their Study Certificates issued by their School/s and other relevant documents as proof of Karnataka status.

You must belong to a community that is notified in the Central List of OBCs for your own State/UT, and you must hold a valid OBC-NCL certificate. Communities that are only in a State list of backward classes (and not in the Central List) are not eligible for OBC-NCL at NLSIU. However, communities notified in the Karnataka State OBC list qualify for OBC-NCL seats, subject to submission of the prescribed certificates from the competent authority.

EWS Certificate must be valid for the financial year 2025-2026.  Where an OBC-NCL certificate has a validity period mentioned, the certificate must be within that validity period. If no validity period is mentioned, OBC-NCL Certificate or EWS Certificate must not be older than a year as on the date of admission.  SC/ST Certificates do not have any validity period.

Obtain and upload a fresh certificate in the required format before the document-verification stage. Certificates must be valid as of the date of admission. Lapsed or outdated certificates will not be accepted.

OBC-Non-Creamy Layer or EWS Certificate issued by one of the following authorities:

• District Magistrate/ Additional Magistrate/ Collector/ Deputy Commissioner/ Additional Deputy Commissioner/ Deputy Collector/ Ist Class Stipendiary Magistrate/ Sub-Divisional Magistrate/ Taluka Magistrate/ Executive Magistrate/ Extra Assistant Commissioner (not below the rank of Ist Class Stipendiary Magistrate).
• Chief Presidency Magistrate / Additional Chief Presidency Magistrate / Presidency Magistrate.
• Revenue Officer not below the rank of Tehsildar’, and;
• Sub-Divisional Officer of the area where the candidate and/or his family resides

No, a valid EWS certificate is required. Income and Caste certificates are not sufficient to meet the EWS category eligibility.

Candidates must submit proof of disability in the format specified by the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules or submit a copy of the Unique Disability ID Card (UDID card) issued by the competent authority. A doctor’s note or a medical certificate will not be accepted as proof of PWD status.

Upload the official name-change proof (e.g., Gazette notification/marriage certificate) along with the ID used for the application. Ensure the name on your admit card matches your photo ID to avoid test-day issues.

You will not be allowed to edit your application after submission. Follow the instructions in the application form carefully, and verify the details and documents submitted before submitting your application.

Late submissions and unpaid applications are not considered. Monitor the Admissions page and your registered email/SMS for all deadlines; submit early to avoid payment or upload failures near the cut-off.

Write to the official admissions email listed on the applications page to raise a ticket. Include your Application ID, registered email/phone, and screenshots of the error for quicker resolution. Queries or issues submitted to any other email address or authority will not be considered.

The application fee is ₹2,500 for General category applicants and ₹2,000 for SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwD/EWS applicants. Payment is made online through the admissions portal at the time of form submission. Application fees are non-refundable once paid.

The NLSAT-LLB (Hons) for the Academic Year 2025-26 will be held on April 27, 2025 (Sunday) between 10.00 am to 12.30 pm in specified centres across the country.

The exam will be an offline paper-based examination. The list of centres will be available in the application form.

The NLSAT-LLB will have a single question paper comprising two parts – Parts A and B. All candidates shall be required to attempt both parts of the question paper. The examination shall be for a duration of 150 minutes.

Part A

Part A of the NLSAT-LLB paper will consist of Multiple-Choice Questions, and shall be for a maximum of 75 marks. Each question will be of one mark. 0.25 marks shall be deducted for each wrong answer, and for each unanswered question. Part A of the NLSAT-LLB will consist of questions relating to (a) Comprehension; (b) Current Affairs; and (c) Critical Reasoning.

Part B

Part B shall consist of subjective questions, which shall be for a maximum of 75 marks. In Part B, candidates will be tested on the following:

(a) Legal Aptitude/Reasoning: Legal aptitude will consist of problem-based questions. Students will be expected to write short answers in response. Prior knowledge of the law is not expected.

(b) Analytical Ability: Candidates will be required to write an essay on a topic/question. They will be tested on their knowledge of the issue, the ability to make cogent written arguments and the ability to write a well-structured essay. Knowledge of the law is not expected.

NLSAT-LLB will be held in several centres across the country. The list of centres will be available on the application portal, and applicants will be requested to indicate three centre preferences. The University reserves the right to allot candidates a centre which is not their first, second or third preference, if it is not logistically feasible to conduct the admissions test in the centre/s indicated by the candidate. The application fee shall not be refunded in case the candidate is not allotted a centre of their choice.

No. We do not prescribe particular books or preparation material. NLSAT assesses aptitude for critical reading, reasoning, and writing. Strong preparation typically involves regular practice with long-form reading, critical thinking, argument analysis, and analytical writing. The examination also tests awareness of current affairs, including knowledge of people, culture and society.

No. We do not release past years’ papers. However, sample question sets, modelled on previous examinations, are made available to all candidates who have registered and paid the application fee. These sample sets mirror the structure and difficulty profile of NLSAT and are meant purely for practice.

Yes. We conduct an online preparation webinar led by programme faculty that explains how to approach different question types in NLSAT (comprehension, critical reasoning, short legal-aptitude answers, and the analytical essay). Registered candidates receive the invite link through the application portal/email.

Bring your admit card (printed) and the same Government photo ID used during application. Candidates claiming reservation must carry the original category/Karnataka/PwD documents for inspection if requested. The list of permitted items will be mentioned in your admit card. Late entry is not allowed beyond the reporting cut-off.

Yes. Candidates should upload a valid PwD certificate during application and indicate the accommodation(s) needed. Approved candidates receive additional time and, where sanctioned, scribe support as per the notified process.

No. The examination lasts two and a half hours. The question paper booklets can only be opened at the start of the examination at 10:00 am, and no separate time is provided for filling in details or for reading the questions. All personal details should be entered after the start of the examination.

Raise your hand and inform the invigilator immediately. Do not leave your seat unless instructed.

No. A replacement is issued only if the invigilator verifies a printing/production defect (e.g., missing pages, torn/illegible sheet supplied). Always check your booklet/OMR before you start and alert the invigilator immediately if you spot a defect.

Answer booklets/OMR sheets are not replaced for candidate errors (wrong bubbling, overwriting, stray marks, or crossed-out answers). Please fill in the OMR sheet and write carefully.

Candidates are allowed to underline parts of the passage or questions. However, making any other marking or writing notes directly on the question paper is prohibited. A separate page is provided for making notes and for rough work.

After the examination, the provisional Part A answer key is published on the admissions portal. An objection window opens immediately thereafter. Candidates may submit objections only through the portal (email submissions are not accepted) along with an objections fee. All objections are reviewed by an Expert Committee. If an objection is upheld, the fee for that question is refunded and the key is corrected, any change applies uniformly to all candidates. The final Part A answer key is then released on the portal, followed by the next stage of the process as per the schedule. The Expert Committee’s decision is final.

There is no re-evaluation or objection mechanism for Part B. As notified, the evaluation of the subjective section is final.

Results are posted on the admissions portal. All communication is through the dashboard/email linked to your application ID.