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Study Law Abroad - With the world turning into a global village, student mobility is becoming a term of common parlance. That being said, however, the mobility is more towards the western destinations, be it the UK, Germany, Canada and the USA. Speaking of law, “Study law abroad” is also catching the imagination of Indian students, who until now typically left Indian shores to study disciplines like management, STEM courses, medicine and engineering.
Top law schools in the world like Harvard and Cambridge, supported by cutting-edge technology, top-rate teachers and international exposure have changed the equation and are attracting bright Indian minds to study law abroad. In this article, we take a close look at the scope of law study abroad programs, the application process, and other related things so that the candidate can make an informed career choice.
To study law abroad, students must have a good academic record. Most of the universities require students to score at least 60-70 per cent marks in Class 12 exams. Below are some popular study abroad law exams to get admission into law programmes abroad.
LSAT is accepted by all the ABA-accredited law schools in the world. Universities offering law programmes in US, Canada, and all other countries accept LSAT scores. The LSAT 2025 primary test dates are out now. LSAT 2025 will be held on different dates of January, February, April, and June. LSAT Comprise of three sections, two sections of Logical Reasoning and one section of Reading Comprehension. There is another part, which is the unscored variable section.
This is a popular exam to get admission in undergraduate law courses in UK, and some other countries. LNAT UK is managed by the LNAT Consortium and administered by Pearson VUE. Students can use the LNAT scores along with their other academic qualifications to apply for top law universities in UK. Many non-UK Universities also rely on LNAT scores like Singapore University of Social Science, IE University, etc. LNAT is comprised of two sections, one is MCQ based test, and the second is an essay.
Top universities accepting LNAT scores:
Juris Doctorate (J.D.) - It is a three-year program offered by countries like the USA. Candidates must note that, unlike India, the USA doesn’t offer a 3-year LLB program.
LLB (Bachelor of law) - Countries like the UK offer the LLB program. Students must note that the LLB program in Cambridge, UK, primarily deals with English law. So, when picking a LLB program, the candidate needs to be sure what they are getting into. For example, Cambridge is not the right place if the candidate wants to study Indian law. EU law and International law, however, are taught in the law school.
LLM - LLM in abroad is a more frequently pursued degree by international applicants.
There could be many reasons to study law abroad for Indian students. For some, it may be appealing because it is more financially rewarding. For others, it may be because of the availability of specific law specialisations in other countries. Some want to study law abroad to get international exposure.
To develop skills demanded by employers
Study in a cosmopolitan environment
Diverse options to choose from
Benefit from better Industry-academic linkages
International Exposure
Access to world-class research opportunities
Here are some more examples of why students may go abroad to study law:
Compulsory modules: In the UK, for example, students are taught seven compulsory modules covering areas like Contract Law and Criminal Law, which act as foundations for more advanced legal studies.
Specialist modules: The student in many cases has the option to add specialisations to their course, which may be referred to as specialist or individual modules. Areas of specialisation include human rights, family law, terrorism, and the environment.
Debate and argument: Gain keener perspectives on any degree.
Admission Requirements for Studying Law Abroad:
Academic qualification: The candidate needs to have passed the qualifying exam scoring minimum marks; for example
English Language Proficiency: The candidate must have taken English language proficiency tests like IELTS or TOEFL. Please note that the minimum scores in these tests may vary depending on the institute the candidate is applying to. In the tables below candidates can find the requirements for admission at Cambridge University.
Two to four Letters of Recommendation (References)
A majority of the popular law colleges ask for these recommendations, which must be issued by prominent persons explaining the admission committee about the applicant’s academic qualifications and career interests.
For an Indian student, the best countries to study law abroad would be English-speaking countries. Studying law abroad comes with the fact that, the students may be learning the law of that particular country. However, pursuing law in these countries will enable one to widen one's perspective about law. Here are a few top countries to pursue law abroad:
There are many good law colleges abroad for Indian students to study in. However, which university is best will depend on a host of factors, such as one's interest and availability of the desired area of law. However, certain universities worldwide are considered top choices to pursue the study of law. Here are a few such names:
The application process is country-specific so the candidate may refer to the country and institute and country they are applying for admission into.
Applying to law universities in the UK:
Applications can be submitted through the individual Applicant Portals of the specific university. The application must be filled in English language only.
The candidate should be able to request references in the portal and also see whether these have been received.
Submit all supporting documents.
In case the candidate is looking for funding, the same can also be applied through the Applicant Portal.
The application fee is around (GBP sterling) £65 per application.
If the candidate seeks to apply to more than one program, separate application forms along with supporting documents may have to be submitted for each course.
Applying to law universities in the USA:
Most universities have their own online applications, including the likes of Harvard Law School, Harvard.
UCLA (law) accepts applications through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) LL.M. Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Document Assembly Service for its LLM program.
At the time of application, the candidate will have to submit all relevant supporting documents along with the application.
Law programmes abroad can be studied in a country-specific manner. However, several universities also offer international law programmes. Law specialisations that are commonly available for studying law abroad include:
Studying law abroad is usually a costly affair. However, there are many scholarships available to students that can reduce the financial burden. Given below are the names of a few scholarship available across UG and PG courses in law.
Popular scholarships to study law abroad:
Before applying, candidates must ensure they fulfil the requirements to study law abroad at the institute to successfully gain admission. Given below are few important points to beto study law abroad after 12th.
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