The Bar Council of India (BCI) on Tuesday decided to discard the one-year LLM course which was introduced in 2013.
LLM, the post-graduate course leading to Master's degree, will now be of two years with four semesters, the newly notified BCI Legal Education Rules, 2020, states.
LLM course will also be now restricted to graduates in law. Earlier students of any graduation such as business law or human rights could apply for LLM admission.
Entrance Test
Among the new changes a Post-Graduate Common Entrance Test in Law (PGCETL) has been announced. This test will be conducted by the BCI.
Until PGCETL is introduced the present admission system can be followed by respective universities. Once the BCI introduces the PGCETL, it shall be mandatory to admit students from the merit list based on the test results.
Validity of overseas LLM
The latest notification also mentioned that LLM obtained from a foreign university will be considered equivalent to one obtained in India only if it is taken after obtaining the LLB graduate degree from any foreign or Indian university.
The new rules include that the institution should also have a dedicated core faculty of not less than 10 of whom minimum 4 should be Professors or Associate Professors.
The new rules shall come into force from the date notified by the BCI.