India is a democracy with the rule of law protecting the rights of its citizens. No one is above the law, not even the Prime Minister or President. To enforce the law fairly, impartially, and consistently is the function of our judiciary, but in order for them to do so, they need to be ably assisted by officers of law, more commonly referred to as lawyers. No wonder then that the legal profession is one of the most respected professions in the country. From Mahatma Gandhi to B.R. Ambedkar, so many of the country’s founding fathers were legal professionals.
For law aspirants in India, there are several paths to that coveted law degree. They could pursue an integrated 5-Year course straight after school, or go for a 3-year LL.B. (Bachelor of Law) degree post their graduation. Depending on the institution’s requirements, admission may be granted on the basis of marks obtained at the +2 or graduation level, as the case may be, or on the basis of a separate entrance test.
Today, we shall discuss the entrance exam for one of the most prestigious courses – an LL.B. from Delhi University’s Faculty of Law. We will cover the exam’s eligibility criteria, its pattern, syllabus, important dates, as well as a few tips to prepare for it. Here, for your reference, is the ultimate guide to prepare for DU LL.B. entrance exam:
About Faculty of Law
Established in the year 1924, the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, is one of the premier law schools in India. Many eminent lawyers, judges, politicians and civil servants are alumni of this prestigious law school, including Arun Jaitley, Kapil Sibal, Justice Y. Chandrachud, Justice R. Gogoi, Meira Kumar, Kiran Bedi, and many others. To shortlist aspirants for admission, the Delhi University conducts the DU LL.B. entrance exam.
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Eligibility Criteria
Eligible candidates need to have completed their graduation from a recognised Indian University/Foreign University/Equivalent institution from any stream with a minimum of 50% marks (45% for OBC and 40% for SC/ST). Candidates in the final year of their graduation/post-graduation are also eligible to apply, however, such candidates will be offered admission on a provisional basis, subject to their clearing their degree examinations.
Test Pattern
The total duration of the exam is 2 hours. Till last year, there were a total of 175 multiple type questions for the candidates to answer in the given time frame. However, from this year onwards, the total questions have been reduced to 100. Each correct answer is awarded 4 marks while there is a negative marking of -1 for every incorrect answer.
Test Syllabus
There are 5 subjects from which questions are posed – English Language & Comprehension, General Knowledge & Current Affairs, Reasoning & Analytical abilities, Arithmetic, and Legal Awareness & Aptitude.
Important Dates
The dates for this year’s exam have not been released yet. However, for reference, last year the exam was conducted on the 2nd of July. Applications are expected to be invited by May.
Tips to remember
Books for Preparation – There are a number of books commonly available across bookstores that cover preparation for the DU LLB entrance. You would be well advised, however, to exercise caution in the choice of study material since many available resources are replete with errors. Considering the exam has negative marking, your inadvertent errors may cost you a lot.
Legal Aptitude – Unsurprisingly and quite expectedly, the DU LLB exam has a strong focus on Legal Aptitude and Indian Polity, especially as it relates to the legal aspects. You should aim to develop a good understanding of the Indian Constitution, its structure, sections and schedules, and have a good overview of the IPC and the CrPC. For most students, this is going to be completely new content and may require detailed and intensive study.
GK and Current Affairs – Since there never can be a defined ‘syllabus’ for this area of the paper, you need to study past years’ papers to identify patterns of the type of questions, as well as keep up with current affairs by regularly reading major newspapers.
Basic Arithmetic – If you aren’t too good at math and find this portion scary, the good news is this is a very small component of the exam. The questions are also usually quite simple and based on Class X level concepts.
Mock Tests – Mocks form an important part of any exam preparation. Look for a good online mock test series, and aim to write at least 6-8 mock tests before the actual exam. Reproduce the exam conditions as much as possible – including the time limit and turning your phone off to avoid distractions!