Bar Council of India warns against unapproved online and hybrid LL.M. programmes. Calls them misleading, illegal, and harmful to legal education standards.
New Delhi: Today, on June 29, In a strong move to safeguard the quality and reputation of legal education in India, the Bar Council of India (BCI) has officially issued a warning to institutions offering LL.M. (Master of Laws) programmes in online, distance, or hybrid modes without proper approval.
This step has been taken to ensure that all law courses meet national standards and are recognized by the appropriate authority.
Also Read: Supreme Court to BCI: Do Not Interfere in Legal Education Matters
The advisory, written by Justice Rajendra Menon, former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court and currently the Co-Chairman of the BCI’s Standing Committee on Legal Education, has been sent to the Registrar Generals of all High Courts and the Supreme Court of India.
The letter has also been shared with various universities and State Bar Councils so that they can take the necessary actions and follow the rules.
The Bar Council reminded all concerned that only BCI has the legal authority to approve and regulate law education in India.
It pointed to important legal rules and judgments which make this clear, including the Supreme Court rulings, the UGC (Open and Distance Learning) Regulations, 2020, and BCI’s Legal Education Rules of 2008 and 2020.
According to these rules, no university or college is allowed to start LL.M. programmes through online, distance, or hybrid formats unless they have taken prior permission from the Bar Council.
The advisory warns that
“any deviation… threatens the standard, uniformity, and legal sanctity of postgraduate legal education across the country.”
This means that offering such unapproved LL.M. courses can damage the overall reputation and trust in India’s legal education system.
The BCI has also raised concerns about some universities trying to mislead students by changing the names of the programmes.
The letter says that the Council is
“alarmed by the growing number of institutions offering programmes under alternative titles such as LL.M. (Professional), Executive LL.M., or M.Sc. in Cyber Law.”
Many of these courses, according to the BCI, are being conducted “without mandatory approvals.”
The Council strongly stated that
“such practices… not only violate Supreme Court directives but also mislead students and degrade academic quality.”
The Bar Council made it clear that
“under the Advocates Act, 1961, it is the only statutory authority empowered to regulate both undergraduate and postgraduate law programmes.”
It also said that
“no other entity–including UGC or autonomous universities–can validate LL.M. courses independently.”
This means that even if a course is approved by a university or another body, it is not valid unless it has BCI approval.
The BCI also reminded everyone that an LL.M. degree is required to teach law in India. So, if the quality of these programmes is not up to standard, it will directly affect legal education and, in turn, the legal profession.
As the letter points out,
“an LL.M. degree is the minimum qualification required for teaching law, and therefore any relaxation in quality or regulatory compliance directly affects the legal profession.”
Because of these serious issues, the Bar Council has requested the High Courts to recognize its authority and take action where necessary.
The BCI has asked the courts to
“take judicial notice of the BCI’s exclusive authority in legal education,” and to “reject qualifications obtained from unapproved LL.M. programmes for appointments or promotions.”
Additionally, it has advised that courts and institutions
“require institutions and individuals to submit compliance verification from the BCI where necessary.”
To further protect students and stop these unauthorized courses, the BCI will soon issue a public notice warning students not to take admission in such programmes.
Also Read: BCI Bars Seven Law Colleges from Admitting Students for 2024-25 Academic Year
It is also getting ready to start contempt of court proceedings and other legal steps against institutions that do not follow the rules.
As stated in the advisory,
“to protect students and uphold public trust, the Bar Council plans to release a public advisory cautioning against enrollment in such unauthorized programmes. It is also preparing to initiate contempt proceedings and other legal measures against institutions found violating these guidelines.”
LL.M. Trends 2025: India Sees Growth in Enrollments but Quality Remains a Challenge
As of 2025, the Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in India continues to serve as a vital academic milestone for law graduates seeking specialization and advancement in the legal field. The LL.M. is a postgraduate degree pursued after completing an LL.B. or integrated B.A. LL.B. programme, and is considered essential for careers in academia, legal research, policy formulation, and advanced legal practice.
In India, the Bar Council of India (BCI) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) are the primary regulatory bodies overseeing legal education, including LL.M. programmes.
According to recent estimates, around 15,000 to 20,000 students enroll in LL.M. programmes across the country every academic year.
This number reflects both traditional two-year LL.M. courses and the more recent one-year programme structure, introduced by the UGC following the recommendations of the National Knowledge Commission and the BCI’s Legal Education Rules, 2008 and 2020.
The one-year LL.M., which focuses on intensive coursework and a dissertation, has gained popularity due to its condensed duration and practical orientation, especially among working professionals.
In terms of institutions, India has over 1,500 law colleges, including approximately 25 National Law Universities (NLUs), many of which offer LL.M. courses in specialized areas such as Constitutional Law, Business Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Criminal Law, Human Rights, and International Law.
Premier institutions like the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Delhi University Faculty of Law, Jindal Global Law School, and NALSAR Hyderabad witness intense competition, with thousands of applicants every year for a few hundred LL.M. seats.
The Common Law Admission Test – Postgraduate (CLAT-PG) remains the primary entrance examination for LL.M. admission into NLUs, attracting over 12,000 candidates in 2025, reflecting the sustained interest in postgraduate legal studies.
However, the surge in demand for LL.M. degrees has also led to a proliferation of unapproved and substandard courses, especially in online and hybrid formats. In response, the Bar Council of India in June 2025 reiterated its official stance through a public advisory warning students against enrolling in LL.M. programmes offered online or in distance/hybrid modes without prior approval.
The BCI emphasized that such programmes, often run under misleading titles like “LL.M. (Professional)” or “Executive LL.M.”, are not legally valid and cannot be used for academic appointments or professional recognition.
As clarified by the BCI, “an LL.M. degree is the minimum qualification required for teaching law,” and therefore, any compromise on quality or regulation undermines the entire legal education ecosystem.
This has serious implications, especially considering the recent UGC mandate requiring all assistant professors in law to hold a valid LL.M. degree from a BCI-recognized institution.
In a global context, Indian LL.M. programmes are increasingly aligning with international standards to attract foreign students and prepare Indian graduates for global legal practice. Yet, the credibility and uniformity of these programmes remain a concern.
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