The Faculty of Law, which was founded in 1924 as the legal department of the University of Delhi, remains one of India’s most prestigious institutions for legal education. The Faculty was first situated in the Prince’s Pavilion on the grounds of the Old Viceregal Lodge. It was not until 1963 that the faculty at the University of Delhi relocate to its current location on Chhatra Marg.

The faculty built its first centre i.e. Law Centre-I in 1970  and its second Law Centre-II in 1971 as enrollment grew in number. In 1975, the Faculty of Law’s LL.B day classes were relocated to the newly constituted Campus Law Centre.

The historical background only makes it clear that the Faculty of Law is one unit operating through its three centers Campus Law Centre (CLC), Law Centre-I (LC-I), and Law Centre-II (LC-II) and there is no other DU Law College. These centers do not have a particular hierarchy but precedence is given to one center or another through popular opinion. They even follow the same syllabi. Each of the three centers is, however, an independent part of the Faculty of Law. Each center has its own faculty, timings, and infrastructure for LL.B. courses.

Common Aspects of DU Law Colleges/Centers

Before we delve into the DU Law Colleges/Centres separately, let’s cover what is common in all of them.

Admission Process

Students are admitted to DU Law Colleges/Centres on a merit basis through a common entrance test. The DU Law Entrance Exam for the three-year LLB program is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) at the national level, conducted in more than 18 cities across India. It is common for admission to all the DU law centers. Admission is granted based on the results of the entrance exam, which is followed by various rounds of counseling and seat allocation.

Location

At present, all DU Law Colleges/centers of the department namely Campus Law Centre (CLC), Law Centre-I (LC-I), and Law Centre-II (LC-II) operate from the north campus premises situated at Chhatra Marg. 

The Faculty of Law inaugurated Umang Bhawan in 2016, a new building measuring over 90,000 square feet that now accommodates classes for LC-I and LC-II. The old building remains operational where classes for Campus Law Centre are held. 

Fee Structure

All the DU Law Colleges/Centres follow a similar fee structure. Library costs (including e-resources), case material that elaborates on case laws for various law areas and is amended by faculty members, development fees, and so on are all included in the DU LLB semester fees. It is around 35k for the full three-year study or about 5k per semester. 

Seats

Though the number of seats available for DU Law Colleges/Centres in the Faculty of Law is not static and changes every academic year, they are divided equally among all centers. In 2021, DU LLB Entrance Exam was conducted for 2922 seats in total. 

Syllabus

All the DU Law Colleges/Centres follow the same curriculum for their three-year LLB program. Check our post on DU LLB for a detailed layout on the curriculum. 

Now, let’s delve into each DU Law College/Centre separately.

Campus Law Centre

Campus Law Centre of the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi is one of the DU Law Colleges/Centres that provide a full-time three-year law degree course. It is popularly christened as the preferred center over its other two counterparts. It has continuously been listed among India’s top legal schools, and the India Today-Nielson survey of 2016 placed it second in the country.

Its enviable body of alumni including the likes of Kapil Sibal, Arun Jaitley, Kiran Bedi, Rohintan F. Nariman, Mukul Rohatgi, Meira Kumar, Gopal Subramaniam, leaves little room to doubt why CLC is considered one of the leading DU Law Colleges/Centres. A large chunk of the sitting judges of the Supreme Court and High court have hailed from this institution.  

Timings

The classes may stretch from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm. It may not be suitable for students who want to take internships or are already working. However, CLC carries a reputation of being a premier law college in DU which makes it helpful for students who want to land internships under reputed firms and legal practitioners. However, it doesn’t discount the validity of the other two DU law Colleges/Centres. 

Facilities 

CLC follows a ‘case study’ teaching technique in which each student is given updated study material termed ‘case material’ with important court rulings and reading material related to each subject. This ensures a thorough understanding of the legislation and allows for effective instructional d student participation. The case material is revised by the Faculty members themselves which reduces their dependence on outside publications. 

Renowned faculty ensuring quality education, extensive library and e-resources, and regular speeches and discussions by academic and industry professionals during conferences and symposiums are just a few of the aspects that have helped CLC become an eminent legal institution.

The Legal Aid Society, Moot Court Society, Debate and Discussion Society, Placement Assistance Council, Corporate and Commercial Law Society, Cultural Society, and other committees also form part of this DU Law College/Centre. 

Journal

Since 2013, the Campus Law Centre has been publishing a refereed journal namely the Journal of the Campus Law Centre. Its goal is to give the legal community a place to voice their opinions, ideas, and research. It invites and encourages academia, lawyers, judges, and scholars to submit original and unpublished articles, notes, and commentary on the current legal and socio-legal fields of study.

Moot Court

Organized yearly since 2005, on the third weekend of January, the Campus Law Centre, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi hosts the K. K. Luthra Memorial Moot Court. The Competition is held in remembrance of Late Sh. K. K. Luthra, Senior Advocate, an eminent criminal lawyer. The competition went international in 2009, with approximately 60 competing institutions. 

Benefits

CLC’s reputation precedes the institution itself. Therefore, the students can avail coveted internships with judges, prominent legal practitioners, and law firms. the extensive library and e-resources make for abundant and affordable study material. Exposure to the most renowned alumni and faculty members helps students form a sound legal network for future prospects. The students can also land jobs in reputed litigation and corporate firms or secure a position as researchers for government wings or judges. 

Law Centre-I

With 600 seats, Law Centre-I was founded in 1970 and held classes in a building at Kashmere Gate. It was quickly shifted to a school on Mandir Marg. Law Centre-1 was moved to the North Campus of Delhi University in 1994, to Chhatra Marg, within the Faculty of Law’s premises. It now operates through the new building within the north campus premises, DU.

Timings

LC-I is known for its functional timings that run from around 2 pm-7.30 pm which makes it the most suitable option for the working class or taking up internships where students can utilize and dedicate the time to enhance their exposure to the practical aspects of litigation or even take up jobs as paralegals. It also gives leeway for students to continue pursuing their existing jobs. 

Facilities 

As mentioned, LC-I has its independent academic infrastructure with library resources, renowned faculty members, and separate conferences, journals, and examinations. It has its own Legal Services Society, Moot Court Society, NSS Cell, Equal Opportunity Cell, and Gender Sensitization Committee.   

Journal

The official journal of Law Centre-I, Faculty of Law, is the Journal of Law Teachers of India. The journal has an advisory board and an editorial board, both of which are composed of notable scholars. The inaugural edition of JOLT-I was published in 2010 in collaboration with the Association of Law Teachers of India. Before they are published, all of the papers are peer-reviewed. JOLT- I’s major goal is to promote effective legal writing in all fields of law and research among students and teaching personnel. 

Moot Court

• Every year, Law Centre-I hosts the LC-1 All Delhi (NCR) Moot Court Tournament, which is a flagship moot court competition. It is exclusively open to Delhi and NCR institutions and universities. The moot court tournament was held for the 16th time this year. Its judging panel has included Supreme Court and High Court judges, as well as notable lawyers and jurists.
• From the 8th to the 10th of March, 2013, the NHRC hosted a National Moot Court Competition on Human Rights in partnership with the DU Law Centre-I. The competition garnered the participation of 50 teams from different law schools and universities across the country. 

Benefits

The timings of LC-I make it an apt option for working individuals. Moreover, LC-I students are known to enroll in the LLB program after completing their studies in a variety of subjects with a diverse set of academic credentials and work experience. Many of its students have completed professional courses such as Chartered Accountancy, engineering, and other related fields, which help them supplement their careers in areas of law such as taxes, arbitration, corporate law, intellectual property, etc. among others. As a result, its students are well equipped in handling the legal aspects of their professions. 

Law Centre-II

In 1971, Law Centre-II opened its doors on the campus of ARSD College in Dhaula Kuan to offer a full-time LL.B. degree. The third DU Law College/Centre, now located in the new building, is also an independent part of the Faculty of Law, DU. Law Centre-alumni II includes prominent administrators, military personnel, teachers, and police officers from various departments. Prof. Upendra Baxi, a well-known lawyer and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Delhi; Prof. Tahir Mahmood, who later became Chairperson of the Minority Commission, are among its notable alumni. 

Timings

The LC-II class timings run from 8 am to 2 pm. 

Facilities & Benefits 

LC-II has its own renowned faculty, library resources, and academic infrastructure. Several committees have been formed to encourage students ’ participation at the Centre. Moot Court and Debate Committee, Conferences, Seminars, and Extension Lectures Committee, Placement Committee, Journal Committee, Alumni Association, and Legal Aid Committee are among these committees. The Legal Assistance Committee hosts legal aid camps and assists a large number of students in becoming Paralegal Volunteers (PLVs). The Internship and Placement Committee is in charge of student internships and final-year student placement.

Journal

Since 1996, the Law Centre-II, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi has been publishing the National Capital Law Journal. Every year, academia, researchers, academia, legal practitioners, and students are invited to submit case notes, essays, papers, articles, and book reviews.

Moot Court

Since 2016, Law Centre-II has hosted a national-level moot court tournament called “JUSTIFIED”. From the 27th to the 29th of September 2019, Law Centre-II also hosted its first international edition – “S.K. Puri Memorial International Moot Court Competition – JUSTIFIED’19.”

Wrapping Up

The DU Law Colleges/Centres has amassed an enviable reputation owing to its notable faculty and alumni. It is one of the oldest legal institutions offering quality legal education with a modest fee structure and good infrastructure. However, the five-year LLB programs have gained traction and have become more popular among youth who can pursue law straight out of school, as opposed to DU LLB which can be pursued only after attaining a bachelor’s degree. The infrastructure is also said to be better in NLUs and other private institutions with better placement opportunities. However, DU Law Colleges/Centres has held on to its reputation and stands as a time-tested legal institution in the country. Stay tuned for more updates on Inside DU.  

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Frequently Asked Questions about DU Law Colleges