Patna Law College has been part of legal education in Patna since 1909. This government college is affiliated to Patna University, has Bar Council of India (BCI) approval, and holds NAAC Grade B accreditation. Its history places it among Eastern India's oldest law institutions.

Near the Ganga riverbanks in Patna, Bihar, the college provides undergraduate, postgraduate, integrated and diploma programmes in law. Its combined intake is 560 seats. Two former Chief Justices of India are among its alumni.

Graduates commonly build careers in court practice, the Bihar Judicial Service, and legal posts in central or state government. The college does not run a formal corporate placement cell. Its government-funded fee structure makes it one of India's most affordable options for studying law.

  • The 3-year LLB provides general legal education and has 320 seats.
  • The 5-year BALLB (Hons.) combines arts subjects with law.
  • The 5-year BBALLB brings business administration and law into one degree. It received approval in August 2025.
  • The postgraduate LLM runs for 2 years and admits 20 students.
  • The PG Diploma in Law lasts 1 year and has 40 seats.

Patna Law College Important Admission Dates

Admission to the 3-year LLB is through the Patna University Law Entrance Test (BLET). For the current cycle, counselling and admission for selected LLB and LLM applicants continue on the dates listed below. Students must attend with the necessary documents.

Tentative Admission Schedule for 2027-28

The expected BLET registration and notification window for the 2027-28 session is May to June 2027. These estimates depend on Patna University's admission notifications.

EventDate
BLET 2027 notification, expectedMay to June 2027
Applications for the 2027-28 session, expectedMay to June 2027
BLET 2027 entrance examination, expectedJuly 2027
Counselling and admission for 2027-28, expectedJuly to August 2027
Beginning of the 2027-28 session, expectedAugust 2027

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

LLB and LLM Counselling in October 2026

EventDate
LLB counselling and admission for session 2026-29 at Patna Law College, remaining scheduled dates16, 22, 23 and 24 October 2026, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
LLM counselling and admission for session 2026-28 at the Postgraduate Department of Law, remaining scheduled dates16, 22, 23 and 24 October 2026, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

Check Patna University's LLB admission notice and LLM admission notice for the counselling instructions.

Patna Law College Courses and Fees

Students can choose a graduate-entry LLB, an integrated law degree after Class 12, postgraduate study, or a diploma. As a government institution under Patna University, the college charges fees that are among India's lowest for legal education. The complete 3-year LLB costs INR 5,668.

CourseDurationSeatsEligibilityFee
LLB3 years320Graduation in any discipline with 45% for General applicants or 40% for SC/ST applicants, plus BLETINR 5,668 for the full programme
BALLB (Hons.)5 yearsNot specified10+2 in any stream and an entrance testINR 95,500 for the full programme
BBALLB5 years18010+2 in any stream and an entrance testINR 2.08 Lakhs for the full programme
LLM2 years20LLB with at least 55%, plus BLET PGINR 67,500 for the full programme
PG Diploma in Law1 year40Graduation in any disciplineINR 32,500 for the full programme

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

With 320 seats, the 3-year LLB is the college's main programme. It largely serves graduates preparing for court practice or judicial service. Approval of BBALLB in 2025 added a route for Class 12 students who want to study business and law together.

Patna Law College Admission Procedure

The selection route depends on the programme. LLB applicants take BLET, while LLM applicants take Patna University's BLET PG. Integrated law courses use an entrance examination, and PG Diploma admission follows academic merit.

Applying for the 3-Year LLB

A bachelor's degree in any subject is needed for LLB admission. General category applicants must have at least 45%, while the minimum for SC/ST applicants is 40%. Applicants face no upper age restriction. Selection depends on performance in BLET.

Complete these steps to secure admission:

  • Once the BLET notification is released, submit an application through Patna University's centralised portal.
  • Take BLET at an assigned examination centre in Bihar.
  • Attend counselling, where BLET marks and category determine merit and seat allotment to Patna Law College.
  • Present certificates and mark sheets at the college office for verification. Applicants claiming reservation must also provide their caste certificate.
  • Pay the fee to confirm the allotted admission.

BLET is an offline examination lasting 2 hours. It covers English, General Knowledge, Legal Aptitude and Reasoning. Before applying, students should check the current syllabus and examination pattern on Patna University's website.

Entry to the 5-Year BALLB and BBALLB

Students who have passed 10+2 in any stream from a recognised board can apply for the integrated programmes. Selection uses the college's entrance examination or BLET for integrated courses. BBALLB received approval in August 2025 for 180 seats. The five-year course allows Class 12 graduates to combine business administration with legal study.

Selection for LLM and the PG Diploma

For LLM, applicants need an LLB degree with at least 55% and must qualify through BLET PG, conducted by Patna University. The PG Diploma in Law accepts graduates from any discipline through merit-based selection. These courses have 20 and 40 seats, respectively, making admission competitive at the state level.

Patna Law College Careers and Placements

Court practice, judicial service and government legal work account for the main career routes after graduation. As a government college focused on preparing advocates and judges, Patna Law College has no formal corporate placement cell. Students seeking corporate opportunities rely on internships and alumni contacts.

Career RouteEntry RouteCareer Details
Practice in district courts and the High CourtEnrol with the Bar Council of Bihar after LLBIndependent legal practice is the choice of most graduates.
Bihar Judicial ServiceBihar Judicial Service Competitive Exam (BJSC)A route pursued after the 3-year LLB or LLM.
Central government law officer rolesUPSC or the Department of Legal AffairsOptions include IRS, Law Officer and Central Law Ministry posts.
State public sector and government legal advisory workBPSC or the State Law MinistryWork in legal departments of state government bodies and public sector undertakings (PSUs).
Corporate legal workArrange internships independently and find placements through alumni connectionsCorporate roles are becoming a more common choice among BBALLB graduates.

The presence of two Chief Justices of India among its alumni reflects the college's long association with judicial careers. Reported starting income for graduates entering practice and typical corporate starting packages are shown below. LPA means lakhs per annum.

Income MeasureAmountContext
Reported median starting income for graduates entering practiceINR 3.5 LPASenior advocates practising at Patna High Court can earn significantly more as their careers progress.
Typical structured starting packages at Tier 2 law firms and companiesINR 6 to 10 LPARelevant to corporate, compliance and in-house legal roles; this range is not a college placement statistic.

Introduced with approval in 2025, the 5-year BBALLB is expected to draw students interested in corporate law, compliance work and legal roles within companies.

Patna Law College Ranking Status

Patna Law College currently has no position in the NIRF ranking list.

Ranking FrameworkStatus
NIRFNot currently listed

Patna Law College Campus Facilities

The main campus occupies a historic part of Patna near the Ganga. Its building dates from the college's establishment in the early 20th century and contains classrooms, administrative offices, seminar rooms and a law library. Students can use legal textbooks, commentaries and case law reporters in the library. Moot court facilities, where students practise courtroom arguments, and seminar spaces support practical legal training.

Hostel places are limited and allotted according to availability and college rules. The central location also helps students reach Patna High Court, the District Court complex and government legal departments for internships and practical experience during their LLB studies.

Comparison with Bihar Law College and C.M. Law College

Students exploring Patna University-affiliated law courses often consider Bihar Law College and C.M. Law College alongside Patna Law College. All three are government institutions offering the 3-year LLB under Patna University affiliation.

Comparison PointPatna Law CollegeBihar Law College, PatnaC.M. Law College, Patna
Year established190919521950s
Affiliated universityPatna UniversityPatna UniversityPatna University
Institution typeGovernmentGovernmentGovernment
LLB intake320 seatsLimited, according to Patna University normsLimited, according to Patna University norms
Integrated law degreesBALLB and BBALLBNot offeredNot offered
Fee for the complete LLBINR 5,668Nominal, under Patna University normsNominal, under Patna University norms
Alumni distinctionTwo Chief Justices of IndiaNot widely reportedNot widely reported

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

Among these institutions, Patna Law College has the longest history and the strongest alumni legacy. It alone offers BALLB and BBALLB, following the BCI mandate for five-year integrated law degrees. Each college admits through BLET under Patna University affiliation, and their fee structures are comparable.

Patna Law College Frequently Asked Questions

Ques. Who runs Patna Law College, and which bodies recognise it?

Ans. Established in 1909, Patna Law College is a government institution affiliated to Patna University. Its law education has Bar Council of India (BCI) approval. It is also among the oldest government law colleges in Eastern India.

Ques. Can a graduate use CLAT scores to enter the LLB at Patna Law College?

Ans. Admission uses Patna University's Law Entrance Test, BLET; CLAT scores are not accepted for this LLB. Graduates from any discipline may apply if they meet the minimum marks: 45% for General applicants and 40% for SC/ST applicants. There is no upper age limit for the 3-year programme.

Ques. How much does each undergraduate law programme cost in total?

Ans. The full 3-year LLB costs INR 5,668. Government funding helps keep this among India's lowest law school fees. For the complete five-year courses, BBALLB costs INR 2.08 Lakhs, while BALLB costs INR 95,500.

Ques. What career support and starting income can students expect after graduation?

Ans. The college has no formal cell for corporate placements. Graduates mainly enter practice at Patna High Court or district courts, take the Bihar Judicial Service route, or pursue BPSC legal posts and central government law officer positions. Interest in corporate law is increasing among BBALLB graduates. For those beginning legal practice, the reported median starting income is INR 3.5 LPA; experienced senior advocates earn significantly more.

Ques. How should applicants choose between Patna Law College and CNLU Patna?

Ans. The choice depends on the applicant's qualifications and intended career. Graduates entering through BLET can use Patna Law College's long tradition in litigation and judicial service, reflected in its two Chief Justices of India among the alumni. It remains an affordable institution with a historic reputation for those planning court practice, judicial service or government legal work in Bihar. CNLU Patna is a National Law University that admits through CLAT and has a more structured corporate placement programme. Applicants with competitive CLAT scores who want corporate placement support may find CNLU Patna better suited to that goal.

Ques. Which months should applicants watch for the 2027-28 admission cycle?

Ans. The BLET notification and opening of admissions for 2027-28 are expected in May to June 2027. July is the usual examination month, with the 2027 test expected in July 2027. These are tentative expectations. Check Patna University's official admission portal for notifications confirming application dates and the examination schedule.