Law School Spotlight | Faculty of Law, Banaras Hindu University

The Faculty of Law at Banaras Hindu University, popularly called BHU Law School, is one of the oldest and most respected places to study law in India. It is located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and is part of the large BHU campus.

For students planning to study law immediately after Class 12, BHU offers the five-year B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) programme. The college can be a good option for students who want quality legal education at a public university, an active campus life and an affordable course compared with many private law colleges.

About the Faculty of Law, BHU

Banaras Hindu University is a central university established in Varanasi. Its Faculty of Law has a long history of legal education and has produced lawyers, judges, teachers, civil servants and legal researchers.

The law school offers undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes. However, students applying after Class 12 should focus on the B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) course.

Some important features of the institution are:

• It is part of a central university.
• It has an established reputation in legal education.
• Students study inside the large BHU campus.
• The law faculty organises academic and practical activities.
• The course can support careers in litigation, judiciary, civil services, corporate law and higher studies.

BHU may particularly appeal to students who prefer a traditional university environment instead of a small, specialised law campus.

B.A. LL.B. Course at BHU

The B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) is a five-year integrated undergraduate course. It combines subjects from the humanities with core subjects of law.

During the early years, students may study subjects connected with political science, sociology, economics and history. These subjects help students understand how society, government and legal institutions work.

The legal part of the course generally includes important subjects such as:

• Constitutional Law
• Law of Contracts
• Family Law
• Criminal Law
• Law of Torts
• Property Law
• Company Law
• Administrative Law
• Environmental Law
• Civil and Criminal Procedure
• Evidence Law
• Jurisprudence
• Drafting and Pleading

The course is divided into semesters. Apart from classroom study, students are expected to develop legal research, writing, speaking and problem-solving skills.

Eligibility for B.A. LL.B. Admission

A student must normally pass Class 12 or an equivalent examination from a recognised board to apply for the B.A. LL.B. programme.

According to BHU’s 2025 admission information, the minimum marks were:

• 50% for General category candidates
• 45% for OBC candidates
• 40% for SC and ST candidates

These requirements may be revised in a later admission year. Students should therefore check the latest BHU undergraduate admission bulletin before filling out the application.

Students from different streams, including Arts, Commerce and Science, may apply if they meet the prescribed eligibility conditions. Studying Arts in Class 12 is not compulsory for pursuing B.A. LL.B.

Admission Process for BHU B.A. LL.B.

Admission to the undergraduate law course is based on the Common University Entrance Test for undergraduate programmes, commonly known as CUET UG.

CLAT scores are not used for admission to BHU’s B.A. LL.B. programme. CLAT is mainly conducted for admission to participating National Law Universities.

The admission process usually involves the following stages:

• Register for CUET UG through the official NTA portal.
• Select the required test papers and choose BHU as a university preference.
• Appear for CUET UG.
• Obtain a valid CUET score.
• Register separately on BHU’s undergraduate counselling or admission portal.
• Select the B.A. LL.B. programme in the preference form.
• Participate in the seat-allotment process.
• Upload documents and pay the admission fee within the deadline.

Simply appearing for CUET does not complete the BHU application. Candidates must also register on BHU’s admission platform after the university opens its counselling process.

CUET Cut-Off for BHU Law

BHU does not have one permanent cut-off for B.A. LL.B. The closing score can change every year depending on:

• The difficulty level of CUET
• The number of applicants
• The number of available seats
• The candidate’s category
• The counselling round
• The course preferences filled by students

Students should avoid depending entirely on cut-offs from previous years. Old cut-offs can provide a rough idea, but they do not guarantee admission in the next session.

A higher CUET score generally improves the chance of securing a seat, especially in the General category. It is also important to fill preferences carefully and complete every counselling step on time.

Fees and Affordability

One of the main attractions of studying law at BHU is its public university environment. The cost of education may be lower than that of many private law colleges.

However, students must check whether a seat falls under a regular or paid-fee category. The amount payable can differ depending on the seat category and university rules.

The total cost may include:

• Tuition and university fees
• Admission and examination fees
• Hostel charges
• Mess expenses
• Books and study materials
• Moot court and competition expenses
• Personal and travel expenses

The latest course fee should always be confirmed through the official BHU admission bulletin or fee notice. Third-party college websites may display older amounts.

Campus Life and Facilities

BHU has a large residential campus in Varanasi. Law students can experience the wider university environment and interact with students from many academic fields.

Depending on availability and university rules, students may have access to:

• Central and faculty libraries
• Reading rooms
• Hostels
• Sports facilities
• Health services
• Seminar halls
• Student clubs and societies
• Cultural and academic events
• Cafeterias and campus shops

Hostel accommodation is generally subject to availability. Receiving admission to the course does not always guarantee an immediate hostel room.

Varanasi is also an important cultural and educational city. However, students moving from another state should consider climate, travel distance, language comfort and personal living preferences.

Moot Courts, Legal Aid and Student Activities

Legal education is not limited to textbooks. Students need practical exposure to understand how legal arguments, research and court procedures work.

The Faculty of Law has been associated with activities such as:

• Moot court competitions
• Legal aid programmes
• Seminars and conferences
• Debates and discussions
• Research and paper presentations
• Guest lectures
• Workshops
• Internship-related activities

Moot courts help students learn legal research, memorial writing and oral advocacy. Legal aid activities can introduce them to real social and legal problems.

Participation is important because these activities can strengthen a student’s CV and improve confidence before internships or job interviews.

Internships and Placement Opportunities

Students may complete internships with advocates, law firms, courts, NGOs, companies, research organisations and government bodies during the five-year course.

BHU has placement opportunities, but students should not select the college only on the assumption that every graduate will receive a corporate job through campus recruitment.

Publicly reported data for the 2024 graduating batch stated that six B.A. LL.B. students were placed out of 57 graduates, with a median salary of approximately ₹6.29 lakh per annum. Twenty-two students reportedly chose higher studies. These figures show that many graduates may follow different paths instead of relying only on campus placements.

Common career options after the course include:

• Litigation
• Corporate law
• Judicial services
• Civil services
• Legal research
• Government legal work
• Higher studies
• Teaching and academics
• Compliance and in-house legal roles

Students interested in corporate law should actively build their profiles through internships, legal writing, competitions and networking.

Who Should Consider BHU Law?

BHU Law may be suitable for a student who:

• Wants to study at an established central university
• Is ready to prepare for CUET UG
• Prefers an affordable law course
• Is interested in litigation, judiciary or public service
• Wants a large and diverse campus environment
• Is willing to independently search for internships
• Values academic learning and legal research

It may be less suitable for a student expecting the same placement structure or corporate exposure offered by some leading National Law Universities. The final outcome will depend greatly on individual effort, internships, skills and career planning.

Is BHU Good for B.A. LL.B.?

The Faculty of Law, BHU, is a strong option for students seeking an established law school within a central university. Its reputation, broad campus environment, academic history and comparatively affordable education make it worth considering.

At the same time, students should keep realistic expectations about placements and take personal responsibility for building practical skills. A student who participates in moot courts, completes meaningful internships, improves legal writing and plans a career from the early years can make good use of the opportunities available at BHU.

Before applying, the latest CUET requirements, eligibility rules, course fee, seat matrix and counselling schedule should be checked on the official BHU admission portal.