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The Bachelor of Laws (abbreviated LL. B., LL.B., LLB, or rarely, Ll.B.) is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law (or a first professional degree in law, depending on jurisdiction) originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree.^[1] In English-speaking Canada it is sometimes referred to as a post-graduate degree because previous university education is usually required for admission. The "LL." of the abbreviation for the degree is from the genitive plural legum (of lex, legis f., law), thus "LL.B." stands for Legum Baccalaureus in Latin.

The United States is the only common law country that no longer offers the LL.B. While the LL.B. was conferred until 1971 at Yale University, since that time, all universities in the United States have awarded the professional doctorate J.D.,^[2] which then became the generally standardized degree in most states for the necessary bar exam prior to practice of law.^{[3][dubious – discuss]} It is sometimes erroneously called "Bachelor of Legal Letters" to account for the double "L". Historically, in Canada, Bachelor of Laws was the name of the first degree in common law, but is also the name of the first degree in Quebec civil law awarded by a number of Quebec universities. Canadian common-law LL.B. programs are, in practice, second-entry professional degrees, meaning that the vast majority of those admitted to an LL.B. programme are already holders of one or more degrees, or, at a minimum (with very few exceptions), have completed two years of study in a first-entry, undergraduate degree in another discipline.

Bachelor of Laws is also the name of the first degree in Scots law and South African law (both being pluralistic legal systems that are based partly on common law and partly on civil law) awarded by a number of universities in Scotland and South Africa, respectively.

History of the degree[link]

The first academic degrees were all law degrees on medieval universities, and the first law degrees were doctorates.^[4][5][6] The foundations of the first universities were the glossators of the 11th century, which were also schools of law.^[7] The first university, that of Bologna, was founded as a school of law by four famous legal scholars in the 12th century who were students of the glossator school in that city. The University of Bologna served as the model for other law schools of the medieval age.^[8] While it was common for students of law to visit and study at schools in other countries, such was not the case with England because of the English rejection of Roman law (except for certain jurisdictions such as the Admiralty Court) and although the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge did teach canon law until the English Reformation, its importance was always superior to civil law in those institutions.^[9]

The bachelor's degree originated at the University of Paris, whose system was implemented at Oxford and Cambridge.^[10] The "arts" designation of the degree traditionally signifies that the student has undertaken a certain amount of study of the classics.^[11] On continental Europe the bachelor's degree was phased out in the 18th or early 19th century but it continued at Oxford and Cambridge.

The teaching of law at Oxford University was for philosophical or scholarly purposes and not meant to prepare one to practise law.^[12] Professional training for practising common law in England was undertaken at the Inns of Court, but over time the training functions of the Inns lessened considerably and apprenticeships with individual practitioners arose as the prominent medium of preparation.^[13] However, because of the lack of standardization of study and of objective standards for appraisal of these apprenticeships, the role of universities became subsequently of importance for the education of lawyers in the English speaking world.^[14]

In England in 1292 when Edward I first requested that lawyers be trained, students merely sat in the courts and observed, but over time the students would hire professionals to lecture them in their residences, which led to the institution of the Inns of Court system.^[15] The original method of education at the Inns of Court was a mix of moot court-like practice and lecture, as well as court proceedings observation.^[16] By the seventeenth century, the Inns obtained a status as a kind of university akin to the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, though very specialized in purpose.^[17] With the frequent absence of parties to suits during the Crusades, the importance of the lawyer role grew tremendously, and the demand for lawyers grew.^[18]

Traditionally Oxford and Cambridge did not see common law as worthy of study, and included coursework in law only in the context of canon and civil law and for the purpose of the study of philosophy or history only. The apprenticeship program for solicitors thus emerged, structured and governed by the same rules as the apprenticeship programs for the trades.^[19] The training of solicitors by apprenticeship was formally established by an act of parliament in 1729.^[20] William Blackstone became the first lecturer in English common law at the University of Oxford in 1753, but the university did not establish the program for the purpose of professional study, and the lectures were very philosophical and theoretical in nature.^[20] Blackstone insisted that the study of law should be university based, where concentration on foundational principles can be had, instead of concentration on detail and procedure had through apprenticeship and the Inns of Court.^[21]

The Inns of Court continued but became less effective and admission to the bar still did not require any significant educational activity or examination, therefore in 1846 the Parliament examined the education and training of prospective barristers and found the system to be inferior to the legal education provided in the United States.^[14] Therefore, formal schools of law were called for, but not finally established until later in the century, and even then the bar did not consider a university degree in admission decisions.^[14] When law degrees were required by the English bar and bar associations in other common law countries, the LL.B. became the uniform degree for lawyers in common law countries.

Structure of LL.B. programmes[link]

Historically, law students studied both civil law and common law. Today, this is much less common. However, a few institutions, such as Cardiff University's Department of Canon (Ecclesiastical) Law and McGill University's and the University of Ottawa's combined programme, continue to offer alternatives to the common law.

Common law nations generally[link]

In most common law countries (with the exception of Canada, and the United States), the Bachelor of Laws programme is generally entered directly after completion of secondary school. In England and Wales it is also possible to study a programme for conversion to the legal profession following completion of a previous undergraduate degree unrelated to law (the Graduate Diploma in Law), which entitles graduates to take the vocational courses for entry into the legal profession. Master's courses are also offered to university graduates, those who graduate from such courses are entitled to use the initials LL.M.

Australia[link]

The programme of study for the common law LL.B. can be either a graduate-entry degree programme requiring a previous bachelors degree (the duration of which is usually three years) or can be undertaken directly after high-school either by itself (the duration of which is usually four years) or with another degree (i.e., B.Comm/LL.B., B.A./LL.B., or B.Sc./LL.B., the duration of which can vary between five and seven years, depending on the specific combination).

Additionally, most top universities have started offering the J.D as a graduate entry degree in order for J.D graduates to be competitive in the international legal market.

Bangladesh[link]

Bangladesh is a common law country. Like other Common Law countries, Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree is a condition precedent to practise as an Advocate in the Courts of Law of Bangladesh. Both LL.B. and LL.B. (Hons.) degrees are offered in different Public and Private Universities. Only six Public Universities offer LL.B. (Hons.) degree. These Universities are:

1. University of Dhaka
2. Jagannath University
3. Jahangirnagar University
4. University of Rajshahi
5. University of Chittagong
6. Islamic University of Kustia.

All these Universities also offer one-year LL.M. course. Private Universities like ASA University Bangladesh, Premier University Chittagong, Stamford University, BRAC University, Bangladesh Islami University (Sayedabad, Maniknagar), Uttara University, Green University of Bangladesh, Eastern University, South East University, University of Asia Pacific, Dhaka International University, Northern University Bangladesh, BGC Trust University Bangladesh, Southern University Chittagong, World University of Bangladesh, University of Information Technology & Sciences (UITS) also offer LL.B. (Hons.) degree (four years) and one-year LL.M. course. Some private universities like Southern University, South East University also offer two years LL.B. degree to the graduates of subjects other than Law. Besides, the National University of Bangladesh also offers two-years LL.B. degree to the graduates of subjects other than Law through some Law Colleges.

Canada[link]

Canada has a dual system of laws. In the province of Quebec, a system of civil law is used. At the federal level, as well as in every province or territory except Quebec, a system of common law is used. Because of this, there are two Canadian law degrees generally in use.

The programme of study for the common law LL.B. is second-entry, undergraduate, professional degree, and now completely replaced by the J.D. by all Canadian common law schools. While the degree awarded is at the first-degree level and admission may be granted to applicants with two or three years of undergraduate studies towards a degree, in practice the programme generally requires completion of a previous undergraduate degree before registration in that programme. In fact, almost all admitted law students hold at least a bachelor level degree, and a significant number hold a graduate level degree as well. As a result, there is an increasing trend for Canadian law schools to switch a Juris Doctor degree in recognition of the profession second-entry nature of Canadian legal studies. (See Juris Doctor in Canada)

The common law programme is three years in length. Upon graduation, one holds a Bachelor of Laws degree, but cannot yet practise law. To practise law, the graduate must obtain a license from the Law Society of the province where he/she wishes to practise law, which also requires a year of articling (see Becoming a Lawyer below). Those law graduates wishing to become law professors instead of lawyers often obtain a more advanced academic degree, such as the Master of Laws (LL.M.) or the Doctor of Laws (LL.D, S.J.D or D.C.L).

The civil law programme in Canada is three years in length. The programme of study for the first degree in Quebec civil law (called LL.B., B.C.L. or LL.L.) is a first-entry degree programme. Like other first-entry university programmes in Quebec it requires a CEGEP diploma for entry.

Law schools that offer civil law B.C.L., LL.B., or LL.L. degrees include McGill University, Université de Montréal, Université de Québec à Montréal, Université de Sherbrooke, Université Laval and the University of Ottawa.

Because of Canada's dual system of laws, some law schools offer joint or dual degrees of common law and civil law. McGill University, Université de Montréal and the University of Ottawa are law schools that offer such degrees.

The law degree offered by McGill University is a mandatory joint common law LL.B. / Quebec civil law B.C.L. degree. The programme is four years in length. Admission to that programme is a first-entry programme in the case of Quebec students (as the CEGEP diploma is required) while it is a second-entry programme in the case of students from other provinces (since two years of university studies is required - effectively one extra year of studies more than for a CEGEP diploma). The University of Ottawa offers a civil law degree (LL.L.) on its own.

A number of Canadian law schools offer students the opportunity to earn, besides their three-year first degrees in common law, programmes in common law for holders of baccalaureate degrees in Quebec civil law enabling those individuals to earn the LL.B. in common law in two or three semesters, depending on the offering university's program. Similarly, the University of Ottawa offers, besides its three-year LL.L. program in Quebec civil law, a one-year LL.L. program in Quebec civil law for holders of an LL.B. or J.D. degree in common law from a Canadian law school.

Additionally, some Canadian universities with common law law schools have an arrangement with a Canadian university with a Quebec civil law law school enabling students to obtain the home school's law degree in three years and the exchange school's law degree in the fourth year.

India[link]

See also: Autonomous law schools in India, Common Law Admission Test

In India, legal education has been traditionally offered as a three-year graduate degree conferring the title of LL.B. (Bachelor of Laws) or B.L. (Bachelor of Law). However the legal education system was revised by the Bar Council of India, the governing body of legal education in India in 1984. Pursuant thereto, various autonomous law schools were established that administer a five-year undergraduate degree programme and confer an integrated honours degree, such as "B.A., LL.B. (Honours)", "B.B.A, LL.B. (Honours)", "B.Sc., LL.B. (Honours)", etc.

Both the types of degrees (i.e., three-year and five-year integrated honours) are recognized and are also qualifying degrees for practise of legal profession in India. A holder of either type of degree may approach a Bar Council of any States of India and get upon compliance with the necessary standards, be enrolled on the rolls of the said Bar Council. The process of enrollment confers a license to the holder to practise before any court in India and give legal advice. The entire procedure of enrollment and post-enrollment professional conduct is regulated and supervised by the Bar Council of India.

Malaysia[link]

Pakistan[link]

Pakistan is a common law country and to become a lawyer in Pakistan, one needs law degree usually called LL.B from recognised Pakistani or common law country universities. Lawyers in Pakistan are called advocates. An advocate has to be member of one of the provincial Bar Councils, i.e., Punjab Bar Council, Sindh Bar council, Baluchistan Bar Council or the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council to practice as an advocate.

The following universites are authorised to award law degrees in Pakistan:^[22]

• Govt SM Law College University Of Karachi
• University of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
• University of Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
• Swat University, Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
• Hazara University, Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
• University of Punjab, Lahore
• University of Sindh, Hyderabad
• University of Baluchistan, Quetta
• Bahauddin Zakaria University, Multan
• Peshawr University, Peshawar
• Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan
• Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur
• Islamia University, Bhawalpur
• Hamdard University, Karachi
• International Islamic University, Islamabad
• Sargodha University, Sargodha
• LUMS, Lahore
• Islamia College University, Peshawer
• Bahria University, Islamabad

South Africa[link]

In South Africa [1] [2][3] the LLB is offered both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. As of 1996 it is the universal and only legal qualification for legal practice, replacing the existing BIuris and BProc degrees. [4] The undergraduate programme, offered since 1998, requires four years of study. At the postgraduate level, the programme generally requires three years. Several South African universities offer B.A. and BCom degrees with a major in "Law", and these graduates then undertake a two year postgraduate-programme. Some universities also offer a one year programme for holders of the BProc degree.[5]

The curriculum is typically structured around preliminary, core / intermediate and advanced courses,[6] and most universities also offer elective coursework at the advanced level. The preliminary courses acquaint the students with both the background and the foundations of the South African legal system, and with legal thinking and analysis in general. The core subjects are those regularly required for legal practice. [7] The advanced courses (usually) comprise further study in these core subjects, deepening and / or widening the student's knowledge as appropriate. The electives allow students to specialise in a particular area of law, to an extent, by choosing from a range of optional courses. Some universities also require that students complete an experience based course ("Practical Legal Studies"); a credit comprising independent research exclusively is often offered as an elective, and at some universities is a degree requirement.[8] The completion of courses in Latin was previously a requirement for the degree, but this has been discontinued. Similarly, in many cases, Roman Law was previously a preliminary course, whereas, it is now offered as an elective.

The undergraduate LLB may depart from this structure. Depending on university, the curriculum will comprise legal subjects exclusively,[9] or may include humanities subjects so as to prepare graduates with a "broad-based" legal education.[10] Credits in English and Afrikaans are also often included.[11]

Becoming a lawyer[link]

See also: Legal education and Legal education in the United Kingdom

Upon completion of the LL.B. degree (or its equivalent), graduates are generally qualified to apply for membership of the bar or law society. The membership eligibility bestowed may be subject to completion of professional exams. A student may have to gain a further qualification at postgraduate level, for example a traineeship and the Legal Practice Course or Bar Vocational Course in England and Wales or the Postgraduate Certificate in Laws in Hong Kong.

In Australia some LL.B. graduates practice as a solicitor or barrister, while others work in academia, for the government or for a private company (i.e. not as a practicing solicitor). For LL.B. graduates who do choose to practice law, in some states of Australia (namely, Victoria and New South Wales), LL.B. graduates are required to undertake a one-year articled clerkship or the Legal Practice Course (Commonly Practical Legal Training or PLT) before applying for registration as a solicitor. In other states, (namely, South Australia) a LL.B. graduate is required to undertake a six-week PLT course before applying to be admitted to the bar as a barrister and solicitor. Depending on the State to which a practitioner is admitted, membership of the Bar is either restricted to Barristers, or open to both Solicitors and Barristers. In the states that maintain membership of the bar as a separate and distinct role to that of a practicing solicitor, entry is attained through the successful completion of an exam and a nine-month period of tutelage (the reading period) under a senior Barrister.

In Canada, the lawyer licensing process usually requires the law graduate to 1.) take further classroom law courses, taught by the law society itself, and pass a set of written examinations, commonly referred to as bar exams, related to the taken courses and 2.) complete articled clerkship commonly known as articling. Although the vast majority of law graduates fulfill the articled clerkship requirement by articling (i.e. working and learning) in a law firm, a government's legal department, a corporation's (in house) legal department, a community legal clinic or some other type of non-profit organization involved in legal work, a small minority of law graduates (with exceptional academic records) satisfy the articled clerkship requirement by undergoing what is commonly called clerkship with a specific courthouse and under the supervision of a judge instead of working in a more "lawyer-type environment" under the supervision of a lawyer called a "principal". In either articling or clerkship, there is the expectation that the law graduate will work in a variety of legal fields and be exposed to the realities of legal practice that are absent from law school's academic atmosphere.

In the province of Ontario, for example, the licensing process for the Law Society of Upper Canada (Ontario's governing law society) consists of three mandatory components: The Skills and Professional Responsibility Program with assignments and assessments, Licensing Examinations (a Barrister Licensing Examination and a Solicitor Licensing Examination), and a 10-month Articling term.[12]

At the conclusion of the licensing process, the law graduate is "called to the bar" whereby he/she signs his/her name in the Rolls of the Court of Appeal for Ontario and the Superior Court of Justice^[23] and swears lawyer-related oaths in a formal ceremony where he/she must appear in a complete barrister's gown and bow before judges of the local superior court and benchers of the licensing law society. After the call ceremony, he/she can designate him/herself as a "Barrister and Solicitor", and can practice law in the province in which they are licensed. In Ontario and other provinces, licensed lawyers may also exercise the powers of a Commissioner of Oaths. In the Province of British Columbia, licensed lawyers are automatically permitted to practice the powers of a Notary Public. In Ontario and other provinces, a licensed lawyer must submit a form and pay a one-time fee to the provincial attorney general before he/she is appointed as a Notary Public.

Although not required by the licensing process, many first- and second- year law students work in law firms during the summer off-school season to earn extra money and to guarantee themselves an articling position (with the same law firms) upon their graduation from law school, because there is always fierce competition for articling positions, especially for those in large law firms offering attractive remuneration and prestige, and a law graduate cannot become a licensed lawyer in Canada if he/she has not gone through articled clerkship.

Alternative titles and formats[link]

Irish B.C.L. and LL.B[link]

The four universities under the National University of Ireland (NUI) umbrella, award the degree of Bachelor of Civil Law (B.C.L.). These are University College Cork, University College Dublin, NUI Maynooth and NUIG. Six (four in the republic) Irish universities(the University of Dublin; NUIG; The Queen's University of Belfast; the University of Limerick, National University of Ireland, Maynooth^[24] and the University of Ulster) award an LLB. University College Cork and NUIG offer the LLB as an 1 year postgraduate course for holders of the BCorp(Bachelor of Corporate Law) or BA Legal Science degrees.

Two English universities (University of the West of England and Nottingham Trent University) and one Welsh university (University of Wales) award the LL.B. in Ireland as a basic professional degree in law (the latter three are run via local private colleges). (Independent Colleges LL.B(Hons) in Irish Law is conferred by the University of the West of England, LL.B(Hons) in Irish Law at Dublin Business School is jointly validated by HETAC and the University of Wales and the LL.B. in Griffith College Dublin and Griffith College Cork is jointly validated by HETAC and Nottingham Trent University.)

It should be noted, though, that Ireland is a common law jurisdiction (in fact there are two common law jurisdictions on the island) and the expression "civil law" is used to differentiate common law from ecclesiastical law or Canon Law in the republic. In the past NUI B.C.L. graduates who went to work in Britain sometimes didn't disabuse people of the casual notion that it was a post-graduate degree, similar to the more famous Oxford B.C.L.

In the nineteenth century the University of London conferred degrees of LL.B. on clerical and lay students at St. Patrick's College, Carlow from 1840 onwards.^[25] The King's Inns Barrister-at-Law degree BL is a postgraduate degree required to practice as a Barrister in Ireland.

Zimbabwe B.L. and LL.B.[link]

At the University of Zimbabwe, the first degree in common law is the Bachelor of Law (B.L.), which is equivalent to the LL.B. in other common law jurisdictions. It is followed by a one-year programme at the university (analogous to post-LL.B. vocational programmes in other common law jurisdictions) at the end of which a second degree, the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), is awarded. The curriculum has since been changed and now only one four-year honours degree is offered abbreviated as LL.Bs [13]

LL.B. in Pakistan[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

In Pakistan, to get admission in LL.B. degree course in any state university, one should have a bachelor's degree in any discipline. Before 1992, LL.B degree course was of two years but now it is a three-year programme. Nowadays some colleges offering five years LL.B programme. In Punjab, and Sindh Muslim Govt. Law College Karachi, for example, a five-year joint B.A./LL.B. degree is being offered by Punjab University and Karachi University. Actually it is a three-year LL.B program that includes two years of graduation studies (Graduation degree is usually awarded after fourteen years of full-time education). After obtaining an LL.B. degree, a person wishing to practise has to intimate the respective Provincial Bar Council that he is starting a one year training/articleship under the supervision of a senior advocate who has a ten year standing as an advocate. After the completion of the articleship/pupillage, he will be asked to take a Bar admission test that consists one multiple choice questions/written test and a viva-voce (by a panel of Bar Council members). These days the University of London external programme has widely attracted many potential candidates who wish to pursue a career in Law in Pakistan.

Variations on the LL.B.[link]

Some universities in the United Kingdom and New Zealand offer variations of this degree, such as the LL.B. (Europe), which generally take four years to complete and include a wider range of topics as well as some degree of specialisation.^{[citation needed]}

Various universities in the United Kingdom and Australia will allow a degree that combines study with a non-law discipline. For example, some universities in the United Kingdom offer a combined study of law and history leading to a B.A. degree that is accepted by the Law Society and Inns of Court as equivalent to an LL.B.^{[citation needed]}

The University of London External Programme in Laws (LL.B.) has been awarding its law degree via distance learning since 1858. The LL.B. awarded by the University of London External Programme is of the same standard and quality irrespective of the mode or manner of learning.^{[citation needed]}

At various universities in the UK such as Oxford, Nottingham and Cambridge the principal law degree is often a B.A., in either Jurisprudence or Law. The B.C.L and LL.M are second-entry and postgraduate degrees. The University of Cambridge has recently replaced their LL.B. degree with an LL.M.^{[citation needed]}

Some universities in the UK including Bournemouth University have a four-year LL.B. course, which consists of a 40-week industrial work placement.^[26] Staffordshire University also offer a two-year full-time LL.B. course.^[27]

A unique degree of LL.B.(Hons) Sharia and Law has been introduced by the International Islamic University, Islamabad. The distinctive feature of this course is the comparative study of both Islamic law and Common law.^{[citation needed]}

Eligibility of foreign graduates in the U.S.[link]

For the most part, foreign law graduates seeking admission to the bar in the United States will find their LL.B. law degree does not of itself fulfill the core admission requirements of most states, thereby not allowing them to take the bar exam.

The major exception to this is New York, where those foreign graduates who have fulfilled the educational requirements to practice law in another common law country through study at an approved educational institution, similar in both duration and content to the equivalent teaching at an approved U.S. law school, are permitted to sit for the bar exam.^[28] Additionally, both New York and Massachusetts permit Canadian LL.B. holders to take the bar exam.^[29] The requirements of each of the states vary, and in some states sufficient years of practice in one's home country may allow for those otherwise excluded to sit for the bar exam. Interested applicants should check the requirements of each state bar association carefully as requirements vary markedly.

Most states require completion of a law degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. As a result, American law schools typically offer one-year LL.M. programs for foreign attorneys; many such law schools may have no other LL.M. programs. Classes included in these "American Law" "Comparative Law" inter alia LL.M. programmes are selected to introduce foreign attorneys to American-style common law practice, such as first-year J.D. courses on civil procedure, Constitutional law, criminal law, legal research and analysis, and jurisprudence.

Situation within the European Union[link]

European Union law permits European Union citizens with LL.B. degrees from one EU Member State, e.g. Ireland, France, Germany or the UK, who practise law and who are qualified lawyers in one of these countries for three or more years, to practise also in every other member state. The actual procedure to receive the respective national licence is regulated by the member state and therefore differs from country to country, and temporary restrictions may in certain cases exist, but every EU member has to apply the relevant EU Directives to its own national law.

As a consequence of the Bologna process, recently many universities of applied sciences and few traditional universities in Germany have introduced LL.B. programs, replacing the Diplom-Wirtschaftsjurist degree. The LL.B. is a three- or four-year full-time study law degree. As opposed to courses of study leading to the State Examination - the masters-level professional law degree in Germany - most LL.B. degree programs concentrate on private law and can feature a component of education in business administration. Graduates of LL.B. courses can continue LL.M. studies, and in exceptional cases sit for the first State Examination after one or more years of additional law studies in order to qualify for practicing law in Germany.

In Malta, the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree, offered by the University of Malta, is an undergraduate degree that of itself is not sufficient for admission into any of the legal professions.

In Denmark, universities now offer three-year LL.B. programs, although this is not sufficient to practice law. Students wishing to practice law should continue with a Masters in Law program, leading to the cand.jur degree. Alternatively, students may choose to use the LL.B. as a basis for other courses within the social sciences or humanities.

Alternative degree route in the UK[link]

There are also conversion courses available for non-law graduates, available as an alternative to the full-length LL.B. degree course. One such example of a conversion course in England and Wales is the GDL (Graduate Diploma in Law), which takes one year to complete.

In the UK, as well as in other Common Law jurisdictions, the main approach to this, is the Graduate Entry (undergraduate) LL.B. degree, where graduates from another discipline can complete the LL.B. as a second degree, although this may occasionally require taking qualifying law courses within the first degree to meet professional requirements in full. Therefore it is not entirely correct to regard it as an 'accelerated' degree.

This 'double degree' system was, at one time, an alternative route to the former B.L. degree (now obsolete) but students were required to have independent means to complete the second degree. The current Scots LL.B. degree, a direct-entry undergraduate degree, meets all professional requirements when coupled with the Diploma in Legal Practice. The Diploma was introduced circa 1980; prior to this, all professional exams were taken within the degree itself (or as part of an earlier non-law degree), limiting the scope for academic study.

Therefore the pursuit of the double degree nowadays, for school-leavers at least, is mainly to indicate that one can be adept at two disciplines. Unlike Joint Honours, a second degree is undertaken separately, within the prescribed timeframe. The first non-law degree will almost invariably be an arts degree although science or other degrees are not unknown. Rarely, the double degree principle is found in reverse; just as an arts or science degree can provide exemption from the full academic (not professional) requirements of a subsequent law degree, similarly a law degree can provide exemption from the full academic requirements of a subsequent arts or science degree.^{[citation needed]} In this case, it is more likely that the second degree will be taken as a self-funding mature student, possibly on a part-time basis.

See also[link]

• Legal education
• List of law schools
• Admission to the bar—U.S.
• Admission to the bar—non-U.S.
• Call to the bar—other common law jurisdictions
• Master of Laws
• Doctor of law
• Juris Doctor
• Specialized Law Universities in India

References[link]

Arshad Warsi
Born	(1968-04-19) 19 April 1968 (age 44)[1] Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Occupation	Actor, Playback singer, Television Presenter, Movie producer
Years active	1985 - present
Height	5' 5"
Spouse	Maria Goretti (1999 - present)
Website
http://www.arshadwarsi.net/

Arshad Warsi (Hindi: अरशद वारसी, born 19 April 1968) is an Indian actor who debuted in 1996 with the film Tere Mere Sapne which was a success but he is best known for his role as "Circuit" in the comedy films Munnabhai M.B.B.S. (2003) and Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006) and his role as Babban in Ishqiya (2010) which won him acclaim.

Early life and education[link]

Warsi was born in Mumbai, India, and did his schooling at a boarding school, Barnes School, Deolali in Nashik district, Maharashtra.^[2] He was orphaned at the age of 14 and struggled for a living in Mumbai during his early days.^[3]

Early career[link]

Arshad with wife Maria Goretti.

Financial circumstances forced Warsi to start work as a door-to-door cosmetics salesman at age 17. Later he worked in a photo lab. Meanwhile he had a keen interest in dancing and received an offer to join Akbar Sami's Dance group in Mumbai, which started his dancing and choreographing career. He also assisted Mahesh Bhatt in Thikana (1987) and Kaash (1987).^[4][5]

Then in 1991, he won the Indian dance competition, followed by the fourth prize in the Modern Jazz category in 1992 World Dance championship, London, at the age of 21. Soon, he started his own dance studio, 'Awesome' with that money and also formed a dance troupe. It was here, his future wife, Maria Goretti, a St. Andrew's College student joined him, before she became a VJ. He was also associated with English theater group in Mumbai, choreographing shows for Bharat Dabholkar and got an opportunity to choreograph the title track for the film, Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1993).^[6]

Film career[link]

As an actor[link]

He got his first offer to act in Amitabh Bachchan's production company, ABCL's first production Tere Mere Sapne in 1996. After its success, he acted in several other films over the next six years, but most of which failed to do well at the box office, till 2003, when he starred in the comedy film Munnabhai MBBS, which turned to be a huge box office success and gained him much critical acclaim and a nomination at the Filmfare Awards for Best Actor in a Supporting role. He has since appeared in several successful films such as Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya (2005), Salaam Namaste (2005) Golmaal, Kabul Express, Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006), the sequel to Munnabhai MBBS which also won him his first Filmfare Award under the category of Best Comedian. He also starred in hit films like Dhamaal (2007), Golmaal Returns (2008), Ishqiya (2010) and Golmaal 3 (2010). His 2011 releases include the comedies F.A.L.T.U and Double Dhamaal.

As a producer[link]

His first film as a producer, Hum Tum Aur Ghost was released in 2010.^[5]

Warsi is starring opposite Sanjay Dutt in Munnabhai Chale Amerika, the third sequel to the much acclaimed Munnabhai MBBS (2003).^[7]

Television career[link]

Warsi has made a mark for himself on the small screen as well. He hosted a popular award show Sabse Favourite Kaun for STAR Gold. He was the host of Bigg Boss, Season 1, the Indian version of the reality television series Big Brother which was aired on Sony. He was also the co-host of a dance show Razzmatazz on Zee TV. He has also done a small cameo in a television show, Ishaan.

Personal life[link]

Warsi married Maria Goretti on 14 February 1999.^[8] They have a son named Zeke Warsi, born on 10 August 2004. Both Maria and Zeke made a special appearance in Salaam Namaste. On 2 May 2007, the couple had a baby girl named Zene Zoe Warsi.^[9] During his school days, Warsi was a national level gymnast.^[10]

Awards[link]

• 2004: Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role - Munnabhai M.B.B.S.
• 2005: GIFA Best Comedian Award - Hulchul
• 2007: Filmfare Best Comedian Award - Lage Raho Munna Bhai
• 2007: IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actor - Lage Raho Munna Bhai
• 2007: Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role - Lage Raho Munna Bhai
• 2007: Star Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor - Lage Raho Munna Bhai
• 2011: Star Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor - Ishqiya

Filmography[link]

Actor[link]

Producer[link]

• Hum Tum Aur Ghost (2010)
• Casanova (2013)

Playback Singer[link]

• 2006 - Lage Raho Munnabhai - Song: "Samjho Ho Hi Gaya"

• 2003 - Munnabhai M.B.B.S. - Song: "Apun Jaisa Tapori"

References[link]

External links[link]

• Arshad Warsi at the Internet Movie Database
• Arshad Warsi's Official Website
• Holi, Arshad Warsi style

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Boman Irani
Born	(1959-12-02) 2 December 1959 (age 52) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Occupation	Film actor
Years active	2000–present
Religion	Zorastrian
Spouse	Zenobia
Website
www.bomanirani.com

Boman Irani (Hindustani pronunciation: [boːmaːn iːraːnːiː] Gujarati: બોમન ઇરાની; born 2 December 1959) is an Indian film and theatre actor and photographer. Irani began his acting career in theatre and moved to film in 2000 at the age of 44 with a role in Josh. Irani gained attention for his role in the 2003 comedy Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. He later appeared in Lage Raho Munna Bhai for which he received several IIFA award nominations and in 3 Idiots opposite Aamir Khan which earned him a Filmfare Award and a Star Screen Award for Best Actor in a Villainous Role. He is the host of Bollywood Ka Boss.

Early life[link]

Irani was born into a Parsi family on December 2, 1959, in Mumbai.

He finished his schooling from St. Mary's School. He is a graduate of Mithibai College in Mumbai. After his Polytechnic Diploma Course, he joined the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower and worked there as a waiter & room service staff.^[1] Thereafter, he joined his mother to run their ancestral bakery shop between Novelty and Apsara Cinema in South Mumbai.

At the same time he also established an Uncle Chips franchise in Dadar which ran until 1986 before shutting down owing to a loss.^[2]

Irani turned to photography in 1987 and continued until 1989. He is a professional photographer.

Career[link]

Theatre career[link]

Acting had been a passion to Boman even during school and college days inspired by his great friend Mahan Shri Chandan kr. Singh. He trained under acting coach Hansraj Siddhia from 1981 to 1983 and adopted professional acting methods inspired by Chandan Singh. Unlike national theatre, Irani preferred British theatre and he soon developed different accents.

Irani's mentor was Alyque Padamsee — the veteran theatre actor best known for his role as Mohammad Ali Jinnah in Gandhi. He was introduced to Padamsee by Shiamak Davar.^[1][3] Irani's earliest theatrical appearance was in Roshni where he played a cameo at the Regional Theatre in Versova. He followed this up with serials like Family Ties and Mahatma vs Gandhi, playing Gandhi after the role was turned down by Darshan Jariwala. His most illustrious play till date has been I am not Bajirao which ran for 10 years.^[1]

His busy film career has slowed his theatre career but, despite this, Irani continues to perform on stage whenever possible. He has over 40 plays to his credit — around 15 of them as the lead character.^[4]

Film career[link]

Irani started out in a number of advertisements like Fanta, Ceat and Krackjack biscuits ('As Mr. Jack of the Krack and Jack duo'^[5]).

It was with Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. that Irani became really popular. His role as J. Asthana earned him a Filmfare Award nomination for Best Comedian. Since then Irani has essayed many comedic, (Main Hoon Na, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Dostana, Khosla Ka Ghosla, Waqt: The Race Against Time, No Entry, 3 Idiots), supporting (Veer-Zaara, Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara, Lakshya, Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd., Sorry Bhai!, Page 3, My Wife's Murder), and negative roles in (Don: The Chase Begins Again , Don 2: The King Is Back ,Eklavya),And a comedy role in Housefull 2 And He will also be in the upcoming film to be released in 2012 known as Tezz.

Irani also hosted the IIFA Awards together with actor Ritesh Deshmukh in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 in Toronto.^[6] He has also been on Kaun Banega Crorepati with Sanjay Dutt. He is also considered as a remarkable actor these days.

Personal life[link]

Irani is a Parsi and follows the religion of Zoroastrianism. He speaks English, Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali and Marathi fluently.

Irani is a member of the Parsee Television Actors Community and is also its Secretary. This community includes others such as Smriti Zubin Irani and Cyrus Broacha.

He is married to Zenobia, with whom he has two sons, Danesh and Kayoze.

Awards[link]

• 2004 - Winner: Screen Weekly Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role; Munnabhai M.B.B.S.
• 2007 - Nominated: Filmfare Best Villain Award; Lage Raho Munnabhai
• 2010 - Winner: Star Screen Award for Best Villain; 3 Idiots
• 2010 - Winner: Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award; 3 Idiots
• 2010 - Winner: IIFA Best Villain Award; 3 Idiots

Filmography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Boman Irani at the Internet Movie Database
• Farah Khan learning acting from Boman Irani
• Boman Irani’s son makes Bollywood debut

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Boman Irani

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Amrita Rao
Born	(1981-06-17) 17 June 1981 (age 31) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Occupation	Actress / Model
Years active	2002–present
Website
http://www.amrita-rao.com

Amrita Rao (əmrɪt̪aː ˈraːu; born June 17, 1981)^{[citation needed]} is an Indian actress who appears in Bollywood films.

Beginning her career as a model, Rao made her acting debut with Ab Ke Baras (2002). She then starred in Ken Ghosh's love-story Ishq Vishk (2003) and earned a Filmfare nomination in the "Best Female Debut" category.

Personal life[link]

Amrita was born in Mumbai to a Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin family.^[1] She speaks Hindi, English, Marathi, besides her mother tongue, Konkani.^[2] She attended Convent Girls School (Prabhadevi) in Mumbai, and later enrolled in Sophia College to pursue a degree in Psychology. Her sister, Preetika Rao, is a Model, Journalist-Columnist and a South-Indian film actress.

Career[link]

Modeling[link]

While studying in Sophia College, Amrita auditioned for an advertisement for Fairever Face Cream. Her appearance in Cadbury’s Perk Karwa Chaut ad and the Bru Coffee advertisement helped her receive offers from film directors in Bollywood.^{[citation needed]}

Acting[link]

Amrita made her acting debut with Anjali Thapar/Nandini in Ab Ke Baras with Arya Babbar (2002), and followed that with her (2003) film, Ishq Vishk, in which she portrayed Payal with Shahid Kapoor. She became an overnight star after the success that film. She followed this up with films Aanchal Mehta in Masti and in (2004) she playing Sanjana (Sanju) Bakshi in Main Hoon Na with Zayed Khan , Deewaar (2004), and she playing Priya Vaah! Life Ho To Aisi with Shahid Kapoor (2005), and Madhvi in Shikharwith her co-Star Shahid Kapoor (2005), and she role Piya inPyare Mohan with vivek oberoi (2006). (2006) She was playing in Heyy Babyy in Special appearance in song "Heyy Babyy. She starred in Sooraj R. Barjatya's Blockbuster Vivah (2006) opposite Shahid Kapoor.^[3]

In 2007 Amrita Rao made her debut in the Telugu film industry with Athidhi opposite Mahesh Babu with Mahesh Babu.^[4] Amrita's releases in 2008 include RiyaMy Name Is Anthony Gonsalves with Nikhil Dwivedi and she was playing kamala in Welcome to Sajjanpur with Shreyas Talpade. Amrita's releases in 2009 are Victory, she was playing Nandini and Shortkut. Amrita's only release in 2011 was main role Ritu in Love U...Mr. Kalakaar! with Tusshar Kapoor.^[5] She acted in Hook Yaa Crook, which is still shelved. She will next be in Jolly L.L.B opposite Arshad Warsi, and an untitled movie opposite her first Co-Star Shahid Kapoor, also produced by Ramesh Taurani under the Tips banner.^{[citation needed]}

Awards and nominations[link]

Filmfare Awards[link]

Nominated

• 2004: Filmfare Best Female Debut Award for Ishq Vishk
• 2005: Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Main Hoon Na

Star Screen Awards[link]

Nominated

• 2003: Star Screen Award Most Promising Newcomer - Female for Ab Ke Baras
• 2004: Star Screen Award Most Promising Newcomer - Female for Ishq Vishk
• 2007: Star Screen Award Best Actress for Vivah^[6]
• 2007: Star Screen Award Jodi No. 1 along with Shahid Kapoor - Vivah^[7]

Zee Cine Awards[link]

Nominated

• 2004: Zee Cine Award Best Female Debut for Ishq Vishk

International Indian Film Academy Awards[link]

Winner

• 2004: IIFA Awards, Best Female Debut for Ishq Vishk

Stardust Awards[link]

Winner

• 2004: Stardust Superstar of Tomorrow - Female for Ishq Vishk
• 2009: Stardust Searchlight Best Actress Award for Welcome to Sajjanpur

Other awards won[link]

^{[citation needed]}

• 2004: Sansui Awards, Best Debut - Female for Ishq Vishk
• 2007: GR8 Women Awards, Young Achiever
• 2007: Anandalok Puroshkar Awards, Most Promising New Talent for Vivah
• 2007: Sports World Awards, Jodi of the Year along with Shahid Kapoor for Vivah
• 2007: Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Award for Vivah

Filmography[link]

References[link]