BCI Cautions Public Against Unapproved Online, Distance & Executive LL.M Programmes; Asks Universities To Stop Such Courses

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has issued a public advisory cautioning the general public about unauthorised LL.M (Master of Law) programmes being offered by many universities through online, hybrid, or distance learning methods.

The BCI directed the universities to suspend such LL.M or equivalent programs being conducted by them without the regulatory approval.

These include online-only, blended, and open and distance learning modes, under nomenclatures such as LLM. (Professional), M.Sc. in Cyber Law, Executive LL.M., and others, without obtaining the prior approval of the Bar Council of India as required under applicable law

The Council expressed concern over emerging trends of diploma or executive programmes in law being marketed to non-law graduates in online or part-time formats. These practices mislead prospective students, undermine statutory standards, and jeopardize the credibility of legal education in India, it said.

"All universities and law institutions are, therefore, advised not to advertise or conduct any LL.M. or equivalent programme through online, hybrid, blended, or part-time modes without express written approval from the BCI. Any such programme currently operational must be suspended immediately, and a compliance report must be submitted to the BCI," the Council said in a letter addressed to the Vice-Chancellors of all Universities.

The BCI's letter is based on the report of Justice (Retired) Rajendra Menon, who co-chairs a standing committee under the BCI's Legal Education Committee.

Justice Menon, in a letter addressed to the Registrar Generals of all High Courts, advised to ensure that no appointments, promotions, or academic decisions are made on the basis of qualifications that do not have the sanction of the Bar Council of India.

"All High Courts are respectfully requested to ake judicial note of this regulatory position, and to ensure that no appointments, promotions, or academic decisions are made on the basis of qualifications that do not have the sanction of the Bar Council of India. The Courts may further be pleased to direct that any candidate seeking appointment or advancement on the basis of an LL.M. or related qualification must furnish confirmation from BCI that the programme was conducted in compliance with the Legal Education Rules, 2008and 2020," Justice Menon said.

The use of nomenclatures such as "LL.M. (Professional)" or "Executive LL.M." has become a method to circumvent the statutory structure, he said.

Justice Menon's report revealed that the BCI has issued show-cause notices to many premier national law universities, following which they stopped such programmes. The report further disclosed that they are in the process of issuing notice to the National Law Institute University (NLIU) in Bhopal, IIT Kharagpur, OP Jindal Global University (JGU) in Sonipat, and National Law University, Delhi (NLU Delhi) for offering LL.M. or similarly designated legal programmes through online, distance, blended, or hybrid formats without requisite approval.

Justice Menon's report rejected the argument of some of the Universities that 'Executive' LL.M programs do not require BCI's approval as they are not traditional LL.M courses.

"These claims were found to be untenable, particularly where the protected nomenclature "LL.M." was prominently used in advertisements, brochures, and academic communications. The use of "LLM.", a term denoting the postgraduate Master of Laws degree, without parameter approval/recognition from the Bar Council of India constitutes a deliberate attempt to mislead prospective students and misappropriate the statutory and academic status associated with this qualification."

"In view of the above, it is reiterated that any LL.M. or equivalent legal programme offered in online, distance, blended, or hybrid mode, or under misleading nomenclature such as LL.M. (Professional) or M.Sc. (Law), without prior BCI approval, is unauthorized and shall not be recognised for any purpose whatsoever," Justice Menon's report said.

Click here to read the BCI's letter to VCs and the report of Justice Menon.