Difference Between LLB and BA

LLB vs BA
 

LLB and BA are both popular degree programmes offered by colleges and universities across the world but, when you consider the difference between them, we can point out many. However, what is more confusing to many is the difference between LLB and BA Law, which will be addressed in the due course of this article. First, when we compare LLB with BA in the general sense, one of the important differences that can be seen between these two degrees is that the rules regarding BA degree is much similar in every country while that is not the case with LLB. The main changes in rules in BA degrees between countries can be the duration of the course. However, for LLB the manner in which it is presented is also different from country to country. Some offer it as an undergraduate degree while some offer it as a postgraduate degree. Sometimes, both of these qualities can be seen within the same country too. So, basically, the difference in the way the LLB degree is offered depends on the education institute that offers you the degree.When it comes to BA Law, you will see that some countries like UK offer both LLB and BA Law, but there is some difference between the two degrees.

What is LLB?

LLB is almost the same as the popular JD degree but with some difference. This is the same as the Bachelor of Law or Legum Baccalaueus. The degree of LLB is given to someone who has completed the law course or any other standard law program. It is quite important to know that the origin of the degree of LLB took place in England. You are eligible to apply for LLM or the Master of Laws if you possess the basic LLB degree only.

The specialty of LLB over the traditional law degrees is that the law students are required to undergo more amount of strenuous training in the practical aspects of law. This is to enable to make him or her good practicing lawyer later in his or her life. Hence, the students are required to submit a dissertation too before the completion of the LLB degree. This is made mandatory in a few universities across the world. Of course, some universities do not make the submission of dissertation mandatory.

What is BA?

On other hand, BA is otherwise known as Bachelor of Arts. As you can see, BA is an Arts stream degree. It is considered more traditional in nature and the subjects prescribed to study are mostly traditional too. The practical aspect of the subject may not be stressed. The student need not submit a dissertation too at the end of the course. However, this depends on the course the student is following. Not having to submit a dissertation is applicable to general BA degree courses. In BA special degree courses, you have to submit a dissertation. The duration of a BA general degree is three years. For a special degree, this is four years. However, depending on the country that offers BA degrees, this duration can vary.

BA is a degree awarded to the students in various disciplines. Some of those disciplines are history, geography, English, other languages, economics, philosophy, sociology, and the like.

Then we come to an interesting degree under BA stream. That is BA Law. BA Law is otherwise known as Bachelor of Arts in Law. As you can see, BA Law is an Arts stream degree. What is important to note in a BA Law degree is that it offers an opportunity for students to learn law not as if they are going to pursue a career in law. In other words, BA Law offers the students an opportunity to study law as an academic discipline, not because they wish to pursue a career in law. They can, of course, go for a career in law if they want to.

BA Law course allows the student to study law as the major subject while they can also follow non-law subjects. They can spend up to one-third of their time to study these non-law subjects. Duration of a BA Law degree is also three years.

What is the difference between LLB and BA?

• LLB stands for Bachelor of Laws or as the Latin word stands Legum Baccalaueus. BA stands for Bachelor of Arts. So, BA Law means Bachelor of Arts in Law.

• BA can be completed in 3 years. However, if you are following a BA special degree, the time duration can be 4 years. BA Law degree is also of 3 years duration.

• Traditionally, the time duration for LLB is 3 years. However, this can change. This variation happens depending on the country. Let us first see about Australia. If it is offered as a first degree; that is, if it is directly offered after secondary education, then the duration is four years. If it is a graduate degree program that requires prior law education, then the duration is three years. On the contrary to this practice, in countries like India, LLB is traditionally offered in three years.

• There are two types of BA degrees as BA (General) Degree and BA (Special) Degree. BA Law does not have such variations, and neither does LLB.

• To apply for a BA degree, you need to have your high school diploma. That is you must finish your secondary education. For BA Law degree too you need to have completed your high school diploma. This is offered as an undergraduate degree. Applying for a LLB depends on the type of the LLB that is offered to you. Here, the type means whether it is offered as an undergraduate degree or postgraduate degree. If it is an undergraduate degree, then you must have finished your high school. If it is offered as a postgraduate then you should have a non-law bachelor’s degree.

• The scope of LLB degree is to prepare the students for a career in law. But, the scope of BA Law degree is to study law as an academic discipline. BA Law students major in law subjects, but they learn other Arts stream subjects too.

Images Courtesy:

1. University of Leeds by Ubcule (CC BY-SA 3.0)
2. University of Oxford by Tony Hisgett (CC BY 2.0)