Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Laws (BA LLB)

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Laws (BA LLB) at SDSE Pokhara University

The Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Laws (B.A.LL.B.) is a five-year integrated undergraduate law program offered by the School of Development and Social Engineering (SDSE), Pokhara University under the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. SDSE is a constituent school of Pokhara University located at Dhungepatan, Pokhara.

The course combines social-science study with legal education. Early semesters cover subjects such as political theory, history, economics, sociology and anthropology, languages, logic, international relations, and legal methods before the curriculum moves into constitutional law, criminal law, contract law, procedural law, jurisprudence, property law, company law, environmental law, and other legal fields.

Course Overview

The curriculum contains compulsory and elective subjects. Compulsory courses establish the main legal foundation, while elective subjects allow students to study selected branches of law in greater depth. The complete curriculum carries 200 credits across 79 courses.

Who May Consider BA LLB?

BA LLB is suited to students interested in law together with the political, economic, social, and institutional setting in which legal systems operate.

The structure particularly suits students willing to work with substantial reading, structured argument, legal writing, research, interpretation of laws, oral presentation, and practical legal exercises. The course includes seminars, legal research, clinical study, moot courts, trial-related exercises, placement, and dissertation work rather than relying only on classroom theory.

Eligibility

Applicants may be Nepali citizens or foreign nationals.

For admission, a student must have completed SLCE/(10+2) or an equivalent qualification in any subject from a recognized board. The academic requirements are:

• For students who completed SLCE from NEB up to 2078 BS: minimum D+ grade in each subject.

• For students who completed SLCE from NEB in 2079 BS: minimum D grade in each subject.

• Minimum aggregate CGPA of 1.6 on a 4.0 grading system, or pass division where applicable.

Admission is based on the merit list prepared from the entrance examination.

BA LLB Entrance Examination

Every applicant to the B.A.LL.B. program under the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences must pass the entrance examination.

The examination carries 150 marks and has a duration of three hours. All questions are multiple-choice questions. Each correct answer carries one mark, and there is no negative marking for an incorrect answer.

Applicants must obtain at least 40 percent to pass. Candidates who pass are considered for admission on merit according to their entrance examination marks.

Course Structure and Subjects

The five-year curriculum gradually moves from liberal arts and introductory legal study to specialized law, clinical work, research, advocacy exercises, and dissertation.

The first semester begins with a broad social-science and legal foundation through Political Theory and Thought, History, Economics-I, Sociology and Anthropology, Legal Nepali, Legal English-I, and Legal Methods.

By the third and fourth semesters, the emphasis shifts more clearly toward core law through Jurisprudence, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Contract Law, Family Law, Legal Research and Legal Writing, Administrative Law, Civil Procedure, Property and Transfer of Property Law, and Law, Poverty and Development.

Later semesters add specialized, elective, research, and clinical components. The final stages include Professional Ethics and Lawyering Skills, Moot Court-II, Seminar-II, Information Technology Law, Law of Treaty and Diplomatic Law, Clinical Law-III (Placement), Dissertation, and Legislative Drafting.

Practical and Research Components

Practical legal study is built into the curriculum rather than placed only at the end of the degree.

Students encounter:

• legal research and legal writing;

• doctrinal and non-doctrinal seminars;

• clinical law;

• community legal aid services;

• civil and criminal moot courts;

• argumentation exercises;

• professional ethics and lawyering skills;

• placement;

• legislative drafting; and

• dissertation.

These components are intended to connect legal concepts with research, written analysis, argument, advocacy exercises, drafting, and professional settings.

Medium of Instruction

English is the language used for teaching, learning, discussion, communication, assignments, reports, evaluation, and examinations, except for specific language courses.

Some administrative work may be conducted in Nepali or bilingually in Nepali and English.

Seats and Scholarship

The B.A.LL.B. program has 40 seats. Twenty percent of the seats are allocated for scholarships according to Pokhara University rules.

Students seeking a scholarship are required to submit a separate application under the University Scholarship Procedure.

Skills Developed Through the Course

The combination of academic, research, and practical subjects can help students develop abilities in:

• legal research and structured writing;

• interpretation and application of legal principles;

• logical reasoning and argumentation;

• analysis of legal and social issues;

• oral presentation and advocacy exercises;

• legal drafting;

• case-oriented analysis;

• research design and dissertation writing; and

• communication within legal and institutional settings.

The extent to which these abilities develop depends on a student’s academic work, participation, practice, and performance throughout the program.

Career Direction

The curriculum prepares graduates for a range of law-related and institutional settings. Possible areas identified for B.A.LL.B. graduates include litigation, government service, corporate offices, and international and non-governmental organizations. The degree can also provide an academic base for further study in law and related fields.

Career direction will depend on individual interests, academic performance, practical experience, specialization, and the requirements attached to particular professional roles.

Degree Completion

To receive the Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Laws degree, a student must successfully complete the requirements prescribed in the B.A.LL.B. syllabus and comply with the applicable rules and regulations of the Controller of Examinations of Pokhara University.

For students comparing law programs, the defining feature of this BA LLB is its integrated structure: the course begins with liberal arts and social sciences, develops a broad legal foundation, and later introduces electives, clinical work, moot courts, research, placement, and dissertation.