Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU), formerly Tamil Nadu National Law School (TNNLS), is a National Law University. Admissions to the university are done on the basis of the Common Law Admission Test. It was established in 2012 by the Government of Tamil Nadu through Tamil Nadu National Law School Act, 2012,[1] with an initial contribution of ₹100 crore (equivalent to ₹189 crore or US$23 million in 2023). The act was amended in the year 2018, and the word 'School' was replaced by the word 'University'.
TNNLU is located on a 25-acre campus in the Tiruchirappalli-Dindigul NH 45, at Navalurkuttappattu Village, about 12 kilometres from Tiruchirappalli Railway Junction.
TNNLU has been established with the following objectives:
(i) to advance and disseminate learning and knowledge of the law and legal processes and their role in national development;
(ii) to develop in the students and research scholars a sense of responsibility to serve society in the field of law by developing skills with regard to advocacy, legal services, legislation, law reforms and the like;
(iii) to organize lectures, seminars, symposia and conferences to promote legal knowledge and to make law and legal processes efficient instruments of social development;
(iv) to hold examinations and confer degrees and other academic distinctions and to do all such things as are incidental, necessary or conducive to the attainment of all or any of the objectives of the university.
TNNLU commenced its functioning in the academic year 2013-2014. The TNNLU offers two undergraduate programmes, viz., B.A. LL.B., (Hons.) and B.Com. LL.B., (Hons.). Admission to the courses is on the basis of marks scored in the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT).
Extensive infrastructural facilities, with separate buildings for administration, academic activities, examination, a library and hall of residence for men and women, an auditorium, staff quarters and a guest house are available on the campus.
The University Grants Commission has included TNNLU in the approved list of universities. The Bar Council of India has granted recognition to TNNLU as a Center for Legal Education. UGC has included TNNLU under section 12(B) of the UGC Act 1956, which will enable TNNLU to apply for grants from UGC and other Central Government Funding Agencies TNNLU is a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
TNNLU is a member of the Shastri Indo- Canadian Institute and it is a permanent member of the Indian Academy of Social Sciences. TNNLU is also an empanelled institution with the Competition Commission of India.
Programme
Undergraduate Programmes
TNNLU currently offers two ‘five year integrated undergraduate law programmes’ approved by the BCI i.e., B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) and B.Com. LL.B.(Hons.). This regular, full-time and rigorous residential programme is based on semester pattern. It is spread through ten semesters which encompasses wide range of activities including research projects, moot court exercises, inter-disciplinary lectures and compulsory internships besides the regular classes and exams.
Five years integrated B.A.LL.B. (Hons.)
The five year B.A. LL.B.(Honours) programme, commenced in 2012, is designed to train the students in law and other social sciences using an interdisciplinary approach, to enable them to become legal professionals with sound understanding of policy implications. While the prime focus in the first two years is on the other social sciences, the students are required to complete a minimum number of law courses. This further enriches the interdisciplinary approach as knowledge of other disciplines informs the understanding, inter alia, of the various law courses. In addition to the BCI compulsory courses, clinical courses, optional/elective and seminar courses in law, the students may choose various elective courses offered by faculty of Commerce, Accountancy etc.
Five years integrated B.Com. LL.B. (Hons.)
The five-year B.Com. LL.B.(Honours) programme was commenced in 2013. This programme is in pursuit of expanding the interdisciplinary study of law and fulfils the aspirations of students in widening the scope of the enquiry to commerce, accountancy and business disciplines through these courses. At the same time, apart from the BCI mandated courses, clinical courses, optional/elective and seminar courses in law, the students are required to complete a minimum number of courses offered to the B.A. LL.B. Honours programme in the same spirit of interdisciplinary study of law like Legal History, Political Science, Economics and Sociology. Based on interest, elective courses offered by faculty from other disciplines may also be chosen. The courses of the above programmes are designed in such a way that those who didn’t study courses relating to Social Sciences, Commerce or Accountancy in Classes XI and XII will get adequate foundation through the introductory classes and will be able to develop the background knowledge needed to pursue these courses through their undergraduate programmes.
Post Graduate Programme
1 Year LLM
The Center for Post Graduate Legal Studies was established in 2018. It offers the One Year LLM Degree programmes from 2018-2019 academic year onwards. At present, the CPGLS offers the following: ? One Year LL.M. (Corporate and Securities Laws) Programme (Code: LLM01), One Year LL.M. (Intellectual Property Laws) Programme (Code: LLM02), One Year LL.M. (Natural Resources Law) Programme (Code: LLM03). These programmes are offered under the UGC Guidelines for One Year LLM Degree Programme, 2012 following the semester pattern. As per TNNLU LLM Regulations, 2017 students shall study three compulsory courses along with 4 programme specific courses and 2 elective courses. Curricula for these programmes are designed to deliver advance knowledge, critical thinking and enquiry suitable for candidates with interest in varied career paths such as the academia, research, roles in regulatory bodies, policy think tanks, and tribunals, joining the Bar, transactional lawyering etc. In order to get the LLM with specific specialisation, a student must complete the compulsory courses, Page 17 of 20 the dissertation and a minimum of four courses from the relevant LLM programme. Further, one may choose the remaining two elective courses from courses offered in any of the LLM programmes.
Ph.D. in Law
The Ph.D in Law programme is designed for post-graduate students who wish to advance their studies through research in law.
