Premier Law College

Premier Law College is one of the affiliated colleges of the University of the Punjab “Bridging the divide between academic law and professional practice at all stages of your career”. The Law Classes are older than the University. Started by the Anjuman-i-Punjab in 1868, they were taken over by the University Law College in 1870. The course of study extended over two years, and instructions were given in two separate classes, one in English and the other in the Vernacular. No test was laid down for admissions; and there were no examinations, as certificates awarded by the College possessed little value. The Punjab Chief Court held its own examinations for leadership and admission to the Bar.

In 1873 rules were framed requiring the passing of Entrance Examination of some University or of the Punjab University College as a condition of admission to the Law Classes. The following year the Judges of the Chief Court conceded to the Punjab University College the privilege for holding the Leadership Examination. It was laid down that, with the exception of special cases allowed by the Chief Court, no one would be admitted to the Law Examination without having passed the Entrance Examination of the Punjab University College or its equivalent. The course of study, as before extended over two years. Success in the First Examination qualified the candidates for Mukhtarship, and success in the Second Examination qualified them for Leadership of the subordinate Courts.

Pleaders of five years’ standing could be admitted to the Chief Court Bar. In 1885 the system was replaced by three progressive examinations known as the Preliminary in Law, the First. Certificate in Law, and the Licentiate in Law. From 1885 to 1906 the courses of study extended over three years. In 1887 the passing of the Intermediate Examination of the University was made a condition for admission to the Law Classes. For the Licentiate in Law Examination a candidate was required to be a graduate. Another regulation provided that in order to appear in the examination, a candidate must have attended three-fourth of the lectures delivered to his class.