Punjab University Law College (PULC) is a public sector law school of the University of the Punjab, located at the Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore. Established in 1868, it is the oldest law institution in Pakistan, predating the founding of the Punjab University itself by 14 years. It was the first institution to offer legal education in a Muslim-majority area of the Indian subcontinent. Since its inception, the college has produced prominent lawyers, activists, statesmen, judges, bureaucrats, and politicians. Today, it is recognised for its historical significance, academic standards, and notable alumni.
Founded in 1868 under the auspices of the literary society Anjuman-e-Punjab, the college became a constituent institution of the University of the Punjab in 1870.
History
Anjuman-i-Punjab (1865)
The University Law College was established by the Anjuman-i-Punjab in 1868. The Anjuman-i-Punjab was a literary society founded in Lahore on 21 January 1865 by Dr Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner, a British linguist and orientalist. Leitner later became the first registrar of the University of the Punjab.
The society aimed to promote vernacular literature and held meetings for literary, social, and scientific advancement. It was also instrumental in the establishment of Oriental College and the University Law College, both of which were incorporated into Punjab University College, now known as the University of the Punjab.
Pre-partition (1868–1947)
The college's original course of study was two years in duration and was offered in both English and the vernacular. No examinations were conducted at the time, as admission to the practice of law was regulated solely through examinations administered by the Punjab Chief Court.
In 1873, the court's rules were amended to require candidates for the bar to have passed university entrance examinations, following which the college introduced its own examinations. In 1887, it was made compulsory for students to pass the intermediate examination and to maintain at least three-fourths attendance at the law college in order to sit for the Law/Bar examinations. In 1890, the Government of India introduced new regulations, empowering the college to confer the degrees of LL.B. and LL.D.. To sit for the LL.B. examinations and obtain a licence to practise law, students were required to have passed the intermediate examination and graduated in any arts discipline.
In 1935, the duration of the LL.B. programme was extended from two years to three. However, following partition, the regulations were revised once more, and on the directions of the Government of Pakistan and the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the programme was reduced back to two years.
Post-partition
In 1948, the LL.B. degree programme was of two years' duration. In 1964, however, under the directions of the High Court of West Pakistan, the LL.B. professional degree was extended to three years. In the same year, the college began offering two parallel law courses: B.L. (Bachelor of Law), a two-year degree, and LL.B. (Legum Baccalaureus), the traditional three-year degree.
In 1966, the B.L. degree was discontinued, and the LL.B. degree was reverted to a two-year programme. However, in 1992–1993, the three-year LL.B. programme was reintroduced, this time following the pattern of the United Kingdom's common law system.
College campus
The main building of the college was initially located on Katchery Road, at what is now known as the Allama Iqbal Campus (Old Campus), near Oriental College and Government College, Lahore.
In 1978, due to a shortage of space and to accommodate the expansion of the college, it was relocated to its present premises at the Quaid-e-Azam Campus (New Campus), along with the Hailey College of Commerce and other major departments.
Current standing
Today, the University Law College is regarded as one of the highest-ranked law institutes in Pakistan. The merit requirements are very high, while the acceptance rate is low. Due to its relatively low fees and extensive student facilities, it is a preferred choice for law aspirants in the country.
Although the LL.B. degree was initially three years in duration, it was extended to five years in 2016 under the Pakistan Bar Council Legal Education Rules, 2015. The three-year LL.B. was transformed into an integrated five-year B.A. LL.B. programme. This change aimed to regulate the increasing number of lawyers in Pakistan and provide professional legal education to students.
As of 2013, the college had approximately 1,600 students. It currently offers B.A. LL.B. (five-year) in the annual system and B.A. LL.B. (Hons) in the semester system, with a total of 200 seats—100 on merit and 100 for self-finance.
Programmes B.A. LL.B.
The B.A. LL.B. programme is a five-year integrated degree combining Bachelor of Arts and LL.B. studies. The programme is divided into two phases: 1) the B.A. phase and 2) the LL.B. phase.
During the first two years, students study foundational B.A. subjects such as Political Science, Sociology, Pakistan History, Islamic studies, English, and introductory legal subjects. In the subsequent three years, the curriculum focuses on specialised law-related subjects, including Civil Law, Criminal Procedure Code (CPC/CrPC), Cyber Law, Corporate Law, Company Law, Constitutional Law (covering the Pakistani, United States, and British constitutions), Environmental Law, Property Law, Law of Equity, and Law of Torts, among others.
LL.M.
From 1981–82, regular LL.M. classes were introduced at the college. The LL.M. was a two-year taught programme combined with research, offered during both morning and evening hours. Subjects offered to LL.M. Part I and II students included Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Law of Evidence, International Economic Law, among others. This research-oriented programme required six days a week of library work, seminars, lectures, and tutorials.
The LL.M. programme at University Law College was discontinued on 22 January 2021. Since then, the University of the Punjab has been offering the LL.M. through the Postgraduate School of Legal Studies.
LL.D.
The LL.D. degree was first offered by University Law College in 1890. In 1986, it was renamed as the Ph.D. in Law. Since then, only three individuals have been awarded the Ph.D. in Law (LL.D.) degree.
Admissions
Admission to all programmes at University Law College (PULC) is highly competitive and based strictly on merit. The college's relatively low fees and extensive student facilities make it a preferred choice for students pursuing a career in law.
LL.B. Admissions: Admission to the LL.B. programme requires strong academic performance. Students must achieve excellent marks in matriculation and intermediate examinations. They must then pass the Law Admission Test (LAT), conducted by the HEC under the regulations of the PBC. Following the LAT, candidates appear for the PU Admission Test (USAT). After completion of these stages, a merit list is published, and successful candidates are offered admission. LL.M. Admissions: Admission to the LL.M. programme is even more competitive. Applicants are required to pass the LL.M. entry test and the Graduate Admission Test conducted by the PBC, followed by an interview. Candidates are assessed on their knowledge, skills, and commitment before being admitted to the Master's programme.
Facilities
Library The Law College Library is known for its extensive collection of legal books and journals. The collection is regularly updated to reflect changes in the country's laws and constitutional amendments. Online legal resources, including WestLaw, PakistanLawSite, and JSTOR, are also accessible.
IT Facility Students have full access to online legal resources through computers available in the library. These computers are provided for general research and can also be reserved for individual study.
Moot Room To prepare students for litigation and their future roles as lawyers, the college organises regular moot workshops, exercises, and competitions, managed by the Law Moot Society. A dedicated moot room is provided in accordance with the regulations of the PBC. The historic moot room of PULC has a rich legacy, having trained many prominent lawyers and judges.
Dr. Parvez Hassan Environmental Law Centre (PHELC) The Environmental Law Centre was established by noted lawyer and environmentalist Dr. Parvez Hassan, an alumnus of PULC, to enhance the academic standards of the college. The centre, named in his honour, includes the Environmental Hall (also known as Begum Razia Hassan Auditorium), lecture halls, conference rooms, offices, and landscaped lawns. The centre has become a notable landmark associated with PULC.
Edhi Hall Edhi Hall is the oldest hall of PULC and served as the main venue for events and competitions until the construction of the Environmental Hall. It is named after the renowned Abdul Sattar Edhi, a social worker and human rights activist. The hall continues to hold a significant role in the college's activities.
Student societies and clubs
Student societies and clubs at PULC are managed under the umbrella of PULS. These include official, semi-official, and student-initiated clubs.
Official societies Membership of official societies is determined through interviews conducted by permanent faculty members. Each society is led by a President, Vice President, and General Secretary, supported by a core committee. A faculty member serves as the Patron-in-Chief of each society. Members typically serve for one year, and the societies receive institutional funding. The official societies of PULC include:
PULC Law Moot Society PULC Debating Society PULC Literary Society PULC ADR Clinic (the first Alternate Dispute Resolution Clinic in Pakistan) PULC Media Society PULC Character Building Society (established by the NAB, Pakistan) PULC Islamic Society PULC Sports Society Event Management Society
Alumni
Lawyers and jurists
Notable lawyers and jurists associated with University Law College include:
Abid Hassan Minto – Former President of the National Awami Party. S.M. Zafar – President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (1979), Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and Cultural Association of Pakistan, Chancellor of Hamdard University. Asma Jahangir – Human rights activist, co-founder of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, recipient of the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights (2018), Hilal-i-Imtiaz (2010), and Nishan-e-Imtiaz (2018). V.D. Mahajan – Advocate of the Supreme Court of India, legal researcher, historian, and political scientist. Jawahar Lal Kaul – Indian lawyer, Vice Chancellor of Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, and Visiting Fellow at University of St. Thomas School of Law since 2014. Akram Sheikh – President of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan and CEC of Pakistan Bar Council (1993–1994). Hamid Khan – Vice-President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, legal scholar and writer, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan. Ali Ahmad Kurd – President of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan, key figure in the Lawyers' Movement 2007. Khizr Khan – Lawyer of the US Supreme Court, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2022), Commissioner of the US-CIRF, LL.M. from Harvard Law School. Swami Shraddhanand – Indian lawyer, Hindu guru, and Arya Samaj activist. M. D. Tahir – Prominent senior lawyer and human rights activist. Shahla Zia – Women's rights activist and prominent lawyer. Mowahid Hussain Shah – Pakistani and US lawyer, co-founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Barrister Dr Abdul Basit – Senior lawyer and Kashmiri nationalist.
Supreme Court judges
Notable Supreme Court judges who have been associated with University Law College include:
Hans Raj Khanna – Justice of the Supreme Court of India and former Law Minister of India.