Shri Dharmastala Manjunatheswara Law College, Mangalore

Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Law College (SDM Law College) in Mangalore was founded in 1974 by Poojya Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade Heggade under the Dharmasthala Educational Society to fulfill his father’s vision of accessible and equitable legal education . Celebrating over 50 years of academic excellence, it has built a strong reputation for quality throughout southern India .

Affiliated with Karnataka State Law University and formerly with Mysore and Mangalore Universities, it holds a prominent NAAC A/B++ accreditation, and the Bar Council of India approves all its programs. It was among the first in India to introduce a five‑year B.A. LL.B. 

The college offers undergraduate (B.A./BBA LL.B., LL.B.), postgraduate (LL.M. in Business & Trade Law), doctoral (Ph.D.), and diplomas, including in ADR, Cyber Law, and HRM—supported by a rich add-on course array .

The campus is well-appointed with a vast library (16,000+ titles and rich e-resources), a state-of-the-art moot court hall, ICT-enabled classrooms, computer labs, ADR centre, auditorium, counselling centre, café, ATM/bank, and full Wi‑Fi access.

Steeped in practical training, SDM runs vibrant moot court events, legal aid camps across villages, ADR initiatives, workshops, and internships. Its pedagogy has directly influenced the Bar Council’s national standards .

SDM Law College consistently ranks among India’s top law schools (4th in Southern India, 2nd in Karnataka, per GHRDC; in top 20–24 nationally by Outlook, India Today & Career 360) . Student reviews highlight strong faculty, impressive infrastructure, vibrant campus life, and effective placement outcomes (average packages reported ₹4–5 LPA, highest up to ₹7.5 LPA)