Introduction of Law
Ambrose Bierce in his Devil’s dictionary tells that a lawyer as someone who is skilled in the ‘circumvention of the law’. The opinion of a lawyer who is adept at searching ‘loopholes’ in the system is a popular one in our country too, but we cannot avoid that to one up the law one should know the law. From writers to politicians to freedom fighters, lawyers have don so many hats. Mahatma Gandhi, Franz Kafka,Dr Rajendra Prasad and Abraham Lincoln – these all were lawyers.
Law is one of the best career option in our country for a long time. Those whose families have been into the profession for generations in India generally choose to learn law too. Besides, to become a lawyer it is not compulsory to have a family background in law neither is it required that you belong to a rich family. Anyone can opt to study law as long as one has the interest for it.
Traditionally, candidates could focus either civil or criminal laws. However, this idea has changed and now candidates can choose to focus any of the different choice given like patent laws, corporate laws, etc. A degree in law not only lets you practice as a lawyer in the courts in the firm but also start up career choice in sectors like corporate management, administrative services, and legal services.
Various Roles and various Names
- Criminal Lawyer: It focus criminal laws CrPC, IPC, Evidence Act and different other penal laws.
- Civil Litigation Lawyer:It Specializes on civil laws e.g. taxation laws, excise laws.
- Legal Analyst: Works for corporate companies or law companies and compare laws pertaining to the circle of the firm and its operation.
- Document Drafting Lawyer: It Specializes in drafting different documents including agreements, terms and conditions, case material, etc.
- Legal Journalist: It Covers crime beats, arbitration courts, legal proceedings in courts, international courts and arbitration events.
- Legal Advisor:It Offers consultancy to corporate company regarding their legal obligations, duties, legal relations with other companies.
- Government Lawyer:They Work for the government and in close coordination with the police.
- Judge: They Offer judgment after organizing the court proceedings and hearing all the concerned parties.
Market Watch
It describe about on to expand the opportunities for legal practice in India and open the gates for law companies from outside India. Law graduates can hope better job prospects when foreign law companies start their operations in India. LPOs have started to increase young law graduates for their processes dealing in US laws or UK laws. Legal education has been liberalized and for that reason professionals from different other disciplines too are liked to do short term courses in law which ultimately will help to increase the standard of legal awareness.
International Focus
Legal education in India is same as to the one in Britain. Whereas a lot of universities in UK offer legal education to Indian candidates, Indian candidate quite enjoy working in the UK wherein they get attractive salary packages. The latest trend has been that candidates from India study in law colleges in the USA and earn attractive jobs after finishing of the course. Harvard Law School, Australia National University, Yale University, etc. are some attractive choices for Indian law candidates these days.
Positives or Negatives
Lawyers like other professionals such as doctors and chartered accountants need experience to improve their skills and become valuable for their clients. Therefore, it is time which helps a lawyer become more effective. Students determine to success in the profession have to be patient in the initial phase of their career. Besides, here there is no limit to success and money as well as power for a lawyer. Lawyers are not only for respect but also help the people in their struggle for justice.
Step-by-Step
Candidate liked to building a career in law can either do a 3-year law course after finishing graduation in any discipline or a five years’ course after 12th class. In fact, the three- years’ course is now giving way to the five- years’ one which is seen as a good choice. In most of the cases, colleges run the three- years’ course only for those whose main discipline in graduation is something other than law, or working professionals who need to do an LLB as an additional eligibility. The 5-year course is meant for those who need to pick up law as a career – be it as a litigator, or any other kind of legal professional.
The LLB course is regulated by the Bar Council of India which sets rules and regulations based on legal practice in the country. Any specialization is done at masters, PhD stage, or MPhil. A higher degree helps students to get jobs in academics.
Start Early
A student can start preparing for law entrance exam organized at national level for five years’ BA LLB at different National Law Schools soon after finishing the senior secondary exam. The national law entrance exam, CLAT (Combined Law Admission Test) basically tests the candidates usually in English, legal aptitude, logical skills, general awareness, etc.
Some universities which given the 3 years’ LLB organized entrance exam which have a curriculum on the same lines.
Is It the Right Career ?
Law is a career which needs loads of patience and logical skills. It picks loads of hard work and dedication to become a successful lawyer. First generation lawyers particularly face several problems in their profession as is true of every other profession. It becomes simple, if one trains under a Senior Counsel in the starting of their career. This is not to say that fresher cannot make it own their own. Anything is possible with the help of determination and hard work. Great communication skills and an effect for critical analysis and opinion are prerequisites for lawyers. Therefore, one should examine these points before choosing for law as a career.
Pay Packet
Whereas a lawyer who want to start practicing in a court can earn a salary of Rs 5000 to Rs 40,000 based upon the advocate he is related with, a law graduate working with Legal Process Outsourcing workers can get attractive salary in between Rs 20,000 and Rs 50,000. It is a very high paying profession, but it depends largely on the power, popularity and success of the student. The institute you graduate from is another element.
What would be the Cost ?
‘3-years’ LLB course generally involves small expenses in the range of Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 for 3 years. The five years’ BA LLB comparatively cost is little more in the lien of about Rs 3,00,000 for 5 years. Hostel expenses are not including of the tuition fees.
Funding and Scholarship
Not a lot of law schools given financial help on the basis of entrance exam. The candidate should talk to the authorities and search out the particular policies on scholarship from respective universities. Candidate can also choose to pick a bank loan or apply for different scholarships that are given from time to time.
Job opportunities
There are a lot of scopes for a law graduate. One can either practice as an advocate in a court of law or employ with corporate companies. By clearing exams organized by Public Service Commissions, a law graduate can become a judge. After getting experience, a law graduate can expect to become a Public Prosecutor, Solicitor General, or given services to government departments and ministries. One can also work as a legal adviser for different organizations. Working with NGOs and working as a reporter for newspapers, teaching in colleges, and television channels are other attractive choices.
Demand and Supply
An outré lack of qualified lawyers has been a main problem in India. The Bar Council of India has oft expressed its concern that young lawyers don’t join the Bar. There are almost 10 lakh lawyers in India but according to law experts only 20 per cent of them can be considered fit much to practice law in courts. A lot of law schools like NLSU, NALSAR were established to raise the level of legal education and manufacture skilled lawyers to meet they wanted.
Yet, India is a country with one of the highest argument rates among its population and Sir Ivor Jennings known the Indian Constitution “a lawyer’s paradise.” Talented lawyers will not bother about their income.
Tips for Getting Hired
Students who do 5 years BA LLB from popular law schools like NLSUI Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad get attractive job scopes from law companies and ITES companies. Plenty also choose to start their own practice. All law graduates who want to practice in the courts have to register themselves in the Bar Council of India (BCI) and practice in courts under the control senior lawyers.
Practical training in court can improve your chances of getting hired by law companies and with senior lawyers. Though a lot of the law colleges impart practical legal education to last year law candidates, it is candidates who must pick initiative and start visiting court proceedings in the last year to know the day-to-day affair.
Top firms
Some of the popular law companies in the country are listed below:
| J Sagar Associates | AZB & Partners |
| Luthra & Luthra | Trilegal |
| Amarchand Mangaldas | Khaitan & Co |
| Titus & Co | Singhania & Partners |
| Desai & Diwanji | Economic Laws Practice |
| Lakshmi Kumaran & Sridharan | Wadia Ghandy & Co |
| Vaish & Associates | Anand & Anand |
Popular Institutes
| Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) | NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad |
| Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi | National Law University, Jodhpur |
| Government Law College, Mumbai | Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh |
| National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal | Faculty of Law, University of Delhi |
| National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore | ILS Law College, Pune |
| Amity Law School, Delhi | Symbiosis Society’s Law College (SSLC), Pune |
