All You Need to Know About A Career As A Lawyer
In order to be a lawyer, it is crucial to be aware of the right course, apt colleges, job opportunities and salary scope. Find out all that you want to know about the popular legal profession here!
The job of a Lawyer is to provide services to the clients by advising them in cases related to legal matters. Also, they represent their clients in legal issues and disputes by defending them in court. The other name given to lawyers is attorneys. Lawyers often initiate lawsuits, participate in formal hearings, prepare legal documents, conduct law-related research etc. They represent all sorts of clients ranging from individuals, business corporations, government agencies etc.
A job in the legal field is never easy. It has plenty of merits and demerits. Lawyer encounters numerous challenges every day, however, they also get to enjoy plenty of perks. Read Pros and Cons of being a Lawyer to understand better!
A career as a lawyer requires extensive training in legal procedures, training and writing. The job of a lawyer can be highly stressful depending on the field they specialise in. Some of the areas in which lawyers have to work include Criminal law, Marriage and Divorce Law, Corporate Law, Taxes, Family Law, or Litigation.
Top Responsibilities of a Lawyer
The top responsibilities and duties of a lawyer have been defined below.
The job of a lawyer includes giving advice to their clients to help them make profitable business transactions, claim liability, and defend them in lawsuits or in cases of legal rights and obligations.
As a lawyer, one must be capable of interpreting laws, rules and regulations for corporate houses and private individuals.
Use their analytical skills to provide solutions to law-related problems.
Help the judges and juries to make better decisions by summarising cases.
Research and then evaluate findings to put forward powerful and strong arguments during the presentation of cases.
Interview people and witnesses to help their clients win the legal battles.
Career Path for a Lawyer
An individual needs to fulfil certain requirements in order to succeed as a lawyer. Below is the eligibility criteria to become a lawyer.
For students currently studying in school, who want to become a lawyer, there are no specific compulsory subjects, though subjects like English, History, Political Science, and Economics will further help to prepare for a law school.
Candidate must have graduated with a bachelor’s degree followed by obtaining a 3 year long LLB degree.
Aspirants can go for integrated LLB courses such as BBA LLB, B.Com LLB, B.Sc LLB, BA LLB, B.Tech LLB etc. Get the entire list of law courses here.
To enrol yourself in a law school, one will have to sit for the entrance tests conducted by law departments of various Universities. Some popular law entrance exams include LSAT India, CLAT, MH CET Law, AILET, SLAT, IPU CET Law etc.
After obtaining an LLB degree, you need to apply for an internship. This is a compulsory step as aspiring lawyers need to begin with hands-on law training to use their theoretical knowledge in real-life situations. Also, students get the opportunity to work in the field under pressure and guidance of senior lawyers.
The last and final step for becoming a practising lawyer is to enrol as an advocate in any State Bar Council regulated by the Advocates Act, 1961 and get himself/ herself a license.
Note: Applicants should opt for a bachelor's degree in the same field in which they want to do their law specialisation. For example in the case of tax attorneys, the student can opt for accounting, in case of environmental law, the student may consider studying environmental science.
Also Read: Career as a Government Lawyer
Skills Required to Become a Lawyer
The traits and skills owned by an individual play a crucial role along with the right legal qualification. Some of the important skills required to become a lawyer are provided below.
High analytical skills
Good interpersonal skills
Problem-solving skills
Research skills
Argumentation skills
Hard-working
Willing to work for long and irregular hours
Ability to work under pressure
Good writing skills
Find a detailed analysis of the Skills Required to Become a Successful Lawyer!
Law Specialisations Offered to Become a Lawyer
Lawyers can choose from a variety of specialisations offered in law. Some lawyers prefer to practice corporate law while others prefer litigation. Some of the popular law specialisations offered to become a lawyer include:
Corporate law | Criminal law |
Civil law | Real estate law |
Tax law | Administrative law |
Family law | Cyber law |
Animal rights Law | Consumer protection law |
Environment law | Intellectual property law |
Human rights law | Labour law |
Top Law Colleges in India to Become a Lawyer
Some of the highly prestigious and renowned colleges that offer quality education in law and prepare students for the competitive legal world are mentioned below.
College Name | Location |
Bangalore, Karnataka | |
Jaipur, Rajasthan | |
Hyderabad, Telangana | |
Jaipur, Rajasthan | |
Jodhpur, Rajasthan | |
Bhubaneswar, Odisha | |
Jaipur, Rajasthan | |
Delhi, Delhi | |
Meerut, Uttar Pradesh | |
Indore, Madhya Pradesh | |
Check the entire list of top law colleges and schools in India here! | |
Career Scope/Job Prospects for a Lawyer
Plenty of job opportunities are available for the interested candidates after a law degree. Provided below are a few of the popular job prospects for a lawyer.
Job Profile | Details |
Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators |
|
Judges and Hearing Officers |
|
Paralegals and Legal Assistants |
|
Attorneys/ Lawyers |
|
Also, there are different types of lawyers depending on the field of specialisation, such as the Environmental Lawyer, the Intellectual Property lawyers, the Family Lawyer, the Securities Lawyers, the Tax Lawyer, the Trial Lawyer, the Litigation Lawyer etc.
If you are still confused about which profession is apt for you, take the Career Profiling Test. It will help you in shortlisting the most suitable job profile as per your aptitude, personality and Interests.
Also Read: Alternative Career Options for Lawyers / Law Graduates
Salary Earned by a Lawyer
Salary earned by a lawyer usually depends on the work experience and increases with time and knowledge. Following are the salaries earned at different positions by a lawyer.
Job Profile | Salary Data (Average) |
Associate Attorney | ₹490,501 per annum |
Law Firm Partner | ₹ 3,052,094 per annum |
₹ 686,125 per annum | |
Associate Attorney (Law Firm) | ₹ 490,501 per annum |
₹ 405,016 per annum | |
Attorney / Lawyer | ₹ 9,25,000 per annum |
Junior Associate Attorney | ₹ 2,44,168 per annum |
Is Law a Good Career in India?
Every career comes with some pros and cons, but if you love challenges or like to communicate with people, then a career as a lawyer in India is the right choice for you. Let’s take a look at why you should think of becoming a lawyer.
- Diversity: There are a variety of legal career options available for lawyers. They can choose to become judges, consultants, mediators, paralegals, secretaries, etc. Due to rapid changes in today’s world, more career opportunities are evolving.
- Opportunities and Growth: In the last few years, changes in social life, the economy and political institutions have proved that a career as a lawyer has lots of opportunities and growth and with each passing year the opportunities are increasing. Lots of candidates have started taking up LL.B or Integrated law programmes after their Class 12th or boards.
- Reputation: A career as a lawyer has always been looked up to as a prestigious job. Society pays great attention to lawyers as they have a high pay scale, legal power, impressive appearance and so much more.
- Job Security: Lawyers who are working for a law firm or at a corporate firm or practice law independently won’t have to fear losing their job.
- Flexibility: A lot of flexibility is received by the lawyers as they can set their work schedule, select their clients, set charges or can even stay away from the office to do research.
- Aware of Responsibilities and Rights: We all have been taught about our rights and duties in school, but once you start your legal career, you will start understanding what are your rights and duties you have to fulfil every day as a lawyer.
To be a successful lawyer, an individual is required to pursue legal education from a top-notch law college. If you are confused about choosing the right course or educational institute, you can reach out to our admission experts on the helpline number 1800-572-9877 (toll-free) or fill the Common Application Form. In case of any queries, write to us on the QnA zone.
Stay tuned to CollegeDekho for more information on law and related fields.
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FAQs
How should I prepare for a Bar exam?
To prepare for a bar exam, you must study a lot and give enough time for your preparation. Create a study schedule so that you know how to study strategically for the upcoming months. Find yourself a good quality bar exam test preparation course and materials that will help you in your preparation. During your study, you need to focus more on the topics that appear frequently on the bar exam. As the bar exam is a big test, give yourself plenty of time to thoroughly study. Once you clear the Bar exam, you will become a successful lawyer with other required skills and criteria.
How can I become a Criminal lawyer?
To become a Criminal lawyer, candidates have to first clear any of the law entrance examinations such as CLAT (Common Law Admission Test), TISSNET (Tata Institute of Social Sciences National Entrance Test), LSAT (Law School Admission Test), DU LL.M Entrance Exam, AP LAWCET, AP PGLCET, TS PGLCET, IPU CET, KIITEE Law, AILET (All India Law Entrance Test). After getting into a good law college, candidates can choose to study Criminal law as a specialisation. When they complete their LL.B or LL.M, they must do an internship under an experienced criminal lawyer.
What are the job opportunities available after becoming a lawyer?
After becoming a lawyer, there are quite a lot of job opportunities available. Depending on the skills and experience of the candidate, lawyers can earn an annual salary varying from INR 5,00,000 LPA to INR 10,00,000 LPA. The different types of job opportunities available for lawyers are Advocate, Magistrate, Judge, Trustee, Oath Commissioner, Notary, Legal Document Reviewer, Legal Consultant, Legal Associate, Professor of Law, Fraud Investigator, Litigation Lawyer, Advocate, etc.
What are the subjects taught in LL.M and LL.B?
Candidates can become a lawyer right after completing their LL.B or can choose to study LL.M and then start their legal career. The subjects taught in LL.B and LL.M programmes are:
LL.B | LL.M |
Labour Law | Law and social transformation in India |
Women & Law | Alternative Dispute Resolution |
Constitutional Law | International Trade Law |
Environmental Law | Judicial process |
Property Law | Constitutionalism |
Human Rights & International Law | Intellectual Property Rights |
Training in Moot Court | Human Rights and Humanitarian Law |
Code of Criminal Procedure | Corporate Law |
Training & Drafting | |
Cooperative Law |
Is it possible to become a lawyer at the age of 30?
One can enrol in an LL.B or an LL.M course at any age. There is no age limit set for studying law and starting their career at a later age. The only condition required to study law is to have the essential educational qualification to pursue law education. So, you can certainly become a lawyer at 30 if you have the enthusiasm and interest for the same. After completing a bachelor’s degree in any stream, candidates can study a 3-year LL.B program. Whereas, LLM is a 2 years postgraduate degree course that can be pursued after completing a 3-year or 5-year LL.B or any other law degree from a recognised university.
What are the skills required to become a lawyer?
Along with the legal educational qualifications, a candidate also needs to have certain skills that will help them to become a better lawyer. A thorough knowledge of legal education can only be achieved by candidates' diligence, endurance and willpower. The skills required to become a lawyer are High analytical skills, Good interpersonal skills, Problem-solving skills, Research skills, Argumentation skills, Hard-working, Quick Learner Abilities, Critical-Thinking Ability, Interest in Legal Research & Analysis, Organisational Skills, Leadership, Problem Solving Attitude, Good writing skills, etc.
What are the different types of specialisations available for aspiring lawyers?
Candidates who want to become lawyers can choose from a variety of specialisations available in different colleges and universities. The specialisations available for aspiring lawyers are Intellectual Property Law, Criminal Law, Civil Law, Corporate Law, Banking Law, Cyber Law, Human Rights Law, Labour Law, International Law, Business Law, Administrative Law, Insurance Law, Commercial Law, Consumer Law, Mergers & Acquisition Law, Media Law, etc.
What are the different types of legal careers available for lawyers?
Lawyers can choose to select their area of specialisation as there are various types of lawyers available depending on the roles and responsibilities that they want to perform. The different types of lawyers are government lawyers, private sector lawyers, trial lawyers, immigration lawyers, estate planning lawyers, public interest lawyers, personal injury lawyers and toxic tort lawyers. Candidates can also work as legal advisors after completing their legal degrees.
How long does it take to become a lawyer?
It depends on the course that the candidate has selected after completing Class 12. While integrated law courses can be studied right after 10+2, and LL.B can only be studied after the candidate has completed their bachelor’s degree in any discipline. It takes around 6-7 years of full-time study to become a lawyer. Candidates can choose to study LL.M or can directly start their legal career after doing some internships under the supervision of experienced lawyers.
Why should one become a lawyer?
One should think of becoming a lawyer as it is considered one of the most respectable jobs, lawyers are paid well, and they get to work on their own terms, from selecting their clients to choosing the charges. Lawyers can work independently and set up their own legal firm or chamber to practice their profession. A career as a lawyer has lots of opportunities and growth and with each passing year, the opportunities are increasing.