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Last Updated By Sukriti Vajpayee on 14 Aug, 2023
A Judge is an elected or selected professional who presides over the court trial and hearing in order to come up with a decision. Judges also look after particular obligations outside the courtroom. Their responsibility is to research regulations and laws, issue case decisions and opinions, supervise the work of other court staff and law clerks, meet the lawyers to discuss cases encourage settlement, and establish procedures and court rules. It requires a lot of dedication and hard work if you want to know how to become a judge in India.
Judges have the top authority in the court and they are expected to give an unbiased verdict after analysing the evidence presented to the court and hearing the case. The final verdict is given by the Judge so they must stay neutral. If you are wondering how to become a judge, then you should at least get an LL.B degree.
A judge supervises trials or hearings, staying neutral and making decisions based on arguments, questions and evidence provided to the court. They also determine the punishments or sentences, charged during trials. However, if you are curious as to how to become a judge in India, then understand that a law degree alone is not enough, you must also put in effort, dedication and training to become a judge.
Judges in India listen to the testimony of witnesses, hear allegations of the defending and prosecuting parties, oversees a trial or hearing and serve as an impartial referee, instruct the jury and perform other important tasks. Doubts regarding how to become a judge, eligibility criteria, types of judges, skills required, salary of a judge and exams to appear for are all discussed here.
A judge in India has the power to detain or release someone within seconds. No one holds a higher status than a judge in India, not even the Prime Minister of the country. Candidates who are thinking about how to become a judge in India should meet all the requirements and take the exams that are mandatory for the qualification of a judge.
Students who are in school or college and want to become a judge should know that without a formal legal degree, it is not possible to start a career in law. There are no subjects in 10+2 related to law, but aspirants should start preparing for the entrance exams that will help them clear the law entrance exams in one go.
If you are wondering how to become a judge in India, then let us tell you that it is mandatory to appear for entrance exams. The entrance exams are conducted on a national level, state level and university level. The qualification of a judge depends not only on the entrance exams but also on the extra qualifications that they achieve while getting the law degree or after completing the degree.
The popular law entrance exams conducted in India are CLAT (Common Law Admission Test), AILET (All India Law Entrance Test), LSAT (Law School Admission Test), MH CET Law, CULEE (Christ University Law Entrance Exam), ULSAT (UPES Law Studies Aptitude Test), AP LAWCET and AP PGLCET, TS LAWCET and TS PGLCET, Kerala LL.B Entrance Exam (KLEE), BVP CET LAW, Army Institute of Law Entrance Test (AIL LET), etc.
The aspirants start wondering if they can become a judge in India by only clearing the entrance exams. Becoming a judge is not so easy and requires certain skills. The skills required to excel in this field are:
A judge abroad oversees hearings and trials and makes decisions as to the case in question. Some candidates might want to leave their country and settle in other countries for better job opportunities and the salary of a judge is also on the higher side abroad. For those who want to move abroad and thinking about how to become a judge, we have discussed some points here. Candidates have to be a citizen of the country and must be below the age of 70.
To qualify as a judge, you need to have years of experience as an attorney or prosecutor 5 to 7 years. To get into the legal field, you have to complete an undergraduate LL.B or law conversion course (the GDL). After this, you need to pass Bar Training, the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or have cleared the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE). if you are wondering how to become a judge without a law degree, you should know that if you take the CILEx Professional Qualification (CPQ), you can begin your law career.
Unlike India, there are no such entrance exams conducted to become a judge abroad. There are certain exams and professional qualifications that aspirants should take. The LSAT exam is a law entrance exam that is conducted abroad. Those who are thinking about how to become a judge abroad should know that getting an LL.B degree and clearing the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) will get you closer to becoming a judge.
A qualification of a judge not only depends on their experience but also on certain skills. If you want to know how to become a judge abroad, make sure you have the following skills:
Working Together: You will have to work with others to conduct Court or tribunal proceedings, so, you must respect diversity and be empathetic and sensitive.
Assimilating Information Quickly: This skill is important as you need to assimilate data quickly and identify critical issues as you have to develop a clear understanding of cases.
Exercising Sound Judgement: The qualification of a judge depends on how well you provide your judgement by showing integrity and applying independence of mind to make incisive, reasonable decisions.
Developing Intellectual Ability: To become a judge, you need to constantly develop your intellectual capacity to maintain your legal knowledge and deal with complex cases.
Building Knowledge: Judges need to have a comprehensive knowledge of relevant jurisdiction and the law in practice. You need to have the willingness to learn and evolve professionally.
Becoming a judge after the 12th involves getting a UG degree followed by a PG degree (optional). Only with years of experience can a person become a judge. The first step for you to become a judge is to pursue a Bachelor in Law ( LL.B) degree if you are curious to know how to become a judge after 12th. After completing Class 12, you can only take up 5-year Integrated LL.B courses. The 3-year LL.B degree course can be studied after you have completed your bachelor's degree. After a person completes their LL.B degree, they can complete a master’s in Law (LL.M) which is optional.
Thereafter, you need to get yourself enrolled in the State Bar Council and then clear the Bar Exam (AIBE). You will get a license to practise law in India after clearing the AIBE exam.
After passing the Class 12th exam, aspirants have to appear for entrance exams if they want to study any one of the 5-year Integrated LL.B courses. The entrance exams to become a judge after the 12th are CLAT, AILET, TS LAWCET, MH CET Law, AP LAWCET, etc.
When you become a judge after 12th, there are certain skills that you need to keep in mind. The qualification of a judge depends on a number of factors. The important skills needed to become a judge are:
Once you have completed a graduate degree, you can apply for 3-year LL.B courses as it can only be studied after completing a UG degree in any discipline. If you are curious to know how to become a judge, candidates are required to appear in the law entrance examinations such as CLAT, AILET, LSAT, or other exams to get qualified for the LLB course after completion of the 10+2+3 or 10+2+4 level of degree.
To become a judge after graduation, aspirants have to appear for entrance exams. The salary of a judge also depends on the type of judge that they become once they finish their course. If you are wondering how to become a judge in India, you need to know the exams conducted. The exams conducted to help you become a judge are Rajasthan University Law Entrance Test (RULET), Andhra Pradesh LAWCET, Andhra Pradesh PGLCET, Kerala Law Entrance Exam, LFAT (Allahabad), Telangana State LAWCET, Maharashtra CET Law, PU LL.B Entrance Exam, AILET (All India Law Entrance Test), LSAT (Law School Admission Test), Symbiosis Law Admission Test (SLAT) and All India Bar Exam (AIBE).
Those wondering how to become a judge in India should have the necessary skills to pursue their career. Becoming a judge is a highly respected profession that requires a unique set of skills and qualifications. They have to possess skills that help them in their everyday roles. The qualification of a judge is often measured by the skill sets that they have.
The Judge of the Supreme Court has substantial power and is appointed by the President of India. Here are the qualifications that a person should possess in order to become a Judge of the Supreme Court in India-
The High Court is the chief of the state judicial system. Here's how an individual can become a Judge of a High Court in India-
It is extremely important to meet the minimum requirements including academic qualifications, age criteria, skills, work experience and other criteria for fulfilling the qualification of a judge. To become eligible for the Judicial Service Examination which includes Preliminary Examination, Main Examination and an interview that is required to become a judge, candidates must be a citizen of India, have a degree in law either for 3 years LL.B or 5 years Integrated LL.B, must be registered with the Bar Council of India and fall under the age bracket prescribed by the authorities and it varies from state to state.
When you decide to study law and want to become a judge after completing your degree, the next question that comes to your mind is how to become a judge in India. Mentioned below is the educational qualification of a judge:
Completing an LL.B or LL.M degree is not the only qualification of a judge, they also have to go through other processes if they are thinking about how to become a judge in India.
If a person expects to become a judge in India he is required to take the Judicial Service Examination or Provincial Civil Service Judicial Exam. The salary of a judge depends on the type of judge that they are. Law aspirants who will complete their law degree can find here the types of judges:
If you are inquisitive about how to become a judge in District Court, then you should appear for the Higher Judicial Services. District Judges work with a wide range of civil and family law cases such as claims for damages, possession proceedings against property tenants, divorces, child proceedings, domestic violence injunctions, etc.
High Court Judges are appointed by the President of India after consulting with the Chief Justice of India. The qualification of a Judge in the High Court is 10 years of advocacy in the High Court and a resident of India.
Civil Judges manage non-criminal conflicts, such as contract disputes, property altercations and family law matters.
The Session Judge handles the criminal cases committed by Judicial Magistrates and also criminal appeals and revisions.
A Supreme Court Judge will be appointed by the President of India after observing the candidate as a distinguished jurist. One must be a Judge of the High Court for at least 5 years or should be an advocate of the High Court for at least 10 years.
The salary of a judge in India varies on their qualifications and other factors. At the beginning of the career, the average salary that a judge is INR 5.43 LPA. The salary of a judge depends on their experience, skill sets, etc.
Position | Salary |
Junior Civil Judge | INR 27,700 - INR 47,700 |
Junior Civil Judge (After 5 years of service) | INR 33,090 - IN R 45,850 |
Junior Civil Judge (1st career progression after 5 years or during the 2nd career progression) | INR 39,530 - INR 54,010 |
Senior Civil Judge | INR 39,530 - INR 54,010 |
Senior Civil Judge (After 5 years of service) | INR 43,690 - INR 56470 |
Senior Civil Judge (Ist career progression after 5 years) | INR 43,690 - INR 56470 |
District Judge | INR 51,550 - INR 63,070 |
District Judge (Selection Grade after 5 years of Entry Grade) | INR 57,700 - INR 70,290 |
District Judge (3 years after selection grade) | INR 70,290 - INR 76,450 |
In order to become a Judge, the legal knowledge of an aspirant must be sound. Provided below are the apt courses and colleges that can help an aspirant in inculcating the right set of legal skills. LLB is the main course that every student aspiring to be a judge has to pursue in India. Other law courses include integrated BA LLB, BCom LLB, BSc LLB, BBA LLB etc. Students can opt for integrated courses in which they do not have to pursue a bachelor’s degree and a law degree separately. They can also apply for postgraduate LLM courses after the completion of LLB.
Course | Total Fee (Approx.) |
₹ 30,000 to ₹ 3,00,000 per annum | |
₹ 22,000 to ₹ 2,50,000 per annum | |
LL.M | ₹ 50,000 to ₹ 5,00,000 per annum |
If you are thinking about how to become a judge in India, you should understand that college plays a vital role in shaping your legal career. You need to get into a good law college after securing a good rank in the exam. A prestigious law college will open a lot of career opportunities for an aspirant. The qualification of a judge also depends on the college from which they graduated.
Shyam School of Law | |
ADGITM New Delhi | |
Symbiosis Law School, Pune | |
Shoolini Institute of Law | |
The salary of a judge sometimes depends on the university where they have studied. Those who will be cracking the top exams like CLAT, LSAT, etc with a very good rank will get into the top law universities in the country. Now, if you are curious to know how to become a judge in India when you have studied at a top law university, we have the answer for you. Let alone getting a degree will not help you become a judge. The qualification of a judge also depends on years of experience. Law universities also play a major role in shaping a career of a law student.
Check out the various different types of job roles that an individual willing to be a Judge can consider.
District Judge
High Court Judge
Civil Judge
Sessions Judge
Supreme Court Judge
Author
The Indian Constitution follows a Judicial System where job opportunities are provided to Judges across 3-tiers that are Subordinate Judiciary, the State Judiciary and the Union Judiciary. To get enrolled in any of these positions, an individual must fulfil the prescribed eligibility requirements and skills. Generally, after gaining a few years of work experience, an aspirant is promoted from Subordinate to State and then to Union Judiciary.
Sessional courts, District courts and High courts of all states and districts require Judges. The Supreme Court also provides a chance to experienced, skilful and professional judges. A few of the top recruiting agencies that offer job opportunities to an aspirant are mentioned underneath.
Uttarakhand Public Service Commission
Delhi High Court
Supreme Court
Sashastra Seema Bal
Haryana District and Sessions Court
Rajasthan High Court
Ministry of Law & Justice
The books and study materials that play a vital role in gaining knowledge and becoming a Judge are enlisted below.
How Judges Think by Richard Posner
The Nature of the Judicial Process by Benjamin N. Cardozo
Men and Books Famous in the Law by Frederick C. Hicks
Law and the Modern Mind by Jerome Frank
The Making of a Justice: Reflections on My First 94 Years by John Paul Stevens
Men and Books Famous in the Law by Frederick C. Hicks
The major advantage of being a Judge is that an individual gains respect and stature in the public eye.
Judges generally have job security and do not have to worry about switching or losing jobs.
A Judge gets a handsome salary and benefits. Their salary is generally more than others in the legal profession.
The job can be very stressful and a Judge has to be precise with the observations and details.
They have to keep the moral compass aside in order to stay unbiased and come up with an apt decision.
There is only limited career growth in this profile. After a few years, no further promotions can be completed.
Take our test and find out if it suits your strengths.
Doing internships during the law course is very important as you get to experience moot discussions. Try to do an internship with a practising lawyer or law firm. The internship period should be of 20 weeks if you are in a 5-year course or 12 weeks if you are in a 3-year course.
The LSAT exam is a law entrance exam that is conducted abroad. While getting an LL.B degree and clearing the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) will get you closer to becoming a judge. To get into the legal field, you have to complete an undergraduate LL.B or law conversion course (the GDL).
The exams required to become a judge after Class 12th are CLAT, AILET, TS LAWCET, MH CET Law, AP LAWCET, etc. The aspirants have to appear for entrance exams if they want to study any one of the 5-year Integrated LL.B courses.
To become a judge after graduation, aspirants have to appear for entrance exams. You should know which entrance exams are conducted. Candidates have to possess certain skills to become a judge after completing graduation.
After you have cleared the AIBE exam and are qualified you will now be getting your Certificate of Practice (CoP) to practise as a lawyer in India. This certificate will help you to practise law in India. The qualification of a judge is however not limited to this.
The top colleges that will help you become a judge are Shyam School of Law, Asian Law College, Noida, Army Institute of Law, ADGITM New Delhi, Institute of Law, Nirma University, Symbiosis Law School, Pune, Apex School of Law, Lloyd Law College, Greater Noida, Shoolini Institute of Law, Indore Institute of Law, Indore, M.S. Ramaiah College of Law, K.L.E. Society’s Law College, Bangalore, etc.
The exams that aspirants have to take to become a judge are CLAT, AILET, LSAT, MH CET Law, CULEE, ULSAT, AP LAWCET, AP PGLCET, TS LAWCET, TS PGLCET, Kerala LL.B Entrance Exam (KLEE), BVP CET LAW, Army Institute of Law Entrance Test (AIL LET), DU LLB Entrance Exam, LFAT, BHU UET (Law), etc.
People who want to become a judge should have completed an LL.B course that is of either 5 years or 3 years. Those having an LL.M degree can also become a judge. With diplomas or certificate courses, it will not be enough to be a judge. You need to clear the Judicial Service Examination which includes Preliminary Examination, Main Examination and an interview.
The different types of judges are District Judge, High Court Judge, Civil Judge, Sessions Judge and Supreme Court Judge. If a person wants to become a judge in India, he/ she is required to take the Judicial Service Examination or Provincial Civil Service Judicial Exam.
The skills required to become a judge are Good Listening Skills, Sound Verbal and Writing Communication Skills, Reasoning and Logical Thinking, Legal Knowledge, Analytical Skills, Mediation Skills, Unbiased Approach, Eye to Detail, Empathy, Critical Reasoning Skills, etc.
