All You Need to Know About A Career As A Lawyer

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.