Career as Lawyer

Last Updated By Sumit Kumar on 25 Sep, 2023

How to Become a Lawyer

About Lawyer

You must be wondering how to become a lawyer in India. The qualification of a lawyer not only depends on their studies but also depends on the experience that they have gained during the coursework. They utilise their legal knowledge to help clients understand and navigate legal matters. Lawyers are approved by the state to represent and advise clients in court-related legal problems. In India, a lawyer provides legal advice to individuals, local and federal governments, businesses, and anybody else in need of assistance with legal issues.

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Who is a Lawyer?

One of the most desired jobs in India is one involving the practice of law. People choose to become lawyers for a variety of reasons such as financial profit. In the thought of how to become a lawyer, aspirants should also keep in mind why they want to become a lawyer. 

A lawyer works in a court, gives advice and represents their clients. They have to talk to their clients, judges, coworkers and others and analyse research on legal issues. Lawyers advise their clients on their legal rights and obligations and offer strategies for action in both professional and private concerns. Those working as a lawyer present information to customers or others in writing and vocally, and make an argument in their favour. Lawyers, sometimes known as attorneys, serve as both counsellors and advocates. As advocates, they present evidence and make arguments on behalf of one of the parties in a criminal or civil trial. 

How to Become a Lawyer in India

If you want to pursue a career in law but wondering how to become a lawyer in India, you must pursue a law course. You need to first get a law degree from a recognized university to become a lawyer. Not only do you have to appear for entrance exams to get into a good college to get your UG law course but after getting your degree, you also have to clear the AIBE (All India Bar Exam) exam in order to practise law in India. However, an LL.M degree is not mandatory for the qualification of a lawyer or to appear for the AIBE exam.

The law courses that you can choose from are:

  • 5-year Integrated LL.B: The different types of Integrated law courses are BA LL.B, B.Com LL.B, B.Sc LL.B, etc.
  • LL.B: This is a 3-year law course that can be pursued by a person who already has an undergraduate degree in arts, commerce or science. 
  • LL.M: The LL.M degree is a PG course in law that is conducted for 1 or 2 years. An LL.M degree can be pursued only if the candidate has a bachelor’s degree. 
  • AIBE: The All India Bar Exam is conducted every year by the Bar Council of India. To appear in this exam, you have to enrol as an advocate with the State Bar Council of your own choice. After clearing the AIBE exam, the BCI will give a Certificate of Practice, making you eligible to practice as a lawyer.

Exam Required to become a Lawyer in India

The entrance exams are important to study undergraduate law courses. If you are curious to know how to become a lawyer in India, then you should have an idea of the exams that are mandatory to get a law degree. 

The law exams in India are CLAT (Common Law Admission Test), AILET (All India Law Entrance Test), LSAT (Law School Admission Test), TS LAWCET, TS PGLCET, MH CET Law, CULEE (Christ University Law Entrance Exam), AP LAWCET, AP PGLCET, UPES Law Studies Aptitude Test (ULSAT), Kerala LL.B Entrance Exam (KLEE), BVP CET LAW, Army Institute of Law Entrance Test (AIL LET), KIITEE (Law), etc. 

Skills Required to become a Lawyer in India

If you are thinking about how to become a lawyer, then you should possess some skill sets apart from completing your law courses.

Communication Skills: Lawyers need to be able to communicate clearly both vocally and in writing, but they also need to be effective listeners. In a court case, a lawyer's job is to make a compelling case in front of the jury and judges, so speaking well in front of an audience is crucial. 

Analytical Skills: To study a case, lawyers have to sit down with a lot of material. Therefore, in order to determine which is more applicable or appropriate, a lawyer needs to have excellent evaluating skills.

Strong decision-making and Judgment Skills: For those pursuing a career as a lawyer, there will be numerous critical judgment decisions to make and little time to decide whether they are correct or wrong.

Resilience: A lawyer must possess the endurance to see a matter through to a successful conclusion when working on one. 

Interpersonal Skills: A lawyer works with people and on behalf of people, and the choices they make have an impact on people's lives. If you are wondering how to become a lawyer in India, then you should be presentable and able to read people. 

Creative Strength: The most effective lawyers are not only rational and analytical but also very creative when it comes to solving problems. 

Those thinking about how to become a lawyer in India after 12th need to pursue Undergraduate Law courses such as BA LL.B, BBA LL.B or B.Sc LL.B. Before enrolling for these courses aspirants have to clear law entrance exams. Almost all top-tier law colleges enrol students who have scored the highest marks in these entrance exams. The job role of a lawyer will depend on the coursework and the internships that they have done.

Exam Required to become a Lawyer after 12th

Wondering how to become a lawyer in India after 12th? Aspirants can only do 5-year integrated law courses after completing their Class 12th. The exams that you can take after the 12th to become a lawyer are CLAT, LSAT, AILET, SET, TS LAWCET, AP LAWCET, MH CET Law, etc. 

Skills Required to become a Lawyer after 12th

The salary of a lawyer will however increase when you have the relevant skills and the internships that you do while completing your law course. A person should have the relevant skills if they are wondering to become a lawyer. 

  • Discipline
  • Self-Confidence
  • Presence of mind
  • Legal Knowledge
  • Legal Research
  • Good Communication skills
  • Drafting
  • Litigation

How to Become a Lawyer after Graduation

People often wonder how to become a lawyer in India after they have completed their graduation. The LL.B course can only be taken if you have completed your graduation course. You can even become a lawyer with your integrated law degree after you have taken the law exam. The age restriction set by the BCI (Bar Council of India) is 45. 

Exam Required to become a Lawyer after Graduation

Those thinking about how to become a lawyer in India after graduation needs to appear for entrance exams to study the 3-year LL.B course. Calcutta University Entrance Exam, PU UGLAW, RULET, PU UGLAW, AILET (All India Law Entrance Test), LSAT (Law School Admission Test), Symbiosis Law Admission Test (SLAT) and All India Bar Exam (AIBE). 

Skills Required to become a Lawyer after Graduation

If you're interested in finding out how to become a lawyer, you should have some skill sets in addition to the necessary degrees pertaining to law. By participating in events like mooting, students can quickly improve their written and speaking skills during the school period while pursuing graduation.

  • Analytical skills
  • Ability to convince and debate
  • A quality of character
  • Attention to detail
  • Research skills
  • Physical and mental endurance
  • Sort through the evidence and separate the pertinent from the irrelevant
  • Fluency, clarity, and superior presentation abilities
  • Ability to comprehend and evaluate data

Eligibility to become Lawyer

If you want to know how to become a lawyer in India, then let us tell you that a law degree is a must to start your legal career. The law degree must be completed from a recognized institution accepted by the Bar Council of India (BCI). People can start their legal career after completing their graduation or can go for higher studies such as getting a PG degree. 

Educational Qualification of a Lawyer

The educational qualification of a lawyer plays an important part in building the legal career of an individual. When you decide to become a lawyer, the important question that comes to your mind is how to become a lawyer.

  • Candidates must have completed a five-year integrated LLB degree from a UGC and BCI-recognized institute
  • Students must have completed a three-year LLB degree from an institution recognised by the UGC and BCI.
  • People can study LL.M after their graduation, however, it is not a requirement.
  • Candidates with just a diploma/ PG diploma in law or candidates having a certificate in law are not eligible to become a lawyer.

Physical Requirements for a Lawyer

If you are wondering how to become a lawyer in India, you must get some experience apart from educational qualifications. There are certain legal divisions of corporations, governmental organizations and law firms that offer part-time employment or summer internships to help get experience. Often students are hired as summer associates in governmental bodies, some smaller firms, etc after their first year of law school. On the other hand, students who have finished their second year are only eligible for the summer associate programmes offered by several major firms. All of these opportunities can assist law students in determining the area of law they wish to specialize in after graduation and may result in employment.

  • Do Internships: If you are thinking about how to become a Lawyer after your graduation, then you need to complete a minimum of 12 weeks of internship for a three-year course stream and 20 weeks in case of a 5-year law course. You can work under the Trial and Appellate Advocates, NGOs, Judiciary, Legal Regulatory authorities, Legislatures and Parliament, Law Firms, Companies, Local Self Government and other such bodies where the law is practised according to the Bar Council of India (BCI) legal rules of education.
  • Register with State Bar Council: The qualification of a lawyer will be taken into account after you have registered with the State Bar Council to practise law in India. You need to appear for the AIBE exam after receiving the law degree or post-bachelor degree from a BCI-accredited law institution.
  • Get your CoP: You need to get your Certificate of practise (CoP) after you have passed the AIBE exam. After getting the license, you can practice law in India and officially become a lawyer in India. The salary of a lawyer will depend on the people they work with, private or government company or can even establish your own law company and start practising.

Types of Lawyers

While studying law, students can choose their specialisation so that they can select their type of law career. After Class 12th, aspirants often wonder how to become a lawyer in India and what are the different types of lawyers. A lawyer conducts various responsibilities such as prosecuting in court, defending in court, contracts, real state transactions and research. The salary of a lawyer also depends on the type of lawyer they become. 

Patent Lawyers

Patent lawyers analyse whether an invention, design or trademark is eligible for a patent or not. These lawyers guide and recommend individual private inventors as well as corporations that are waiting to get a patent. Once the patent is obtained, these lawyers protect patents in case of violation.

Criminal Lawyer

If you are wondering how to become a lawyer in the criminal field, then let us tell you that you need to specialise in the field. As Criminal lawyers, you have to defend your client, companies and organisations that face criminal charges. They need to investigate the case, cross-examine the witness and plan a strategy for the case.

Corporate Lawyers

With the qualification of a lawyer, you can become a Corporate Lawyer. Although lawyers have to go through extensive schooling, the work of a Corporate lawyer can be exciting and start an extensive career path. 

Tax Lawyers

Such lawyers represent a company or an individual in tax-related disputes. The salary of a lawyer working as a Tax lawyer is good if they provide private service and will be involved in client meetings, advising on potential tax liability like buying and selling assets.

Family Lawyers

Family Lawyers have to work in a broad field. They may have to deal with custody, adoption and divorce matters. However, lawyers working as Corporate lawyers specialise in one particular area.

 

Courses to Become a Lawyer

If you are curious to find out how to become a lawyer in India, here are some courses that you can opt for to kickstart your career. 

Course Name

Total Fee (Approx.)

Integrated LL.B (5 Years)

INR 30,000 to 3,00,000 per annum

LL.B (3 Years)

INR 22,000 to 2,50,000 per annum

LL.M

INR 50,000 to 5,00,000 per annum

Certificate in Law and Medicine

INR 1500 to 20,000 per annum

Certificate in Legislative Drafting

INR 1200 to 9000 per annum

Certificate in International Humanitarian Law

INR 2,700 to 10,000 per annum

Certificate in Human Rights

INR 1000 to 9000 per annum

Certificate in Anti-Human Trafficking 

INR 1,400 to 8,000 per annum

Certificate in Social Work and Criminal Justice System 

INR 4000 to 10,000 per annum

 

List of Colleges which provide Courses to Become a Lawyer

If you are thinking about how to become a lawyer in India, you should understand that choosing the right college will enhance your legal career. 

Symbiosis Law School, Symbiosis International, Pune

Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Lucknow

Indian Law Institute - ILI

Army Institute of Law

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

 

List of Universities which provide Courses to Become a Lawyer

The salary of a judge sometimes depends on the universities from where they have graduated. Now, if you are wondering how to become a lawyer in India, you should know the top universities providing law courses. 

Types of Job Roles Lawyer

When you attain the necessary education qualification to become a lawyer, there are a variety of Lawyer job profiles that you can target the basis of your interest areas and legal acumen. Following are some of the job profiles for lawyers and advocates that you can opt for.

Mediators, Arbitrators or Conciliators - They solve disputes between the parties while negotiating outside the court system.

Legal Assistants and/or Paralegals - They assist lawyers in maintaining files, conducting research, working on the case etc.

Lawyers - Lawyers ideally defend their clients in the courtrooms. Apart from that, they also work as guest lecturers, assist in corporate affairs etc.

Judge / Hearing Officers - They are the decision-makers in a dispute. They conduct pre-trial hearings, assess the evidence presented, interpret the law and roll out unbiased and fair judgements.

Family Lawyers - They advise the clients on legal issues pertaining to child custody, divorce, domestic violence, adoption proceedings etc.

Securities Lawyers - They advise the clients or corporations to adhere to laws relating to buying and selling stocks while ensuring that disclosure requirements are met.

Environmental Lawyers - They deal with issues that are critical to the environment and largely work with advocacy groups, government agencies to ensure all the environmental laws are adhered to.

Tax Lawyers - They handle the different kinds of tax-related issues of corporations as well as individuals while keeping up with the Indian Revenue Services (IRS) rules.

Note: In case you are confused about the job profile you want to pursue, do not hesitate to take our free Career Profiling Test! It will analyse your attitude, personality and interests to suggest the most suitable career profile for you. If you have any queries, drop them in the QnA zone.

Employment Opportunities for Lawyers

Lawyers can find a variety of employment opportunities in different sectors. Some of the top sectors that hire lawyers or legal advisors are provided below.

  • Corporate businesses

  • MNCs

  • Media and Entertainment houses

  • Political Parties

  • Engineering firms

  • Information Technology companies

  • Finance companies

  • Consulting Firms

  • Universities and Colleges

Top Recruiting Agencies for Lawyer

A Lawyer can choose to work in a private firm or public firm depending on the requirements. Few of the most popular recruiting agencies that hire a lawyer are mentioned underneath.

  • The Lawyer's Hub

  • Kapil Gupta & Associates

  • Legistify.com

  • SRP & Associates

  • Bankai Group

  • ATMA

  • Uday Shankar Associates

  • Sanjay Mann & Associates

Planning to choose Lawyer as your career?

Books & Study Material to Become Lawyer

In order to make it to a good law college in India, it is important to clear national level exams such as AILET, CLAT or LSAT or other university-specific law exams such as IPU CET Law, DU LLB, BHU UET Law etc. For that, one needs to have a clear understanding of legal terms and profession. Some of the best books and study material for aspiring lawyers are as follows.

  • The New Lawyer’s Handbook- 101 Success Strategies They Didn't Teach You in Law School by Karen Thalacker.

  • Tomorrow's Lawyers: An Introduction to Your Future by Richard Susskind

  • Best For Aspiring Activist Attorneys: The Story of My Life by Clarence Darrow

  • The Rule of Law by Tom Bingham, Baron Bingham of Cornhill

  • Making Your Case: The Art of Persuading Judges by Antonin Scalia and Bryan A. Garner

Pros of becoming a Lawyer

  • High earning potential as lawyers are among the top-paid professionals in the country.

  • Lawyers enjoy a lot of prestige and power ultimately leading to respect and success.

  • They get the opportunity to help others and work towards equality in all respects while abiding by the law.

  • There are diverse opportunities in the field of law - family, corporate, financial, civil, criminal etc.

  • Lawyers can earn additional income by working as consultants, guest lecturers at law colleges, public speakers etc.

Cons of becoming a Lawyer

  • Lawyers may require to work under stress while abiding by deadlines, client demands, changing laws etc.

  • The competitive job market in the field of law is another disadvantage of picking up a career as a lawyer.

  • The workload of lawyers often translates into long working hours that may add to fatigue and health issues of the individual.

Do you think this is the right career choice for you?

Take our test and find out if it suits your strengths.

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FAQs about Lawyer

How to become a lawyer in India?

In order to become a lawyer, you would first have to get into a good law institute by clearing entrance exams like CLAT, AILET, LSAT India, SLAT or any other exam approved/conducted by the chosen institute. After completing UG law programmes like B.A.LL.B, LL.B, B.B.A.LL.B, etc., candidates would have to clear the BAR exam to be able to practice law.

Would law help me with State Services Exam?

Yes, Law is one of the subjects for the Mains Exam for State Service Exams. Therefore, law students have an advantage.

How should I select a Law School for myself?

Considerations can be numerous but some of the key points can be the - faculty/ exposure of students/ libraries and facilities and also internship programmes.

How to become a professor of Law?

LL.B -> LL.M-> NET Qualificaiton-> Astt. Professor->Ph.D->Professor

Can I pursue Law after MBA?

Law as a 3 yr course work can be pursued at any age and can be followed up after any degree. The Law degree is formulated to be a very democratic degree, therefore it is available to every stream and specialisation.

I am a working professional can i pursue Law?

You can pursue law as a working professional but it is not advisable to pursue law through distance learning as the Bar Council of India and the practise rules do not allow individuals with distance learning degrees to register as practising lawyers.

When should I start preparing for Law as a career?

A serious student should start from class 10th.

When do Law colleges close their admissions?

Some colleges close their admissions around November while others allow late admissions until January.

How to apply to Harvard Law School?

LL.B-> Publish Research Papers -> Collect recommendations -> Apply to official website alongwith SOP

Can I build a career in law, in any other country other than India?

Yes, it is possible for Indian Law students to migrate abroad. However, other countries may require you to take up some legal practicing course as some kind of a bridge programme to atune you to their legal system.

What does a lawyer do?

A lawyer's job is to represent clients and provide them with an informed understanding of their legal rights. He/she acts as an officer of the legal system and has a special responsibility in the administration of justice.

Is Law a good profession?

With the opening up of new legal career options now and then, law has emerged to become one of the most exciting career options in India and across the world. The demand for skilled lawyers is only rising and it is a noble and respected profession. Having said that, it is entirely based on the candidate's interest and passion for the job.

What are the types of lawyer?

There are different types of lawyers such as Criminal Lawyer, Family Lawyer, Immigration Lawyer, Intellectual Property Lawyer, Corporate Lawyer, Tax Lawyer, Civil Litigation Lawyer, etc.

What are the integrated law course options available for a student?

The 5-year integrated courses exist in the following variations: a. B.A, LL.B. b. BBA, LL.B. c. B.Sc, LL.B. d. B.Com, LLB. e. B.Tech, LL.B

What are the qualities of a good lawyer?

A good lawyer should have skills such as effective verbal and written communication skills, creative problem-solving, ability to work under pressure, commercial awareness, teamwork, information analysis and research, attention to detail and so on.

What are the job responsibilities of a lawyer?

The job responsibilities of a lawyer usually includes advising and representing clients in courts, communicating with clients and those involved in the cases, conducting research and analysis of legal problems, interpreting laws for individuals and businesses and so on.

What is the average salary of a lawyer in India?

The average pay of a lawyer in India is INR 7,84,000 per year.

Do lawyers work 9 to 5?

The working hours of a lawyer are not fixed. Most lawyers work full-time and are required to work for longer hours depending on the types of cases they are handling.

What is it like to work as a lawyer?

The legal profession, like any other profession, also has its own pros and cons. Being a lawyer can be very rewarding for someone who is passionate about the law and the responsibilities it comes with. However, the job can involve lack of work-life balance, stress, pressure, etc.

Is a Lawyer required only in law firms?

A skilled lawyer is required in corporate business, media and entertainment houses, finance companies, educational institutions, IT companies, government agencies, etc.

Which law courses can I do to become a lawyer in India?

The law courses that you can do to become a lawyer in India are a 5-year integrated LL.B course, 3-year LL.B course and LL.M courses. The main exam that you have to take is the AIBE (All India Bar Exam) conducted by the Bar Council of India. 

 

Can someone practice as a Lawyer after BCA LLB?

Yes. All graduates of BCA LLB can practice law after they have registered themselves with the Bar Council of India.

Can someone practice as a Lawyer after BBA LLB?

It is possible to practice law after pursuing BBA LLB. However, one must register with the Bar Council of India to do the same.

What are the career prospects after studying law?

The career prospects for law students are excellent. A law student can work as: 1. A Practising Lawyer 2. Judicial Officer 3. Govt. Sector and Armed Forces 4.Bank Officers 5. In-House Counsels 6. Company Secretaries

What are the best options for law courses?

There is no right or wrong when it comes to choosing a law course: B.A, LL.B (Hons) is the most common choice BB.A, LL.B (Hons) is opted by students looking forward to an entrepreneurial and business aspect B.Comm, LL.B (Hons) is suitable for students who are interested in CS and Accountancy with Taxation B.Tech, LL.B (Hons) provides an excellent opportunity to students who want to combine both professions B.Sc, LL.B used to be the choice earlier for science students before BTech, LL.B.

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