How to Become a Legal Advisor

About Legal Advisor

The job of a legal advisor is to provide legal counsel to a client including a large corporation or an organization. Sometimes, a legal advisor is referred to as  “in-house counsel”,  “in-house lawyers” and “corporate counsel. The advisor specialises in a specific area of law such as contract disputes, harassment suits, compensation issues or other workplace conflicts. Sometimes, they also offer advice regarding corporate decisions on mergers, contract signing, growth, etc.

A legal advisor works in the legal department of the selected firm. Their educational path is similar to that of a lawyer. The responsibility of the advisor is to draft and negotiate contracts, ensure compliance with corporate laws and provide counsel for employee and management conflicts. They sometimes have to represent their clients in the national court, arbitration commissions or international tribunals.

How to Become a Legal Advisor

Here are some steps you can follow to become a legal advisor:

• To begin your career as a legal advisor, start by completing your 10th and 12th qualifications. You may choose to pursue any stream, including science, commerce or the arts. Passing the 12th standard is necessary to register for entrance exams and enroll in a law program.
• The next step is to earn a law degree. There are two common law course formats you may choose to take to complete your law education. Candidates who receive aggregate marks of at least 45% from a recognised board may enroll in an integrated law course immediately after completing the 12th standard. This program typically takes five years to complete and allows you to earn both a bachelor's degree and an LL.B upon completion. The second option is to pursue an LL.B after graduating with a three or four-year bachelor's degree from a recognised university. Completing the LL.B program after graduation takes approximately three years.
• In order to get into law school, you need to score well on relevant entrance tests. There are several types of entrance tests available to assess your knowledge of the law at a national, state and institute level. Some law schools may also administer their own entrance tests. To determine which tests you need to pass, research the requirements of the schools you plan to apply for and make a list of the law entrance tests you must complete.
• The next step is to become licensed. Once you have completed either an integrated law course or an LL.B, you can register for the All India Bar Examination (AIBE). The Bar Council of India administers this multiple-choice test to assess candidates' understanding of common law subjects. Candidates who pass the AIBE receive a Certificate of Practice (COP) which is mandatory to practise in a court of law.
• The final step is to gain some expertise. Show employers you are the right fit for their legal advisor role by gaining relevant experience. Working for law firms, doing internships and gaining courtroom experience are some of the best ways to build your resume. Continue to learn about your area of expertise, as employers may look for candidates with a specialized background.
• This is not essential but many practicing lawyers also choose to earn a master's degree/ LLM to build advanced skills and lead their careers into the right direction. Once you get into law school, you can work toward earning your Master of Law degree. During your first year of law school, you may focus on learning about different types of law. During your second and third years of law school, you can take elective courses that are catered to your career aspirations. Depending on your school, you may be able to focus on a certain concentration to help you gain experience in your desired industry. Some popular areas legal advisors specialize in include labor laws and business law, corporate law, company law etc.

Eligibility to become Legal Advisor

A legal advisor is required to stick to the eligibility criteria in order to be successful in the professional front. Displayed below are the minimum requirements that are necessary to be a Legal Advisor.

Courses to Become a Legal Advisor

To be a Legal Advisor it is extremely important to pursue the courses offered by recognised universities or institutions. Given below is a snapshot of the academic requirements of a Legal Advisor.

Types of Job Roles Legal Advisor

The job roles that can be considered by a legal advisor are specified below.

• Legal Advisor

• Financial Legal Advisor

• Legal Journalist

• Legal Officer

• Legal Analyst

• Legal Assistant

• Nodal Officer

• Legal Manager

• Government Lawyer

• Document Drafting Lawyer

• Legal Associate

• Civil Litigation Lawyer

Employment Sector/Industry for Legal Advisor

A legal advisor gets a plethora of job opportunities in diverse firms and sectors. Mentioned below are some of them.

• Banks and Building Societies

• Universities or Institutions

• Financial planning firms

• Investment firms

• Media

• Multinational Companies

• Entertainment Industry

• Insurance companies

• Independent advice companies

• Fund managing companies

In case of any questions write to us in the QnA zone. You can also find out which career is right for you by taking the Career Profiling Test

Employment Sector/Industry for Legal Advisor

Job of a Legal Advisor

Legal advisor jobs usually consist of working in law firms or acting as a part of a legal counsel team hired by companies and enterprises for their expertise in legalities. In a career as a legal advisor, the clients usually ask for advice/ enquire from them in the aspect of legalities before they take a step further. In other words, a legal advisors help their clients arrive at the right decision.

Some of the main roles of a legal advisor are: 

• Overseeing contracts
• To provide cost-effective legal advice
• Damage claims
• Drafting
• Resolving disputes
• Overseeing claims
• Meeting and interviewing clients

Pay Scale/Salary of Legal Advisor

The salary package that a legal advisor extract is mentioned underneath.

Books & Study Material to Become Legal Advisor

The study materials that can help a legal advisor in flourishing or being successful are as follows.

• The Louisiana Legal Advisor by Lauren K. Covell and Stephen E. Covell

• Attorney and law firm guide to the business of law by Edward Poll

• The E-Z Legal Advisor: Fast Answers to 90% of Your Legal Questions! by Legal E-Z

• Law for the Common Man by Kush Kalra

• The Employer's Legal Advisor: Handling Problem Employees Effectively by Thomas M. Hanna

• Good Counsel: Meeting the Legal Needs of Nonprofits by Lesley Rosenthal

Pros of becoming a Legal Advisor

• A wide spectrum of job opportunities is granted to a legal advisor in vivid sectors. Plenty of offers are always available for the aspirants.

• Emotional awards and financial awards are constantly provided which attract individuals to the field.

• Working hours are flexible and they even have the option of self-employment.

Cons of becoming a Legal Advisor

• The initial stages of the career can be stressful due to the precision and dedication, the job requires.

• Clients mostly take legal advice from an experienced individual which makes the starting years of the career difficult.

• It is crucial for the legal advisor to be licensed and qualified.