Did you know what Henry Ward Beecher, an American minister, clergyman and social reformer had to say about law? He said that a law’s value lies in the fact that it is right, and not just because it’s a law.
However, there was a time when practising law wasn’t that popular as a career option. In fact, there was a common saying among people, “If you don’t have any idea what to take up as a career, become an advocate”. But things have changed a lot since then. Due to the reforms and pressure from the Honourable Supreme Court of India and the quality of colleges and education system, many students wonder about how to become a good lawyer in India. If you have passed 12th standard or are a graduate in any stream; and want to become a lawyer, continue reading this article.
Why should you become a lawyer?
Before we answer your question on how to become a lawyer in India after 12th, make sure you are clear about why you want to become one. When you are a lawyer, you are an asset to the country and a flag bearer of justice. And irrespective of whether you choose litigation, corporate practice or serve judiciary, you are serving the law.
A good lawyer is someone who has humility, wit and humour, clarity of thoughts and expression, an analytical brain and awareness about their surroundings. With dedication and hard work towards your work, you can achieve financial independence and job satisfaction as early as within 6 months after passing out from a good law college. You can also become a corporate star and rise to a mid-level management position within 2 years in a corporate setting.
If serving justice and eliminating injustice is your passion, while earning exponentially, this career is perfect for you. You can choose to practice any of the following laws after graduating from a law school:
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Civil Law
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Criminal Law
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Corporate Law & Company Law
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Tax Law
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Family Law
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Cyber Law
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Administrative Law
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Real Estate Law
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Environmental Law
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Animal Rights Law
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Consumer Protection Law
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Service Law
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Banking Law/Financial Law
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FERA/FEMA Stock Exchange Law
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Intellectual Properties Law
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Law related to Export Import
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International Law
Now, let us take you through a step by step guide on how to become a lawyer in India.
How to become a lawyer in India after 12th?
A student of any stream, be it humanities, commerce or science, can choose to become a lawyer by getting admission in one of the top law institutes in India. The course available is known as a 5-year integrated LLB program. You can get admission into this by clearing Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). It is a two hours’ test which assesses your:
Other popular exams are All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) for faculty of law, New Delhi, for admission into integrated BA. LLB (Hons.). It tests your:
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English
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General Knowledge
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Legal Aptitude
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Reasoning
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Numerical Ability
Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a 3½ hours’ test which assesses your:
Also, after completing your LLB, you can pursue LLM to sharpen your legal acumen to practise in India or abroad.
How to become a corporate lawyer in India?
Are you someone who is drawn by the charm of a fast-paced corporate life and would like to meet people? Maybe you are good at negotiations too. In that case, you can choose to become a corporate lawyer. Traits of a corporate lawyer are:
Doing smart work rather than hard work is required if you wish to practise corporate law. If you get selected through a campus recruitment drive, it will be easy for you, depending of course on your ability, financial ambition and career goals. Another way to go is through recruiters and interview processes at law organisations, including law firms, partnership firms, and backend Legal Processing Outsourcing offices.
How to become a criminal lawyer in India?
Does the power of a white and black attire appeal to you? Maybe you are someone who wants to help people and get them out of the tightest spots. In that case, becoming a criminal lawyer is just right for you. There are many undertrials in our country who are unrepresented or need legal help. You can also become a litigation advocate and offer legal aid to the underprivileged undertrials. If making India crime free is your dream, become a criminal lawyer.
There is no limit to earning as a criminal lawyer, provided you have a very strong mind, patience, legal acumen, and respect and belief in the legal system of India. After graduating from a law college, you can associate yourself with a criminal lawyer as a junior lawyer. 5 years down the road, no one knows which heights you will reach. Having a family member or friend who already has a flourishing criminal law practice can help too.
How to become a government lawyer in India?
After graduation or post-graduation from a good law institute, when you decide to choose litigation, you can become a government lawyer for the judiciary system of your country. If you hate crime, a government criminal prosecutor will be your ideal career. Represent the Government of India in various sectors, including banking, finance and service laws.
You can also become the Attorney General of India, Solicitor General of India, or one of the other Central Government law officers of the States whose services are advertised in the gazetted documents by Ministries of the Government of India.
How to become a property lawyer in India?
Practising property law is comparatively easier. Nevertheless, it takes a lot of physical movement and street smartness. If you have exposure to real estate or even if you do not, start with internships with big real estate developers. After completing your LLB, join a renowned real estate developer as an associate. In no time, you will get exposure to the tricks of the trade as well as financial independence. Knowing or having a mentor really helps in practicing property law.
How to become a lawyer in India after graduation?
After graduating in any stream, you can take up law as a career. That is because, you are already mature enough in life to understand the nuances of law. You can practise as a litigator (civil, criminal or any law), join a corporate setup, go for a teaching profession, or get a LLM degree after LLB to become a doctorate in law. You will need 55% aggregate marks in LLB from a recognised university in order to pursue LLM. If you have qualified UGC NET/JRF, SLET etc. you need not appear in university entrance exams and can directly get admitted to PhD.
Top institutes for a 3-year LLB course are:
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Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, New Delhi
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RNB Global University, Bikaner
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Jindal Global Law School, OP Jindal Global University, Sonipat
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Faculty of law, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
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Government Law College, Mumbai
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ILS Law College, Pune
After LLB, you can pursue LLM, which is available in the colleges mentioned above. After completing LLM, if you are research inclined and want to foray into academics, getting a PhD in law is the way to go. After that, you can pursue a career inside and/or outside academia. If you hold a doctorate in law, you are eligible to work as:
How many years to become a lawyer in India?
If you want to graduate as a lawyer, i.e., complete LLB, it takes 7 years after 10th standard, 5 years after 12th and 3 years after graduation. You may have pursued any stream, humanities, commerce or science in the 12th standard and graduation. You can still become a lawyer after getting admission in a law college.
How to become a successful lawyer in India?
A successful lawyer is not someone who is earning the most but who has the right balance and discipline in life. Doing the right thing and having the right attitude every day, day after day, is what you need in order to succeed in a legal career. In India, the highest you can reach is in judiciary, as Chief Justice of the Honourable Supreme Court of India. Or you can rise to a partner’s position in a law firm and become a senior partner thereafter. You can also start your own partnership firm.
If you are wondering how to become a good lawyer in India, remember that a good lawyer is:
You also need to be loyal to your clients always and protect their interests using your legal acumen. You need to be super-fast and adaptive and develop the required skills too. You can get inspired by your seniors who have:
Most importantly, a good lawyer is a good judge of people and emotionally intelligent. A good public speaker and moot point winner can be a good lawyer.
Is it possible to become a lawyer without going to law school in India?
If you were wondering about how to become a lawyer without law school in India, the answer is that you must have an
LLB degree to practice law in this country. However, in certain special circumstances, you may represent yourself in the court, but there are no other loopholes in the Indian judiciary system wherein you can act as a lawyer without having an actual degree.
Remember that a lawyer is a person who has knowledge of law. You also need to get enrolled with the relevant State Bar Council to sit for the All India Bar Examination (it is possible to enrol only after you pass the necessary courses in a law school, as per the Bar Council of India Rules). In order to practice law in India, any student graduating in law from academic year 2009 - 2010 onwards will be required to pass the All-India Bar Examination.