Career in Law in India

 A career in law is a gratifying experience, both financially and in terms of the sense of fulfillment that comes from aiding the inhabitants of society by raising their awareness and knowledge of essential human rights.

 After completing 12th grade, the first step toward a profession in law in India is to enroll in an undergraduate degree such as LLB/BBA LLB. After completing the course, you can begin practicing law or join a legal company. Another alternative is to enroll in a postgraduate program, such as an LLM, to enhance knowledge and develop the necessary employment skills.

It is crucial to remember that a profession in law in India does not always entail defending clients in courts or tribunals, but it does have a broader reach. Apart from providing legal advice to government organizations, corporations, and individuals, law graduates can work as Judges, Litigators, Consultants, Analysts, and so on. When one concentrates on a topic of interest, one's job profile improves even more.

With that in mind now let’s look at the types of law in India.

Types of Law

There are many types of law that aspirants can pursue. Some are more in demand than others. Still, a successful career of any type would lead to sure-felt wealth and success. The table below lists the types of law in India.

Types of Law

Criminal Law

Business Law

Family Law

Real Estate and Property Law

Immigration Lawyer

Environmental Law

Cyber Law

Military Law

International Law

Intellectual Property Law

Corporate Lawyer

Commercial Law

Labour Law

Bankruptcy Law

Financial and Securities Law

Types of Law Careers in India

Law graduates are no longer required to keep case files for a senior lawyer while working 12-13 hours a day learning the craft and dealing with legal issues. 

The present-day law graduates not only advise corporations on complicated issues, but also hold government positions (Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary). A legal degree may lead to a broad range of employment. 

Litigation

This path will require you to appear in court every day. Your earnings will begin on the first day. Your job is to help, draft, speak, type, and do a variety of other things.

Most law graduates' usual employment route is in litigation. Many consider litigation to be a high-risk, high-reward field, thus it raises an alert. The explanation is simple: it takes years to become a well-known lawyer, and the beginning is not always financially profitable. However, with effort and patience, one may achieve great heights.

Corporate Counsel

Working at posh legal firms or matching the steps with corporate executives, lawyers nowadays have carved out a place in the business world. 

A young lawyer is an essential component of the business world, from counseling clients to creating and evaluating contracts to advising on mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance.

Banking & Insurance Sector

Banks and insurance companies often have their independent legal departments. So your first title in this field may be "Administrative Officer(Law)" or "Specialist Officer(Law)."

Insurance firms usually perform their examinations. Such tests are open to newcomers as well. Finally, candidates are picked and allocated to employment in a bank based on merit and interview. On the other hand, some banks hire graduates only through an interview.

Judiciary

The judiciary, one of the most renowned professions in the country, provides an opportunity to strive for justice. A law graduate can take the Judicial Services Exam, which is administered by states, and if successful, become a Judicial Magistrate. One might also choose to work as a Judicial Clerk in a court.

Civil Services

Law degrees have a distinct edge in both state and union civil services. They have an advantage because of the evolving exam structure, which measures knowledge of Indian politics. It's no surprise that the number of law graduates passing these tests is increasing.

Defense Services

The Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Department is the legal branch of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The primary purpose of the Judge Advocate is to provide unbiased, operationally focused, solution-oriented legal advice and services throughout the whole spectrum of applicable legislation.

Investigation Agencies

Lawyers are in continual demand to work with reputable investigation agencies such as the CBI, FBI, ED, and state authorities. Aside from inter-service transfers, candidates are often recruited through competitive tests or tough selection procedures.

Criminologist

Taking Criminology classes or focusing on this subject might be a good place to start if you want to start a career in law. As an Interdisciplinary field, one will study Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, and other subjects.

Legal Academia

With the increasing number of law schools, new law graduates have more chances to follow their area of interest in teaching.

You can work as a full-time professor in an educational university on a contract basis. To go into Legal Academia, you must first complete your LLM. However, the procedure may differ depending on the state.

Paralegal

A paralegal is a type of legal assistant who works in either public or private law companies. A paralegal's job is to assist attorneys with different legal responsibilities. Unlike a secretary, they are responsible for key duties such as hearing preparation, meetings, trial concerns, and client communication.

Other Law Careers in India

Aside from the aforementioned profiles/work areas, here are some more choices to consider for a successful legal career:

  • Mediator
  • Immigration Assistant
  • Company Secretary
  • Trade Mark Attorney
  • Law Firm Administrator
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Patent Attorney

Pros of a Law Career in India

Pursuing law in India is highly rewarding and comes with a plethora of benefits. Some of these include:

  • Prestige: Since ancient times, such a vocation has always been associated with prestige since society values outstanding appearance, substantial compensation, and legal power.
  • Diversity: The occurrence of differences is unavoidable in the process of establishing a legal system. As a result, there are several legal employment opportunities available to you in the future. Consultants, secretaries, paralegals, mediators, judges, and attorneys are all on the list. Because of the fast developments in the legal profession, more and more professional pathways are emerging.
  • Opportunities for Growth: In recent years, dramatic changes have occurred in the economy, social life, and political institutions. Such modifications have been shown to increase the income and profit of legal experts. And guess what? This is only the beginning.
  • Awareness of Rights and Obligations: If you begin a career in law, you will naturally gain a grasp of contemporary rights and obligations. No one would be able to trouble you lawfully the next time.
  • Job Security: If you work in an institution or for a corporation, you will not have to worry about losing your job.
  • Flexibility: Lawyers are self-governing individuals who may set their schedules, determine their fees, and choose their clients. The Lawyer may also leave the workplace for a day to study or attend to personal concerns.
  • Power To Make A Difference: When we were young, we always desired to have supernatural powers since we used to compare ourselves to a superhero in a movie who had tremendous supernatural powers to alter the world. So you can be that superhero as a lawyer.

To learn about the advantages of studying law in detail, click here

Salary in Law

The following is the average income for several sorts of legal jobs in India:

Career in Law

Average Salary

Litigator

2.5 Lakhs per annum

Advocate

3 Lakhs to 4 Lakhs per annum

Paralegal

3 Lakhs to 4 Lakhs per annum

Junior Lawyer

2 Lakhs to 3 Lakhs per annum

Corporate Lawyer

7 Lakhs per annum

Private Lawyer

3 Lakhs to 4 Lakhs per annum

Suggested Readings

Frequently Asked Questions

History, business studies, and accounting are all recommended disciplines. These classes give abilities necessary for both law school and a career as a legal practitioner.

The vast range of expertise and prospective career trajectories is one of the most important reasons for selecting law as a profession. Individuals can specialize in a variety of fields, including criminal law, business law, property law, and others.

Intellectual property law, family law, immigration law, real estate law, and corporate law are among the most in-demand legal disciplines.

Criminal law, cyber law, labor law, human rights, media law, and other specializations provide some great choices after finishing 12th. Bachelor of Laws, or LLB, is another popular post-secondary course.

According to the NIRF 2023 rankings for law schools, NLSIU Bengaluru and NLU Delhi are ranked first and second, respectively, and have the highest NLU placement salary.