Lawyers are an important part of a civilized society, especially in a democracy. Lawyers put away people who are a threat to society into jails and save innocent people from illegal prosecution in a variety of cases by public authorities.
Being a lawyer is a noble profession where one gets to fight for the right things in society. Maybe once in a while the question ‘How to become a lawyer in India?’ floats around in the mind.
Lawyers are expected to work alongside a lot of people starting with their clients. They work with police, enforcement departments, courts, public authorities, opposing counsels, prosecutors, etc.
There are diverse career opportunities for candidates with law degrees in the private sector.
With many specializations available to pursue in law, Aspiring candidates will have a lot of questions about eligibility, lawyer qualifications, law education details, the salary of a lawyer, pros and cons, and many more.
This article will provide all the necessary information about taking a career as a lawyer.
Who is a Lawyer?
A lawyer is a professional who is qualified and licensed to practice law. With a license, they have the right to draft legal documents and prosecute or defend judicial action.
Lawyers are responsible to provide legal remedies to their clients. Depending upon their legal specialization, lawyers work in different avenues and related cases such as criminal offenses, corporate lawsuits, civil violations, property disputes, etc.
They can work in LLP partnerships, public departments, or practice privately.
Types of Lawyers in India
There are different types of lawyers in India depending on their area of Specialization. They are
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- Administrative Lawyer
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- Animal Rights Lawyer
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- Civil Lawyer
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- Corporate Lawyer
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- Consumer Protection Lawyer
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- Criminal Lawyer
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- Cyber Crime Lawyer
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- Environment Lawyer
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- Family Lawyer
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- Human Rights Lawyer
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- Intellectual Property Lawyer
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- Labour Lawyer
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- Mergers and Acquisitions Lawyer
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- Real Estate Lawyer
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- Taxation Lawyer
Roles and Responsibilities of a Lawyer
In the legal profession, a lawyer has different responsibilities towards the other stakeholders they interact and collaborate with. The duties of a lawyer are
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- Advise and represent clients in court in legal matters.
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- Accompany clients at hearings and trials.
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- Review a case and provide clients with legal remedies and options.
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- They have to communicate clearly with clients, colleagues, judges, and other stakeholders in cases.
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- Conduct research and thorough analysis of legal remedies and precedences.
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- Lawyers are legally required to maintain client confidentiality.
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- Work alongside police and investigators pertaining to a case and prepare for trials and mediations.
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- They should present facts verbally to their clients and in writing to colleagues and courts.
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- Prepare and file legal documents like wills, appeals, contracts, lawsuits, and deeds.
Eligibility to Become a Lawyer
Aspiring candidates or students need certain eligibility to become a lawyer in India. They are
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- Must have passed 12th standard or +2 in any stream.
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- Must have acquired LLB and LLM law degrees from Indian institutions.
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- Can also hold a law degree integrated with other undergraduate programs.
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- Must be registered with the state bar council.
Skills Required to Become a Lawyer
A lawyer requires different skills to assist clients by presenting and arguing cases in court to settle legal disputes. Some of the skills required by a lawyer are
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- Strong Communication skills
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- Time Management skills
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- People skills
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- Creativity and Judgement
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- Ability to manage stress
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- Research skills
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- Detail-oriented approach to presenting facts
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- Business skills
How to Become a Lawyer- Step-by-Step Guide
Getting into the legal profession as a lawyer requires an extended academic journey.
There are modern academic options that provide integrated programs to pursue a legal career along with an undergraduate degree. Here are the steps to becoming a lawyer in India.
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- Complete 12th standard or +2 in any of the art, commerce, or science streams.
- Apply for a bachelor program like BBA, B.Com, B.Sc, or B.A.
- Register and clear Law entrance exams CLAT, LSAT, or AILET.
- Enroll and complete the LLM law degree program.
- There are integrated academic programs like BA LLB, B.Sc LLB, BBA LLB, and B.Com LLB which can be started after completing 12th standard or +2 programs.
- Register for law internships with legal firms.
- Register with the state bar council for a license to practice.
- Clear All India Bar Examination (AIBE).
- Practice law in a firm or privately.
Top Colleges/Institutes in India for Lawyers
The legal profession is well established in India with institutions all around the country offering academic programs in law. Some of the top legal institutions in India are
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- National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore
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- National Law University (NLU), New Delhi
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- NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad
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- Symbiosis Law School, Pune
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- National Law School, Jodhpur
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- Lovely Professional University, Punjab
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- The West Bengal national university of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata
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- Christ university, Bangalore
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- University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun
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- Indian law institute, New Delhi
Lawyer Salary in India (Fresher, Average, Experienced)
The salary of a lawyer greatly varies depending upon their legal specialization.
The average salary of a corporate lawyer irrespective of their specialization starts from Rs.3.5 lakhs/annum to Rs.19 lakhs/annum.
| Experience Level | Salary Range |
| Fresher | Rs.3,50,000/- to Rs.6,00,000/- |
| Average | Rs.5,00,000/- to Rs.10,00,000/- |
| Experienced | Rs.10,00,000/- to Rs.19,00,000/- |
Pros & Cons of Becoming a Lawyer
Pros of Becoming a Lawyer:
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- One can become a self-employed professional and start a legal business.
- Career growth in the field is exceptional.
- There are financial advantages to becoming an advocate.
- The majority of the work is done in an office or court.
- Intellectually challenging career
- The inherent skills of a lawyer are precious in other high-profile fields.
- There is work flexibility in the career.
Cons of Becoming a Lawyer:
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- The work extends for long hours on upgrading to an attorney.
- The profession is often shed in poor light and public image.
- There is a high level of stress and pressure from the clients.
Future Scope of Lawyers
The field of law has diverse career opportunities. Although one can start as a lawyer to reach the position of Supreme court judge in the judicial hierarchy, there are other options for law degree holders. Some of them are
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- Legal consultant
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- Corporate legal advisor
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- Legal process outsourcing
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- Legal journalist
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- Legal analyst
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- Academics
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- Indian legal service
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- Commissioned officers in the army
Summary
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- Being a professional in the legal system is a noble role and one with a poor image in public perception as well. Lawyers are a key part of a nation’s judicial system and democracy as a whole.
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- The roles and responsibilities of a lawyer are not just for the clients but also for the courts and judiciary of the country.
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- Although boring, the legal profession is intellectually challenging and is a promising career with diverse options after getting a law degree.
Frequently Asked Questions
After completing the 12th, one can enroll in integrated undergraduate programs like BBA LLB, B.Sc LLB, B.Com LLB, or BA LLB to become a lawyer.
Studying law in India is not easy. Developing certain skills like research, time management, and communication will ease academic pressure.
It takes 6 to 7 years after completing the 12th standard to become a lawyer.
Law is a rewarding and extremely lucrative career. However, it needs a lot of patience and logical skills to stay relevant in the field.
Becoming a lawyer will cost Rs.2 lakhs to Rs. 7 lakhs depending upon the college whether it is government or private.
To become a lawyer, one must complete an integrated degree program or LLM after an undergraduate degree and register with the state bar council.
These are the qualification for a lawyer in India.
Enroll in a law-integrated undergraduate program after the 12th standard.
Every subject has equal importance. The best criteria to select a specialization is to understand what you are good at and passionate about.
Lawyers with 3-5 years of experience are paid up to Rs.7 lakhs by corporate companies.
However, the majority practice independently or as a legal firm where income depends on the cases and clients they handle.
Advocate in the next hierarchy in the legal profession after lawyer. Advocates are licensed to practice law and represent clients in court. On the other hand, lawyers are only allowed to prove legal options and assistance.
