Choosing your profession as a Lawyer in India is a great choice since it is one of the respected professions. It is estimated that nearly 2.5 percent of the Indian population is looking for justice.
Being a lawyer necessitates knowledge of the law as well as the culture and hierarchy of society. A lawyer should have a basic understanding of human psychology, and the basic requirements for becoming a lawyer are an undergraduate Law degree and passing the BAR council exam or the state BAR council exam. In this article, we will discuss everything about how to become a lawyer in India, the advantages, salary, and pay scale of a lawyer, and many other things. Read further to find more.
How to Become a Lawyer in India?
We all know how difficult it is to become a powerful lawyer. As a result, one should consider their options carefully before pursuing a profession as a lawyer. To be a successful lawyer, you must be a dedicated and hard worker.
Law encompasses a wide range of topics, including legislation, briefs, and the administration of justice. Lawyers are among the forerunners of this system, and they have numerous passions and objectives in the subject of law. The lawyer is an essential component of the system, and their dedication and perseverance have improved many lives and served justice.
List of Law Courses to Pursue
There are several law courses to pursue in the country. Each course has its own scope and career prospects. Have a glance at the list courses list. They are as follows
- Law Courses After 12th
- LLB After Graduation
- Diploma in Law Courses
- Integrated Law Courses
- Online Law Courses
- Law Certification Courses
- Distance Law Courses
- Short Term Law Courses in India
- Postgraduate Law Courses
Law Course Duration
LLB is one of the most common courses opted by students. The undergraduate program lasts around 3 years. Candidates who want to pursue a master’s degree can go for LLM and the master’s duration will not last long more than 2 years. However, some colleges will have 1 year too for masters. Integrated Program for LLB lasts around 5 Years.
Top Law Colleges in India
Students can fulfill their dream of becoming Lawyers by joining the top law colleges. Here is a list of some of the popular colleges in the country. They are as such
- Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
- National Law School of India University, Bangalore
- National Law University, New Delhi
- Symbiosis Law School, Pune
- National Law University, Jodhpur
- Jindal Global Law School, Sonipat
- NALSAR Law University, Hyderabad
National Law University, Cuttack - Indian Law Institute, New Delhi
- Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar
- National Law Institute University, Bhopal
- National University of Advanced Legal studies, Kochi
- Chanakya National Law University, Patna
- Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai
- Dr Ram Manahor Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow
- Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala
- Faculty of Law University of Delhi
- The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata
- Indian Law Society Law College, Pune
Get to know several Course Details belonging to different categories all in one place and take a wise decision regarding the course you opt.
Entrance Exams for Law Courses
To get into the Law Courses one needs to appear for Entrance Exams. Here is the list of Entrance Exams needed to get Admission into the course. They are as follows
- AILET Exam
- LSAT Exam
- CLAT Exam
- SET Exam
Qualities Required to be a Lawyer in India
When a lawyer accepts a case, the client’s faith is placed in the lawyer and his ability to win the case. Some of the qualities that a lawyer must possess are as follows,
- Communication skills
- Ability to make judgments
- Analytical skills
- Research skills
- People skills
- Perseverance
- Creativity based skills
Also, Refer:
Skills Required to Become a Lawyer in India
To fight, win against an opponent, impress a judge, and save their client, the lawyer must have a wide range of skills. For a candidate to become a lawyer, the following skills must be practiced,
- Oral communication
- Written communication
- Client service
- Time management
- Analytical and logical research
- Legal research
- Knowledge about the present technology
How to Become a Lawyer in India?
Below are the steps to become a lawyer,
Step-1: When to choose a lawyer as your profession?
To become a lawyer, students must choose between two paths: after high school (12th std) or after graduation. The following are the specifics of the options available to students:
Pursuing law after 12th:
If a student is serious about becoming a lawyer, he or she can prepare for any bachelor’s degree in law after the 12th standard.
- They can apply for an LLB (legal bachelor’s degree). The Bar Council of India recognizes these qualifications.
- If the student is aiming to pursue Law degree in the top institute, then he/she will have to prepare for competitive entrance exams such as CLAT, LSAT.
Pursuing law after graduation:
After graduation, if a student wishes to pursue a law career in a specific subject, he or she must first obtain a degree.
- Most law schools accept any bachelor’s degree, however, students who want to be business lawyers may need an undergraduate degree in a business field.
- In addition, the majority of law schools in India prioritized CLAT/LSAT-India entrance scores.
Step-2: Qualification for becoming a lawyer
Students’ applications will benefit from their exam results. As a result, make sure to keep the percentage above 55%. Top law schools require a graduate percentage of 85 percent or higher with eligible entrance scores.
After selecting an option from the list above, learn about the entrance exams available to become a lawyer and prepare to take them. The following are the details of the law exams available,
CLAT Exam:
The Common-Law Admission Test (CLAT) is the primarily written examination that allows students to gain admission to one of India’s 21 National Law Universities for law courses such as LLB and LLM. The exam is only for Indian nationals and NRIs. If the student is a foreign national who wishes to study law in India, he or she should contact the university to inquire about international student admission.
The highlights of the CLAT exam are listed below,
- The CLAT exam pattern includes English Comprehension, General Knowledge and Current Affairs, Elementary Mathematics (Numerical Ability), Legal Aptitude, and Logical Reasoning.
- To apply for an undergraduate law course, you must have a minimum of 45 percent on your 12th exam.
- A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with a minimum of 50 percent aggregate from any recognized university is required for admission to a postgraduate program.
LSAT Exam:
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a standardized law exam that is given six times a year. The LSAT exam assesses candidates’ critical and analytical abilities. LSAT scores are required for admission to higher-ranking universities all over the world.
The key differences between LSAT India and LSAT Abroad are listed below,
- The Law School Admission Council developed the LSAT India as a standardized test for admission to India’s top law schools. LSAT India is held once a year.
- LSAT Abroad, also known as the LSAT, is a standardized test developed by the Law School Admission Council for admission to the world’s top law schools, excluding India. The LSAT is given four times a year (in February, June, September/October, and December).
Step-3: How to Apply for the Entrance Exam?
Below are the process for the entrance exam,
Register for Exam:
- Go to the official website and register for the exam. If you want to become a lawyer within a few years of graduating, apply for the exam in September/October of your degree last year.
Prepare for Exam:
- You need to prepare on logical reasoning, analytical & aptitude skills, and reading comprehension for clearing the CLAT exam.
- The CLAT exam consists of five sections of multiple-choice questions, with students receiving one point for each correct answer and minus 0.25 point for each incorrect answer.
- Use the previous year’s CLAT question paper to practice mock tests from a third-party website.
CLAT Examination:
- CLAT is a two-hour exam and will be held only once a year.
- The CLAT score will have a one-year validity period.
Reappear if you’re not satisfied with the score:
- Don’t worry if one fails or is dissatisfied with the results. Age is just a number here because there is no age limit to study law in India.
- Law schools need CLAT scores of 50 percent or above. If you don’t get that score, apply for the exam next year, as there are no limits on the number of attempts.
Step-4: Apply for Law School Admission
Students can apply to the law school of their choice after passing the entrance exams. Students have no limitations when it comes to applying to law schools. You can apply to as many good universities as you like that fall within your scoring range. It has the potential to increase your acceptance rate.
Step-5: The following Admission to Law School
Become a full-time worker:
- You must showcase your complete dedication to becoming a lawyer.
- Make sure to enroll in a full-time program and focus on your studies. Being a full-time student will help you stay focused on your dream of becoming a lawyer.
Clear BAR Exam:
- The State Bar Council administers the bar test in each state. To practice law in a specific state, graduates must pass the bar exam.
- They can apply for the All India bar council exam conducted by the Bar Council of India.
- Register for the bar exam, get the necessary resources, then study for the exam. Visit the respective state’s bar exam website. For example, if you want to become a lawyer in the Karnataka state, then you will have to enroll in the Karnataka bar exam
- Graduates must undergo character and fitness evaluation after passing the bar test.
Step-6: Look for A job
Apply for on-campus and off-campus interviews:
- Begin your job search early by working as a clerk during semester breaks. It may not pay well, but it provides you with excellent networking opportunities with lawyers. You have the authority to choose which law you will follow.
- In your final year, don’t forget to apply for campus placements and off-campus internships. Bring your resume and other graduation documents with you.
Look for student-alumni networks:
- Your college study groups and alumni networks are great places to start. So make contact with the alumni and look for jobs through them.
Volunteer work:
- Volunteer work may not pay well, but it will provide you with valuable experience. Start doing volunteer work after graduation to become a good lawyer and get an appropriate answer to this question.
- Volunteering allows you to keep your skills up to date, and graduates can include them on their resumes.
Types of Lawyers in India
The following is a list of the various job roles lawyers,
- Intellectual Property Lawyer
- Personal Injury Lawyer
- Bankruptcy Lawyer
- Family Lawyer
- Employment Lawyer
- Mergers and Acquisition Lawyer
- Immigration Lawyer
- Criminal Lawyer
- Digital media and Internet Lawyer
- Medical and Malpractice Lawyer
Lawyer Salary In India
In India, a lawyer earns between INR 3 and 5 Lakhs per year on average. However, depending on specializations and experience, a lawyer’s salary can range from INR 5 Lakhs to INR 1 Crore for a single court appearance, according to a survey.
Criminal lawyers typically earn between INR 6 and INR 8 lakhs per year, whereas intellectual property lawyers can earn up to INR 3,000,000 per year.
A corporate lawyer makes an average of INR 7 Lakh per year, while a legal manager makes an average of INR 8 Lakh per year.
We have updated the below table with the most recent results of types of lawyers and salaries in India.
Lawyer’s Responsibilities
A lawyer’s duties and responsibilities include the following,
- Attending court hearings with preparation
- Contract and legal document drafting
- Providing general legal advice and explaining the law
- resolving disputes and overseeing any agreements
- Investigating and gathering evidence
- Legal document analysis
- Managing legal assistants
- Case management in the manner of a diplomat
- Providing evidence to back up accusations
- Defending as well as Prosecuting
- Paying attention to the Plaintiff’s demands and requests
Now that you have an idea of how to become a lawyer in India. For with, start preparing for CLAT, LSAT, and other top universities entrance exams to grab a seat and become a successful lawyer in India.
FAQs on How to Become a Lawyer in India
1. How many years does it take to become a lawyer in India?
To pursue LLB or Undergraduate Degree it takes around 3 years. For Masters Programme the course duration is 2 years. However, for an Integrated Law Programme, the course duration is about 5 years.
2. Can I do LLB after 12?
Yes after completing your 12th standard you can opt for an LLB.
3. Which stream is best for a Lawyer?
Arts or Commerce can be the best stream if you want to become a Lawyer.
4. Is studying LLB Difficult?
Compared to any other courses studying LLB is easy and interesting as it majorly deals with Social Science Subject.