Choosing a career path after completing 12th class is one of the toughest decisions a student has to make. Since there are a lot of career options available out there, students often need clarification about which path they should take. However, there are many students who are crystal clear about being a part of the judicial system to uphold and maintain the societal order. This blog is a guide for all such students where you’ll learn how to become a lawyer in India and pursue a career in the judiciary field. Let’s dive right in!
How To Become A Lawyer – Certifications and Internships
A successful career as a lawyer is full of problems, hardships, dedication, and perseverance. To get through these hurdles, there are a few steps that you must follow to become a lawyer in India:
Appear For An Entrance Exam
The first step towards becoming a lawyer in India is to appear for any of the following entrance exams so you can pursue your desired Law Degree course. Some most common Law entrance exams are:
- Common Law Entrance Test (CLAT)
- DU LLB ET
- PU BA LLB EE
- AP Law CET
Law Training Course
Once you’ve qualified for your desired entrance exam, you must enrol yourself for a law degree or training course. A law course will ensure that you are well-equipped with all the skills and knowledge that are required to put you on your perfect path of becoming a lawyer.
Here’s every course that you can pursue to become a lawyer in India:
Bachelor Programme Courses
- LL.B. (Bachelor of Legislative Law)
- B.A. LL.B.
- B.Com. LL.B.
- B.B.A. LL.B.
- B.L.Sc. LL.B.
Masters Programme Courses
Ph.D.
Get Appropriate Certification
Core subject knowledge is considered very important when it comes to pursuing Law in India. A refined lawyer never stops at their Bachelors, Masters, or Ph.D, instead, they keep pursuing certifications to improve their subject matter expertise. These certification courses may include:
- Corporate Lawyers Ethics Regulation and Purpose
- CS50’s Computer Science for Lawyers
- Jurisprudence: Introduction to the Philosophy of Law
Practice As A Trainee/Intern Lawyer
Any student pursuing law is required to work as a trainee or intern lawyer for at least 12 weeks if they’ve enrolled for a three-year course stream and a minimum of 20 weeks in case they’ve enrolled for a 5-year course throughout their course duration.
During this period, the aspirant can work with NGOs, on trials with Appellate Advocates, work with Legal Regulatory authorities, Legislatures and Parliament, or other Legal bodies/functionaries.
Get Yourself Registered With The State Bar Council (SBC)
Every lawyer in India needs to register with the State Bar Council and appear for the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) after completion of their law degree course (Graduate/Postgraduate/Ph.D./Doctorate) from an accredited institution of law certified by the Bar Council of India.
Get A Certificate Of Practice (CoP)
Upon qualifying the All India Bar Examination (AIBE), a lawyer gets their license to practice law in real-life settings. Upon receiving the Certificate of Practice, they can choose where they wish to work at which can range from private and government institutions to establishing their own law firms. The possibilities are endless.
Also Read: LLB Admission: Know Its Process, Eligibility and More
Different Types of Lawyers
While pursuing law, you’ll stumble across multiple specialisations and opportunities that you can further pursue in your career. Below are all the mainstream opportunities that you can choose as a law graduate:
Criminal Lawyer
A criminal lawyer works as an attorney who defends individuals or groups who’ve been accused of committing a crime. As a criminal lawyer, you’ll have to analyse cases, delve into research, and present your findings in court to prove your party innocent.
Legal Analyst
Any law specialist who aids or works as a supportive lawyer for individual lawyers is a legal analyst. As a legal analyst, you need to conduct research for your seniors, assemble all the documents and research, maintain data and track your systems, and finally, organise your files and documents.
Public Defender
Any lawyer who is employed or appointed by the government is known as a public defender. Public defenders are those lawyers who represent individuals who can’t afford a lawyer or attorney for court proceedings without charging their clients.
Civil Litigation Lawyer
As a civil litigation lawyer, you’ll be responsible for representing defendants and plaintiffs in civil lawsuits. You’ll have to manage all phases of litigation from the investigations that are conducted in cases, you’ll also have to manage the pleadings, and discoveries made pre and during the trials, and raise the appeal processes.
Judge
As a lawyer, you can also think big and become a judge in the courtrooms. As a judge, you’ll have to conduct cases in the courtrooms, analyse the cases thoroughly, hear evidence, make rational decisions, and make rulings. You’ll be responsible for ensuring a fair delivery of judgment with proper enforcement of laws by using your intellect and knowledge.
International Arbitrator
As an International Arbitrator Lawyer, you’ll have to provide aid and assistance to your clients who are pursuing their claims, waiting for pleadings, and raising arguments on merits before the arbitrators. To work as an international arbitrator, you’ll need to have a thorough understanding of foreign cultures.
Career Scope In Judiciary And Salaries
|
Designation
|
Average Salaries (per month) |
|
Junior Lawyer
|
17,000 – 20,000 |
| Senior Lawyer |
50,000 – 70,000
|
| Judge |
1 Lakh – 2.2 Lakhs
|
| Criminal Lawyer |
20,000 – 25,000
|
Rated as #2 in Haryana and #5 in North India amongst all private law colleges and universities in India by BW Legal World in 2022, K.R. Mangalam University stands as one of the most trusted universities chosen by most law aspirants.
At K.R. Mangalam University, you get the best faculty, the best infrastructure, and the best return on your investment. Unlike other universities and colleges, we prioritize real-life, practical learning experiences through moot courtrooms, labs, interactive classroom sessions, and much more.
The faculty at K.R. Mangalam University consists of scholars, and industry and subject matter experts and, practitioners to bridge the gap between theory and law practice to help our students equip all the knowledge that will take them places in the future.
The courses offered at K.R. Mangalam University are as follows:
|
Undergraduate
|
BBA LL.B. (Hons.)
B.Com. LL.B. (Hons.)
B.A. LL.B. (Hons.)
LL.B. (Hons.) – For those who’ve already |
|
Post Graduate
|
LL.M.
|
| Ph.D. |
Ph.D. in Law
|
Conclusion
Working as a lawyer brings a lot of responsibilities towards your way. From managing cases to representing your clients, to proving their innocence, you’ll be responsible to make a ton of decisions that won’t just shape your future but also shape the futures of your clients. We hope this blog could clear all your confusions and you won’t have to search for “How to become a lawyer after 12th” anymore.
Also Read: Career Options After LLB: What You Need to Know
FAQs
Can I pursue an LL.B. if I have already completed my graduation?
Yes, you can pursue an LL.B degree course even if you have already completed your graduation. In fact, you can complete your LL.B in 3 years instead of 5 if you’re a graduate student.
How to become a lawyer in 3 years?
Any student who has already completed their graduation can easily enrol in a 3-year LL.B. degree course and become a lawyer in just 3 years if they thoroughly follow the steps mentioned in this blog.
Which LL.B. programmes are available at K.R. Mangalam University?
We offer a bunch of LL.B. programmes at K.R. Mangalam University including BBA LL.B. (Hons.), BA LL.B. (Hons.), LL.B. Hons., LL.M., PhD in Law, and B.Com. LL.B. (Hons.).
What is the minimum qualification required to become a lawyer?
A candidate must have an LL.B. degree along with at least 50% marks in the certification examinations to become a lawyer in India.
How many years to become a lawyer in India?
In India, it can take as little as 3 years (if you’ve already completed your graduation) to as long as 5 years (in the integrated courses) to become a lawyer.
13+Years of Educational Experience
