Law is a very popular career choice in any country and certainly one of the most respected professions with a wide range of career possibilities. Legal education in India has undergone a plethora of change in the last twenty years. Since the establishment of first national law school in Bangalore in 1989, at least twenty more National Law Schools have sprung up all over the country. Law is an attractive profession with lots of money and wide scope but it requires a good amount of hard work with no shortcuts.
Lawyers are required to communicate effectively on the negotiation table so as to convince the judge on his/her side. A career in law is not only limited to courts but various corporate houses, law firms, administrative and judicial firms are open for a very lucrative legal career.
Following are the career prospects for a law graduate & a legal practitioner:
Litigation:
A litigating lawyer hears out the case, drafts it for the client and either by himself/herself or assisted with a team, fights the case in a court of law or tribunal. Also, there has been a trend towards specializing in areas like Intellectual property Lawyers, Tax Lawyers, Arbitrary Lawyers and Constitutional Lawyers.
2. Indian Legal Service:
There is also an option of legal service in Department of Legal Affairs and Legislative Council in Legislative Department. Law officers and legal advisors are appointed in almost all the ministries/department/undertakings of the government of India and State Government.
Besides legal advisors; members of law commission, government advocates, public prosecutors, solicitors, Attorney General of India, legal secretaries in assemblies, judicial members in CAT, sales tax, income tax excise and other tribunals are also appointed as per the guidelines. They are also recruited as commission officers in the legal branches in Indian Army, Navy and Air force to conduct court martial proceedings.
In the judiciary, lowest judicial cadre posts of magistrate or sub judge are filled by those who hold a law degree and qualify the public service examination or otherwise under the guidelines of the High Court. They can further be promoted to district and sessions judge and further as a judge of High Court or Supreme Court subject to their seniority.
Teaching & Writing:
There is a wide scope for law graduates to become professors and guest lecturers in prestigious universities. If s/he have a flair for writing and are capable of understanding the intricate details of any case they can write reports, journals, books and thesis.
Legal journalism
is also in vogue these days. Additionally you can also become counselors, work with NGOs, international organizations like the United Nations and its agencies as well.
Law firms:
It is usually a joint organization between lawyers who have come together to offer their expertise to clients under one name. Working at a law firm involves dealing with a wide variety of problems that may or may not be restricted to a particular area of the lawFields of Specialization in law are:
Civil/Criminal Law
Constitutional Law
Administrative Law
Human Rights Law
Family Law
Taxation
Corporate Law
Business Law
International Law
Labour Law
Real Estate Law
Intellectual property /Patent Law