The career in law in India is indisputably a lucrative career. But only if you’re the right match.

India’s legal industry has come a long way. Today, a lawyer’s career is not limited to courts’ corridors. But expands to corporate, governmental and institutional verticals as well.

Historically, many top world leaders belonged to the legal profession. Notably, Mahatma Gandhi, Fidel Castro, Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Mandela etc.

Other top leaders, who’ve studied law are Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Arun Jaitley, Kapil Sibal, Prashant Bhushan, Vladimir Putin and many others.

There has been a trend in India for lawyers to easily enter politics. Also, get hired for many of the top jobs in institutional and governmental initiatives.

Moreover, with booming LPO (legal process outsourcing) sector and corporate hiring opportunities are galore. Today, young law professionals are getting high salaries and reputed jobs.

Nevertheless, all these sweet cakes do not come cheap. There are years of experience behind an expert in law.

So do you find it enticing?

Are you planning to enter career in law in India?

Then read on further to learn what are the ins and outs of career in law. 

Law Education in India

The first step to enter career in law in India is getting into a law school. You can either pursue Integrated B.A. LLB after 12^th or LLB after graduation from any law school in India.

Apart from these, you could pursue special integrated courses in LLB. For example, BBA LLB, BSc. LLB, LLB+MBL, B.com LLB etc.

Also you can take up specialization with your LLB such as Criminal Laws, Civil Laws, Taxation Laws, Corporate Laws, Business Laws, IPR, Mergers and Acquisitions etc.

These specialized law courses are most in-demand by corporate sector. That may land you a high paying job right after your course completion.

As you decide upon the course to pursue, you will also have to plan for LLB entrance exam as well.

Getting an admission into top law schools in India is the trickiest part. In almost all integrated B.A. LLB and LLB courses admissions are through entrance mode only.

Therefore, you will need to appear for entrance test to get a seat in top law school.

First we list out top law schools you should be aiming for to get admission.

India’s Top Law Schools 2017 List

The 18 National Law Universities in India are equivalent to IITs in science and technology stream. However, apart from these 18 law universities there many other top quality law schools in India.

We are ranking top 20 law schools in India 2017 below:

1. National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore

2. Faculty of Law, Delhi University, Delhi

3. National Academy of Legal Study and Research (NALSAR) University of Law, Hyderabad

4. National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal

5. West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), Kolkata

6. National Law University (NLU), Jodhpur

7. Symbiosis Law School (SLS), Pune

8. Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, IIT Kharagpur, Kharagpur

9. National Law University, Delhi

10. Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar

11. Faculty of Law, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

12. Indian Law Society (ILS) Law College, Pune

13. Government Law College (GLC) Mumbai

14. Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna

15. National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi

16. National Law University Odisha (NLUO), Cuttack

17. National University of Study and Research in Law (NURL), Ranchi

18. National Law University and Judicial Academy (NLUJA), Assam

19. Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU), Visakhapatnam

20. Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai

Top Law Entrance Exams in India List

Almost all law schools in India have entrance exam mode for admission in integrated LLB and LLB programmes. You will have to prepare effectively or you could seek guidance to crack it.

The list of top law entrance exams in India is given below. All these law entrance exams are highly competitive and challenging to crack.

CLAT (Common Law Admission Test)

All 18 national law universities allow admission through CLAT (common law admission test). This exam is the most competitive and coveted law entrance test in India.

There are two separate streams for CLAT – one for UG programmes and another for PG programmes. Their eligibility criteria and entrance exam syllabuses are different.

The application for CLAT 2017 has already started from January and last date to apply is 31^st March 2017.

DU LLB Entrance Exam

Delhi University’s three-year law degree is one of the most popular law degrees in India. You have to appear for DU LLB Entrance Exam to get admission. The application starts for DU LLB Entrance exam from April’s fourth week each year.

ALL India Law Entrance Test (AILET)

AILET is exclusively conducted for admission in B.A. LLB and LLM Degree at National Law University, Delhi. The application for AILET 2017 is out now, and last date to apply is 7^th April 2017.

Law School Admission Test (LSAT) India

The LSAT is conducted by Pearson VUE in India on behalf of US based Law School Admission Council. The LSAT score is considered as eligibility criteria for admission in integrated LLB and LLB courses in 75 law schools in India. The last date to apply for LSAT 2017 is 10^th April 2017.

Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET)

SET is conducted by Symbiosis Law School for Under Graduate Law courses at its Pune and Noida campuses. There are around 350 plus seats in various law courses at Symbiosis. The last date to apply for SET is 13^th April 2017.

Banaras Hindu University – UET (Undergraduate Entrance Test)

UET entrance exams are conducted by BHU to offer admission to its various courses in different verticals including Law. The BHU offers LLB Honors and integrated BA LLB course. The admission to UET are going to open in April/May 2017.

The other worthy mentions are:

KLSAT (Kalinga Law School Admission)

AP LAWCET (Andhra Pradesh Law Common Entrance Test)

RULET (Rajasthan University Law Entrance Test)

AIBE (All India Bar Examination – conducted to assess lawyer’s capability to practice the legal profession in India)

ULSAT (UPES Law Studies Aptitude Test) by UPES (University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun)

The Skills you will need to become a successful lawyer in India

Becoming a lawyer that too a successful one is not everyone’s cup of tea. Apart from a degree, you need unique skill set to survive and make a name for yourself in it.

Following skills, you will need to become a successful lawyer in India:

1. Excellent Communication Skills – speaking and listening

2. Open-mindedness

3. High Intelligence Quotient and Emotional Quotient

4. An eye for detail – meticulous

5. Soft skills – presentation, public speaking, leadership, interpersonal and negotiation skills

6. Good Analytical and Logical Reasoning

7. Patience and Perseverance

8. Sharp and quick memory

9. High researching skills and resourcefulness

If you already have these skills, then you are almost there to become a successful advocate in India. If not, then you must have to work upon all of these skills listed.

Job Opportunities in Law in India

The legal profession is one career, where you get independence to do a lot. At times, it can be emotional charged and mentally tiring. However, there can be a lot of variation in it depending upon your job profile.

The major category, where you can find job in law profession are listed below:

1. Advocate/Legal Practitioner

You could work as an independent advisor or consultant or you can join law agency to work as a court room advocate. The job as an advocate can be a lot challenging. You have to clear AIBE (All India Bar Examination) test and be enrolled with Bar Council of India/State to work as an advocate.

2. Corporate Legal Advisor

There many organizations, enterprises and multi-national companies that hire legal advisors. These legal advisors work as a legal arm in a company. Where they cover – clearance, compliance, merger and acquisitions, IPR, contract, corporate and many other aspects of business laws.

3. LPO – Legal Process Outsourcing

It is quite easier for young and fresh talent to enter LPO industry in India. However, you will require excellent English communication and writing skills here. Also, the salaries are high in LPO sector. You get to work for law agencies in US, UK and Europe. In a LPO, you largely deal in paper work and other consulting work.

4. Government and Judiciary

There are many variety of government jobs in legal service at various departments. Meanwhile, in judiciary you could start your career from Magistrate/Munsif level. And eventually reach up to a sub divisional judge, high court judge or supreme court judge level. Also the perks and powers are added advantage with it that no career offers.

5. Law Agency

You could also join a law agency or firm as a fresher. There you may get to work with senior advocates. Though salaries can be a bit low but the learning experience is unmatched. Also working hours are not set and easily extends up to 9-10 hours. Nevertheless, it will be stepping stone for you as a legal practitioner or advisor.

These are the major categories, where you can find lucrative job. Apart from these, you could find jobs in various other verticals such as:

Media Industry

Academics

Business and Financial Consulting

NGO and Social Work

Publishing

Politics 

Salary Range

There’s a great disparity in salary range for fresher and experienced. A fresher may have to start at a salary range of 15k to 35k. As you gain experience salary easily shots up. But the increase depends upon the quality work you have been doing.

A fresher can have a great start from a salary point of view in LPO and Corporate industry. But if you’re in for more challenging and variety of work, but you can compromise on salary. Then you could opt for law agency or work as an independent.

According to a recent report, Law Profession is listed one of the highest paying jobs in India. A Corporate Lawyer salary averages around 6 lakhs and Senior Attorney’s at 9 lakhs 50 thousand.

Notably, many popular consultants and legal experts earn in crores per case/consultation. You could too.

I hope you have your questions answered in this blog. If not, then please feel free to use comment box below to ask one. Our teachers would love to answer it.