CAREER IN LAW

The legal profession in India has undergone a strategic and substantial change over the last few decades. Now-a-days the law aspirants not only figure themselves in courts but mark the presence in various corporate houses, law agencies, law firms, litigation, administrative services and many more.

Persons possessing requisite qualifications are recruited for Indian legal service against various posts– Legal advisors in Department of Legal Affairs and Legislative Counsel in Legislative Department. Law officers/ Legal advisors are appointed in almost all the ministries/departments/ undertakings of the Govt. of India and State Governments. Basic qualification for all these posts is a degree in law, besides a degree in Arts/Science/Commerce etc. and professional experience as per the requirements of each post. However, fresh Law Graduates are appointed against non-gazetted posts generally equivalent to the post of Assistant in the Secretariat, such as Legal Assistants, Legal/Judicial Translators etc..

      They are also recruited as commissioned officers in the legal branches of the Indian Army, Navy and Air force. They conduct courts of enquiry and court martial of erring service personnel as per law.

In the Judiciary, the lowest judicial cadre posts of Magistrate/Munsif or Sub-Judge are filled up by recruitment through public service commissions or otherwise under the supervision of the High Court. Basic qualification for all these posts is  a degree in law(professional) , besides a degree in Arts / Science / Commerce etc. and the age limit  for all these posts is generally 35 years which is relaxable for special categories as per rules. These officers can become District and Sessions  Judge  by promotion and can also be elevated to the office of a Judge of the High Court and the Supreme Court subject to their seniority and suitability.

Those with good academic record, particularly holding LL.M, Ph.D degrees or published work of a high standard, can take up jobs in any University or Institute offering law courses to students.

If one is familiar with the complexities of law and the procedure and is in a position to understand the intricacies of case law and has a flair for writing he/she is fit to be an author of law books / legal commentaries and a proper person to bring out law reports, produce law journals, take up all other journalistic assignments and compile law lexicons.

   

Course Details

One can either pursue a three-year law  course (LLB) after graduation in any discipline or a five-year course after twelfth standard examinations For a five year integrated BA LLB programme, you need to pass the plus two examination in any subject stream, after which you appear for the entrance examination to a law college. Alternatively, you can also take up a three-year LLB programme from any recognized university in the country after graduation in any discipline.

In addition to LLB degree, many universities and institutes also offer other diploma courses in several disciplines of law. P.G. Programme in law (LL.M) is of 2 years duration & eligibility is LLB degree. After completing LL.M Course, one can join Ph.D. LL.D degrees are also conferred on eminent scholars.

Fields of Specialisation

The several fields in which a lawyer may specialise in are:

• Civil Law that deals with concerns of private rights of individuals, handling damage suits, breach of contract suits, drawing deeds, wills, mortgages, acting as trustee or guardian, etc.
• Tax Law has a tuned in focus on income tax, estate tax, real tax, franchises, problems of inheritance, etc.
• Criminal Law where one deals with offences against society or state. This is probably the most exciting branch of law. Here the job involves interviewing clients and interrogating witnesses, correlating findings, conducting trials, preparing a case for defence, examining, cross examining in court and so on.
• Corporation Law deals with advising corporations on their legal rights, obligations, privileges; studying statutes, constitutions and ordinances; and, helping the corporations to make the all-important decision of whether to go in for a suit at all.
• International Law specialises on treaties, customs and traditions observed by nations in their relations with one another.
• Labour Law deals with workers, their associations, working conditions, workers’ rights and duties, etc. Frequently, a lawyer specialising in labour law is called upon to sort out issues between management and employees in firms.
• Real Estate Law covers conveyance of property, search records and deeds to establish titles of property; acting as trustee for property; and, drawing up legal documents for deeds and mortgages.
• Patent Law focuses on securing patents for inventors from the patent’s office. Here the lawyer specialises in prosecuting or defending patent infringement and preparing detailed specifications of the patent and so on.