Step Wise Guide On How To Become A Lawyer In India

Want to get into law? Here is an article telling you how to become a lawyer in India in simple steps.

A lawyer’s role is very significant when it comes to upholding the law of any country and protecting the legal rights of its citizens. Becoming a lawyer anywhere in the world is a very rewarding job which would also give you job satisfaction.

This is a demanding job with a lot of responsibilities on your shoulder to serve the citizens and the country well while making sure law and order are maintained and always respected. 

To become a lawyer, you should know the duties and the different kinds of lawyers that are there. You should do thorough research about what this profession is really about and then decide on opting for it.

Let us now know everything one should know about how to become a lawyer in India.

What Do A Lawyer Do

A lawyer uses the knowledge of the law to help clients navigate and understand legal matters. Most lawyers perform the under-mentioned duties.

• Preparing legal documents and filing them with the appropriate courts/authorities
• Collaborating with police and investigators and building cases for trials and mediations
• Attending trials and hearings with clients
• Presenting arguments in favour of a client in front of the judge
• Reviewing a case and suggesting legal options for clients

Types of Law Specialization

There are many different types of lawyers who specialize in different fields. Some prefer corporate law while some practice litigation law. Some popular specializations are:

• Civil law
• Corporate law
• Real estate law
• Criminal law
• Tax law
• Administrative law
• Animal rights Law
• Family law
• Cyberlaw
• Intellectual property law
• Consumer protection law
• Labour law
• Environment law
• Human rights law

Qualifications Required To Be A Lawyer

You must complete a degree course in law from a recognised university to become a lawyer. There are a variety of courses that you can take up like-

Combined LL.B

A combined law degree concentrates the duration of two degrees into five years, which would otherwise take six years. The popular combined Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degrees are

• BA LL.B
• B.Com LL.B
• BBA LL.B

Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)

This is a traditional law degree and is a three-year post-graduate course that students can pursue with an undergraduate degree in arts, commerce or science. 

Master of Laws (LL.M)

Also known as an LL.M, this master’s degree in law can be pursued only after completing a Bachelor of Laws. It is usually either a two-year or a one-year course.  

Many lawyers choose to go for masters to hone their skills further and enjoy better career prospects even though basic lawyers’ requirements can be fulfilled by doing an LLB course.

Also Read:

A Complete Guide to Starting a Departmental Store In India
The Ultimate Guide on Starting a Tailoring Shop

How To Become A Lawyer in India

To become a lawyer you must complete your education and pass all the required industry exams to practice law. Some basic steps to becoming a lawyer are:

Complete higher secondary education

You must complete your higher education at a recognized school to pursue your LLB. Students from any stream like science, arts and commerce can become a lawyer. After your 12th, you would have to enrol in a BA LLB college which would be for five years.

Complete your graduation in any stream

Another way to become a lawyer is for you to first complete your graduation in any stream and then go for an LLB degree. This is a three-year course that you can enrol yourself in.

Take a law entrance exam

To get into a law school, you need to give an entrance which most law schools ask for. It is called Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). This two-hour-long test consists of 150 multiple-choice questions, with one mark for each correct answer and a deduction of 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer. Candidates must score at least 50% marks and above to be eligible for admission. The CLAT scores are accepted by most law colleges.

Here are some other law entrance exams you can take to get admission to a law college:

• All India Law Entrance Test (AILET)
• Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
• Symbiosis Law Admission Test (SLAT)
• Maharashtra Common Entrance Test – Law (MC-CET)

Apply to law school

Once you have given your entrance and scored good marks, you can now start applying to colleges for admission. Most students apply to several colleges to secure admission. Candidates must submit the admission form, original transcripts, letter of recommendation, LSAT score and a few more things.

Pursue a bachelor’s degree in law

During your law degree, you would study many courses like sociology, economics and political science. Apart from this, you also have to study law subjects such as constitutional law, criminal law and family law. You must clear all these subjects to pass out from college.

Clear All India Bar Examination

As per government guidelines, law graduates have to clear the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) to be eligible to practise as a lawyer in India. The exam is conducted once every year, and prior registration is mandatory. You must enrol as an advocate with a State Bar Council to be eligible to take the test. 

Gain Experience

After clearing the All India Bar Examination, you now have the licence to practise law as a profession. Now, start practising law independently or look out for a legal job with a legal firm as an associate advocate.

These steps also apply to becoming a corporate lawyer in India.

How To Become A Government Lawyer In India

In order to become Government Lawyer, One needs to have the following eligibility criteria so that Government may shortlist you. Check the bulletins below:

• The candidate must be a citizen of India.
• Have a degree in Law.
• Must have experience of at least 2 years at the District course and 5 years at the High Court.
• The age of the applicant should not be less than 35 years old and it should not be more than 45 years while applying.
• There are some relaxation has been given to the candidates regarding age who belong to the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled tribes as well as Other backward classes. etc.

How To Become A Supreme Court Lawyer In India

To become a supreme court lawyer in India, here are the criteria:

• Passing 12th with eligibility to pursue Law
• Enrolling in Law College
• Registration with the Bar Council of India
• Become Junior Assistant
• Pass the All India Bar Exam
• Work in Subordinate Courts
• Gain Experience
• Pass the Advocate on Record Exam
• Hold an office
• Start Practicing in the Supreme Court of India

Also Read:

Business Ideas for Indians in Tamil Nadu
10 Business Ideas In India You Don’t Want to Miss

How To Become A Criminal Lawyer

A criminal lawyer is a person who prosecutes or defends individuals and organisations that are involved in criminal cases. This may be in relation to the safety of property or moral welfare.

Duties and Responsibilities of Criminal Lawyers

Criminal lawyers often need to perform the following job duties:

• Identifying and gathering witnesses
• Conducting interviews of witnesses
• Examining crime scenes and evidence
• Developing strategies for cases
• Building good defences
• Drafting, filing and countering appeals

The other steps of becoming a criminal lawyer are the same as mentioned above.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

To become a lawyer in India, you must be serious about your study and someone who is willing to work hard and stay dedicated. You must know what lawyer you want to become and start your journey soon.