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Answer to why and how to pursue a career in Law after Graduation
Updated on 13 October, 2022
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Table of Contents
Introduction:
Law directly or indirectly touches our lives every day, whether it is being fined for traffic challan, filling RTIs, or filing cases against harassment, theft, fighting, or victimization. Even after having a multidisciplinary character, it is and has been the fundamental concept of our society. It has evolved according to the changing customs and populations, but its importance and effectiveness have remained the same. A society without Law would lead to chaos and confusion, and people will take undue advantage of other people. This makes Law extremely essential, making Law professionals a necessity to society. Let’s further discuss the benefits of pursuing a law degree after graduation
Law is one of thermos emerging fields and is in high demand. The market for the law is expected to reach $998.73 billion in 2026 (Source).
The law is in demand by various industries, which adds to the demand for law graduates. The law is in demand for e-commerce, finance, banking, digital media, goods and services, etc. The students can go for law courses after graduation or get certified in the respective niche they wish to create for themselves.
Organizations require the expertise of law graduates to take care of the minute technicalities that help safeguard the stakeholders. Law graduates are also required to advise on the norms so that the organizations do not breach any law. Law professionals must also represent their parties in a courtroom to defend their position.
On average, the salary of a lawyer is 4.3 lakhs per annum. The average salary ranges from 1.4 lakhs per annum to 11.1 lakhs per annum (Source). Pursuing a career in law makes for a lucrative option.
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Benefits of building a career in Law:
While a profession in Law might be challenging at times, it can provide you with financial and social fulfilment. Mentioning the benefits of building a career in Law is a never-ending saga. The reason is that Law, being a multidisciplinary field, offers its professionals a vast number of advantages that other fields do not provide. From the numerous benefits, here are the top 3 benefits of taking up law after graduation as a career:
1. Exceptional Growth and Opportunities:
The market size of the legal services industry in India is more than US$ 1.3 billion. Indian companies have been spending almost Rs 40,000 crore a year on legal expenses. In today’s work environment, the legal profession is one of the most profitable. A constant increase in earnings and sales increased caseloads, and significant salary increases created a plethora of career prospects in various legal roles. Law firms are offering starting salaries of a few lakhs per year to freshly minted law graduates, and the remuneration increases exponentially as one climbs up the ladder. For those pursuing litigation practice, there can be big money to be earned after initial years of struggle. Our legal system’s intricacies have resulted in hundreds of legal job alternatives covering a wide range of core and non-core legal duties. The legal profession’s function is increasing and adapting to keep up with the ever-changing legal system, from attorneys, judges, and mediators to paralegals, secretaries, and consultants.
2. Various client services and practice areas:
Client service is at the heart of every lawyer’s job. The primary goal of a legal professional is to assist others in resolving their legal issues. The legal profession’s increased segmentation and specialization have resulted in a rising number of legal specialities and subspecialties that cater to nearly every legal need of clients. Criminal Law, employment law, family law, product liability, and dozens of other practice areas are available to lawyers who want to pursue a career in litigation. Tax law, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, finance, and other corporate practice areas are available to legal professionals who want to pursue a career in corporate law.
3. Highly prestigious and intellectual field:
The legal profession is ever-evolving and changing, presenting you with new problems on a regular basis. It is regarded as one of the most important and prominent since it pays highly and has high moral values. With the growing need for legal services, many new-age legal experts are becoming more tech-savvy and modifying laws to make them more relevant to today’s reality. The legal professional’s intellectual environment is stimulated by navigating a developing legal system, technological innovations, enormous collections of case law, and the legal profession’s demands.
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Different exams to clear to build a career in Law
The majority of law admissions in India are based on entrance exams. Most legal entrance examinations for UG-level law degrees after graduation or HSC assess students’ aptitude/knowledge in General Knowledge, English, Numerical Ability, Logical Reasoning, and Legal Aptitude. Popular law examinations for PG-level law studies, on the other hand, include questions from constitutional law, jurisprudence, and other law disciplines such as Criminal Law, International Law, Environment Law, and Human Rights Law, etc.
Mentioned below are some of the examinations you can take up to have a career in Law after graduation:
- Common-Law Admission Test (CLAT)- for admission to 18 National Law Universities (NLUs).
- Law School Admission Test (LSAT)- for admission in institutes like Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, IIT Kharagpur Law School, Galgotia University Law School, The Jindal Global Law School, UPES Dehradun, SRM University, Amity Law School, and many more.
- AILET – All India Law Entrance Test- for admission exclusively to National Law University (NLU), Delhi
- AIL Entrance Test (Army Institute of Law Entrance Test)- for admission in Army Institute of Law (AIL), Mohali, Punjab
- Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET)- for admissions to Symbiosis Law Schools situated in Pune and Noida
- Delhi University Law Entrance Test – for admission in programs run by the Faculty of Law Department of Delhi University
- Aligarh Muslim University Law Entrance Examination (AMU LEE)- for admission to Aligarh Muslim University
- Banaras Hindu University Undergraduate Entrance Test (BHU UET)-for admission to Banaras Hindu University
Different job roles available for Law graduates
If you want to be a lawyer, you must first complete a legal program and obtain a law degree after graduation or HSC. After that, you’ll need to pass the bar test and begin practicing law under the supervision of senior and experienced lawyers. You can also practice in specialized areas such as cyber law, income tax, or civil matters, depending on the circumstances of your case or according to your choice.
If you wish to be a judge, you must take the Judicial Services Exam post completing your law after graduation. Numerous companies create legal officer positions and interview candidates for them, and you could eventually work as legal adviser or corporate lawyer. Many banks also employ legal probationary officers, who are chosen through written examinations and interviews. After graduation, you can take JAG (Judge Advocate General) services in the Indian Armed Forces or work for a law firm.
If you wish to work in academia and research, you might pursue an LLM and a PhD and work as a Professor of Law. Suppose you simply want to apply your legal knowledge to a different field, you could pursue civil services, management, investment manager, administration accountant, banking, insurance, human resource, labor officer, law reporting with media houses, social work, NGOs, politics, or even entrepreneurship.
Some of the designations in the law field are mentioned below-
- Criminal Lawyer
- Judicial Services
- Legal Advisor
- Corporate Lawyer
- Civil Lawyer
- Legal Journalist
- Legal Analyst
Some of the skills required from a law professional are mentioned below-
- Law knowledge
- Writing proficiency
- Communication
- Research aptitude
- Emotional intelligence
- Critical thinking
If you wish to have a career in Law, then you can have a look at the LL.M. in Corporate & Financial Law (Blended Learning Program) course offered by Jindal Global Law school in collaboration with upGrad. You get career support, world-class faculty and triple alumni status from Jindal Global University and upGrad,
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Conclusion
The legal profession is constantly changing and growing, presenting new difficulties and opportunities. What we must and must not do is governed by the law. It is used to resolve conflicts, punish, rule, do business, defend people’s rights, and administer justice. Legal practitioners must be problem solvers and innovators who are willing to take on new duties, take on new problems, learn new technologies, and manage a constantly changing legal system. Each day is different in this dynamic legal environment, which generates a rewarding and exciting work environment and makes your law degree after graduation worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What qualities do you need to be a successful lawyer?
To be a competent lawyer, you'll need a number of essential skills, many of which you may improve via your academic courses and employment experience. Law is an academically demanding profession, which is why certain businesses and chambers want top academics. Intellectual ability, drive, resilience, precision, teamwork, leadership, business awareness, and communication skills are among the qualities that legal recruiters seek. If you have the bulk of them, getting into the legal industry might be a fantastic career path for you.
2. What distinguishes law from other subjects?
Law is a multifaceted field. It is not a scientific topic in which definitions are uniform, and factual findings are stable and valid across time. There are hundreds of notions that might be correct or wrong at the same moment, depending on your point of view. Furthermore, because the law is concerned with the governance of numerous aspects of society, legal education is always evolving in response to the growth of the notions and principles of those multidisciplinary dimensions of society.
3. What is the average salary of a lawyer?
The average salary of a lawyer highly depends on their experience. Freshers earn around ₹508,952 per annum. Lawyers with 1-4 years of work experience make around Rs 606,537 per annum. Corporate lawyers with more than 5 years of experience earn Rs12,52,235 per annum. As a lawyer, your salary follows the exponential trend where it might not seem very high in the beginning but it grows rapidly as you progress in your career.
4. What are the benefits of studying law?
Law is a highly demanded profession, there is a demand for legal professionals by organisations, firms, individuals, government and more. Exposure to a wide range of people and getting to practice intellectual capabilities are other advantages of pursuing law. The higher compensation and better career prospects are added benefits.
5. Is law a good career for the future?
Yes definitely, the law is a good career for the future that provides more employability prospects as the demand is rising for law professionals. Moreover, the profession aims for better job security as well.
6. Do lawyers get paid well?
Yes, lawyers do get paid well. On average, the salary of a lawyer is 4.3 lakhs per annum. The average salary ranges from 1.4 lakhs per annum to 11.1 lakhs per annum. The salary may differ owing to various factors such as the field, experience, skill sets, organization, location, etc.
7. Which law is best to study?
Some of the promising fields of law to study are mentioned below- 1) Tax law 2) Corporate law 3) Intellectual property 4) Criminal 5) Civil 6) Environmental 7) Property
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Top Career Options for Lawyers In 2024
The legal sector has always been one of the most respected and acknowledged fields in India. While people think that law does not offer a very expansive career choice, it is quite the opposite. Lawyers, judges, legal advisors & consultants are among the most recognized legal roles in society.
Today’s article will cover some of the most prominent LLB job opportunities and career options and how you can pursue them. So, if you aspire to build a career in law, make sure to scroll till the end!
Career Options in Law
Law is a broad sector and it offers tons of career opportunities. The following are the most prominent career options in law:
1. Corporate Lawyer
What does a Corporate Lawyer Do?
Corporate lawyers are expert in company law, finance law, and the related rulings. In this field, you’d be responsible for helping your client comply with the regulations of their industry. You’d help your client with the different legal processes related to forming and operating a company such as registration, licensing, etc. You’d also be responsible for advising your client in business transactions, claiming liability, and representing them in a trial.
You’d have to interpret and analyse, rules, regulations, and laws with probable cases for your clients. Corporate lawyers work with large corporations, law firms, and startups. In many cases, you would have to gather evidence to begin legal actions or formulate a defence. Some of the necessary skills for this field include expertise in Mergers and Acquisitions, Contract Negotiation, and Legal Document Review.
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How Much Do They Earn?
The average salary of a corporate lawyer in India is INR 6.9 lakh per year. Experienced corporate lawyers can earn up to INR 20 lakh per year while a beginner in this field would earn around INR 1.92 lakh per year.
2. Judge
What does a Judge Do?
As a judge, you’d be responsible for presiding over court proceedings. You’d have to listen to the arguments of both sides and give the final verdict after analysing the case and the evidence presented before you.
To become a judge in India, you’d have to crack the state-level examination for judiciary services (PCS J). You must have a bachelor’s in law (LLB) to be eligible for this exam. Every state has different eligibility requirements for this exam, so keep that in mind while applying.
How Much Do They Earn?
As it’s a government job, the pay for this role depends heavily on your post. As a Supreme Court judge, you will earn INR 2.5 lakh per month while as a High Court judge, you’d earn INR 2.2 lakh per month. Apart from lucrative pay, these roles offer plenty of perks and benefits such as free electricity, free government accommodation, official vehicle, etc.
3. Legal Journalism
What does a Legal Journalist Do?
One of the most interesting job opportunities in LLB is legal journalism. As a legal journalist, you’d be responsible for covering in-court proceedings and share insights about the same with others through media (TV, newspaper, magazine, blog, etc.).
This field requires you to have strong writing and communication skills. You might have to share your opinion on different legal matters from time to time as a legal expert so having a deep knowledge of your field is also a must.
A certification or diploma in law is necessary to enter this field. This is one of the best career options in law for the creative minded.
How Much Do They Earn?
The average pay of a journalist in India is INR 3.7 lakh per year. Experienced professionals in this field can earn up to INR 9.8 lakh per annum while freshers in this field earn around INR 1.6 lakh per annum. Some of the must-have skills for this field include strong attention to detail, written and verbal communication skills, ability to handle criticism, etc. Strong interpersonal skills are also a must-have for this field as you’d be working in teams and might also have to interview other professionals.
4. Criminal Lawyer
What does a Criminal Lawyer Do?
As a criminal law, you’d be representing your client in court for criminal cases. You’d have to present cases in court for your client in the Supreme Court, High Court or the local court. You’d have to prepare for the case, go through the evidence list, prepare your argument, and question witnesses to ensure your client gets the desired outcome.
You will need strong investigative and communication skills for this profession. These skills will ensure that you can inspect the evidence effectively and create strong defence strategies for your clients.
Similarly, strong communication skills in this field are a must as you’ll be interacting with judges, clients, and prosecutors most of the time. Additionally, you’ll be working with a team of law professionals to help you with your case.
How Much Do They Earn?
The average income of a criminal lawyer in India is INR 7.86 Lakh per year. The upper limit for this field goes up to INR 50 lakh per annum, which is a clear indicator that it’s among the best career options in law. On the other hand, beginners in this field can expect to earn around INR 2.98 lakh per annum.
Some necessary skills for this role are Negotiation and expertise in Criminal Law.
How to Become a Law Professional
To pursue a career in law, you must have certain qualifications. Different legal roles require different qualifications.
For example, if you want to become a lawyer, you’ll need to have an LLB (Bachelor in Law) and join a Bar Council. Nevertheless, if you want to specialise in a specific category of law such as divorce law, tax and intellectual property, then you’ll need to get an LLM (Masters in Law) in that branch.
Some law careers don’t require you to have a degree in law such as a legal journalist or legal analyst. You can have a certification in law and be eligible to pursue a career in those fields.
There’s a huge skill gap in the law sector. According to a survey conducted by BMU, 90% of lawyers foresee that over the next 10 years the law sector would witness a lot of digitization and tech innovation.
Additionally, 71% of the survey’s respondents said that commercial awareness would be one of the most important skills for law professionals in the coming three to five years.
At upGrad, we offer plenty of different law courses according to your career aspirations which equip you with the necessary professional skills. Following are our top programs you can choose from:
Conclusion
Building a career in law is both fun and challenging. This is a vast field with numerous growth opportunities. Moreover, there are various kinds of career options in law, allowing you to carve your path depending on your aspirations and interests.
We’re certain that you found this article useful. If you know someone who might be interested in pursuing LLB job opportunities, do share this article with them!
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Answer to why and how to pursue a career in Law after Graduation
Introduction:
Law directly or indirectly touches our lives every day, whether it is being fined for traffic challan, filling RTIs, or filing cases against harassment, theft, fighting, or victimization. Even after having a multidisciplinary character, it is and has been the fundamental concept of our society. It has evolved according to the changing customs and populations, but its importance and effectiveness have remained the same. A society without Law would lead to chaos and confusion, and people will take undue advantage of other people. This makes Law extremely essential, making Law professionals a necessity to society. Let’s further discuss the benefits of pursuing a law degree after graduation
Law is one of thermos emerging fields and is in high demand. The market for the law is expected to reach $998.73 billion in 2026 (Source).
The law is in demand by various industries, which adds to the demand for law graduates. The law is in demand for e-commerce, finance, banking, digital media, goods and services, etc. The students can go for law courses after graduation or get certified in the respective niche they wish to create for themselves.
Organizations require the expertise of law graduates to take care of the minute technicalities that help safeguard the stakeholders. Law graduates are also required to advise on the norms so that the organizations do not breach any law. Law professionals must also represent their parties in a courtroom to defend their position.
On average, the salary of a lawyer is 4.3 lakhs per annum. The average salary ranges from 1.4 lakhs per annum to 11.1 lakhs per annum (Source). Pursuing a career in law makes for a lucrative option.
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Benefits of building a career in Law:
While a profession in Law might be challenging at times, it can provide you with financial and social fulfilment. Mentioning the benefits of building a career in Law is a never-ending saga. The reason is that Law, being a multidisciplinary field, offers its professionals a vast number of advantages that other fields do not provide. From the numerous benefits, here are the top 3 benefits of taking up law after graduation as a career:
Exceptional Growth and Opportunities:
The market size of the legal services industry in India is more than US$ 1.3 billion. Indian companies have been spending almost Rs 40,000 crore a year on legal expenses. In today’s work environment, the legal profession is one of the most profitable. A constant increase in earnings and sales increased caseloads, and significant salary increases created a plethora of career prospects in various legal roles. Law firms are offering starting salaries of a few lakhs per year to freshly minted law graduates, and the remuneration increases exponentially as one climbs up the ladder. For those pursuing litigation practice, there can be big money to be earned after initial years of struggle. Our legal system’s intricacies have resulted in hundreds of legal job alternatives covering a wide range of core and non-core legal duties. The legal profession’s function is increasing and adapting to keep up with the ever-changing legal system, from attorneys, judges, and mediators to paralegals, secretaries, and consultants.
Various client services and practice areas:
Client service is at the heart of every lawyer’s job. The primary goal of a legal professional is to assist others in resolving their legal issues. The legal profession’s increased segmentation and specialization have resulted in a rising number of legal specialities and subspecialties that cater to nearly every legal need of clients. Criminal Law, employment law, family law, product liability, and dozens of other practice areas are available to lawyers who want to pursue a career in litigation. Tax law, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, finance, and other corporate practice areas are available to legal professionals who want to pursue a career in corporate law.
Highly prestigious and intellectual field:
The legal profession is ever-evolving and changing, presenting you with new problems on a regular basis. It is regarded as one of the most important and prominent since it pays highly and has high moral values. With the growing need for legal services, many new-age legal experts are becoming more tech-savvy and modifying laws to make them more relevant to today’s reality. The legal professional’s intellectual environment is stimulated by navigating a developing legal system, technological innovations, enormous collections of case law, and the legal profession’s demands.
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Different exams to clear to build a career in Law
The majority of law admissions in India are based on entrance exams. Most legal entrance examinations for UG-level law degrees after graduation or HSC assess students’ aptitude/knowledge in General Knowledge, English, Numerical Ability, Logical Reasoning, and Legal Aptitude. Popular law examinations for PG-level law studies, on the other hand, include questions from constitutional law, jurisprudence, and other law disciplines such as Criminal Law, International Law, Environment Law, and Human Rights Law, etc.
Mentioned below are some of the examinations you can take up to have a career in Law after graduation:
Common-Law Admission Test (CLAT)- for admission to 18 National Law Universities (NLUs).
Law School Admission Test (LSAT)- for admission in institutes like Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, IIT Kharagpur Law School, Galgotia University Law School, The Jindal Global Law School, UPES Dehradun, SRM University, Amity Law School, and many more.
AILET – All India Law Entrance Test- for admission exclusively to National Law University (NLU), Delhi
AIL Entrance Test (Army Institute of Law Entrance Test)- for admission in Army Institute of Law (AIL), Mohali, Punjab
Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET)- for admissions to Symbiosis Law Schools situated in Pune and Noida
Delhi University Law Entrance Test – for admission in programs run by the Faculty of Law Department of Delhi University
Aligarh Muslim University Law Entrance Examination (AMU LEE)- for admission to Aligarh Muslim University
Banaras Hindu University Undergraduate Entrance Test (BHU UET)-for admission to Banaras Hindu University
Different job roles available for Law graduates
If you want to be a lawyer, you must first complete a legal program and obtain a law degree after graduation or HSC. After that, you’ll need to pass the bar test and begin practicing law under the supervision of senior and experienced lawyers. You can also practice in specialized areas such as cyber law, income tax, or civil matters, depending on the circumstances of your case or according to your choice.
If you wish to be a judge, you must take the Judicial Services Exam post completing your law after graduation. Numerous companies create legal officer positions and interview candidates for them, and you could eventually work as legal adviser or corporate lawyer. Many banks also employ legal probationary officers, who are chosen through written examinations and interviews. After graduation, you can take JAG (Judge Advocate General) services in the Indian Armed Forces or work for a law firm.
If you wish to work in academia and research, you might pursue an LLM and a PhD and work as a Professor of Law. Suppose you simply want to apply your legal knowledge to a different field, you could pursue civil services, management, investment manager, administration accountant, banking, insurance, human resource, labor officer, law reporting with media houses, social work, NGOs, politics, or even entrepreneurship.
Some of the designations in the law field are mentioned below-
Criminal Lawyer
Judicial Services
Legal Advisor
Corporate Lawyer
Civil Lawyer
Legal Journalist
Legal Analyst
Some of the skills required from a law professional are mentioned below-
Law knowledge
Writing proficiency
Communication
Research aptitude
Emotional intelligence
Critical thinking
If you wish to have a career in Law, then you can have a look at the LL.M. in Corporate & Financial Law (Blended Learning Program) course offered by Jindal Global Law school in collaboration with upGrad. You get career support, world-class faculty and triple alumni status from Jindal Global University and upGrad,
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Conclusion
The legal profession is constantly changing and growing, presenting new difficulties and opportunities. What we must and must not do is governed by the law. It is used to resolve conflicts, punish, rule, do business, defend people’s rights, and administer justice. Legal practitioners must be problem solvers and innovators who are willing to take on new duties, take on new problems, learn new technologies, and manage a constantly changing legal system. Each day is different in this dynamic legal environment, which generates a rewarding and exciting work environment and makes your law degree after graduation worth it.
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Career Opportunities: Corporate and Financial Law
Corporate law and financial law are subjects that provide enormous opportunities in India. An individual trained in these fields can look forward to a variety of options to satisfy their personal and professional growth.
Why should you choose Corporate and Financial Law? Because it can help you get job opportunities at competitive positions in top law firms or in-house legal departments that are looking to recruit individuals with exposure to company law, corporate transactions, M&A, banking, insolvency, etc.
What is the career scope in corporate and financial law?
Lawyers need to have a keen analytical, presentation, and contextual skills. Therefore, choosing the right program is vital as it can enhance abilities to take on various roles in the legal industry.
Corporate and financial law professional is tasked with wearing multiple hats during their career. Below are some of the areas where they need to have the expertise to become a well-rounded corporate legal professional. The top law firms and companies are always on the look-out for such professionals.
Legal professionals are highly in demand, and the market is expected to reach $788.94 billion in 2022 (Source). There is a huge importance for legal professionals in the market.
Organizations require professionals to take care of the minute details while making deals; along with that, legal professionals provide advice that helps the organizations in staying profitable and carry out functions without breaching any laws.
Area: Corporate and Financial Law
Industry Specifics: Across all companies, law firms, and litigation
Corporate and financial lawyers are in great demand. Companies are looking for a corporate lawyer who is dedicated to their organization and is well-versed in both corporate and financial legal aspects of the market.
As a corporate and/or financial lawyer, you have to be proficient in all fields concerning finance, banking, commerce, compliance, and regulation. You will require keen analytical, legal, and strategic decision making skills, which will allow you to draft and interpret commercial contracts, negotiate deals, and provide legal advice to the companies that you represent.
Some of the skills required by the corporate and finance lawyer are mentioned below-
Industry knowledge
Oral and written communication
Analytical
Data management
Advocacy
Drafting
Negotiating
People management
Risk Management
On an average the salary of corporate financial law professional is 6.5 lakhs per annum. The average salary ranges from 1.6 lakhs per annum to 29.5 lakhs per annum (Source). Lawyers need to invest more time into their skills and gain wider experience as well in order to climb up the ladder of success.
Corporate and finance law is a demanded field, it is not only in demand but also a promising and high-paying career. One needs to invest time and effort into gaining skills and knowledge of the domain in order to get better opportunities.
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Area: Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)
Industry Specifics: Across all companies – start-ups, mid-sized, MNCs, conglomerates etc.
In today’s world, mergers and acquisitions are the order of the day, and professionals must be well-versed in both national and international law dealing with M&A. The finer points of M&A require due diligence, which is key to corporate commercial transactions. As an M&A lawyer, you should be primed for due diligence, drafting exercises, and risk assessment procedures, which is a vital aspect for corporations and instrumental to how they make business decisions.
For example, an acquiring company should undertake due diligence to value the target entity, and the legal professional must use all their acumen to analyze the legal aspects of the deal. Nothing can be left to providence as all actions involving the valuation can affect the companies concerned, and it can make or break the deal’s success.
Transactional planning, legal due diligence, and preparation of investment strategies are vital to the success of mergers and acquisitions. This work will culminate in the submissions you make before regulatory bodies like SEBI, the National Company Law Tribunal, and the Competition Commission of India, will require companies (and their lawyers) to cover all aspects and leave no stone unturned.
Some of the skills required from the M&A lawyers are mentioned below-
Business Acumen
Advocacy
Analytic
Risk Analysis
Time management
Oral and written communication
Leadership skills
Team management
On average the salary of a mergers and acquisitions lawyer is ₹975,915 lakhs per annum (Source). The salary may differ according to location, organization, experience, skill sets, etc.
average the salary of a mergers and acquisitions lawyer
Area: Banking & Finance Operations
Industry Specifics: Banks, Financial Institutions, Insurance Companies, Broking Houses
Banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies, and other financial institutions are an integral part of the economy, and have prospered with the growth of India Inc. They play a vital role in providing credit, which is essential for the economy to grow faster.
While finance plays an important role in the economy, its role within an organization can never be downplayed. As a financial lawyer, you will need to cover an entire spectrum of transactions concerning the kind and transfer of credit to companies, as well as the legal framework of such transactions and operations. It is vital to have a keen understanding of different types of financial arrangements and their effects, from a legal and commercial standpoint.
Challenge yourself to become an exceptional professional. Use your analytical and legal skills to prove your mantle in the banking industry and be a pillar of strength in the growth of an institution.
Area: Insolvency Law
Industry Specifics: Across all law firms, companies, and litigation
The Indian insolvency system underwent a complete overhaul with the introduction of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) in 2016. Previously, there was a plethora of legislation governing different stages of corporate debt resolution and applicable to different categories of stakeholders, and the piecemeal nature of the legislation made the system of grievance redressal for stakeholders very cumbersome.
The government enacted the IBC to streamline the insolvency and bankruptcy system, so that the debt resolution process can be unclogged and made more investment-friendly and favourable to creditors, thereby boosting the country’s investment climate.
You should be well-versed in various facets of corporate insolvency, including adjudication processes before the National Company Law Tribunal, National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, the Supreme Court of India. Develop your deal-making abilities and get a grasp of the intricacies of the corporate insolvency in India and the procedures and practices thereof.
Some aspirational roles for mid-level to senior-level legal professionals.
General Counsel in top MNCs, Indian Conglomerates, Mid-Sized companies, or Start-ups
A General Counsel, or Legal Manager or Chief Legal Officer acts as the chief attorney of the company, and heads the legal department within the corporate office. General Counsels can be termed as a senior position that finalizes legal strategy and manages other legal professionals in the organization. The scope of work may include –
Advising senior executives, key managerial personnel, and the Board of Directors on legal matters concerning the company’s operations, and updates regarding new laws.
Managing the organization’s legal affairs.
Drafting and reviewing different statutory and legal submissions, including authoritative legal opinions.
Examining and drafting agreements, like employment and vendor contracts.
Managing knowledge of the organization’s operations and legalities involved, and monitoring legal agreements.
Leading legal research and evaluating the company’s litigation strategy concerning legal actions.
Liaising with outside counsel regarding M&A, investments, and/or litigation matters.
Creating and managing the organization’s intellectual property.
Some of the skills required from a General Counsel include-
Judgement
Decision- Making
Understanding of law
Conflict- Resolution
Analytical
Ability to use legal tools
Legal strategy
Verbal and written communication
People management
Leadership skills
Partner / Managing Partner in Law Firms
It’s a long journey to becoming a partner in the firm. Partners are responsible for leading, getting new clients and businesses, establishing a brand, and managing people in their team. Partners are also well compensated for depending on their financial performance and contribution towards the firm.
Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
Bringing onboard potential new clients through business development meetings
To assure that there is effective delivery of the firm’s services to its clients and ensure the same in a profitable manner.
Instituting organizational, financial, and operational strategies of the firm through strategic thinking.
Creating revenue through client management.
Commercial/Corporate Litigation Professional
With the proliferation of tribunalisation of India’s legal system and with the enactment of multiple laws and regulators to govern these laws, there is a requirement for skilled, articulate, and knowledgeable advocates to appear before these regulators and courts of law. A successful career in litigation will ensure a handsome income as well as recognition from both judges and other advocates as an expert in corporate and financial law.
On average the salary of a litigation professional is 4.5 lakhs per annum. The average salary ranges from 2.1 lakhs per annum to 10.6 lakhs per annum (Source).
Some of the skills required from a litigation lawyer are-
Legal aptitude
Excellent verbal and written communication
Legal Research
People Handling
Client Service
Teamwork
Analytical
Data management
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Top 5 Law Books to Read to Increase Your Skills
Being a legal professional isn’t easy, but even after spending numerous years at law school, the education takes a toll on you. Considering all the aspects, the road to becoming a lawyer is an exponential learning curve. Thus, seeking education and knowledge from books takes you toward a prosperous career. In addition to achieving your goals, maintaining an equilibrium between your personal and professional lives is equally important.
Lawyers have an endless schedule; they work round the clock to advocate and innovate. Therefore, taking up a career as an advocate requires thorough research. Mostly, people decide to become a lawyer to have an impact on other people. As a lawyer, donning that cape can add titles like environmental lawyers, contract lawyers, etc. Depending on your interests, you can choose to get a degree that’s most favorable for you.
The growth in lawyer jobs is likely to experience a projected growth of 4% by 2029.
Who is a Lawyer?
As a lawyer during your first year of school, you can expect to scour anywhere around 300-600 pages on an average per week to understand the concepts. Once you become a licensed lawyer, you are privileged to study and practice law. A lawyer can potentially work with a group of people that they advocate.
Some legal counting responsibilities are:
Thorough research and review of documents before they are submitted.
Represent a client and advise them about legal matters.
Understand laws and regulations that concern their cases.
A good lawyer always aims to bring justice to people regardless of the difficulties. Possessing good communication skills, technical skills, and confidence are important qualities to have in this profession.
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5 Best Law Books to Read for Skills Enhancement
Here’s the list of the top 5 best law books that you should read to ignite your skillset.
1. Great Debates in Criminal Law, by Jonathan Herring
Studying criminal law at a university is appreciable since it is an important law module. However, standing out amongst others who are also practicing criminal law is crucial. “Great Debates in Criminal Law” is one way to stand out.
This is one of the best law books to read. You can learn more about the key skills and debates that are a must in law. This book is a great read, especially if you plan to attend a seminar.
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2. The Art of Always Being Right, by Arthur Schopenhauer
Being a lawyer is all about “persuasion”. If you are skilled in persuading a jury, you’re good. This book teaches you the right persuasive skills. This is a very useful law book to consider to gain qualities that are essential in the law profession.
Furthermore, when you draft your application, the art of persuasion can come into use.
3. Landmarks in the Law, by Lord Denning
Lord Denning’s “Landmarks in the Law” is a remarkable, highly engaging law book. The book is wonderful, historically and legally. The skills of the author are another reason why this book is one of the best law books to scan. Lord Denning is an exceptional judge who made law accessible to normal folks. His judgments are unthinkable.
4. Is Eating People Wrong?, by Allan Hutchinson
Distinguishing common law could be a real struggle, but this law book makes it very effortless. Aspiring law students can take the idea from this book to enhance their skills.
The book consists of eight cases, and Hutchinson’s explanation is inexplicable. To turn a few heads, you can use the book’s highlights in a seminar.
5. Using a Law Library, by Peter Clinch
Solicitors know how to use their skills for legal research to extract maximum output. The book places you at an advantage as it straightens out concepts of legislation and other sources. Conducting legal research is a skill that many law seekers tend to ignore.
However, to impress your employer, give this law book a read to be more confident about your legal research skills.
These five law books online can play a major role to boost your knowledge in the legal law profession.
Ways to Improve your Skills as a Lawyer
Aside from reading books that will help you increase your skills, possessing the right set of skills is equally important for an aspiring lawyer. Some of the best approaches that you can take up to improve your existing skills, and build new ones at the same time are:-
1. Spend time learning more about your field
Make sure to spend a considerable amount of time upskilling yourself and learning more about the practice that you are about to pursue. Doing so will inculcate deep and core learning skills in your law field. After all, you have to eventually work as a court lawyer where your presence will be needed in front of a judge. Keep educating yourself with the basics of learning.
2. Read books and build knowledge
Develop a habit of reading books as it is a great way to work on your skillset. A lawyer has a lot of learning to do throughout his profession, and books are the only source that helps. There are millions of books written on law, which could be the first place, to begin with.
3. Work on your legal writing skills
Being a lawyer has many shades, and legal writing is one of them. All through your life as a lawyer, you will have to work on drafting legal proceedings, writing case studies, etc. Practice daily writing skills to improve your existing style of writing. Use accurate writing techniques such as vocabulary usage, interpretation of information, and understanding of transcription.
Conclusion
The journey to becoming a lawyer is very hectic. Thus, you must carry the patience to pass through all hurdles that strike your way. The mentioned law books will be of great aid to brushing up your existing skills as a lawyer. Studying law demands a lot, so you must be ready to give whatever it takes to be an aspiring lawyer.
Doing an LL.B. for 3 to 5 years is an excellent choice. Alternatively, you can also go for an LL.M. in Corporate & Financial Law from Jindal Global Law School in association with upGrad. The key highlights of doing this course from India’s #1 Law school will bring you benefits such as participation in mock interviews, a chance to learn from faculty members and industry masters, and a cutting-edge learning experience.
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9 Types of Evidence: Everything to know
Law is a field that impacts our lives daily. Although there are various aspects of law and evidence plays a huge role in it. Evidence is a form of items, materials, or statements that are aimed at establishing truth. The items or materials present are not random, but they are in correlation with the matter present in the court. This evidence supports the case and helps the case to win in court.
Before we discuss the types of evidence, let’s discuss the importance of evidence first.
Importance of evidence
Supports the argument that backs your argument.
Refutes the statement of the opposing side.
Allows the defendant to move beyond mere statements.
Now let’s discuss the types of evidence:
Oral evidence
Documentary evidence
Scientific evidence
Primary evidence
Secondary evidence
Hearsay evidence
Direct evidence
Indirect evidence
Circumstantial evidence
Let’s elaborate on these types of evidence:
1. Oral evidence –
There are various kinds of evidence, and oral evidence is one of them. As the name suggests oral evidence, constitutes any statement that the courts give permission to be presented by the witnesses. Oral evidence gets the authority to be presented in court through Section 59 of the Indian Evidence Act. Anything said in the court would be considered oral evidence. The law has a provision for those types of witnesses who cannot communicate orally; anything they communicate through writing or any other way in the court would be considered oral evidence.
Section 60 of the Indian Evidence Act depicts what is considered oral evidence:
Evidence that the eyewitness saw the act of crime.
A statement or a fact that can be heard.
Opinions that are made, or the grounds on which the opinions are based.
Any matter that can be perceived through the senses
One thing that is strictly followed under oral evidence is that any evidence that is given is direct and does not include hearsay. As hearsay evidence does not hold any value under oral evidence because it is not direct. Section 60 of the Indian Evidence Act included direct and excluded hearsay was concluded under State Vs. Rajal Anand.
2. Documentary evidence –
Documentary evidence largely can be understood as a piece of evidence that is written/ documented. The law deems documentary evidence to be having a superior evidentiary position as opposed to the oral evidence. All documents including digital documents would be considered documentary evidence. Types of digital evidence and types of physical evidence would be considered under documentary evidence.
Broadly speaking, the documentary evidences are divided into two categories, namely-
Public Documents- (Section 74)
Private Documents – (Section 75)
Public documents would those matter that is present in some public register, record or book. The relevant copies of documents can be presented in court. Some examples of public documents entail-
Birth Certificates
FIR
Marriage Certificate
Electricity Bill
Business Records
Water Bill, etc.
As the name suggests, private documents are those documents that are exchanged between the parties such as letters, emails, postcards, etc. The court prefers public documents more as compared to private documents. Authenticity is one of the main reasons, as the court believes that the risk of tampering with the public documents is far less than with private documents.
The law allows the documents to be presented in court, but there are various rules that determine their admissibility. These rules in place allow the court to decide what the submitted documents prove.
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3. Scientific evidence –
Scientific evidence is those evidence which is proven to work through scientific methods. Science is proven to be reliable and is assumed to be a valid source of evidence that provides explanations that are known to be reliable.
The scientific evidence allows the court to understand the evidence and facts of the legal problem. Scientfic evidence builds certainty from the suspicion that helps in establishing guilt or innocence.
Some examples of scientific evidence include
Fingerprints
DNA
Narcoanalysis
Brain Impressing Test
Ossification Tests
4. Primary evidence –
Primary evidence is considered the superior class of evidence. These are those matters, documents, and facts which can be produced in the court for further assessment and inspection. As the name primarily suggests, these are the original documents.
The primary shreds of evidence supersede the secondary evidence. The first instance of production should be primary evidence. These are the actual items of evidence.
Various types of witnesses of primary evidence include-
Original documents
Government records
Letters
Photographs
Emails
Memoirs
5. Secondary evidence –
Secondary evidence is presented in Section 63 of the Indian Evidence Act. They cannot supersede the primary evidence and can be presented after the primary evidence.
Some examples, of secondary evidence, include-
Certified Copies
Compared copies with the original documents.
Oral accounts of the contents by the person who has witnessed the act.
Section 65 of the Indian Evidence Act shares when the secondary evidence can be produced-
When the original documents are in possession of the
A person against whom it is proved.
A person who is not reachable.
A person who is under the boundation of the production of the documents.
When the original document has been destroyed.
When the original document has been lost.
When the original document cannot be produced, such as the challenge of movement.
Some examples of secondary evidence include-
Copies
Xeros/ Duplicates
Reports (Newspaper, etc.
Carbin Copy
Typed Copy
Voter’s list
Tape recordings
6. Hearsay evidence –
It is considered second-hand information. It is not direct evidence; the witness or the person using it uses the information from a person who has the first- hand knowledge of the matter. The hearsay evidence is not admissible in a court of law.
Section 60 of the evidence act states that the oral evidence given by the witness must be of a direct nature and therefore hearsay evidence does not hold much significance.
There are a few exceptions given to the hearsay evidence:
Admission: Section 17 of the Indian Evidence Act defines admission as a statement either in oral, electronic or document form that intends to give inference to any fact or an issue.
Res Gestae: It refers to a situation in which the facts form part of the same transaction. For example, the statement of person A may be proved in court through another person B who has appeared as a witness in court.
Dying Declaration: It refers to a situation which is on his deathbed, or is dying, or died, and cannot physically come to the court; the person with whom the dying person shares the information can use the heard information in the court. This measure finds its validity through Section 32 of the Indian Evidence Act.
Confessions: As known commonly, it is referred to as a situation where a person has admitted to their guilt in court. Hearsay evidence can be applied in such a way that, if a person A who is guilty says/confesses something to another person B outside of court, person B can use the statement given by person A in court which can be considered as a testimony.
Evidence that was given in the former proceedings: If a person dies or is unable to produce themselves in the court, then the statements given by such a person can be produced as a piece of evidence in the court.
7. Direct evidence –
It is referred to as a fact that does not draw its inference from any other statement. And can be established on its own. Direct evidence works immediately supporting the truth without needing any further clarification or assistance.
Some examples of direct evidence include –
Eyewitness testimony
Documents
Videos
Physical evidence
8. Indirect evidence –
It refers to evidence that helps in proving the facts by giving information that is a piece of indirect evidence. Deductive reasoning is applied in order to reach the final conclusion of the truth.
9. Circumstantial evidence –
It refers to that statement that helps in establishing the circumstances that are related to a particular piece of evidence.
These circumstances should be fully proven and must be conclusive in nature. The concerned circumstances should be totally complete and should not have any gap in the evidence.
Essential components of the circumstantial evidence-
The circumstance should be fully established.
The facts/ information should be compatible with the theory.
The circumstances must be convincing.
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Conclusion
The Indian judiciary is a holistic institution that aims to deliver justice to the citizens. The truth is based on evidence that is based on establishing the truth. Law professionals are given immense respect due to the nature of their job. More experience and knowledge add value to the professional’s portfolio. You can explore the Master of Laws (LL.M.) – International Business and Finance Law course offered by upGrad to elaborate your portfolio. Having a specialisation adds to the portfolio.
You can also check out our free courses offered by upGrad in Management, Data Science, Machine Learning, Digital Marketing, and Technology. All of these courses have top-notch learning resources, weekly live lectures, industry assignments, and a certificate of course completion – all free of cost!
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Why Legal Studies? Overview, Scope & Salary Details
Following its assistance to society’s inhabitants by raising their awareness and knowledge of essential human rights, careers in law can be financially and emotionally rewarding. Since its official inception in the 19th century, legal studies have become an imperative part of India. With over 2.5% of the nation’s population still awaiting justice, the nation is in dire need of skilled legal personnel. Thankfully, the young generation is enthusiastically exploring the broad scope of legal studies through domestic and international law courses!
After completing 12th grade, the first step towards a law profession in India is enrolling in an undergraduate degree such as LLB or BBA. After completing the course, students can either begin practising law or join a legal company. Another alternative is to enrol in a postgraduate programme, such as an LLM, to enhance knowledge and develop the necessary employment skills.
This blog will offer in-depth insights into the world of legal studies, its scope and the offered salary across diverse legal roles.
Why Legal Studies?
Studying law has several advantages. Here are some of the reasons why a student should pursue a career in law –
Bring change in society
As a lawyer, students can bring about impactful social change. While they may be litigating matters for clients, they can always use public interest litigation to speak out on social concerns.
Skill Development
Working in a formal courtroom entails instilling various skills, and through time, a practising lawyer acquires knowledge, competence, and attitude, eventually becoming masters of their trade.
Financial Independence
As a person gets knowledge and competence in their trade, this entrepreneurial industry may provide a lot of recognition and reputation. Top lawyers make enough money, even with just one court session. As a result, it is safe to say that a profession in law gives financial independence.
Become a Judge
After completing BA-LLB, and LLM, a student can become a legislator by taking several Judicial Service Examinations, which qualify them to assume the mantle of a judge in due time.
Multiple Career Options
After completing an LLB degree, any legal studies student can seek a professional legal career. Students can begin by practising in a district court and working their way up. With a degree like LLM under their belt, students might also look for teaching positions at various legal schools.
Get a Global Perspective
With the advent of globalisation, the legal profession has spread across international borders and the world. As legal professionals, candidates may be able to obtain various worldwide chances through mergers and partnerships with international businesses. International law, for example, has opened access to legal positions at the United Nations and other global organisations.
Top Career Options in Law
Law is a broad and diversified course that has evolved over time. There are different specialities in legal studies offered all across the world. Let’s look at the top career options in law –
1. Civil Law
Civil law is concerned with resolving problems between citizens. It is a general phrase for non-criminal law drawn from Roman law. The framework of most state legal systems is the same.
Scope
Civil law significantly contributes to India’s judicial and legal systems. It is governed by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (CPC). As a result, there is a high need for civil attorneys in this nation. Civil law in India can be explored in the areas of family law, tort law, contract law, media law, administrative law, and so on.
Job Opportunities
Job Roles
Average Salary
Civil Lawyer
INR 3,20,000
Law Professor
INR 6,66,385
Legal Journalist
INR 2,00,000
Legal Advisor
INR 4,20,000
2. Criminal Law
Criminal law, as the title implies, is the field of law that deals with crime-related problems and cases. A criminal lawyer’s job primarily involves investigating the case and gathering evidence to restate the matter. This jurisdiction covers crimes ranging from theft to murder and money laundering.
Scope
The number of illegal offences has risen significantly throughout the years. As a result, a criminal law course would provide many opportunities to aspiring attorneys. Following the completion of the LLB or LLM, lawyers can pursue specialised courses in criminology and forensic science, cybercrime, domestic violence, and human rights.
Job Opportunities
Job Roles
Average Salary
Government Advocate
INR 2,40,000
Criminal Law Prosecutor
INR 3,00,000
Lecturer
INR 2,60,000
Standing Counsel
INR 6,00,000
Additional Public Prosecutor
INR 6,00,000
3. Corporate Law
It is one of the fastest-expanding areas of the legal profession. Corporate law is concerned with disputes and litigation involving corporations and private enterprises. Corporate attorneys are also in charge of ensuring that business activities are carried out lawfully and correctly.
Scope
After earning a degree in corporate law, students can find work in law firms, banks, insurers, asset managers, and other organisations. If they choose to teach, they can become or be hired as a Teacher or Lecturer at colleges or universities after earning a master’s degree in business law.
Job Opportunities
Job Roles
Average Salary
Corporate Lawyer
INR 5,90,000
Assistant Manager to Lawyer
INR 6,20,000
Professor
INR 12,00,000
Associate Advocate
INR 3,40,000
Legal Counsel
INR 13,10,000
4. Family Law
Family law is a unique area of law that deals with numerous family situations such as relationships, adoption, child custody, alimony, and others. There are various legal specialities offered as well. Furthermore, these attorneys can assist in resolving disagreements outside of court.
Scope
Family attorneys have a wide range of specialities from which to select, allowing them to pursue a career in any of them. There are opportunities in both the corporate and public sectors. They can also practice individually.
Job Opportunities
Job Roles
Average Salary
Divorce Lawyer
INR 18,39,856
Marriage Counselor
INR 9,89,290
Family Advocate
INR 7,00,000
Associate Advocate
INR 3,40,000
5. Administrative Law
Administrative law is the field of law that deals with government administrative agencies and activities. Among an administrative lawyer’s many responsibilities, adjudication, enforcement of a certain regulatory agenda, and even the creation of regulations are the most prominent ones. Administrative law is frequently seen as a subset of public law.
Scope
Several petitions have been filed, and many more are in the works. This is only one example; administrative attorneys are needed for various jobs in the government’s administrative sector. As a result, administrative attorneys have a lot of opportunities to further their careers with government authorities and agencies.
Job Opportunities
Job Roles
Average Salary
Assistant Manager
INR 6,50,000
Administrative Advocate
INR 4,30,000
Professor
INR 6,66,385
Associate Advocate
INR 3,40,000
A Guide to Begin a Career in Law
Here is a step-by-step guide to starting a career after completion of legal courses –
Complete graduation in any course: It can be a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Business Administration. Anyone can apply for a 3-year LLB course.
Give the Law entrance exam: The Common Law Admission Test, or CLAT, is the most popular entrance exam. Students must score a minimum of 50% in the exam to be eligible for top law colleges in the country. Some other tests include
Law School Admission Test
All India Law Entrance Test
Symbiosis Law Admission Test
Maharashtra Common Entrance Test for Law
Comple law school applications: Once the test results arrive, students must begin the application process according to their capabilities.
Students must complete their law degrees: They must pass all subjects like criminal law, family law, and constitutional law.
Students must pass the All India Bar Examination to become professional lawyers: This has become a requirement after the academic year of 2009-10. If a student has passed the law degree in the previous years, this exam is not compulsory for them.
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LL.M. in Corporate & Financial Law - Jindal Law School
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Conclusion
When studying law, it is important to determine whether the college or institute offers the necessary facilities and faculties. The institute has a significant impact on the careers of attorneys.
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You can also check out our free courses offered by upGrad in Management, Data Science, Machine Learning, Digital Marketing, and Technology. All of these courses have top-notch learning resources, weekly live lectures, industry assignments, and a certificate of course completion – all free of cost!
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Introduction
Any postgraduate degree is a great tool to boost one’s career and open doors to better job prospects. Especially in a saturated sector like law, doing an LLM will increase your opportunities in both government and private sectors.
But recently, there has been a lot of confusion regarding the LLM course duration. Is it one, is it two, or is it more than that for different institutions?
In India, you can either do a one-year or a two-year-long LLM program to become a licensed advocate. But which one is the right one for your to choose?
Keep on reading to find out as we discuss the duration along with their pros and cons.
What Is An LLM Course?
LL.M (Latin Legum Magister) is a postgraduate-level degree course in the legal sector. This course revolves around various subjects of law and comes with the choice of opting for different concentrations, such as
Civil Law
Criminal Law
Business/ Commercial Law
International Law
Corporate Law
Tax Law
Human Rights Law
Health Law
Immigration Law
Intellectual Property Law
Environmental Law
The huge variety of concentrations provides students with the opportunity to become highly specialised in a short span of time.
In most cases, to pursue LLM, the candidate must have an LLB or an equivalent degree in a relevant field. LLB is a three-year bachelor’s degree in law that entitles students to practice as advocates. However, students without a law background can still apply to the LLM program, but they must demonstrate a good grip over the subject they wish to specialise in.
Depending on the LLM duration, an LLM degree is mainly of two types that are full-time and part-time.
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LLM Course Duration
The duration of LLM courses depends on various factors, including the type of program you are pursuing and the country from which you are doing it. Based on these, your LLM degree can either be one year, two years or four years long.
1 Year Long/ Regular LLM
For those who pursued LLM before 2018, a year-long LLM degree was the norm. However, the duration of the course was under continuous scrutiny till 2013. In 2013, BCI announced that they were planning to increase the duration of LLM from a year to two since it would align with international standards better.
After a lot of consideration, in 2017, BCI announced that they would be availing a two-year-long LLM degree from the academic year 2018-19. However, many colleges in India challenged this decision of BCI, which is why the one-year course duration is still being followed across various institutions.
Source
2 Years Long/ Regular (Updated) LL.M.
Colleges and universities that felt the need to expand their LLM course duration adapted to the new model. Following the new model, the course duration for LLM stretched for up to two years but is still considered equivalent to a year-long LLM degree.
Private universities across India still offer students the choice to pursue a year-long LLM program. However, there has been a lot of speculation following the abolishment of the one-year-long LLM course, as BCI ruled against operating the course from the academic year 2022-23.
In India, the academic year starts in June-July, so the decision is yet to be confirmed if the one-year-long course will get entirely scrapped or continue alongside the updated one.
4 Years Long/ Extended Part-time LL.M.
A candidate can choose to stretch their LLM course duration to four years; in that case, it is considered an extended part-time degree.
In a two-year program, you will learn everything in two full units (two courses equal one unit, meaning two semesters per year and four semesters in two years).
Whereas in a four-year-long program, you complete one course each year, so you only have to sit for examinations once every year. This is more suitable for professionals who can not attend school full-time.
But please note the Bar Council of India does not recognise part-time LLM. Therefore, candidates pursuing the same will not get a practice license in India.
LLM Course Durations In Different Countries
Here’s the list of the top countries and their LLM course durations.
Country
LLM Duration
United States
Regular course LLM courses generally span one year, but some private institutes may offer longer or part-time courses ranging from two to three years.
United Kingdom
A regular LLM course can vary from one year to 2.5 years, depending on the university.
Canada
Regular courses may take one to two years, depending on the course and university.
Australia
A regular LLM course is one year long.
Germany
Regular courses can be either one or two years long, depending on the chosen program and university.
France
The regular course lasts one year, and the part-time course lasts two years.
Which One Is Better 1 year, 2 Years or 4 Years long LLM?
Since candidates cannot legally practice with a part-time course (more than two years) in India, it is better to rule out that option first.
From the chart above, you can clearly see that most countries prefer to keep this postgraduate degree within a year. They believe that since the LLM course aims to provide an opportunity to focus on a particular area of law, stretching its time span will defeat the purpose.
However, BCI thinks otherwise and believes a year might be too little for candidates to completely grasp or master the concentration they are picking. Therefore, the two-year course is being prioritised in India.
This discussion has been going on since 2013. In 2022, LLM candidates received the freedom to choose their course duration. However, the confusion did not end there. BCI also announced abolishing the one-year LLM program from the academic year 2022-23, leaving an uncertain future for the program.
Hence, if you plan to pursue LLM to practice legally in India, opting for a two-year course will ensure your degree stays relevant. But ultimately, the decision boils down to your personal preference.
LLM Course Curriculum
Different universities have different subjects included in their LLM program; however, in India, some of the most common specialisations include
Environmental law
Criminal law
Human rights and Humanitarian law
Constitutional law and Personal law
Business law
Here are the top Indian universities that extend LLM programs to legal aspirants.
National Law University, Delhi
National Law School Of India University
Mumbai University
NALSAR University of Law (Hyderabad)
India Law Institute (New Delhi)
Benefits Of Pursuing an LLM Course
Here are some notable benefits of pursuing an LLM course.
1. Obtain The Chance To Work Overseas
Many LLB graduates prefer doing their LLM from a foreign university to understand another country’s law and legal system. This knowledge is highly valuable and gives candidates a competitive edge over their peers. Therefore, exposing them to global opportunities.
2. Become Specialised
In most cases, graduation does not let the candidate narrow down their interest and focus on a particular subject. On the other hand, LLM is all about mastering a particular field of law. By pursuing an LLM degree, candidates get to master their field of interest and further pursue a career on the same path.
3. Switch Your Path
If you have already obtained a specialisation but hope to follow a different path, you can restart your journey with the help of an LLM. Since the course tenure is significantly shorter than most master’s degrees, it is feasible for working professionals to pursue and turn the wheels of their career towards their track of interest.
4. Boost Your CV
Having an LLM can significantly boost your CV if you are a fresher. From obtaining work opportunities in the corporate sector or upskilling to strengthen your litigation skills, an LLM can catalyse your career to reach new heights.
5. Calibrate Your Research Skills
Returning to academia means investing long hours in legal research, which will eventually help you improve your research skills as a lawyer.
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The Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Business and Finance Law is the boost your career seeks to fuel your journey as an in-demand legal professional! With an expert-led curriculum comprising in-demand skills such as International Trade Law, Comparative Association Law, Business Law, and International Issues in Intellectual Property Law, learners advance on a global scale. The course is best suited for working professionals aiming to upskill towards attaining better opportunities.
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Types of Lawyers in India: All you need to know
Being the world’s largest democracy, the law in India maintains an equilibrium in society. The law upholds justice; lawyers and judges work hand in hand to keep the judicial system running.
With over 2.5% of the nation’s population awaiting their due justice from the judiciary, the law has become an increasingly popular career choice among aspiring candidates. While the challenging work environment drives a majority of candidates to pursue the field, sometimes, the baton of becoming a lawyer is passed from one generation to another.
Now with the emergence of various technologies and other progressions, different types of lawyers have emerged as popular choices among the aspirants. Fields like Cyber Law and Information Technology Law are attracting more aspirants than criminal or civil law.
Learn Law Courses from the World’s top Universities. Earn an LLM Degree to fast-track your career.
Let’s learn about the different types of lawyers in India, the prerequisites for becoming a lawyer and who are the highest paid types of lawyers in India.
Prerequisites to become a lawyer in India
Becoming a lawyer comes with certain educational requirements. You need to pass relevant examinations to be approved to practise law in India. Let’s go step by step on how to become a lawyer.
Step 1: Complete 10+2
Before admission to the law school’s bachelor’s degree, you must complete your schooling from a recognised education board in India. However, you do not have to have a legal background to become a lawyer; any stream is feasible to apply.
Step 2: Clear law entrance exams
Law is now an integrated 5-year course. You can either finish your graduation and come for a four-year law course or obtain your BA LLB from a 5-year course. Once you finish your +2, you can apply to the following entrance tests. They are:
Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)
Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
All-India Law Entrance Examination (AILET)
You must have 50% marks in CLAT to apply to any law school.
Step 3: Apply to a law school
Once you obtain your law school entrance exam results, you can apply to your preferred law colleges. Your CLAT scores solely determine which law college you will be placed in.
You can also apply for top law colleges in India if you have official transcripts of a good recommendation letter.
Step 4: Earn your 5-year law degree
Once you are admitted to your preferred law school, you can now finish your law degree within five years. The subjects entailing this degree comprise not only law papers but also other subjects like political science, sociology, and economics. This would give you a comprehensive understanding of the social and political norms while working with your future clients.
Step 5: Appear in AIBE
Once you finish your law degree, you must sit for your AIBE examinations. This would enable you to become a practising lawyer in India. The Bar Council of India administers these exams once a year, and you need to sign up online to appear for this test. However, you need to become a State Bar Council member before applying for AIBE.
The exam is a one-hour, open-book exam. You will be allowed to take your bare acts with you to appear for this exam.
Step 6: Seek employment in a law firm and choose a specialisation
The last and final step is to understand which law you want to specialise in. After that, you can seek employment in your preferred law firm.
Types of lawyers: Roles and responsibilities
Let’s look at the different types of lawyers you can choose to become and explore the vast judicial system under the cape of your specialisation!
Civil lawyers
Civil law deals with personal injury, family, real estate, and employment disputes. Civil lawyers deal with government infrastructure and business enterprises as well. Interpersonal ties, property conflicts, and family settlements are generally the core curriculum of civil disputes.
Average Salary: INR 3.0 LPA
Criminal lawyers
Criminal lawyers mainly deal with offenses like murder, kidnapping, rape, etc. The responsibility of the criminal lawyer is to prosecute or defend individuals who have committed the above crimes. They will likely analyse and research their party’s case thoroughly and devise a feasible method to defend them in the courtroom. Criminal lawyers should have a strong understanding of the Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, and, of course, the Indian Constitution.
Average Salary: INR 4.0 LPA
Corporate lawyers
Corporate lawyers have specialisations in Business Law and ensure the legality of any commercial transaction. They represent the business enterprise they are employed in and counsel the company to devise strategies to grow within the bounds of the law. Corporate lawyers are currently in great demand. To become a corporate lawyer, one needs to be well-versed in contract law, securities law, taxation law, accounting laws, and intellectual property rights.
Average Salary: INR 5.9 LPA
Immigration lawyers
With the emerging globalisation, the issues relating to immigration are surging higher, leading to an equally higher demand for immigration lawyers as well. Immigration lawyers represent their clients in courts and enforce their legal rights in their own country or the host nation. Immigration lawyers counsel immigrants about the rights and obligations a country might provide them. They also counsel them to avoid any action for further legal damage or infringement.
Average Salary: INR 8.2 LPA
Private lawyers
These lawyers generally work in a private setting and not in any government or non-profit organisations. It is remotely similar to corporate lawyers. However, they provide counsel on not only civil matters but also criminal matters. They are considered to be the highest paid types of lawyers in India.
Average Salary: INR 10 LPA
Public Interest lawyers
Public Interest lawyers or civil rights lawyers work on a wide range of civil rights matters and issues involving discrimination on race, caste, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation. Public interest lawyers also provide counsel to people who are facing eviction, physical disability, struggling with workplace issues, survivors of domestic violence etc. Public interest lawyers have to have an understanding of both civil and criminal matters.
Average Salary: INR 5.1 LPA
Cyber or Information Technology lawyers
Cyber lawyers generally deal with different cases of cyber crimes like hacking, software piracy, credit card fraud, cyber attacks and threats etc. They investigate the root cause of any security breach violation and document the degree of damage caused. This is a very new branch of law, and youngsters are interested in pursuing this stream.
Average Salary: INR 5.0 LPA
Environment lawyers
With alarming rates of threats rising through the environment, environment lawyers are now very much in demand. Environment lawyers ensure that organisations, government or non-profit organisations and individuals adhere to specific environmental laws. They are responsible for drafting contracts, business agreements, purchase agreements and other important documentation concerning the environment’s welfare.
Average Salary: INR 5.4 LPA
Medical Malpractice lawyers
Medical malpractice lawyers deal with filing claims for their clients in case of injuries caused by health professionals. The mistakes can be surgical errors, unnecessary treatment delay, wrong treatment, birth trauma and other malpractices that cause life risks to the patients.
Average Salary: INR 14 LPA
Government lawyers
Government lawyers are legal professionals who work for government institutions. They offer legal counsel to government ministers and other administrative personnel. They also help government institutions to uphold municipal and local laws. A fine example of a government lawyer is a Public Prosecutor.
Average Salary: INR 7.3 LPA
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Conclusion
Law is a vast stream, providing an even wider scope for aspirants to choose from different branches of law and mould their careers accordingly. The discipline of law is not new. It has been rigidly upholding Indian democracy since the Indus Valley Civilisation. With the dynamic nature and new societal issues, the different streams of law are hence involved in keeping up with the needs of the people.
The stream of law is flexible; hence, a lawyer can change from one stream to another. If you are a civil lawyer, you can change to a criminal lawyer for better income or lucrative job opportunities. Our list comprises some of the most in-demand types of lawyers in India. In case you wish to become one of them, upGrad can help you achieve your dream!
Read our Popular Articles related to Law
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upGrad’s Master of Laws (LL.M.) – International Business and Finance Law
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Average Lawyer Salary in India [2024]
India adorns its legal profession as one of the largest in the world, considering over 1.4 million advocates are enrolled and actively practising in this country. Studying law is becoming extremely popular among the youth, given the number of opportunities that are coming up in the space. Lawyers have become much more employable recently as companies are now hiring an in-house legal team to help them with their daily affairs. While there are several reasons for pursuing law, one primary reason remains the high average lawyer salary.
The lawyer salary has increased in India over the past few years, and there are different roles that you can apply for as a lawyer. There is a huge demand for corporate lawyers currently in India, and the corporate lawyer salary is also quite good compared to several other budding professions in India. If you want to get a fair understanding of the average lawyer salary in India, you are at the right place.
Learn Law Courses from the World’s top Universities. Earn an LLM Degree to fast-track your career.
Let’s try to get a broader understanding of the roles that lawyers can take up and their average salary in India.
Advantages of Taking Up a Law Degree
Following the changing social realms and expanding economies, studying law is one of the most exciting professions, making it a fulfilling career for countless aspirants. The course will take you through different kinds of laws along with all the aspects governing the laws. The average lawyer salary stands at INR 31,392 per month. However, the final salary depends on the type of role you take up and the kind of law you specialise in.
Let’s look at the advantages of completing a law degree from any of the coveted institutes in India.
High Demand
Due to the dynamic legal environment in which businesses function, lawyers are highly demanded. Companies are looking for people who can give them the right legal guidance and help them with business compliance and legalities.
Great Pay
The lawyer salary has increased to a great extent in the last few years. Lawyers are offered great pay packages depending on their expertise and the company’s budget. As per Glassdoor, the average corporate lawyer salary stands at INR 49,692 per month. They also earn an additional cash compensation of up to INR 4,50,000 annually.
Multiple Roles
Law as a field has become quite dynamic, extending different branches to work across. You can either become a corporate lawyer or help companies with different legalities by becoming a corporate lawyer. Even within the same field, there are different roles that you can take up.
Average Salaries of Lawyers in India
The average lawyer salary depends on different aspects, like the type of law the person practices and the industry they are a part of. People with an experience in a particular domain, like corporate law, might earn more than people who have studied criminal law.
Let’s look at some popular roles you can take up along with their salaries in India.
Corporate Lawyer
The primary role of a corporate lawyer is to help companies work within the legal framework that exists in India. These lawyers work as consultants within the company and guide the business by giving the right legal advice and keeping all the business activities in check. Corporate lawyers also look after important business events like mergers and acquisitions.
Apart from providing consultation, corporate lawyers also handle lawsuits, claim liabilities, and other legal obligations of a business. They provide a holistic solution and cover everything that comes under corporate law.
The average corporate lawyer salary in India is INR 7 lakhs per annum.
Litigation Lawyer
The importance of a litigation lawyer has also increased recently. They primarily represent a client by defending them in front of a court of law before a judge. They take care of all the legal proceedings related to a particular case. The primary responsibility of a litigation lawyer includes researching different legal issues, drafting legal documents, and presenting the case before the court so that the decision is in the client’s favour.
The average salary of a litigation lawyer stands at INR 5.8 lakhs per annum.
However, in most cases, litigation lawyers are self-employed, and their fees depend on their credibility in the market and the type of services they offer to their clients. In some cases, litigation lawyers can charge as high as INR 25 lakhs for one appearance in court.
Civil Lawyers
Civil lawyers care for the non-criminal aspects of a legal dispute. These conflicts generally comprise a party or entity demanding monetary reparations from the other party or organisation to cover losses incurred. Civil disputes typically centre on individual entities, interpersonal ties, or equity. Attorneys representing civil cases provide their clients with legal counsel and tactics. The role demands them to represent your case in court, speak on your behalf through various proceedings, including depositions, mediation, arbitration, and the actual trial.
The average salary of a civil lawyer is INR 3.2 lakhs per annum.
Criminal Lawyers
Criminal lawyers are quite popular as they are in high demand in a country like India, where the crime rate is comparatively higher. An attorney specialising in knowing the legal implications of crimes and penalties is a criminal lawyer. Criminal attorneys hold expertise in advising people who have been charged with a criminal offence. They may be involved in hearings regarding bail bonds, plea agreements, trials, dismissal hearings, appeals, or post-conviction processes.
The average salary of a criminal lawyer in India is INR 5,76,766 annually.
Cyber Lawyers
Lawyers in cyber law deal with instances of crimes committed online against people, businesses, or the government. Careers in cyber law encompass online activities and understanding cutting-edge information technology, including cryptocurrency, cybersecurity, and other topics. Some major areas that cyber lawyers take care of include fraud, copyright, defamation, harassment and stalking, freedom of speech, trade secrets, contracts, and employment laws.
The average salary of a cyber lawyer in India is INR 9,46,769 per annum.
Intellectual Property Lawyers
An intellectual property lawyer performs litigations based on different intellectual property cases. They mainly prepare documents that the client or the company needs for filing a patent or a trademark. They also represent individuals or organisations held liable for a particular intellectual property’s illegal or wrong usage. The role is fairly technical and revolves around intellectual properties like trademarks, goodwill, patents, copyrights, etc.
The average salary of an intellectual property lawyer in India is INR 11 Lakhs per annum.
International Lawyers
International law is developed to facilitate trade and foster the idea of a united globe and is applicable between nations. Naturally, your responsibilities as an international lawyer are to arbitrate disputes involving different countries or corporations.
The average salary of an international lawyer is INR 26 lakhs per annum.
Lawyer Salaries in India: Years of Experience
The legal field is entirely an experience-based one. The amount you can earn from the client increases as you develop experience in this profession. Prominent attorneys charge a minimum of INR 5 Lakh and a maximum of INR 1 crore for each appearance.
According to their relevant years of experience, the lawyers in the table below are paid an average annual salary or fees.
Years of Experience
Salary Range
0 – 5 years
2 – 3 Lakhs
5 – 10 years
5 – 6 lakhs
10 – 15 years
6 – 9 lakhs
15 – 20 years
12 – 17 lakhs
20 years and above
40 lakhs to 1.5 crores
Source
These figures vary from industry to industry. The final pay depends on your credentials and the college where you complete your law degree. Also, the salary changes depending on the city where you practice law.
Listed below are the average salaries of a lawyer working in different cities in India.
Name of the city
Annual Salary (Average)
Delhi
6.25 lakhs
Mumbai
7.75 lakhs
Kolkata
6 lakhs
Bangalore
7.2 lakhs
Pune
4.5 lakhs
Hyderabad
6 Lakhs
Source
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LL.M. in Corporate & Financial Law - Jindal Law School
LL.M. in Intellectual Property & Technology Law - Jindal Law School
LL.M. in Dispute Resolution from Jindal Law School
Conclusion
The legal industry in India is growing at a fast pace. Due to the increase in the jurisdiction of certain areas and the legal environment becoming more complex, the demand for different types of lawyers has increased to a great extent. Hence, if you want to become a successful lawyer, now is the right time!
upGrad’s Master of Laws (LLM) in International Business and Finance Law will be a significant addition to boost your career. This course is anchored with Golden Gate University, San Francisco. The institute has been known for providing educational excellence to law students for more than 120 years. The program will go on for 12 months, providing a detailed curriculum including business law, international trade law, commercial contracts, investment law and intellectual property law.
This course is specially designed for working professionals and offers 24X7 student support, enabling candidates to upskill from the comfort of their homes at a very flexible pace!
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Read Moreby upGrad
17 Mar'23