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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.
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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 |
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 |
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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!
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