How To Become a Lawyer In India | A Step by Step Guide by Expert

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Do you want to become a lawyer in India? Are you looking for ways to improve your career prospects? There are millions of lawyers worldwide who earn their living through legal services. There are thousands of young lawyers struggling to survive because of opportunities. Let’s learn how to become a lawyer in India.

In this blog post, I’ll give you some tips on becoming a lawyer in the city of Mumbai, India.

Indian Law Education Introduction

First, You have probably realized that Indian law schools are very different and unique. They don’t focus much on teaching students which subjects they should study, but more on training them to think like lawyers.

These schools do not teach students how to write exams like other universities. Here, classes are held once every week, and students have to attend these classes so that teachers can get an idea about what kind of questions students may face when appearing for an exam. This model has proven itself successful in the past.

How To Become a Lawyer In India

Requirements for becoming a lawyer in India

As already mentioned above, you must first qualify for the JEE Main exam before sitting for the JEE Advanced. The results of the JEE Main will determine whether you get admission into law schools in India.

There are several private and public legal education institutions in India. They all require students to complete a minimum number of credit points before being admitted to the program. The duration of the programs varies from 3 to 5 years.

Once you complete your studies, you must sit for the Bar Examination. This is usually held once every year. The duration of this test is usually around 4 to 6 hours.

After clearing the Bar Examination, you will start practising law.

This means that if you’re planning to pursue a career in law, you must be prepared to spend at least six years studying. If you do well in academics and would like to continue your education, I recommend joining top-ranked law colleges in India.

The reason is that most people find it challenging to cope with the stress and pressure involved while pursuing studies at a university outside of the home. So, if you want to become a lawyer, you might consider joining a private college or a government college.

The admission process in India is quite competitive and selective. There are around 15,000 seats available in each year’s class. Only 10% of all applicants are selected. On average, it could take two years to graduate from law school. However, there are many exceptions to this general rule. For example, I took 18 months to complete my LLB program.

The good news is that after completing your graduation, you will receive a degree called Bachelor of Laws. It is equivalent to a Bachelors’s Degree from any other country. After graduating, you can apply for jobs as a junior attorney. However, you need to pass various examinations to practice as a senior lawyer.

The bar examination is conducted by the Bar Council of India, while the state’s high court carries out the State Bar Examination. You must discuss with the relevant authorities in your locality to know whether you need to obtain any additional qualifications.

Cost to Study Law in India?

You must decide whether to go to a public or a private college. Private colleges usually charge higher fees, but they also provide better facilities and resources. Public colleges tend to offer scholarships and financial aid programs. However, their tuition rates are generally lower.

If you choose to go to a private college, you should expect to pay anywhere between INR 2,50,000 per annum. Most students end up paying between INR 1,20,000 – 1,30,000. While the exact amount depends upon your course of study, your living expenses, and your circumstances, below are some detailed figures associated with studying Law in India:

Tuition Fees: INR 30,000 / Year
Books: INR 7,500 / Semester
Living Expenses: INR 3,500 / Semester
Total: INR 54,000 / Year

If you choose to study at a government college, you could expect to pay anything between INR 35,000 – and 50,000 per semester. Again, the exact amount varies depending upon your course of study and the number of books required.

What Are Some Career Paths Available to Lawyers?

After earning your law degree, you can go into private practice or work for an NGO. You can also try to get a job as a legal consultant.

In India, there are about 2 million lawyers. Of these, only 25% work full time. The rest either run their businesses or work part-time. Most of them work in small firms with not more than five employees.

There are several different types of law firms in India. These include litigation firms, arbitration firms, corporate services firms, tax consulting firms, etc. One thing to note is that the salary offered by such firms tends to be relatively low.

This is because most lawyers start working on a contract basis. They work on a project basis for some time, and once the project is over, they move on to another client.

Once you’ve completed your LLM, you can apply for a position with a leading law firm. However, don’t assume that you’ll automatically get a job right away. It’s important to understand that most of the positions available in large law firms are limited to candidates who already hold a JD.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Duration to become a lawyer in India?

It takes four years to complete your law studies. One year will be gone in learning about the fundamentals of law, followed by three years of actual research. You will need to attend classes, write assignments, and sit tests during this time. Also, you may also have to appear in mock trials and give presentations.

You will have to undergo two exams during your entire four years of schooling. The Bar Council of India and the State Bar Council conduct their respective examinations twice a year. Candidates for the SBC examination have to appear in two separate rounds. For the BCI exam, you’ll have to appear in two games. There will be multiple-choice questions about the subjects covered under the syllabus during each round.

The exact timing is subject to change every year. As mentioned earlier, both the BCI and SBC conduct their examinations twice a year. So if you want to appear in one of these exams, then you’ll have to begin preparing well in advance. That means starting your preparation as soon as possible.

Is becoming a lawyer hard in India?

Yes, If you want to ace this profession, you should know what you’re getting yourself into.

Like most other professions, becoming a lawyer requires dedication, patience, and perseverance. But there are no shortcuts to success. You can do as many things to increase your chances of passing the Bar Examination. These include:

Reading regularly
Taking notes while reading
Writing out the answers
Doing practice papers
Studying online and offline
Practising on real cases
Working on problems
Following up on the progress made

How can I become a lawyer after 12th in India?

If you wish to pursue a career in law but lack sufficient academic qualifications, you might consider enrolling on an undergraduate degree course. In India, you could opt for any of the following Bachelor’s degrees:

Bachelors in Commerce
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Laws
BSE
BTech

If you choose to pursue a BA or LLB degree, then you will need to pass the qualifying exam known as the Joint Entrance Exam. Various universities across the country conduct the JEE. Once you clear this exam, you will be eligible to join one of the state government colleges to earn an undergraduate degree.

How much money does it take to become a lawyer in India?

In 2016, the average salary package of lawyers was INR 1,40,000 per month. This includes all allowances such as housing, travel expenses, etc.

This figure varies depending upon the location of work, experience, and seniority. It may even go higher than INR 2 lakhs per month!

Do lawyers get paid monthly in India?

No, they don’t! You won’t receive monthly salaries like you would in the west. Instead, you will be given lump sum settlements at the end of the tenure. You will also be entitled to compensation as per the prevailing market rates. However, if you fail to provide proof of death within three months of retirement, you will lose the right to claim a pension.

Conclusion

To sum up, becoming a lawyer in India isn’t easy. If you want to make a successful transition to the legal field, you must first understand the culture and environment you plan to operate. Only then can you truly appreciate the challenges involved in making the switch?

There are thousands of people who aspire to become lawyers each year. They start their journey only to realize later that they have bitten off more than they can chew.

References

BISHAL BHADRA

I’m a driven and accomplished law graduate and post-graduate, passionate about sharing my legal expertise via my blog. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of London (UK) and a Master’s in Law from the University of Derby (UK). Both gave me the foundational knowledge and skills to excel in my chosen career path.
Throughout my academic journey, I have gained extensive knowledge in various fields of Law, including Corporate and Business Law in the USA, Criminal Law, International Law, US Copyright law, and most importantly, American Constitutional law.

Find more about me.