In this post, we will discuss the required qualifications and steps to become a Lawyer.
To become a lawyer you have to pursue a law degree, from a government-recognized college or university. Also, clear the Bar exam.
To achieve success as a lawyer one should have the following qualities:
- Good in reasoning, logical thinking, and debating
- Research skills and perseverance
- Creativity
- Patience and calmness
- Decision-making skills
Basic qualifications required to study Law
To study/pursue a medical degree in India, you can enroll in the arts/commerce/science stream after class 10th. Most colleges require at least 45 % marks to get admitted.
There are two major ways to get a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in India:
- Through the Integrated 5 years program: You can be admitted to this right after completion of class 12th.
- 3-year program: You can get admission after completion of any graduation degree.
If you are certain and confident about pursuing a career in Law, then the recommended way is to get admitted to the integrated 5 years LLB program.
Entrance Examinations
Almost all law colleges admit students into their programs based on ranks in the selected entrance examinations. Some colleges hold their entrance examinations while the national law universities admit students based on CLAT ranks.
NLUs admit students based on CLAT ranks.
State govt colleges admit students based on their own entrance tests
CLAT is based on the following topics:
- English Language
- Current Affairs, including General Knowledge
- Legal Reasoning
- Logical Reasoning
- Quantitative Techniques
Comprehensive Syllabus
Entrance details
To know more about the syllabus and exam dates visit the official website of CLAT.
To know more about CLAT, visit Official Website
Practice as an advocate
To Practice Law in India, you will need to clear the All India Bar Examination (AIBE). This exam is conducted by the Bar Council of India.
On successful clearing of AIBE, you will receive a permanent certificate of practice (CoP) from BCI (Bar Council of India).
Also, you have to register with your state bar council upon graduating to practice law in that state.
SC practice
Upon clearing the AIBE and registering with the state bar council, you can practice in any court except the Supreme Court (SC) of India. To practice in the SC, you must pass the AOR (Advocate on Record) exam conducted by the SC.
Eligibility for AOR:
- Minimum 4 years of practice after enrollment as an advocate.
- 1 year of training under an AOR selected/approved by the SC.
After the end of 5 years of total practice, including the training year, one can sit in the AOR exam.
Career growth
There are a few different career paths after clearing the AIBE exam.
Corporate jobs
Work as a legal advisor in private companies. In this route, you have to handle day-to-day corporate legal issues and legal paperwork.
Legal Firm
Work as a partner in a legal firm. In this route, you must handle your firm’s day-to-day legal cases.
You can also start your own legal firm and start practicing.
Generally, fresh graduate works for experienced lawyers to know the rules of the game and gather more real-life experiences.