Let law chart your career course

Anand Pawar

The legal profession in India has grown gradually to be one of the most influential professions actively involved in governance of the country. It reflects the diversity of the Indian society, its social hierarchies and realities while playing an important role in delivering justice through courts. However, it wasn’t so rosy always. Initially, the legal profession wasn’t regarded so highly, but developed into a respected and influential one and began drawing talented persons. The profession dominated public life in the country and lawyers played a prominent role in the national freedom struggle. After independence, its stature and influence declined. But now, it is gaining the lost ground.

On offer

Law programmes are now among the top 10 programmes in India. The reason behind this is the improvisation of legal education over the last few decades. You can either enroll for a five-year BA LLB course straight after your Plus II or join a three-year course after graduation.

The curricula and syllabus are designed so that all emerging areas in the field of law are covered. The course is based on a multi-disciplinary body of social science and scientific knowledge. These courses are designed in consideration, confirmation and comparison with global curriculum, faculty, degrees and interactions. 

What interests you

Instead of indulging in the traditional way of practice where the lawyers were practising in all branches of laws, the present generation of lawyers is more focused in areas of specialisation, like cyber, taxation, shipping, consumer, competition law lawyers, etc. After getting a degree, one can practice in lower courts as well as higher courts subject to clearing certain exams. Lawyers can work as legal counsels and legal advisors for corporate firms, organisations, individuals and families. They can work as trustees of various trusts, as teachers, law reporters, company secretaries and so on. Additional law qualification along with other degrees offers scope for a wide range of employment opportunities.

Go for a government job

Various government departments offer posts to law graduates as legal advisors in the department of legal affairs and counsels in the legislative department. These officers can eventually reach the level of secretary to the government of India. Besides, law officers/legal advisors are appointed in almost all state and central government ministries, departments and undertakings. These posts are generally filled by recruitment through UPSC and state public service commissions on regular/deputation basis. Basic qualification for all these posts is a degree in law, besides a degree in arts/science/commerce, etc. and professional experience as per the requirements of each post.

In addition to that, members of law commission, advocates, public prosecutors, solicitors, attorney general, advocate general, notaries and oath commissioners as also legal secretaries in assemblies, staff in higher/lower judiciary/quasi-judicial institutions, judicial members in CAT, income tax, sales tax, excise and other tribunals are also appointed according to rules as and when there are vacancies. However, fresh law graduates are appointed against non-gazetted posts generally equivalent to the post of assistant in the secretariat, such as legal assistants, legal/judicial translators, etc.

Be a teacher

Teaching has also become a passion for many youngsters as most universities offer under-graduate and post-graduate courses in law and there is a dearth of good academicians in this field.  Those with a good academic record, particularly holding LLM and NET or PhD degrees or have published work of a high standard, can take up jobs in institutes offering law courses to students.

Law associates in law firms

Law firms are considered the most attractive destination for freshers. The success of national law universities is also counted on the kind of placement offered by these institutes. In the past two decades, jobs as legal assistants or associates have been offered by national and international law firms with handsome packages to law graduates even during final year of their course. The placement is based on specialisation and these firms are working in different fields of law as experts.

Appointments in PSUs

Public sector units like, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) and Power Grid Corporation (PGC) are some of the PSUs that recruit young lawyers frequently on the basis of CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) score. Law graduates who appear in CLAT for admission in post graduation law courses are also getting recruitment in these PSUs based on their ranking in CLAT. These PSUs consider the marks/rank secured by the examinee in CLAT examinations. Other PSUs, such as banking, insurance and power sector, etc. are also recruiting young law graduates as legal assistants or law officers.

Arbitrator or mediator

Arbitration, conciliation and mediation are considered a new horizon for the judicial system whereby courts are also encouraging litigants to solve their disputes outside courts with the help of arbitrators and mediators. Both multinational companies and corporate sector prefer taking help of professional arbitrators or mediators to solve disputes by mutual cooperation. Therefore, this field also provides scope to young budding lawyers having expertise in different branches of law to be appointed as arbitrators or mediators.

How to go about it

BA LLB can be pursued after Plus II and a three-year under-graduate course can be pursued after graduation in any discipline. Admission to LLB is generally based on marks scored at graduation level. However, some institutes conduct entrance tests. The BA LLB programme usually covers practical training, including court attendance and work experience in law firms, as internship during semester break, participation in moot court proceedings, seminars, symposiums, conferences on legal subjects and research projects. In addition to LLB, many universities and institutes also offer other diploma courses in several disciplines of law. One can also pursue post-graduation in a university after that. Thereafter, a candidate can appear in NET for academic posts or pursue PhD.

The writer is associate professor of law at Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law and can be contacted at [email protected]

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The National Law School push

The coming up of National Law Schools in the 1990s changed the way law was perceived in India. They opened up avenues for young law graduates in newer areas of legal practice like corporate, economic and intellectual property rights laws. At present, India has 18 National Law Schools or Universities, each created by a legislation passed by the respective state governments in order to enable the creation of an atmosphere of world-class quality legal education in the country. Though created by separate state governments, the National Law Schools are similar in their nature of establishment, objectives, autonomy, faculty, syllabus, admission process and even the campus placements. They are fully residential and the intake of the students is through a highly competitive common entrance examination, the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). This year, Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala, would conduct the test.

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Beyond the classroom

For those looking for distance learning courses, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) offers cost-effective and quality legal education by offering diploma and certificate courses 

• Diploma in Paralegal Practice (DIPP)
• Certificate in Consumer Protection (CCP)
• Certificate in Human Rights (CHR)
• Certificate in International Humanitarian Law (CIHL )
• Certificate in Anti Human Trafficking (CAHT )
• Certificate Programme on Co-operation, Co-operative Law and Business Laws (CCLBL )
• Awareness Course on Intellectual Property Rights (AIPR)

Online Programmes

• Master of Intellectual Property Law (MIPL)
• Post-Graduate Diploma in Legal Process Outsourcing (PGDLPO)

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And if you love writing…

The new horizon of journalism attracts young law graduates to join legal journalism. There are many online websites and magazines, which cover legal views and news. If one is familiar with the complexities of law, its procedures, is in a position to understand the intricacies of a case and has a flair for writing, he/she is fit to be an author of law books/legal commentaries. He/she can is 'the' person to bring out law reports, produce law journals, take up all other journalistic assignments and compile law lexicons.

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What’s new

Air and space law

This is one fast emerging branch of law. The technological developments in this field are so rapid, they have posed a challenge to the legal fraternity. The increasing volume of disputes in the field of air and space has also resulted in manifold increase in the number of legal practitioners working in the field of air and space in developed countries like United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Russia, Japan, France, Australia etc. NUJS, Kolkata is offering Post Graduate Diploma in Air and Space Law. NALSAR, Hyderabad, also offers a similar course.

Cyber law

It is almost every day that we read about cyber crime and cyber threats. That makes cyber law an emerging field for young lawyers. A less distinct field of law than intellectual property or contract law, some leading topics include internet access and usage, privacy, freedom of expression and jurisdiction. Cyber law tends to relate to issues, including both Internet law and the patent and copyright aspects of computer technology and software.

Corporate law

This is one of the newest and pretty lucrative fields of law. Corporate law involves companies, directors, shareholders and their rights, secretarial matters, etc. Often called an elite group, corporate lawyers are faced with new challenges all the time in the ever-changing corporate world. Corporate lawyers might work in law firms and they could handle cases involving multinationals to small-scale industries or individuals. 

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Yes, it pays

Remuneration depends upon the field a law graduate chooses. If one gets a job in a government department, in public sector, in a university or in any other organisation where government rules are applicable, he/she will be entitled to emoluments as per pay scales prescribed by the government from time to time. After acceptance of recommendations of 6th Pay Commission, government servants get a handsome salary — say between Rs 20,000 and Rs 1 lakh and above depending on the designation and nature of job. Now multinational companies and law firms have also started campus selections and have been offering annual packages between three and four lakhs as per the standing of the company. However, those who start practice of their own have to struggle in the early stage, but their constant efforts may help them in reaching any heights and the sky is the limit. Besides, law reporters, legal journalists, authors, writers and editors associated with reputed publications also earn well. 

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Top law colleges

Campus Law Centre, Delhi University

clc.du.ac.in

Cut off: DU’s Faculty of Law had not officially declared cutoff for DU LLB 2015

USP: Known as one of the best in Asia, it focuses on the ‘case study’ of teaching methodology and discussion method

Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala

www.rgnul.ac.in

Cut off: According to CLAT ranking

USP: First National Law University to get ‘A’ grade by NAAC in India in 2015

Jindal Global Law School, Sonepat 

www.jgls.edu.in 

Cut off: 60%

USP: It is a non-profit university established by the Haryana Private Universities Act, 2009 

Army Institute of Law, Mohali

ail.ac.in

Cut off: NA

USP: It has a huge residential campus near Chandigarh. It conducts a five-year BALLB and one year LLM course

Faculty of Law, ICFAI University, Dehradun

www.iudehradun.edu.in/fol

Cut off: NA

USP: It is a part of ICFAI University has a lush green campus spread over 25 acres at Selaqui, Dehradun

Institute of Law, 

Kurukshetra University

www.kuk.ac.in

Cut off: NA

USP: To acquaint the students with latest in the field of law, a special lecture series is organized from time to time 

— Based on selected lists from national surveys