Legal sector growth made law top career choice, says expert

In an interview with The Tribune, Kumar Sambhav, practising lawyer, visiting faculty of Legal Studies at Cambridge Innovative School, Jalandhar and law coach, shares that a career in law has become one of the most secure options today due to the growth in the legal sector, multiple employment opportunities and the financial stability it offers.

In recent years, law has emerged as a dynamic and rewarding career path for students after completing Class 12. With increasing awareness of legal rights, corporate expansion and a growing emphasis on social justice, the demand for skilled legal professionals is steadily rising.

The legal profession has been in vogue for decades in India. Some of the country’s greatest leaders—including Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr BR Ambedkar, Madan Mohan Malviya and Dadabhai Naoroji—were all lawyers. Law continues to remain a profession in high demand, as people seek legal advice on a wide range of issues including financial fraud, cyber hacking, domestic abuse, service matters land disputes, matrimonial conflicts, environment-related concerns and business matters.

To practise law in India, aspirants must complete an LLB degree and clear the bar examination. Law graduates can pursue various roles such as advocate, judicial officer, corporate counsel, legal consultant, public prosecutor, arbitrator, mediator, professor of law, or legal journalist.

The journey for aspiring lawyers typically begins with entrance exams such as the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) and other competitive exams conducted by individual universities and institutions. CLAT serves as the gateway to prestigious law schools in India. Conducted annually by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs), CLAT offers admission to five-year integrated undergraduate law programmes like BA LLB, BBA LLB, etc., at 24 NLUs across the country.

The CLAT exam assesses candidates on subjects including English, current affairs (with general knowledge), legal reasoning, logical reasoning, and quantitative techniques. A high rank in CLAT can provide entry into top NLUs such as NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, and NUJS Kolkata, known for their academic excellence, industry connections, and strong placement records.

While CLAT is the most prominent law entrance exam, several others also offer access to quality legal education. The All India Law Entrance Test (AILET), conducted by National Law University, Delhi, is used for admission to its BA LLB (Hons) and LLM programmes. The Symbiosis Law Admission Test (SLAT) is used for entry into Symbiosis Law Schools located in Pune, Noida, Hyderabad, and Nagpur.

The Army Institute of Law, Mohali (AI-LET) conducts its own entrance exam for students from Armed Forces backgrounds as well as civilians for admission to its BA-LLB programme. The Law School Admission Test (LSAT–India) and LNAT–India are accepted by many private law colleges including Jindal Global Law School and others.

State-level entrance exams such as the MH CET Law, for law colleges in Maharashtra, and PU Law Entrance, for the BA/B Com LLB programmes at Panjab University, Chandigarh, and its regional centres, are also significant options.