Law career options for lawyers in india

 

The following are some law career options for law graduates in India who may have different areas of interest in practicing law but want to know more about other career options in the legal domain:

 

 

They play a significant role in providing advice regarding the working and transactions of a company. On behalf of the company or its subsidiaries, they undertake legal services such as drafting, vetting, networking and negotiating contracts and resolving legal disputes, just to mention a few. Law graduates prefer to work as corporate counsel as the terms are lucrative unlike in litigation firms. Usually, the young lawyers clinch many advantages with a job profile like this – quarterly bonuses, foreign trips, frequent holidays, fixed job hours in office and so on. In the legal profession, those who opt for this profile are called ‘glorified clerks’ as litigation lawyers in India consider themselves as the true professionals, who represent their clients and win their claims in a court of law.

 

 

Litigation law firms specialize in offering litigation solutions to their clients. The cases may vary in nature but a good litigation firm will accept all cases and represent clients in courts. The flip side is that litigation does not always pay lawyers as well as it does for corporate counsel. However, advocacy is what makes this domain irresistible for many lawyers. They know the pay is not always good to begin with but it is the challenges in the domain itself that enable a lawyer to earn name, fame and reputation by proving ability, technique and expertise in winning cases. Law graduates, who want to be good litigators, can find employment in such law firms. The starting years are the toughest as the hours span more than ten hours in a law office and even weekends are usually working.

 

 

This is a highly popular option with young law graduates because it pays well, ensures fixed hours of work, recognition and respectability and most importantly, minimal strain or tension because the work involves drafting, vetting and resolving legal claims. Typically, in nationalized banks, the eligibility criteria includes two to three years of practice and expertise in banking and company law before one can apply for the post. A written exam, followed by an interview, is part of the filtering process. It is not easy to secure this job profile as the vacancies are few and the rules of reservation for OBC, SC/ST, disabled and minorities are applicable.

 

 

A law graduate, who has penchant for company related matters, can find employment as a company secretary in a corporate house. It pays very well and there is great opportunity to put skills and knowledge to test. However, advocates in the profession do not consider it as part of advocacy.

 

 

A law graduate can also take up research or make a profession in academics by teaching. Good teachers are in great demand in law colleges because they are the people who nurture and bring out law professionals into the society. However, this is not a popular option in India as it gets very little social recognition. Those who want to teach tend to opt for part time work as the pay is meager. Also, those who want to teach law must have passed LLM, which involves two years of study, but this is difficult to secure admission for as the seats are limited and the entry is restricted.

 

 

After completing law, a law graduate can pursue legal writing as a profession. With good writing and researching skills, a legal writer or law reporter can represent facts pertaining to legal developments across domains, research and write about it for law publishers, reports or even blogs pertaining to law. However, it is usually a desk job and not always thrilling for those who want to improve their advocacy skills. In terms of pay, the conditions are decent but advocates can always earn more through practice than writing on law.

 

 

A lawyer can become a part of a NGO and stand for social issues and causes. Advocacy skills are not put to use but it is a good endeavor to help the society and establish contacts. The pay packages are attractive but entry is usually difficult and restricted to young law graduates. Usually, the NGOs opt for advocates with experience.

 

 

This is considered a very respectable and attractive law career option as it involves public service and a position of considerable honor in society. However, it requires tremendous hard work and dedication for practicing lawyers to pass the exams for subordinate judge. The years ahead will also be very difficult as the pay is not motivating and the working conditions are very difficult. However, it is a promising career option as if one is able to prove expertise and efficiency; one can be elevated to the High Court as a judge.