If you’re someone who wants to serve the people of the country by fighting for their justice, or if you believe that truth shall always prevail and wants to protect the interest of the people; you might want to make a career in Law.
In order to become a lawyer, students are required to clear their 12th board exam with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks or equivalent CGPA from a recognized board. After which, students can sit for various law entrance exams such as CLAT, LSAT, AILET, etc., and get admission to various top law universities and colleges. There are other steps involved in how to become a lawyer, which will be discussed in this article.
Who is a Lawyer?
A lawyer is a trained licensed professional who prepares legal documents to manage, prosecute or defend the action of the court. They are the legal advisors or solution providers to legal issues for their clients. Lawyers deal with issues including disputes of property, marriage issues, divorce, or criminal offenses.
Lawyers provide their services to the people who are unable to fight cases for themselves before the Judiciary, and in return, they are paid for the cases they take up.
Also Read: 7 Highest Paid Lawyers in India
Some Major Steps to Becoming a Lawyer
Acquiring a Law Degree
The initial step to gain a law degree in India is finishing a Bachelor of Law (LLB) course. There are a large number of universities and law schools offering LLB degrees in India. In addition, there are two types of LLB courses available in India: an integrated 5-year program and a 3-year program that students can pursue after completing graduation.
Five-Year LLB Course
The five-year course is accessible at an undergraduate level, straight after class 10+2. There are many colleges offering the 5-year LLB degree, and admission to this course is based on the entrance exams conducted by various colleges. The most popular and important entrance exam is the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), which is a gateway to 22 NLUs in the country. There are also various other entrance exams like SLAT, AILET, MHCET, etc., through which students can get admission to various renowned law colleges.
Three-Year LLB Degree
You can opt for a 3-year LLB degree after graduation. But before that, you have to complete the graduation degree in any stream with at least 50 percent marks. Some universities offering a 3-year LLB course include Banaras Hindu University, Punjab University, Delhi University, Government Law College (Mumbai), and others.
Correspondence / Distance Learning Courses
Many colleges and universities offer correspondence and distance learning courses in law. Some of these universities include the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Delhi University, Pune University, and others. However, you must know that correspondence and distance learning law programs are not recognized by the Bar Council of India. Thus regardless of whether you obtain a law degree through distance learning, you will not be able to practice law in court.
If you wish to become the best lawyer in India and practice in court, you have to obtain a 3-year or 5-year full-time degree in law. Any other law course will not give you a license to practice law in Indian courts.
Internships
Every law graduate is required to gain practical experience through internships under a senior advocate or a law firm, as set by the specific institution from which they are pursuing their graduation. Generally, the duration of the internship is one month, and students can intern even during their graduation or after completing it. Students can also do 2-3 internships under different advocates or firms in order to gain diverse experience.
Also Read: Top 7 Highest Paying Law Fields in India
Enroll With the Bar Council
The final stage to becoming a lawyer is to enroll yourself with the State Bar Council and clear the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) exam conducted by the Bar Council of India. Once you clear this exam, you get the authentication of training or certificate of practice. In addition, the test will evaluate your basic analytical capabilities and your knowledge of the law.
After completing the LLB, you can either begin practicing or opt for further studies. You can choose to study the LLM course and in-depth knowledge in your area of interest.
Difference Between a Lawyer and an Advocate
The words lawyer and advocate are used interchangeably; however, there is a difference between the two. After completing your LLB degree, you become a lawyer. But, you are still not an advocate. To become an advocate, you will have to enroll yourself with any State Bar Council and clear the All India Bar Examination (AIBE).
The Last Word
We hope that now you are aware of the stages involved in becoming a lawyer, and you can move in the right direction to achieve your goal. Stay tuned for more such law-related articles.