How to Become Lawyer in India? Types of Lawyer, Eligibility, Skills

Harboring the dream of working as a lawyer at the Indian Judiciary demonstrates a strength of character and the willingness to contribute to society’s progress. Lawyers protect the rights of the citizens; hence, they occupy an indispensable position in society.

If you're wondering how to become a lawyer in India, this guide will walk you through the essential steps, qualifications, and skills needed to embark on this prestigious and impactful career path.

Definition of Lawyer

Also termed as an attorney or a counselor, a lawyer is a professional individual who, having received training in the legal field, can advise people on legal matters and, with some experience, can also represent clients in court. Depending upon their level of professional expertise, lawyers can be differentiated into advocates, solicitors, counselors, attorneys, barristers and so on.

If you're exploring how to become a lawyer, understanding these different roles is essential, as each requires specific qualifications and skills to effectively navigate the legal landscape.

What Does a Lawyer Do?

The professional responsibilities of a lawyer are diverse and vital to upholding justice and protecting clients' rights. If you're considering how to become a lawyer in India, it's important to understand the core duties involved in this profession:

1. Providing advice to clients

A lawyer’s first and foremost responsibility is to provide their clients with objective counsel on a matter requiring legal scrutiny. They should advise and inform the client about the applicable laws and the best way to secure their legal rights.

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2. Court representation of clients

For those wondering how to become a lawyer in India and practice as an advocate, court representation is a crucial duty. Lawyers present cases, argue on behalf of clients, and provide supporting evidence to strengthen their client’s position in legal proceedings.

3. Settlement of disputes

Skilled lawyers can sometimes settle a legal dispute without taking it to a trial. This helps resolve legal issues much more efficiently and quickly.

4. Protecting the confidentiality and rights of the client

As part of their ethical conduct, lawyers are expected to represent the best interests of their clients and never act in a manner that might conflict with the client, nor can they persuade the client to engage in any profitable business. They are also ethically responsible for safeguarding any information the client provides them to resolve their case. If you're serious about learning how to become a lawyer in India and wish to explore advanced legal expertise, consider enrolling in a Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) degree offered by Golden Gate University School of Law in partnership with upGrad. This program can help you delve deeper into the interdisciplinary aspects of law and prepare for senior roles in the legal field.

What Are the Eligibility Criteria Required To Become a Lawyer?

If you're exploring how to become a lawyer in India, understanding the necessary qualifications and educational pathways is essential. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Clearing Law Entrance Exams
   A crucial step in how to become a lawyer in India is passing recognized entrance tests like the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) or the All India Law Admission Test (AILET). These exams are mandatory for admission into top law schools and universities across the country.
2. Pursuing a Law Degree
   Once you clear the entrance exam, you have two main educational pathways:

• Five-Year Integrated Law Program: After completing higher secondary education (12th grade), aspirants can enroll in an integrated course combining a bachelor's and a law degree, such as B.A. LL.B., B.Com. LL.B., or BBA LL.B. from a recognized institute.
• Three-Year LL.B. Program: If you're wondering how to become a lawyer after graduation in India, you can first complete a bachelor’s degree in any discipline, and then pursue a three-year LL.B. program.

1. Advanced Legal Studies (Optional)
   To further specialize in the legal field, you can pursue a Master of Law (LL.M.) degree, typically lasting one to two years, depending on your area of focus.
2. Enrolling as an Advocate
   If you're specifically interested in how to become an advocate in India, you must register with the Bar Council of India (BCI) after completing your law degree. Passing the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) is mandatory to obtain a license to practice as an advocate in Indian courts.

By following these steps, you can fulfill the necessary qualifications for a lawyer in India and begin your journey toward a successful legal career.

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Types of In-Demand Law Specializations in India

Taxation Law

This specialized branch deals with taxation regulations through an in-depth approach. Students learn about the rationale behind a public authority levying a tax, the government’s taxation policies and solutions in case of default. 

Students learn about various kinds of tax laws such as income tax, sales tax, tax on real estate, property tax, services tax, corporate tax and so on. Furthermore, the curriculum involves learning about tax credits and deductions and documenting taxes.

Civil Law

The most popular area in law specialization, civil law, mainly involves rules and regulations for mitigating cases with no criminal aspect. It falls under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (CPC), which governs civil affairs in India. 

Civil lawyers must deal with disputes between organizations, individuals, families, and partnerships. In civil law, lawsuits are often solved through compensation and not the imposition of penalty or punishment.

Criminal Law

One of the most popular applications of law is to prevent and protect against crime. Not only do criminal lawyers have to learn about rules for preventing crime, but also about developing and modifying policies to safeguard against criminal offenses.

Business and Corporate Law

With the expansion of the corporate sector and the 1991 reforms of liberalization, privatization and globalization in India, the prospects of a career in corporate law have increased significantly. Corporate lawyers help businesses comply with corporate law regulations promulgated by the state and central governments and international regulations. 

Aspirants interested in expanding their knowledge of business law to international arenas can apply for the LL.M. in International Business & Finance Laws from GGU.

How to Become a Lawyer in India – Eligibility

Becoming a lawyer in India requires completing Higher Secondary Examinations and obtaining a degree in a law program from an authorized institute. Students can directly pursue it after completing either higher secondary education or graduation.

How to become a lawyer after 12th

To become a lawyer after passing the 12th or higher secondary examination, one must prepare for the entrance examinations for law institutes and colleges. 

At the undergraduate level, one must clear the Common Law Entrance Test or the Law School Admission Test, whichever applies to the chosen university. Irrespective of the stream — Humanities, Commerce or Science chosen by the candidate in their 10+2, they can pursue law. However, knowing the right kind of law course for the aspirant is essential.

Courses such as B.A. LL. B, LL.B., B.Com. LL.B. and B.Sc. LL.B. are nowadays quite popular. However, admission in these courses in most institutes requires a specific cutoff score in entrance exams like the CLAT or LSAT as universities prefer admission test scores in these exams, although some universities may offer seats based on class 12 scores, too.

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How To Become a Corporate Lawyer

Before you specialize in corporate law, you must gain the qualifications required to become a lawyer. You can either complete a five-year B.A. LL.B undergraduate degree or a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline you choose, followed by an LL.B degree. Then, you must clear the Bar exam, which the Bar Council of India hosts. This is imperative to test your knowledge of the legal procedures in India.

Following the clearance of the bar exam, you can apply for a corporate law position or gain some experience and skills as a lawyer before choosing to specialize in corporate law. To establish your specialization as a corporate lawyer, you can take up advanced corporate law courses or learn business management and leadership skills by working in mergers and acquisitions, real estate, corporate governance, etc.

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Skills Required To Become a Lawyer

Being a lawyer requires a comprehensive knowledge of the legal field and acquiring soft and hard professional skills. Excellent communication, analytical skills and networking are some of the transferable skills that a lawyer must acquire to succeed in their profession. Here are some of the essential skills that will enable a lawyer to advance in their career:

Being detail-oriented

A vital skill for lawyers paying minute attention to detail to identify inconsistencies in cases and to avoid discrepancies in legal documents like clauses and contracts is necessary. It can help lawyers succeed and avoid potential pitfalls due to unintended errors.

Organisational skills

The responsibilities of a lawyer can be immense, ranging from maintaining client records and documents to networking and attending meetings. Hence, keeping track of schedules and learning to sort duties according to priorities is crucial.

Analysis and research

Working on a case requires a significant amount of research to extract information. Furthermore, lawyers ought to analyze aspects of a case and infer the context of any legal issue. It contributes to the lawyer’s critical thinking and reasoning abilities, which help them provide the necessary guidance to the client.

Interpersonal skills

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Since lawyers have to interact with a variety of people from different social backgrounds, they need to develop interpersonal skills such as teamwork and the ability to connect and empathize with others to interpret other people’s perspectives correctly. 

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What Is the Difference Between an Advocate and A Lawyer? 

Conclusion

The blog has comprehensively covered all the points prospective law students ask “how to be a lawyer in India”. Law has become a lucrative profession, especially in the corporate sector. Individuals seeking to upskill and make a career in corporate law can enroll themselves in the LL.M. in Corporate & Financial Law from JGU, offered in partnership with upGrad. It is a first-of-its-kind LLM degree designed for working professionals looking to advance their careers. Visit the official website for more course-related information.