WHAT IS THE WORK OF A LAWYER?
A lawyer understands the law of the land, advises his/her clients on the legal advice they may need, represents the clients in courts if and when required, and even enables business transactions and draws up contracts.
Some lawyers work independently to setup their own private practice. Such a role is entrepreneurial in nature since it requires that the lawyer sets up his practice, solicits clients and ensures regular flow of work. This is in no way different from setting up one’s independent private business.
Some other lawyers work for existing law firms. Here they are not directly involved in soliciting clients but they serve clients that come in through the existing firm’s goodwill. Such lawyers work on a salary or other mechanisms that reward them on the contributions they make.
Lawyers also work in the legal cells of large organizations shouldering responsibilities to handle all legal work that exists in such organizations, which by the way is quite a bit. Large organizations have large legal cells employing several experienced and new lawyers.
In all these roles, lawyers perform the central role of using their understanding of law to make persuasive arguments for their clients through extensive research and paper work, help their clients comply with legal requirements and make arguments in the court room to persuade Judges, where necessary.
Find out about the different Career Options for Lawyers.
HOW DOES ONE BECOME A LAWYER?
One can become a lawyer by taking up a combined 5-year BA or BCom LLB course straight after class 12. This is the option for you if you are sure that you want to become a lawyer.
If you are not sure and are still considering other options and want to keep your options open, you can complete your BA or BCom and take up a three year LLB after graduation.
Both the entries require you to appear for Law entrance tests. For the five-year programme, you will take the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), an all India entrance examination conducted by 14 National Law Schools/Universities.
The 14 participating schools are: National Law School of India University, Bangalore (NLSIU), NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad (NALSAR), National Law Institute University, Bhopal (NLIU), The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata (WBNUJS), National Law University, Jodhpur (NLUJ), Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur (HNLU), Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar (GNLU), Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow (RMLNLU), Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala (RGNUL), Chanakya National Law University, Patna (CNLU), National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi (NUALS), National Law University, Orissa (NLUO), National University of Study & Research in Law, Ranchi (NUSRL) and National Law University & Judicial Academy, Assam (NLUJA),
Each of these colleges offers about 70 to 80 seats per year.
There are several other central and state level private and government universities that offer the five year programme. Symbiosis Law School and Amity Law School, for example. They hold their own entrance tests.
Find out about the Symbiosis Law Entrance Test - SET LAW.
Even three year programmes after graduation have their own entrance tests.
CAREER TRACK OF A LAWYER
Most lawyers develop specializations as they go along. In criminal law, they protect people who have committed crimes; in corporate law, they handle the legal aspects of an organization’s functioning; in intellectual property law, they help clients acquire patents and manage related conflicts; in labor law, they help clients address issues arising from the dealings between the management of an organization and its employees. Several other such specializations such as those related to managing divorce cases, sports cases, property cases etc., are available, which a lawyer can choose to specialize in.
Find out about the different Types of Lawyers.
