Career in Law
A career in law can be a challenging and rewarding profession. Here are some career paths in law:
- Litigation Lawyer: A litigation lawyer represents clients in court proceedings and handles all aspects of the trial process, including drafting pleadings, conducting legal research, and arguing cases before judges and juries.
- Corporate Lawyer: A corporate lawyer works for corporations and advises clients on legal issues related to business operations, contracts, mergers and acquisitions, and regulatory compliance.
- Intellectual Property Lawyer: An intellectual property lawyer specializes in patents, trademarks, and copyrights, and advises clients on protecting their intellectual property rights.
- Public Interest Lawyer: A public interest lawyer works for nonprofit organizations, government agencies, or advocacy groups, and represents clients who may not have access to legal services.
- Law Professor: A law professor teaches law students at law schools and universities, conducts legal research, and publishes scholarly articles and books.
- Legal Consultant: A legal consultant provides legal advice to businesses and individuals on various legal matters, such as contract negotiations, property transactions, and dispute resolution.
To pursue a career in law, one must complete a law degree from a recognized institution and clear the bar exam. After that, they can work in various sectors such as private practice, government, non-profit organizations, and corporate sectors. The field of law offers a diverse range of career opportunities and allows individuals to make a positive impact on society.
Which Law course should I choose?
Choosing the right law course depends on your career goals and interests. Here are some of the popular law courses in India:
- 5-year Integrated Bachelor of Law (B.A. LL.B.): This is a popular course for those who want to start their legal career right after completing their higher secondary education. The course combines a bachelor's degree in arts or social sciences with a law degree.
- 3-year LL.B.: This is a traditional law course that can be pursued after completing a bachelor's degree in any stream. It is ideal for those who want to specialize in a particular area of law.
- Master of Laws (LL.M.): This is a postgraduate degree that can be pursued after completing LL.B. It is ideal for those who want to specialize in a particular area of law, such as international law, intellectual property law, or corporate law.
- Master of Business Law (MBL): This is a specialized course that focuses on the legal aspects of business and commerce. It is ideal for those who want to work in the corporate sector.
- Master of Corporate Law (MCL): This is a specialized course that focuses on corporate law and regulations. It is ideal for those who want to work in the corporate sector.
- Master of Intellectual Property Law (MIPL): This is a specialized course that focuses on intellectual property laws and regulations. It is ideal for those who want to work in the field of intellectual property rights.
You should choose a course that aligns with your career goals and interests.
What are the Major Law exams I need to take?
Here are some of the major law exams that you need to take to pursue a career in law in India:
- Common Law Admission Test (CLAT): This is a national level entrance exam conducted for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate law programs in National Law Universities (NLUs) and other participating universities.
- All India Law Entrance Test (AILET): This is a national level entrance exam conducted by National Law University, Delhi for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate law programs.
- Law School Admission Test India (LSAT India): This is a standardized test conducted by the Law School Admission Council for admission to various law colleges in India.
- Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET): This is a university-level entrance exam conducted by Symbiosis International University for admission to undergraduate law programs in Symbiosis Law Schools.
- Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MH CET Law): This is a state-level entrance exam conducted by the State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate law programs in the state.
- Delhi University Law Entrance Test (DU LLB Entrance Exam): This is a university-level entrance exam conducted by the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi for admission to undergraduate law programs.
These are some of the major law exams in India that you need to take to pursue a career in law.
CLAT Exam
CLAT stands for Common Law Admission Test. It is a national level entrance exam conducted for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate law programmes offered by various participating National Law Universities (NLUs) in India.
The exam is usually held in the month of May every year and is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities. The exam tests candidates on various topics such as English, Mathematics, Logical Reasoning, Legal Aptitude, and General Knowledge.
CLAT is highly competitive and requires a lot of preparation to crack. It is considered to be one of the toughest entrance exams in India.
Once a candidate clears the CLAT exam, they can apply for admission to various law programmes offered by the participating NLUs based on their rank and preference.
CLAT EXAM PATTERN
The CLAT exam pattern for undergraduate (UG) programme admission is as follows:
- Mode of exam: Online (computer-based test)
- Duration of exam: 2 hours
- Number of questions: 150 multiple choice questions (MCQs)
- Marking scheme: Each question carries 1 mark and 0.25 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer
- Sections:
- English Language: 28-32 questions
- Current Affairs, including General Knowledge: 35-39 questions
- Legal Reasoning: 35-39 questions
- Logical Reasoning: 28-32 questions
- Quantitative Techniques: 13-17 questions
Note: The number of questions in each section may vary slightly.
Sections:
- For postgraduate (PG) programme admission, the CLAT exam pattern is as follows:
- Mode of exam: Online (computer-based test)
- Duration of exam: 2 hours
- Number of questions: 120 MCQs
- Marking scheme: Each question carries 1 mark and 0.25 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer
- Sections:
- Constitutional Law: 40 questions
- Jurisprudence: 50 questions
- Other law subjects such as Contract, Torts, Criminal Law, International Law, IPR etc.: 30 questions
Note: The number of questions in each section may vary slightly.
National Law Universities (NLUs) in India :
- National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru
- National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR), Hyderabad
- National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal
- West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata
- National Law University (NLU), Jodhpur
- Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur
- Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar
- Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU), Lucknow
- Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Patiala
- Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna
- National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi
- National Law University Odisha (NLUO), Cuttack
- National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi
- National Law University and Judicial Academy (NLUJA), Assam
- Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU), Visakhapatnam
- Tamil Nadu National Law School (TNNLS), Tiruchirappalli
- Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai
- Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Nagpur
- Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Aurangabad
- Dharmashastra National Law University (DNLU), Jabalpur
- Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla
- Madhya Pradesh Dharmashastra National Law University (MPDNLU), Jabalpur
- Karnataka State Law University (KSLU), Hubballi
Note that the last one, Karnataka State Law University, is not an NLU, but rather a state-level law university.
