How to Become a Lawyer: A Comprehensive Guide

How to Become a Lawyer? Lawyers are licensed and trained professionals who are responsible for preparing and managing drafts as well as prosecuting or defending a court of action. However, becoming a lawyer is a tough nut to crack, but with commitment and dedication, the journey is rewarding.

This article addresses some commonly asked questions concerning the legal profession as well as how to become a lawyer and what these professionals do.

What Does a Lawyer Do?

A lawyer is a qualified professional representing clients and giving legal advice on law-related issues. Lawyers practise law by offering legal services to businesses, individuals, governments, or non-profit organisations.

Here are some of the key duties of a lawyer:

• Researching and interpreting rulings, laws, and regulations.
• Drafting legal documents such as wills, contracts, and lawsuits.
• Advising clients on legal issues in courts as well as before the administrative board.
• Representing clients in courts before administrative agencies
• Negotiating settlements and deals.

Lawyers work in various settings like corporate legal departments, private law firms, non-profit organisations, and government agencies. They specialise in one particular area, such as corporate law, criminal law, patent law, family law, etc.

Eligibility Criteria to Become a Lawyer

Additionally, to practice law before the Supreme Court and certain High Courts, you may need to appear for an examination conducted by the respective court.

In order to become a lawyer in India, interested candidates must meet these eligibility criteria:

• You should have an LLB or equivalent law degree recognised by the BCI (Bar Council of India).
• A bachelor’s degree in any subject (three-year course)
• You should be an Indian citizen.
• You should be at least 21 years old.
• You should register as a BCI advocate within six months of obtaining your law degree.
• You need to crack the AIBE (All India Bar Examination) conducted by the Bar Council of India within 2 years of registration.

Moreover, to practice law before certain High Courts or the Supreme Court of India, you have to sit for an exam conducted by that court.

How to Become a Lawyer?

Follow the steps outlined below to become a lawyer in India:

Step 1: Complete 10+2

The foremost step is to complete 10+2 or higher secondary education in any stream – science, arts, or commerce. Subjects like political science, sociology, history, and economics will help build a solid general knowledge foundation for a career in law.

Step 2: Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree

You need at least a bachelor’s degree in any subject to be qualified for a law degree. The BA LLB integrated law programme right after Class 12 is a sought-after choice. Alternatively, candidates can pursue any three-year bachelor’s programme like BSc, BCom, BA, etc., then enrol in a three-year LLB course. Some fantastic options for undergraduate studies are:

• BA in Economics, History, Political Science
• BCom in Business Law, Accounting
• BSc in Criminology, Forensic Science

Select a stream that perfectly matches your specialisation of interest, like criminal law, corporate law, etc.

Step 3: Complete LLB Degree

The third step is to complete a three-year bachelor’s program in law. Some of the leading law colleges in India are:

Symbiosis Law School, Pune	National Academy of Legal Studies and Research, Hyderabad
Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar	The West Bengal National University of Juridical Studies, Kolkata
National Law University, New Delhi	National Law School of India University, Bangalore

During the LLB course, you’ll study civil law, constitutional law, family law, criminal law, tax law, cyber law, corporate law, etc. You’ll also develop analytical, writing, and legal research skills.

Step 4: Enrol with the Bar Council of India

When you complete the LLB course, you need to enrol as an advocate with the governing body – the Bar Council of India. It’s mandatory within six months of completing your graduation. For enrollment, you must submit the following:

• Application form
• LLB degree copy
• Class 10 and 12 mark sheets
• Eight passport-sized photographs
• Enrollment certificate fee

You’ll be issued an enrollment certificate with an enrolment number upon approval. It permits you to practice law in India.

Step 5: Appear for the AIBE Examination

Within 2 years of registration, you must qualify for BCI’s All India Bar Examination (AIBE). It’s a compulsory examination to continue practising law. It covers every major law subject and evaluates your competency. The All India Bar Examination is a 100 objective-type question paper of 1 hour duration. You must score at least 40% marks in order to pass. It’s conducted twice a year across 50 cities. Cracking the All India Bar Examination will certify you as a full-blown lawyer ready to practice law under the 1961 Advocates Act.

Step 6: Consider Advanced Law Degrees

Though not mandatory, you can consider pursuing advanced law degrees in order to specialise and advance your career in law:

• LLM: The two-year master’s degree permits you to specialise in criminal law, corporate law, IP law, etc.
• PhD: The doctoral program is completely research-focused and opens up career routes in legal academia.

Some of the best colleges offering PhD and LLM law degrees in India are the National Law School of India University, Bangalore, the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research, Hyderabad, and the West Bengal National University of Juridical Studies, Kolkata.

Step 7: Gain Hands-on Experience

Gaining practical experience is important when it comes to preparing for a thriving law career. Some options during or after the LLB programme are:

• Internships: Complete summer and winter internships at companies, law firms, and courts.
• Moot courts: Take part in college moot court competitions.
• Paralegal work: Work under a senior lawyer as a paralegal assistant.
• Legal aid clinics: Volunteer in legal aid clinics of colleges.

It will offer practical drafting, research, advocacy, and communication training – skills fundamental to legal practice.

What to Consider When Selecting a Law School

When choosing a law school, consider these important factors:

• Reputation and Recognition: Select an institution certified by the BCI and with a solid reputation for excellence in placements and legal education.
• Resources and Faculty: Look for a good faculty-student ratio, experienced staff, moot court facilities, libraries, etc.
• Network and Culture: Learn about the competition success, student activities, and alumni network, which specify the peer learning experience quality.
• Course Specialisations: Look for law colleges that match your interests, such as IP Law, business law, etc.
• Admission Criteria: Check the entrance examination, selection procedure, and eligibility criteria.
• Costs: Compare law programme fees, education loan facilities, and scholarships.
• Location: Consider your living expenses, distance from home, and placement opportunities in your city/town.

How Long Does it take to Become a Lawyer?

It takes about five to six years in order to become a lawyer after Class 12. You need to meet these educational criteria:

• Three years for a bachelor’s degree (BSc, BCom, BA, etc.)
• Three years for an LLB degree

Also, you must factor in:

• Six months to two years for gaining hands-on experience via paralegal work, internships, etc.
• Six months for enrolment procedure with the Bar Council of India post-LLB completion.
• One to two years for preparing and clearing the All India Bar Examination.

For five-year integrated law degrees such as BBA LLB, BA LLB, and BCom LLB, the duration after Class 12 is five to six years. The journey from your starting days of pursuing a bachelor’s to becoming a full-fledged lawyer takes an average of five to six years. With hard work, diligence, and persistence, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a lawyer after Class 12 within this timeframe.

Career Options after becoming a Lawyer

There are numerous career options you can choose from after becoming a lawyer in India:

• Law firm jobs: Work as a partner or an associate in law firms of all magnitude.
• Individual practice: Be an independent advocate handling legal opinions, litigation, drafting contracts, etc.
• Legal Academia: Teach law at law schools after completing your PhD.
• Government Jobs: Work in the legal division of government sectors.
• In-house Counsel: Offer legal services in an internal legal team of organisations.
• Alternative Careers: Explore policy making, corporate management, and journalism leveraging law background.

Conclusion

Lawyers enjoy job security, social prestige, career stability, and high-income potential. A lawyer earns an average salary of ₹60,000 monthly in India. With eight to ten years of legal experience, you can earn up to ₹95,700 a year based on your job role, organisation, and location.

The demand for lawyers will continue as businesses, individuals, and governments need legal services in diverse areas. So, remember the steps mentioned above and work hard to reap these benefits. All the very best!

How to Become a Lawyer- FAQs

Q- How many years took to become a lawyer?

After completing your higher secondary education, becoming a lawyer requires five to eight years of full-time study. Your chosen career path will determine how much time you actually need. It takes five years to earn a law degree if you decide to enrol in an integrated legal programme after completing your 10+2.

Q- What should I do after 12th to become a lawyer?

Law Bachelor (L.L.B.) with Honours Upon completion of the 12th class, an undergraduate degree in three years can be pursued. The student must take and pass an entrance exam as part of the selection process.

Q- How can I study to be a lawyer?

Students need to apply for law entrance exams like CLAT, LSAT, etc. after completing their 12th grade. They can be admitted to LLB, BA LLB, BBA LLB, BCom LLB, or BSc LLB programmes based on their entrance exam results. Following graduation, they can register for and pass the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) to begin practicing law.

Q- Is LLB enough to become a lawyer?

To become a lawyer, students must enrol in undergraduate law courses such as LLB, BA LLB, BBA LLB, or BSc LLB. Nonetheless, people have to pass legal admission tests such as the LSAT, AILET, CLAT, etc.