Career Options

Introduction:

Gone are the days when Law was viewed as that privileged career option available to a restricted few or that career taken up by the male population or that which was taken up only by people adorning black and white robes. Today, with high-end globalization and with the surge of endless opportunities, Law presents a very attractive career option.

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Importance of Law:

The significance of Law in various spheres of everyday life is undisputed ranging from the framing of the Government's policy on combating terrorism to purchasing the smallest commodity in the market. Law regulates all aspects of civilized human living aiming to achieve social, economic and political order in society. All said and done, it is a career option that must be taken with due thought and regard to the impact and change one can bring about by the knowledge and expertise of Law.

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Emergence of National Law schools:

With the establishment of the Bar Council of India there has been a surge in the evolution of premier Law institutes or 'N' (National) Law schools all over the country. These institutions seek to impart a well-rounded and world-class education in Law and allied subjects through their integrated course. An admission to any of these Law schools is definitely an advantage and must be aimed at by every aspiring Law student.

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Career options in Law:

The evolution of Law as a profitable career option is nothing short of remarkable. No longer does one have to envision visits to the court to further their career rather, now, one can very well sit behind a sleek desk and conduct the legal affairs of some of the world’s multi-million dollar global giants. One can also envision getting pro-active in social issues and working at prestigious institutions like the United Nations and the World Bank or teach at the premier Law institutions across the world. Keeping in mind India’s legal system which is similar to that of several jurisdictions across the world, a career in Law in India acquires international dimensions.

The following are the non-exhaustive list of career options in Law:

Litigation or Advocacy:

This is a call to all those flamboyant speakers or people with effective oratory skills to actually see Law in action and justice delivered. Of course for all the public speaking skills one needs to back the talk with sufficient and A-rate legal research. The options which are available include:

Practicing in Court as an independent advocate.

Attaching oneself to senior counsels and assisting them with their practice until one starts on his own.

Joining a Legal firm which has a corporate and litigation department.

After several years of practice and expertise one can even look at becoming a judge in the High Court and Supreme Court!

One can choose to practice in areas of civil law or criminal law. This is of course, ‘the real lawyering’ though it is a tedious process, requiring several years of practice and networking with the initial returns being low. Nothing beats the thrill of presenting your case in court and winning it for your client!

Law firm:

This is the current trend as most Law graduates prefer to work in Law firms considering the high-flying salaries with all the perks. Working in a Law firm presents an opportunity of steady rise in the firm depending on one’s working capabilities. The various legal departments in the firm provide scope for expansion and specialisation in various areas of Law.

Corporate Counsel:

Working as an in-house lawyer in a corporate giant can be just as stimulating as one gets to regulate all the legal affairs of the company including negotiating contracts and resolving legal disputes. They have important positions in the company as they serve as Legal Managers or Legal Advisors.

Government jobs:

The Government also operates as per the dictates of Law and requires lawyers to assist in various legal service departments, to frame policies and to draft legislations. Lawyers are very much a part of the administration of the justice and the building blocks of a country. The department of Legal affairs in the Union Ministry of Law and Justice has provided for Indian Legal Services. This is an All India Service and the recruitment is done through UPSC. The Government posts include Law officers, Assistant Legal Advisors, Legal Advisors and the like.

Academic research:

An education in Law provides an expertise in the area of legal research which requires patience, hard work, genuine interest and passion for research. Opportunities are available in the form of posts of research assistants, lecturers and scholars to head research departments. Prestigious scholarships promoting research provide incentives to people interested in research in other countries like UK and the USA. Hence, this provides opportunities to pursue studies abroad.

People with the flair of teaching can take up posts of lecturers, professors and become part of faculty of leading Law schools.

Assistance in legal issues:

The distinction between the common man and a lawyer is the knowledge of Law and legal issues. Lawyers can advise people on various legal issues and provide assistance in resolving their disputes. They can do so by starting their own independent legal practice diversifying in several legal areas rather than specialising in one or can even serve as notary publics.

Legal Process Outsourcing:

The LPO boom in India is evident in the demand for cheap legal services by law firms, law corporations especially by those found in developed countries. Work is delegated to external counsel to complete assigned legal tasks such as research, drafting, and evidence related work and document review.

Opportunity in the field of business:

The globalized world of the twenty-first century provides ample opportunities in the field of business management. Equipping oneself with a MBA degree in addition to a Law degree makes the combination unbeatable in terms of earnings as well as status.

Fighting for social causes:

The true aim of Law is to bring about a social change, in the lives of the less empowered, the deprived and the discriminated. Opportunities for social advocacy are available through non-governmental organizations, human rights organizations and allied organizations like United Nations, Amnesty and UNICEF. One requires passion to fight for social causes without expecting any sort of returns. The present trend avers towards the setting up legal aid firms to help the cause of the underprivileged by providing them free legal aid.