Law Courses after Class 12th Overview
Law is considered as one of the most sought after career option once an individual completes his/her schooling. But is at as easy as said than done? Well the answer completely lies on your handwork and bit of knowledge regarding the sector.
we are up with a complete guide on law courses which you can opt after schooling.
There are 2 ways to get into the study of law
- After 12th (by opting for 5 years long Integrated Law course after 12th)
- After Graduation (by opting for 3 years long L.L.B. course after Graduation from any Discipline)
Let’s talk about the first method - Getting into the study of law right after class 12th
12th Science, Commerce and Arts stream students, who have cleared their Board examinations from a recognized board, are eligible to apply for Integrated Law course (5 years long program).
Some common examples of Integrated Law programs are-
- B.Sc. (different specializations) L.L.B.
- B.Com. L.L.B.
- B.A. L.L.B.
- B.B.A. L.L.B.
- B.Tech. L.L.B.
It is evident from the above courses that Integrated Law program is nothing but the combination of two Degree programs. One of the Degree programs is Law (L.L.B.). The other Degree varies and students may select an appropriate one that suits the stream that they pursued in 12th standard.
The Second way is to study law after completing Graduation
Another way to pursue Law Education is by selecting L.L.B. Course after graduation. L.L.B. is actually a PG course. Graduates from most branches and disciplines may pursue L.L.B. course. So, basically, after 12th, one has to go for any Graduation course and successfully complete it. After getting graduation Degree, one may go for L.L.B. Degree (3 years long program)!
Instead of going for regular L.L.B. program, Graduates may go for new Integrated programs like-
- M.B.A. L.L.B.
- M.Sc. L.L.B.
- M.Com. L.L.B.
Most of these Integrated programs are relatively new and are offered by few Institutes in India.
After obtaining an L.L.B. Degree or completing the Integrated Law program, Law graduates may even go for specialization by selecting Master’s courses- LL.M./M.B.L./M.B.A. etc.
Entrance Examination to watch out for
When it comes to Law Institutes the regulatory body is Bar Council of India. To get admission in reputed Bar Council approved institutes, one must appear for CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) examination. This test is conducted to evaluate candidates’ general English skills, legal aptitude, logical skills etc. Those who want to get admission in Integrated Law program or L.L.B. program must prepare for this test and score well in it. Some Private Institutes have their own Entrance examination to gauge the Legal Aptitude and skills of candidates.
Some Institutes also have minimum marks criteria set in case of 12th Board examination/Graduation program. It is generally 50% aggregate marks in main subjects.
Skills Required to Become a Successful low Professional
When opting for this field certain skills are a must.
Some of them are mentioned below
- Good communication skills
- Analytical, logical and reasoning skills.
- Quick thinking ( to prove one’s point)
- Confidence
- Investigative skills
- Good memory etc.
- Having a positive and pleasant personality will also help.
How to start low practice ?
After completing L.L.B./Integrated Law course, one may enroll with the Bar Council of India and start practice in India. But it is better to go for specialization, this can be done by pursuing L.L.M. Degree or other similar courses such as- M.B.L. (Master of Business Laws) etc.
Graduates may also go for other business oriented courses such as M.B.A., B.M.S., Diploma in Management course etc. Having managerial skills will help Law professionals land lucrative jobs in Corporate sector.
After L.L.B. or LL.M., you need to go through a process before you may start practicing Law in India. First of all, the candidate must possess a Law Degree from a recognized Institute. Also, the candidate in question should pass the enrollment qualifications of the Bar Council of the State where he/she wants to practice.
Scope and Career prospects
Job opportunities are available in abundance. After graduation, one may start private practice and start representing clients in the courts and appear for cases (after successful enrollment with Bar Council of India). But it would be better to work under senior Lawyers first, gain experience and then start private practice! Experience matters, when it comes to this field. Experience will come handy while scaling up career ladder.
Corporate sector also needs well qualified Lawyers. Business firms and Corporate houses need lawyers to look after various activities such as legal aspects of business, financial transactions, taxation, business laws, environmental laws etc. Usually big firms have legal team on their board that consists of a team of Lawyers. After graduation, one may land a good job in one such legal team belonging to corporate sector companies!
Another career option is of starting up consultancy services. By doing so, one could provide legal aid to variety of clients, consisting of people to corporate giants. Starting salary in case of a Lawyer working under a senior Lawyer is generally around 10 to 20k Rupees per month. But in case of Lawyers working for Corporate houses and in the Consultation Business, the salary is generally higher, around 30-50k Rupees per month. In case of Advocates representing the Government, salary is based on fixed Pay Band.
Summary of common job posts
- Corporate Lawyer
- Criminal Lawyer
- Property Lawyer
- Legal Consultant
- Advocate working for Government
- Judge
- Advocate with Private Practice
- Advocate working for Law firm
- Research professional
- Lecturer
- NGO/Social Activist
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