How do I become a lawyer in India?

 To become a successful lawyer in India, you will have to study law at one of the best LLB colleges in India. You will have the option of doing a 5-year LLB course or a 3-year LLB course.

Law Degree

If you are extremely certain that you want to pursue law as a career, you should opt for the 5-year integrated LLB course. It will extensively cover topics related to law and other subjects depending on your choice. It will also save you one year of education.

If you are not sure whether you want to pursue law as a career, then opt for a degree such as BBA, BCom, BA, BSc, etc. and then go for the 3-year LLB course. This is the best option for students who have graduated with an undergraduate degree in another field but want to switch to law after graduating.

Note that the 3-year LLB course is devoted to studies only about the law, unlike the broad spectrum of the 5-year course.

Entrance Examinations

If you want to get admission to India's best law colleges, you will have to appear for an entrance examination. Here are some of the common entrance tests for the 5-year LLB course-

• Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)

• Law School Admission Test (LSAT)

• All India Law Entrance Test (AILET)

• Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET)

Here are some of the common entrance tests for the 3-year LLB course-

• Law School Admission Test (LSAT)

• MH CET (Maharashtra)

• DU LLB (Delhi University)

After Graduation

After you have secured a graduate degree in law in India, you are ready to work for law firms and law offices across the country. Make sure to do internships while you are in college, as you need to accrue as much practical experience as possible to ensure you get a decent job after graduation.

Decide if you want to remain a lawyer or become an advocate. All advocates are lawyers, not all lawyers are advocates. An advocate is a lawyer who is registered with the Bar Council of India and can fight cases in court. A lawyer can only provide legal advice to businesses, individuals, etc.

If you wish to become an advocate, you need to enroll with the State Bar Council and appear for the All India Bar Examination. Only then will you be allowed to fight cases in court. 

Specializations in Law

You also can specialize in a specific field of law, which would help you enhance your knowledge. You can opt for an LLM degree at one of the best law universities in India. You can specialize in a field such as Criminal Law, Tax Law, Mercantile Law, Corporate Law, Civil Law, Environmental Law, etc.