It is well known that it took us a long time to evolve from a species that believed in ‘survival of the fittest’ to a society that believes in ‘Equality’. And in order to ensure that it stays like that, we made rules that no one was allowed to break. So these rules became law – the laws that protect us, the laws that gave us our rights and the laws which help us remain humans.
As law became the centre of everything, the study of law gradually global gained popularity. The study of law has also been the forte of our freedom fighters as well, like Babasaheb Ambedkar was a lawyer. So was Mahatma Gandhi. And if we are to name all our heroes who studied law, the list will never end. But the question still hangs – “What to do after LL.B.?”
Once perceived as dull and least lucrative, the law field today has become one of the most sought-after professions for those who wish to make it big in life. From becoming an advocate to occupying a top-level position in a corporation, a LL.B. degree presents you with infinite possibilities. In this article, we are going to look at a few career options after LLB.
Career options after LLB: Litigation
The first answer to expect when you ask someone about the career options after LL.B. is becoming ‘an advocate’. As per the standard definition, an advocate is “a person, who assists, defends, pleads or prosecutes for the cause of another before the courts. To start with court practice, one must after completion of law course, appear in All India Bar Examination (AIBE) conducted by Bar Council of India – the statutory body which regulates the legal profession in India. After successfully clearing the examination, the law graduates are provided with a Certificate of Practice by BCI which allows the law graduate to complete their journey from classroom to courtroom.
Career options after LLB: Legal Advisor
Suppose, the government is about to present a new bill. Whom do you think they will consult for advice before taking it to the house of people? The most common answer would be ‘A Legal Advisor’.
Thus, a legal adviser is a law professional who is capable of providing legal advice to his or her clients. He or she must be an expert in the field and are often consulted to avoid legal conflicts or litigation. They are hired by corporations, business organizations, and government institutions.
Being a part of the government, they hold various positions like legal advisors to elected representatives of political parties, legal officers in government institutions, etc. Whereas in business organizations, they serve as legal consultants or corporate lawyers. Many legal consultants also offer independent services to their clients.
Having an LL.B. degree is the minimum qualification to become a legal advisor. But to get hired by a government or corporate or a private business enterprise, you will need a few years of experience and also incredible talent.
Career options after LLB: Judiciary
Let us now go to the top hierarchy of this beautiful profession. That is where higher-ranked law professionals like magistrates and judges are. They are the individuals who hold the highest authority in a court and are responsible for making decisions after the hearing of a case in the court.
But, how to become a judge/magistrate in India? Here, you must know, there are lower-level judicial services and higher-level judicial services.
The entry point of lower judiciary is through the judicial service examination being conducted by high courts or by the public service commission of states. The exams include three stages. namely, the preliminary, the mains, and personal interview. The waiver of mandatory 3 years’ court practice has opened the window for a fresh law graduate to become a judge.
With regard to higher Judiciary, the entry point is generally Additional District Judge (ADJ). After completion of 7 years’ court practice, one becomes eligible for appearing in the competitive examination of Higher Judiciary. After completion of 10 years’ practice, one becomes eligible for appointment as High Court Judge.
Career options after LLB : Join JAG in the Indian Armed Forces
What about the option of joining the army? Not as a trooper on the field, but as a law professional. Yes, you heard it right! Indian army has a wing of law professionals known as the Judge Advocate General branch. This branch includes legally-qualified army officers. JAG corps of officers take care of all law-related matters for the army. Their responsibilities include representing the army in certain matters as well as assisting the presiding officers in case of court-martials.
Nearly all officers of JAG corps start their career as army lawyers. Just like a civilian advocate, they represent either the defense or the prosecution during court-martials. Officers under this entry are mostly law graduates and they work exclusively with military personnel. JAG officers can work within any branch of the Indian armed forces.
The recruitment to this legal wing is through Service Selection Board (SSB), which generally is of 5 days at different SSB centres of Indian Army followed by Medical test of those who qualify SSB. So, if you are passionate about serving the nation, JAG after LL.B. is something you can surely think about.
Career options after LLB: Corporate Lawyers
With all those countless norms, agreements and transactions, how can the corporate world run without lawyers? The fact is that they have a group of lawyers who specializes in corporate law and they are entrusted with the vital functioning of the company legal compliances.
In the role of a corporate lawyer, one will be expected to ensure that the company functions within the framework of general as well as corporate roles, act as a legal advisor in case of disputes, establish terms of agreements between the company and its stakeholders. One can become a corporate lawyer by completing the LL.B. course and also specializing in corporate law by the way of hardcore corporate internships while pursuing the law course. A few years of experience in corporate law will help you climb the success graph at a much faster pace. Generally, law graduates join as Legal Associates in the corporate field.
Higher studies: Academics
LL.M. is a post-graduate program in law. An LLB degree or an equivalent qualification is the minimum requirement to join LL.M. Therefore, if you are done with your LLB and are not planning to take up a job, LL.M. is a good choice. This one -year program allows a law graduate to go deeper into the subject. People who usually go for LL.M are determined to make a career in academics as after completion of LL.M. one becomes eligible to take National Eligibility Test (NET) examination and those who qualify NET become eligible for appointment as Assistant Professor in Government and private Law Colleges.
Career after LLB: In -House Counsel
In the wake of the recent globalization and expansion in matters of trade and commerce which involves a lot of legal compliances for smooth running of companies, the requirement of in-house counsel has been felt by the corporates. In such cases, an in-house counsel becomes an integral part of a corporate and can be termed as the first point of reference for all legal points and compliance. So it is that the post brings good lucrative benefits coupled with equal responsibility.
Conclusion
That brings us back to the question – what to do after LLB? As we have seen above, a number of choices await you after LL.B. From becoming a corporate lawyer to joining the army, the possibilities are just too many. The choice, however, depends on who you are and what you want to become. After all, you need to give ears to what you really need to do.
We hope this illustrated analysis has powered up your insights and widened your perspectives about the career options after LL.B.. Here, you must always remember that you are the architect of your destiny. So, make sure that you invest time and thought before making your life-changing decisions.
