Job prospects
They can find employment in various courts of law,
in government service both Central and State government, as teachers, as legal
advisors in various companies, business houses, organisations etc. They also do
private practice as legal advisors, advocates, solicitors etc.
Career Options
One who wishes to become an advocate and practice law as a
profession in India, should enroll with the local State Central Bar council. An
application for admission as an advocate shall be made in the prescribed form
to the State Bar Council within whose jurisdiction the applicant proposes to practice.
The Bar Council of India and the State Bar Councils forms a self contained code
of law for legal professionals practicing in India.
Lawyers can find employment
in a variety of positions in the Government Service as well as other fields. Lawyer
can also work as legal counsel and legal advisers for firms, organizations and
families. They can work as trustees of various trusts, as teachers, law reporters,
company secretary and so on. Opportunities exist in the defense services too.
Additional qualification along with law degree offers scope for a wide range of
employment opportunities.
Government Services
Lawyers are
appointed in central services ( Indian legal service) through UPSC on grounds
of their experience in the field. Post covered under Indian legal service are
Law officers, Assistant Advisors, Dy. Legal Advisors and Legal Advisors.
State legal service appoints lawyers through SPSC exams in senior position in
State police/Revenue/Judicial Departments. The basic qualification is degree in
law, besides a degree in Arts / Science / Commerce / Agriculture. Average age
limit is between 21 to 30 years.
In the judiciary, the posts are that
of the magistrate, district and sessions judge, munsifs (sub-magistrate), public
prosecutor, solicitors, attorney general, advocate general, notary and oath commissioner.
There are also legal secretaries appointed in assemblies, law inspectors, legal
officers in banks, judicial members of income tax, sales tax and excise departments,
government advocates and staff in the registrar of companies' office. The examination
for these posts take place periodically & is advertised as and when the vacancies
occur.
Magistrate and Sub-Magistrate
A candidate who qualifies
in the Law Service Commission or State Public Service Commission is eligible for
appointment as Magistrate and Sub-Magistrate ( munsif). While magistrate presides
over criminal court, munsif delivers judgment on civil cases. Promotion may take
a person higher up to sub-judge, District and Sessions Courts Judge and further
(depending upon seniority and vacancy) to appointments in High Courts and the
Supreme Court.
Public Defenders
At the state, federal and
local level, public defenders serve as court-appointed attorneys for those who
cannot afford an attorney.
Public Prosecutor
Govt. Pleaders
represent the State in sessions courts and lends advice to officers in districts
in all legal matters when called for.
Solicitor
Advices
the government on legal matters and submit statement of important cases to Attorney
General of India for his opinion or appearance in the Supreme court as necessary.
A Solicitor General makes sure that the Attorney General performs his duties properly.
Attorney General
Attorney general appointed by the president advices
the government of India on such legal matters as may be assigned to him by the
president. He has the right of audience in all courts of India and participate
in the proceedings of Parliament without the right to vote.
Advocate
General
Similar to the post of Attorney General at centre, each state
has an Advocate General appointed by State Governors. These offices generally
prosecute cases that have statewide significance and work with local District
Attorney's offices in the prosecution of cases. One of the best ways to gain trial
experience quickly after graduation is to work at a state attorney's office.
District Attorney
Assistant State Attorneys (also called district
attorneys) are primarily responsible for criminal matters and prosecution. The
District Attorney is usually an elected official. Depending upon the size of the
District Attorney's office, they may have multiple units that focus upon different
types of crime such as domestic violence, homicide, appellate work or sex crimes.
If you work with a smaller District Attorney's office, you may have the option
of handling diverse caseloads.
Notary, Oath Commissioner
A notary is a legal practitioner of at least ten years experience in the profession.
He is appointed on application to Central, State government to draw, verify, authenticate,
certify and attest the execution of any deed. Oath commissioner is another established
authority similar to the notary.
Legal Advisers
Public sector
undertakings and state and central government organisations also employ lawyers
as advisers.
Other fields
Lawyer can also work as legal counsel
and legal advisers for firms, organizations and families. They can work as trustees
of various trusts, as teachers, law reporters, company secretary and so on. Opportunities
exist in the defense services too. Additional qualification along with law degree
offers scope for a wide range of employment opportunities.
Defence Service
They can work in the legal branches of defence departments such as the Indian
army, Navy and Air force. They conduct courts of enquiry and court martials of
offending service personnel governed by the particular legislation acts.
Legal Advisors
They work in legal departments of firms or for private
clients. Legal advisors counsel their clients as to their legal rights and obligations
and suggest the appropriate course of action in business and personal matters.
They also check deeds, issue writs, collect information for affidavits and draft
legal documents.
Advocate
An advocate practises in the court
of law. He represents a party (individual, group of individuals or a company)
in a court of law. They present the facts of the case to the judge, cross examine
witnesses and finally sum up the reasons as to why the court should decide in
their clients' favour.
Solicitor
Solicitor is a kind of advisor
to clients on a variety of matters that involves law. Solicitors explain the cases
of his clients to the advocates. Solicitors need never appear in court directly.
Solicitor's firms undertake cases related to their area of work.
Teacher
Those with a good aptitude and taste for teaching, can go for LL.M and take up
job in any University or Institute offering law courses to students.
Writer
If he has a flair for writing may act as an author and produce journals and legal
commentaries and bring out law reports. They can write articles for magazines,
news papers etc.
Company Secretary
A law graduate
and/or a member of the Institute of Company Secretaries can be employed as a company
secretary in a firm.
