A CHAPERONE ON CIVIL LAW AS A CAREER

1. What is Civil law and who are Civil Lawyers?

Civil law has gained momentum in the recent past.Likewise, a civil law is a law concerned with private relation between members of a community rather than criminal, military or religious affairs. The Indian Legal System has envisaged a principle that whenever the citizen’s rights are infringed or invoked or curtailed, the matter is adjudicated in a civil court by a civil lawyer by filing a civil suit.Civil Law is the branch of law which deals with issues that are non-criminal in nature such as Family Law, Constitutional Law, Service Law, Company Law, Insolvency, Banking and Finance Law, Recovery Suit, Consumer Law, Property Suit, Wills and Probate, Enforcement of Decrees etc.

Civil lawyers or attorneys are advocates who are most commonly referred to as litigators. They work primarily on civil lawsuits filed in civil courts, but they may also act as an arbitrator and mediator.Civil lawyers appear before various courts in India namely District Court, High Court, Supreme Court, Consumer Disputes Forum, Central Administrative Tribunal, and Appellate Tribunals for Electricity, Telecom Disputes Settlement, Company Law Board, Competition Appellate Tribunal, Customs and Excise Tribunals and more. The Civil Lawyers are endowed with strong court craft skills, legal acumen, and ability to understand and address problems and provide cost effective solutions for them in a timely manner to their concerned client.

Therefore, Civil law consists of matters that are non-criminal and Civil Lawyers are the ones who advise, appear and handles civil litigation procedures in various tribunals and courts of the country.

1. Job Roles Available as Civil Lawyer

Here are the enlisted options for a Civil Lawyer to obtain after having completed their education either in 3 or 5 year LL.B course. Based on their specialisation and interest, one can choose anyone from the below options, such as

1. Journalist – one can jumpstart their legal career by writing regular columns to aware the mass of their legal rights and help them get their legal claims.

1. Professor – law graduates with a Ph. D in Civil Law can also choose to be a professor by delivering lectures in law colleges to teach the undergraduates and post graduates.

1. Assistant Solicitor General – also known as AG, helps the Solicitor General in preparing accusations for trials. It involves researching, interpreting and compilation of complex information related to civil matters.

1. Solicitor General of India - Solicitor General of India is the second-highest law officer of the country after the Attorney General and the primary job role of the S.G is to appear in courts on behalf of the Govt. of India during legal claims. One needs to have at least 5 years of experience as a Judge of High Court and should have been an advocate of High Court for at least 10 years. President of India elects the Solicitor General of India. This is one of the most prestigious and glorified job for a Civil Lawyer.

1. Social Worker- one can also choose to become a social worker in the best interest of the right and liberties of a common man. You can either open or work in an NGO to help the aggrieved people of their rights.  

1. Pay Scale

For an early career/ fresher can earn up to INR 10,000/- to INR 20,000/- on an average per month. However, with more significant time and experience one can withdraw up to INR 2,00,000/- to INR 4,00,000/- per month. Civil Lawyers are appointed as Solicitor General or working with the Government of India and withdraw a salary of INR 80,000 to INR 90,000 per month with added advantages and perks.

1. Advantages of Civil Lawyer

1. By working on a private front with your respective clients, you tend to develop close working relations with your client which proves to be pretty rewarding when hunting for a suitable solution.

1. It offers ultimate job satisfaction when you achieve what is best suitable for your client. It is a way to give it back to the society.

1. One of the most significant advantage is that Civil Lawyers are paid really well with more incredible experience. Along with this they also enjoy more lavish perks and bonuses.

1. While dealing with different clients on a day to day basis, finding solutions to various complex problems proves to be challenging unlike other mundane routine jobs. This continually keeps ones brains functioning.

1. Disadvantages of a Civil Lawyer

1. Every job profile has certain disadvantages. Most of civil lawyers have to work on a personal basis with their clients and this can at times be very demanding and exhaustive while dealing clients.

1. This field requires a lot of patience both while dealing with your clients and while escalating in your career. If you are impatient, this is not for you.

1. There are no fixed hours or work- life balance in the career of not just a civil lawyer but a lawyer of any type.