HOW TO GO FOR LEGAL PROFESSION

“A lawyer’s time and advice are his stock in trade”. - Abraham Lincoln

This article is written especially for those who are planning to enter the legal profession. The law profession is one of the highest paying and is most in demand. Knowing law means having the power to tackle any problem. Laws run our country, and not everyone has the knowledge of it, and that is why there is a high demand for lawyers who can advise the individual on their problem. As they say, a lawyer with a briefcase can earn more money than a robber with his gun. Knowledge has such immense power that can turn a poor to rich provided he devoted himself to hard work. Nehru, Gandhi, Ambedkar all were lawyers. Well, earlier there was less competition in the field of law, but with the modernisation, the competition has increased. Thousands of graduates pass every year, and they are allowed to practice in any court throughout the territory of India.

What qualification is required to get into the law profession?

Entry into the legal profession is quite easy. All you have to do is to complete your bachelor's degree in law, i.e., LLB (Legum Baccalaureus). This degree can be either of 3 or 5 years.  Many colleges are providing LLB courses, and such universities conduct entrance test and interviews for admissions. However, there are some really good colleges which are in high demand and getting admission into it and clearing its entrance test is not an easy job. 

Well, law course is one which provides you with the key to the profession but doesn't teach you how to unlock the path of success. It is up to you to use it in the right way. In other words, you will learn the laws, but the college doesn't teach you how to apply them in the real world. It is your practical experience which will teach you the proper use of it.

How to get enrolled?

The first step is to get enrolled in any of the State Bar Councils regulated by the Advocates Act 1961. Section 24 of the Act provides for the criteria of enrolment as an advocate. Furthermore, the said Act provides every state council to regulate its procedure for enrolment. After the registration is completed, the candidate has to clear AIBE (All India Bar Examination) conducted by the Bar Council of India. Candidates after clearing the examination get the certificate of practice which allows the candidate to appear before any court within the territory of India.

What are the skills required to be a good advocate?

1. Written and verbal skill: writing skill plays a crucial role when drafting legal documents or letters. Legal language is far different from general English. Therefore, it is important to hone in the legal language. Also, you need to be an excellent speaker to present your case in court. Without these skills, you will struggle to carry out the duties of an advocate effectively.

2. Ability to understand and interpret information: you should develop a strong mind to understand the client's problem and interpret the information provided by them. Their given facts are the base of the case which should be delivered to the court precisely. Moreover, clients come to you with their problem with a trust that you will solve it, so you are required to be personable and polite with them.

3. Ability to conclude: lawyers must have a sharp and active mind and think beyond the possibilities of the case. Being able to identify what is relevant out of the bunch of information is what you need. Make a research on your case and then conclude.

4. Teamwork: Working in a team generates nailing results. Don’t hesitate when your senior order you to team up with others instead utilise it and focus more on the best outcome. Nowadays, due to the workload, advocates are coming together and working as an associate for making several cases easy to handle by sharing it.

5. Patience: law is a profession where the learning process never ends. In your initial year, you have to scratch around to get work, or it is also possible that you will get work but won’t be earning much from it. 5-6 years of practice is required to hone in this profession. 

CONCLUSION

In the present scenario, law graduates have a variety of options available to them. Apart from litigation, they can join judicial service by clearing judicial service examination. There are several vacancies out there in various government sectors which call for lawyers such as teaching, judge advocate general in the Indian Army. There are options in the private sector also. One can get a job as a legal adviser in any company. Banking sectors are also appointing advocates to deal with their cases.