Career options after LLB

Once the exams for the 12th standard end, the real tussle for choosing the right career begins. Many may get admission in the college and course of their choice but many do lag behind. Amidst all these hustle-bustle, a student begins the journey towards his/her career. Law has always been the hot favourite career choice in our country. And it is justifiably so. In a country known for its lawyers like Mahatma Gandhi, Rajendra Prasad, and Soli Sorabjee, students are bound to choose this field of study. The history remembers Mahatma Gandhi for his knowledge and antics of winning a case. He single-handedly fought for the South Africans!

These days, most colleges take admission on the basis of the CLAT score. The government took the wonderful initiative by establishing national law schools which aim at providing education and training to the students. For a layman, the law might seem to be the study of rules and regulations and litigations but in reality, it is much more than that.  When people need justice, all they need is a good lawyer. There are people who get cheated by their relatives or cunning realtors. All they have confidence is in a lawyer.

Today, the role of a lawyer has become multi-directional. When a student gets admitted in three years LLB course or five-year-long LLB integrated course, he/she gets enough exposure to the world of law. From corporate laws to patent laws, there are a number of super specializations available to them. 

Potter Stewart, a well known American lawyer once said, outlining the importance of a lawyer: Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do”.These words themselves outline the importance of a lawyer in the making of a nation.

It is not that a law student has a limited number of career options as perceived by most people. Here, we have compiled a list of career options that a law graduate gets upon finishing the studies:

Career Opportunities and Job Scope after LLB

• Law Attorney in a Law firm: A law graduate gets this option most commonly. They can opt to work as a legal attorney or counsel for the clients in law firms. There are a number of law firms in our country. Many of them are well known for their legal knowledge and rate of clearing cases. As a matter of fact, our country needs more lawyers who believe in solving cases rather than wasting years on them. Our courts are already over-flowing with cases. So, when a good law student who is passionate to study cases and search for speedy ways of settling ways are found by these firms, they are instantly hired. Some of the most famous law firms in our country are:
  • Khaitan & Co.
  • Trilegal
  • S & R Associates
  • Talwar Thakore and Associates
  • Trilegalf
  • Shardul Amarchand Mangal Das and Co.
  • J Sagar and Associates.
  • Cyril Amarchand Mangal Das and Co.
  • Law graduates can apply to these firms soon after finishing their course. They will get good exposure and experience.
• Legal Advisors for Banks/Companies/Individuals/Business Enterprises: The mentioned establishments prefer to have a personal legal advisor against a particular firm handling their all cases. Law graduates can choose to be a personal advisor to a number of people. However, this usually happens for experienced ones. As a fresher, you can choose to start your own practice b clearing the exam conducted by Bar Council of India. After that, you will get the license to practice the law. 
• Social Workers: These days, violation of human rights has become disgracefully common. Poor farmers are losing their fields, little-known science enthusiasts are not given patents for their inventions and not to mention the ever-present issue of forests and tribals. So, when the NGOs working for these people get a lawyer, they are better equipped to deal with the case in the court. Law graduates with an inclination towards social work can join the NGOs or can start one of their own. This way, they can really make a difference in people’s lives. Along with a number of national-level NGOs like smile foundation and Kailash Satyarthi’s Bachpan Bachao Andolan, even the international ones need lawyers for their international offices. Just imagine the number of litigations that NGOs involved in environmental protection face. You will get to hear that they get show cause notices every now and then by builders or businessmen and likewise. They definitely need an informed lawyer who can put forth their point of view assertively. Even organizations like WHO and UNESCO need lawyers in every country. 
• Civil Services: Law graduates make a huge proportion of candidates appearing for civil services exams. Their strong knowledge base of the legal matters make them the perfect candidate. Along with the UPSC and state civil services exams, they can also apply for the post of legal advisors in different government organizations. As a matter of fact, civil servants are the real brain behind the legal and administrative reforms all across the country. A student’s strong understanding of the legal framework will be really helpful in this regards. He/she will be already known to the judicial steps that are allowed and also about the restrictions. As a law student, he/she will be better equipped to notice the loopholes in the system and work towards its correction.
• Judicial Services: Law graduates can also appear for the judicial services exams. These exams are conducted by the high courts. Upon selection, they will be appointed as judges. According to an estimate, there is 2.8 crore pending cases in courts all over the country. It is just because of the lack of judges. We currently need 15,000 more judges who can handle the civil and criminal cases in courts all over the country. If you wish to have a permanent job with the advantage of connecting with people directly, this should be your call. As a judge, you can work towards easing the pressure of cases from the courts. Also, with your good sense of judgment, you can contribute towards the welfare of people.
• Academic Roles: Law professors are needed for the law schools. If you are more into teaching and research, you can opt for LLM and then clear NET. After that, you will become eligible to teach in colleges across the country. Institutes are in dire need of good professors who can keep themselves updated with the recent updations of the law. As for example, a professor who can keep himself informed about the patent laws will be a definite choice for institutes specializing in teaching this course. Not only that, as a professor, you will get the opportunity to conduct research and organize seminars and conferences. Your area of expertise will definitely increase with increasing global exposure.
• In Media Houses: Media houses are always the centre of litigations. They need lawyers who can handle their cases. Not only that, there are many magazines that offer legal advice to their readers. Lawyers are needed there. There are some magazines that are solely based o  the legal aspects. As a lawyer, you can contribute to their research, development, and editing. You can work as the legal writer or editor there. You can search for opportunities in magazines like the lawyer monthly magazine, the student lawyer magazine and precedent magazine.
• Starting own Law Firm: This is the most orthodox of all suggestions. Traditionally, lawyers do this only after serving in a firm for several years and after establishing themselves. But with the advent of the IT era, we have modified the concept of the firm. Instead of a typical brick and mortar establishment, you can start an online website that offers legal advice. This will need the investment of just a laptop and an uninterrupted internet connection. Initial periods can be tough. But as more and more people will get to know of your website, you will get more views and more clients. You can introduce the online payment method for your services. Similar services have been introduced in the medical field.
• Work as a Law Clerk: Judicial clerks are responsible for assisting the judges in making legal decisions before the court. Their main job is to research, brainstorm and conclude about a particular case. As a judicial clerk, you will gain invaluable experience and exposure.

These are the major career options that are available to the law graduates. Legal personnel is known by their black coats and the ability to mould the law to suit their needs. But what the country really needs is an honest and hard-working lawyer. If you feel you have got the fire within you and the passion to serve people, the legal field is the best choice for you. Take the inspiration of Mahatma Gandhi who used his deep understanding of the law to make India independent. Once you finish your studies, gauge your own interest and invest your time and efforts in the right directions. We wish you all the very best for your future endeavours!!!