What are the career prospects in law?

Most people who study law hope to practice as professional lawyers. You may practice with a firm of lawyers, at the independent bar, or as a legal advisor in a company or in the public service. After completing the LLB, a graduate must serve a period of one year as an articled clerk. You are then qualified for admission as a legal practitioner, but must then work for another year (the ‘restricted practice year’) as an employee of a qualified lawyer or law firm before working independently.

There are different aspects to a lawyer's work depending on which field they specialize in. Here are a few examples.

Private lawyers focus on civil or criminal law, representing private individuals. In civil law, they pursue private law suits or litigation, or deal with wills, contracts, trusts, mortgages, leases, etc. A criminal lawyer career entails arguing a client's case in court, following the client being charged with a crime. Some lawyers only handle larger, public interest cases that have wider social importance.

Trial lawyers spend more time in court than other lawyers. However, the majority of their time is spent conducting research, interviewing clients and witnesses, and preparing for trial.
Corporate lawyers work solely for corporate clients and advise them on legal issues around their business activities. A career as a corporate lawyer might involve sorting out issues relating to contracts with other companies, government regulations, patents, etc.

Intellectual property lawyers help to protect clients' claims to copyrights, creative work under contract, product designs, and computer programs.

Patent lawyers advise their clients on patent law, which allows them to protect their invention of a new product or process. A career as a patent lawyer therefore requires a lot of research as a patent can only be granted if the product or process is new, inventive and capable of industrial application.

Insurance lawyers advise insurance companies about the legality of insurance transactions, writing policies that are legally correct. They also help to protect companies from unwarranted action by reviewing claims and representing the company in court.

Hi Mahesh,
Legal Secretary/Legal Assistant
Paralegal
Court Reporter
Lawyer (of course)
IT Specialist
for more details log onto www.hellolaw.net

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.

There are different aspects to a lawyer's work depending on which field they specialize in. Here are a few examples.

Private lawyers focus on civil or criminal law, representing private individuals. In civil law, they pursue private law suits or litigation, or deal with wills, contracts, trusts, mortgages, leases, etc. A criminal lawyer career entails arguing a client's case in court, following the client being charged with a crime. Some lawyers only handle larger, public interest cases that have wider social importance.

You may practice with a firm of lawyers, at the independent bar, or as a legal advisor in a company or in the public service. After completing the LLB, a graduate must serve a period of one year as an articled clerk. You are then qualified for admission as a legal practitioner, but must then work for another year (the ‘restricted practice year’) as an employee of a qualified lawyer or law firm before working independently.
There are different aspects to a lawyer's work depending on which field they specialize in. Here are a few examples.
Private lawyers focus on civil or criminal law, representing private individuals. In civil law, they pursue private law suits or litigation, or deal with wills, contracts, trusts, mortgages, leases, etc. A criminal lawyer career entails arguing a client's case in court, following the client being charged with a crime. Some lawyers only handle larger, public interest cases that have wider social importance.
Trial lawyers spend more time in court than other lawyers. However, the majority of their time is spent conducting research, interviewing clients and witnesses, and preparing for trial.
Corporate lawyers work solely for corporate clients and advise them on legal issues around their business activities. A career as a corporate lawyer might involve sorting out issues relating to contracts with other companies, government regulations, patents, etc.
Intellectual property lawyers help to protect clients' claims to copyrights, creative work under contract, product designs, and computer programs.