Unfortunately, there are way fewer female lawyers than male lawyers around the world. But it is time that changes!
More women need to enter the law. This is because as women, they have a voice and a perspective that could benefit other women. They can be role models to the next generation of women. They can promote equality and diversity in the workplace.
A lawyer is a very good profession. The role of a lawyer is to use the law to protect citizens and prosecute criminals. Lawyers do a great service to society. They also help citizens sort all their documents and legal matters. There are various specialisations of law:
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Administrative law
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Animal rights Law
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Civil law
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Consumer protection law
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Corporate law
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Criminal law
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Cyberlaw
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Environment law
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Family law
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Human rights law
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Intellectual property law
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Labour law
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Real estate law
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Tax law
You can become a lawyer by opting for an integrated B.A + Bachelors of Law (LLB) course after 12th grade. This is a 5-year course that combines your graduation and a law degree. You can also complete your graduation first and then complete your LLB. However, this will take 1-3 years longer, depending on your graduation course duration.
After this, you can opt for a Master of Law (LLM) degree to hone your skill. LLM is optional and not a requirement.
To gain admission into a law college, you will have to give any of the law entrance exams. 4 popular law entrance exams are:
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All India Law Entrance Test (AILET)
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Symbiosis Law Admission Test (SLAT)
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Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
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Maharashtra Common Entrance Test - Law (MC-CET)
You will gain admission based on your scores on the test. Additionally, you can choose to intern at court or volunteer for extra points.
The LLM course focuses on all aspects of society and law. You will study all subjects to help you better understand the law and the society around you. These include economics, political science, sociology, etc. You will also learn law-related subjects like criminal law, constitutional law and family law.
You are a lawyer once you have successfully cleared your finals in LLB. But to become an advocate with permission to practise law, you will need to pass the All India Bar Examination( AIBE). The exam is conducted annually by the Bar Council of India. You must first register as a lawyer in a state bar council to be eligible for the exam.
Once you pass the exam, start applying for jobs and gain experience. You can start with internships at law firms or any legal job at law offices. You can also practise independently. However, it is recommended that you first gain experience before going off on your own. In India, law firms offer a salary in the range of Rs 25-30 lakh per annum to Rs 150-200 lakh for experienced advocates. Even just graduated advocates get between Rs 5-10 lakh per year to Rs 18-20 lakh per year. It takes a lot of hard work to become a lawyer. So, if you think you want to become one, start by studying for the law school entrance exams. You can upskill with free courses by Glow & Lovely Careers (formerly known as Fair & Lovely Career Foundation) to help you prepare. Best of luck!