Legal Education in India: An Overview with Options

Legal Education in India generally refers to the education of lawyers before the start of their practice.

Legal Education in India is offered at different levels by the traditional universities and the specialized Law Universities and Schools only after completion of an undergraduate degree or as an integrated degree course.

Law degrees in India are granted and conferred in terms of the Advocates Act, 1961, which is a law passed by the Parliament both on the aspect of Legal Education and also regulation of conduct of legal profession.

Under the Act, the Bar Council of India is the supreme regulatory body to regulate the legal profession in India and also to ensure the compliance of the laws and maintenance of professional standards.

In this regard, the Bar Council of India prescribes the minimum curriculum required to be taught in order for an institution to be eligible for the grant of a law degree. The Bar Council also carries on a periodic supervision of the institutions conferring the degree. It evaluates their teaching methodology and curriculum and, having determined that the institution meets the required standards, recognizes the institution and the degree conferred by it.

Traditionally the degrees that were conferred carried the title of LL.B. (Bachelor of Laws) or B.L. (Bachelor of Law). The eligibility requirement for these degrees was that the applicant already have a Bachelor's degree in any subject from a recognized institution. Thereafter the LL.B. / B.L. course was for three years, upon the successful completion of which the applicant was granted either degree.

However upon the suggestion by the Law Commission of India and also given the prevailing cry for reform the Bar Council of India came upon an experiment in which it was realised to establish specialized law universities solely devoted to legal education and raise the academic standards of legal profession in India.

This decision was taken somewhere in 1985 and thereafter the first law University in India was set up in Bangalore which was named as the National Law School of India University, Bangalore (NLSIU)  (popularly 'NLS'). These law universities were meant to offer a mulch-disciplinary and integrated approach to legal education. It was therefore for the first time that a law degree other than LL.B. or B.L. was granted in India. NLS offers a five years law course upon the successful completion of which an integrated degree with the title of "B.A.,LL.B. (Honours)" would be granted.

Those who wish to pursue Higher Studies in Law can also do Masters in Law i.e LLM. Still wish to climb higher? You can also do a PhD in Law offered by many Indian and foreign Universities.

Career options after acquiring a Law Degree: It is natural to take into consideration all the aspects related to any field before jumping into it. The education of Law though lucrative has many aspects to it that young people need to understand in order to make an informed decision. Education is followed by placement or starting a legal practice. What are the options available? What holds your interest? 

• Judge: Passes judgment after conducting the court proceedings and hearing  the concerned parties in Courts of Law.

• Solicitor: Lawyer who advises clients, represents them in the courts, and prepares cases for Sr. Advocates to try in higher courts.

• Criminal Lawyer: Specializes in criminal laws CrPC , IPC, Evidence Act and various other penal laws.

• Civil Lawyer: Specializes in civil laws e.g. Taxation laws, Excise laws.

• Notaries and Oath Commissioners: Lawyers who are licensed to attest documents and affidavits on oath.

• Legal Analyst: Works for corporate firms and analyses laws pertaining to the sphere of the company and its operation.

• Documentation Lawyer: Specializes in drafting various documents containing agreements, terms-conditions, case material, etc.

• Legal Journalist: Covers crime beats, legal proceedings in courts, arbitration courts, international courts and arbitration events.

• Corporate Lawyer/Legal Adviser: Offers consultancy to corporate firms regarding their legal obligations, duties, legal relations with other firms.

• Government Lawyer: Works for the government and in close coordination with the police.

• Law Teachers: With the growing number of Law Schools, teaching Law is a good career option.

• Defense Services: Lawyers can join armed forces in their legal departments as JAG (Judge Advocate General) officers.

• Public Prosecutor: Works as a representative of State in Criminal Courts in District Courts.