Career Prospects for Law? Starting Salary.
The legal profession has undergone a sea change over the last decade. Especially in the field of corporate law as the rules governing companies have been virtually rewritten with the opening up of the market in the last decade. The changing face of corporate law is increasingly catering to the specific requirements of each organization – large or small. If you can figure out the core functions of an organization, you can tailor the generic law to suit their requirements.
Demand for lawyers with experience in securities and transactions, is growing in proportion to changes in the global marketplace. While till some time ago, only major companies transacted international business, even small players are now involved in foreign transactions necessitating the services of corporate lawyers who are well-versed with International law.
India being a common law country has an advantage of having a legal system which is similar to many other jurisdictions / countries of the world. As a consequence, firms from other countries visit the top law schools to hand-pick talent. Singapore based firms are very aggressive on Indian hiring. With international offers, the remuneration also raises manifold. With the foreign law firms being allowed to practice in India in the next few years the salaries are all set to see new highs.
While law firms offer big opportunity early in life along with a very respectable remuneration they are known to be tough task-masters with most of the law firms having high work load.
Litigation
Litigating Lawyers start small as they need years of experience in the courts of law to establish themselves. They typically associate themselves with some senior lawyers and assist them with cases. Once established on their own, litigating lawyers have the potential of making the maximum money. The most popular litigating lawyers charge to the tune of six digits (INR) for every court appearance that they make only sky is the limit for them. However, success in Litigation requires a lot of patience, hard-work, subject expertise, experience and relationship building. Thus, it does not have a predictable success formula following which anybody can be successful.
Joining in-house Legal Teams
Becoming an in-house lawyer has also been becoming a popular option as many of the bigger organizations have their own team of lawyers to deal with the everyday matters. The role is similar to other managerial functions within any typical organization however the focus remains on legal matters and there is scope for steady growth.
One, who wishes to become an advocate and practice law as a profession in India, should enroll with the local State Central Bar council. An application for admission as an advocate shall be made in the prescribed form to the State Bar Council within whose jurisdiction the applicant proposes to practice. The Bar Council of India and the State Bar Councils forms a self contained code of law for legal professionals practicing in India. Lawyers can find employment in a variety of positions in the Government Service as well as other fields. Lawyer can also work as legal counsel and legal advisers for firms, organizations and families. They can work as trustees of various trusts, as teachers, law reporters, company secretary and so on. Opportunities exist in the defence services too.
Additional qualification along with law degree offers scope for a wide range of employment opportunities.
1. Government Services 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 is 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 takes place periodically & is advertised as and when the vacancies occur.
2. Magistrate and Sub-Magistrate A candidate who qualifies in the Law Service Commission or State Public Service Commission is eligible for appointment as Magistrate and Sub-Magistrate ( munsif). While magistrate presides over criminal court, munsif delivers judgment on civil cases. Promotion may take a person higher up to sub-judge, District and Sessions Courts Judge and further (depending upon seniority and vacancy) to appointments in High Courts and the Supreme Court.
3. Public Defenders at the state, federal and local level, public defenders serve as court-appointed attorneys for those who cannot afford an attorney.
4. Public Prosecutor Govt. Pleaders represent the State in sessions courts and lends advice to officers in districts in all legal matters when called for.
5. Solicitor Advices the government on legal matters and submit statement of important cases to Attorney General of India for his opinion or appearance in the Supreme court as necessary. A Solicitor General makes sure that the Attorney General performs his duties properly.
6. Attorney General Attorney general appointed by the president advices the government of India on such legal matters as may be assigned to him by the president. He has the right of audience in all courts of India and participates in the proceedings of Parliament without the right to vote.
7. Advocate General Similar to the post of Attorney General at centre, each state has an Advocate General appointed by State Governors. These offices generally prosecute cases that have state-wide significance and work with local District Attorney's offices in the prosecution of cases. One of the best ways to gain trial experience quickly after graduation is to work at a state attorney's office.
8. District Attorney Assistant State Attorneys (also called district attorneys) are primarily responsible for criminal matters and prosecution. The District Attorney is usually an elected official. Depending upon the size of the District Attorney's office, they may have multiple units that focus upon different types of crime such as domestic violence, homicide, appellate work or sex crimes. If you work with a smaller District Attorney's office, you may have the option of handling diverse caseloads.
9. Notary, Oath Commissioner A notary is a legal practitioner of at least ten years experience in the profession. He is appointed on application to Central, State government to draw, verify, authenticate, certify and attest the execution of any deed. Oath commissioner is another established authority similar to the notary.
10. Legal Advisers Public sector undertakings and state and central government organizations also employ lawyers as advisers.
11. Other fields Lawyer can also work as legal counsel and legal advisers for firms, organizations and families. They can work as trustees of various trusts, as teachers, law reporters, company secretary and so on. Opportunities exist in the defence services too. Additional qualification along with law degree offers scope for a wide range of employment opportunities.
12. Defence Service They can work in the legal branches of defence departments such as the Indian army, Navy and Air force. They conduct courts of enquiry and court martial of offending service personnel governed by the particular legislation acts.
13. Legal Advisors They work in legal departments of firms or for private clients. Legal advisors counsel their clients as to their legal rights and obligations and suggest the appropriate course of action in business and personal matters. They also check deeds, issue writs, collect information for affidavits and draft legal documents.
14. Advocate An advocate practises in the court of law. He represents a party (individual, group of individuals or a company) in a court of law. They present the facts of the case to the judge, cross examine witnesses and finally sum up the reasons as to why the court should decide in their clients' favor.
15. Solicitor is a kind of advisory to clients on a variety of matters that involves law. Solicitors explain the cases of his clients to the advocates. Solicitors need never appear in court directly. Solicitor's firms undertake cases related to their area of work.
16. Teacher Those with a good aptitude and taste for teaching can go for LL.M and take up job in any University or Institute offering law courses to students.
17. Writer if he has a flair for writing may act as an author and produce journals and legal commentaries and bring out law reports. They can write articles for magazines, news papers etc.
18. Company Secretary A law graduate and/or a member of the Institute of Company Secretaries can be employed as a company secretary in a firm.
Salaries of experienced attorneys vary widely according to the type, size, and location of their employer. Initially an articled clerk or apprentice earns a stipend of Rs 2,200/- This will increase substantially over years of experience. In the government judicial service salaries range from Rs 2,000-4,000 with a sub judge earning Rs 5,500 along with the usual allowances and perquisites applicable to government employees. This has now increased with the 6th pay commission. Most salaried lawyers are provided health and life insurance, and contributions are made on their behalf to retirement plans.
The private legal practitioner earns comparatively handsome amounts. Depending upon the laws school the domestic starting salaries for fresh graduated at law firms which are the favorite recruiters at law schools find a range between INR 30,000 to INR 100,000 per month. Interestingly, even the top offers in campus can be availed of by a smart fresher at the law school; as law schools do not have a concept of lateral entry almost the entire batch consists of students who have just finished their 12th grades. Thus, by the age of 23, a fresh law graduate has the potential of making very decent amount of money; unlike most other career options.