Tread on traditional or specialised pathways

Students can pursue legal education through various routes. Leading universities in India offer:

5-year Integrated Law Programmes: Such as BA LLB (Hons.) and BBA LLB (Hons.) after Class XII.

3-year LLB Programmes: For graduates from any discipline.

Postgraduate Studies: LLM (Master of Laws) and PhD programmes for those interested in specialisation or academia.

After completing their degree, students must pass the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) conducted by the Bar Council of India to practice law.

Essential skills

Beyond academic knowledge, successful lawyers must master

  • Legal Research & Drafting: Ability to craft compelling arguments and precise legal documents.
  • Tech Savviness: Familiarity with tools like SCC Online, Manupatra, LegitQuest, and AI-driven platforms.
  • Communication & Critical Thinking: Especially during client interactions, negotiations, and courtroom arguments.
  • Internships & Practical Training: Essential for gaining on-ground experience.
  • Students are encouraged to intern not just in trial courts or with senior advocates but also with national and international bodies like NHRC, SEBI, Competition Commission of India, United Nations, and Amnesty International. Interning with PSUs, government departments, and think tanks such as Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy or Centre for Internet and Society can offer unique insights into policy and governance.

With increasing focus on specialisation, niche areas of law have gained prominence. These include:

  • Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
  • Cyber Law and Technology Laws
  • Sports and Entertainment Law
  • Insolvency and Bankruptcy Law
  • Data Protection and Privacy Law
  • Mediation and Arbitration
  • Fashion and Media Law

Law firms and organisations value domain expertise, and compensation for skilled professionals in these areas is competitive with significant scope for growth.

A person holding LLB degree from any Indian university or college is not allowed to practice law in any foreign country except in very limited areas and that too after only obtaining the requisite qualification and permission.

Internships: Bridging theory and practice

Quality internships are vital for developing real-world legal competencies. If you join a law course then make sure that you intern with:

  • District Courts and Senior Advocates in High Courts or the Supreme Court of India
  • Ministries and law enforcement agencies
  • Statutory bodies like the National Human Rights Commission, SEBI, and the Competition Commission of India
  • Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) such as NTPC and GAIL and ONGC
  • Leading think tanks and research centres like the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy
  • International organisations such as the UN, ICJ and Amnesty International.

These internships provide hands-on experience and valuable exposure to the practical functioning of legal systems, both domestic and global.

The writer is HOD, School of Law, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar

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