Law
High demand
Any stream
CLAT
AILET
AIBE
Career as a Lawyer / Advocate
Lawyers interpret and apply the law — from courtroom advocacy to corporate transactions, IP, dispute resolution and policy. NLUs and CLAT are the marquee entry route.
entry-level salary
₹6–20 LPA (tier-1 firms)
mid-level salary
₹18–45 LPA
senior-level salary
₹50 LPA – ₹5 Cr+ (partners, senior counsel)
Eligibility
5-yr integrated BA LLB after Class 12 (via CLAT/AILET) or 3-yr LLB after graduation. Bar Council enrolment + AIBE.
Career pathway
- Class 12 + CLAT / AILET / LSAT
- 5-yr BA LLB at NLU / top law school
- Internships every semester
- Associate → Senior Associate → Partner OR Junior counsel → Senior counsel / Judge
Key skills
- Legal research
- Drafting
- Argumentation
- Client management
- Ethics
Top employers in India
- Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas
- AZB & Partners
- Khaitan & Co
- Trilegal
- L&L Partners
- Judiciary
A day in the life
- Case research and drafting
- Court appearances or client meetings
- Negotiations
- Legal opinions
Pros
- Intellectually challenging
- High ceiling
- Multiple career forks (firm, court, in-house, judiciary)
Cons
- Long hours, especially first 5 years
- Slow initial pay outside tier-1
Work environment
Law firms, courts, in-house counsel, judiciary, policy think tanks.
Your next steps toward becoming a Lawyer / Advocate
Courses, assessments and recruitment programs mapped to this career.
Frequently asked questions
CLAT or LSAT?
CLAT for NLUs (India's top law schools). LSAT for select private universities like JGLS.
Can I practise without LLB?
No — an LLB and Bar Council enrolment are mandatory to practise law in India.
Related careers
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