LAW PROGRAMMES- A RANGE OF DISCIPLINES AND AN EVERGREEN PROFESSION
Being part of the connected economy and society, compliance is increasingly assuming a central position in the way we conduct our lives. And so law becomes its prime motivator and defender. The rise in the profile of law and lawyers concomitant with the remunerative possibilities has resulted in a renewed interest in the study and practice of law.
This is reflected in the sudden growth of the number of legal education providers in the country. In addition to the rise in the number of National Law Schools set up by the Bar Council, and at times also by the respective state governments; many private universities are also increasingly being set up to offer 5-year and 3-year law programmes. Also, on offer are integrated programmes like BBA LLB and B.Tech LLB, offering specialised techno-commercial pathways to aspiring lawyers. Domains like Constitutional and Administrative Law, Criminal Law, Contract Law, Labour Law, Company Law, Tort Law, Property Law, Tax Law, Trust Law and Family Law or Personal Law etc.
It appears that the future of legal education in India is bright and promising. But behind the façade of good schools, the status of legal education in the country is a matter of concern.
Career in Law
Law as a profession is becoming an ideal choice of many youngsters. Unlike the earlier days, the opportunities available to a top law school graduate are phenomenal. With the liberalization of India’s economy, there exists a huge demand for highly skilled lawyers adept in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, infrastructure contracts, debt restructuring, FEMA regulations, IPRS, corporate governance, private equity deals, WTO law etc.
Exploring New Avenues
As a profession, law is not limited to the Legislature, Executive and the Judiciary, Liberalization has opened up newer avenues and brought about vibrant changes in laws covering the whole range of financial activities, including Industry, Media, Intellectual Property Rights, Information Technology, Data Protection etc. Moreover, global spend on the legal services has increased dramatically in the last few years, impacting recruitment trends as well.
Skills Required
The skills can be honed as one grows up in the profession. However, a good lawyer should possess the following
• Quick responsive
• Good orator and keen listener
• Flexible but attentive mind
• Logical reasoning capability
• Emotional Intelligence
Job Profiles
The opportunities to lawyer in India are huge. Unlike in the past, the fresh graduates from law schools today have an unprecedented range of options. Law firms and in-house legal departments of corporate houses still remain the top choice of the graduates; private sector litigation has also seen steady growth. Additionally, LPO have contributed with opportunities of global exposure to fresh law graduates.
One can also step into the profession by working as an associate to a prominent lawyer, where the fresher may learn new skills and further can have opportunity to work on different cases on behalf of the big-gun.
Law firms and LPOs induct associates and corporate houses induct legal executives. Specialized agencies such as IP, research and arbitration consultancies also recruit law graduates. With the growth of a number of law schools across India, a strong interest in the academic sector for law graduates as well as transferability of skills across disciplines has been observed.
Overview of Indian Legal Education
The Indian Law Schools can be classified under three broad categories-
National Law Universities (NLUs)
National Law Universities are specialized universities in India enjoying an autonomous status in most of the things they do such as conducting exam, designing curriculam, offering specialised law programmes, including five-year integrated programmes, and other postgraduate programmes too.
State Law Universities and Colleges
The law colleges are recognized by the State Universities and BCI. Quite a number of these law universities and colleges offer the traditional three year law programmes.
Private Colleges
These are law institutions recognized by BCI and enjoy the privileges of a private institution. Majority of these institutions offer the 5-year law programmes.
Courses
In India, a law aspirant has two gateways to pursue undergraduate law programmes. The first career path begins at 10+2 level through which they can pursue 5 year law programmes and the other through 3 year law programme which needs a graduate degree. After acquiring the undergraduate degree in law, one many further go for postgraduate degrees including LLM and PhD.
Five- year integrated courses
Candidates can pursue five-year integrated law course after passing their Senior Secondary or 12th board examination. A number of law colleges offer these UG law courses under various programmes namely BA LLB (Hons.), B.Com LLB (Hons.) and B.Sc LLB (Hons.)
Three-year LLB courses
The traditional law course offered at various universities is a 3-year regular programme awarding L.L.B degree. The candidate needs a graduation in any discipline to pursue the programme.
One Year LLM
The course offers one year Postgraduate Degree programme in law. The candidates pursuing LLM need to be LLB graduates.
Two-year LLM
This two-year Postgraduate Programme is offered by many law colleges in India.
PhD
This is Post Master’s Degree programme offered at select institutes in India. On completion of the degree, the students are awarded a PhD in the specialised law programme.
