Careers
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 MPSC 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 25 to 30 years.
In the judiciary, the posts are that of the magistrate, district and sessions judge, JMFC, 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 intermittently & is advertised as and when the vacancies take place.
Civil Judges (Junior Division) Judicial Magistrate (First Class)
A candidate who qualifies in the Law Service Commission or State Public Service Commission is eligible for appointment as Judicial Magistrate (First Class). While magistrate presides over criminal court, Civil Judges (Junior Division) 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.
Public Defenders
At the state, federal and local level, public defenders serve as court-appointed attorneys for those who cannot afford an attorney.
Public Prosecutor
Govt. Pleaders represent the State in session’s courts and lends advice to officers in districts in all legal matters when called for.
Solicitor
Advices the government on legal matters and submits 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.
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 takes part in the proceedings of Parliament without the right to vote.
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 statewide 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.
District Attorney
District Attorney is 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 several 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 different caseloads.
Notary
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.
Legal Advisers
Public sector undertakings and state and central government organizations also employ lawyers as advisers.
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 defense services too. Additional qualification along with law degree offers scope for a wide range of employment opportunities.
Defense Service
They can work in the legal branches of defense departments such as the Indian army, Navy and Air force. They conduct courts of enquiry and court Martials of offending service personnel governed by the particular legislation acts.
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.
Advocate
An advocate practices 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’ favour.
Solicitor
Solicitor is a kind of advisor to clients on a various 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.
Teacher
Those with a good talent and taste for teaching can go for LL.M and take up job in any University or Institute offering law courses to students.
Writer
If he/ she have ability for writing may act as an author and produce journals and legal commentaries and bring out law reports. They can write articles for magazines, newspapers etc.
Company Secretary
Pursuing the company secretary (CS) course simultaneously with a law degree has been a very sought-after choice for law students, especially those who want to work in the corporate sector (in a law firm or as in-house counsels). A law graduate and/or a member of the Institute of Company Secretaries can be employed as a company secretary in a firm.