Why Law is Emerging as a Top Career Choice in India
National Law Universities Set New Benchmarks in Legal Education
The Impressive TimesTIT Correspondent
info@impressivetimes.com
Law is increasingly emerging as a promising and respected career choice for students in India. Globally, lawyers have long been at the forefront of shaping the destiny of nations and guiding the success of businesses. Many of history’s most influential leaders—both past and present—have studied law at some stage in their lives.
In India, legal education became a structured discipline with the establishment of the Bar Council of India (BCI) through an Act of Parliament. The BCI is the supreme regulatory body overseeing the legal profession, ensuring adherence to laws, and maintaining professional standards.
A turning point came in 1985, when the BCI initiated the creation of specialized universities devoted solely to legal education, with the aim of raising academic standards in the profession. This led to the founding of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bangalore—the first of its kind. NLSIU introduced a multi-disciplinary, integrated approach to legal studies, awarding the B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) degree upon completion of a five-year course.
Since then, the legal profession in India has undergone a remarkable transformation. Law is no longer viewed as a last resort for those who fail to secure other courses. Today, the National Law Universities (NLUs) offer placements comparable to those from IITs and IIMs. Graduates are equipped with skills suited to a variety of roles beyond traditional courtroom advocacy, such as corporate law, intellectual property rights, taxation, and arbitration. Corporate houses and law firms now offer lucrative starting salaries—often between ₹10–14 lakh per annum—to fresh NLU graduates.
The rising popularity of NLUs is evident from the exponential increase in candidates appearing for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) each year.
A successful lawyer should possess:
Strong communication and listening skills
Quick responsiveness and a sharp memory
Logical reasoning and analytical thinking
Leadership and authority
Creative, out-of-the-box thinking
Deep knowledge of statutes, rules, and regulations
Patience and perseverance
Law Firms — Both Indian and foreign firms actively recruit from NLUs.
Corporates — Companies like ITC, IBM, and Infosys hire in-house legal experts.
Judiciary — With a shortage of judges and an evolving judicial system, demand for skilled advocates will only grow.
CLAT is a centralized online test for admission to 17 NLUs. It is open to:
Undergraduate applicants — 10+2 with at least 45% marks (40% for SC/ST).
Postgraduate applicants — LL.B. degree with at least 55% marks (50% for SC/ST).
Exam Pattern (200 marks, 120 minutes, -0.25 for wrong answers):
Verbal Ability – 40 Q
Problem Solving – 20 Q
Legal Aptitude – 50 Q
Reasoning – 40 Q
General Awareness – 50 Q
AILET (NLU Delhi)
Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET)
LSAT (for Jindal Global Law School)
IP University Law Entrance
Law is no longer just a profession—it is a platform for leadership, societal impact, and personal success. With the right preparation, dedication, and skill, a career in law promises both prestige and prosperity.
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