Legal profession is one of the oldest and noble callings. The  profession of law is held in high esteem and its members have played an enviable role in public life. It an honorable profession with high traditional and immense potentialities for great good in the progress of ordered society. Lawyers have been in the vanguard of  the country’s progress have played a leading role in the nations’ freedom struggle and have always zealously guarded human liberties and the rule of law. Public service is the foremost and primary aim of legal profession. A career in law has many challenging opportunities, particularly, In the light of the emerging new fields of social and economic activities, both at national and international level. Legal profession offers excellent openings to those individuals who are equipped with the requisite professional qualities, skills and competencies. Earlier, it has been felt  that, a law graduate has limited career opportunities, apart from practicing as advocates at the Bar.  Gone are the days when a simple law graduate would visualize a bleak career prospects. There is a sea change in the legal field with wide expansion of the governmental and corporate functions and growth of  commercial transactions, leading to  increasing litigation.

Career in Law : The Professional Demands

A law graduate or post-graduate in law who opts for a career in law needs, to possess certain skills and traits to grab the opportunities which are awaiting him in the national and international field.  As aptly highlighted by Parry, there are seven qualities or lamps of advocacy which are essential for a lawyer to make his mark at the Bar or in the legal professional life. These include, honesty, industry, wit, courage, eloquency, judgment, fellowship etc., and above all, a service bent of mind and professional zeal. Arthur T.Vandar Bilt has rightly highlighted five basic responsibilities of a lawyer , which will entail him to achieve great heights in his career.- Counseling, Advocacy , improving his profession, the Court and the Law, Leadership in moulding public opinion and the unselfish holding of public office. An individual who possesses these qualities and traits, is sure to attain  great heights in his career in law.

The Diverse Career Pathways Open to the Law Graduates

There are diverse career paths open to the law graduates in the present context. Some of which are highlighted hereunder.

As Advocates

A law graduate can establish his career as a practicing lawyer from lower court at the taluka level to the Apex court level.  Lawyers are the officers of the courts whose duty it is to assist the courts in the process of administration of justice. If one is committed and dedicated to his profession, sky is the limit to make his earnings, apart from deriving the personal satisfaction of rendering service to the society. After mastering the professional skills under the able guidance and  training of a senior advocate, a lawyer can make lucrative business in the calling . One can choose to practice on the civil side or the criminal side of the cases or even both. Apart from this, in the present context, with the rapid expansion of the laws and the new kind of litigations, new areas are emerging , where a law graduate can take up his practice as a lawyer, as a field of specialization such as tax practitioner, commercial tax practitioners, practicing as a specialist in labor law disputes, practicing on the side of service matters before  Tribunals etc., The practice of Advocacy has a public utility favour.

As Judicial Officers

Young and fresh  law graduates are now eligible to compete for  the posts of the  coveted judicial officer in the subordinate judiciary as junior civil judges and later part to the higher judiciary, after attaining considerable experience. Recruitments to the judicial officer posts for the lower judiciary are made through a competitive examination, comprising of both written test and interview , conducted by the government. Currently the salary and other perquisites for the judicial officers are also fairly good.

As Public Prosecutors /Asst. Police Prosecuting Officers

Public Prosecutors and Asst. Police Prosecuting Officers  are the officers appointed by the government to assist the court in pleading the case of the State in criminal cases, as a part of administration of justice . Any law graduate is eligible to compete for the post of Asst. Police Prosecutors, the selections to which are held through a competitive examination, which include a written examination and interview. After the prescribed years of experience at the Bar , The law graduates are  also eligible to be appointed as Public Prosecutors  and Government Pleaders to represent the case of the State in the criminal and civil cases respectively.

As Law Officers in Banking and  Insurance Sector and Other Corporate bodies

Today a law graduate has tremendous career opportunities as law officers, Probationary Officers in banking sector and a host of other public and private sector bodies,. where there has been great expansion of commercial transactions, giving much scope to public litigation. Recruitments to the law officer posts are made through competitive examination and interview . The pay packages are highly attractive. The Union Public Service also conducts examinations to recruit law officers in the Central government services.

As Arbitrators

Arbitration as an alternative method of dispute settlement has been gaining much popularity and is being even granted legal status, for the speedy settlement of disputes  without resorting to the cumbersome judicial process, wherein,  a third party settlement is worked out, with the voluntary consent of the parties to the dispute. Of late, Arbitration has proved to be an efficacious method of settlement of disputes not only at the national level but also at the international level. A law graduate , with sound  legal knowledge may offer his services as an Arbitrator for settlement of disputes between the individuals, firms  corporations etc.,

Law Career in Defence Services

Many people are not aware that, law graduates have challenging openings in defence services as Commissioned Officers. Selections to these posts are made through The Union Public Service Commission  .

As Law Teachers

Post graduates in Law with Ph.D degree or those who are qualified in the UGC conducted NET Examination have excellent opportunities to serve as law teachers at the University level.
 
Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO)

With the changing scenario of legal market and globalization of law firms a new concept of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) has become the new imperative. Many Western companies and corporations are now out sourcing their legal work to Asian countries, notably India and China.. BPOs are also beginning to spread their operations to the legal space .Trends reportedly indicate that international law firms, MNCs legal publishing companies and legal research firms have begun outsourcing to India BPOs. Legal out sourcing in the legal space has now grown in complexity and creating great deamand for the individuals with  law graduation and good  writing and communicative skills.

 It is forecasted that by 2015, more than 489,00 legal jobs in the US could shift abroad GEs BPO in India hiring lawyers and paralegal staff to  perform various tasks  like drafting of legal documents, legal transcription etc.,. It is estimated that, by 2010 the market value of BPO business will reach $ 1250 billions. The average  payments for national BPO service is about  $ 30 - $ 100.Thus, for a law graduate, with proficiency in English language and good communication skills,  tremendous opportunities are awaiting in the arena of LPO.

Legal Career in Intellectual Property Related Sector

Today intellectual Property Rights have become the buzz word in all the sectors. Intellectual property Rights can foster economic growth, provide incentives for innovations and attract investment that is paving the way for new jobs and opportunities . India has a vast intellectual resource, which is rapidly gaining in higher education and hence leading to a  myriad opportunities it bestows.  Law graduates with the knowledge of intellectual property laws, have ample job opportunities in areas such as Knowledge Process Out sourcing (KPO) law firms, Industries with IP Cell,  the Indian patent office, the trade mark office, etc., Industries are eager to  attract  skilled people in this field. A law graduate can make a decent living in IPR as a patent agent, trade mark agent, patent analyst, patent attorney, copy right attorney, IPR consultant, patent examiner, trade mark examiner. More over, and one with entrepreneur zeal, can start a coaching institute in IPR  or a training institute in different areas of IPR like, patent drafting, searches, analysis, mapping etc.

Thus, there are miriad career opportunities in legal professional.