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Ours is a country where disparities in social and economic opportunities amongst the population are quite pronounced. So a degree in Law not only provides decent opportunities for livelihood but also proves to be a tool to flight against injustice of all kinds prevalent in the country. Unlike in the past, when Law graduates had only two options of either becoming a judge or a practicing lawyer, options open to them today are huge and varied. Add to that the prestige attached to the profession since long, you have a very attractive vocation to pursue.

Law is the set of enforced rules under which a society is governed. Law is one of the most basic social institutions-and one of the most necessary. No society could exist if all people did just as they pleased, without regard for the rights of others. Nor could a society exist if its members did not recognize that they also have certain obligations towards toward one another. The Law thus establishes the rules that define a person's rights and obligations. The law also sets penalties for people who violate these rules, and it states how government shall enforce the rules and penalties. In most societies, various government bodies, especially police agencies and courts, see that laws are obeyed. Because a person can be penalized for disobeying the Law, most people agree that laws should be just. Justice is a moral standard that applies to all human conduct. The laws enforced by government have usually had a strong moral element, and so justice has generally been one of the Law's guiding principles. But governments can, and sometimes do, enforce laws that many people believe to be unjust. If this belief becomes widespread, people may lose respect for the Law itself provides ways to amend or abolish unjust laws.

The legal profession is not just about lawyers engaged in histrionics in courtrooms to present their cases dramatically before the honourable judges. Law is the cement of the society and an essential medium of social change. A lawyer must respond to client's needs. Understanding of the society is a must as there is a strong correlation between the society and the Law.

Lawyers must possess excellent communication and presentation skills, as they have to cross-examine withness to establish facts before the court. The skills related to counselling and drafting are absolutely viral for a successful lawyer. Further, a high level of integrity will go a long way in making you a big lawyer because you have access to distinctly personal information about your clients.

LL.B. course id of three years duration while LL.M. and MCL are of two years duration. BA LLB is of five years duration, taken after 10+2.

These types of courses are available with most of the universities. In both the cases (BA LL.B and LL.B) the students have to appear for an entrance test and personal interview. People interested in higher degree and specialization can further pursue Master of Law (LL.M), Master of Civil Law (MCL) or a Ph.D. degree, DCL, etc. Some institutes also offer one-year postgraduate diploma course n various areas of Law. Those who are nor interested in practicing in a court of law but at the same time are curious to know about the various facets, can go for two-year correspondence course for Bachelor of General Law (BGL) or Bachelor of Academic Law (BAL) after graduation.

Of the specializations, a criminal lawyer is concerned with matters like loot, arson, rape, murder, etc. A civil lawyer on the other hand is concerned with the right of an individual and also draws up wills, executes lease deeds, and appears before the court in mortgage cases. In certain situations, they also act as custodian or the trustee or an estate. In addition to the two most popular areas-civil and criminal, lawyers also provide a gamut of services in the fields of business and company law, taxation, constitutional law, real estate, labour, family laws, patents, excise, consumer and environment laws. With the advent of the MNCs due to globalisation and mergers and acquisitions becoming the norms of the day, disciplines like corporate law, international trade, arbitration and investment and intellectual property rights have become quite popular. Increasing use of internet and e-commerce replacing conventional business has made the information technology highly lucrative and an emerging field for lawyers

Further, most companies employing company secretaries prefer law graduates. This combination may take one to the highest rungs of business organizations. For those with a degree in law combined with a degree or diploma in personnel management and industrial relations, the sky is the limit.

One needs to be 10+2 in any discipline for BA LL.B course and graduate in any discipline for LL.B. To apply for LL.M. one needs to be a Law graduate (LL.B or B LL.B).

In most of the Law schools around the country admission of students is done either through entrance exams or on the basis of school / college results. Most of the top law colleges in the country select students through an entrance exam. If you are looking for admission to a 5-year programme at a top law school, then you should be prepared to give entrance exams. If the admission process requires an entrance exam, then as a basic eligibility criterion, a minimum of 50% in the board exams is usually a must for all colleges. The Interviews and Group Discussions, if any, are usually formalities, and everything turns on the entrance exam.

After acquistion of a Law degree, the graduates have to undergo training with a senior lawyer. As an apprentice, you learn about the practical realities of this profession. All the Law graduates who enroll themselves with the Bar Council of India are entitled to practice in a court of law.

Usually internships are for a period of about four to eight weeks, wherein students learn crucial skills such as drafting of pleadings, agreements and contracts, client interviewing, court-craft, legal research, advocacy, etc. These internships or placements as they are commonly referred to are a platform for the students to apply the theoretical inputs acquired through classroom and library learning in a practical framework and in turn, acquire skills from real life situations.

This cyclic process is also extremely beneficial for the individuals or agencies with whom such internships are undertaken, since the work that the interns do (which is most often of a very high quality) directly contributes to their output. Therefore, interns are a value-addition, albeit for a brief period, to their chamber, firm or organization, as the case may be. Internships also help foster relations between the students and the agencies that they work with during their law school tenure, which in many cases has blossomed in the long run into a mutually rewarding employer-employee relationship. Unlike the usually brief recruitment process where neither the student nor the recruiter gets an adequate opportunity to know the other well enough, employment relations which have materialized through internships are often more meaningful because both parties are well versed with each other's potentials and strengths.

Interns also serve as excellent ambassadors for the institutions they represent, there by furthering the growing reputation o five-year residential law schools in India. Lawyers, recruiters and the like gauge the institutions that the interns hail from by the skill and acumen exhibited by the students during their internship. Thus, even the law schools are keen on enhancing the internship programmes for their students

Prospects

Prospects for Law graduates are tremendous. The avenues in which they can work are diversified in nature. Lawyers can become Corporate Counsellors overlooking the working of companies in legal maters. They can work with law firms, be in private practise or work for NGOs (Non Governmental Organizations) and social service agencies.

Law graduates can be employed in Government services. Recruitment to the State Judicial Services in made through competitive examinations conducted by State Public Service Commissions. The eligibility qualification is a Law degree. Successful candidates are appointed as Sub-judge or Munsif and may rise to became Chief Judicial Magistrate,

District and Sessions Judge to even High Court Judge, depending upon their career record and seniority. After practising as a lawyer for a specified number of years, you can also be appointed directly as Additional District and Sessions Judge. Law graduates also find job opportunities as Public Prosecutor, Solicitor, Deputy / Additional Advocate General or Advocate Generals.

At the lower levels State governments hold examinations to recruit Public Prosecutors / District Attorneys. Further, they may find employment with various departments of Central / State governments. Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) need several Law Officers, Legal Assistants and Managers (Legal services). Graduates with specialization in labour laws are preferred in such cases. For handling legal matters and Court Martials, etc. Law graduates are required by Judge Advocate General (JAG) Branch of Army Headquarters. Here, you will be selected as commissioned officers in the regular ranks through the Services Selection Board (SSB). In addition, Law graduates find employment with business houses, local authorities and even the Ministry of Law, where legal officers are required for in-house legal services.

Law Entrance Tests
Till the mid eighties, the usual pattern of legal education was a three-year LLB after graduation in any discipline, such as, social science, languages, management and finance, medicine, engineering, physical science and biological sciences. In the last two decades, however, there has emerged the five year law course, targeted at students completing their high school/ senior secondary education. This pattern of legal education is offered by the regular universities as also specialised law universities. The rationale for deciding on law studies at a younger age was to attract bright students with higher commitment towards the legal profession. By imparting direction at a younger age, this group of students would have scope for more professional regimentation through skill-based education and better technical competence and higher motivational levels. To identify students with the right potential for the legal profession at a younger age demands assessment of varied skills. The law entrance tests for the five year integrated law courses offered by the national level law universities may not be identical, but they share common elements.

Admission Procedure
Although not all universities are conducting entrance tests for admission to their five year law degree courses, many are doing so. Typically, however, all legal universities are offering admission to their five year degree courses only on the basis of performance in a written entrance test after setting a basic eligibility criteria of plus two with at least 50% marks and an upper age limit of 20 years (for the general candidate). There may be variations on eligibility, which can be verified from the actual admission notification for a particular session.

Written test
Law universities like the National Law School of India University, Bangalore, NALSAR University of Law Hyderabad, National Law University, Jodhpur, National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata or National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal are known to conduct national level (all India) entrance tests with centres in various parts of the country, allowing students from across the country to apply and appear for admission to their programmes.

Other than the fact that they are all held nationally, the content of the entrance tests are also somewhat similar, though not identical. Hence, a law entrance test is expected to have testing of English language proficiency including English comprehension, General Knowledge including current affairs (national and international), quantitative aptitude (numerical ability), logical and analytical reasoning and legal aptitude.

The pattern of questions does vary between the tests conducted by the various law universities, but there tends to be a mix of objective (multiple choice) type questions and short answer questions, in most cases. The descriptive type part of a test may have questions requiring short answers, as also an essay/ a short note on a current topic. Each university keeps modifying its pattern of testing so that students cannot prepare on the expectation of a standard format or composition of the test. This makes the test more competitive, and hence, a better eliminator of the less than serious/ suitable contender.

Most of the time, the tests are of two hours, but the mix and volume of questions varies most of the time.

What to expect & How to Prepare
The General Knowledge component is expected to cover general science, History of India, Geography, Indian Polity and Economy, significant legal events and developments and current events of national and international importance. You may have to answer multiple choice questions on these areas, and also be prepared to write short answers or short notes on current topics. Referring to a general knowledge refresher from a reputed publishing house, an India reference compendium, general magazines, standard current affairs/ competition magazines/ journals, as also regular reading of prominent newspapers would help in gearing up for such questions.

Questions on English may be handled efficiently by those who have studied in the English medium, but enhancing vocabulary with practice exercises on synonyms, antonyms, analogies, phrases and idioms would be helpful. There may be questions assessing the applicants’ knowledge of verbs, tenses and other aspects of grammar.

The questions on Reasoning may be assessing logical as well as analytical reasoning skills of the applicant. Use of common sense is the most potent tool. However, familiarity with such questions helps to develop confidence and leads to more skilful and effective handling of this section. Reasoning guidebooks for various competitive examinations compiled by prominent publishing houses are a good resource for reference and practice. Stick to one good book and practice repeatedly to develop spontaneity and speed.

The Mathematical/ Quantitative Aptitude questions may be handled with basic numerical and arithmetic revision of the secondary school examination syllabus. Speed with accuracy has to be acquired through practice.

An important component of the law entrance tests is the section with questions and situations requiring demonstration of Legal Reasoning / Aptitude for Learning Law. This section may be of the multiple choice type and/ or short answer type. Usually, there is a statement of principle. Alternatives are given, which apply the principle to the facts. You need to choose from among them as per your analysis of the situation and application of the principle. There may also be certain factual situations given along with relevant legal principles. You are expected to apply the principle to the facts and state your answer in 4-5 lines in your own words.

A self assessment / psychological ability test may also be included in some of the entrance tests, but this does not require any preparation and practise. You should, however, be clear about your priorities, objectives, goals, weaknesses and strengths. Questions may be of the objective type or require short answers in your own words.

Schedule
Admission notifications from January onwards, except in the case of NUJS Kolkata, which advertises around October.

Tests are normally held in April-May, except for NUJS which conducts an entrance test in January.

Prominent dailies carry the notifications.
Copies of previous years’ test papers are usually available against payment.

Leads

W B National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata (www.nujs.edu)

National Law School of India University, Bangalore (www.nls.ac.in)

NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad (www.nalsarlawuniv.org)

National Law University, Jodhpur (www.nlujodhpur.ac.in)

Symbiosis Society’s Law College, Pune (www.symlaw.ac.in)

Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar (www.gnlu.ac.in)

National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal (e-mail: vyapam@mp.nic.in) (Random sample listing)