Law is an exciting and challenging profession. Law graduates in India have various options and opportunities open to them after their graduation. A Law degree, in addition to being a professional degree, is now considered to be training in a discipline which trains the mind to think analytically and communicate systematically. Following are some of the opportunities available (and opted for by law graduates) to graduates after they obtain their degrees in Law.
• Litigation: Graduates may practice as an advocate in a court of law.
• Law Firm Practice: Law firms vary in size and practice areas. Law firms may range from boutique law firms specializing in specific areas of law to mid-sized law firms as well as large law firms which are full service law firms with different service groups.
• Corporate Sector: Large corporations often have in-house legal practice. An in house counsel will give legal advice to the company, have expertise in the business of the company and be responsible for ensuring that the business of the company is being run in compliance with applicable laws.
• Public Policy: Lawyers have an important role in formulating and advising on public policy. Several organizations employ law graduates for policy making and have institutionalized fellowships where law graduates can be Research Assistants.
• Legal Research & Academia: Graduates may attach themselves with Research Centers and think tanks. Law graduates may take up teaching and research as a profession.
• Non – Governmental Organizations: Non – Profit Organizations, especially organizations with social justice orientation have positions for law graduates.
• Government Institutions: Government departments, statutory authorities, public sector undertaking and regulatory bodies also provide interesting opportunities to lawyers.
• Further Study: Law is an interdisciplinary subject and graduates may opt for further studies in related disciplines such as Business, Economics, Anthropology and sociology.
• Judicial Services/clerkship: The court system provides several avenues to law graduates. The higher judiciary, that is judges of the High Courts and Supreme Court have law clerks *** research assistants who assist a judge in researching for cases, maintaining paper works etc.
• Other Avenues: Law graduates may opt for different career paths such as politics, journalism (legal journalism), legal publishing, Fellowships, civil services etc.
