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Research and corporate options in Law

Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

Capping success: Students at a convocation ceremony of the NALSAR University of Law.

A career in law demands good communication skills, including effective writing, speaking and listening; ability to absorb facts and analyse them quickly, a sense of responsibility, a sympathetic attitude and patience.

It was with a view to attracting talented youngsters towards law, the Bar Council of India introduced the five-year integrated degree course in law. The aim was to train brilliant Plus-Two students in a comprehensive manner in law and related discipli nes.

Many universities and law colleges now offer the five-year course. Three-year LLB degree courses are also offered to graduates in any discipline.

The following national-level law schools/ universities conduct five-year LLB courses:

• National Law School of India University, Bangalore - 560072, www.nls.ac.in - B.A. LLB (Hons.).

• National Law University, Jodhpur, www.nlujodhpur.ac.in - BBA LLB (Hons.), B.Sc. LLB (Hons.) B.A. LLB (Hons).

• National Law Institute University, Bhopal - B.A. LLB (Hons.), www.mp.nic.in/vyapam.

• Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar - 382028, www.gnlu.ac.in - B.A. LLB (Hons.), B.Sc. LLB (Hons), B.Com. LLB (Hons.)

• Hidayatullah National Law University Chattisgarh, Raipur- 492001, www.hnluraipur.com – B.A./ B.Sc. LLB (Hons).

• NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad – 500027, www.nalsarlawuniv.org – B.A. B.L. (Hons.)

• West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Saltlake , Kolkata – 700098, www.nujs.edu - B.Sc./B.A. LLB (Hons.)

Higher qualifications such as LLM and Ph.D. / LLD could be planned for a better career, including teaching. The areas of specialisations in this field are many — civil law, criminal law, international law, labour law, constitutional law, mercantile law, administrative law, law of taxation and so on. A number of law colleges and university law departments offer courses in these areas.

After completing the five-year integrated LLB or three-year LLB course with high marks, one can go in for the two-year LLM course.

The National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore - 560072, conducts the LLM course with specialisations in business laws and human rights laws. LLB degree holders with at least 50 per cent marks are eligible to apply for the admission test. M.Phil., Ph.D. (Law or interdisciplinary) and LLD programmes are also being offered here. Those having an LLM degree with at least 50 per cent marks are eligible for admission to M.Phil. or Ph.D. programme ( www.nls.ac.in).

Other national-level law universities and colleges offering LLM programmes are as follows:

• National Law University, Jodhpur - MBA-LLM.

• NALSAR University of Hyderabad - 500 027, www.nalsaruniv.org - LLM

• WB National University of Juridical Science Salt Lake, Kolkata - LLM, M.Phil.

• Hidayatallah National Law University Chattisgarh, Raipur - 492001 - LLM, Ph.D

• Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College, Puducherry - LLM, Ph.D.

After successful completion of LLM with at least 55 per cent marks, one could also qualify the University Grants Commission’s Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) / National Eligibility Test (NET) for lectureship.

Those qualifying for JRF are eligible for research leading to Ph.D. with fellowship.

Those qualifying in NET become eligible to apply for lecturers’ posts in law college and university law departments. Final-year LLM students are also eligible to apply for this test.

A law graduate has different options to pursue the profession — as a lawyer, legal advisor, law officer, public prosecutor, solicitor, law reporter, legal assistant and so on, depending on one’s professional skills and experience.

The private corporate sector has been recruiting legal professionals in a major way in recent years and the legal process outsourcing sector also offers openings.

Professional competence acquired through experience and practice with eminent lawyers will be the main yard stick of success.

They can also work at trustees, legal reporters for newspapers and so on. Opportunities exist in the defence services also. Banks and companies appoint law officers and special officers.

Law graduates are eligible to apply for the legal assistant’s posts in the Law Department in the Government Secretariat. An experienced practising lawyer has ample opportunities to become magistrates or munsiffs and get promoted as sub-judges, district and sessions judges, High Court judges and so on in the judiciary. There are several opportunities for an experienced lawyer to become a public prosecutor, Government pleader, solicitor, notary public or even advocate general. Law graduates can also qualify for company secretaryship and become company secretaries. They are also eligible to compete for any post for which graduation is the minimum qualification.

For instance, they can take the graduate-level examination conducted by the Staff Selection Commission for appointments in Central Government establishments and the Civil Services Preliminary Examination conducted annually by the Union Public Service Commission. They are also eligible to become assistants in High Courts and the offices of the Advocate General, Public Service Commission and Local Find Audit.

GOPAKUMAR KARAKONAM

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