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Law as a Career
With every business contract needing the legal touch, every job contract to be legally drafted and every tenancy almost up for litigation, suddenly law has become a popular career option. Corporate law has, in the post-1991 euphoria of an emerging opening economy, firmly taken centre stage. Now joint ventures, mergers, high finance, trademarks, patents, copyrights abound, expanding the scope and changing the face of the legal profession.
Law after 10+2 / HSC
With all these changes, the opportunity to take up law as a professional course right after HSC, just like medical, engineering, architecture, accounting, fashion designing, etc. has also presented itself to the students.
A pioneer in the five year course in law after 10+2, has been the National Law School of India University, Bangalore which was set up to attract young talent to the profession. A degree in law after graduation is still available in many universities.
Five- year law after HSC/10+2/equivalent in any discipline at:
Bangalore, Lucknow, South Gujarat, Osmania, Chennai, Nagpur universities, University of Pune, Shivaji University, University of Mumbai, among many others.
- National Law School of India University, Nagarbhavi, Bangalore-560 072[admission test on May 7, 2000, Mumbai is a centre].
- National Law Institute University, PO box no. 369, Head Post Office, Central TT Nagar, Bhopal-462-003 (expect notification in February-March).
- National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR), 3-4-761, Barakatpura, Hyderabad-500 027 [Entrance test on 21-5-2000, Mumbai is not an exam centre].
- WB National University of Juridical Sciences, Aranya Bhavan, 10A LA Block, Salt Lake City,Calcutta-700 091[five-year integrated BSc/BA LLB (Hons) admission 2000-2001 announced;admission test on 16-4-2000, Mumbai is a centre.
- Army Institute of Law (AIL), Sangrur Road, Patiala [admissions to citizens of India who are children of regular Army personnel, either serving or ex-army pensioners. Expect notification in February-March].
[Merely an indicative list not an exhaustive one].
Law studies include the study of civil law, criminal law, commercial law, tax laws, labour law, administrative law, international law etc. with provision for further specialization.
LLM or Masters' degree in law can be pursued after acquiring an LLB degree.
Allied Study Options
- BGL-Two year course graduates can take this up; if they complete three years, they get an LLB. Quite a few universities offer this.
- BLS (Bachelor of Social Legal Science/Social Legislation)-Three year course offered after HSC at:
University of Pune, Pune 411 007.
North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon-425 002.
- MLPM (Labour laws and personal Management)-Two years after graduation (50 percent marks)
- MBL (Business Laws)-Two year course open to graduates at NLSIU (distance mode) and at University of Lucknow (full time) open to graduates with 45 percent or CA/ICWA/CS) - written test/GD/Interview.
- PGD in Human Rights Law (one year by correspondence) at NLSIU, open to graduates.
Note: Candidates o verify directly with the university/institution for current information regarding time of admissions, eligibility, etc.
Admission Procedure
Admission to the five-year law course is usually through an admission test. Upper age limit for admission to the five year law programs is usually 20 years (22 years for SC/ST).
For the three year degree course after graduation, different universities follow their own norms - either merit/marks based or a combination of merit and testing (in English, general awareness, reasoning ability etc.).
The All India admission test of NLSIU includes testing for proficiency in English, Mathematical skills (class X level), general knowledge, current affairs, legal aptitude, logical and analytical reasoning ability and personality assessment.
Career Prospects
Starting salaries of those who graduate from NLSIU tends to be around Rs. 25,000 per month, for those who go into corporate law. Though private legal practice is a very popular option for most law graduates, other openings are in the State Judicial Service, Judge Advocate General's office/law cadre of the defense services and in various public and private sectors.
A degree in law degree could be a value addition for the company secretary, Social worker, personnel manager/industrial relations officer, accountant, tax consultant, civil services, etc.
Deadlines to Meet
NLSIU, Bangalore : March 1 - issue of application forms WBNUJS, Calcutta : March five - receipt of completed applications [forms issued from 1five-2-2000].
NALSAR, Hyderabad : receipt of completed applications (forms issued from 11-3-2000). Keep checking Alert for details of application.
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Law as a career