CAREER PATH

Law

Read carefully, reason rigorously and use law to solve disputes and shape decisions.

THE REALITY

Before you choose it.

Law can lead to litigation, corporate work, contracts, policy, compliance, public service, arbitration, legal operations and more. Your college, internships, writing ability and practical exposure can materially shape the first opportunities you see.

After Class 12

5-year integrated law degrees are common

After graduation

3-year LL.B. route is available

Major entrance

CLAT is a major route for participating NLUs

Core skills

Reading, writing, reasoning, research and advocacy

WAYS IN

Three practical routes.

01ROUTE

Corporate / Commercial Law

Work on contracts, transactions, companies, regulation and disputes.

1.Choose a strong law programme
2.Build contract and company-law fundamentals
3.Do internships with firms or in-house teams
4.Develop drafting and research skills
5.Target internships and graduate roles

02ROUTE

Litigation

Represent clients and develop arguments before courts and tribunals.

1.Complete law degree
2.Build procedural and substantive law knowledge
3.Intern with advocates/chambers
4.Develop drafting, arguing and court craft
5.Build a practice through sustained experience

03ROUTE

Policy / Public Service

Use legal training in regulation, policy, government and public-interest work.

1.Build public-law and policy understanding
2.Add research and writing experience
3.Intern with public institutions, think tanks or NGOs
4.Prepare for relevant competitive exams where applicable
5.Develop domain expertise

OPPORTUNITIES

Where it can lead.

Law firms
In-house legal teams
Litigation and chambers
Compliance and risk
Policy and public affairs
Arbitration and dispute resolution
Legal-tech and legal operations

CHALLENGES

What people underestimate.

Early years can be apprenticeship-heavy, especially in litigation.
Reading and drafting loads can be substantial.
Career paths differ significantly by practice area and city.
Reputation and networks can matter alongside academic credentials.

TRADE-OFFS

There is no perfect route.

Choice	Upside	Trade-off
Litigation vs corporate	Litigation builds advocacy; corporate can offer structured transactions and teams.	Income predictability, lifestyle and progression can differ.
Top law school vs lower-cost option	Brand and recruiting access can help.	Cost and debt should be weighed against realistic placement outcomes.
General law vs niche	Generalists keep flexibility; niches can create differentiated expertise.	Specialisation too early can limit exploration.

ROADMAP

What to do next.

01Class 9–10: strengthen reading and written expression
02Class 11–12: explore law and entrance requirements
03After 12th: compare 5-year programmes and costs
04Law school: internships every year and strong writing practice
05Final years: choose practice area and recruiting strategy
06Early career: specialise through real matters and mentors

TALK TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS

Talk to a lawyer about the difference between law school and actual practice, working hours, early compensation and which practice area fits your personality.

Find a Mentor →