11,July 2022
INTRODUCTION
Law, inherently, is a discipline, which has a utility in all public offices and government departments. If observed carefully, government offices work mostly on the principles of statutory and non-statutory compliances. There are several posts which either recruit law graduates through an entrance examination or they appoint the law officers. A law graduate has a bright career in government jobs, provided one is vigilant, aware and prepared for the entrance procedure which may include either or a combination of the following:
- Entrance Test – Prelims/Mains or through Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)
- Personal Interview and/or Group Discussion
Overview of Government Jobs
After completion of either five-year law degree or a three-year law degree, the following offices recruit government personnel on the posts of Law Officers, Manager (Law), Legal Assistant, Assistant Law Officer, Legal Consultant, Official Liquidator, Research Associate, Research Assistant, Legal Advisor, Executive (Legal & Contract Management) etc. with a preference for law graduates only –
- Lower Judiciary Services
- Public Service Commission
- Central/State Public Sector Units including Navratna and Maharatna Companies
- Public Sector Banks through Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) Exams
- Short Service Commission by Judge Advocate General (JAG) Entry Scheme
- Union Public Service Commission etc.
Further, a detailed overview with the grade name of the post and the public office recruiting is provided herein –
| Organisation | Name of Post(s) |
| State Public Service Commission | Assistant Commissioner/Assistant Prosecution Officer |
| High Court | Legal Researcher, District Judge (Entry Level) |
| Public Sector Banks (PSBs, | Specialist Officer (Law), Officer (Scale II) (Law) |
| RRBs) through IBPS Exam | |
| Recruitment through CLAT Exam | ONGC IOCL NHPC Ltd. BHEL Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. (PGCIL) |
| Other PSU Exams |
EXIM Bank General Insurance Corporation of India |
| Union Public Service Commission | Various Posts |
| Reserve Bank of India | Legal Officer (Grade B) |
| Securities & Exchange Board of India | Legal Officer (Grade A) |
| Judge Advocate General | Various Posts |
| Supreme Court of India | Law Clerk cum Research Assistant |
| Public Prosecutor | |
| UGC-NET | Junior Research Fellowships |
Note: This list is not exhaustive. However, it provides a brief about various options available for pursuing a career in Central or State Government Jobs as a law graduate. Also, for some exams the minimum eligibility criteria, may be, Master of Law (LL.M.). Irrespective of this fact, the appointment to the post is mostly permanent subject to probation or training period.
How to crack govt. jobs after a degree in Law in India
For a successful candidature, one must be aware of various posts which have BA.LL.B. /LL.B. as the minimum eligibility criteria. Of course, some posts require a minimum term of experience like 1-2 years. However, there are plenty of options available for getting directly recruited through the examination procedure. The challenge is that there is no fixed paper pattern of most of these exams. The specific body constituted for conducting examinations decide the paper pattern, selection procedure along with shortlisting criteria and waitlisting, if applicable.
The MCQs often asked primarily are from the following subjects –
- Law of Tort & Consumer Protection Law
- Principles of Contract Law/Indian Contract Act, 1872
- Transfer of Property Act, 1882
- Indian Penal Code, 1860
- Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
- Jurisprudence and Legal Theory
- Family Law (Hindu Law, Muslim Law etc.)
- Indian Evidence Act, 1872
- Sale of Goods Act, 1930 & Indian Partnership Act, 1932
- Interpretation of Statutes
- Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
- Companies Act, 2013
- Subjects like Intellectual Property Law, Competition Law, Environmental Law, Public International Law, Private International Law/Conflict of Law, Law of Taxation, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Securities Law, International Human Rights Law etc. do have a share in question papers. However, the number of questions are few or limited to the conceptual understanding of these subjects.
However, the Personal Interview/Group Discussions are often based on the general reading and conceptual clarity. Along with it, both knowledge and understanding of Supreme Court Judgments is expected and examined. It is a fact that Law as a discipline is too vast to be learnt. A Law degree is expected to make a law student learn ‘how to read law’. The sources to prepare for these exams are not limited but scattered. It is advisable to develop a habit of reading the following resources –
- Newspapers – The Hindu, The Indian Express
- Magazines – The Week, The Outlook, Competition Success Review
- Journals – Economic & Political Weekly, Various Law Reviews
- Live Law, Bar & Bench, Legally India etc. – news relating practice and procedure of Law
Conclusion
The eligibility for government job is often acquired through a degree in Law. More importantly, it’s the work profile which matters more. One must be willing to also intern such public offices and government department to develop an understanding of the required skill-set. The fundamental knowledge of the subjects is the first step. Mostly, the work is related with statutory compliances, regulatory upgradation and briefing of advocates or law firms along with vetting of documents and proposing certain policy orders or circulars etc. That the work profile in govt. jobs is multifarious and requires a student to be well read with the context and policy of Law.
The practical knowledge is learnt with time. However, the theoretical knowledge and preparation of various entrance, while in law school, goes a long way in developing the legal aptitude for the same. It is the aptitude which is verified at the interview stage of the selection process. And the process of developing legal aptitude begins from the very first year of the law degree.
Sometimes, there are previous year’s question papers available. It is also advisable one prepares on the paper pattern but be prepared for newer questions, as well. Mostly, the questions are based on the concepts which test one’s logical reasoning and legal reasoning. Thus, a law school provides the base for preparing the subjects of law. Thus, a degree in law is a door to govt. jobs along with the inputs of professional degree, beneficial for development of an overall personality apt for a public officer.