22,March 2024
Most of us think only about working as a lawyer after earning a law degree but what if we tell you that a law student's career after law graduates include legal assistants, legal advisors, legal officers, legal professors, district judges, judicial services, high court judges, junior consultants in the legal field, young professionals in the legal field, and more! Today, we have compiled a list of some of the most reputable but lesser-known exams and jobs that law students can apply for following their graduation.
Types of Government Sector Jobs
There are a large number of legal positions in the public sector for recent graduates, qualified advocates, and LL.B. candidates. The government departments that employ lawyers are:
- District Court
- Public Sector Companies
- High Court Judicial Services
- Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
- Law and Justice & Defence Ministry
- Railway Ministry
- Public Prosecutor
So, these were some of the top-rated fields of public sector employing law graduates. Let’s talk about the above government sector jobs in detail.
District Court/ High Court Judicial Services
Law graduates can apply to the Provincial Civil Service-Judicial Examination, also called the Judicial Services Examination. Under the direction of the relevant High Courts, they are carried out by the state governments. At the lower judiciary level, an individual may be appointed as a civil judge, whereas at the higher judiciary level, an extra district judge may be appointed.
Eligibility & qualification
There are two levels to the judicial service examinations: the lower judiciary level and the higher judiciary level.
The applicant must be registered as an advocate under the Advocates Act of 1961 and hold at least an L.L.B. degree. Additionally, you may need seven more years of experience to take the upper judicial exams.
The age range, which is typically between 21 and 35 years old, varies from state to state; however, candidates who fall under the reserved category may be able to apply for an age relaxation.
Paper pattern & and criteria
There are three phases to the test, which include a language paper and civil and criminal law subjects.
Preliminary examination: A candidate can only appear in the main examination after passing the preliminary exam. The preliminary examination generally includes the multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
Mains examination: After qualifying for the preliminary examination and fulfilling other requirements (if any) you can appear for the Mains Examination. This examination includes three or four papers. The final selection process takes into account the exam score.
Personal interview: During the last round of selection, you are evaluated based on your IQ, personality, and general interests, among other aspects.
Public sector companies
Public sector undertaking which is also known as PSU provides a plethora of work possibilities since the Union Government holds over 50% shares of the companies, are owned by the Government of India, states, or corporations. To recruit legal officers, PSUs like ONGC and POWERGRID conduct their tests. These businesses select law officers based on their CLAT-PG scores.
Eligibility & qualification
Candidates must require an LL.B degree and the selection will be based on CLAT score and private exams.
Exam pattern & criteria
- The 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) along with the comprehension-based CLAT PG section cover topics such as contract law, constitutional law, and jurisprudence.
- Two essays will be provided to candidates for the descriptive section of the test, which consists of essay-style questions for 10 marks.
Ministry of Defense - JAG (Judge Advocate General)
Judge Advocate General (JAG) is one of the legal branches of the Indian Army. They offer comprehensive legal assistance to military personnel, with a particular focus on providing counsel on military law to the presiding officers in court-martial. JAG officers handle all aspects of the legal process, from drafting drafts to testifying in court and before military tribunals. They help the army with legal issues about human rights and handle disputes and lawsuits involving military discipline.
Eligibility & qualification
- The candidates must from India or Nepal.
- Male and female applicants must be unmarried and have completed an LL.B. degree from an accredited institution or university accepted by the Bar Council of India with a minimum cumulative score of 55%.
- Persons who migrated from Countries like Burma, Pakistan, East African countries of Kenya, Zambia, Zaire, the United Republic of Tanzania, and Vietnam who have Indian origin and aim to reside permanently in India must have the government of India issued an eligibility certificate.
- The age should ranges from 21 to 27 years in the current year.
- Candidates must be qualified to register with the BCI or State for advocacy.
- The age range is 21–27 years old.
Paper pattern & and criteria
Stage I: The first stage of JAG encompasses the Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Test, Picture Perception and Description Test (PP&DT), and group discussion.
Stage II: The second stage includes the following - Psychological test, ground testing officer test (GTO test) followed by a personal interview.
After qualifying for the above two stages, candidates are called for a five-day Service Selection Board (SSB) and then qualified candidates will get a chance to appear for the medical test.
Ministry of Railway
The IFRC, an entirely government-owned business under the administrative direction of the Ministry of Railways Limited, selects candidates for the position of Joint Legal Manager (legal). Additional state-specific initiatives offer contract employment options, such as assistant law officers.
Eligibility & qualification
The requirement varies as per the post; however, an LL.B. degree is required. A law degree with three years of experience is required for Chief Law Assistant positions at Indian Railways University to practice as a lawyer. Law graduates who are currently employed by the railways and have worked in any sector of the railway administration for at least five years are also eligible to apply for these positions.
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts it to find qualified applicants for the esteemed positions of Indian Foreign Service, Administrative Service, and Indian Police Service among other related services.
Eligibility & qualification
For IAS, IFS and IPS, one must be of Indian nationality. The candidates must be qualified to compete in the UPSC preliminary examination if they have graduated from an accredited university, is in their last year, or are awaiting results. The UPSC test is open to applicants between the ages of 21 and 35. There have been 06 (General and EWS); 09 (OBC); and SC/ST (up to age restriction) attempts.
Paper pattern & and criteria
There are three phases in UPSC Civil Service Examination –
- Prelim
- Mains
- Interview
Public Prosecutor
Two levels comprised the prosecutor's office. In the lower magistrate courts, one is appointed for a term of three or five years, whereas the district prosecutor has a permanent position. The public's safety is the main responsibility of being a public prosecutor along with initiating or pursuing criminal proceedings. Assistant Public Prosecutor, Additional Prosecutor, Chief Prosecutor, and Public Prosecutor are among the roles that prosecutors might have.
Eligibility & qualification
- An Indian citizen is required to be eligible for appointment as a public prosecutor.
- The applicant may have done a bachelor's degree in law and a minimum cumulative GPA of 50–55 per cent.
- Must hold 7+ years of experience serving as an advocate. A candidate who passes this exam may be appointed assistant district attorney or district attorney.
- Age must be in between 35 to 45 years; reserved category candidates may receive age relaxation set by the government.
Paper pattern & and criteria
The UPSC administers the test. There are two steps to it. The first step consists of a written exam, which is followed by an interview. The chosen applicants get letters of notification.
Required Essential Skills and Preparation to Stand Out
In order to stand out from the competition and be ready for the 2024 legal graduate job market, prospective lawyers should concentrate on honing their most valuable competencies and experiences. To take advantage of these chances, it is imperative that your applications showcase a strong skill set. The following are some crucial abilities and examples of how to use them:
Communication
Lawyers need to be able to express themselves eloquently and clearly both in writing and while speaking. Show off your ability by mentioning instances in which you have drafted papers or advised customers, such as in customer-facing positions or legal advice centers. Display your networking prowess and offer samples of professionally written resumes, cover letters, and application forms.
Business Intelligence
It is essential to comprehend company operations in the legal industry and the commercial sector. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of current events, particularly those pertaining to business and politics, and exhibit a fundamental comprehension of the workings and clientele of the law firm of your choice. Apply with an application that demonstrates your familiarity with the firm's practice areas, current events, and business tactics.
Teamwork and Leadership
Since they frequently operate in groups, lawyers need to have excellent teamwork abilities. Participate in orchestras, student newspapers, play productions, team sports, or other activities to demonstrate your collaboration skills. Taking the lead on projects or planning team events are examples of extracurricular or professional activities where leadership may be shown.
Precision and Focus on Detail
A profession in law requires exacting attention to detail, particularly when there are stakes involved. Think back to instances in the past where accuracy was essential, such data management, inventory inspections, or document proofreading. Emphasize your capacity for effective task prioritization and deadline management.
Evidence: Show, Don’t Tell
Give specific instances of your abilities from prior work. Consider your experiences as additional components for your application, picking the ones that most clearly demonstrate the necessary abilities. Examine your previous work duties and extracurricular pursuits to pinpoint and explain the abilities you've acquired.
Final Takeaways
These days, offering legal services is one of the highest-paying and fastest-growing occupations. Regarding employment in the public sector, a large number of law graduates start in the tax and labour division. The employment chances go better from this point on. They even advance to higher positions in the state tax, police, or judicial sectors with time and experience. There are countless options. Despite its share of difficulties, the industry produces some of the most fascinating, prestigious, and fulfilling careers due to its positive outcomes. There is adequate space in the industry for everyone, regardless of the path a candidate picks, based on what best suits their interests and passions.
References –
- https://www.toprankers.com/news/judicial-services-exams/vacancies-for-law-graduates
- https://blog.finology.in/recent-updates/government-jobs-for-llb-graduate
- https://blog.ipleaders.in/top-government-exams-llb-graduates-can-give/
- https://acadlog.com/updates/blog/top-10-high-paying-government-jobs-for-llb-graduates-unlocking-the-legal-fortune