Highest paying Law jobs in India [Updated]

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Law, as a profession, is a very vast option for the present generation. Best minds and fresh graduates choose this field and put their mark in society. The legal career may start from an advocate in district court to an associate in a law firm. Salaries can be from minimum to higher income, depending on your experience and skills as well.
So let’s take a look at the highest paying law jobs in India: 

Intellectual Property Lawyer

Law is one of the most various fields, ranges from patent, trademarks, copyrights, designs, etc. The IP lawyer has much importance in cities like Delhi and Mumbai. With the notable increase in the start-ups, the need for having property rights for your business is quintessential these days. And the same makes IPR the fastest-growing stream in law according to some surveys.

Roles & Responsibilities

Intellectual property (IP) attorneys assist clients in protecting, enforcing, and managing their IP rights.

Their tasks include:

• Advise clients: Providing legal assistance on intellectual property, such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.
• Representing the clients: Represent clients in court and in intellectual property issues.
• Creating and evaluating papers, including contracts, license agreements, and other legal documents.
• Conducting Research: Conducting research and interviews to support legal procedures.
• Negotiating: Negotiating legal settlements and license agreements.
• Managing IP Portfolios: Managing IP portfolios and building relationships
• Providing counsel: Offering advice on how to create an IP portfolio strategy.

Average Salary

According to Glassdoor, the average annual income for an intellectual property (IP) lawyer in India is Rs. 11,19,545, with an average supplementary cash compensation of Rs. 79,545. The basic wage range is Rs. 4L - Rs. 23L per year.

Law firm associate

Law firm associate is a dream job for skillful young law graduates, but it takes a lot of hard work, consistency, and a bit of patience. Many top law firms are paying the highest salaries to their employees in India. Tier I law firms pay 10-17 lakhs per annum for a fresh graduate, and if a fresher can glorify him in the firm, salary may range from 80 lakhs to 1 Crore.

Roles & Responsibilities

A law firm associate's duties include:

• Case management: Associates oversee client cases from beginning to end, including document preparation, litigation strategy development, evidence gathering, and collaboration with senior attorneys to prepare for trial.
• Advising clients: Associates contact with clients to gather information, provide case updates, and address issues.
• Legal research: Associates analyze legislation, regulations, and case law.
• Representing clients in court: Senior attorneys supervise colleagues who represent clients in court proceedings.

Average Salary

The typical annual compensation for an associate lawyer in India is roughly Rs. 5,00,000, with an estimated total pay of Rs. 6,80,000 per year. This includes a projected extra annual salary of Rs. 1,80,000, which might be in the form of a cash bonus, commission, gratuities, or profit sharing.

A legal associate's income in New Delhi is believed to be roughly Rs. 4,80,000 per year, with an additional Rs. 61,000 per year.

Tax lawyer

Every law student should learn from a tax lawyer to gain some experience, as it is quite challenging to understand taxation right after graduation. In present times, people mostly needed to consult with a tax attorney for their tax-related matters, and tax lawyers get satisfying payment for their work. Their payment increases time by time, and also it depends on the trickiness of taxation work which they are doing for their clients.

Tax lawyers not only deal with their clients, but they also work for govt. Revenue system and estate planning etc.

Roles & Responsibilities

Here are some of the most critical work responsibilities for tax attorneys:

• Resolve tax disputes: Tax attorneys must handle tax-related problems, both by defending clients during audits or criminal proceedings and by representing entities such as the IRS.
• Draft legal documents: Complex tax papers, such as real estate transactions, wills, and estate plans, sometimes need the assistance of a tax attorney. These positions need a grasp of contract law and taxation.
• Provide Tax Advice: Tax attorneys assist their clients on tax-related concerns such as estate planning and corporation taxes. They may also provide guidance on individual retirement planning, income taxes, and capital gains tax.
• Negotiate agreements: When defending clients, tax attorneys frequently negotiate settlements about tax issues or audits. They may also negotiate in corporate contexts, representing businesses in talks with the IRS or other interested parties.
• Conduct Research: Because tax policies and regulations are always changing, tax attorneys must have a thorough grasp of the legal code, case law, and statutory law. Strong legal research abilities are required in these fields.

Average Salary

The average annual compensation for a tax lawyer in India is estimated to be approximately Rs. 14,50,000. However, the wage range for a tax lawyer in India might vary based on their expertise and the sort of tax that they specialize in.

• Entry-level: The Tax lawyers at beginning may expect to earn between Rs.5 lakh and Rs.10 LPA.
• Corporate tax: Corporate tax lawyers can make between Rs.6 and Rs.15 lakhs annually.
• Individual tax: Individual tax lawyers can make between Rs.3 and Rs.8 lakhs yearly.

Trial Lawyer

There is the most competition arising profession in the legal career and also the most paying one. The salary and other benefits may vary according to the job location and relevance of the case. Delhi and Mumbai are the two high paying job locations. In Supreme Court, a senior advocate charges up-to 30 lakhs for one hearing.

Roles & Responsibilities

Trial attorneys defend clients in both civil and criminal trials, and their primary responsibility is to argue the facts of the case before a judge or jury. Their tasks include:

• Presenting arguments: Trial attorneys fight motions, deliver closing arguments, and lead the overall legal strategy.
• Researching: Trial attorneys undertake study on legal precedents.
• Interviewing witnesses: Trial attorneys interview witnesses and may take depositions.
• Meeting with judges: Trial lawyers can meet with judges in court.
• Choosing jurors: Trial lawyers may choose jurors in court.
• Offering legal advice: Trial lawyers give legal counsel throughout the whole procedure.
• Managing appeals: Trial counsel can oversee appeal processes.

Average Salary

As per the Collegedunia, the average pay for a trial lawyer generally ranges between 3 to 25 Lakh depending on the role, specialization, experience, and location.

Public Sector Undertakings

For every law graduate, PSU can be a dream job because it has a lot of privileges with job security. This is the best job for those with little ambition and if they need job satisfaction in their lives. To be hired in PSU’s, one should give a written test, or they probably engage students from various campuses of law colleges.

Roles & Responsibilities

Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have several functions and duties, including:

• Infrastructure development: PSUs construct critical infrastructure such as roads, buildings, power, and potable water. They take on initiatives that are too large or time-consuming for the private sector to handle.
• Balanced regional development: PSUs establish industries in less developed areas to alleviate regional growth disparities.
• Creating revenue for the government: Profits from PSUs contribute to the government's revenue, which may be utilized to fund development activities.
• Creating job opportunities: PSUs are key employers, offering opportunities in a range of sectors.
• Promoting economic growth: PSUs contribute to economic progress by providing basic services to residents, stimulating private investment, and boosting exports.
• Reducing inequality: PSUs can assist to resolve disparities in job opportunities, managerial roles, and compensation.

Average Salary

According to AmbitionBox, the typical income in a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) in India varies by function and can vary from Rs.1.2-3 lakhs to Rs.10-30 lakhs per year.

Judge

To be a Judge is the most respected and privileged profession in India as you are the backbone of various courts if you become a judge. This is the profession in which you get several Perks and government allowances even after your retirement. People will respect you because you have the responsibility of justice on your shoulders.

The salary of judges increases according to their experience and year by year. So, if you are a hard worker and wanted to make a mark in the judiciary, this is the appropriate and best profession for you.

Roles & Responsibilities

A judge's responsibility is to uphold the law and administer justice in a fair and unbiased manner. Judges have numerous tasks, including:

• Judges preside over courtrooms, hearing evidence, deciding motions, and instructing jurors.
• Judges make decisions by interpreting and applying the law to the circumstances of each case.
• Maintaining order: Judges are in charge of keeping the courtroom orderly and ensuring that all parties receive due process.
• Judges study court documents and may do research on legal topics.
• Setting precedents: Judges can offer opinions and rulings that establish precedents.
• Judges are responsible for defending everyone's rights and freedoms, particularly disadvantaged groups and people.

Average Salary

A judge's average income in India varies depending on their position, experience, credentials, and the state they operate in:

• High Court Judges' yearly salaries range from Rs.27.6 lakh to Rs.30.6 lakh.
• District Judges make between Rs. 1,44,000 and Rs. 2,24,000 per month.
• The annual salary for a Subordinate Court Judge ranges from Rs.5.52 lakh to Rs.18.6 lakh.
• Civil Judge and Magistrate: A Civil Judge and Magistrate's total monthly income is expected to be Rs.2,67,002, with an average salary of Rs.27,700.
• Senior Civil Judges earn an average salary of Rs. 43,690- Rs. 56,470.

Law school Professor

They work day and night, and makes sure the candidate's overall development, gets a decent salary in India and enjoys respect in the society. A junior-level professor earns 30-40000, and a senior professor could make it up to 90,000 or more depending upon the college.

Roles & Responsibilities

Law professors have a variety of duties and responsibilities, including:

• Law professors offer courses at undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctorate levels. They develop the curriculum, provide lectures, and grade examinations. They also construct activities and courses to keep pupils motivated.
• Law professors undertake study in their subject and share their results via journals, books, or articles. They also keep up with legal advancements and trends, which they incorporate into their teaching and research.
• Law professors assist students to improve their writing, legal research, and argumentation abilities. They also provide academic counseling and tutoring.
• Law professors may advise disadvantaged people or organizations, as well as participate in conversations about legal or policy reform.
• Law academics may take on administrative roles, such as department chair. They may also collaborate with other professors to further research.
• Law professors interact with their colleagues on research and extracurricular activities.

Average Salary

Below are some more salaries for law college posts in India:

• Assistant Professor: Starts at around Rs. 80,000 per month.
• Associate Professor: Starts at around Rs. 1.8 lakhs per month.
• Lecturer Associate Professor: Estimated compensation ranges from Rs. 4.1 L to Rs. 5.2 L per year.
• Lecturer pay ranges from Rs. 2.5 to Rs. 3.2 lakhs per year, while Teaching Assistant compensation ranges from Rs. 2.7 to Rs. 3.5 lakhs.
• PHD Research Scholar: Estimated remuneration is Rs. 3.6 L/yr to Rs. 4.6 L/yr.

Salaries vary according on the university and amount of years of experience.

Member of Parliament

If a person has an interest in policymaking and wants to understand the working of our political system, then they can contribute their legal knowledge to the same. Lawyers in India are not only limited to law firms and courts, but they have their foot to our parliament too. Some data says that law graduates in our Union Council of Ministers hold 1/3 of seats. If we talk about income, they are paid nearly Rs. 2.7 lakh per month according to new official data. 

Roles & Responsibilities

• Legislative Responsibility: Passing India's laws in the Lok Sabha.
• Oversight Responsibility: Determining that the Executive (i.e., the government) fulfills its obligations effectively.
• Representative Responsibility: Presenting the interests and aspirations of their constituents in the Indian Parliament (Lok Sabha).
• Purse Responsibility: Approve and manage government-proposed revenues and expenditures.

Salary Bar

Feature	Previous Entitlement (in Rs per month)	New Entitlement as per Ordinances (in Rs per month)
Salary	1,00,000	70,000
Constituency allowance	70,000	49,000
Office expense allowance	60,000	54,000
		Office expenses: 14,000; Secretarial assistance: 40,000
Sumptuary allowance of Prime Minister	3,000	2,100
Sumptuary allowance of Cabinet Ministers	2,000	1,400
Sumptuary allowance of Ministers of State	1,000	700
Sumptuary allowance of Deputy Ministers	600	420