How to become a Government Lawyer

A government lawyer is a professional who works for the government. In addition to being a licensed and experienced solicitor and barrister, a government lawyer offers legal assistance to government ministers and administrative officials. A government lawyer's duties include developing regulations, advising local authorities, prosecuting criminal cases, producing legal evaluations, and addressing a variety of policy-related matters.

A government lawyer performs legal research, represents government in court, and counsels government officials on a range of legal matters. He/she helps several government departments and upholds municipal and local laws. However, we have illustrated other necessary details regarding ‘how to become a government lawyer in India?’ so let’s read further.

Types of a Government Lawyer

There is a very diverse option for government lawyers in India. We have covered a few of the many types of government lawyers and associated careers in this area.

Civil Lawyer:

A civil lawyer is an expert in the field of civil law who handles property, commercial, and other legal matters. Personal conflicts, torts, contract law, and family law are the four categories of civil law. A civil lawyer's job involves gathering data, making decisions, addressing grievances, and interpreting legal terms.

Corporate Lawyer:

Corporate lawyers supervise legal decisions about the administration and operation of any organization. They are in charge of the company's administrative tasks. The responsibilities of a corporate lawyer also include in-depth research, organising and structuring the organization's goals. They must give their clients legal guidance or advice.

Criminal Lawyer:

Being a criminal lawyer, you are required to deal with a variety of issues, including drug charges, property crimes, sexual assaults, domestic violence, driving without a licence, fraud, and corruption. Under this job, a criminal lawyer must handle the investigation, gather evidence, handles bail bond hearings, plea agreements, trials, dismissal hearings, appeals, and post-conviction processes.

It would be quite helpful for a criminal lawyer if he/she has a Criminal Law Degree as it offer extensive knowledge of the subject.

Family Lawyer:

The family lawyer takes charge of handling disputes between family members. Cases including divorce, adoption, guardianship, emancipation, estates, mediation sessions, and legal counsel are under their purview. A family lawyer's duties include handling complaints, providing legal counsel, conducting research, and writing.  

Read Also – Government Jobs and Exams after Law course in India

Role of Government Lawyer

Government Lawyers are the experts who take care of writing legal papers and managing all issues, both criminal and civil. In court, they represent the government and defend and prosecute matters. In addition to this, they also offer legal advice to the government, ministers, or administrators. A government lawyer must do an in-depth study on a variety of legal issues or instances. Laws as well as any subordinate laws are drafted by government lawyers. Advice on a variety of topics, including justice, taxes, employment, and discrimination, is necessary for a career as a government lawyer. 

Research

A government lawyer's job involves researching a variety of topics for their reference that may be used to support their claims in court disputes, including laws, court records, cases, and other relevant material. In addition, they keep government officials and legislators informed about new legislation and amendments that require extensive study. 

Creating new laws

A government lawyer's job is to assist in the drafting of new laws regarding jurisdiction, state, country, etc. They also evaluate and/or amend the current laws as necessary and assist or counsel the legislators in understanding the process of writing new laws.

Representing Government

A government lawyer's duties include advising officials on behalf of ministers and administrative personnel and representing the government in court. Moreover, they help government organizations, such as the IRS and EPA, and enforce local and municipal laws.

Employment Area for Government Lawyer

After understanding the types and roles of a government lawyer, let’s move further and know the areas where a government lawyer can work. So, here are the few sectors -

• Municipal Corporations
• Public Infrastructure
• Public Transit
• Roadways
• Railways
• Military
• Health Care
• Public Education
• Political Parties
• Manufacturing
• Agriculture
• Judiciary
• Law Enforcement
• Construction
• PSUs and more

Steps to Become a Government Lawyer in India

A job as a government lawyer is the perfect choice for you if you're interested in working for the government and want to provide legal advice on a variety of issues, including employment, taxes, and justice. It's a renowned and in-demand career option but do you know how to become a government lawyer in India? Some of the procedures for becoming an Indian government lawyer are listed here:

Academic Requirements -

• Earn Your LLB Degree - To be a government lawyer, you are firstly required to earn a Bachelor's degree in law such as B.A.LL.B., B.Com.LL.B. Or LL.B. as the Bar Council of India recognizes the Bachelor of Laws. After Graduation (10+2+3 pattern) in any discipline from a recognized College/University, you can pursue an LLB degree.
• Clear the Bar Council Exam - To practice law in India, you need to pass the Bar Council examination after earning your law degree. There are two sections to the exam: Part A and Part B. Part A is a multiple-choice question paper whereas Part B is a subjective paper.

Skills Requirements

• Research skills - Government lawyers need to be proficient in efficient legal research on pertinent subjects and case law to back up their legal claims.
• Analysis skills - Government lawyers ought to be able to break down complex legal concerns into easily understood concepts.
• Writing skills - Written documents taken by government attorneys must be expressed succinctly and clearly in legal briefs, memoranda, and other written materials.
• Speaking persuasively - Government attorneys need to make their arguments in court and present their cases effectively and persuasively.
• Effective time management - Government attorneys usually have a heavy caseload and tight deadlines, so they need to be good time managers.

Other Requirements

In addition to the above, there are a few other requirements that a corporate lawyer must possess. Some of them are mentioned under

• Obtain Work Experience - After qualifying for the Bar Council Examination, you need to have legal professional experience. It's advised to work for a legal company or for a senior attorney to obtain information and expertise in the real world. To obtain experience in public law, you can also apply for internships in government legal offices.
• Get Specialized in a Particular Field of Law - It is necessary to specialize in law to work as a government lawyer. You might be interested in criminal law, family law, corporate law, administrative law, criminal law, constitutional law, public law, or any other area of law. Gaining expertise in any of the highlighted laws can assist you in comprehending the government's legal structure and operations.
• Appear for Competitive Exams - To become a government lawyer, you must take competitive exams after gaining enough professional experience. You can take several exams in India, including the Union Public Service Commission Exam, the State Public Service Commission Exam, and the Judiciary Exam.
• Take a Job with a Government Law Firm - You can become a government lawyer by working in a government legal office after passing the competitive exams. The Attorney General's Office, the Public Prosecutor's Office, and the Solicitor General's Office are a few examples of government legal offices. These offices handle legal issues about the government and its operations.
• Keep Up with the Law - Government lawyers must be updated on the latest changes in the field of law. It is essential to stay up to date on legal developments to give the government proper legal advice and representation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, academic qualifications, skills, and real-world experience are needed to work as a government lawyer in India. As said above, earning a legal degree and passing the Bar Council test is the first stage. Success in this sector requires not just academic qualifications but also the development of research, examination, writing, and persuasive communication abilities.  

To be a government lawyer, it's also critical to specialize in a certain area of law, take competitive exams, and obtain real-world experience through internships and/or employment in legal firms.

Keeping abreast of legal amendments is essential to provide the government with competent legal advice and representation. Aspiring individuals can contribute to the administration of justice and the welfare of society in India by pursuing the career path of a qualified government lawyer.

References

• https://www.careers360.com/careers/government-lawyer
• https://www.collegedekho.com/careers/government-lawyer
• https://thinksknowledge.com/how-to-become-a-government-lawyer-in-india/
• https://studyinfocentre.com/blog/india/career/how-to-become-government-lawyer