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How to become a Lawyer: Career Guide, Courses, Eligibility, Entrance Exams, Colleges, After 12th, Job, Salary

Eduspray India·6 Oct 2026·9 min read
#Law#LLB#Lawyer#Law Courses#Career in Law#Legal Career#CLAT#CUET-UG#CET#Law College#Lawyer Salary

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Getting the opportunity to work as a Lawyer at the top governing body i.e. the Indian Judiciary is in fact a matter of pride and gratification. There are a few general Eligibility Criteria to Become a Lawyer such as completing law courses with a minimum aggregate score of 55% and above followed by clearing the AIB  exams. Admissions to top law colleges such as National Law University Jodhpur, NALSAR University Hyderabad and The West Bengal National University of Juridical Science are done on the basis law entrance exams such as CLAT and AILET. Post completing the courses, students can start practising as per their specializations. In general, there are 10 different Types of Lawyers in India based on their area of specialization and practice. The average course fee for pursuing an undergraduate Law course ranges between INR 50,000 – 4.5 LPA. After successfully completing the degrees students get placed across top law firms with an average salary of INR 6.50 LPA – 8 LPA. 

How to Become a Lawyer: Quick Facts 

Industry

Law, Legal Service

Eligibility

10+2 in any discipline and should qualify entrance exams

Average Starting Salary

INR 4,00,000 - INR 6,00,000

Highest Salary

INR 2.5 Crores & above

Job Opportunity

Lawyers, Judge, Family Lawyers, Securities Lawyer, Tax Lawyers, Environmental Lawyers etc. 

Steps to Become a Lawyer

Salary of a Lawyer

What does a Lawyer do?

Lawyers utilise their legal knowledge to assist clients in understanding and navigating legal issues. While their tasks and responsibilities differ based on their field of specialisation, most Lawyers are responsible for the following set of duties as discussed below,

  • Creating legal documents and submitting them to the proper courts and authorities

  • Attending client trials and hearings

  • Lawyers collaborate with policemen and detectives and help them prepare evidence of cases for trials and mediation

  • Reviewing a case and advising clients on trial choices

  • Conducting trail and arguments in favour of their clients before the judge

Check Out: All Law Courses

Types of Lawyers

The job of a Lawyer is not easy, there are various specializations that study the details and intricacies across various fields and sectors. Tabulated below are the types of Lawyers that one can become after pursuing law. 

Civil Lawyers

Definition

As the name implies, the primary function of civil Lawyers is to protect the rights of all citizens. Civil Lawyers fight for fundamental rights which are the basic rights that every person enjoys from the moment they are born. Civil Lawyers are also known as Human Rights Lawyers

Average Annual  Salary

INR 11 L – 12 L

Criminal Lawyers

Definition

The profession of a criminal Lawyer is the most popular of all the categories of Lawyers. They meticulously examine and research the case in order to reach a conclusion, based on which they either demand the defendant's freedom if the defendant pleads innocent, or negotiate a plea or settlement if the defendant is found guilty

Average Annual Salary

INR 17.33 L & above

Corporate Lawyer

Definition

They offer legal advice to businesses, assisting them in developing growth strategies that are legal. Due to their specialisation in contract law, securities law, bankruptcy, tax law, accounting, intellectual property rights, licencing, zoning regulations, and other areas, Corporate Law professionals are in high demand.

Average Annual Salary

INR 8 L – 11 L

Public Interest Lawyer

Definition

Public Interest Lawyers oversee circumstances when persons who require legal assistance cannot afford to employ an attorney. In such circumstances, a Public Interest Lawyer accepts the case on a pro bono basis. Such Lawyers work for non-profit organisations and government agencies, providing specialised legal assistance to their clients. 

Average Annual Salary

INR 3.6 L – 5 L

Intellectual Property Lawyer

Definition

Patents, intellectual property, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets are all concerns that a legal expert works with. Intellectual property refers to a person's idea or creation of the mind, which can lead to a company's success or failure in modern times. Cases such as firms suing their competitors and filing patents for stealing or copying their idea or design are handled by intellectual property (IP) Lawyers. 

Average Annual Salary

INR 17 L – 22.8 L

Cyber Lawyer

Definition

The purpose of cyber law is to deal with situations of cybercrime. The term "cybercrime" refers to unlawful conduct carried out over the internet. A Cyber Lawyer's job is to prepare, examine, and argue a case for a client who has been charged with cybercrime. Cyber Law is a sub-discipline of law that is significantly broader than the legal field as a whole. It's also a crucial part of legal education and company management.

Average Annual Salary

INR 6 L

Find Out: Types of Lawyers and their Salaries

Eligibility to Become a Lawyer 

There are various eligibility criteria that need to be fulfilled in order to be able to become a Lawyer. Some of the top criteria for becoming a Lawyer are mentioned below for your reference,

  1. Students must clear their Class 12th board exams with minimum 60% aggregate marks or equivalent CGPA

  2. They must sit for various national-level or University level entrance exams such as CLAT and AILET.

  3. They must complete their 5 years Undergraduate course such as BA LLB, BCom LLB, BSc LLB

  4. Students who have LLM degrees can also become a Lawyer 

  5. The course-wise eligibility stratification for becoming a Lawyer is mentioned below,

  • Undergraduate Courses: The candidates must have cleared their 10+2 from a recognized board with at least 45% marks and passed the required entrance exam

  • Postgraduate Courses: Candidates who have successfully completed their undergraduate degrees in relevant Law Courses, are eligible to apply and sit for an entrance exam. To pursue a postgraduate law course like LLM, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in law from a recognized university or college.

Check Now:

Top Law Colleges in India for 3 Year LLB

Top Law Colleges in India for 5 Year LLB

Top Law Colleges in India for LLM

How to Become a Lawyer in India

In order to become a Lawyer in India, aspiring candidates must pursue Law Courses and also clear the AIBE (All India Bar Exam) for a fortifying career as a Lawyer.  Mentioned below are some of the most crucial steps that must be followed in order to become a Lawyer.

  • School Level Preparation: In order to become a Lawyer, there are no fixed or mandatory subjects or streams that must be pursued, however prior knowledge in Political Science, Sociology etc would help eventually in order to understand the subject better. Read More: Steps to Become a Lawyer

How to Become a Lawyer After 12th

In order to become a Lawyer after 12th, aspiring candidates must follow the steps discussed below,

  • Undergraduate Preparation: In order to become a Lawyer, students must pursue Undergraduate Law Courses such as LLB, BA LLB, BBA LLB or BSc LLB. However, before enrolling for these courses they have to clear Law Entrance Exams such as CLAT, AILET, etc. Almost all 1st tier Law Colleges enrol students who score the highest marks in these Law Entrance Exams.

  • Postgraduate Preparation: Postgraduate Law Courses such as LLM, can be pursued by students who aspire to become Lawyers. Admissions to Postgraduate Law Courses are also done on the basis of Law Entrance Exams such as CLAT PG, etc. 

Entrance Exam for Lawyers

Getting through law courses is not an easy task, each of the students will have to appear for entrance exams. Here we have presented the entrance exam for admission to law courses to become a Lawyer. 

Find Out: BA LLB Syllabus

CLAT Exam 

The Common Law Admission Test is a national-level online exam held for Lawyers. 

Name of Exam

CLAT  (Tentative Date)

Courses Offered

BA LLB/BBA LLB/B.Sc LLB/LLM

CLAT Application Form opens

July 15 – October 15, 2025

CLAT Exam Date

December 1, 2025

AILET Exam

All India Law Entrance Test is an annual University entry level examination organised by National Law University, Delhi.

Name of Exam

All India Law Entrance Test (Tentative Date)

Courses Offered

5 Year B.A.LL.B.(Hons.), LL.M and PhD. Program

AILET Application Form open

August 1 – November 18, 2025

AILET Exam Date

December 8, 2025

SLAT Exam 

Symbiosis Law Admission Test (SET) is a general term used for the entrance exams conducted by the Symbiosis Institute (Deemed University) for admission into bachelors’ programs into their various branches. 

Name of Exam

Symbiosis Entrance Test (Tentative Date)

Courses Offered

B.A LL.B, B.B.A LL.B, B.Des, BCA, BBA, BBA (IT), B.A. (Mass Comm.), B.A. (Liberal Arts), B.Sc (Economics), B.Sc (Liberal Arts), B.Sc (Culinary Arts) & B.Tech 

SLAT Application Deadlines

Aug 15 - Nov 22, 2025

SLAT Exam

Dec 13 & 15, 2025

Check: LLB Abroad 

List of Top Law Colleges

India is home to several top Law colleges with a total number adding up to 1721. There are more than twice as many private law colleges as compared to government law colleges. Madhya Pradesh has more than 68 government law colleges and Uttar Pradesh has 223 private law colleges. Similarly, there are several top colleges abroad offering law courses. Some of them are Harvard Law School, Columbia University and many more.

Some of the top law colleges in India as well as abroad are listed below for your reference, 

Name of the Colleges

Location

Average Course Fees (INR)

Faculty of Law, University of Delhi

Delhi

5,100

Banaras Hindu University

Varanasi

10,360

The National Law Institute University 

Delhi

51,530

National Law School of India University

Bangalore

84,000

NALSAR

Hyderabad

57,000

Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University

Delhi

27,000

National Law University

Jodhpur

93,000

Symbiosis Law School

Pune

1,53,000

Jamia Millia Islamia

Delhi

10,400

Indian Law Institute

Delhi

92,000

Top Recruiters for Lawyers 

There are numerous recruiters in India, but the most recognised recruiters of India are, 

Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co.

AZB & Partners

Khaitan & CO

J Sagar Associates

Luthra & Luthra Law Offices

Trilegal

S&R Associates

Economic Laws Practice

Desai & Diwanji

Talwar Thakore & Associates

Pros and Cons of Becoming a Lawyer

Every job comes with its own set of benefits and challenges. Tabulated below are a few of the top advantages and disadvantages of becoming a Lawyer

Pros

Cons

Lawyers have high earning potential as they are among the highest-paid professionals in the country

Lawyers may have to work under stress while meeting deadlines, client requirements, law changes, etc. 

Lawyers are held in high regard and have great power that ultimately leads to respect and success. 

The competitive labour market in the field of law is another disadvantage in choosing a career as a Lawyer. 

Candidates can help others and work for equality in all aspects that respect the law. 

The workload of Lawyers often leads to long hours. This can increase individual fatigue and health problems

There are several options in the field of law: family, corporate, financial, civil, criminal, etc. 

-

Lawyers can earn extra income by working as advisors, attending law school professors, speakers, etc.

-

Skills Required to Become a Lawyer 

There 6 most important skills which every Lawyer must have and here we have mentioned those skills, 

Communication Skills

Ability to make Judgments

Analytical Skills

Research Skills

Perseverance

Creativity Based Skills

Salary of a Lawyer 

Lawyers who practice in court are self-employed professionals. They do not get a salary but are paid on the basis of their service.  The average starting salary of a Lawyer ranges from INR 7000- 10,000. A senior Lawyer's average salary ranges from INR 5 LPA - 7 LPA. With gradual experience, knowledge and exposure the same amount can go up to as much as INR 28.1 LPA - 37 LPA.

Tabulated below is the average salary of a Lawyer according to various specializations,

Specializations

Average Annual Salary (INR)

Civil Law

3.01 L

Criminal Law

4.20 L

Corporate Law

5.50 L

Human Rights Law

2.60 L

Cyber Law

4 L

Intellectual Property Law

5 L

Tax Law

6.30 L

International Law

3 L

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I become a lawyer in India after 12th?

After completing 12th, students can pursue a 5-year integrated law course such as BA LLB, BBA LLB, BCom LLB or BSc LLB and qualify for the required entrance examination.

What is the eligibility to become a lawyer in India?

Students generally need to complete 10+2 from a recognized board and meet the eligibility criteria of their chosen law college or entrance examination.

Which law entrance exams are required to become a lawyer?

Popular law entrance exams include CLAT, AILET and SLAT. The required exam depends on the college or university.

Which course should I pursue to become a lawyer after 12th?

Students can pursue 5-year integrated courses such as BA LLB, BBA LLB, BCom LLB or BSc LLB.

Can I become a lawyer after graduation?

Yes. Graduates from a non-law background can pursue a 3-year LLB course from a recognized university or college.

Is CLAT compulsory to become a lawyer?

No. CLAT is required for admission to participating National Law Universities and certain other institutions. Other colleges may conduct their own entrance examinations or follow different admission criteria.

What is the salary of a lawyer in India?

A lawyer's income varies depending on specialization, experience, location and type of employment. Experienced lawyers can earn significantly higher than entry-level professionals.

What are the different types of lawyers in India?

Some common specializations include Civil Lawyer, Criminal Lawyer, Corporate Lawyer, Cyber Lawyer, Tax Lawyer, Intellectual Property Lawyer and Human Rights Lawyer.

Which are the top law colleges in India?

Some well-known law institutions include National Law Universities, Faculty of Law University of Delhi, NALSAR, BHU, Symbiosis Law School and Jamia Millia Islamia.

What exam is required after completing an LLB to practice law?

Candidates who want to practice as advocates in India need to meet the applicable Bar Council requirements, including the All India Bar Examination (AIBE).

Written by

Eduspray India

6 Oct 2026

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