Judge
Presides over court proceedings and interprets the meaning, significance and implications of the law.
Overview
A Judge is an official who conducts and presides over court proceedings. Judges are responsible for interpreting the meaning, significance and implications of law.
Where they work
- District Court
- Sessions Court
- High Court
- Supreme Court
Work environment
It is a desk job. You are likely to spend a bulk of your working hours in a courtroom or office. You are likely to travel to different courthouses. Courts usually work 5 days a week and 8 hours every day, but your own study and research will require you to put in extra hours.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You like trying to help people solve their problems
- You pay attention to details
- You like to analyze things (problems/situations)
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete 10+2 in any stream.
- 2Complete a Bachelor's degree (BA-LLB).
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete a Bachelor's degree in any stream and then an LLB degree, followed by a Master's degree (LLM), and then clear the All India Judicial Service or the PCS-J (State level) exam.
Forms, exams and applications
For admission to law colleges the card names entrance exams such as CLAT, AILET, LSAT, MH CET Law, TS LAWCET, AP LAWCET, DU LLB, PU LLB and SLS AIAT. Entry to the judiciary is through judicial service examinations; eligibility (including any minimum period of practice as an advocate), exam pattern and dates are set in each notification — check the official notification.
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
This course is offered by the Department of Law. This list of institutes is indicative only. Please check if a private institute is affiliated and accredited with UGC before applying.
Government institutes
- National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- National Law University, New Delhi
- Indian Law Society's Law College, Pune, Maharashtra
- National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR), Hyderabad, Telangana
- West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata, West Bengal
- National Law University, Cuttack, Odisha
- Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat
- National Law University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Symbiosis Law School, Pune, Maharashtra
- Army Institute of Law, Mohali, Punjab
- School of Law, Christ University, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- KIIT School of Law, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
- Amity Law School, New Delhi
- Jindal Global Law School, Sonipat, Haryana
- School of Law, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
- ICFAI Law School, Hyderabad, Telangana
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1First Class Magistrate
- 2Chief Judicial Magistrate
- 3Assistant Sessions Judge
- 4Sessions Judge
- 5High Court Judge
- 6Supreme Court Judge
Expected income
₹2,25,000 – ₹2,80,000 per month
The card gives this as the salary of a High Court Judge, citing the Department of Justice. Judges' pay is fixed by law and revised from time to time — check the Department of Justice website for current figures.
SourceRelated careers to explore
Lawyer/Law Officer/Advocate
Trained and licensed to advise, represent and advocate for clients in legal matters.
Arbitrator
Resolves disputes privately, outside the courts, through the arbitration process chosen by the parties.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Arts, Any Stream.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to public service.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Justice Hima Kohli — The first woman to serve as Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court. She did her BA and MA in History and followed them with an LLB degree. After completing the law course in 1984, she enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in the same year.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 2, printed page 771 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://doj.gov.in/pay-allowance/
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
The card describes a judge as 'an elected or appointed official'; in India judges are appointed, not elected, so 'elected' is left out. An All India Judicial Service has been proposed, but entry to the lower judiciary is through State judicial service examinations (often called PCS-J); eligibility rules, including any minimum period of practice as an advocate, have changed in recent years — verify on the official website. Indian Law Society's Law College (printed as 'Indian Law Society, Pune'), listed under government institutes, is a privately managed, government-aided college. 'University of Petroleum and University Studies' is corrected to University of Petroleum and Energy Studies.
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.