Lawyer/Law Officer/Advocate
Trained and licensed to advise, represent and advocate for clients in legal matters.
Overview
A Lawyer is especially trained and licensed by a state to practice law. Lawyers provide legal advice and counsel to people, research and gather information or evidence in cases, draw up legal documents related to wills, divorces, contract, real estate transactions and so on. They also mediate disputes and prosecute or defend accused people in courts.
Where they work
- Legal Firms
- Law Schools and Colleges
- Government Agencies
- Media Houses
- Political Consultancies
- Pharmaceuticals
- IT firms
Work environment
You will work in an office set up, but you will also often travel for meetings or court proceedings. Work from home option is usually not available. You may expect to work beyond court-hours, which is usually 5 or 6 days a week and 7 or 8 hours every day. This may vary from court to court.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You can comfortably talk with all kinds of people.
- You like to speak up for the right cause.
- You like trying to help people solve their problems.
- You pay attention to details.
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete 10+2 in any subject stream
- 2Take the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) or All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) or Law School Admission Test (LSAT) to enrol into a five-year integrated course
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete Bachelor's degree (LLB) in Law
Alternative route 3
- 1Complete Bachelor's degree followed by a Master's degree (LLM) in the same field
Forms, exams and applications
CLAT, AILET or LSAT India for the five-year integrated law course. Check official notification for current eligibility and dates.
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.
Government institutes
- National Law School of India University, Bangalore, Karnataka
- National Law University, New Delhi
- Indian Law Society's Law College, Pune, Maharashtra
- National Law University, Hyderabad, Telangana
- West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata, West Bengal
- Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
- 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, Bangalore, Karnataka
- KIIT School of Law, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha
- Amity Law School, New Delhi
- Jindal Global Law School, Sonipat, Haryana
- School of Law, University of Petroleum and University 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
- 1Law Intern
- 2Advocate
- 3Senior Advocate
Related careers to explore
Indian Administrative Service
Government Services
Holds key administrative positions across the Union and state governments.
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 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
Vrinda Grover — A lawyer, researcher and human rights activist. Obtained her Bachelor's degree from Delhi University and Master's in Law from New York University. Has fought many domestic violence cases and was involved in drafting the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act 2012, the Criminal Law Amendment of 2013, and the Prevention of Torture Bill 2010. Has appeared in numerous landmark human rights cases.
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 773 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://bit.ly/3YlvYm6
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.