Law is one of the popular streams alongside Management, Medical, Engineering and Accountancy. In India, law has been practised in some form or the other since the Vedic ages. But the laws of the country, as we know them today, started developing in British India and became documented post-independence.
Before streams like Business Management, Engineering, etc evolved, the youth of this country used to consider law as the ‘Go to’ profession. But with the coming of age of the mentioned streams, law lost some of its appeal.
However, in the 21st century, with private companies resorting to campus recruitment to induct law students into their legal team, law, once again has become a popular profession to pursue.
Many law aspirants start preparing for top law entrance exams like the CLAT, AILET, LSAT, SET, etc while they are in their 11th or 12th standard. These law students have to do a balancing act as they have to prepare for their board exams and competitive law entrance exams simultaneously. This is not easy, which is why the best time to prepare for law entrance exams is after you have passed class 12.
What are the law courses that I can pick up after class 12?
There are mainly three types of law courses that you can study after your class 12. They’re:
- B.A. LL.B
- BCom LL.B
- B.B.A. LL.B
B.A. LL.B
This course is a combination of Arts and Law. It helps you to approach law from a Humanities perspective. Apart from legal education, you will also learn Sociology, Political Science, Economics, International Relations, etc.
BCom LL.B
This course is a blend of Commerce subjects and Law. The subjects that would be taught include Financial Accounting, Cost Accounting, Corporate Accounting and Taxation, Economics, Trade and Commerce, etc.
B.B.A. LL.B
In this course, you will study Management topics like Fundamentals of Business Management, Financial Management, Business Policy and Strategic Management, Marketing Management, Human Resource Management, etc. You will also study legal subjects like Commercial and Corporate law, etc.
What’re the qualities that are required to pursue law?
In India, 60,000 lawyers enter the profession every year, out of this number, 2,000 are from the National Law Universities (Source: India Today). All in all, there are about 20,00,000 lawyers in India (Source: The Bar Council of India). Not all of them are great lawyers.
To be a successful lawyer, you need to have certain qualities. If you have these qualities or can cultivate them in yourself, it will facilitate a career in law. Otherwise, the chances are that you will just make up a number. Let’s now take a look at the qualities:
Good Communicator
To be successful as a lawyer, you need to be very good at communication, be it written or oral. You will need to have the gift of the gab to argue with persuasiveness before the honourable judge(s) in a court of law. Remember that if you take admission in a law school after your class 12, you will be expected to take part in moot courts, youth parliaments, etc. So, be prepared for that.
Lawyers who can speak eloquently make the best impression, whether in court or while sealing a deal with the client in his/her office. The art of speaking fluently and efficiently can be learnt through practice, even if that means speaking to the mirror. Also, you need to be good at writing so that you can make drafts and present the facts of the case in a logical manner.
Good Listener
It is also equally important to be a good listener. Imagine yourself in the court. You will have to do a lot of listening. The opposing counsel will be speaking, the witnesses will be speaking, the judge(s) will be speaking. You will need to listen attentively to prepare your defence well. Also, your clients would appreciate it, if you listen to their plight with patience.
This quality is relatively easier to cultivate. All you have to do to practise listening to the conversation around you and mentally evaluate if what is being said makes sense or not. Think like a lawyer to be one. Even to cross-examine a witness you need to pick what he/she is saying. For that, you will need to carefully listen to what is being said.
Dedication
The profession of law requires immense dedication. From the time you sit for a law entrance exam to when you become a professional lawyer, including your time at law school, you will have to put in a lot of hours. The process may seem tedious and boring at times but to achieve success, this is absolutely necessary.
Putting so much effort and spending so much time in your profession can take a toll on your mind and body. It can also affect your relationships. But you have to remain dedicated to the legal profesion no matter what. Remember, law is a competitive profession. If you give any leeway, you will either lose the case or lose your clients.
Thirst for Knowledge
Some people find law to be a very dull subject. But the day you stop learning is the day you stop getting better. A good lawyer always keeps himself/herself updated with the latest information. It will serve you well if you practise reading a standard newspaper thoroughly.
A standard newspaper is a window to the world. You will find every bit of news in it if you have the mindset to invest time in it. Ask yourself, do you find the act of reading a newspaper pleasurable? If yes, then no problem but if you are one of those people who just shift through the first and last pages, then you will have to develop the habit of reading the newspaper in more detail. It’s the thirst for knowledge that separates the good from the ordinary.
Logical and Analytical Thought Process
If you don’t have it already, you will have to develop a logical and analytical bent of mind. Law follows logic. Every argument needs to be logical. You will have to go through loads of information in quick time and reach reasonable conclusions based on that. No wonder that a lot of stress is laid on logical and analytical reasoning in law entrance exams.
You cannot live in a fantasy world and practise law. You need to be in touch with reality. A logical and analytical thought process helps the lawyer know when he/she is on top and when he/she is not. By analyzing the nitty-gritty of a case, a lawyer accepts and rejects clients. This ensures that the lawyer wins more cases than he loses.
Good Negotiator
Even the most successful lawyers don’t outright win all their cases. There will be times when you will have to take a step backwards. These are the times when your negotiation skills will come in handy. Good lawyers are great negotiators. They make the opposition feel like they have got a good deal while securing the interests of their clients.
In the field of law, negotiation is the name of the game. Sound judgement is required to negotiate well. You need to know, how much you can give and how much you can take under the prevalent circumstances. To succeed as a lawyer, it is imperative that you get your client a good deal.
Good Researcher
Research is very important in law. It is not possible to remember everything there is to remember about laws and regulations at any given moment. If you have visited a reputed lawyer’s chamber or house, you must have seen racks full of law books. A good lawyer knows which book to consult at the time of need.
A good lawyer must also be prepared to do extensive research when there is a need. Without research, he/she will not be able to present the case well. Legal research is indispensable for lawyers. It concerns a search for landmark cases concerning the issues in question.
Ethical Behaviour
As a lawyer, it is very important to behave ethically. If you don’t have a sound moral compass, you may get into trouble fast. You may even lose your license to practise law. No one will blame you for trying hard for your clients but do so within the rules of professional responsibility.
Remember, the country doesn’t just need lawyers, the country needs good lawyers-people who will uphold justice. That doesn’t mean that you cannot defend criminals. Criminals also need lawyers to defend them but some lawyers by hook or by crook try to prove their defendants not guilty. They are swayed by the call of money. This isn’t the hallmark of great lawyers. Great lawyers become great because they answer the call of duty.
Humility
Let’s assume that you cultivate all the qualities and skills mentioned here and become a very successful lawyer in the future. But the journey doesn’t end there. You have to keep at it. You must remember that learning never stops. Practise humility. Everyone will like you more for it.
Think about what you like. Do you like a person who is pompous or do you like a person who is down to earth? Also, you may find it difficult to admit but there would be times when you will be wrong. At times like this, you will have to depend on your teammates. And your team wouldn’t like to help you if you don’t treat them well.
Summing-up
It is important to be a great human being first before becoming a great lawyer. When you’re preparing for your law entrance exam and also in your initial years as a lawyer, you will need mentorship and guidance. It is pretty difficult to work alone. Be ready to accept others’ opinions. Don’t be too rigid.
The qualities mentioned in this article will get you through but before that, you need to pass the hurdle of law entrance exams. Join a law coaching centre for guidance. It is true that there is no dearth of good law coaching centres out there but will you find a law coaching centre as committed and dedicated to your cause as Manu Law Classes?
If you’re not sure, join 15 days of free online trial coaching offered by Manu Law Classes and decide for yourself.
