THE LAW AND THE LADY

Law as a profession has always held a charm all its own and was considered a surefire way to riches and recognition. And for sometime now, it has come into its own and is no longer only the last resort for wannabe doctors and engineers.What with the need for law pervading all spheres of activity and the need for persons with legal expertise increasing by the day, law as a career option has opened up a whole new world with immense opportunities encompassing diverse fields such as Intellectual Property Rights, Cyber Law, Alternate Dispute Resolution Services, Corporate Law, Private International Law etc.
If you are considering a career as a legal professional and don't quite know if you are cut out to be one, this article will help you to make that crucial decision.

Do I have what it takes ?
Yes! If you are assiduous, have good analytical and logical skills, sharp wits, drive, excellent communication skills- spoken & written, immense confidence and endless patience. You do? Then welcome to the world of the only people in the world who write a 100,000 word document and call it a brief !

Admission:
Though not as tough as the medical/engineering entance tests, admission to Law colleges is certainly not easy. Some Universities conduct their own entrance tests( sometimes with negative marking) to students who have passed the 10+2/HSC/PUC/. These tests essentially test your skills of reasoning, language comprehension, mathematics (std X level) and General awareness. Admission tests usually get over by May/June every year and application forms should reach them latest by Feb/Mar of that year.
Premium institutes such as the NLSIU, NALSAR and other National schools, have compulsory residential programmes and charge premiumtuition fees. So it helps to plan your educational expenses if you intend to join any of these intstitutes.

Courses offered:
The courses in Law currently being offered are: The three year course for graduates and the five year integrated course to be taken up after 10+2/ HSC/P.U.C.
While the three year course is advisable for those in employment looking for an additional qualification to further their prospects, for the young student serious about pursuing a career in law, the five year integrated course would be ideal.

Universities:
There are about 30 Universities nationwide, offering the five year course, and the number of papers offered differ from University to University ranging anywhere from 30 - 50 papers including Civil procedure code, Crpc, IPC, Insurance Law, Taxation law, Labour law, constitutional law, jurisprudence etc. Foremost among them is the National Law School of India University( NLSIU), Bangalore, offering a BA.LLB (Hons) degree. Some of the other institutes are the National Academy of Legal studies and Research (NALSAR) Hyderabad, the Bangalore University, Delhi University, Cochin and the WB National University of Juridical Sciences, Calcutta, which also offers a LLB(Hons) degree. Further details can be had from the respective universities.
Ordinary graduates can take up courses in subjects such as the PGD in Human Rights( one year- correspondence course) both offered by the NLSIU, the MLLW( labour laws), MLPM ( Labour Laws and personnel management)etc.


The Profession - And alternatives to practice:
Law is one of the few professions where a woman faces little chauvinism and gets recognition for her work. If she is not keen on practising, she may join a company as a legal advisor/manager. In house lawyering is another option, as also the defence forces where she can join as a lawyer in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) department. The state judiciary also is another option. A law degree is an asset to one appearing for the civil services as legal knowledge is essential for a bureaucrat.
A degree in law coupled with a Company secretary's course or an MBA could open up several employment opportunities. A degree in Law is also useful to the budding entrepreneur equipped as she is with the knowledge of taxation and other laws. Those interested in teaching, can do their Master's in law (LLM).

The Flip Side:
Not every law graduate starts off with a five figure salary. Law is not all about hi profile cases or cushy jobs in MNCs. It's also about cut- throat competition, paucity of cases, long hours and relentless hard work. The struggle for mere survival coupled with the pressure to make a mark and a very long waiting period make this a very unenviable career choice.
But for those who are willing to stick around and persevere in the face of constant discouragement success eventually comes.