Law is an essential component of a functioning democracy as it ensures justice and keeps society from devolving into extremes. Lawyers, as upholders of justice, are the working force that keeps the judiciary running, alongside judges.
For decades, law has been a popular career choice for many aspirants. New fields, such as Cyber Law, have emerged as popular choices for aspirants. While an LLB degree is required to become a lawyer, one can specialize in a specific field.
Law is a great career option for bright minds and recent graduates who want to make their mark in society. A lawyer can work as an advocate in district court or an associate in a law firm.
Salaries can range from low to high, depending on the practitioner’s experience, skills, degree, and specialization.
In India, the average yearly salary for a lawyer is around Rs.5.70 Lakh to Rs.7.86 Lakh.
The most important factor that determines salary is the level of experience. Naturally, the more years of experience you have, the higher your salary. Here is a table with the average salary you can expect based on your experience in the field -
| Experience | Average Yearly Salary |
|---|---|
|
0-2 years |
Rs.3.02 Lakh - Rs.3.75 Lakh |
|
3-5 years |
Rs.5 Lakh - Rs.8 Lakh |
|
5-10 years |
Rs.10.20 Lakh - Rs.15 Lakh |
|
More than 10 years |
Rs.24 Lakh - Rs.30 Lakh |
Corporate lawyers primarily advise their clients in business transactions, defend them in lawsuits, assert liability, and advise on prosecutions, obligations, and legal rights. They handle corporate law, like legal tasks related to the formation, management, and administration of a business (or an entity similar to a company).
Corporate lawyers are in constant demand and various industries rely on their expertise to help navigate legal issues.
In India, corporate lawyer salaries range from Rs.5.70 Lakh to Rs.6.90 Lakh per year. This figure may vary depending on the shared profit, bonus, company size, location, and the lawyer’s skill and experience.
Examples of businesses that hire corporate lawyers include LLCs (limited liability companies), partnerships, etc. Corporate lawyers are in charge of assisting in the formatting of new companies, which entails filing various legal documents related to incorporation and also ensuring that the company complies with all local, state, and federal regulations.
Criminal lawyers work with criminal cases, as the name suggests. They may specialize in DUI law, drug law, white-collar crime, etc.
Criminal lawyers representing the state or the government are known as Public Prosecutors. They serve as the policing system's voice and assist courts by carefully and articulately putting the facts and evidence on record, based on the relevant criminal act.
Defense lawyers, on the other hand, defend a client who has been accused of a crime and assist the court in considering the accused's plea for innocence.
Criminal lawyers begin their careers as interns under the supervision of an established Criminal Lawyer, for which they are compensated with a stipend.
Once they start practicing independently or under a company, their yearly salary can range from Rs.2.90 Lakh to Rs.5.40 Lakh.
Criminal lawyers may also charge on an hourly basis or per appearance. With experience and cases won, their salaries also increase.
After completing the undergraduate law course, you are eligible to appear for the Bar Council of India's examination. Once registered, you can work as an Advocate.
To be appointed as a government advocate, you must have completed some internships under government agencies. A court's senior judges compile a list of eligible lawyers and forward it to the government.
The lawyers are then chosen by the ruling government to be public prosecutors. The ruling government has complete control over the selection of their government's lawyer.
Government lawyer salaries in India range from Rs.3 Lakh to Rs.5.6 Lakh yearly. A government lawyer also has some other perks like dearness allowance, office travel allowance, room rent, medical facilities, etc.
Lawyers advise clients on their legal rights and recommend courses of action. They also assist clients in preparing pre-legal documents such as wills and contracts, conduct legal negotiations, and may represent clients in court and tribunal proceedings.
Academic excellence does not guarantee success in this field. The main criterion for success is professional competency, that is gained through experience and practice.
The average salary of a lawyer in India ranges from Rs.3 Lakh to Rs.30 Lakh per year, depending on the experience.
Which field is more difficult will depend on personal aptitude. But in general, to become a CA, one requires 3 years of apprenticeship which is not necessary in law.
A lawyer’s salary will increase with their experience, no matter what their specialization is. Generally, corporate lawyers are the most highly paid as compared to other specializations.
A lawyer with 5-10 years of experience may earn up to Rs.2 Lakh or more in a month in India.
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