Module .2.

1 B

CAREERS IN LAW
The Expert Counselor Training Program

MODULE TWO- LAW

Contents
1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 2
1.1 Legal education ................................................................................................................................... 2
1.2 Degree in Law...................................................................................................................................... 2
1.3 Types of law degrees........................................................................................................................... 3
1.4 What to expect from law degrees ...................................................................................................... 3
1.5 Law specialisations .............................................................................................................................. 4
1.6 Legal training ....................................................................................................................................... 6
2. Law studies in various countries .....................................................................................................7
2.1 India .................................................................................................................................................... 7
2.1.1 Admission to Law colleges in India ............................................................................................ 8
2.2 Singapore .......................................................................................................................................... 10
2.3. UK ..................................................................................................................................................... 10
2.4 United States..................................................................................................................................... 11
2.5 Top 20 law colleges in the world ...................................................................................................... 11
3. Legal careers ................................................................................................................................ 13
3.1 Main careers in Law .......................................................................................................................... 12
3.2 Other careers for law graduates ....................................................................................................... 14
4 Advantages and disadvantages ...................................................................................................... 15
4.1 Advantages:....................................................................................................................................... 14
4.2 Disadvantages: .................................................................................................................................. 15
5 Skills sets needed to be a successful lawyer ................................................................................... 16

MODULE TWO- LAW

1. Introduction
1.1 Legal education
Legal education is the education of individuals who intend to become legal professionals or those
who simply intend to use their law degree to some end, either related to law (such as politics or
academic) or business. It includes:

First degrees in law, which may be studied at either undergraduate or graduate level
depending on the country.

Vocational courses which prospective lawyers are required to pass in some countries before
they may enter practice.

Applied legal education for specific branches of law such as, Business law, Human resource
and Labour laws, Property laws, Family laws, Human rights & Legal awareness, Taxation law
and many more.

Higher academic degrees and doctorate.

1.2 Degree in Law

A law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally
preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do
not themselves confer a license. A legal license is granted (typically by examination) and exercised
locally; while the Law Degree can have local, international, and world-wide aspects.
Law is a subject where students can develop a range of skills and explore many aspects of human
life. Studying Law as an undergraduate gives students the chance to sharpen their mind, strengthen
their understanding and deepen their experience across the full range of humanities and social
sciences. Students acquire both breadth of understanding and depth in the areas that interest them
most.
Law should therefore appeal to those who want to develop both abstract thinking and practical
problem-solving. And it's easy to see why students don't have to become a lawyer just because they
done a Law degree; many choose not to. A Law degree can give students the skills to be a successful
lawyer, but also a successful producer, politician, manager, journalist, police officer or almost any
other profession that requires intellectual strength combined with a practical approach to the world.

MODULE TWO- LAW

1.3 Types of law degrees
There are lots of different types of law degrees available, varying according to where students study.
In most countries, law degrees take the form of an LLB (Bachelor of Laws) which allows students to
go on to take the national Bar or Law Society qualifying examinations, in order to becoming a
practicing lawyer. In some countries, a BA in Law (BL) or a BSc in Law is in place instead. Often, these
alternative names are used interchangeably. However, some universities differentiate between LLB
and BA Law programs, with the former focusing exclusively on law and the latter allowing students
to take course modules in other subjects, with a focus on humanities.
The US offer a Juris Doctor (JD), which is also offered in Canada, Australia and Hong Kong. In such
countries, legal studies are focused at graduate level (after completion of a bachelors degree in a
different discipline) with students earning their JD in order to practice. The JD will typically take
three years to complete. There is also an option to earn a one year Master of Laws (LLM) degree in
area of specialization (such as tax law) after earning a JD. Foreign lawyers can also study to receive
an LLM in order to practice in countries which require a JD. In order to qualify for a postgraduate
degree in law, undergraduate students in the US must take and pass the Law School Admission Test
(LSAT).
While most LLM and JD programs are primarily aimed at preparing students for legal careers, its also
possible to take graduate-level law degrees with a greater focus on academic research. These may
be referred to either as a PhD in Law, Doctor of Laws, or Doctor of Juridical Science (JSD). It is also
possible to do an intensive two-year law course, or vocational courses of varying length.

1.4 What to expect from law degrees

Like most academic degrees, law programs start with compulsory core courses with more
opportunities to choose law topics tailored to a particular career path later on. Teaching is through a
combination of lectures, seminars, group work, presentations, class debates and mooting sessions
practical law training in a courtroom setting to help students master important legal skills such as
research and analysis, public speaking and argument formation.
Some institutions allow law students to spend a year studying abroad, particularly if they are
combining law with a foreign language. Some may also provide students with the chance to work pro
bono (voluntarily) with real-life clients, as a way to gain invaluable experience and gaining legal skills
that will help when applying for positions later on.

MODULE TWO- LAW

1.5 Law specialisations
The core, compulsory modules that students may encounter in law degrees include: introduction to
legal techniques, introduction to the legal system, introduction to legal research, reasoning and
literacy skills. Other law topics likely to be on offer include: constitutional law, criminal law,
criminology, business law equity and trusts, human rights, international law (public or private),
jurisprudence, labor law, land law, law and government, law and society, law and the individual, law
of contract, law of Tort (law codifying statutes governing damages), legal methods, maritime law and
tax law.
As students might expect, law degrees cover a diverse range of subjects with the aim of providing a
generalised understanding of human society and its laws. Having gained a strong foundation in the
main principles and concerns of law, students can then tailor their own degree to suit their particular
interests. This could mean choosing to specialise in a particular field of law or in a particular culture
or society, or indeed branch outwards into a related field of interest such as business or politics.
Some popular law topics chosen for specialisation include:
Criminal law
Sometimes available as an entire degree in its own right, criminal law looks at different aspects of
law relating to crime. Students learn about the theory of criminal law, and examine issues such as
crime and gender, restorative justice, criminal justice, global crime problems, human rights, and
socio-legal methods and theory. Students also study more specific aspects of criminal law such as
homicide, mentally disordered offenders, death penalty in law, legal responses to terrorism,
sentencing, and victimisation and victim policy.
Property law
Also known as land law, property law is the area of law concerned with real property (land, distinct
from personal or moveable possessions) and personal property (movable property). Students study
the concept of interest in land the term used to describe various categories of rights held by one
person to use land that is in possession of another. Depending on the module, students may learn
how and when to create these interests (through a contract, agreement or order of a court) and
when these interests are valid in law. Students also learn about issues such as mortgages, tenancy
rights and obligations, commercial property law, ownership, stocks, site acquisition, property
management and construction law.
Intellectual property law
Also dealing with property, but of a different kind, intellectual property law is popularly offered as a
dedicated degree. This field deals with intangible assets such as creations of the mind (musical,

MODULE TWO- LAW

literary and artistic works), discoveries and inventions, words and phrases, and symbols and designs.
Students
learn about the economic, social and theoretical issues surrounding intellectual property (IP) and
technology law. Students address issues such as policies affecting IP laws, trademark protection,
patents and patent law and copyright.
Commercial law
Also known as business law, commercial law is the body of law that relates to the rights, contracts
and conduct of people and businesses engaged in commerce and industry. Often considered to be a
branch of civil law (non-criminal law), it incorporates elements of economics, business, management
and finance, commercial law and involves learning about all the legal issues involved in operating a
business.
This covers law topics such as small business law, regulation of corporate contracts, tax
classifications, personnel hiring and firing, zoning and licensing issues and wider-ranging business
issues such as securities law, intellectual property, secured transactions, pensions and benefits,
trusts and estates, immigration and labor laws, and bankruptcy.
Environmental law
This body of law concerning the protection, maintenance, regulation and enhancement of the
environment, environmental law regulates the interaction of humanity and the natural environment.
As agencies, businesses and corporations seek to reduce the environmental impact of their
practices, environmental law has become an increasingly popular specialisation.
Environmental law is an interdisciplinary field merging law, politics and human rights to cover a huge
variety of issues pertaining to the environment. Students learn about global environmental laws in
areas such as climate control, resource conservation, environmental protection, natural resources
and climate change policies, along with gaining an understanding of local or national environmental
laws such as noise control, remediation and energy regulation and policy.
Family law
Family law is an area of law pertaining to family-related matters. Students learn about a range of
family law issues regarding parents, children and child protection, marriage, civil partnership,
cohabitation, divorce, human rights, adoption and surrogacy among others. Students also learn how
to use the law to resolve disputes within families, including the termination of relationships and
subsequent matters, child abuse and child abduction, paternity testing and juvenile adjudication.
Students may also learn about international family law, including transnational and interstate issues,
along with specific subjects such as international child law which examines how children are
protected through both public and private international law. Students may also explore
contemporary issues such as commercial surrogacy, paternity laws, corporal punishment, press
reporting of the family courts and child soldiers.

MODULE TWO- LAW

Other possible law topics students might choose to specialise in include: chancery law (estates and
trusts), civil law, corporate law, entertainment law, immigration law, maritime law, media law,
mental health law, social law, sports law, tax law and many others.
Some more specialisations:
Employment law addressing contracts, employment claims such as unfair dismissal, redundancy
and discrimination;
Healthcare law concerning laws and regulations in regards to public health;
Insurance law concerning the regulation of insurance, insurance policies and claims;
Patent law focusing on patent grants for inventions and new technologies;
International law regarding the sets of rules accepted as binding in relations between states and
nations rather than between individual citizens.

1.6 Legal training

In order to advance further in the legal sector, many graduates opt to continue their legal training
beyond undergraduate level. The specific type of legal training requirement varies depending on the
country of study/legal practice, and also the type of legal career aspired to. Often it involves a
combination of further study and examinations, as well as a set period of practical legal training
provided by completing formal work placements.
In England and Wales, for instance, legal training for aspiring solicitors comprises the one-year Legal
Practice Course (LPC) followed by a two-year placement as a trainee solicitor. While some
jurisdictions grant a diploma privilege to certain institutions which allow students who earn a
degree or credential from those institutions to go directly into practicing law, Germany, Canada and
Australia all require law graduates to complete vocational legal education before they are accepted
as practicing lawyers; this can take the form of a formal apprenticeship with an experienced
practitioner. Meanwhile some countries, such as Mexico, allow anyone with a law degree to practice
law immediately.

MODULE TWO- LAW

2. Law studies in various countries

2.1 India
In India, prospective lawyers must complete an undergraduate law degree after 12 years of
schooling and obtain an Honours Law Degree, (actually a double degree), where the course is a five
years course. The first undergraduate foundational and generic degree, (usually B.A.Law but in some
cases Bachelor of General Laws/Bachelor of Socio-Legal Studies etc.) is awarded after three years of
study, and the professional Law Degree called the LL.B. (Honours) Degree, which has a substantial
component of Practical training, is earned after two years of further legal studies .
Alternatively any graduate with a Bachelors Degree in any subject (obtained after 15 Years of
education, i.e. after graduation), can enroll for a second graduate degree in Law of a three years
course (LL.B. Degree). The 5 Year LL.B. (Honours) Degree and the 3 Years LL.B. Degree are the only
qualifying Professional Degrees recognized for entering the legal Profession in India.
Law Graduates in India are not entitled to call themselves Advocates and cannot appear in courts
even if they call themselves Lawyers. India requires all Law Graduates, intending to enter the
profession of practising Law as Advocates, to first enroll themselves on the Roll of Advocates of any
State Bar Council (regional authorities under the overall authority of the Bar Council of India) and to
appear for the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) conducted by the Bar Council of India which is the
Institution regulating the Profession of Legal Practice.
It is now mandatory for all Law School Graduates, graduating from 2009-2010 onwards to qualify in
the All India Bar Examination without which they shall not be admitted to practice in Courts and
cannot refer to themselves as Advocates. After being enrolled by one of the State Bar Councils, and
clearing the All India Bar Examination, a Law Graduate is an Advocate and can appear in Court
representing clients.
Only after the Law graduate whose name is entered upon the Roll of Advocates maintained by any
one of the State Bar Councils and issued The Certificate of Enrollment (Sanad) in evidence thereof,
appears for and clears the All India Bar Examination, and earns a Certificate of Practise issued by the
Bar Council of India, can style himself as an Advocate and Practise in Indian Courts.
All Advocates in India, irrespective of which State Bar Council they are registered, have a Right of
Practise in all High Courts and their Subordinate Courts and Tribunals throughout the Territory of
India under Section 30 of The Advocates Act. However to practise Law before the Supreme Court of
India, Advocates must first appear for and qualify in the Supreme Court Advocate on Record
Examination conducted by the Supreme Court.

MODULE TWO- LAW

2.1.1 Admission to Law colleges in India

Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a centralised test for admission to prominent National Law
universities in India. The test is taken after the Higher Secondary Examination or the 12th grade for
admission to integrated under graduation programmes in Law and after graduation in Law for
Master of Laws (LL.M) programmes conducted by these law universities.
The two-hour admission test consists of objective type covering questions on English, general
knowledge, basic mathematics, besides legal and logical reasoning.
Eligibility
Only Indian nationals and NRIs can appear in the test. The foreign nationals desirous of taking
admission to any course in any of the participating law universities may directly contact the
concerned university having seats for foreign nationals.
The eligibility requirements are as follows:
Under-Graduate Courses
Senior Secondary School/Intermediate (10+2) or its equivalent certificate from a recognised board
with not less than 45% marks in aggregate (40% in case of SC and ST candidates) and an age below
20 years as on 1 July of the year of test (25 years in case of SC and ST candidates). Students whose
results are awaited can also appear in the test.
Post-Graduate Courses
LL. B/B. L. Degree or an equivalent degree from a recognized university with not less than 55% marks
in aggregate (50% in case of SC and ST candidates). The candidates who have passed the qualifying
degree examination through supplementary/ compartment and repeat attempts are also eligible for
appearing in the test and taking admission provided that such candidates will have to produce the
proof of having passed the qualifying examination with fifty-five/fifty percent marks, as the case may
be, on the date of their admission or within the time allowed by the respective universities.

MODULE TWO- LAW

Participating Law schools

Non-participating schools
Despite the efforts of the Ministry of Human Resources Development, not all law schools in the
country could come to an agreement to be participants to CLAT. While the number of participating
institutions has increased from seven to fourteen from 2008 to 2012, there are still a number of
reputable law schools which choose to continue with their existing system. Some of the main ones
are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

Department of Laws, Punjab University, Chandigarh

Government Law College, Mumbai
National Law University, Delhi
Faculty of Law, Aligarh Muslim University
Faculty of Law, Jamia Millia Islamia
Jindal Global Law School, Sonipat
ICFAI Law School, Dehradun
Symbiosis Law School, Pune
ILS Law College, Pune
Indraprastha University, New Delhi
Amity Law School, Delhi
Faculty of Law, University of Lucknow
Faculty of Law, Allahabad University

MODULE TWO- LAW

2.2 Singapore
Persons seeking admission to the Singapore Bar must obtain an approved law degree through
completing a course of study of at least three academic years leading to that degree as a full-time
internal candidate from an approved university. The degree is typically a LL.B. or a LL.B. (Honours),
depending on the university, or a J.D. (from one of only four approved US universities or the
Singapore Management University). They are then required to sit for the Singapore Bar
Examinations, which is divided into Part A (for overseas graduates from approved overseas
universities only) and Part B (a five-month practical course, compulsory for both local and overseas
graduates).
They are further required to complete a six-month Practice Training Contract before they can be
called to the Bar as Advocates and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Singapore. Advocates and
Solicitors are entitled to appear before courts or perform solicitors' work, as the legal profession in
Singapore is fused without any distinction between barristers and solicitors.

2.3. UK
The United Kingdom comprises three distinct legal jurisdictions:
1. English law in England and Wales
2. Northern Ireland law in Northern Ireland
3. Scots law in Scotland
As such, admission to practice law requires different qualifications in each country of the UK
In England and Wales, one does not have to be admitted to the bar to practice law, but qualifications
are required to become a solicitor or barrister, who have special rights of audience in Court. There
are also other types of lawyer, including Chartered Legal Executives. For both the solicitor and
barrister professions, one must either obtain an undergraduate law degree (LL.B., which typically
lasts three years), or complete the Common Professional Examination/Graduate Diploma in Law
(which lasts one year after completing an undergraduate degree).
Potential solicitors are then required to complete the Legal Practice Course which lasts one year,
then a two-year apprenticeship under a training contract, during which the trainee solicitor has to
complete a Professional Skills Course. Potential barristers must usually complete the one year Bar
Professional Training Course (formerly Bar Vocational Course), followed by a year of vocational
training known as a pupillage. Potential Chartered Legal Executives may or may not have a law
degree (LL.B).

10

MODULE TWO- LAW

Their regulatory body, The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) sets a vocational route to
qualification. On top of that, Chartered Legal Executives need to have 5 years of qualifying work
experience to become lawyers. This is in place of a training contract or pupilage. However Chartered
Legal Executives can then go on to become partners in law firms, judges or advocates (with further
training).

2.4 United States

Regulation of the legal profession is a power reserved to the states pursuant to the Tenth
Amendment to the US Constitution. Each state, territory and the District of Columbia has its own
rules. Unlike many other countries, US jurisdictions do not license legal practitioners as solicitors and
barristers, but all licensed attorneys are qualified to practice as both.
All jurisdictions require applicants to pass a moral character evaluation and to pass an ethics
examination, which some states administer as part of their bar examinations. Most require
applicants to achieve a particular score on the Multi-State Professional Responsibility Examination.
All jurisdictions except Wisconsin and New Hampshire require successful completion of a bar exam
for admission. Diploma privilege is available in those states for graduates of certain law schools
whose degree programmes meet certain requirements.
Educational requirements vary but most states require a baccalaureate degree (with any major
concentration, or in general studies), followed by a professional doctorate in law - specifically a (Juris
Doctor or Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar
Association.
Unlike most other countries, in the United States, the formal study of law (leading to becoming a
lawyer eligible to practice in a court of law in the US) is only available at the postgraduate level.
Thus, to be eligible to attend a law school in the US, a student must have had a prior undergraduate
degree.

2.5 Top 20 law colleges in the world

Following is the list of top 20 law colleges in the world (QS world university ranking- 2014):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Harvard University- United States

University of Oxford- United Kingdom
University of Cambridge- United Kingdom
Yale University- United States
New York University (NYU)- United States

11

MODULE TWO- LAW

6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

Stanford University- United States

London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)- United Kingdom
The University of Melbourne- Australia
University of Chicago- United States
University of California, Berkeley (UCB)- United States
Columbia University- United States
UCL (University College London)- United Kingdom
The University of Sydney- Australia
The University of New South Wales- Australia
The Australian National University- Australia
Monash University- Australia
Georgetown University- United States
The University of Hong Kong- Hong Kong
National University of Singapore (NUS)- Singapore
King's College London (KCL)- United Kingdom

3. Legal careers
3.1 Main careers in Law
Unsurprisingly, many law graduates go on to pursue careers within the legal sector. As explained
above, prominent legal careers usually require further study and training. Students may find the
legal systems of different countries use different words to describe certain legal careers. Indeed
when it comes to the titles of barrister and solicitor, lawyers may hold either title but still be able
to practice as both. Some law graduates may even start off as one and then decide to become the
other. A lawyer will usually only hold one of the two titles. Some countries also fuse the two titles
together, simply calling practitioners lawyers. Some popular careers chosen by law graduates
include:
Barrister
A barrister (or advocate in places such as Scotland, Belgium, South Africa, Israel, the Isle of Man and
Brazil) specialises in representing clients (individuals or organisations) in court. As a barrister,
students will generally be hired by solicitors to represent a case at court, only becoming involved
when advocacy before a court is needed. Barristers will provide legal advice for their client and plead
the case on behalf of their client. Members of the public can also go directly to a barrister to ask for
advice and representation in court, rather than via a solicitor.
Most barristers specialise in a particular area of law, such as criminal, common or entertainment
law. Many barristers also work on a self-employed basis, or as part of a chambers which allows

12

MODULE TWO- LAW

them to share administrative expenses, while others are employed permanently by government
departments, agencies, charities, corporations or solicitors firms. Although historically barristers
were called counselors in the US, there is now no distinction between barristers (lawyers who plead
cases) and solicitors (laws who act as agents for their client). Both are now called attorneys.
Solicitor
A solicitor (or attorney in South Africa) provides legal advice on a wide range of subjects (both
personal and business affairs) and is often tasked with explaining the law to clients, who can include
individuals, groups, public sector organisations and private companies. Solicitors may act on behalf
of their client in court (or instruct a barrister to do so) and throughout all legal negotiations in issues
such as property transactions, wills, divorce and child custody, compensation claims and business
contracts.
Solicitors need to prepare and research documents, letters and other paperwork in order to
represent their client to the best of their ability. Students may be working for a private law firm, or
be employed by central or local government agencies, banks or other commercial organisations.
Many solicitors also use some of their time on a pro bono basis (voluntarily and without pay), for
those unable to pay for access to legal services.
Company secretaries
Employed by a business or organisation, company secretaries ensure that the company complies
with relevant legislation, on a local, national or global basis. In countries such as India, private
companies with a certain amount of share capital are required by law to appoint a company
secretary, usually a senior board member. Using a thorough understanding of laws that affect the
companys area of interest, and through monitoring changes in relevant legislation, a company
secretary will be responsible for ensuring the efficient administration of their company in regards to
legal and statutory requirements.
Also known as a chartered secretary, or simply secretary, a company secretary acts as the point of
communication between the board of directors and company shareholders, organising and taking
minutes during board meetings, maintaining statutory books, dealing with correspondence and
advising members of the legal, governance, accounting and tax implications of proposed policies
when required.
Paralegal
While a paralegal cannot provide legal advice to clients, they do provide experienced and skilled
services to lawyers and their clients. However, in Ontario, Canada, they are considered a formal part
of the legal system. Paralegals will need to have experience and knowledge in the area of law in
which they are working, whether they handle small claims or supporting property conveyance.
Paralegals also handle client caseloads, filing case documents, and researching cases and legal
information for their employer, as well as drafting documents and letters.

13

MODULE TWO- LAW

Duties for more experienced paralegals include taking statements from and interviewing clients and
witnesses, providing legal information and attending court or presenting applications to judges.
Most paralegals are employed by law firms, in the legal department of private companies, in the
public or not-for-profit sector, in civil and criminal courts or in the police, enforcement or defense
forces. They are known as a judicial scrivener in Japan and South Korea.

3.2 Other careers for law graduates

While law graduates are well-suited for specific legal careers, studying a law degree does not limit
students to roles specifically in this field. Like other social science subjects, the academic challenges
provided by law degrees can be good preparation for a broad range of different career paths. Other
sectors for a law graduate include: accountancy, banking, business and management, commerce,
finance, government, HR and recruitment, journalism, marketing and PR, media, politics, publishing,
teaching, the civil service, not-for-profit and NGOs, or think tanks and policy development.

4 Advantages and disadvantages

4.1 Advantages:
1.
Numerous employment opportunities to choose from- With numerous employment
opportunities in both the public and in private sectors, a career in Law is a lucrative option for many.
2.
High salaries- With the emerging markets both in India and outside, lawyers get paid
competitive salaries when compared to other industries.
3.
Develop better sense of judgment- Since the study of law covers every facet of life, it
introduces and encourages learning about non-law subjects like business, sciences and even liberal
arts.

4.2 Disadvantages:
1.
High stress quotient- Besides appearing in the court rooms on behalf of their clients, lawyers
are also involved in the backend preparations. This can be exhausting and stressful.
2.
Long work hours- With good pay comes long work hours and tiring schedules. Irrespective of
the industry that lawyers work in, they have to put in long hours of work.

14

MODULE TWO- LAW

5 Skills sets needed to be a successful lawyer
Increasingly, law firms and chambers recruit applicants who have a portfolio of specific skills to
equip them to succeed in legal practice. When talking to the graduate recruitment managers of
leading law firms about what they look for in desirable candidates, there are qualities that come up
time and time again. Law firms spend a phenomenal amount of time and money in searching for the
most talented students; developing their trainees to become talented lawyers and future partners of
the firm.
This is why they have spent a great deal of time considering what attributes make the "brightest
talent", and invariably seek to recruit only the very best and most able people. Law firms / chambers
do not expect students to be the finished article, but are looking for "projected ability" and real
potential. It would be naive to assume that every employer is looking for precisely the same
attributes, but aspiring lawyers must be able to demonstrate certain discernible skills both to
succeed as a solicitor / barrister and to operate effectively in the competitive professional and
business world. These skills include:
A stellar academic record: Law firms seek to recruit students who have achieved excellent academic
grades consistently throughout their education. The work of a lawyer is intellectually rigorous,
demanding and students should be able to show that they have the intelligence and ability to
absorb, assimilate and analyse complex material very quickly.
Teamwork: One of the most important skills needed to be a successful solicitor is the ability to be a
useful member of a team. When applying, students should ensure that they highlight examples
which project them as good team players and leaders during university.
Interpersonal skills: Any lawyer must be able to communicate effectively with their client. The most
successful lawyers tend to be personable and able to work effectively with people by cultivating,
building, developing and maintaining relationships with clients and colleagues alike. Having good
"people skills" will help prospective law to interact with a wide variety of characters at your firm and
fit into the culture of the firm.
Communication: Being able to communicate clearly and effectively on paper or face-to-face or over
the telephone underpins the role of a solicitor. This is because the role of a solicitor largely involves
being able to advise and negotiate effectively with their client and the other side to ensure a deal
runs smoothly. The use of clear and succinct language will be valued by both clients and colleagues.
Client care is fundamental and possessing excellent communication skills will help in communicating
ideas and advice to clients.
Commercial acumen: Based on talking to recruiters up and down the country this is the single most
desirable attribute employers look for in a future trainee, and is becoming more and more important
for modern day legal practice. Trainee solicitors are expected to emerge not only as good lawyers,

15

MODULE TWO- LAW

but as sound business advisors as well. Commercial awareness, simply put, is developing an
understanding of the business environment in which law firms and their clients operate. Aspiring
lawyers must be able to appreciate the role of a commercial lawyer and the commercial context in
which they provide the legal advice.
Commitment and dedication to a legal career: With intense competition for places, it is vital
students can demonstrate a long-term commitment to a career in law, which can be shown through
work experience. It is important that students acquire work experience in both a legal and
commercial environment to evidence interest, enthusiasm and motivation for pursuing a legal
career.
Attention to detail: When lawyers draft contracts, a single word in the wrong place can change the
emphasis of a clause and possibly the outcome for the client. A lawyer is expected to have a
thorough, accurate and meticulous approach to their work.
Honesty and integrity: Clients expect lawyers to work to a high moral standard, total professional
integrity and ethical code, because they will only instruct solicitors they trust. Solicitors' professional
conduct rules are strict guidelines ensuring lawyers always act in their clients' best interests; client
confidentiality and professionalism are paramount to safeguarding the reputation and standards of
the legal profession.

16

MODULE TWO- LAW

very useful in India because neither its syllabus nor its result match with any of national entrance

COPYRIGHT @ UNIVARIETY 2015

17