Court practice — civil, criminal, corporate. 5-year integrated BA-LLB or 3-year LLB.
Litigators argue cases in courts (trial + appellate). Independent practice + chambers + senior counsel structure. Solo practice first 5 years is financially tough; senior advocates earn substantially.
2 viable paths.
Class 12 → CLAT → 5-yr BA-LLB at NLU
Top entry. CLAT cleared into NLSIU/NLU-Delhi/NALSAR etc. Strong placements but litigation is independent path.
Bachelor's → 3-yr LLB
DU Faculty of Law, BHU, ILS Pune. Standard route for late-deciders.
Wide bands — real salary depends on city, employer, performance. Pick the midpoint for planning.
Junior to senior advocate ₹15k-25k/month very common; tough first years. Tier-1 firms ₹15-20L.
Wide variance — building practice vs salaried.
Senior counsel rates ₹1-25 lakh per hearing in SC. Most realistic outcome ₹50L-₹2 Cr.
Junior → Associate → Counsel → Senior Counsel / Designated Senior Advocate (SC/HC)
Top employers (informational, not endorsement)
Pros
Cons
Strong long-term for skilled litigators. Commercial litigation growing with corporate dispute volumes.
Corporate Lawyer (Law Firm)
Transactional + advisory work at top law firms. M&A, capital markets, dispute resolution.
Judge (Judicial Services)
Civil Judge entry via state Judicial Services Exam. District + Sessions Court path.