Lawyering or law as a profession has evolved over a period of time from traditional areas of practice such as civil and criminal law, property matters, labour law practice to much larger areas of practice. Literally speaking, there is no aspect of human life where law practice holds no scope. Today, it encompasses several areas including Intellectual Property Rights, Company Law, International Law and Practice, Marine Law and so much more. Needless to say, the profession has become exciting, satisfying yet very demanding for young law professionals. Here, we wish to emphasize on the fact that the demand for law professionals has shown consistent growth over the past couple of years and is likely to grow manifold in the years to come that will eventually include various areas covering the tangible and the intangible areas of human life.

Until the past few decades, law practice was largely limited to practice before the courts of law, i.e., in the areas covering litigation and judiciary across various courts (lower courts, High Courts and Supreme Courts), Tribunals – such as Debt Recovery Tribunals, Land Tribunals, Railways Tribunals, and Forums – like Consumer Forums. While this is a thing of the past, with time and demand for lawyers, organizations and companies began hiring lawyers in large numbers for their legal departments. Today, practically every company have lawyers on board in advisory roles along with practicing lawyers. This has translated to an increase in demand for lawyers across various industries and sectors.

Some of the sectors that have attracted lawyers in great numbers during the recent years include

Banking and Finance Sector: Whether it is about compliance or documentation, the banking and finance sector has paved the way for the employment of a large team of lawyers. Besides this, follow-up in the courts of law and tribunals, briefing advocates about cases are some of the roles that lawyers practicing at the banking and finance sector have to do as a part of their job responsibility.

Intellectual Property:Trademark, patent, copyright, Geographical Indication are the terms that were uncommon until the last few decades. The need to protect rights of the goods and services of a particular origin, make or brand, has led to a number of disputes. There has always been a tussle between the original and the fake, claim for the authentic against the counterfeit. This has led to the introduction of intellectual property as a right-which only a rightful owner enjoys.

Corporate Sector:Companies and corporations have large teams of lawyers to conduct their daily legal compliances and paperwork. Contract management, adherence to various acts and regulations, ensuring that the deals between the company and its suppliers/vendors are within the spirit of law are some of the many functions that corporate lawyers handle as a part of their job.

There has been a rise in the number of students opting to study law especially during the past couple of years after the completion of 10+2. Kirit P. Mehta School of Law established under the aegis of NMIMS is a reputed law college that offers integrated LL.B. and LL.M. programs. It provides quality education in an intellectually stimulating environment, thereby providing the right ground to hone talent and skills for young budding lawyers.

Pursuing law as a career is a life-changing decision for young law students. There is immense growth potential and scope for growth for lawyers as they move up in life. Being a lawyer myself, with over seven years of practice at the bar, I am yet to come across a single lawyer who is not happy with their chosen area of life. There is immense satisfaction in lawyering, and it is very gratifying in terms of professional and personal development as you put in years into your practice. While a law school provides you the formative training to hone skills and develop professional acumen, there are other traits that you develop over time and with practice.

In saying so, what are those factors that most of the successful law professionals seem to be having in them? Is it intelligence, keen observation, years of study, and research? It is but all of these aspects and much, much more.

Eye for detail and a keen ear for listening

These are the two traits that most successful lawyers seem to have adapted in their practice. Law is not an abstract practice; you have to observe and listen to make successful legal strategies and comprehend large amounts of information. You later have the liberty to filter the necessary information and apply them successfully to the case in hand.

Articulate in communication, meticulous in research

A lawyer has to conduct an in-depth study on the case in hand as well as communicate it effectively to clients/judges or any other concerned person. Putting forth an argument effectively, presenting a case before the judge and being confident about your stand, goes a long way as a winning strategy for any lawyer.

Ability to convince others

Understanding the pros and cons of a subject is important to convince the other side as a winning strategy. You cannot be sitting on the fence while lawyering. You have to stay ‘put’ on your stand, remain focused, and convince your opponent by making informed statements.

To be persuasive

“Never give up” – seems to be a daily motto in the life of a lawyer. Being persuasive is all about this as you are fighting for the rights of another person- AKA your client. As a law student, you may realize that the road to becoming a good lawyer requires a great deal of perseverance and commitment. Later as you begin working and during the course of your career, it is perseverance that will ensure you reach your goals.

As we see, while some of the traits may already be within you, there are still a few traits that you develop within you as a legal professional. It is the profession that teaches you so much; from hearing out the clients to understanding their point-of-view, and feeling the need to protect their rights.

NMIMS Kirit P. Mehta School of Law is one such reputed law college of India. The selection of students for the 5-year integrated law programs takes place through CLAT along with registration for the law program conducted by the college. NMIMS School of Law has spread its base across various cities in India, including, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Bengaluru, Indore, Hyderabad, Chandigarh and Dhule. With world-class infrastructure, a fine teaching faculty, updated curriculum and a varied choice of specializations, the college provides the right environment to pursue your academic goals and flourish in your later years of law practice. Visit: http://bit.ly/NMIMSSOL2020 to Apply Today!

This article is written by Priya Bhat – Content Developer & Lawyer with 7+ years of legal practice in the field.

Legal profession is one of the earliest and most respectable professions known to mankind. With time and changes in economy and polity, societal norms, the profession has undergone a sea change. Today, the legal profession touches every aspect of human life, that includes environment, intellectual property, finance etc. Whether it is about protecting the right of the citizens or whether it is about giving a wider meaning to any debate in hand, the courts have the powers to decide and determine the cases in light of the law of the land.

Having said this, legal profession is one of the most sought-after courses for students passing out of 10+2 or upon the completion of the undergraduate course. The introduction of CLAT and LSAT as qualifying exams to some of the most coveted law schools of India has helped in bringing out the competency among the students and has helped streamline the academics and practical aspects of legal education.

Coming to what holds for lawyers in future

Its opportunities galore! For students who pass out of the good law colleges. From traditional practice at the various courts of law, advisory roles, NGO’s mentoring, teaching, counsellors at organizations and companies, continuing studies after Law school etc. Bearing in mind that with time, newer areas of study have emerged in legal education. Some of the areas that have drawn interest of lawyers during the past decade or so include-

• Cyber laws

• Intellectual property laws

• Financial regulations

• Environmental law

• Corporate law

• FinTech law

Growth Potential and Scope Students who graduate from good law schools are most sought-after at law firms, corporates and large enterprises.

Skills that you develop at law school

The 5-year integrated LL.B. degree is the professional degree that is awarded by the Law colleges. During the first two years of study, students are introduced to subjects covering Humanities, legal language- communication and logic included and Economics as the subjects. During the latter three years of study, students must study compulsory core and optional subjects covering every aspect of law such as Constitutional Law, Property law, legislative drafting, Civil and criminal law etc. Besides this, there are compulsory mock trials, guest lectures, internships, moot courts (at college, inter-college, national as well as international level). This gives them a hands-on experience in life after completion of law school. The end result of course is that this intensive 5-year course leaves you with good analytical skills, logical and reasoning capabilities as well as hones your communication skills.

Let’s look at what draws these students to highly lucrative jobs-

– Firstly, the college you graduate from – the academics and practical aspects covered at law school

– The skills that you have built during your study at law school

– Participation in moot courts, debates etc.

– Participation in moot courts, debates etc.

– Your capability to understand a case from every perspective – This of course, determines your ability to defend your client and understand the pros and cons

– Comprehension skills and understanding capabilities

All in all, legal education promises opportunities for a lifetime. There’s tremendous growth potential, boundless opportunities for individual and professional growth, ability to scale up on the career graph and so much more. Considering the fact that law is ever-changing and ever evolving, legal professionals have greater opportunity to explore and discover themselves in the sea of opportunities.

Study of law or legal education is one of the most widely chosen area of study after the completion of 10+2 (in case of a 5-year integrated LL.B.) degree or degree (in case of a 3-year Law degree). While there are a number of law colleges that you may find in your city, it is also imperative to choose the right institution that can hone your skills and shape-up your personality and above all, help you in your professional endeavours. Admissions to some of the most coveted law colleges of the country for LL.B./LL.M. programmes conducted by them is through the LSAT and CLAT examination. Some of the institutions may prefer to have their own entrance exam as well

Coming to the vital question:

What should one look out for in a law college?

• Affiliations by the Bar Council of India – University and colleges should have the approvals and has to be affiliated to the Centre of Legal Education under the Bar Council of India. The Bar Council of India shall notify the list of such universities and Centres of Legal Education on its website. The list is published prior to the commencement of academic year and is amended from time to time.

• Approvals and Recognition by the respective university

• Academic and Co-curricular activities

• Practical Training Sessions such as Mock Trials, Internship Programmes, Chamber Visits and Moot Court – These are the crucial aspects. For any law student, five years or three years post your degree is a crucial time to build skills and one’s personality. The college should be a fertile ground for students to grow and achieve skills during the years of study at the law college

• Faculty and infrastructure as specified by the Bar Council of India are also the points of consideration.

Pointers for students and parents to find the right college

To put things in a nutshell:

• Check out the list of college that qualify in the CLAT list of colleges

• Check out for the colleges that admit students on the basis of the LSAT results

• Reputation of the college on various websites such as ims.com, indiatoday.com, shiksha.com, collegedunia.com, etc.

• Understand the various courses in law at undergraduate and post-graduate level offered by the institution

• Campus recruitment and placement assistance offered by the college upon completion

• Understand the structure of academics and co-curricular activities that can be a powerful tool to develop practical skills, critical thinking and legal writing skills in students.

CLAT and LSAT

CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is conducted for students who wish to seek admission in any of the 18 National law universities of India that offer 5-year integrated law programme (B.A., LL.B.). They include institutes such as NLSIU, NALSAR, National Law University etc.

LSAT on the other hand, is the entrance test conducted for admission in private Law colleges spanning over 50 institutes all over India, including NMIMS Kirit P.Mehta School of Law, Mumbai. The results of the exam is declared during the last week of May on the merit-cum preference basis. Taking up the entrance test is a gateway to the most covered LL.B. / LL.M. programmes offered by the top law institutes of the country.

The study of Law has undergone a sea change owing to the global economy, changes in the social structure and polity. Whether it is corporate law, intellectual property laws, environmental law or any other area of specialization, some of the reputed law have introduced these courses at the LL.M. level. The newest area of specialization in Financial Regulations has been introduced by the NMIMS Kirit P. Mehta School of Law. Post the recession and the resultant vibrant world economy, there is a constant need to scrutinize financial transactions that takes place between companies, people and countries. Mergers and acquisition, securities market, bond markets, commodities exchange have all been instrumental in bringing in the change.

Lawyers with expertise in financial regulations and banking can identify and capitalize on opportunities and respond quickly to the regulatory changes in the financial world. There are a number of underlying issues and complexities that are involved along the way and lawyers who specialize in this area can address these issues with expertise.

Why Financial Regulations as a part of the LL.M. course?

The study of financial regulations at the post graduate level of the LL.M. course paves way for lawyers, professionals and corporates to take up assignments in this area. Financial regulations is the upcoming and important area of study, mainly owing to the increased number of disclosures that companies have to make and financial scrutiny that they attract. Having said this, there are very few professional lawyers who specialize in this area of specialization. Upon completion, lawyers may opt to take up corporate jobs in financial institutions such as insurance companies, banks and NBFCs, venture capitalist firms, law firms, security markets etc.

Prospects and Scope

• Regulations for the Securities and bond market

• Regulations for the banking and non-banking financial firms

• Administrative law

• Anti-bribery and corruption law

• Fin-tech and payment system

• Foreign capital flow-FEMA, FERA Act

• Insolvency and bankruptcy of non-financial firms

• Global financial regulations

• Working of central banks, monetary policy and fiscal policy

• Research methodologies, etc.

The course material is designed keeping in mind the requirement of young lawyers, researchers and corporates who have to deal with regulatory compliances for the financial transactions that take place in the organization. Every organization has to deal with disclosure obligations and scrutiny by investors and regulators thereby inviting higher levels of compliances of statutory regulations. This makes issues relating to corporate governance all the more stringent and crucial.

An Important Arm of Corporate Law

While we all hear and know that corporate law is one of the most coveted areas of specialization and practice, specialization in Financial Regulation will cover all area of banking, insurance and pension industry, securities market etc. This is of specific interest to large corporates who are involved in complex financial transactions, which attract financial regulations. While there has not been a systematic study covering academic and practical aspects of financial regulations, this course aims to bring in just that – a systematic approach by bringing in a wide range of subjects and areas covering financial regulations.

Finding the Best Law School

Many students are choosing law as their career these days. The reasons are plenty. For one, it is a prestigious and challenging profession and opens doors to innumerable job opportunities. From practising law in the courts to exploring various other legal positions in both public and private sectors, the options for law graduates are unlimited.

Mark of a Good Law School

There are many government and private universities offering education in law in India. However, a few stand out for their quality of education, highly trained and acclaimed faculty, world-class infrastructure, well-equipped library, pedagogy, practical training, internship, and placement prospects.

A Commitment to Excellence

One of them is NMIMS Deemed to be University’s Kirit P. Mehta School of Law (KPMSOL). Established in 2013, and approved by the Bar Council of India, the school fulfils almost all the parameters necessary to produce qualified, confident leaders in the legal field. Inculcating the values of professionalism, ethics, academic excellence, diversity, justice and integrity is paramount at KPPSOL.

Why KPMSOL?

Apart from having experienced faculty from academia, there is added thrust on regular interaction with law firms, judiciary, senior lawyers and prominent personalities.  Their ever-evolving curriculum is tailor-made to enable the budding lawyers to build their legal skills. The school follows outcome-based learning for the best results for its students rather than focusing on mere theoretical knowledge.  The school has a well-equipped library and is host to a globally relevant database. KPMSOL offers various programs to cater to students at different levels of their academic careers. From the 5-year integrated B.A., LL.B. and B.B.A., LL.B. courses to LL.M. and doctorate programs, the school’s programs are all-encompassing.

Invaluable Internships

An internship is considered a compulsory component for the students of the 5-year integrated courses at KPMSOL. The school feels it is the best external assessment to gauge the competency of students as they learn. The linear progression of internship starts from NGOs to Trial Court, from Trial Court to High Court/Firms/Corporates and from High Court to Supreme Court/Firms/Corporates. The school provides internship assistance to learners as per the legal field they choose. Besides, active engagements with influential industry people and firms in the way of talks, seminars, guest lectures, event sponsors, etc. allow for active student interaction with the legal world.

Successful Placements

The University has a group of dedicated placement executives who are constantly in touch with the legal fraternity to help with student placements. The school aims to provide placements to well-deserved graduating and post-graduating students with the assistance of the Placement Committee. In the year 2019, KPMSOL was associated with reputed members of the industry such as ALMT Legal, ARA LAW, Edelweiss, Deloitte, Mahindra, Tata Housing, Barclays, Viacom 18, KPMG, Clasis Law, to name a few.

Complementary Learning

Moving on from mere classroom learning, the KPMSOL believes in its students participating in several co-curricular and extracurricular activities.
Some Co-Curricular activities that the students participate in are:
Anhad – Debate Society
Moot Court Committee
Law Review Committee
Model United Nations Committee
Publications Committee (SOLink)
Alternate Dispute Resolution Committee
Some of their engaging, challenging and fun extracurricular activities undertaken by students are:
Meraki – Cultural Festival
Parakram – Sports Festival
Solympics – Sports festival
Entrepreneurial Cell (E-Cell)
All in all, a vibrant place with prime focus on quality education is what KPMSOL is all about. If the legal profession is your career of choice, this is certainly a place to be considered.

Applications for B.A., LL.B. and B.B.A., LL.B. are now open – Apply today! Visit: bit.ly/NMIMSLaw

Law as a career option is one of the most respected choices for students after they complete their 12th standard. The Indian legal system is complex, nuanced, and always evolving. To become a successful lawyer, one needs to have some basic qualities—a discerning mind, good written and oral communication skills, a logical outlook, the ability to make the right judgement, the skill to think spontaneously, analytical, critical and creative bent of mind, patience and determination. This is not all. Training from a top-notch law college that helps you sharpen all the above-mentioned skills plays a very crucial role in making successful lawyers. Make sure you enrol in a college or university that will help you translate what you have learnt in theory into practice effectively.

Choosing the Right School of Law

At the NMIMS Deemed to be University’s Kirit P. Mehta School of Law (KPMSOL), which is approved by the Bar Council, they aim to nourish professional virtues while upholding societal values. With a team of brilliant faculty and a regular stream of successful people in the field of law as guest lecturers, the school also has a world-class infrastructure and a well- equipped library. Their curriculum is continually updated, keeping the evolving legal system of India in mind. They equip the students with the knowledge and skills required to meet the demands of the new-age law fraternity.

Great Internship & Placement Opportunities

NMIMS Deemed to be University has strong industry linkages and put great emphasis on internships for their students in all their programs. The same is true for KPMSOL. Dedicated placement executives maintain regular interface with the legal fraternity. The school aims to provide placements to well-deserved graduating students with the assistance of the Placement Committee.

Programs on Offer
B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) – Integrating Law & Humanities

About the Course

The 5-year course is for those who want to specialise in humanities along with Law. Students are exposed to subjects like Political Science, Economics, Sociology, History, Philosophy and Journalism and their influence and interdependence on the law. The course also focuses on topics like Critical Thinking, Legal Writing, Moot Court, Internship and Professional Ethics, apart from teaching selective foreign languages to the students as a means to encourage international outreach.

Eligibility

Students should have passed 12th standard from a recognised board/University with minimum 50% marks. CLAT / LSAT scores are considered for admission.

Choice of Campus

The program is available in the following campuses of NMIMS Deemed to be University: Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Bengaluru, Indore, Hyderabad.

Career Prospects

At the completion of their B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) degree, students can look for successful careers as Legal Advisors or Legal Counsellors at government or private organisations, Independent lawyers, Public prosecutors, a Judge, by appearing for additional qualifying exams or Company Secretary in the corporate sector, to name just a few.

B.B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) – Integrating Law & Management

If you are interested in a law degree with good insights into management, the 5-year B.B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) program will allow you to acquire management skills by learning subjects such as Data Analytics & Artificial Intelligence, Finance, Human Resource Management, Accounting etc. and their dependence on the law. An exposure to subjects like Critical Thinking, Legal Writing, Moot Court Internship and Professional Ethics, plus a selective foreign language, make the students good quality management professionals with a comprehensive understanding of the law.

Eligibility

Firstly, Students should have passed 12th standard from a recognised board/university with a minimum of 50% marks. CLAT / LSAT scores are considered for admission.

Choice of Campus

The program is available in the following campuses of NMIMS Deemed to be University: Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Bengaluru, Indore, Hyderabad, Dhule and Chandigarh.

Career Opportunities

A host of career options are available in both government and private sectors once the students finish their dual degree. From Law Firm Associates, Business Consultant to Law Compliance Officer, Law Professor, Labour Officer, Human Resource Manager, Law Reporter to Notary and Attorney General, the legal field will be your oyster!

Career Opportunities

Applications for both undergraduate programs are now open – Apply today! Visit: bit.ly/NMIMSLaw