Advocate – How to become an Advocate
An advocate is a legal professional who represents and defends individuals or organizations in legal matters, such as civil or criminal cases. The role of an advocate is to provide legal advice, counsel clients on legal matters, and represent them in courts or tribunals.
To become an advocate, a person must have completed a Bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB) from a recognized university, and also clear the Bar Council examination. After completing these qualifications, the person can enroll with the Bar Council and start practicing as an advocate.
Advocates may work in various areas of law, such as criminal law, corporate law, family law, and intellectual property law. They may represent clients in different types of courts, such as district courts, high courts, or the Supreme Court, depending on the nature and complexity of the case.
The job of an advocate requires a strong understanding of legal principles and an ability to communicate and argue persuasively. Advocates must also have excellent research skills and be able to work independently as well as part of a team.
Advocate – How to become an Advocate
To become an advocate after the 12th, you need to follow these steps:
- Pursue a Bachelor’s Degree: To become a lawyer or advocate in India, you need to have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Law. You can pursue a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) course after completing your 12th grade. Many universities in India offer this course.
- Clear Entrance Exams: To get admission into a law school, you need to clear the entrance exam. The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is the most popular entrance exam for law schools in India. Other entrance exams include AILET, LSAT, and SLAT.
- Complete your LL.B. degree: After getting admission to a law school, you need to complete your LL.B. degree, which usually takes three years. During this period, you will study various aspects of the law such as the Indian legal system, constitutional law, criminal law, corporate law, and others.
- Complete an Internship: It is necessary to complete a mandatory internship of a few weeks or months during your law degree. This will provide you with practical experience and an understanding of the legal profession.
- Clear the Bar Exam: After completing your LL.B., you need to clear the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) to obtain a license to practice law in India.
- Join the Bar Council: After clearing the bar exam, you need to enroll yourself with the Bar Council of India (BCI) to become a practicing lawyer.
Becoming an advocate requires hard work, dedication, and a passion for the law. With proper education, training, and practice, you can become a successful advocate in India.
Criteria for Advocacy Enrollment (As per Section 24 of the Advocates Act)
A person is qualified to be enrolled as an advocate if he meets the following requirements:
(a) He is an Indian national. Provided, however, that a native of any other country may practice only if Indians are permitted to practice in that country;
(b) He has attained the age of 21;
(c) He holds a bachelor’s degree in law;
(d) He has paid the requisite stamp duty under the Indian Stamp Act of 1899, as well as an enrolment fee due to the State Bar Council. He must pay 600 rupees to the State Bar Council and 150 rupees to the Bar Council of India. If the individual belongs to a Scheduled Caste or Tribe, he must pay one hundred rupees to the State Bar Council and twenty-five rupees to the Bar Council of India.
The Enrolment Committee of the Council will review the candidate’s application. Candidates who match the requirements are chosen to represent SBC in their respective roles. To qualified applicants who desire to be registered as advocates, SBC gives a Certificate of Enrolment.
Advantages of becoming an advocate-
Becoming an advocate has numerous advantages, including:
- Rewarding Profession – As an advocate, you have the option to choose from a wide range of professional pathways in both the public and private sectors. After passing the bar exam, you can specialize in areas such as domestic law, family law, commercial law, corporate law, bankruptcy law, immigration law, criminal prosecution, and estate planning. You can work with businesses or as a sole practitioner if you possess diverse legal skills.
- Intellectual Advancement – Practicing law challenges your mind with various mental problems on a regular basis. You’ll need to comprehend complex legal theories and anticipate potential outcomes for your clients. As an advocate, you can use your mental talents, such as logical thinking and cognitive analysis, every day to assist your clients in resolving their difficulties. Each case is unique, so you can apply your analytical abilities to analyze, speculate, hypothesize, and create strategies to help clients win cases.
- High earning potential – An advocate’s annual salary in India is approximately 5-10 Lakhs. Licensed advocates who are on a state’s roll may practice law throughout the country. The actual wage may vary based on factors such as geography, educational qualifications, years of experience, and skills.
How much does a Lawyer make?
Becoming an advocate can be a highly rewarding career that challenges you intellectually and provides numerous opportunities to specialize and succeed financially.