This article on ‘Top Government Exams For Law Graduates In India‘ was written by Shruti Korgaonkar, an intern at Legal Upanishad.
Introduction
Every aspect of our everyday life involves the law. An individual with a background in law has a very bright future. There are a plethora of possibilities available in the legal sector. Contrary to common opinion, the practice of law is not limited to barristers and solicitors. A lucrative wage is another appealing aspect of a legal career. Law careers are also extremely bankable in terms of remuneration. There are many government employment available for law graduates, and society respects the work of a lawyer, advocate, judge, or other legal experts.
Work in the government also provides financial stability. Being a graduate candidate, however, allows law graduates to also be qualified to take other competitive tests, such as Civil Services, SSC, Review Officer, and many more, where the only educational need is graduation in any area. In this article we will be talking about the 8 important Government Exams for Law Graduate in India, every student must be preparing for.
1- IBPS Officer
For the selection of various types of officers in the public sector banks, SBI, Associate Banks of SBI, NABARD, RBI, SIDBI, LIC & Insurance businesses, and other regular member Banks of the IBPS organization, the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) test is held. The IBPS department administers a variety of tests for various occupations and roles, including the IBPS SO exam for Specialist Officers, the IBPS Law Officer Exam, the IBPS PO Exam for Probationary Officers, and the IBPS RRB Exam for Officers and Office Assistants in Regional Rural Banks.
Eligibility
- Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
- The age criteria for applying are between 20-30 years.
- Candidates must be LLB Degree holders.
- Enrolment with Bar Council as an Advocate is a must.
Exam Pattern
- Preliminary Exam
- Mains Exam
- Interview
2- Public Sector Undertaking (PSU)
Units of PSUs (Public Sector Undertakings) are owned by the Indian government, states, or companies. The Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) periodically organize tests and hire candidates who pass the exams, creating a large number of job possibilities.
ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) and POWERGRID (Power Grid Corporation of India Limited) are two PSUs that appoint their legal officers based on CLAT-PG scores, whereas few PSUs hold their tests for the selection of law officers.
3- RBI Recruitment
The RBI Recruitment Exam is held by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to choose applicants for various officer jobs. The many RBI branches around the nation make employment offers to the chosen individuals. Thousands of individuals apply for the exam each year. Despite the small number of available seats, the exam has a very high level of competition because there are so many candidates. There are three parts to the exam: the preliminary exam, the main exam, and the interview. Law graduates can apply for the position of Legal Consultant through the RBI Recruitment test.
Eligibility-
Legal Consultant (Grade ‘F’):
- Candidates must be LLB degree holders with enrolment in Bar Council as advocates.
- Candidates must hold a minimum aggregate of 50% marks.
- 15 years of experience as an Advocate is a must
- Age criteria between 45 to 55 years
Legal Consultant (Grade ‘C’/’D’):
- For this position, the first two criteria are the same.
- 7 years of experience as an Advocate is a must
- Age criteria between 30 to 45 years
Selection-
- Preliminary examination
- Main Examination
- Interview
4- JAG Exam
The Indian Army, which comes under the military branch of justice and law, conducts the recruitment of law graduates into the army through the JAG Entry Scheme (also known as Judge Advocate General’s Corps). It is a fantastic chance to begin a military career. Judge Advocate General is the position offered to chosen candidates. The duties include counseling the military commanders, drafting filling, appearing in court, and appearing before tribunals. An Indian Army Judge Advocate General has the equivalent rank of a military lieutenant and is an expert in the application of Military Laws.
Eligibility-
- Candidates must hold an LLB degree with enrolment in Bar Council as an Advocate
- A minimum of 55% aggregate marks is required.
- Age criteria 21 to 27 years
5- Public Prosecutor
There are two separate tiers to the prosecutor’s office. One is the district attorney, who is chosen for a three- or five-year term, and the other is the subordinate magistrate court judge, who is chosen permanently. Protecting the public is a public prosecutor’s main responsibility. Establishing, starting, or continuing criminal proceedings in any action against the government or on behalf of the government are additional responsibilities of a public prosecutor. One could have the position of director of the prosecution, chief prosecutor, additional prosecutor, assistant public prosecutor, or public prosecutor.
Eligibility & qualification
- The candidate must be an Indian citizen.
- A UG degree in law is a must and an aggregate of 50-55% is to be scored.
- 7 years of experience as an advocate is necessary
- Age criteria must range from 35 to 45 years
The exam is held by UPSC. It is bifurcated into a written exam followed by an interview.
6- Judiciary
Aiming to try at least once, in their lives, every law student hopes to do this! Lawyers can enter the legal profession through the Provincial Civil Services Judicial Exam and become appointed as members of the subordinate judiciary. The candidate is appointed as a judge after passing the tests and interviews under the supervision of the high courts that have authority over them. This appointment is made by the state government.
Eligibility
- Candidates must hold a 3 or 5-year legal degree.
- Age criteria 21years to 35 years
- The candidate needs to have had a BC Advocate Registration.
7- UGC NET
Also known as the National Eligibility Examination, is a test used to establish a candidate’s eligibility to apply for a junior research fellowship or the position of assistant professor in an Indian university. Therefore, legal students who are excellent teachers and envision themselves succeeding in the field are encouraged to apply for the position.
Eligibility
The applicant must only possess a Master’s degree with a minimum 55% grade point average from a UGC-recognized institution.
Students may also apply if they plan to take the qualifying test or are awaiting the results. However, students must finish their PG within two years of the UGC NET result day.
8- SEBI Grade A Legal officer
If you like corporate law but are also attracted by government jobs then the SEBI Legal Officer will be perfect for you. SEBI has a total of 7 grades starting from Grade A and reaching up to Grade F i.e. Assistant Manager to Chief General Manager. Indian citizens up to the age of 30 years are eligible.
Mode of selection is a three-stage process i.e.:
- Online screening exam
- Online examination
- Interview
CONCLUSION
One of the industries with the quickest growth and highest pay rates today is legal services. Numerous LLB graduates start their careers in the tax and labor departments when it comes to employment in the public sector. The job chances improve at this point. With time and experience, they even advance to higher-level positions in state revenue, law enforcement, or the judiciary. There are countless options. Although the sector has its difficulties, it is also one of the most fascinating, prestigious, and gratifying occupations due to its successful outcomes.
Regardless of the path a candidate selects, the industry has enough capacity to provide everyone with a place that exactly matches their interests and passions. There are several job options in the legal business, and there is excellent professional advancement. The legal field is challenging, but it’s also one of the most fascinating, prestigious, and lucrative careers.
There is always something in the law industry that precisely matches your interest and enthusiasm, regardless of the route you choose to go.
REFERENCES
- “Government Law Exams”, Law Entrance, available at: https://www.lawentrance.com/article/other-law-exams.html
- Raslin Saluja, “Top government exams that LLB graduates can give”, iPleaders Blog, 18 August 2021, available at: https://blog.ipleaders.in/top-government-exams-llb-graduates-can-give/
- Deepti Sawant, “Competitive exams for law graduates”, Law Sikho, 7 July 2021, available at: https://lawsikho.com/blog/competitive-exams-for-law-graduates/