As we are ushering into the contemporary era of business transactions, contracts, governance, and business legal operations. It is estimated that the importance of corporate law has been diversified in the above-mentioned fields. Opting for your vocation as a Corporate lawyer can yield a stimulating career path. Nonetheless, becoming a lawyer entails extensive schooling. In this article, we will assist you with basic fundamental questions such as “How to become a corporate lawyer?”,” what does a corporate lawyer do?”, “Corporate Lawyer V/S Commercial awyer”,” What are the skills and qualifications required for a corporate law career?”.
How to become a Corporate Lawyer?
For becoming a corporate lawyer follow the nine steps given below:
1. Pass your 10th and 12th Exam
The foremost step to becoming a corporate lawyer is passing your 10th and 12th Exams. Usually, these secondary, intermediate, and university courses focus on science, arts, and commerce. Note: the candidates must require to score at least 45% aggregate marks at the 10+2 Level for General / OBC / PwD / NRI / PIO / OCI / Categories and 40% for reserved categories such as SC/ST.
2. Qualify for the CLAT Exam
After acquiring your 10+2 or its equivalent certificate from the recognized board. Then, you can appear in the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) and enroll yourself in the 5-year integrated undergraduate degree course known as BA.LLB.
Or else you can also opt for the CLAT Exam after holding a 3-year LL. B graduate degree from a recognized board with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks and then enroll in the Master of law program (LL.M). Further, your CLAT Score can help you to take admission to 22 National Law Universities and many other private law colleges in India.
3. Do Research for the law schools
While Preparing for the CLAT Exam or pursuing your Bachelor’s degree, give enough time to yourself to search for law schools. Make sure to check the school’s review and compare education, framework, faculty, and placements records. Or else, you can take guidance and consultation from top CLAT coaching institutes. Admission to these law schools will certainly advance and assist your law career. And also remember which programs you want to pursue either an integrated undergraduate, graduate, or Master’s degree.
4. Hold a Bachelor’s Degree
One way to stride into the Law Career is to earn a bachelor’s degree i.e. studying while pursuing. Often, candidates opt for 3 or 4-year programs as there are considered beneficial for legal studies or business courses.
After earning a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 45% aggregate marks, you can pursue a 3-year LL. B course, where you study various interdisciplinary topics such as arts, business, and law. While pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you will learn to write case studies, do research work, undertake mock court drills, and typically do internships with law firms.
5. Various Law Entrance Exam
Apart from the CLAT Exam, there are also alternative National-level Entrance Exams in which you can appear. Similarly, like the CLAT Exam, you can appear in these entrance tests after completing 10+2 schooling. Like CLAT Exam, these exams also check English and comprehension, current affairs and general knowledge, legal and logical reasoning, and mathematical quantitative skills. Given below is the list of other law Entrance Exams:
- Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)
- All India Law Entrance Test (AILET)
- Maharashtra Common Entrance Test for Law (MH CET)
- Symbiosis Law Entrance Test (SLAT)
- Indhraprastha University Common Entrance Test (IPU CET)
- Andhra Pradesh Law Common Entrance Test
- Telangana State Law Common Entrance Test
- DU LL.B Entrance Exam
- Christ University Law Entrance Examination (CU LEE)
- UPES Law Studies Aptitude Test (ULSAT)
- Law School Admission Test (LSAT) India
- Allahabad University LAT Exam
- BHU Undergraduate Law Entrance Test (BLAT)
- Punjab University LL.B Law Entrance Test
6. Use your valuable time to gain experience via various exercises
As we know Legal Profession is very competitive nowadays. Hence, to counter every other competitor you should have work experience either through an internship program or a part-time job with a local law firm. Purposeful work experience is very essential to enshrine and enrich the values and skills. Work experience can assist you to develop or shape certain skills such as communication, persuasiveness, self-confidence, research, fluency of speech, knowledge of the law, etc. Not only this but also your work Experience can cater to your legal network, which can lead to opportunities, jobs, and connections.
7. Curious to learn in a 3-year LL. B course
While pursuing a 3-year LL. B course, you can work on certain parameters such as:
- Labour
- Family
- Criminal
- Constitutional
- Environmental
- Company
- Administrative
- Property
- Contract
- Evidence
- Intellectual property
- Human rights and international
- Consumer protection
- Law of torts
- Jurisprudence
- Professional ethics
- Legal writing
- Civil procedure code.
8. Attempt and qualify for the bar exam
After earning the 3 or 5-year courses, you should qualify for the All India Bar Exam (AIBE) conducted by the Bar Council of India (BCI) and issues a certificate of practice. This AIBE Exam is necessary to become a practicing lawyer in India.
9. Attempt to earn a master’s degree
After passing the AIBE Exam, you are affirmed to take part in the practice of law. Hence, we recommend you to further study for a one-year, full-time master’s degree program or LL.M course. These entrance exams include:
- Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)
- All India Law Entrance Test
- MH CET Law
- TS PGLCET
- AP PCLCET
- ILICAT
- LSAT India
There are several expertise for this program, in the field of entertainment and media, civil, healthcare, and environmental law. For Instance – to become a corporate lawyer, you can pursue a master’s in commercial, corporate, company, or business law.
Corporate lawyer vs. commercial lawyer
Both the term Corporate Lawyer and Commercial Lawyer seems to be the same. But there is a difference in their areas of consideration.
| Sl. No. | Measuring Parameters | Corporate Lawyer | Commercial Lawyer |
| 1. | Detail of Scope | Corporate Law Concerns with the actions of specific corporations | Commercial Law Concerns with general legal matters related to businesses |
| 2. | Primary Responsibilities | These Lawyers help to form new businesses and undertake business mergers or acquisitions | These Lawyers help with the legalities, regulations, and guidelines regarding the information on the sale and distribution of various goods |
| 3. | Average Salaries |
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What are the responsibilities of a corporate lawyer?
A corporate lawyer is entitled to deal with various legal issues related to corporate business practices. Sometimes they deal in handling business, legal and financial functions as per their client requirements. Let us take an example, a corporate lawyer might be in charge of corporate taxes or appraisal and overseeing mergers and acquisitions. Being a corporate lawyer, you might negotiate business agreements, verify and validate accounts for business transactions and keep a track of everyday legal business matters. Corporate lawyers also have the right to represent their clients in court when necessary.
Mentioned below are the major responsibilities of a corporate lawyer:
- Assisting to contain the legal framework for reconstructing or selling companies
- Negotiating legal contracts and business agreements
- Verifying accounts for business transactions
- Listing companies on the stock markets
- Assisting with general legal Consultation
- Keeping track of the Selling of the shares and assets
- Supervising the issues related to employment law
- Converging a mutual understanding of strategic legal outcomes
Why the demand for Corporate Lawyers has increased?
Considering the contemporary world, where every other individual, company, and government seeks expert legal advice and guidance on various elements of national and international business. And also the increase in outbound investments, trading amenities, stock markets, and international business transactions have shown an immense hike in recent past years. Legal expertise can support corporations navigate all traits of business operations and ethics.
The Skills required by a Corporate Lawyer
Being a Corporate Lawyer, considering the competitive scenario, it is essential for him/her to stay up-to-date on the latest legal developments and business market fluctuations. Given Below are the following skills that can support you become an effective corporate lawyer:
- Effective Oral and written communication
- Negotiation, Conciliation, and persuasion
- Efficient Problem-solving Skills
- Interpersonal
- Analytical, creative and critical thinking
- Effective Research, writing, and reading comprehension
- Firm knowledge of corporate law and dealings
- Ability to build long-lasting relationships with clients
Final Verdict
After following the 9 above-mentioned steps in “How to Become a Corporate Lawyer in India”. You are eligible to become a prominent Cooperate Lawyer. However, if you still have any difficulty understanding any of the above-mentioned steps. Please state your query in the comment box below, your query will be answered within the shortest interval of time. All the best for your future endeavors.