A career in corporate law

Hello madam, I want to pursue corporate law after my 12th standard, so can you brief me; what exactly a corporate lawyer does, the colleges, entrance exam and scope of career in corporate law? Chandrahas, Hyderabad

Unlike older days when a lawyer had to spend more than half of his career appearing in courtrooms debating over issues, new fields of law like corporate law permits one to either join a law firm, partnership firms, or the legal department of corporate houses wherein he would be required to draft agreements for mergers for acquisitions,

joint ventures and the like or give advice on labor or corporate law related matters or handle legal disputes. Corporate Law is a comparatively new field and the growth and career options are ample. Today, corporate lawyers are employed in a lot of top-notch organisations and hence this field of legal profession is opening up lot of options in careers and professions for young law aspirants.

As this is a specialisation of the legal profession that focuses on corporates and companies a corporate lawyer would be representing their entities of all kinds. These include corporations, associations, joint ventures, sole proprietorship and even partnerships.

It focuses on how the corporate and companies interact externally through commercial transactions and internally through corporate governance.

Corporate lawyers are tasked with safeguarding the legality of commercial transactions, representing corporations and advising corporate employees on their legal duties and responsibilities. Because corporate law covers a broad range of topics, corporate lawyers often specialise in one or more areas.

These areas include tax law, bankruptcy, intellectual property, zoning or securities. Most corporate lawyers work for a corporation, but some are self-employed or work for a law firm. Some law school graduates become educators, investment bankers or leaders of non-profit organisations.

Newcomers have better opportunities as corporate lawyers with the rising litigation related work in corporate houses. Primarily because the corporate houses are becoming more combative, ready to sue if their interest is anywhere threatened,

challenging the tax and tariff demands of the government, or taking on fellow corporate houses over alleged breach of contract. Young corporate lawyers get to do more significant work whether it is speaking with clients or appearing in the court room.

Colleges that offer specialisation in corporate law:

University of Delhi, Faculty of Law, Delhi offers degrees, diplomas and certificates in Corporate Law

NALSAR, Hyderabad offers degrees, diplomas and certificates in Corporate Law

National Law School of India University, Jodhpur LLM corporate Law

ILI, Delhi Post Graduate Diploma in Corporate Law

Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning, Post graduate diploma in corporate law

National Law School of India University, Banglore offers a course in Corporate Law

National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata offers all variations, degree, diploma and certificates

Jindal Global Law School, Haryana offers LLM incorporate and Financial Law

Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala offers degree and diplomas in corporate Law

Indian Law Institute, Delhi PG diploma in Corporate Law and Management

Dr. Ambedkar College of Law, Tirupati, AP

Anand Law College, Gujarat Masters in Commercial Law

BVD university New Law College, Pune Diploma in Corporate Law

School of Law, Sharada University, Noida LLM in Corporate Law

Amity Law School, Noida LLB in Corporate banking and Insurance

The salary package of beginners is somewhere between 3-4 lakh on an average. However, as you gain experience the salary package can increase up to 8 lakh to 10 lakh on an average.

The various Law Entrance Exams are:

Common Law Admission Test - CLAT

Is the national level law entrance exam and provides eligibility to secure a seat in any of the 14 of the coveted National Law Universities (NLUs):

NALSAR Hyderabad

NLSIU, Bangalore

WBNUJS Kolkata

NLU Jodhpur

NLIU Bhopal

GNLU Gandhinagar

HNLU Raipur

RGNUL, Patiala

CNLU, Patna

RMLNLU, Lucknow

NUALS, Kochi

National Law University of Orissa (NLUO), Cuttack

National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi

National Law University and Judicial Academy (NLUJA) Guwahati

TNNLS Tiruchirappalli,

DSNLU Visakhapatnam,

Nirma Ahmedabad etc.

It is a 2 hours test of 200 questions and of 200 marks with no negative marking

All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) -

One hour thirty minutes test with 150 questions and of 150 marks It is conducted for admission to NLU, Delhi exclusively.

LSAT- Law School Admission Test Is a standardized test of reading and verbal reasoning skills designed by the USA based Law School Admission Council (LSAC) for use by law schools in India. The test is administered in paper and pencil format.

DU LLB/LLM - Faculty of Law, University of Delhi conducts a separate law entrance exam for admissions to various law courses namely LLB and LLM courses.

SET Symbiosis- Symbiosis Entrance Test is a common written test conducted for taking admission to undergraduate law programs offered by various institutes under Symbiosis International University.

ULSAT- UPES Law Studies Aptitude Test commonly known as ULSAT is conducted by the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES). The competitive entrance test is conducted to grant admission to Bachelor of Laws (B.A. LLB) and LLB in Corporate Laws, Cyber Laws and Intellectual Property Rights.

LAWSET is conducted by Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati AP

KLSAT the Kerala Law School admission test is conducted by KIIT university Kerala

ILICAT is conducted by Indian Law School Delhi for admission to post graduate program in the field of law

Law is an honorable career and hence will definitely give you good returns. It helps one sharpen their communications skills, imparts grooming skills and helps think rationally and logically. Taking up corporate law would be a good option as it is a high paying profession.

However, it is a little different and off the track but it proves to be a promising one and can fetch you fame and success. Nevertheless, as always all depends largely on your caliber, passion and interest and also the college you pass out from. All the best!

By:Shehre Banu