How to Become a Lawyer After 12th Commerce?

Did you complete your 12th grade in commerce and want to become a lawyer? Explore this article to understand how to become a lawyer after finishing 12th grade in commerce.

The legal profession has relatively low entry barriers. With a 12th-grade education and an LLB degree, you can embark on a career as a lawyer. It is not necessary to complete your higher secondary education in a specific stream to pursue law. If you have finished your Class 12th in Commerce and aspire to become a lawyer, this article is for you. We offer a comprehensive career guide to help you understand how to become a lawyer after Class 12th in Commerce.

Scope of Legal Career After Commerce Education

Before we learn how to become a lawyer after completing 12th grade in Commerce, we first need to understand which legal career is most suitable for commerce students. 

Commerce particularly deals with economic activities of buying and selling goods and services. It is an auxiliary field to businesses. Therefore, the career options for Commerce students are generally related to businesses. Considering this, commerce education paves the ways to the following legal careers:

1. Corporate Lawyer: Specializes in corporate law, handling legal matters related to business operations, mergers, acquisitions, and compliance with regulations.
2. Tax Lawyer: Focuses on tax law, advising individuals and businesses on tax-related issues, and representing clients in disputes with tax authorities.
3. Intellectual Property Lawyer: Deals with protecting intellectual property rights, including trademarks, patents, and copyrights.
4. Banking and Finance Lawyer: Specializes in legal issues related to banking, finance, and investments, including regulatory compliance and financial transactions.
5. Commercial Lawyer: Handles legal aspects of commercial transactions, contracts, and disputes arising from business dealings.
6. International Trade Lawyer: Focuses on laws governing international trade, including import/export regulations, trade agreements, and disputes.

Also Read: 

• Top 5-Year Law Colleges in India 

How to Become a Lawyer after 12th Commerce? 

Now that you understand the legal career options available for commerce students after Class 12th, you can explore the steps to becoming a lawyer. These steps are detailed below:

1. Pursue BCom LLB

The best undergraduate law course for commerce students is BCom LLB, as it includes a substantial number of commerce subjects in its syllabus. Therefore, the first step to becoming a lawyer after completing your 12th grade in commerce is to pursue a BCom LLB course to gain a comprehensive understanding of law.

Another way to start your legal education after Class 12th is to complete any undergraduate course and then pursue a 3-year LLB program. However, this approach will extend the time required to complete your legal education.

Also Read: 

• BCom LLB Colleges
• BCom LLB Colleges in Delhi NCR 

2. Appear for AIBE

Appearing for the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) is mandatory for all aspiring legal professionals with either a 5-year LLB or a 3-year LLB degree. Upon qualifying, they are awarded a Certificate of Practice (COP), a crucial document required to become a practicing lawyer in India. Once certified, they can begin their careers in the various legal fields mentioned above. Without COP, legal professionals cannot work in India. 

3. Get registered with a State Bar Council

All aspiring legal professionals must register with a State Bar Council to obtain the permit to work as a lawyer. The registration process may vary for different Bar Councils across Indian states. Therefore, candidates are advised to carefully read the instructions on the respective Bar Council's website before proceeding with the registration.

Also Read: 

• Bar Council of Delhi
• Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh
• Bar Council of Gujarat 

4. Completing LLM with right specialization 

It is not necessary for all law graduates in India to pursue an LLM course to become a lawyer. If you prefer not to undertake postgraduate studies, you can skip this step. However, pursuing an LLM can be advantageous for those seeking to specialize in a particular field of law.

For students who complete their Class 12th in Commerce, studying BCom LLB and then becoming a lawyer, an LLM with a specialization in one of the following fields can help you become a specialized corporate lawyer, tax lawyer, intellectual property lawyer, banking and finance lawyer, commercial lawyer, or international lawyer.

• Corporate Law
• Tax Law
• Intellectual Property Law
• Banking and Finance Law
• Commercial Law
• International Trade Law

5. Build professional resume 

Now when you are done with the legal education, you must build a professional resume mentioning your internship experience, key strengths, qualification and area of expertise. This can help you land great job opportunities or attract big corporations as your clients. 

6. Apply for jobs

In this step, you need to apply for positions as a corporate lawyer, tax lawyer, intellectual property lawyer, banking and finance lawyer, commercial lawyer, or international lawyer. 

With sufficient experience as a lawyer, you can also consider starting your own law firm to serve corporate clients and help them resolve legal issues related to their businesses.

7. Reflect and improve 

The field of law is highly dynamic, with changes in macro and microeconomic environments, social structures, and national and international policies. Consequently, legal policies, regulations, and laws are also subject to change. Therefore, a lawyer must continuously identify gaps in their existing knowledge and strive to learn and adapt to evolving legal and regulatory landscapes, both nationally and globally.

Also Read: 

• BA LLB Vs BBA LLB
• Commercial Law Vs Contract Law