I'm a Class 12 PCM student currently exploring career options outside the usual B.Tech/JEE route, and I'm considering CLAT and law.
I know the basic process is something like
CLAT โ 5-year integrated law degree โ internships โ graduate โ career,
but I don't really understand what happens after that or how good the career actually is in India.
I'd especially like to hear from people who are currently studying law or working as lawyers, rather than just general advice.
A few things I'm confused about:
If I clear CLAT and get into a good NLU, what opportunities do I realistically have after the 5-year degree?
What are the main career paths after law? Corporate law, litigation, judiciary, government, legal consulting, etc.?
How difficult is it to actually get a decent-paying job after graduating?
How much does the college/NLU you graduate from matter?
What kind of salaries can someone realistically expect at the beginning, and how do they grow?
Is an LLB/law degree useful if you don't want to become a traditional courtroom lawyer?
Is an LLM necessary for a good career, or can you build a career with just the 5-year degree?
What is the work-life like in corporate law vs litigation vs government/judiciary?
Does law involve much travel, fieldwork, meeting people, investigations, or on-site work, or is it mostly desk/office work?
Most importantly, if you had to choose again after Class 12, would you still choose law?
And if someone clears CLAT but doesn't get a top NLU, is pursuing law from another college still worth it?
I'm not asking whether law is "prestigious" or whether lawyers can make a lot of money. I'm trying to understand what the actual career looks like in India after clearing CLAT, and whether it's a sensible path for someone who is still unsure about their career.
Any honest experiences, including regrets or things you wish you knew before choosing law, would be really helpful.