Types of Lawyers in India - Work, Tasks, Responsibilities and Salaries

With a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 10-15%, the legal industry in India is expected to grow in the coming years. Driven by increased litigation, regulatory compliance, and a booming corporate sector, many companies are increasingly hiring in-house legal counsel. The demand for corporate lawyers has risen significantly, with firms often favouring candidates from top law schools. The legal profession in India provides a wide range of opportunities for lawyers, including specialities such as corporate law and criminal law, each focusing on different aspects of legal practice. From traditional civil litigators to versatile tax lawyers, there is a legal expert available to address various needs. Now, let us explore some of the different types of lawyers in India, their responsibilities, and potential salary:

Types of Law in India

The legal system of India comprises several distinct types of law in India. Each sector serves a unique purpose within the framework inherited from colonial rule. These include:

Criminal Law: Prosecution and Defence

Criminal law concerns breaches of public rights and duties, namely violent felonies such as murder, rape, and assault, forgery, theft among others. This also includes offences against individuals which are in turn regarded as crimes against humanity, among others. 

Civil Law: Personal and Property Rights

Civil law concerns non-penal aspects of the legal system and concentrates on cases involving two or more parties. It includes matters like libel and slander, child access and adoption, marriage and parenting, property rights, and copyrights and trademarks.

Constitutional Law: Guarding the Framework

Constitutional law concerns itself with the constitutional frameworks of the country. On it rests the right to life, privacy, free movement, and vote among other liberties.

Corporate and Commercial Law: Business and Trade

Company law governs companies’ functioning and sets essential legal requirements for economic practices. It leads to some fair practices; it also guards the interests of the company and its reputation.

Statutory Law

Statutory law consists of laws passed by parliament or state legislature. These written and codified laws form the statutory legal framework that governs various aspects of life and business in India.

Administrative Law

Administrative law is applied to regulate the activities of government administrative authorities. It provides for the nature of processes that these agencies employ and also guarantees the public administration from bias.

Types of Lawyers in India

In India, different types of lawyers are designated to cater to the various strings in their legal system. Below we are mentioning some of the in-demand types of lawyers in India.

Criminal Lawyers

Criminal lawyers are important to ensure that justice is preserved and individual rights fought for.

Different Types of Criminal Lawyers in India

● Public Prosecutors: Represents the state regarding criminal cases.

●Defence Attorneys: Represent people accused of crimes, working to protect their legal rights.

● Bail Lawyers: They teach how to secure bail for arrested clients.

● Juvenile Lawyers: Delve into minor criminal cases.

● Criminal Defence: Deal with criminal law cases

● Plea Bargain Lawyers: Meditate between the defendant and prosecution in order to lessen charges or penalties.

The criminal lawyer salary in India varies significantly based on qualifications, experience, and the type of law firm. Entry-level salaries for fresh graduates range from ₹20,000 to ₹30,000 per month. In contrast, experienced and senior criminal lawyers of India can earn ₹1 lakh or more per month. 

Tax Lawyer

Tax lawyers operate within legal and taxation fields. They assist people, companies, and organisations in matters regarding taxation laws and policies of India. Their key responsibilities include:

• Deliberating all sorts of issues including tax, legal requirements, wealth transfer, business formation, and protection of assets.
  As in filing taxes, handling audits, preparation of tax information, and knowledge of the tax laws and systems.
  A law firm that is involved in advising the organisations on tax and business matters such as; legal advice on tax transactions, representation and defense in litigation matters, audits, and compliance. 

In India, tax lawyers are among the highest-paid legal professionals due to their specialised expertise. Corporate tax lawyer salary in India can range between ₹6 to ₹15 lakhs per year, while individual tax lawyer salary in India is estimated to be between ₹3 to ₹8 lakhs annually.

Family Lawyer

Family laws are a category of laws that deal with the problems relating to family and domestic issues. These areas are for example in marriage, adoption, child custody, and paternity. Their key responsibilities involve:

• Considered an expert in different family law matters, which include divorce, child custody, adoption, premarital agreements, and alimony.
• Helping families solve cases that are associated with inheritance and child custody.
• Appointments of child support and visitation rights, consultation with parents, and protection of children's needs during a trial.

The salary of a family lawyer in India depends on experience, expertise, case types, and the size of their law firm. An advocate salary in India, specialising in family law can range between ₹3 to ₹5 lakhs per year. However, such advocates can earn up to ₹10 to ₹12 lakhs annually with more exposure and experience. 

Labour & Employment Lawyer

Labour and employment law in India as a body of law governs the relationship between employers, employees, and trade unions. It sets necessary standards for wages, working hours, and other important aspects of employment. The key responsibilities of labour and employment lawyers include:

• Offering general counsel services to businesses and individuals on matters such as labour relations and contracts, employee relations, and dismissal procedures.
• Supporting labour organisations and their individual members while bargaining for common interests and disputes also helps employers abide by the relevant laws.
• Employment with an emphasis on legal issues of workplace safety and health and assisting employers with legal compliance with safety laws.

Labour and employment law is a legal discipline that is multifaceted and continuously evolving. Therefore, the Indian lawyer salary of such legal representatives can range between ₹6 to ₹10 lakhs annually. Experienced legal professionals can often draw higher lawyer salary per month in India based on their level of expertise and knowledge.

What is a lawyer salary in India?

Statistically speaking, on average, the salary of lawyer in India is around ₹7,86,000 annually, with additional cash compensation averaging ₹1,20,000. The different types of lawyers in India play a vital role in upholding the laws set by the Indian government and protecting individual rights. A lawyer in India can contribute to varied sectors, namely, law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies. The table below summarises the lawyer salary in India per month by experience level:

Key Takeaways

The legal profession in India is currently developing at a faster rate, and this has resulted in the legal profession offering increasing specialisation. It is equally important to comprehend the various types of law in India to ensure compliance with the regulations that steer the society. Legal practitioners also have the legal responsibility of maintaining justice for everyone as well as defending those rights, showing just how valuable they are. But it is also interesting to note that apart from such opportunities, the prospect of practising law guarantees personal development, and in some cases even promotes career mobility. This path helps one change people’s lives and be useful to society.

FAQs

What are the different types of lawyers in India?

In India, various types of lawyers specialise in distinct areas of law. These include criminal lawyers, family lawyers, corporate lawyers, tax lawyers, and labour lawyers.

How can one become a lawyer in India?

To become a lawyer in India, one must complete a law degree (LLB) from a recognised institution and pass the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) to practice law.

What is the salary of lawyers in India?

The salary of lawyers in India, on average, varies from ₹3 to ₹12 lakhs per annum, depending on experience and area of specialisation.

Who earns more, CA or lawyer in India?

Chartered Accountants (CAs) usually earn higher salaries than lawyers in India, particularly at the start of their careers. However, salaries can fluctuate based on experience and area of specialisation.

Which law field is best?

The best law field often depends on personal interests, but popular areas include corporate law, intellectual property law, and criminal law.

Do lawyers have a future?

Yes. Lawyers have a promising future due to the growing demand for legal services across various sectors.

Which type of LLB is best?

The best type of LLB depends on career goals, but a 5-year integrated LLB programme is often preferred for those straight out of high school.

What type of lawyer pays the most?

Corporate lawyers and tax lawyers tend to earn the highest salaries among legal professionals due to their specialised expertise. 

Which law field is best?

The best type of LLB depends on career goals, but a 5-year integrated LLB programme is often preferred for those straight out of high school.

Which lawyer is in demand?

Employment of corporate lawyers and compliance specialists is on the rise especially because of the expansion of the corporate world and the compliance standards.

Which subject is best for law?

Core academic disciplines like political science, history, and English are rather useful for students, who plan to study law. These subjects assist in honing resourcefulness, writing, reasoning, and analytical skills that are cardinal in a legal profession.

Which type of LLB is best?

The programme called integrated LLB programme that extends for five years for the LLB course is the best way for students to begin their legal profession immediately after school.