Career In Criminal Law
It is clear from the term criminal law that it is law related to crime.
Criminal law is the shinning career for people passionate about solving criminal cases.
“Criminal law is one of the specializations of law courses that deals with the cases related to crimes”.
A person who practices in criminal law is called as criminal lawyer.
Criminal lawyers can works as a criminal defense lawyers and public defenders.
Criminal lawyer represents and defend the person for which he/she is fighting the case. The work description of criminal lawyer involves investigating and collecting evidences that saves his/her client.
Criminal Lawyer should specialize in the following area of criminal law such as Cyber Crime, Violence against women, domestic violence, sexual abuse (rape), murder, forensic science & criminal trial.
Courses & Duration
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To pursue criminal law, you are required to go for master’s degree. After the completion of bachelor of law (LLB), one can go for the master courses in law.
PG Courses:
- LLM in Criminal Law – 1 year duration
- LLM in Criminal Law and Criminology – 1 year duration
- LLM in Criminal Law and Commercial Law – 1 year duration
- Post graduate diploma in Criminal Justice – min duration: 1 year, max duration: 3 years
- Master of Arts (M.A) in Criminology – 2 years duration
- Master of Arts (M.A) in Criminal Justice – 2 years duration
- M.Phil in Criminology
Diploma Courses:
- Diploma in Criminal Law
- Diploma in Criminology & Penology
Master Course in Criminal Law covers the particular topics such as: Criminal Law, Criminal Law – Practice & Procedure, Specific Crimes, Criminology, Criminal Jurisprudence – Theory of Law, Code or Criminal Procedure, Criminal Jurisprudence Concepts, Human Rights Law (Part of Criminal Law) & Law of Evidence in India.
To become a successful criminal lawyer, one needs to be dedicated, willing to put in hard work, have tonnes of stamina and loads of perseverance.
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Specializations:
The specializations of criminal law are given here:
- Criminology and Forensic Science
- Cyber Crime
- Domestic Violence
- Human Rights
- Sexual Abuse
- Crime against Women
- Criminal Trial & Criminal Appeal
- Murder, robbery, theft and kidnapping
- Bail (Anticipatory & Regular), Criminal Revision, and Criminal Quashing
- Anti Hijacking Matters & Anti Terrorist Matters
Eligibility
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Students, those are interested to join master courses in criminal law have to meet the given eligibility criteria:
- Students have to pass their 3 or 5 year Bachelor of Law (LLB) degree from a recognized University to get admission into master programme.
- Students will get admission into bachelor degree programme after completing their 10+2 education.
Admission Process
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Career in Arts & Humanities Courses
Those interested in criminal law are required to take the entrance examination for admission to master courses in law. Common Law Admission Test (CLAT 2023) is one of the renowned entrance examination organized by National Law Universities (NLUs) to offer admission in the NLUs. Admission procedure of every college is different. Some of them conducts their separate entrance test for granting admission.
Other law entrance exams are as follows:
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You can pursue criminal law courses from the following institutions/Universities:
All the 17 National Law Universities (NLUs) offers law courses in criminal law. Other top law colleges are:
- Faculty of Law, Allahabad University
- Pondicherry University
- Faculty of law, University College of Law, Osmania University
- Amity Law School
Jobs & Career Scope
Due to increase in criminal cases, opportunities in the field of criminal law is wide.
The job of a criminal lawyer is basically to represent or defend his/her client who are accused in criminal cases. Criminal defense lawyer employed by the government is known as public defenders. They can also work as a private criminal lawyer.
In public practice, the lawyer can work either for the Public Defender Service (PDS) or Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
Criminal lawyers initially starts their career by assisting a professional and renowned criminal lawyer. After gaining experience, you can start working individually.
A criminal lawyer plays the role of both advisor and advocates to the clients.
The work profile of a criminal lawyer in India is not so easy, it requires lots of patience to work on a case for long hours.
Criminal Lawyer jobs mainly revolve around communication with the clients, collecting evidences & actual facts by interviewing the witnesses. They also interact with the police & research in details about the case.
Luthra says, “It depends on the nature of the task at hand. Preparing evidence can take hours. Even a bail application in case of non-bailable offences can take hours of research and strategising. There is no specific time limit. It varies from case to case.”
After giving the Bar Exam, criminal law graduates can join a legal firm or they can start their own practice. They can also work at the session court, trial court or the high court.
Job Profile:
- Government Advocate
- Government Pleader
- Additional Public Prosecutor
- Criminal Law Practitioner
- Lecturer
- Standing Counsel
Skills Required in Criminal Lawyer
- Excellent listening and communication skills.
- Problem solving skills
- Good advocacy
- Logical reasoning skills
- Creative thinking and analytical skills
- Good understanding of state, federal and local rules, court procedures and evidentiary laws.
Salary
“Hard work and dedication is the key to success and high remuneration in this field”.
In India, the salary of a well-known criminal lawyer is extremely high along with different other benefits. The salary of a lawyer depends upon the cases handled and the client you are dealing with. In India, the remuneration of a criminal lawyer is around 4 lacs per year and will increase with time depending upon lawyer’s work, name and fame.
If you are working under an expert lawyer, then you can earn Rs 15,000-20,000 per month. In abroad, the salary of a criminal lawyer is $1800 to $ 3500 per month.
Books & Study Material
Choice of right books for any course is very important. Below, we are providing some books of Criminal Law:
Basic Concepts of Criminal Law by George P. Fletcher
The Revised Penal Code: Criminal Law Book One (Hardcover) by Luis B. Reyes
Criminal Law: Examples & Explanations (Paperback) by Richard G. Singer
Law of Evidence (Set of 4 Vols.) by Woodroffe & Amir Ali
Overcriminalization: The Limits of the Criminal Law by Douglas Husak
Rethinking Criminal Law by George P. Fletcher
For more information about Career In Criminal Law, leave your comments below.
For more information about Career In Criminal Law, leave your comments below.
Thanks for the article. It was very informative and well described.
I am done my llb in 2019 and i am doing practice in district court of 2 1/2 years. I want to get a job as a criminal lawyer. please suggest me.
I have done my LLB & get registered in allahabad bci i want to get a job &a part of bussiness as a criminal lawer. Kindly suggest me
I have done LL.M in criminal law and currently practiming as an advocate. Kindly let me know some companies or legal sectors apart from practice where I can find asuitable job